MINUTES of the MEETINGof SILKSTONE PARISH COUNCIL held on Monday6 January14 at 6.45pm at Silkstone Sports Pavilion.

PRESENT
Chairman:Cllr R Leech

Councillors:B Barkworth,R Brocklehurst, Mrs P Gallamore, P Handley, Mrs M Liddell, D Liddell,P Smith and R Stier.

In attendance: 1 residentThe Clerk.

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

There were no questions from members of the public. The Chairman took comments from Councillors.

A resident had contacted Cllr Gallamore regarding the arrester bed on the A628 which is looking untidy with the wall in a poor state of repair and trees on the embankment in need of attention. The Clerk will report these concerns to Barnsley MBC Highways department.

A number of Councillors have been questioned by residents about the removal of a large number of trees next to Silkstone Lodge. The Clerk advised that no notification of this work had been received. She will contact Barnsley MBC to ask if they are aware of the removal of these trees.

A resident of Beech ave has removed a number of trees to the rear of his property on Silkstone Common Recreation Ground it is understood that the strip of land to the rear of the Beech ave properties is owned by the individual property owners. However, Barnsley MBC should be made aware that this work has been completed.

Cllr Stier advised that a tree had fell on the wagon way in Conroyd Wood due to the high winds last week. The tree has been removed from the footpath by the handy man.

Cllr Barkworth advised that the train station gate is still stuck in an open position creating a safety issue. This matter has already been reported to the station manager and Cllr Brocklehurst advised that he had seen operatives on site at the gate. He will monitor the situation over the next few days and advise the Clerk if the gate is not repaired by the end of this week.

Cllr Barkworth had spoken with the resident of Greyfell farm in Silkstone Common who commented that they had not received notification of the planning application to rebuild a community hall on the Mission Room site. The Clerk was asked to contact the Planning department to ask if this was an oversight.

The Hillside retaining wall in Silkstone is bulging. Cllr Gallamore will raise this at next weeks Housing ManagementTeammeeting with Berneslai Homes who are responsible for the wall.

Cllr Barkworth advised that trees have been removed along the bypass at Horsfields. The Clerk will check if this work was carried out by the Highways department of Barnsley MBC.

13-136 APOLOGIES - None
13-137DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

RESOLVEDto note Cllr Stier’s declaration of interest in the payment to the handyman under agenda item 12; this payment was approved on mass with other payments and is listed under minute number 13-146. below.

13-138MINUTES

RESOLVED to approve the minutes of themeeting of Silkstone Parish Council on Monday 2 December2013 as a true and accurate record

Matters arising:
Pg 1 – The Clerk was asked to chase a response from Cllr Wilson regarding the hedge on St Florent Way.

RESOLVED to note the minutes of the Silkstone Playing Fields Committee meeting held on Monday 16 December 13.

Matters arising:

Cllr Liddell asked for an update on the mole situation – Cllr Stier advised that they are not active at the moment.

PLANNING

13-139 PLANNING APPLICATIONS FROM BARNSLEY METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL (BARNSLEY MBC)

RESOLVED to note that no planning applications have been received from Barnsley MBC.

RESOLVED to note that Cllr Barkworth had seen two applications for the Parish on the Barnsley MBC Planning Explorer site. Both applications relate to TPO tree works at 10 Vicarage Farm Court, Silkstone (application 2013/1373) and 34a/36 Hall Royd Lane, Silkstone Common (application 2013/1370). The Clerk will contact the Planning officer to ask why the Parish Council have not been consulted on these applications.
POLICY

13-140 RISK ASSESSMENTS – SILKSTONE RECREATION GROUND

RESOLVED to defer this item to the next Parish Council meeting.

13-141 BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL

RESOLVED that the Clerk will produce a nomination form to e-mail to Councillors. All nominations will then be considered at the next Parish Council meeting. Nominations for honours can be made at any time of year and can take up to 12-18 months to process. A panel decides which honour if any to award so the Parish Council cannot nominate someone for a specific award.

13-142 WWI MEMORIAL IDEAS

RESOLVED that Cllr Brocklehurst will liaise with both village schools to agree a date in July for a memorial service. Cllr Liddell and Smith will move forward with the design of the analamatic sundial for the war memorial area, the Clerk and Cllr Smith will obtain quotes for hopscotch style games for the war memorial area in front of the play area. The arrangements for a memorial day in July 14 when the sundial will be unveiled will be discussed further at the next Council meeting.

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk will contact the Roggins group to obtain the information they had intended to use to produce an information board at the PALS stone. She will progress quotations for an information board, liaise with Silverwood Scout camp and report back to the next Council meeting.

ENVIRONMENT

13-143 COMMUNITY CENTRE

RESOLVED to note the Clerk’s report and to approve the appointment of Spring & Co as the Parish Council’s Project Manager and CDM Co-ordinator for the proposed community centre project. The Clerk will advise the Community Centre committee of this appointment and forward to them Spring & Co’s estimated programme for the works.

13-144 SILKSTONE RECREATION GROUND

a)Silkstone Playing Fields Committee Terms of Reference Document

RESOLVED to approve the Silkstone Playing Fields Committee Terms of Reference document

b)Health & Safety

RESOLVED to note that water is again getting into Changing Room 1 football. Cllr Stier and the handyman dye tested the new drain which resulted in no water ingress, they then tested down the side of the steps and the dye was then evident in the changing room. Cllr Smith continues to monitor the damp readings on the walls and will report back to the next Parish Council meeting. In the meantime the Clerk will obtain quotes for a building survey.

FINANCE

13-145ANNUAL BUDGET 2014/2015 & PRECEPT

RESOLVED to approve a 2% increase in the precept to £66,250 for 2014/2015. The Clerk will send the notification to Barnsley MBC.

RESOLVED that the grants budget be reduced by £1,000 and the budget for trees maintenance be increased by £1,000.

RESOLVED that receipts and payments relating to the proposed community centre will be specifically excluded from the draft budget for 2014/2015 as the project is still at pre-tender stage. Any pre-tender works will be funded from Capital Reserves.

RESOLVED that Cllrs Mrs M and D Liddell will research current funding streams to enable a grant search strategy to be drafted for Council approval.

13-146 INVOICES FOR PAYMENT

RESOLVED to approve the invoices for payment schedule dated 6 January 14. Payments listed below. Full details available from the Clerk on request.

Payee / Net / Vat / Total / Cheque
Paid in between meetings
Expert Water Service
Silkstone Common Good Companions
Handyman
Armour Fire Protection /
40.00
150.00
753.25
50.00 /
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00 /
40.00
150.00
753.25
50.00 /
300675
300676
300677
300678 (cancelled)
300679
Paid 6 January 2014
Barnsley MBC /
339.55 /
67.91 /
407.46 /
300680
Co-op Charge Card / 114.77 / 0.00 / 114.77 / Charge card
Parish Clerk / 900.00
290.51 / 0.00
0.00 / 900.00
290.51 / SO
300681
HM Revenue & Customs / 278.72 / 0.00 / 278.72 / 300682
SY Pensions Authority / 228.27 / 0.00 / 228.27 / 300683
BMBC Buildbase / 210.00 / 42.00 / 252.00 / 300684
Yorkshire Water / 53.23 / 0.00 / 53.23 / 300685
Dave Parkin Landscapes / 85.00 / 17.00 / 102.00 / 300686
Orange Mobile / 8.53 / 1.71 / 10.24 / DD
EON
EON / 64.23
51.17 / 3.21
2.56 / 67.44
53.73 / DD
DD
Handyman / 782.00 / 0.00 / 782.00 / 300687
Bothams Prestige / 751.25 / 150.25 / 901.50 / 300688
Totals / 5,150.48 / 284.64 / 5,435.12

13-147 MEETINGS

RESOLVED to note Councillor Meeting’s attendance as follows:

Cllr Barkworth / Attended the Silkstone Playing Fields Committee meeting to assist with the Risk Assessment for the Recreation Ground.
Cllr Liddell / Attended the Finance & General Purpose Committee of the YLCA and the Annual meeting of NALC where he was elected onto the NALC Policy Committee and also elected as Chair to that Committee – the Parish Council passed on their congratulations to Cllr Liddell on this appointment.
Cllr Handley / Attended a meeting with Spring & Co with the Clerk.
Clerk / The Clerk went to the Town Hall archive to submit minutes and annual reports to the archive.

13-148 CORRESPONDENCE FOR NOTE

RESOLVED to note the following correspondence:

Handyman – Agreed that the Handyman can remove the shrubbery at Towngate planting area, grass seed and plant a blossom tree for ease of maintenance.
SYPTE – Bus timetable changes – passed on to Cllr Stier
LCR Magazine – passed on to Cllr Liddell
Enterprising Young People – Launch event 21 January 14 – Councillors asked to consider if they would like to attend and advise the Clerk.
EON – Contract for Pavilion gas supply ends in April 14 – asked to respond by 10 January 14 regarding proposed fixed price agreement for another 12 months. Clerk will obtain 2 comparable quotes and liaise with Cllr Leech before agreeing to this new contract. The electric contract renewal is shortly after the gas so this is still awaited.
Pension consultation – The Clerk reported that the South Yorkshire Pension Fund had written to the Council with a consultation relating to contributions. This was passed to Cllr Leech for consideration as the proposal appears to be that the contribution %’s for employer and employee are reduced.
Barnsley Hospital – Scarecrow festival idea– a past attempt at a scarecrow festival in the villages failed as many individuals made scarecrows but they were all damaged within a day of going on display. The Clerk will contact the organiser at Barnsley Hospital .to discuss.
YLCA e-bulletin – Training camp in York and Oxford free of charge on Neighbourhood Planning, Planning and Localism – Cllr Barkworth will attend – any other Councillor interested in attending should contact the Clerk asap so that a place can be booked.

13-149 DATE OF NEXT MEETING

RESOLVED to note that the next meeting of Silkstone Parish Council will be on Monday 3 February 14 at 6.45pm at Silkstone Sports Pavilion.

Chairman’s Signature / Date

The Chairman closed the meeting at 8.44 pm

Silkstone Parish Council 6 January 14