Chairman’s Annual Report 2010/11
This has been a busy year for the Parish Council! Our creation of Committees last year, underpinning the work of the Council and feeding in recommendations, has not only streamlined our agendas, but allowed us to increase capacity and get more done. I am, accordingly, phrasing this report largely on the work of these committees.
Allotments
The Dispute last year concerning the removal of wood from the boundary at Windy Bank resulted in a rewrite of the allotment regulations, which are in for legal checking and will be issued soon. I am delighted to announce that planning permission has finally been granted for the new Stoneycliffe allotments, which will ensure that everyone on the present waiting list is guaranteed a tenancy. We are still awaiting the final document from WMDC Planning Dept,and a list of approved contractors from WMDC Highways so we can proceed with work such as dropping the kerb,gating and surfacing. reliance on outside agencies has, unfortunately, threatened our goal of getting Stoneycliffe up and running by June.The committee has conducted two inspections ( a third cancelled due to extreme weather), and attempted to arrive at a list of criteria for judging the "best kept allotment" prize - however, havinf failed to come up with a fair " one size fits all" list, it was agreed that we would not award a prize this year, but revisit next year.
Cemeteries
Erection of the new Council noticeboards in each cemetery has enabled the revised cemeteries regulations to be displayed. Two inspections have been held ( a third was cancelled due to snow). The Council commissioned a full safety inspection of memorials conducted every five years. Those deemed unsafe/in need of work have been staked, and repairs will be carried out. We have also commissioned remedial work on the boundaries in both cemeteries, and had a full safety inspectiuon of trees, including those in the allotment boundaries.The committee have had a steep learning curve regarding the amount and content of admin time needed in managing the cemeteries, particularly interments, each of which take an average of 5/6 hours of the clerks time. Given that this years interments increased from 20 (2009/10) to 31, he has had a busy time!
Parish Plan Implementation
We have met regularly since the launch of the Parish Plan in March 2010, working on the summary of recommendations made, and a timescale for achievement of as many of the items as possible over the lifespan of the plan.Many of the recommendations depend on the Council working with other agencies such as WMDC and the Neighbourhood Police Team, wich at times has been frustrating. However, significant progress has been made so far, much of which is detailed elsewhere in this report. Probably the biggest project so far is the long-awaited rebuild of the Netherton play area. It is hoped that recommendations to proceed will be approved at the Parish Council meeting following this Annual Parish meeting, then we can get on with this in time foe the summer holidays. Some road safety measures have been achieved, including speed cameras by the mining museum and the the 20mph speed limit outside Netherton School, but despite our best efforts, WMDC Highways have so far refused to meet with us to discuss our concerns as highlighted in the parish plan, e.g. crossings at Horbury Bridge, and speeding/heavy vehicles on Blacker Lane. Current work is concerning footpaths, bridleways and production of a revised Parish map.
Communications & I.T.
Developement of our website continues, and increased use of electronic mailing of documents has seen a significant decrease in postage costs, as well as greater immediacy and passing on of information such as planning lists. We have been investigating possible better broardband provision in the Parish, but this is early days yet! I am confident in saying that, through the website,noticeboards and press coverage, communication between the electorate and the Parish Council has greatly improved.
Finance
Meeting each month before the Council, we have been able to scrutinise carefully both income and expenditure, including applications for grants. The recommendation to increase the precept was not taken lightly, but was considered necessary if we were to make progress on implementing the Parish Plan. I am sure the clerk will enlarge in his report following mine. Unfortunately, emphasis was unduly placed on the increas in percentage terms, rather than the actual amounts concerned.
Police Safe Scheme
The Parish funded extra policing to the tune of 390 hours for PCs and 85 for PCSOs. An officer attends all Council meetings and presents a report on the Safe Scheme,which is then published on our website. The Council met with Insp Carlson & Sgt Day at Police Headquarters to discuss and review the scheme,and agreed it would carry on with funding,but that there was no need to increase hours. The meeting was seen as so productive that it is worth repeating annually.
Netherton Village Hall
Attempts to gain support from the community to keep the Village Hall open resulted in a well-attended public meeting last October, and a new group " Friends of the Village Hall and play area". Sadly the hall continues to struggle so the council decided to create a new " Village Hall Management Committee" to include Council members and user representatives. An initial meeting is being set up for this month.
Other Meetings & Development Activities
Councillors met with representatives from the Libraries Service, to explore options for Middlestown Library; the Enviromental Services Neighbourhood Action Programme, and consultamnts who conducted a feasibility study on possible sitings of wind turbines in the Parish. Representitives continue to attend WMDC's Town & Parish Council Liason Group, and the Yorkshire Local Councils Association. Three councillors attended the YLCA Annual Conference, and several have attended training & development events.
Finally......
Nominations have now closed for the elections on May 5th, and I am pleased that we have sought to provide information to anyone interested in standing. We will find out who is on the list in the next few days. I wish good luck to those existing Councillors who have put themselves forward to serve another term, and for those who have declined, thankyou for your hard work. My personal thanks go to all those who have tirelessly given their time to various committees, and to my Vice-Chair Cllr Bennett, who like ma has been a member of every one. Thankyou for your support.My especial thanks, though are to our Clerk - thankyou for your commitment and expertise in keeping us all to correct proceedure, as well as your support and honest feedback on my performance in the Chair.
Helen J.Kirkpatrick
5 April 2011