MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 4 APRIL 2012 AT KILHAM HALL COMMENCING AT 7.00 PM.

 

PRESENT: G Warrender (Chairman), J Staniforth (Clerk), 4 members of the Parish Council,

S Racjan (DMBC Neighbourhood Officer) and 1 member of the public

 

1)           APOLOGIES

Apologies were received from B Fussey, M Sidebottom and Ward Councillor Y Woodcock.

 

2)             MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING HELD ON 6 APRIL 2011

The minutes were circulated by the Clerk for information and agreed as a correct record.

 

3)             MATTERS ARISING

No matters were raised other than to report that the trees on Valley Drive were now in a good condition.

 

4)             CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

Councillor Warrender reported on the past year stating that the six parish councillors at the time of the election in May 2011 had all been re-elected and Neville Williams had been co-opted to the outstanding vacancy. . The Community Hall was continuing to prove very successful with a wide range of activities taking place including Zumba and Pilates as well as many private functions.  The Christmas Carol singing had also been well attended and thoroughly enjoyed and a Fun Day organised by three local residents had raised over £1,000 for charity.

 

The community now benefited from a new disabled access to the recreation ground, a ball wall and basketball for young adults, a new notice board at Old Cantley and three new trees to replace ones that had died.  As speeding traffic around the parish remained a concern requests had been made for the continuing use of speed detection equipment.

 

The chairman paid thanks to her fellow councillors for their help and support, particularly those who represented the council at meetings of Kilham Hall Management Committee, Cantley Poor’s Land Trust, DMBC’s Parish Council Joint Consultative Committee and the Robin Hood Airport committee meetings. 

The Clerk, Handyman, the police were also thanked and particular thanks were extended to DMBC Ward Councillors for contributing towards the disabled access gate at the recreation ground and for the provision of a skip.   

In response Councillor Worthington proposed a vote of thanks to the Chair for her hard work and commitment during the year. This was endorsed by members.

 

5)         FINANCIAL REPORT

The Clerk reported that expenditure was broadly in line with that of previous years and an amount from the reserves had been used to cover the cost of the ball wall and basketball. Approximately 40% of the annual precept currently £26,400 was spent on salaries of the Clerk and Handyman.

No questions were raised in connection with the report.

 

6)         WRITTEN RESOLUTIONS FROM RESIDENTS

No written resolutions had been received.

 

7)         ITEMS RAISED BY RESIDENTS

A member of the public explained he had attended on behalf of residents and businesses of the Quarry Lane community (which included the travelling showmen) to express the concern of the community regarding a series of incidents that had taken place over the past nine months. Both residents and business people had suffered an amount of intimidation and harassment from a particular individual from another area of Doncaster, largely relating to a dispute relating to the ownership of an area of land at Quarry Lane. This had resulted in some families with young children leaving to reside with relatives away from the area to ensure the safety of their families. A meeting had taken place the previous day with the police and DMBC Neighbourhood Officers to seek to establish a formal Neighbourhood Action Group in order to protect the people and their property whilst living and working in the vicinity of Quarry Lane. A short term tenancy had also been funded by the community as a means of securing the area of land in dispute.  It was explained that the police were seeking to resolve the matter but it was complex due to legal issues that were in progress in respect of the land ownership and personal and professional issues surrounding the individuals involved.  Members of the parish council expressed regret that these incidents had taken place and that notification had not been received in time for members to attend the meeting the previous day.  It was proposed that the parish council write to the police authorities to seek a response that the matter was being progressed and that resources would be made available to resolve the matter.

 

As there were no further questions the meeting was declared closed in order for the parish council meeting to commence.