Meeting of the Parish Council – 25 March 2026

DRAFT Minutes of the meeting: Wednesday 25^th March 2026

Present: Cllrs T. Hames, A. Lagden, J. Barker, E. Spurdens, and Ms J. Kendall Clerk

Apologies: Cllr C. Wheatley, District Cllrs. J. Craig and G. Ayre.

No members of the public attended the meeting.

 

1. Cllr Hames took the role of chair and welcomed all to the meeting.

 

2. Minutes

The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 28.1.26 were approved: Proposed Cllr. Spurdens. Seconded Cllr Barker.

3. Matters Arising:

Signage for the new boundary: Cllr Barker reported that the grant funding bid had been successful, thanks to the Dt Councillors for their support.  ACTION: Clerk to email Mr Richard Hobman at WMDC to report that the funding is in place and the project can go forward.

The millstone on Station Road: Cllr Hames reported that he had brought this matter up at the Liaison meeting and Ackworth PC do not realise that the boundary had changed. WMDC will speak to the Clerk at Ackworth and Cllr Hames has offered to meet with a Highways engineer from WMDC at the site.

Village Hall land ownership: Cllr Hames reported that he and Cllr Barker had attended a meeting of the village hall committee. Progress is being made by the village hall committee to obtain charitable trust status. He will now contact the solicitors.  Regarding the sale of the school, the Deeds of the village hall show an Easement for drainage from the village hall through the school to Darrington Road. He has reported this to the estate agent to be forwarded to the solicitors dealing with the school purchase.

Signage on verge and overhanging vegetation on Doncaster Road:  Cllr Hames reported that the sign has now been removed. However, it is not clear whether the vegetation has been cleared which was scheduled by WMDC for February. He will check and the Clerk will follow up with WMDC.

Speed signage, drainage and potholes on Doncaster Road, the dangerous bend on Darrington Road and ineffectual speed bumps: Dt Cllr Mayhew reported that this is under investigation by WMDC and he will chase again.

Constitution: the Clerk reported that as a constitution could not be found, she had written a new Constitution as required for the Capital Grant bid. This was accepted and the Clerk will upload this to the website.

Website: the Clerk reported that after much hard work, the new website is now live.

4. Accounts

Cllr Barker reported that the current balance is £12300.44. The CIL money balance is £7711, part of which must be spent by Autumn 2026. There were no unexpected expenses. The grant funding is £2500.

Precept: there was a 6.6% rise.

Expenses include: scheduled repair pf the telephone box, new defibrillator pads, the new website.

On course for a surplus of £500 at the year end.

Expected expenses next year: village hall legal fees, restoration of the village hall floor which will be approximately £3000 and a new PC laptop.

5. Highways

Cllr Wheatley was absent.

6. Planning

Cllr Lagden reported that there have been no developments.  He has expressed concern to WMDC Planning about the need for safe access from the development on to Sandy Gate Lane.

7. Correspondence

YLCA White Rose Bulletins, training courses and bulletins were forwarded to councillors as relevant.

NALC updates.

Election notification – displayed.

Requests for booking of the village hall.

Need for new defibrillator pad received from Mr Ralph Horn.

Complaints from residents about overhanging vegetation at the Kennels sent to WMDC.

PK Littlejohn – notice of Audit.

8. AOB

Another request for clarification of rental of the garages has been received. As was agreed at the November meeting, when garages become vacant, they go into the pool for those waiting. Rentals cannot be transferred.

Allotments: vacant allotments will be offered to those waiting or if there is no interest they will be advertised on the Facebook page.

Garages: insurance and ownership need to be clarified – this will be an item at the next meeting.

Potholes on the A639, Doncaster Road: these have been reported to WMDC at least 3 times. There have recently been some repairs on Darrington Road. Cllr Mayhew reported that there are 5 pothole teams working across the district but only the lowest grade repairs are being carried out.

Dog waste bin in Hundhill: a complaint was made about the siting of the bin. Cllr Barker will follow this up.

Phone Box: Cllr Spurdens will look into a request to replace the Perspex windows.

Pump House: Cllr Barker will look into the possibility of solar lighting on the pump house for next December.

9. Date of the next meetings: Wednesday 27^th May 2026.   Annual Parish Meeting at 7.00pm followed by full Parish Council meeting at 7.30pm.

The meeting closed at 8.45pm.

Wednesday 25^th March 2026 at 7.30pm

 AGENDA

Chair:  Cllr T. Hames

 

1. Welcome and Apologies

 

2. Minutes of the last PC meeting 28^th January 2026

 

3. Matters Arising:

• Boundary signage JB/GA
• Boundary millstone on Station Road TH
• Land ownership village hall TH
• Removal of signage and footpath clearance on Doncaster Road TH
• Road speeding signage and drainage repairs update from WMDC BM
• Constitution approval TH
• uk website update JK

 

4. Accounts: Cllr. Barker

• CIL
• Grant application

 

5. Highways: Cllr Wheatley

 

6. Planning: Cllr Lagden

 

7. Correspondence

 

8. Any Other Business

 

9. Date of next meeting: Wednesday 27^th May 2026 – APM: 7.00pm PC: 7.30pm.