Ravenfield Parish Council

Minutes of the Ravenfield Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 11 August 2022 at 6.30pm in Ravenfield Parish Hall

Chaired Chairman: Councillor R Jupp.

Present: Councillors R Jupp, T Leach, N Pearson, D Rowley and Clerk G O’Carroll.

Four members of the public were present.

148/22 Apologies: Apologies received and accepted from Councillor Callear, Councillor Jay and Councillor O’Nion.

149/22 Declaration of Disclosable Peculinary and Other Interests - none declared.

150/22 Items to Be Considered in the Absence of the Public and Press - agenda item 11 (c) – Caretakers salary review.

151/22 Public Participation – see attached report.

152/22 Confirmation of Minutes - The Council resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 9 June 2022 be a true and accurate record of the proceedings.

153/22 Matters Arising From the Minutes - reference minute 132/22, the remembrance monument amongst the overgrown grass of Hollings Lane has been found to reference the quarry, and not the mine. It was resolved that the monument would not need to be re-sited.

154/22 Correspondence

1. Letter received from Ravenfield Primary Academy, thanking the Council for the donation towards the purchase of commemorative coins marking the Queens platinum jubilee. It was noted that the Queen also wrote to the school, to acknowledge their efforts in marking the event.
2. Wickerlsey Youth Junior Football Team, U9’s asked for permission to hold training sessions on Hollings Lane playing field. Much of the team is made up of Ravenfield children, living in close proximity. The Council resolved to grant temporary permission of both Hollings Lane and Jubilee Field for WYJFC to hold training sessions (off the marked out pitch, hired by Ravenfield Rangers JFC). Parking was noted as a potential concern. To review at the next Council meeting.
3. Ravenfield MBC Planning update (RB2022/0502) 3 Raven House, Moor Lane North. It was noted that consent has been granted to change the dwelling from residential to a children’s home.

155/22 Matters Relating to the Recreation Grounds

1. Additional Item. Rotherham MBC Drainage Team have assessed the report of damaged concrete slab on Jubilee Field, and report that the damage is believed to have been caused by the tractors entering the field over the years. However, the problem may have worsened with the delivery of materials when drainage repair works were carried out. Rotherham MBC confirmed that repair works will be carried out to the cracked concrete slab, no exact dates are known at this time.
2. Additional Item: Rotherham MBC have provided the Council with a new 3 year grass maintenance contract. It was noted that the contractual price of year one (commencing April 2022) is £2936.06, however the invoice total was £2845.02. Rotherham MBC have acknowledged the admin error, and agreed to stand to the difference in cost.

156/22 Matters Relating to the Parish

(a) Parishioners raised complaint at the reduction in bus service through Ravenfield (see public participation). The Council agreed to write to South Yorkshire Mayor, Oliver Coppard, Rotherham MBC, and MP John Healey, making them aware of Parishioners comments, and Ravenfield being isolated and cut off from neighbouring villages. At the very least, a bus service is required from Ravenfield to Wickerlsey. Action: Clerk.

157/22 Matters Relating to the Parish Hall

1. The Council resolved to adopt the revised Parish Hall Terms of Hire policy and booking form. New terms of hire to be issued immediately, with effect from 1 October 2022.
2. Members of the Ravenfield Old Peoples Society, and the Bowls group have asked for training on how to use the defibrillator. Councillor Jupp offered to run an informal defibrillator overview session to those groups interested. Action: Councillor Jupp to make direct contact with the groups.
3. A complaint has been received that one of the female toilets is taking a long time to fill up once flushed, and that the toilet seat is ill fitted. The Council resolved to ask that a plumber address the reported problem. Action: Clerk to contact a plumber. The toilet seat was deemed not to need replacing.
4. The French side doors were found to not close at the end of a hall hire booking. The Clerk sought assistance from D G Doors & Windows, call out fee of £60 excluding VAT. The technician advised the hinges be replaced with substantial ones to prevent reoccurrence of the problem. Quotation cost £240 excluding VAT. The Council resolved the hinges be replaced. Action: Clerk to instruct DG Doors to proceed with the quoted works.
5. The current WIFI contract with BT is due for renewal at the end of August. The Clerk obtained costs from alternative commercial internet providers. It was resolved to go with the cheapest option – SKY, £16.95 per month x 24 month contract. It was noted that the current provider offers better download speeds than SKY, but agreed that the package offered by SKY is adequate for the users of the hall. Action: Clerk to proceed with placing an order with SKY.

158/22 Matters Relating to the Parish Council

1. No interest or volunteers obtained to form an events committee.
2. Jill Jesson has almost finished the 2022 Newsletter, but asked for suggestions to fill a few blank areas. The Council provided the following ideas:
   • Information relating to the reduction in bus service
   • Yorkshire Ambulance Day at the Cavalier.

Action: Councillor Leach to approach Ravenfield Stores and Coral Fish Bar for newsletter adverts.

3. Caretakers’ salary review. The Council resolved to increase the hourly rate of pay for the Caretaker, taking into account the rise in cost of living, including fuel and the number of journeys back and forth to the Parish Hall. The new hourly rate of pay will commence from 1 September 2022.
4. Ravenfield Community Plan Group proposed a children’s questionnaire be distributed alongside the Community Plan questionnaire. The Council resolved this was not necessary as the Community Plan questionnaire is aimed at all ages.
5. The Clerk shared information received from Rotherham MBC of the Levelling Up (Shared Prosperity Fund). The Council are not eligible to make an application.
6. The Council resolved to adopt the revised Business Continuity Plan.
7. The Council resolved that the 2022 Sponsor a Poppy fee should remain at £5.00. The Council requested that the Clerk purchase 10 x giant poppies. The giant poppies are to be placed at the crossroads. Action: Clerk to place poppy order.
8. The South Yorkshire Pension Fund, FSS review 2022 was noted.
9. Councillor Leach presented the Council with details of a pop-up pantomime, as a proposed community event, held in the Parish Hall. The cost would be £795.00 exc VAT. Ward Councillors (Councillor Reynolds and Councillor Mills) have agreed to donate £200 towards the overall cost. The Council resolved to proceed with placing an order for the pantomime of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Date: Saturday 3 December 2022. Start Time: 6pm. Ticket price: £3 each. Number of tickets: 90. The Council resolved to subside the outstanding cost of £325 (£484 including VAT). In the event that not all 90 tickets are sold, the Council resolved to cover the remaining costs. Action: Clerk to place the order and arrange deposit payment to secure the booking.

159/22 Reports From Ravenfield Allotment Committee

The Councils renewal of annual membership with the National Allotment Society is due, at a cost of £66. The Council resolved to renew the membership. Action: Clerk to process.

160/22 Matters Relating to Redrow Development

1. The Redrow development site is being falsely advertised as in Ravenfield. The Clerk sought advice in pursuing a claim against Redrow Homes Ltd, under the Trades Description Act 1968. The Yorkshire Local Council Association, advised that the Council consult with Citizen Advice and the local Trading Standards team, to investigate the team, to mis-description, noting that this would fall under the Consumer protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. The Council granted the Clerk consent to obtain further information. Action: The Clerk to contact Citizen Advice.
2. RB2022/1114 – Discharge of conditions 37,38 and 39 imposed by RB2022/114. The information was noted.
3. Additional Item – Bramley Parish Council have asked that all complaints/issues received in relation to the Redrow Development be shared with them. The Council agreed that the Clerk share information with Bramley.

161/22 Matters Relating to Green Items

Councillor Rowley attended the Rotherham MBC Parish Liaison meeting on 10 August 2022. Practical ways the government can help were discussed, and one was by installing solar panels.

162/22 Planning

RB2022/0977 – Land on Hollings Lane, Ravenfield. Application to undertake works to a tree/s protected by TCO (No 4 1997)

RB2022/1168 – Church Farm, Main Street, Ravenfield. Prior notification to erect a steel framed agricultural building.

Noted – no objections raised. 

163/22 External Meetings

Councillor Rowley attended the Rotherham MBC Parish Liaison meeting at The Lyric, Dinnington, on Wednesday 10 August 2022.

164/22 Yorkshire Local Councils Associations

1. NALC Short Term Holiday Let Policy Consultation – the information was noted.
2. Civility and Respect Pledge. The Council reesolved to accept and adopt. Action: Clerk to accept the pledge on behalf of Ravenfield Parish Council.

Councillor Pearson would like to attend the YLCA, 1 day conference on Friday 23 September 2022, but made the Council aware that he is intending on stepping down as a Parish Councillor in the near future. The Council approved purchase of tickets to the event for all Councillors wishing to attend. The cost of tickets is £120 per ticket.

165/22 Financial Matters

1. Update on Council’s finances. The information was noted and approved.
2. Payments to be made were approved.
3. The Clerk confirmed that the HSBC has been successfully closed, with funds transferred to the Unity Trust bank account.
4. Additional Item. Email received from SAAA (Smaller Authorities Audit Appointments) providing the option to opt out of the SAAA central external auditor appointment arrangements. The Council resolved to continue as part of the SAAA sector led auditor appointment regime.
5. Additional Item: The external auditor PKF Littlejohn has requested additional information relating to the accounts. Action: The Clerk to submit the information requested by 16 August 2022.

166/22 Date and Time of Next Meeting

(a) The date and time of the next meeting was confirmed as 8 September 2022 at 6.30pm, to be held in the Parish Hall.

167/22 Minor Items and Items for the Next Agenda

168/22 Exclusion of the Press and Public

It was moved that under Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12(A) of such Act indicated, as now amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, information relates to finance and business affairs. It was moved that under Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business due to the confidential nature of the business to be transacted.

169/22 Discussion of Items for Which the Press and Public Have Been Excluded

170/22 Closure of Meeting

The meeting was closed at 8:33pm

Ravenfield Parish Council

Public Participation 11 August 2022

Parishioners raised their concerns, complaints and issues around the reduced bus service, explaining that to commute to Wickerlsey (a 10-minute drive away) they have to catch a bus into Rotherham Town Centre, and then one out to Wickerlsey. The journey takes 1.5 hours (each way). A taxi costs between £11 and £12 each way.

There are no buses after 7pm. There are no buses on a Sunday. First bus is at 9:30am.

Residents feel isolated. Many are registered at the GP practices in Wickerlsey and use the facilities of a bank and shops which are not available in Ravenfield. The very least there should be a bus service from Ravenfield to Wickerlsey.

Parishioners report that they have made contact with MP John Healey and South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard, but received no reply or help.

There is supposed to be a petition in Rotherham bus station, but nobody knows where this is. It is not advertised, or displayed.