Ryhill Parish Council

Newsletter - Spring 2006

                                                                                                                                                                           Clare L Baxter (Clerk)

(01977) 643867

COUNCILLORS NAMES AND NUMBERS                                    

THE ROLES OF THE COUNCIL AND THE CLERK

In Law, Councillors work as a corporate body making decisions for the benefit of the Community.  The Chairman with the support of the Clerk manages meetings; the Clerk also implements the decisions of the council and provides independent, objective and professional advice, information and administration support.  The Parish Council of Ryhill can be contacted on any of the above telephone numbers. 

The role of Parish Councillor for Ryhill is unpaid and the work has increased in volume and complexity over the last few years. In addition, many councillors carry out additional roles as committee members or school governors (see last page).

The Parish Council meets on a monthly basis, on the second Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm, based at the St Paul’s Methodist Church (with the exception of the August recess).  The meetings are council meetings held in public and are not public meetings; therefore the public are not permitted to speak.  Anyone wishing to speak at these meetings should write to the Clerk requesting permission at least ten days prior to any meeting.  Anyone with an urgent item may approach any councillor about it before the commencement of the meeting. Councillor(s) will discuss this with the Chair and it will be at the discretion of the council whether to include it in the business of the meeting. Each year the council hold an Annual Parish Meeting. This is a public meeting and allows parishioners the opportunity to speak without prior arrangement.

SOUTH EAST NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING TEAM

The main aim of the Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) is to work with local communities and partners to reduce crime, target known offenders and problem areas, tackling anti-social behaviour and providing reassurance and long term solutions to local problems.

The NPT based at South Kirkby Police Station is split into two teams in order to provide cover every single day of the week, each team is responsible for the areas shown below:

Team 1          

PS Andrew Shaw with 6 PC’s and 6 PCSO’s covering South Kirkby,

South Elmsall, Upton, Darrington, Wentbridge, Thorpe Audlin, Badsworth.

Team 2          

PS Thimm with 6 PC’s and 4 PCSO’s covering Hemsworth, Kinsley, Fitzwilliam,

Ryhill, Havercroft, Wintersett, South Hiendley, Cold Hiendley, Wragby, Ackworth

The teams can be contacted at South Kirkby Police Station:  01977 601077. Ask for information to be passed to NPT*

Community Action Line – 01924 294551 – you can leave information/intelligence for the teams

RYHILL NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

A newly appointed member of the Neighbourhood Policing Team for the South East Area is – PC Helen Crossley, a serving police officer with West Yorkshire Police for the last 19 years. PC Crossley has taken on the role of Neighbourhood Watch and Community Links Officer.

The main aim of Neighbourhood Watch is to establish a good partnership between the Police and the local community by mutual co-operation, and assisting each other to:-

·         Reduce the opportunity for crime in the area.

·         Reduce the fear of crime in the area.

·         Report to the Police any suspicious incidents or activity, which may help prevent or detect crime in the area.

·         Enables residents to tackle local problems.

·         Raises awareness of crime prevention measures.

·         Lets offenders know that people in the area care and look out for each other

Apart from providing links and a partnership with Police, Neighbourhood Watch can offer a better quality of life for those living in the Watch area by reducing the fear of crime. It makes sense that people will feel less apprehensive about leaving their homes and property if there are a number of good neighbours around who are ever alert and watchful. A number of insurance companies recognise the success and importance of Neighbourhood Watch by offering customers up to a 10% discount off their premiums for house contents and sometimes vehicle insurance.

Ryhill currently has 17 active Neighbourhood Watch schemes running. With PC Crossley’s assistance, it is our intention to cover the whole of Ryhill, so that eventually each and every house will be part of a Neighbourhood Watch.

A Neighbourhood Watch scheme works by one person agreeing to be the Watch Co-ordinator, this person will be the link between watch members and the Police. To establish a scheme, no less than 5 households to a maximum of 20 must participate.

Each co-ordinator must have access to a telephone line or email address so that the police can supply pertinent information such as crime that is occurring in the immediate area.  After the inaugural meeting (which will be launched by PC Crossley), each scheme must have a minimum of one meeting a year, in order for the scheme to continue to be registered with the West Yorkshire Police.

If you are interested in becoming part of a Neighbourhood Watch and are prepared to attend a meeting, please can you contact PC Helen Crossley on 01924 221341.

This is the telephone number of the Neighbourhood Watch Office at Normanton Police Station, if it is not answered personally, please can you leave your name, address and telephone number on the answer phone service and it will be picked up and dealt with by PC Crossley on her return to duty.

QUALITY COUNCIL STATUS

Ryhill Parish Council is currently working towards Quality Council Status, the first step in the process is for the Clerk to apply to “AQA” for a Quality Status Portfolio and to undertake the adequate training required.  The Clerk has completed much of this work already. Once the portfolio is complete and accepted the Council can concentrate on the next step in the process.  If and when quality status is granted the Parish Council will be recognised as a Quality Council within the United Kingdom.  The title would give the Council an introduction to information and the possibility of funding that would be otherwise unavailable.

ALLOTMENTS

The Parish Council controls two Allotment sites, which are located at Cemetery Road and Sunny Bank.  The annual rent for an Allotment is currently £10.00, with the addition of water bills. Any residents wishing to become an Allotment Tenant should contact a member of the Allotment Committee: particularly Cllr Bullas (Sunnybank) or Cllr Whitford (Cemetery Road).

WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY ACTION GROUPS IN RYHILL

The Parish Council works closely with two community action groups: RRAID Action Group and Ryhill Community Partnership. Both groups have been successful in obtaining grants from a number of sources and have carried out improvement work on land owned or leased by the parish that has not cost parishioners anything. Both groups have spent many hours working voluntarily to improve the environment, particularly in the area known as Ryhill Park and Ryhill Stray. The Parish Council also contributes to keep the area tidy but the work is hindered by vandals, off-road motor cyclists, anti-social behaviour and other forms of misuse. The area is under surveillance and Wakefield MDC and the police will prosecute people found committing criminal or anti-social activities.

DISTRICT COUNCILLORS’ & POLICE SURGERY

Our 3 District Councillors hold a surgery for Ryhill on the first Saturday of each month at The Chapel, Ryhill 9.30 -10 am. Members of the Neighbourhood Policing Team usually attend at the same time. You can approach either with issues of concern and we urge parishioners to use the surgeries throughout the year.

NEW “WAKEFIELD EXPRESS” CORRESPONDENT FOR RYHILL

We have a new correspondent for Ryhill, Havercroft and Walton. His name is Paul McCarten and his email is: paulmccarten@yahoo.com Paul would like to hear from anyone with items for his column by Monday of every week. His telephone number is:

RYECROFT SPORTS AND COMMUNITY CENTRE

Now into its seventh year of operation, the Centre continues to increase the range of activities being offered and has also become a recognised venue for hosting events in the local area.

There are adult, U16 and U11 football, rugby, cricket and bowls clubs all making use of the fields and pitches. The indoor hall has two badminton courts and hosts the majorettes, gymnastics, karate, and many other groups. The fitness suite has a range of modern equipment for keeping in shape and the all weather courts enable games and training throughout the year.

Community groups such as Darby and Joan, Early Years and others use the Centre each week. The facilities are available for hire for weddings and parties.

The Parish Council together with Havercroft Parish Council are committed to supporting the development of the Centre as and when funding becomes available and plans for a facility for young people are currently being developed.

The Centre manager Kenny Marshall can be contacted on 01226 723659

THREE VILLAGES COMMUNITY TRANSPORT LINK

Ryhill Parish Council continues to support the community transport bus. This bus is used to carry people to Ryecroft Surgery for appointments, and Darby and Joan Club. The bus is available for other uses, including shopper services. For information or to use the service, please contact:

Fern 01226 727824 or Brian (driver) 0779 324 8787

ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

The Parish Council has been concerned about ASB for a long time and has researched a number of measures that can be taken with the Neighbourhood Policing Team. Ryhill residents continue to be plagued by illegal and off-road motorcycles both on our streets and in the surrounding countryside. The police and specially designated patrollers have powers to caution, confiscate and ultimately crush motorcycles of people using them illegally and inappropriately

Many parishioners contacted councillors about their disgust at the vandalism of the Christmas tree lights, which meant that Ryhill was without these for the whole of the Christmas period. Names of suspects have been forwarded to police and action will be taken.

If you wish to report any anti-social behaviour (including dog-fouling, fly-tipping, etc) please call the Neighbourhood Action Initiative line (confidentiality is guaranteed) on 0845 8 506 506.

Crimes should be reported to 0845 6060606 or in an emergency call 999

COMMITTEES AND SCHOOL GOVERNOR REPRESENTATIVES

Ryhill PC Planning sub-committee: Cllrs Bashforth, Bullas, Burnage, Whitford

Joint Recreation Management: Cllrs Beevers, W Richards, Whitford

Ryecroft Sports Centre: Cllrs Beevers, Bullas, S Richards, W Richards, Whitford

Transport, Highways, & Road Safety representative: Cllr Poole

Allotments Committee: Cllrs Bashforth, Bullas, W Richards, Whitford

Pontefract Police Forum: Cllr Burnage

WMDC Liaison: Cllr Bashforth, Bullas

Community Assembly: Cllrs Beevers, W Richards, Fox

RRAID: Cllr Bashforth

Ryhill Community Partnership: Cllr Whitford

Newsletter Working Party: Cllr Bashforth, Beevers, S Richards

YLCA: Cllrs Beevers, Burnage

YRCC: Cllrs Beevers, Whitford

School Governor Representatives:

Ryhill Junior & Infant School:

Cllrs Bashforth, Burnage, Poole

Hemsworth Arts & Community College:

Cllr Beevers

Crofton High School:

Cllr Poole