13th July 2023
MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
Held in the Village Hall on 13th July 2023
PRESENT: Chairman N. MacDermid, Councillors A Dewsnip, K.Tharby, T. Hall, C. Dickinson and J.Locke. NYC Councillor A. Paraskos and one resident, Clerk M. Richards.
AGENDA:1. Apologies: Apologies for absence were received and accepted from Cllr. S. Gallimore.2. Declaration of Interest and Notification of changes in the Members’ Register of Interest: Councillor Tharby declared an interest in item 12 b)3. Public Participation session – no matters raised.4. Minutes of the meeting held on 8th June 2023: The minutes were proposed as a correct record by Councillor Hall and seconded by Councillor Dickinson. The Chairman duly signed the minutes. 5. Matters arising from previous minutes: None.6. Chairman’s communications. Dealt with as part of the agenda.7. Clerk’s correspondence
a) Plompton road fund. The clerk confirmed that receipts from residents, plus the ringfenced amount of £1500, provided the full amount necessary to pay the contractor and cover the Parish Council’s costs. A formal transfer of funds would be made to the Residents’ Group in due course.
b) Support for School – the School is seeking financial support for purchasing child-like signs to be placed on the verge on Tofts Lane to encourage vehicles to drive with care. Cllr Tharby affirmed that the signs in question are ROSPA approved although other councillors expressed some doubt as to their efficacy as a permanent solution. It was suggested that a better solution would be a hedge along the full length of the playing area.
After further discussion, it was confirmed that the School intended acquiring four signs but was only seeking a contribution from the Parish Council. Councillors then agreed to contribute £155 (the cost of one sign), with the proviso that this would be taken into account with regard to future requests for financial support.
c) “Love Parks” – communication received inviting participation in this annual initiative which celebrates parks, green spaces and the dedicated volunteers and workers who look after them all year round. A special feature this year is a campaign to make parks and public spaces safer and more accessible for women and girls. Councillors welcomed the initiative but thought it more appropriate for FOFWRAP.
d) D-Day 2024. A nationwide celebration of the 80th anniversary of this momentous event is being planned, centred on the lighting of beacons on 6th June. Councillors supported the initiative but as the concept of a beacon is not relevant to the Parish due to topography it was agreed not to progress.8. Parish Matters
a) Plompton
Cllr Hall reported that:
i) the road refurbishment is due to be completed by Monday 17th July
ii) the tree from Plompton Rocks is leaning onto the A661 – clerk to report to NYC Highways
iii) the “SLOW” sign on the A661 road surface is becoming worn and needs re-painting – clerk to report to NYC Highways.
b) Some trees on Plompton Road, exiting the village towards the bridge, are overhanging and becoming hazardous to traffic – clerk to report to NYC Highways.
c) Phone box/Information Centre refurbishment. The clerk confirmed that a new contractor has quoted £450 + £150 (paint and materials) Councillors agreed that this amount compared favourably with the original quotation and authorised the clerk to instruct the contractor to proceed (with assurance that the correct “post box red” paint be used)
d) Village Hall energy survey/EPC. The planned survey would give a full assessment of theenergy rating of the building, recommendations of opportunities for improvement, and their impact on the rating. The cost of the EPC survey is £340. Councillors re-affirmed approval for the donation to the Village Hall and agreed the contribution of £340.
e) Litter bin – Main Street bus shelter. The Chairman will have a discussion with the owner of the neighbouring property to agree the specific location for the bin that was previously in Follifields and is now proposed to be installed near the bottom bus shelter.
f) Radcliffe Close street lighting. Two lights are not working. The clerk will ascertain the responsibility for the lighting and arrange for repairs to be carried out.
g) Street signs. Radcliffe Close and Hillside signs have fallen down. The clerk will arrange for re-fixing.9. Traffic calming
a) VAS. Over the last 5 weeks, there has been a significant increase in the number of vehicles coming into the village, averaging some 5000 against the previous average of 3700. Approximately 60% travelling less than 30mph previously, now increased to 71%. Councillors were pleased to note that overall, the data from the VAS was demonstrating its positive effect.
b) Picket fence –The clerk had met with the contractor and agreed the location for the new fences (on Pannal Road) The contractor will provide a quotation to be considered at the September meeting.10. Follifields
a) New bench. The concrete base is now in place and the bench will be installed later this month.
b) Existing benches are in need of refurbishment (removal of grey algae) Quotations will be sought from the two contractors who had expressed an interest.
c) Other issues:
– quotation required from Stuart Bush for applying weedkiller to and tamping down of the gravel path;
– quotation needed for cutting the wildflower area (with appropriate equipment)
– quotation needed for trimming the hedge along Radcliffe Close (to be done September onwards once bird nesting season has concluded)
The clerk will obtain the above quotations as necessary.
11.Planning
Applications Received:a) ZC23/02345/FUL – Erection of detached garage, Alexander House, Pannal Road.
The Chairman displayed the plans for the proposed development. Councillors discussed and agreed to SUPPORT the application.b) ZC23/02236/FUL – Single storey rear in fill extension, alterations to roof over side extension
Killibeg, 6 Pellentine Road. (Cllr Tharby declared an interest in this application – the Chairman noted and confirmed he was able to answer councillors’ questions, but would not take part in the decision process)
Councillors discussed and the Chairman shared details of the concerns but conditional supportive comments of neighbours. It was noted that the Parish Council’s response could only be in respect of Planning Policy and on that basis they agreed to support the application.
Decisions
c) ZC23/01406/FUL- Single storey pitched roof side extension to create assisted en-suite bathroom facility to master bedroom, new house bathroom and guest bedroom – Stonegarth, The Paddocks.
GRANTED
Other
d) 23/00158/PR05 – Tower House, Plompton. Proposed works to Listed Building without
consent. The Council’s Conservation Officer is to write to the owners and advise which works
can be carried out.
e) Notification of appeal re Follifoot Ridge Farm – certificate of lawfulness to permit no—agricultural occupancy refused by Council.
Councillors noted the above.
f) Arrangements for dealing with planning applications 14th July – 31st August.
The Chairman suggested that response extensions be requested for applications within this period but where not possible an additional “planning” meeting be arranged for 10th August.
Councillors agreed.
12.Finance and governance
a) Review of finances, approve expenditure.
Balance at the bank on 13th July 2023 in Current Account £2,431.25 and Deposit Account
£51,234.23, total £53,665.48. Bank statements to be initialled by the Chairman in confirmation, as part of his payment authorisation process. NB the deposit account balance includes residents’ contributions for the Plompton road improvement scheme.
Monthly Reconciliation – reconciliation as at 13th July was provided with receipts and payments in the period 8th June 2023 to 13th July, reconciling to the account balances shown above at a) Councillors then unanimously agreed the 9 amounts below for payment.
| Defibrillator battery | M Richards | £412.00 | Bank transfer |
| Clerk’s salary | M Richards | £346.66 | Bank transfer |
| Salary advance | M Richards | £150.00 | Bank transfer |
| PAYE income tax | HMRC | £86.67 | Bank transfer |
| Clerk’s salary (August) | M Richards | £346.66 | Bank transfer |
| PAYE (August) | HBRC | £86.67 | Bank transfer |
| Village maintenance | Village handyman | £612.50 | Bank transfer |
| M Daybell | Road Fund transfer | £25254.00 | Bank transfer |
| S Gallimore | Safety signs | £5.24 | Bank transfer |
13. Items for next meeting
None notified.
Date of next Parish Council meeting: Thursday 10th August 2023 at 7.30pm in Follifoot Village Hall. This is an additional meeting to discuss planning applications. The next full meeting of the Council will be on Thursday 14th September.