16th October 2024
MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
Held in the Village Hall on 16th October 2024
- PRESENT: Chairman N MacDermid, Vice Chairman A Dewsnip, Cllrs C. Dickinson, K. Tharby, J Locke and S. Gallimore.
Also in attendance M Richards (Clerk).
- Apologies: Apologies for absence were received and accepted from Cllr T. Hall, and NYC Cllr A Paraskos.
- Declaration of Interest and Notification of changes in the Members’ Register of Interest: None.
- Public participation. No members of the public attended.
- Minutes of the meeting held on 12th September 2024 were proposed as a correct record by Councillor Dewsnip and seconded by Councillor Dickinson. The Chairman then signed the minutes.
- Matters arising – none.
- Planning
Applications Received
a) ZC24/03264/FUL – Single storey rear extension. 15, Leconfield Garth.
Follifoot.
The Chairman displayed the site plan, existing and proposed elevations. Councillors discussed and agreed that the proposal provided a decent living space with no adverse impact on the environment or neighbouring properties. It was therefore decided to SUPPORT the application.
Decisions
b) ZC24/02532/FUL – Two-storey rear extension. Pointers End, 3 Rudding Dower, Follifoot GRANTED
c) ZC23/01184/OUTMAJ – Outline planning application with all matters reserved, to be
implemented in phases, for, inter alia, Demolition of the existing golf club facility, ancillary and related outbuildings, partial demolition of the later addition to the Deer Shed, and other
associated structures etc, etc. GRANTED
d) 21/05487/FULMAJ – Partial demolition of existing driving range building, erection of two storey driving range building including retail provision, teaching facilities, cafe / bar and associated areas (Use Class E(a), E(b), E(d), F2(c) and Sui Generis). Reconfiguration and extension to existing car park, earthworks relating to the reconfiguration of existing ground contours and golf bunkers with all associated landscaping, ancillary storage and apparatus and all engineering, drainage works and operations. Rudding Park Driving Range, Follifoot.
GRANTED
e) ZC24/02683/CLEUD – Certificate of Lawful Development – Existing for the conversion of
garage and amendment of fenestration. Manor Farm House West, Plompton Road, Follifoot.
GRANTED
Councillors noted the above decisions without comment although it was observed that items c) and d) could well give rise to significant CIL funding in the future.
- Chairman’s communications – dealt with as part of the agenda.
- Clerk’s correspondence
a) External Audit report. The clerk informed councillors that he had received an unqualified, clear external audit report. He said he was pleased at this outcome as he had expected a more complicated audit process due to the arrangements for the collection and disbursement of the “Plompton Road Fund” The Chairman queried the next steps and the clerk replied that the audit certificate needs to be displayed on the Council website and notice board, which he will arrange. Councillors congratulated the clerk on this satisfactory outcome.
b) Defibrillator training. The clerk had circulated details of a company offering a defibrillator maintenance package and a training presentation. Councillors decided the maintenance package was not required as it offered little more than the maintenance/oversight currently undertaken by the Chairman. Whilst the training presentation seemed to cover the basics, councillors were unsure whether it met all requirements. The clerk will make further enquiries.
c) Boundary Commission report. The consultation process with regard to determining new constituency boundaries (where appropriate) is now available with a closing date of 8 December. Rather than a “corporate” response being developed the Chairman encouraged individual councillors to respond if they so wished.
d) Commuted Sums. The value of commuted sums available to the Council (some £250) had been provided. The clerk will confirm the area of spending which qualifies under the formal description of “Natural and Semi-Natural Green Spaces”.
10. Parish Matters
a) Plompton – deferred until November meeting.
b) Village Upkeep.
i) The sign at the top of Main Street is “falling apart”. The clerk will notify NYC highways
Highways.
ii) Refurbished Kitty Corner bench. The clerk will speak with the contractor to determine when it can be installed, and also discuss the possibility for the Rudding Gate bench to be refurbished/repaired.
iii) Village Handyman – Job Description. The original job description for the village handyman had been circulated and reviewed by councillors. It was agreed that there were several tasks (such as washing down signs, painting the notice board etc) which were no longer relevant . The clerk will produce a revised list for councillors’ approval and then agree with the handyman what is to be done, how and when. Councillor Dickinson undertook to produce a map of the village, indicating which grass areas and verges needed maintenance.
iv) Cllr Tharby reported that the weight restriction signs on the Pannal Road/A658 junction has become obscured. He will attempt to provide a photo for the clerk to report the matter to NYC
Highways.
c) The Pound. The Chairman had observed that the area was somewhat untidy and needed clearing up. Cllr Gallimore reported that she understood the new tenant had this in mind but was awaiting further guidance re the availability of the key to the gate and the need for the lease to be signed. The clerk will make the necessary arrangements for the key to be available and will leave a copy of the lease at the village shop for the individual to complete and sign.
d) Horse Pond Beck. The clerk will follow up with Cllr Paraskos re the arrangement for NYC to undertake formal responsibility for the wall.
e) Cllr Dickinson reported that winter plants will be planted in the coming week.
f) Litter Pick – arranged for Sunday 3 November at 2.00pm. Cllr Dewsnip agreed to produce a sign to display at the shop and the clerk will arrange the supply of equipment.
g) The Chairman had enquired about the previous agreement with Harrogate Borough Council for the collection of garden waste via green waste bags, purchased from the shop. The clerk had made enquiries of NYC and was informed that this service was no longer available and garden waste would only be collected from households with a valid waste collection licence, affixed to a “brown lid” wheelie bin (although there may be a possibility for green waste sacks to be made available for those properties with insufficient space for an extra wheelie bin) The waste licence would still need to be purchased for these properties.
- Traffic calming.
a) VAS – Cllr Dickinson reported that the current period of traffic data had not shown any significant variation from previous months. He will continue to monitor and produce reports as appropriate. The Chairman thanked him for his efforts.
b) Picket fences – further consideration will be given to the possibility of additional picket fences at the beginning of Haggs Road, once NYC Highways have completed their deliberations into other potential traffic calming measures. - Follifields
a) Radcliffe Close/Follifields hedge. The contractor had agreed to trim the hedge approximately 12 inches above the level of the fence for the same price as last year.
b) Wildflower area. The existing contractor had agreed to charge the same as last year for cutting back and removal. He undertook to complete by early November at the latest.
c) Cllr Gallimore reported that some undesirable graffiti had been drawn on the tennis table with indelible ink. Despite her best efforts, removal had proved nearly impossible without damaging the table surface. The clerk will contact Playscheme for advice. She also reported that, following numerous complaints about “squeaky” swings, she had applied WD40 which had resolved the problem! The Chairman thanked her on behalf of the Council.
14. Finance
a) Review of finances, approval of expenditure.
. Balance at the bank on 16th October 2024 in Current Account £1366.43 and Deposit
Account £26804.31, total £28170.74. Bank statements to be initialled by the Chairman in confirmation, as part of his payment authorisation process. Monthly Reconciliation – reconciliation as at 16th October was provided with receipts and payments in the period 12th September to 16th October, reconciling to the account balances shown above. Councillors then unanimously agreed the 7 amounts below for payment.
| Follifields maintenance | S Bush | £92.40 | Bank transfer |
| Website m’t’ce – honorarium | S Smith | £100.00 | Bank transfer |
| VAT | HMRC | £42.00 | Bank transfer |
| Clerk sal + tax refund | M Richards | £514.56 | Bank transfer |
| External audit | PFK Littlejohn | £210.00 | Bank transfer |
| Village maintenance | Village Handyman | £1008.00 | Bank transfer |
| Benches refurb & phone box | A Walker | £655.00 | Bank transfer |
b) The clerk ran through the Summary and Cumulative budget statements, explaining the current position. He pointed out that he had adjusted the Clerk’s salary and HMRC figures in the
Summary spreadsheet due to the change in tax code, resulting in a budget overspend and underspend of the same amounts, ie no change in the overall budget. Councillors had no comments or questions.
15. Any items for the next meeting.
No items notified.
The meeting finished at 9.10.
Date of next Parish Council meeting: Thursday 14th November 2024, commencing at 7.30pm.