2007 September

Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 6 September 2007

Present: Parish Councillors B. Butler, C. Florance, B. Fisher (Chairman), U. Cansfield, T. Martin. P.C. M. Ayre and two residents.

Apologies for absence:

Parish Councillors E. Bolton and M. Mitton. District Councillor C. Bayliss.

Declarations of interest in items on the agenda:

There were none to declare.

The Chairman welcomed the two residents to the meeting and then invited P. C. Ayre to report on the work of the Police since the last meeting in July. He described two operations:- Helicole, targeting road traffic offences across the region and aimed at reducing the high number of casualties. This would run for two months until the end of September. Operation Impact, focussing on criminal activity with a different theme each week, e.g. week commencing 3.9.07 the theme was handling stolen goods.

Crimes in the Parish since 5.7.07 – theft of a construction machine at Thistle Hill and theft of and damage to caravans at Rudfarlington Farm. There are presently a number of travellers occupying land at Rudfarlington Farm.

Parking – a number of concerns raised. Guilders Bridge where some dog walkers park dangerously where the road bends. P.C. Ayre suggested contacting NYCC Highways to seek any remedy.

The Police Review will be published on 1.10.07 and P.C. Ayre thought it likely that his role in relation to rural policing would end. He agreed to inform the Parish Council when the outcome was known, so views could be expressed.

The Chairman thanked P. C. Ayre for attending the meeting.

Minutes of the meeting held on 5,7,07:

The Chairman signed the minutes as a correct record. Proposed by B. Butler and seconded by T. Martin.

Matters arising from the minutes:

Wingate Farm – advertising signs appear to have been vandalised. Clerk to contact Harrogate Highways to request their removal.
Footpath from Rudding Dower to Follifoot village. Following some discussion, the Parish Council agreed that the Chairman should contact the landowner with a view to exploring the possibility of a permissive footpath.
Speed survey, Rudding Lane – NYCC Highways will arrange for speed monitoring.
Internal Auditor – the Chairman has approached Mrs. M. Kettlewell who has agreed to take on the role. She will replace Mr. P. Carney.
Freedom of Information Act – the documents requested by Mr. Pettitt have been handed over to him.

Chairman’s communications:

Planning applications – the last two applications made by Rudding Estate have been sent to the Chairman prior to receipt from the planning authority.
Guilders Bridge – a resident sent a copy of her letter of complaint plus photographs to NYCC Highways concerning the footpath which is presently overgrown with weeds.
Open Gardens Day in Follifoot – the Friends of Harrogate Hospital have approached the Chairman with a view to repeating the successful event held in 2005. The Parish Council agreed in principle to support another event. The Chairman will follow up.
Highways – Junction of Pannal Road and Leeds Road – it was noted that the road lay out had been changed and then returned to the previous arrangement in a matter of days. The Parish Council to send a letter of complaint regarding cost and lack of consultation to the relevant Highway authority. Spofforth Lane, Follifoot – hole at the side of the road adjacent to village sign to be reported.
Top ‘bus shelter – affect of nesting swallows noted. T. Martin offered to clean the shelter. Councillors to consider a means of preventing future damage.

Matters concerning Plompton:

There were none apart from the planning application at item 10 b).

Commuted sums:

The sum of £ 74 was available from Harrogate Council to purchase spring bulbs for planting on the verges at the junction of Rudding Lane and the by-pass. The Parish Council agreed to the expenditure which will be reimbursed by the Harrogate Council. This was proposed by B. Butler and seconded by T. Martin. B. Butler agreed to buy the bulbs. A working party to plant the bulbs was proposed for SATURDAY 29 SEPTEMBER AT 10 AM – ASSEMBLE OUTSIDE THE POST OFFICE. There was a suggestion that the Follifoot Primary School children might be involved in the project. C. Florance will discuss at the next school governors meeting.

Finance:

Balance at the Bank – the sum of £ 8227.29 in the accounts. This included a receipt of £ 12 for documents given to a resident under the Freedom of Information Act.
Request for authorisation of expenditure – £42.86 to Harrogate Council for two months of grass cutting; £ 13.85 to Jespers for stationery; £ 30 to the Chairman for flowers sent to the former Clerk, Mrs. P. Hubbard; £ 37.50 to Harrogate Council, the fee for a planning application for a new sign for the Village Hall. The expenditure was proposed by B. Butler and seconded by T. Martin.

Clerk’s report and correspondence:

Brownhill Wood – letter received from people who have recently purchased a plot of woodland. They wanted to inform the Parish Council of this, to request views on plans to do minor forestry work and to request information regarding the history of the site. Clerk to write suggesting they may need to apply for a licence to fell trees and suggesting contact with the County Archive for historical information.
Advertising the adoption of the new Code of Conduct. Harrogate Council plan to insert an advert in the local newspaper, the Parish Council will be included. The Councillors were given a new form to register their financial and other interests as required by the Code.
Local Development Framework – consultation papers on the Core Strategy and Homes for local people received and to be placed on the agenda for discussion and a response at the next meeting.
Post Office closures – a consultation on the closure plan will commence October 2007. To be discussed at the next meeting.
Papers received since the last meeting were circulated to councillors.

Planning Applications:

6.121.B.FUL Land east of Home Farm Cottages – Revised scheme for erection of detached dwelling and installation of new package treatment plant (0.040 ha). The Parish Council objected to the application.
6.108.31.A.FUL Land comprising OS field 0005, Plompton – Erection of detached dwelling to replace caravan (0.08 ha). The Parish Council objected to the application.
6,121,173,B. FUL 6 Park Side, Pannal Road, Follifoot – erection of two storey side extension. The Parish Council had on objections to the application.
No further applications had been received.
Outcome of previous applications: Lodge House, Follifoot Hall for a garage – approved, Erection of detached agricultural building, Plompton – refused. Parish Council consultation not required (for information) – application for treeworks at Park Side House to crown lift one Ash and remove reverted growth of one Maple.
The Clerk had enquired whether the planning authority was able to give presentations to Parish Councils and was informed that there were insufficient resources to do this. However, planning officers were pleased to deal with queries relating to specific applications.

Date of next meeting:

Thursday 11 October, 2007 at 8 pm in the Village Hall.