2008 October

FOLLIFOOT WITH PLOMPTON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 9 October 2008

Present: Parish Councillors B. Fisher (chairman), S. Milligan, C. Florance, U. Cansfield, B. Butler, T. Martin, P.C. M. Ayre and three residents.

Apologies for absence: Parish Councillor E. Bolton and District Councillor C. Bayliss.
Declarations of interest in items on the agenda: There were none.
Public Participation session:

P.C. M. Ayre informed the Parish Council that there had been one recorded crime in the parish since the last meeting that of theft from a car at Rudding Park. He stated that there had been a reduction of crime in the village. He reported an influx of traveller’s into the area with a substantial number setting up camp on the Massingberd/Audi site in Knaresborough. The Police were advising the public not to allow traveller’s to do work for them. Police car patrols in the evening were to be increased.

P.C. Ayre had also visited the village school regarding parking problems and had supplied leaflets for the children to take home to their parents. A letter from the headteacher would also be circulated to parents regarding the regular obstructions created in Main Street and the difficulty experienced by ‘bus, HGV drivers and residents in negotiating their way along the road. It appears that few parents have participated in the walk to school initiative. P.C. Ayre will make regular checks in the village.

Minutes of the meeting held on 4.9.08:

The Chairman signed the minutes as a correct record having been proposed by T. Martin and seconded by U. Cansfield.

Matters arising from the minutes:

Item 6 c) a response had been received from NYCC Highways regarding access to the by-pass from Rudding Lane. The matter would be investigated and a report back made to the Parish Council in due course.
Item 11 c) a response had been received from Samuel Smith’s brewery following a further letter from the Parish Council expressing its disappointment that the suggested enhancements in the draft conservation area appraisal would not be acted upon. The brewery’s area manager explained that this was because work to their properties had to be prioritised.
Bulb planting – leaflets had been prepared and would be distributed. Mr. P. Banks, the Rudding House manager offered to find out if a mini digger could be made available to strip off turf in the planting area to make the task easier to undertake.

Chairman’s communications:

Yorkshire Water – no foul odours had been detected for some time along the Main Street. The Chairman held that the capacity of the sewer had still to be tested by heavy rainfall.
Permissive footpath from Plompton Road to Kitty Corner – this had been completed by Rudding Estate and was now open to the public. The Parish Council were pleased to note this addition to the local footpaths and the Clerk was asked to send a letter of congratulation to M. Mackaness.

Mounting Block, Main Street:

T. Martin reported on his efforts to establish the origins of the mounting block. A resident he had spoken to believed that it had been located in the yard at Ivy Farm for many years. It had occupied its present position on Main Street for at least 30 years. The name of a former clerk was suggested as a further line of enquiry. Photographs of the mounting block had been taken by S. Milligan who was thanked for this contribution to the listing building application. The clerk offered to prepare a draft submission for consideration at the next meeting.

Matters concerning Plompton:

The payphone which is a Listed Building has now been inspected and missing glass panels will be replaced in the next few weeks, painting will take place at a later date.

Highways:

Extension to the 30 mph limit on Spofforth Lane. An order confirming the extension had now been made. This was a prerequisite to any physical alterations. NYCC were very behindhand in implementing the rural road safety schemes.
Resurfacing road works in the Parish – it was understood that these would take place in late November.

Finance:

Balance at the bank – a total of £ 6941.02 was in the accounts. Receipts were £ 2650 from Harrogate Council for the second half of the precept and £ 56.37 bank interest.
Quarterly reconciliation of accounts – a paper had been previously circulated to the councillors. This was checked against bank statements and invoices by C. Florance and found to be correct.
Request for authorisation of expenditure – payment had been authorised for the installation of gas heaters in the Village Hall at the July meeting to Drugasar in the sum of £ 4375.82, the monies had now cleared through the accounts; to clerk for salary for the second quarter £ 724.42; stamps £ 10.38; to Harrogate Council for grass cutting £ 22.09; to Brookside Nurseries for bulbs £ 391. The Clerk informed the councillors that a local contractor had been asked to repair a loose roof slate on the bottom ‘bus shelter. The expenditure was proposed by C. Florance and seconded by S. Milligan.
Budget 2009/2010 – it would be necessary for the Parish Council to approve the budget and the precept request at the December meeting. A working group would meet in late November to draft the budget proposals.
Bank mandate – The Parish Council resolved that the bank accounts be continued with HSBC and authorised the bank to pay all cheques and instructions for payment on behalf of the Parish Council by any two of the listed signatories. S. Milligan would be added to the list of signatories which comprises all parish councillors.

Clerk’s report and correspondence:

Since the last meeting, the Parish Council considered a written request to lobby for the reinstatement of the Skipton to Colne rail link. The councillors decided not to offer support to this. Papers received were circulated to councillors for information.

Planning:

Application 08/03822/FUL Home Farm Bungalow, Follifoot for erection of replacement dwelling (site area .025 ha). The Parish Council had no objection to the application.
Application 08/04307/LB and 08/04306/FULMAJ Rudding House, Follifoot a listed building and full application for the erection of a west wing extension to provide 48 hotel rooms (34 net additional) and spa (revised scheme). Representatives of the Parish Council had visited Rudding House to receive a presentation regarding the plans and to view the site of the proposed extensions. Mr. P. Banks was present to answer any questions regarding the scheme. The Parish Council decided to support the applications.
Outcome of previous applications:

Permitted – Stable Cottage, Rudding Dower for a conservatory; Holly Bush Pasture,Thistle Hill for an agricultural building; Ducks Nest Farm,Follifoot for conversion of outbuildings to holiday lets; Follifoot Ridge Business Park for an attached agricultural building; Springfield Cottages, Follifoot for treeworks

Refused – Village End, Plompton Road, Follifoot for demolition of bungalow and erection of replacement dwelling.

Date of next meeting: Thursday, November 6, 2008