9th September 2021
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
Thursday 9th September 2021
Held in Follifoot Village Hall, following the relaxation of Government guidelinesregarding the coronavirus pandemic.
PRESENT: Chairman N MacDermid, Vice Chairman A Dewsnip, Councillors C Dickinson, T Martin, S Riley and T Hall. In attendance, M Richards (Clerk) and 5 residents.
1.Apologies: Apologies for absence were received and accepted from Cllr J Locke who was on holiday and Cllr A Paraskos.
2. Declaration of Interest and Notification of changes in the Members’
Register of Interest: None.
3. Public Participation session: The Chairman welcomed the five residents to the meeting and confirmed that they were able to comment on any issues raised.
4.Minutes of the meetings held on 8th July and 5th August 2021:Councillor Martin proposed the minutes to be a correct record, seconded by Councillor Hall. The Chairman then duly signed the minutes.5 Matters arising from the previous minutes: Dealt with as part of the agenda.6 Chairman’s communications
Dealt with as part of the agenda.7 Clerk’s correspondence received.
a) National resilience Strategy – NYCC circulated a “call for evidence”, whereby the Cabinet Office are calling for as many community groups as possible to review the proposed strategy and answer questions on how this strategy could be improved before the final draft is published in 2022.Councillors discussed and agreed that rather than submitting a Parish Council response, individual councillors should respond, should they so wish.
b) Follifields Annual Safety Inspection. The clerk reported that he had confirmed with HBC for the inspection to be carried out in September/October at the slightly increased cost of £60 (+ VAT) Councillors noted.
8. Follifields.
a) Maintenance update. The clerk reported that the quotation for the work
from the Village Handyman had been expanded to include an estimated cost
of materials and this, together with the quoted labour cost, was the lower of
the quotations received. Unfortunately however, the work cannot be
commenced until February/March 2022. Councillors discussed and it was
agreed to award the work to the Village Gardner but with the provisos that i)
a firm commitment is made to the work being completed no later than March,
ii) the quoted labour cost is confirmed, and iii) invoices be provided for all
materials etc purchased. However, there is still one issue that needs
remedial action currently rather than by March 2022 and that is the filling in of
the fence post holes in the verge down Radcliffe Close. The clerk will chase
up with the contractor to ensure prompt action is taken. The Chairman also
suggested that the contractor be reminded to undertake the cutting back of
the wildflower area in October.
b) Goal posts and nets. The clerk has arranged for the goal post stanchions
to be installed and sought approval to purchase custom made goal nets at a
cost of some £170 (including retaining pegs and ties). Councillors approved.
9. Parish matters
a) Plompton. i) Planning application 21/00303/PR15 – alteration to the wall in
the curtilage of listed building – The Barn, Plompton. HBC’s Enforcement
Officer has discussed the works with the owner and has referred the matter
to the Council’s Conservation and Design Officer. A report back to the Parish
Council will be made once comments and observations received.
ii) 21/00285/PR15 -7 Plompton Square, Plompton – use of annexe for
AirBnB and erection of outbuilding with hot tub. Planning application has
been submitted, but not yet validated as some additional information is
required. Once received, the application will be validated and the green site
notices will be erected for people to make comment.
b) Village benches refurbishment. The Chairman reported that he had
discussed the “Cullingworth Bench” with the local contractor and was pleased
to confirm that the bench could be satisfactorily repaired, with the “carved
dedication” being retained intact. Cllr Dewsnip undertook to pass this
information on to the family. The other village benches will be refurbished in
line with the quotations received from the contractor.
c) Traffic calming – VAS and picket fences update. Cllr Dickinson confirmed
that the sensitivity of the equipment had been adjusted and the sign now only
operates when vehicles enter the 30mph limit. He had downloaded traffic
data in a report circulated to councillors. Graphs from the report were
displayed for councillor comment and the key observation was that the main
examples of speeding seemed to be between 5 and 6 pm on Fridays! It was
agreed that it was still too early to come to a firm conclusion and a more
detailed analysis of the actual impact of the device will require a longer
period of operation. Picket fences. The clerk had identified a supplier of
actual picket fences (named “Village Gates”) rather than them being
constructed from fence panels, as previously envisaged. Photos of the
various types were circulated and councillors agreed to opt for the “Wiston”
example. The clerk will confirm the maximum height permitted by NYCC and
order two custom made structures to be installed at the previously agreed
location on Haggs Road. A contractor from the NYCC approved list will be
appointed for the installation work. It was also agreed that options for signs
displaying “Slow Down” will be sought from the local sign maker.
A key requirement of the sign is that it can be clearly seen at night as well daytime.
10. Finance:
a) Balance at the bank on 31st August 2021, Current Account £1,783.08
and Deposit Account £24,361.86 (total £26,144.94) Bank statements to be initialled by the Chairman in confirmation, as part of his payment
authorisation process.
b) Monthly Reconciliation – reconciliation as at 31st August was provided
with receipts and payments in the period 1st July to 31st August,
reconciling to the account balances shown above at a) Councillors
then unanimously agreed the 6 amounts below for payment.
| M Richards | Clerk’s salary – August | £295.36 | Bank Transfer |
| HMRC | PAYE – August | £73.84 | Bank Transfer |
| The Countryside Gardener | Village maintenance | £367.50 | Bank Transfer |
| Stuart Bush | Grasscutting | £145.00 | Bank Transfer |
| M Richards | Print cartridge | £20.50 | Bank Transfer |
| M Richards | Clerk’s exps (2nd qtr) | £87.50 | Bank Transfer |
c)The Chairman then ran through the budget spreadsheet, explaining the
updates following the expenditure recorded above. The Cumulative worksheet
demonstrates on a monthly basis, the Parish Council’s financial position, and
the summary sheet provides comparisons with the the annual budget. He
reminded councillors that budget provision and funding (via the AJ1 Fund)
had been made last year whilst actual payment for the VAS has been made in
the current financial year. He also reported that should coronavirus
regulations remain unchanged, fundraising activities for Follifields will re-
commence later in the year. Councillors had no issues or questions to raise.
11. Planning:
a) Applications Received
i) 21/03384/FUL – Erection of two storey extension and demolition of existing
single storey extension – Aketon Cottage, Spofforth Lane.
ii) 21/02557/LB – Listed Building consent for the erection of a wooden shed
and formation of an Indian stone patio – 1 Wingate Court Plompton
iii) 21/03599/FUL – Demolition of existing single storey rear extension and
construction of new single storey rear extension with balcony above.
Hanbury House, Pannal Road.
iv) 21/03674/TPO -14 Leconfield Garth – tree surgery
The Chairman ran through each application in turn, displaying both existing
and proposed site plans. Councillors reviewed in detail, considering in
particular the effect of proposals on neighbouring properties and the visual
impact on the environment. In all cases, there were not felt to be any issues of
concern and it was agreed to SUPPORT all applications.
b) Appeal
Burnison’s Whin – application for the erection of 1 holiday cottage. Councillors
noted.
12. Other matters
None.
There being no other business, the meeting closed at 8.50pm.
Date of next Parish Council Meeting:
7.30pm on Thursday 14th October 2021, in Follifoot Village Hall, Tofts Lane, Follifoot.