2010 February

FOLLIFOOT WITH PLOMPTON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting held on 18 February 2010

Present : Parish Councillors B. Fisher (Chairman), B. Butler , T. Martin, E. Bolton , C. Florance, U. Cansfield and five residents.

Apologies for absence : There were none.

Co-option of Parish Councillor : Four individuals had expressed an interest in filling the vacancy and had met with the councillors prior to the meeting. It being proposed by T. Martin, Mr. N. Pettitt was co-opted onto the Parish Council by a majority vote. The Chairman thanked all the participants for their interest and desire to make a contribution to the community.

Parish Councillor E. Bolton then left the meeting.

Declarations of interest in items on the agenda : There were none.
Public participation session :

• Telephone kiosk, Main Street – Mr. N. MacDiarmid informed the meeting that his house deeds indicated that this was located on his land.

• Village End, Plompton Road – Mr. M. Hammond gave an update on his planning application which had recently been refused. He was about to appeal the decision.

Minutes of the meeting held on 14.1.10 : Having been proposed by B. Butler and seconded by T. Martin, the Chairman signed the minutes as a correct record.
Matters arising from the minutes :

• Telephone kiosk, Main Street . The clerk had enquired of B.T. about the ownership of the land upon which the kiosk was sited and had been informed that it was on the public highway. Actions: In view of the information received at agenda item 4a), the clerk was asked to contact B.T. again. N. MacDiarmid agreed to supply a copy of the relevant part of the house deed.

Chairman’s communications :

• Hedge trimming, Spofforth Road . A resident had complained that the road had not been cleared of the trimmings, but a later examination by the Chairman indicated that passing traffic had dispersed them.

• Public footpath accessed from Main Street complaints received about its muddy state following ditch clearing works. The landowner had been approached and stated that its condition would improve with dry weather.

Plompton : There was an enquiry about the status of the public right of way near to Plompton Hall. It was confirmed that the footpath had been diverted by the accepted procedure some years ago.
Report on the meeting between representatives of Yorkshire Water, Rudding Park and the Parish Council : There had been a discussion about whether the odours might be caused by effluent from the Rudding Park complex or from the new sewage system joining from the Haggs Road . It was agreed that odour meters would be installed in manholes on the Haggs spur and down Main Street . A request was made by the Parish Council that this work should not commence until the weather was warmer and this was confirmed by Yorkshire Water. The Parish Council also asked for sight of the test results. Yorkshire Water has agreed to alter the bend in the sewer at the bottom of Main Street should this prove to be the cause of the problems.
Litter Pick : it was agreed to hold a spring litter pick around Follifoot and 18 April 2010 at 2 pm was suggested as a suitable date. Actions: Clerk to arrange for supply of sticks, bags and gloves from Harrogate Council, C. Florance to ask for rubbish to be stored behind the Radcliffe Arms prior to collection, N. Pettitt to seek to involve the school in this community activity via Friends of Follifoot School.
Winter service : Action: Clerk to contact NYCC to request an assessment for the placement of salt bins at the end of Leconfield Garth and at the point where housing begins on Plompton Road , Follifoot. Unadopted roads – the NYCC winter service leaflet states that winter maintenance will not be carried out. Specific requests from parish councils may be considered only if resources are available and all relevant costs are paid by them.
Highways : Pannal Road pavement/Hilltop House garage – a suspected water leak is under investigation by NYCC. N. Pettitt will report back when he has received information about any proposed remedial action.
Finance :

• Balance at the bank: £ 7423.37 was in the accounts.

• Request for authorisation of expenditure: a quotation for the 2010 season grass cutting contract received from Harrogate Council. This was £ 10.07 + VAT per cut which was within the amount budgeted. Having been proposed by B. Butler and seconded by T. Martin, the Parish Council resolved to accept the quotation.

Clerk’s report and correspondence : Papers received since the last meeting were distributed to councillors.
Planning :

• Application 10/00128/FUL – Unit 8, Follifoot Ridge Business Park for erection of replacement industrial unit (use class B2 and B8). The Parish Council had no objections to the application.

• No applications had been received since the agenda was compiled.

• Outcome of previous applications : Approved : Dower House and Dower Cottage, Rudding Lane for single storey front and side extensions; Lilac Cottage, Main Street to fell 1 ash. Observation : Telephone kiosk, Main Street – the local planning authority objects to the removal of the kiosk on heritage grounds as it is a listed building. Noted that the Parish Council would like to adopt it if the telephony were removed.

Date of next meeting : Change to Thursday 18 March agreed.