2008 January

Minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 2008

Present: Parish Councillors B. Fisher (Chairman), U. Cansfield, B. Butler, C Florance, T. Martin, M. Mitton.

District Councillor C. Bayliss

Residents: M. Keenan, M. Kettlewell, P. Dawson, M. Hammond

Apologies for absence:

There were no apologies.

Declarations of interest in items on the agenda:

There were no declarations of interest.

Minutes of the meeting held on 6.12.08

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

Matters arising from the minutes:

Community First Responders – a presentation was made by the Ambulance Service to potential volunteers prior to the meeting. Health and Police checks would be sought and Mrs. E. Watson offered to act as co-ordinator for the team of volunteers. This was accepted with thanks.
Re-cycling presentation – the Parish Council resolved to accept the offer of 17.4.08 for this as it was the date for the annual Parish meeting.
Rural Safety Scheme, Spofforth Lane – reply received from NYCC indicating that the Parish Council‘s preferred site for the new 30 mph sign would be considered by the officer responsible and the Police.

Chairman’s communications:

The Chairman has been in contact with Yorkshire Water. He was informed that their survey had found tree roots were blocking a drain on Spofforth Lane and additionally the ground beneath a pipe had collapsed in the same area. Both served to restrict the flow of effluent around the bend from Main Street into Spofforth Lane. The defects had been rectified. The Chairman also reported that the sewer pipes running under Main Street are 6” in diameter. Some councillors understand that water from the ditch outside the cricket field also drains into the main sewer. S. Mackaness of Rudding Park Hotel had been in touch with the Chairman regarding the survey of drainage he had commissioned in connection with recent planning applications. He has now arranged for this to be extended to the end of Main Street. There are still concerns about the capacity of the sewer pipe to contain the flow of effluent and the foul odours that have been experienced over many years. A letter will be sent to Yorkshire Water to restate the concerns of the Parish Council.

Matters concerning Plompton:

There were no matters for discussion by the Parish Council.

Public participation in Parish Council meetings:

An advice note had been issued by the Yorkshire Local Councils Associations regarding this matter. The present practice is that members of the public are invited to raise any matters of concern prior to the Parish Council meeting. The proposal that public participation sessions may become an agenda item in future was discussed and accepted. It was suggested that this could feature early in a meeting to allow members of the public to have their say and leave the meeting if they wished. It was held to be good practice to have ground rules to guide the conduct of public participation sessions. The Clerk would draft some guidelines for the consideration of the councillors and also highlight any amendments required to Standing Orders.

Local Development Framework for Harrogate:

This was an initial discussion regarding Harrogate Council’s site options for homes and jobs. A newspaper describing the options across the District had been distributed to all households. The consultation commences on 18.1.08 until 29.2.08. A more detailed document would be available to the Parish Council. A parcel of land east of Manor Fold, Follifoot was the Harrogate Council’s preferred site option. Other sites proposed by landowners had been appraised and these were listed in the full report. District Councillor Bayliss stated that she would make available her copy of the report to residents and would ask the Postmaster whether it might be kept at the Post Office for the public to access. The councillors resolved to meet to discuss the report on MONDAY 28 JANUARY AT 8 PM. It was thought important that a public meeting be held to receive the views of residents on the matters raised in the newspaper and full report. This meeting would be held on THURSDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2008.

Finance:

Quarterly reconciliation of accounts – receipts and payments were examined against bank statements by C. Florance who stated that they were in order. Approval was proposed by B. Fisher and seconded by U. Cansfield.
Request for authorisation of expenditure – the balance in the accounts was £ 8765.95. Authorisation was required for subscriptions to the Campaign to Protect Rural England £ 27 and Clerks and Councils Direct magazine £ 9.50, netting to preserve the fabric of the top ‘bus shelter £ 39.98 and to Rudding Estate for the village Christmas trees £ 23.50.
T. Martin had been asked to obtain a quotation for a small plaque to be fixed to the refurbished seat at the end of Leconfield Garth. The form of words was approved as was the quotation of £ 30.
Grounds Maintenance contract 2008 – Harrogate Council’s quotation shows an increase of 3% on the previous year. It would be accepted with the exclusion of weed killing around the village namestones.

The Parish Council resolved to approve the expenditure. This was proposed by B. Fisher and seconded by U. Cansfield.

Clerks Report and correspondence:

Parish Council elections – notification received that these would take place on 1.5.08. Six councillors were required for Follifoot and one for Plompton. The councillors expressed the wish that more residents might be interested to become involved in the Work of the Parish Council. It would be necessary to change the date of the May meeting from 22 nd to 15 th as a consequence. The change was approved.
Clerk’s contract of employment – B. Butler agreed to scrutinise the contract which contained minor amendments with a view to recommending its approval to the Parish Council.
Papers received since the last meeting were circulated to the councillors.

Planning:

A letter had been received from E. Tatterton, Chairman of the Village Hall committee to request that the Parish Council submit their planning application for an extension. The cost would be £ 67.50. The Parish Council resolved to agree to the request and to the expenditure. This was proposed by M. Mitton and seconded by U. Cansfield.
Application 6.121.192.A.TPO – Village End, Plompton Road, Follifoot to crown clean and reduce one Beech tree, T1 of Tree Preservation Order 6/2006. The Parish Council had no objections to the application.
Application received after the agenda was compiled – 6.121.194.FUL – Manor Cottages, Main Street, Follifoot for erection of two storey rear extension as part of a scheme of conversion of two dwellings to one. The Clerk informed the meeting that there was also a separate application for a detached garage in respect of the properties but it had not yet been received. The Parish Council thought it was important to consider both applications together.
Outcome of previous applications – Townsend’s Undertakers, Tofts Lane, Follifoot for garage (revised scheme) – approved. Knaresborough Celtic Football Club for veranda to pavilion and change to hours of use – approved with conditions. Land east of Home Farm Cottages, Follifoot for resiting of replacement dwelling – appeal against refusal of planning permission.

Date of next meeting : Monday 28 January at 8 pm.