12th March 2015

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL

12th March 2015

Welcome to the New Parish Councillor: Mr James Hinchcliffe was appointed as Parish Councillor following interviews. Mr Hinchcliffe signed the Declaration of Acceptance.

Present: Chairman N MacDermid, Vice Chairman T. Martin, Councillors C. Gogna, T. Hall, C. Florance and J. Hinchcliffe, Internal Auditor M. Kettlewell, Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator M. Hammond, PC M. Scott and one resident.

AGENDA:
1. Apologies: Apologies received and accepted from E. Jones.

2. Declaration of Interest and Notification of changes in the Members’ Register of Interest: None

3. Public Participation session: None

4. Minutes of the meeting held on 12th February 2015: T. Martin proposed the minutes to be a correct record, this was seconded by C. Florance and the chairman duly signed the minutes.

5. Matters arising from the minutes: Included in the minutes.

6. Chairman’s communications:
a) The chairman said he had received a letter from the village hall committee see item 9b. He said it had mentioned parking regulations at the village hall and a copy of the arrangements enclosed.
b) The chairman said he had received a letter from a resident to ask if they could advertise their ‘Air bed and breakfast’ in the kiosk. The Parish Council agreed and said they wished to support local businesses. It was suggested if the advertisement is successful then perhaps they could make a donation to the Parish Council. The chairman said he would discuss it with them. The residents had also informed the Parish Council they will be erecting a fence under permitted development.

7. Matters concerning Plompton:
a) Directional Sign – Councillor Hall produced a quote of £180 for a new sign; which was duly accepted. Councillor Hall to organise the installation.
b) Removal of Trees at Plompton Rocks was discussed.

8. Website: Chairman MacDermid agreed to contact old website host to discuss closing the old website down.

9. Broadband:
a) WIFI in Village Hall – The village hall committee said they would discuss the installation of WIFI in the village hall at the next meeting on 26th March 2015 and will inform the parish council of the outcome.
b) The recent installation of a new Broadband Cabinet on Pannal Road was discussed. It is understood that this box may supply users of cabinets 8 and 13 with superfast broadband. This however, has not yet been confirmed, and we are awaiting confirmation of this by Superfast North Yorkshire.

10. Neighbourhood Watch: M. Hammond said he had received a police report stating there had been an increase in frauds and scams in nearby locations. He said the police strongly advise that residents do no converse with people who they do not know. If in doubt the police should be contacted.

11. Rugby Club:
a) Travel Plan – The Parish Council had received a copy of the Travel Plan and decided they would comment on it as they considered it to be insufficient and would send a response to the Planning Department at Harrogate Borough Council. Action: The clerk to draft a letter for the chairman to send.
b) Events Licence – Councillor Hinchcliffe informed the meeting the Rugby Club cannot transfer their present licence and will need to apply for a new licence.

12. Cricket Club Letter: A letter of thanks had been received from the Cricket Club, for assisting in the Cricket Club obtaining commuted sums funds towards the new electronic scoreboard.

13. Harrogate and District Local Plan Workshop: Councillor Martin gave an update of the workshop. He will forward relevant information to the Parish councillors. The chairman thanked him for his update.

14. Village Up Keep:
a) Risk Assessments & Maintenance assessments – Councillor Hinchcliffe volunteered to carry out the six monthly assessments.
b) Spring Village Litter Pick 19th April at 2pm – The date was changed as Harrogate Borough Council was unable to supply any equipment in March.
c) Bus Shelter Cleaning Rota – The clerk said she will produce a new rota and will email to the Parish Councillors.

15. Highways:
a) Stepping Stones – The clerk to organise a meeting with the landowner.
b) Grit Bins at Collins Hill will be installed at the top and bottom of the hill by North Yorkshire County Council in the next financial year.
c) Hedge Spofforth Lane – The landowner said he wasn’t able to cut the hedge from 1st March until September, unless he received permission from Highways. The clerk said she had contact Highways to request they evaluated the situation and is awaiting a reply.

16. FOFWRAP: No update was available as there had been no change in the situation.

17. Parish Annual Meeting: Agenda items were discussed; it was decided to include Village Communications and Neighbourhood Planning. It was decided to change the date of the meeting as the Chairman is away; it was scheduled for 14th May 2015.

18. Finance:
a) Balance at the bank – £511.00 in current account and £7238.32 in deposit account.
b) Request for authorisation of expenditure for renewal to SLCC, this was unanimously agreed.
Cheque No 100742 SLCC Membership £118.00
c) Bank Account Signatories – The clerk said the Parish Councillors who needed to take their documentation to the bank as soon as possible otherwise the documentation will become invalid.

19. Clerk’s correspondence:
a) Community Speed Watch information was received.
b) Commons act 2006 – Implementation or Part 1 of the Commons Act 2006 information was received.
c) NYCC County Area Committee Meeting 12th March was received
d) Rural Action Yorkshire Correspondence was received.
e) NYCC – Record Office Newsletter was received.
f) Countryside Voice Magazine was received.
g) Campaign to Protect Rural England was received.

20. Planning:
a) Applications
i) Riseholm, Haggs Road, Spofforth HG3 1DW – Ref: 15/00746/FUL Erection of single storey extension – The Parish Council supported the application.
b) No applications received since the agenda was compiled.
c) Outcome of previous applications – none received.

21. Date of next meeting: 9th April 2015 at 8pm in Follifoot Village Hall.