Thursday 11th February

MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
Thursday 11th February 2016

Present: Chairman N. MacDermid, Vice Chairman T. Martin, Councillor’s J. Hinchcliffe. E. Jones, T. Hall and C. Gogna and Internal Auditor M. Kettlewell and one resident.

1. Apologies: Apologies received and accepted from Councillor Florance.
2. Declaration of Interest and Notification of changes in the Members’ Register of Interest: Councillor Martin declared an interest in item 21e.
3. Public Participation session: None.
4. Minutes of the meeting held on 14th January 2016: Councillor Hall approved the minutes, with the correction to Item 19d, stating ‘the sheds are sited in the back gardens’. This was seconded by Councillor Martin, the Chairman duly signed the minutes.
5. Matters arising from the minutes: Items included in the Agenda.
6. Chairman’s communications: The Chairman said a resident had enquired about the proposed creation of permissive paths around the Home Farm area by the local landowner. The Chairman asked the clerk to look into the matter.
7. Clerk’s correspondence:
a) YLCA Branch Meeting 15/02/16 – The Parish Councillors were unable to attend the meeting.
b) Advice Surgery – The clerk said she had received a letter from MP Nigel Adams, offering to assist with issues of concern and a poster to display advertising advice surgeries. It was resolved the clerk would contact him and to enquire if he could be of any assistance with Broadband, Mobile Phone Coverage and Electoral Parliamentary Boundaries.
c) The clerk had circulated an email from the Bowling Club, thanking the Parish Council for their assistance in purchasing the new mats.
d) White Rose Update
i) The clerk said there was an article on ‘Neighbourhood Plan Conflict’.
ii) The clerk said she wished to attend a SLCC Training Day at a cost of £35.00 The Parish Councillors agreed to fund the training.
e) The clerk said a list of correspondence was available.
8. Matters concerning Plompton:
a) Councillor Hall said the rubbish at the bottom of the hill had been collected but the rubbish half way up the hill had not been. Action: Clerk to contact Harrrogate Borough Council to request it is collected.
9. Parish Council Elections: The clerk said she had received the information for the Parish Councillor Elections to be held in May 2016. She gave all Parish Councillor’s present an application pack. It was agreed to publicize and plan on bus advertising cost the job of the Parish Councillors in order to stimulate fresh candidates.

10. Parish Council Performance Review: Chairman MacDermid reviewed the progress of the Parish Council since the ‘Additional Meeting’ held in January 2015. He discussed the aims and objectives of the Parish Council over the year and thanked the Parish Councillors for their help in achieving the majority of goals. He asked the clerk to look into on-line training for the Parish Councillors, as the majority of Councillors work and are unable to attend training courses. Councillor Martin thanked his colleagues and said he felt there had been an overall improvement in involvement from his colleagues.
11. Electoral Review of Harrogate: The clerk had forwarded the information on the Electoral Review. She said if residents which to comment further information is available at www.consultation.lgbce.org.uk
12. Broadband: Councillor Hinchcliffe gave an update on Broadband. He said he had contacted Councillor Don Mackenzie and Iain Marr of Superfast North Yorkshire and neither had replied to his email. He said he continues to investigate alternative technology.
13. Defibrillator: Councillor Hinchcliffe gave an update, he said the grant scheme run by Harrogate Borough Council had been oversubscribed. The Chairman asked Councillor Hinchcliffe to speak to planning regarding the installation of a defibrillator in a listed structure.
14. Neighbourhood Watch: The coordinator had sent his apologies and said residents should continue to be aware of scams. The Police report had been received, with no crimes recorded in Follifoot.
15. Village Up Keep:
a) Handy person role – The clerk said she will continue to advertise the post.
b) Dog Fouling – The Chairman said the letters had been distributed around the village and hoped that it will encourage residents to pick up after their dog.
c) Allotment and dogs on the site – A resident said dogs had been on the allotment and requested wire netting was fitted to the bottom of the gate. It was resolved Councillor Hall would carry out the work.
d) Spring Litter Pick – The Spring Litter Pick was organised for Sunday 17th April at 2pm. Action: Clerk to organise.
e) Review Grass Cutting Tender with HBC – It was resolved to continue to use the HBC grass cutting services.
16. Community Emergency Plan – The clerk said free training on Community Resilience Planning had been organised by Rural Action Yorkshire. The Chairman and Clerk said they would look at attending.
17. Highways:
a) Drains
i) Pannal Road – The clerk said she had not received a response since her email 29.01.16. It was resolved to enquire with Yorkshire Water as to whether they are able to assist with the water coming out of the pavement.
ii) Spofforth Lane – The Clerk said she had contacted Highways about the first two drains on Spofforth Lane, as yet she had not received a reply.
iii) Main Street (School & Pear Tree Cottage) – The clerk said she had looked at the drains outside school and they appeared to be clear of debris. She said the tarmac around the drain outside Pear Tree Cottage was breaking up. The clerk said she contacted Highways, but had not received a reply.
18. FOFWRAP:
a) The Chairman reported that FOFWRAP had consulted with Planning at Harrogate Borough Council regarding the Change of Use Application for the proposed recreational area on Pannal Road. As the cost for Full Planning permission is approximately the same as a Change of Use application, it was resolved that Full Planning Permission would be applied for. This would save two application being submitted and two fees being paid. FOFWRAP have instructed Groundworks to engage the services of their internal Landscape Architect to draw up plans. Chairman MacDermid said he would confirm the costs at the next meeting.
b) The Chairman said FOFWRAP had met with the Landowner who was happy “in principle” with the draft layout proposals.
19. Finance:
a) Balance at the bank Current Account £1095.82 Deposit Account £6592.14
b) Request for authorisation of expenditure
Bank Transfer HBC Grass cutting £84.96
Cheque No: SG Hinchcliffe Stationery £46.64

c) Monthly Budget – The monthly budget was approved. See appendix 1
20. Opting in or out of Audit: The Parish Councillors resolved to ‘Opt-in’ to the Audit scheme.
21. Planning:
a) Applications
i) Follifoot Ridge Farm, Pannal Road, Follifoot – 6.121.12.Y.FUL 16/00129/FUL – Erection of isolation facility and hospital pen for livestock. The Parish Council supported the application.
ii) Plompton Rocks, Plompton, Knaresborough – 6.108.48.A.FUL 15/05661/FUL – Extraction of silt around former island, boathouse and lake inlets. The Parish Council did not object to or support the application but wished to make comments and seek safeguards.
iii) The Old Presbytery, Rudding Lane, Follifoot – 6.121.45.F.FUL – 16/00360/FUL Erection of detached garage to include log and garden store. The Parish Council supported the application.
iv) Hedgerow Removal Notice, NW Boundary Of Field At 432712 452828 – 6.121.204.K.HEDGE 16/00309/HEDGE – Removal of 105 metres of hedgerow. The Parish Council supported the application.
v) Hedgerow Removal Notice, NW Of OS Field 432712 452728 Home Farm, Rudding Lane, Follifoot – 6.121.204.HEDGE 16/00255/HEDGE – Removal of 70m of hedgerow. The Parish Council supported the application.
b) Arrange a meeting for applications received since the agenda was compiled – None received.
c) Outcome of previous applications
i) Hilltop House – Appeal dismissed
ii) Aketon Lodge – Appeal dismissed
d) Affordable Housing
i) The clerk informed the meeting that she had enquired when the development would be complete. Home Group informed her they are aware areas of the site need to be finished and will liaise with the developer to ensure the work is completed.
ii) The clerk said she had enquired about relocation of the sheds. Home Group said the financial implications were too great and therefore will not be moving the sheds.
iii) The Parish Council discussed the tenancy agreements for the new homes. It was agreed the clerk would ask Home Group for a tenancy agreement, so the Parish Council are aware of what the tenants can place in their gardens.
e) Proposed development site Land East of 4 Spofforth Lane – The Chairman updated the Parish Council. He said he attended a meeting organised by residents. He said their main concerns over the development were over a safe access to the site and the land being greenbelt. Several residents had sent comments on the application to Harrogate Borough Council.
f) Harrogate District Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment: Initial Sites List 2016 – The Chairman said Harrogate Borough Council had produced a document showing areas of land to be considered for potential development in the Harrogate area, including Follifoot. The map can be viewed at Harrogate Borough Councils’ website http://consult.harrogate.gov.uk/portal/pp/so/shelaa/isl_1
22. Date of next meeting: 8pm on 12th March 2016 at Follifoot Village Hall