12th March 2020
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
Thursday 12th March 2020
PRESENT: Chairman N MacDermid, Councillors T Martin (Vice Chairman), A Dewsnip, C Dickinson, T Hall, J Locke and S Riley. In attendance, M Richards (Clerk) and 1 resident.
1. Apologies: Apologies for absence were received from Cllr. A Paraskos.
2. Declaration of Interest and Notification of changes in the Members’
Register of Interest: None.
3 Public Participation session: The resident commented that the revised
positioning of the 30mph posts means that the cul de sac at the end of Pannal
Road still falls within the national speed limit. The Chairman responded that
the Parish Council had made this point at the time the revision was proposed
by NYCC, but the Highway regulations determine the extent of the 30mph
zone and the revised positioning accords with the regulations.
4. Minutes of the meeting held on 13th February 2020: Councillor Hall proposed the minutes to be a correct record, seconded by Councillor Riley. The Chairman then duly signed the minutes.
5. Matters arising from the previous minutes:
- “Roadside picket fences”.The clerk provided examples of vinyl fences for councillors to consider. Following discussion it was agreed that the clerk would contact the NYCC Highways Community Safety Officer (Darren Griffiths) to ascertain whether the location of the fences could be determined by the Parish Council and whether signs could be fixed to the fences. He will also contact Little Ouseburn PC (who have already installed such fences) to ask for details of their installations.
- Litter Pick – confirmed for Sunday 5th April at 2.00pm. The clerk will arrange the supply of the necessary equipment and refuse sacks.
7. Chairman’s communications
There were no communications to the Chairman which are not addressed
elsewhere in the agenda.
- Clerk’s correspondence received.
a) Funding for Supported bus service – the clerk had circulated the details
of the Dept for Transport scheme which was aimed at providing funding for
2020/21 to provide a new or additional bus service. He had contacted
Connexions and the Harrogate Bus Company to enquire whether there was
any possibility of providing a Sunday and additional night time service to the
Parish. Connexions had replied, stating that it was not possible to increase
the existing service, Harrogate Bus Company had not replied. Cllr Dickinson
opined that the funding was probably aimed at a small, private, community
operation, not a commercial company. Councillors agreed, expressing
regret that some improvement to the service could not be made, if only for a
year.
b) NYCC consultation on a new policy for developer contributions to
education – this relates to contributions to the local community from housing
etc developments (formerly “ commuted sums”, now “Community
Infrastructure Levy”) As there is no new build in the Parish in the approved
Harrogate Local Plan it is not considered relevant and councillors
acknowledged it as such.
c) VE Day – 75th anniversary. An invitation to attend the VE Day celebration
at Ripon Cathedral had been received. No councillor expressed a wish to
attend. - Matters concerning Follifoot
Street lighting in Radcliffe Close. Cllr Riley was pleased to announce that
the failed street lighting had now been repaired. She thought NYCC had
carried out the repairs although this was not confirmed. She also noted that
all the street lights had been numbered, so it seemed likely this was a
NYCC initiative. - Matters concerning Plompton
Cllr Hall reported that the Residents’ Association as mooted last meeting had now been formed and its first meeting had been held on 20th February. The main points discussed had been the possibility of getting the access road adopted by the Council, and installation of security cameras. Once received, the Chairman will circulate the minutes of the meeting. - Neighbourhood Watch – the Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator (NWC) had circulated his report to councillors, which summarised the reported crimes in and around the Parish, in February. He drew attention again to the ongoing frauds and scams, but particularly stressed the latest one where fraudsters are offering facemasks to protect against coronavirus, and when payment is made no facemasks are received.
12.Village Up Keep
a) Councillors observed that some of the common grass areas had already been cut although the clerk confirmed he had not received an invoice from the village handyman. This will no doubt follow.
b) Cllr Dickinson reported that the drain at the bottom of Hillside was blocked. The clerk will contact NYCC Highways.
13. FOFWRAP/Follifields: a) The quotation from Playscheme for repairing the “pegs” on the springers
had been received, and all councillors considered the amount to be
excessive. The clerk will write again, stressing the unsatisfactory nature of the
pegs assembly and reminding Playscheme that unsatisfactory repairs had
been completed in the past. He will request a much more favourable
quotation.
b) A working party to progress the Willow Tunnel has been arranged for 29th
March. It is intended to be a “Community Event” and will take place between 2
and 4 pm.
c) Grass cutting – councillors agreed to re-appoint Moorland Garden
Services for this coming season, with an increase in rate of £12.50 per cut.
14. Finance:
a)Balance at the bank on 29th February 2020, Current Account £2314.39
and Deposit Account £20,001.75 (total £22,316.14) Bank statements
initialled by the Chairman, in confirmation – Monthly Budget – See Appendix
1.The clerk had inserted another column, showing payments still
to be made, up to the year end, and councillors thought it would also be
useful to identify separately expenditure on Follifields. The Chairman
undertook to amend the spreadsheet accordingly and forward to the clerk
for future use.
b) Monthly Reconciliation – reconciliation as at 29th February was provided
c) Expenditure 14th February 2020 – to 13th March 2020 to be
approved and authorised by two councillors on examination of the
supporting documentation.
| M Richards | Clerk’s salary – Feb | £286.76 | Bank Transfer |
| HMRC | PAYE | £71.69 | Bank Transfer |
| M Richards | Clerk’s exps – 4th qtr | £87.50 | Bank Transfer |
| Village Hall | Room rental | £189.00 | Bank Transfer |
| M Richards | Computer security | £89.99 | Bank Transfer |
| S Smith | Domain name | £14.03 | Bank Transfer |
Una Unaminously agreed and then authorised by two councillors, who
examined the supporting documentation and signed the covering authority
sheet as “approved”
d) Risk assessment – the clerk confirmed that he had updated the risk
assessment to reflect the changes in the approval/payment procedure. He
will circulate to councillors for approval.
15.Planning:
a) Notification of decisions received since last meeting.
– None
b) Applications Received
i) 20/00494/FUL – Installation of Eco Air source heat pumps to rear of
existing garage. – The Fold 11 Rudding Dower Follifoot HG3 1LL.
Councillors discussed and agreed to support the application.
ii) 20/00505/FUL – Erection of 2 storey extension and detached garage
– Fence End, 4 Hillside, Follifoot, HG3 1EF. The Chairman commented that
a neighbouring property owner had expressed some concern over the
possible loss of sunlight to his property. Councillors discussed but did not
think this to be an issue due to the relative positions of both properties. The
Chairman also observed that the bat survey was incorrect in that it described
the location as “urban” rather than “rural” and that there was no proximity to
water or trees – both incorrect. Councillors were also concerned about
continuing disruption to local residents as this would be the second
construction project in the immediate vicinity, in a short space of time.
Councillors agreed that the response to HBC Planning would be to neither
object to nor support the application but to draw attenrion to the matters
outlined above.
c) Applications received since the agenda was compiled.
None
d) Enforcement –
i) 19/00652/PR15 – Paddock south of Moordale Lodge, Pannal
Road – siting of storage unit. The Enforcement Officer had reported that there
was no breach of planning regulations as the storage unit was moveable and
was being used for agricultural purposes.Councillors noted, but would like to
know if there was a time limit for the continuing use of this unsightly unit.
ii) East View Cottages – apparent failure to comply with enforcement
requirements has been reported to the Enforcement Officer and he is following
up.
16. Emergency Planning
The Chairman raised the issue of the Parish Council’s position with regard to
such matters as, for example, a national disaster, serious local road accident or
pandemic.Councillors discussed and agreed with Cllr Martin’s assessment that
there was such a wide, extensive range of risks that a specific Parish Council
it would be difficult to formulate a detailed policy. In principle, however, it was
agreed that the Parish Council’s response to any such incident would be to be
guided by Harrogate Borough Council & North Yorkshire County Council and
provide whatever assistance was appropriate. They would also encourage the
community to support each other as “good neighbours”. The Chairman then
suggested that the clerk contact HBC’s Emergency Planning Officer, to
enquire whether there was any plan in existence specifically relevant to this
Parish Council.
There being no other business, the meeting closed at 9.10.
Date of next Meeting: 7.00pm on 9th April 2020 in Follifoot Village Hall, Tofts Lane, Follifoot, This is the Annual Parish Meeting, to which all residents are invited. It will be followed by the April Parish Council meeting.