11th June 2020

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
Thursday 11th June 2020

This was the second meeting held remotely via the Skype video-conferencing software, in accordance with the Government’s advice and legislation arising from the Covid-19 restrictions.
PRESENT: Chairman N MacDermid, Cllr T Martin (Vice Chairman) Councillors A Dewsnip, C Dickinson, J Locke, T Hall and S Riley. In attendance, NYCC/HBC Cllr A Paraskos, M Richards (Clerk) and 1 resident.
1. Apologies: No apologies for absence were received as all councillors were present
2. Declaration of Interest and Notification of changes in the Members’
Register of Interest: None.
3 Public Participation session: No matters arising.
4. Minutes of the meeting held on 14th May 2020: Councillor Riley proposed the minutes to be a correct record, seconded by Councillor Locke. The Chairman then duly signed the minutes.
5. Chairman’s comments and communications
a) A resident had reported that the Village Notice Board was not up to date and was also somewhat dilapidated. In addition, notices quickly became sun and rain damaged. The clerk apologised and confirmed that he had updated content as necessary and made sure that displayed information complies with legal requirements. He will contact a local contractor to refurbish and re-seal the board. Cllr Dewsnip suggested that laminating the documents displayed would also improve presentation. Councillors agreed and authorised Cllr
Dewsnip to purchase a supply of laminating pouches.
b) Website compliance with legal requirements. As discussed previously, the clerk had contacted YLCA to determine whether a private website such as follifoot.org needed to comply with the legislation. A definitive response was awaited. The Chairman then reported that he understood the Village Hall Committee were proposing to develop their own website. Councillors discussed and initially felt that one combined website was the preferred option for the Parish, however it was ultimately agreed that a separate, dedicated website for the Village Hall, with a link to the Parish website, would help to raise the profile of the Village Hall and help facilitate promotional opportunities to raise funds for its upkeep. This would be good for
both the Village Hall and for the community as a whole.
c) “Lockdown” activities. A resident had suggested to the Chairman that she would like to organise a project for local children to design signs to display to show how proud they are of the village/parish. For example, “Love Follifoot/ Keep our village tidy”, to be laminated and exhibited in/around the Parish. Councillors though it was an excellent idea and voted to support the initiative.Possible locations were discussed and the Chairman thought that a display on the Village Green and possibly by The Pound would be good options. The clerk will look into the actual ownership of the Green. It was also suggested that if residents wanted to display their artwork signs in their gardens (which is private land) that could also be a good option.
d) Elm Gable, Haggs Road. A planning application for a development on this site had been issued to Spofforth Parish Council. Whilst the actual land in question does lie within that Council, the access on Haggs Road is within this Parish Council, so it was felt that we should also have the opportunity to comment. The clerk has written to HBC and contacted the Spofforth Parish clerk but no responses have as yet been received. He will raise the matter again with HBC. It was also noted that a residential caravan was sited at this location. Permission for this was tied to the previous owner of the property, in his lifetime. He has now passed away, so the caravan should be removed. The clerk will raise with HBC.
6. Clerk’s correspondence received.
Nothing to bring to the attention of councillors, but the clerk wanted to confirm that he had contacted the Chief Executive of Playscheme to ask him for a more favourable quotation for the necessary repairs to the springers. No response has as yet been received and the clerk will raise the matter again in due course.
7. Finance.
a) The Chairman reminded councillors of the amendments he had made to the monthly spreadsheet which continues to provide up to date information of receipts and payments to date (including the current period’s activity) but now shows ongoing comparison with the budget on a monthly basis and the balance remaining for the rest of the year. Councillors then approved the following items of expenditure included in the budget statement.
Clerk’s salary (May) – £286.76
PAYE – £71.69
Clerk’s expenses – 1st qtr – £87.50
Grass cutting – Follifields – S Bush – £145.00
b) Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) The clerk went through the 5 pages of the return, explaining the content and how figures etc were derived. He noted that the internal control objectives, set out in the Annual Internal Audit Report had been met and he confirmed that, as the Parish Council’s turnover was less than £25,000, the AGAR did not have to be submitted for external audit, a Certificate of Exemption only is required. Councillors approved completion of the Certificate of Exemption.
i) Councillors then approved the Annual Governance Statement.
ii) Councillors went on to review the Annual Accounting Statements, comparing and agreeing with the Annual Accounts. The Annual Accounting Statements were then approved. The clerk and Chairman will liaise to add signatures to the statements where necessary. The Chairman thanked the Internal Auditor for his work throughout the year.
8. Maintenance
a) As noted at 5a) above, the clerk will contact a local contractor for an estimate of the cost of repairs to the notice board.
b) Cllr Locke reported that he had repaired some of the surrounds on the troughs on the village entrance roads, but further work was required. The clerk will follow up to ascertain what is required and report back.
9. Covid-19
Cllr Paraskos reported that matters were now gradually settling down, with no new issues arising. The Nightingale Hospital will remain operational to the end of July, but is not being used for covid -19 cases. He informed councillors that the patching on Haggs Road had been suspended whilst one of the contractors had to self isolate after being in contact with a virus infected individual. Work will re-commence next week. He confirmed that the posting of green site notices was slowly being reintroduced.
10. Planning:
a) Applications Received
i) 20/01704/PBR – Prior notification for the conversion of agricultural building
to form 2 dwellings – Wingate Farm, Plompton.
Councillors noted that this was a resubmission of a previously withdrawn
application, with little difference. Councillors had no real objections to the
application as a whole, but noted that:
a) there was no reference to sewerage requirements or provision of a septic tank
b) Access to the site will be via the old (unused) Knaresborough Road – there is a
risk of this road being used as a “race track”
c) The former use of the land could give rise to contamination issues
Councillors agreed that the Parish Council response would be to neither object to
nor support, but submit the above qualifying comments.
ii) 20/01809/FUL – erection of first floor extension and pitched rooves over
existing flat roof extensions and alteration to fenestration – Green Acres,
Pannal Road, Follifoot.
Councillors discussed at length and felt clearly that this was the creation of two
semi-detached properties, from the existing detached dwelling and the description
in the application is a misrepresentation of the facts. Councillors agreed
unanimously that the response would be to OBJECT.
iii) 20/01418/FUL – Erection of dropped kerb – 1 Beaker Cottages, Pannal Road,
Follifoot. All councillors agreed this was a reasonable application which should be
supported.
b) Decisions notified – None.

There being no other business, the meeting closed at 8.55.

Date of next Meeting: : – to be held remotely, unless Government restrictions change, 9th July 2020 at 7.30pm,