12th December 2024

MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
Held in the Village Hall on 12th December 2024

1. PRESENT: Chairman N MacDermid, Vice Chairman A Dewsnip, Cllrs C. Dickinson, T Hall, K. Tharby, J Locke and S. Gallimore. Also in attendance Cllr A Paraskos (NYC), M Richards (Clerk) and 2 residents (for item 7a) only).
2. Apologies: There were no apologies for absence as all councillors were present.
3. Declaration of Interest and Notification of changes in the Members’ Register of Interest: None.
4. Public participation. No items notified.
5. Minutes of the meeting held on 14th November 2024 were proposed as a correct record by Councillor Dewsnip and seconded by Councillor Dickinson. The Chairman then signed the minutes.
6. Matters arising – none.
7. Planning
Applications Received
a) ZC24/04009/FUL – Demolition of existing garage, conservatory and rear offshoot. Erection of
garage, garden store and home gym with link extension to dwelling and part two storey/part
single storey extension to rear. Erection of 2no. dormer windows to front roofslope and
installation of solar panels. Alterations to fenestration. Glenshee, Spofforth Lane, Follifoot.
The Chairman displayed the site plan and elevations of the application and invited the 2
applicants to outline the details of this new application, which is a revised version of the original
application (ZC24/02700/FUL) which was refused by the LPA (NYC) In simple terms this is a
scaled down version of the original application without the extra floor but with 2 dormer windows
and creation of a double garage with office space and two additional exits at the rear of the
property. Councillors had no questions and, as with the original application, agreed to SUPPORT
this revised version.
The two residents left the meeting at this point
Decisions
None received.
Other
b) Potential planning issue – field off Spofforth Lane, Follifoot.
As recorded at the November meeting. The presence of a new “stable building” and caravan on
this field has now been formally registered as an Enforcement case and the clerk will monitor any
action taken and future developments. The potential change from agricultural to equestrian use
has also been reported.
8. Chairman’s communications.
a) Streetlights. The Chairman had identified the 3 “failed” streetlights with “What3Words” indicators and the clerk has forwarded details to NYC Highways.
b) Other items dealt with as part of the agenda.
9. Clerk’s correspondence
a) Defibrillator for Plompton. The receipt of the £1300 from Cllr Paraskos’ Locality Budget is expected in the next few days. Arrangements for obtaining and installing the equipment will be discussed further at the January meeting.
b) Hinckley and Rugby Building Society – Savings Accounts. As reported last meeting, the clerk had received a communication from a local office of the above Building Society, offering savings accounts specifically tailored towards organisations such as parish councils, with beneficial interest rates. He had made enquiries of local building societies and the Skipton Building Society currently offers similar facilities but with a higher interest rate. He will make further enquiries.
10. Parish Matters
a) Plompton – Despite several notifications to NYC Highways the two drains on the triangle
approach to Plompton are still blocked and are covered by mud which will have to be removed
before the drains themselves can be unblocked. Cllr Hall offered to remove the mud himself
unless NYC Highways take prompt action. Cllr Paraskos again undertook to raise with
Highways.
b) Village Upkeep.
i) Failed streetlights – recorded at 8a) above.
ii) Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) £1290 received through the “Land at Burnisons Whin”
development. The Chairman outlined the various conditions surrounding the areas of
permissible expenditure for CIL funding. He suggested that the money be expended on capital
project(s) rather than maintenance and councillors agreed. Potential items of expenditure will be
considered in due course. Cllr Paraskos undertook to enquire whether and CIL funding may be
forthcoming from developments in the Parish, particularly the significant projects at Rudding
Park.
11.Traffic calming.
a) VAS – Cllr Dickinson reported that the current period of traffic data had not shown any
significant variation from previous months, with very few significant outliers recorded at
excessive speeds. In the last 4 months 69/70% of traffic was recorded at below 30mph, with
some 92% at less than 35mph. He will continue to monitor and produce reports as appropriate.
The Chairman thanked him for his efforts.
b) Haggs Road. NYC Highways are still finalising their deliberations into potential traffic calming
measures, and the clerk is hopeful a decision will shortly be made.
12. Follifields
a) A request has been received from a local resident to hold a “Christmas Adventure Trail” in the play area for schoolchildren from North Rigton Primary School. Whilst councillors were somewhat reluctant to actively support such activity it was agreed that as long as the published regulations for use of the facility were complied with, permission would be granted, with a request for a small donation for upkeep to be made.
b) Rotted gate post. The contractor had informed the clerk that the gatepost at the lower entrance had become rotten and needed replacement. He will submit a quotation for repair/replacement and the clerk will also seek a further quotation.
13. Finance
a) Review of finances, approval of expenditure.
. Balance at the bank on 12th December 2024 in Current Account £462.73 and Deposit
Account £25,686.18, total £26,148.91. Bank statements to be initialled by the Chairman in
confirmation, as part of his payment authorisation process. Monthly Reconciliation –
reconciliation as at 12th December was provided with receipts and payments in the period
14th November to 12th December, reconciling to the account balances shown above. Councillors
then unanimously agreed the 5 amounts below for payment.
Follifields maintenance S Bush £838.90 Bank transfer
PAYE HMRC £199.12 Bank transfer
Clerk salary + arrears M Richards £475.09 Bank transfer
Follifields hedge L Sadler £300.00 Bank transfer
Clerk’s exps(incl.£31.50 mileage M Richards £131.50 Bank transfer
b) The Chairman ran through the Summary and Cumulative budget statements, explaining the
current position. There were no extraordinary expenditure items to report, and thanks were
recorded to the Coffee and Cake Group for the donation of £95.00 for Follifields. The budget is
on track although updates need to be made to the “Full Year Forecast” figures. The clerk also
reported that the Follifields spreadsheet now showed a deficit of £221.20 against the original
ringfenced balance of £5,000. This is, in fact, incorrect, as not all donated income has been
correctly recorded. He will amend for the January meeting. Councillors had no comments or
questions.
c) 2025-26 budget/precept calculation. The clerk ran through the calculation spreadsheet
previously circulated. He affirmed that the Council’s finances were in a robust state and the areas
of projected expenditure were prudent, with adequate provision for any unexpected outlays.
Whilst balancing the projected budget included a contribution of some £3000 from existing Parish
funds he noted that a 5% increase in precept (which would exceed current projected inflation
rates) would only provide some £550 extra funding, not a material amount in the context of the
overall position. He therefore recommended maintaining the precept at its current level. As a
further refinement in budgetary control, he undertook to set up specific earmarked funds, in
addition to Follifields, for asset replacement, and traffic calming. He will check insurance cover
for the most significant areas ie bus shelters. The Chairman and councillors then agreed to
maintain the precept for 2025-26 at its current level of £11,150.00.

14. Any items for the next meeting.
No items notified.
The meeting finished at 9.10.
Date of next meeting – Thursday 9th January 2025, commencing at 7.30pm.