10th December 2015

MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
10th December 2015

PRESENT:
Chairman N. MacDermid, Vice Chairman T. Martin, Councillors J. Hinchcliffe,
E. Jones, T. Hall, C. Gogna, Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator M. Hammond, Six residents and one representative of FOFWRAP.

1. Apologies: Apologies received and accepted from Councillor Florance.

2. Declaration of Interest and Notification of changes in the Members’ Register of Interest:
a) Councillor Jones declared an interest in items 5b and 18a)i, she declined to comment on item 18a.
b) Councillor Hinchcliffe declared an interest in item 7b.
c) Chairman MacDermid declared an interest in item 7b and 16.

3. Public Participation session: None.

4. Approval of the Meeting Minutes held on 12th November 2015: Councillor Martin proposed the minutes to be a correct record and Councillor Hall seconded. The chairman duly signed the minutes.

5. Matters arising from the minutes:
a) Item 7d) – Open Green Space – The clerk said she had contacted Harrogate Borough Council twice and had not yet had a reply. She said will continue to look into the matter.
b) Item 11 – Road Repairs on Tofts Lane: The clerk said the school were currently looking into who may be responsible for making a contribution towards road repairs. She said she had contacted Highways to ascertain if the road is private or adopted, they had not yet responded. The clerk said she will continue to look into the matter.
c) Item 18a – A658 Underpass Improvements: The clerk said she had spoken to Councillor Burnett regarding the improvements to the underpass, she explained Councillor Burnett will contact the Parish Council once she has further information. The clerk explained that Highways are carrying out repairs to the approach to the underpass in the New Year, but they could not confirm a date. They will use some of the £10,000. from the Rugby Club. Any remaining money will be put towards further underpass improvements.

6. Chairman’s communications:
a) Rugby Club: The chairman said he spoke to the Rugby Club regarding various matters. He was advised the Rugby Club would be submitting their planning application in the near future for the equipment store and a number of other miscellaneous items.
The chairman said he enquired about the scaffolding tower; they explained the scaffolding tower is a temporary structure and does not require planning permission. They are considering a permanent structure, for which planning would be required.
The chairman said he had discussed with the club the recent addition of advertising boards; they informed him that planning for the boards was not required. The Parish Council discussed whether the advertising boards were appropriate. It was resolved that the boards facing out were not appropriate and should be removed. The Parish Council considered the boards facing the roads to be a safety issue as they are distracting to passing traffic; they also considered them as unsuitable for a rural location. The Chairman said he would discuss the matter with the Rugby Club.

7. Clerk’s correspondence:
a) Correspondence received: A list of emails and information received was available.
b) Follifoot Bowling Club: An enquiry about a donation from the Parish Council for some new mats had been received. A representative of the Bowling Club gave a presentation on why they required some financial donation towards the mats. The matter was discussed and it was resolved the Parish Council would organise the purchase of the new mats and make a £500. donation. Action: Clerk to liaise with the Bowling Club.
c) Parish Portal: Highways have organised a meeting for Parish Councils to discuss the new portal. The clerk said she would attend.

8. Matters concerning Plompton:
a) Fly-tipping: Councillor Hall reported the fly tipping on the hill is still present and some more has been left at the bottom of the hill. Action: Clerk to contact Harrogate Borough Council and ask for it to be removed.
b) Parking: Inappropriate parking at The Square was discussed.

9. Parish Council Performance Review: Chairman MacDermid explained Parish Council Performance Review will be on the January Agenda for discussion. He said a meeting will be organised in the New Year and the Parish Councillors will be able to review the achievements over the last twelve months and plan for the future.

10. Minerals and Waste Joint Plan: The clerk explained all residents can complete the ‘Preferred Options Consultation’ on-line at www.northyorks.gov.uk/mwconsult

11. Broadband: Councillor Hinchcliffe gave an update on Broadband for the Rudding Lane area and Plompton. He said he will continue to look at ways broadband could be improved in these areas, but until further funding is available BT and Superfast North Yorkshire will not upgrade the Broadband in these areas.

12. Neighbourhood Watch:
a) Update: M. Hammond gave a Crime report. He gave examples of current internet scams.
b) Police Reports: The clerk said she had emailed two recent police reports to the Parish Councillors.

13. Village Up Keep:
a) Risk Assessment & Village Maintenance Checks: The chairman reported he had completed the assessments and checks.
b) A resident reported Horse Pond Beck, had a lot of debris and was undercutting the road, by the bungalows. Action: Clerk to look into the matter.
c) A resident reported the ditches on Spofforth Lane were in a poor state. Action: Clerk to look into the matter.

14. Highways:
a) Blocked drain Pannal Road – The clerk said she continues to pursue Highways to repair the drain.
b) Traffic Island Repairs Rudding Lane – The clerk said she continues to pursue Highways to repair the traffic islands on Rudding Land and Pannal Road.
c) Accumulation of water on Rudding Lane – The clerk said she continues to pursue Highways to investigate ways to ensure water does not accumulate on Rudding Lane.

15. Proposed Housing Scheme on Spofforth Lane: The chairman said a letter had been received from the landowner, explaining they are carrying out various environmental assessments before the planning application is submitted. He said they would be submitting the application in the near future. He explained the landowner had offered to support a children’s play area on the land. The Parish Council said no decision by the Parish Council would be made on the application until all relevant planning documentation had been received.

16. FOFWRAP:
a) Update – The chair of FOFWRAP gave an update and presentation of the FOFWRAP Business Plan. The business plan and progress of FOFWRAP was discussed.

b) Change of Use of the Land – Following a discussion the Parish Council agreed that no decisions on the Recreation area could be taken until it was established if the land could be used for recreational purposes. The Parish Council held a vote and unanimously agreed to support the application for change of use. The cost of submitting the application is £375. The Parish Council voted unanimously to cover the cost of the application.
c) The ‘Heads of Terms’ were discussed. The Parish Council said they would not sign the Heads of Terms unless the change of use was approved. The Chairman explained the Heads of Terms are not a legally binding document and set out the basis of a lease.
d) The proposed children’s play area on the Spofforth Lane site was discussed.
e) Sub-Committee – It was agreed FOFWRAP would continue as an Advisory Committee to the Parish Council as a Sub-Committee was not appropriate for small Parish Council.

17. Finance:
a) Balance at the bank £420.12 in current account and £9,920.60 in deposit account.
b) Request for authorisation of expenditure by use of Bank Transfer was agreed.
Method of Payment To Whom Work Carried Out Amount
Bank Transfer AW Joinery Repaint/Stain Benches
Repair of Kissing Gate
Painting of bus shelter £538.50
c) Monthly Budget – See appendix 1 – The monthly budget was agreed.
d) Precept for 2016/17 – The precept was discussed and the Parish Councillors unanimously voted to request £9,000.00.

18. Planning:
a) Applications:
i) Wentworth, The Paddocks, Follifoot – 15/04335/FUL – Review of scheme following the receipt of correct plans. Erection of 2 storey side front and side extensions and alterations to fenestration to include installation of dormer window (Revised Scheme). The Parish Council supported the application.
ii) Peacehaven, Pannal Road, Follifoot – 15/05171/TPO – Felling of 1 Cedar Tree, T1 of tree Preservation Order 40/1999. The Parish Council said they were unable to make a decision on the information received. Action: Clerk to contact planning to discuss the matter.
b) Arrange a meeting for applications received since the agenda was compiled: None received.
c) Outcome of previous applications: None.
d) Planning Complaint re: Affordable Housing site on Pannal Road: The clerk explained Harrogate Borough Council had requested photographs of the mud on the road and inappropriate parking; they had visited the site and did not observe any breaches of planning. Action: It was resolved the clerk would send photographs to planning and visit the foreman of the site to discuss the matter.

19. Date of next meeting: Thursday 14th January 2016 at 8pm in Follifoot Village Hall, Tofts Lane, Follifoot HG3 1DY.