2007 April

Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 12 April 2007

Present: Parish Councillors E. Bolton, U. Cansfield, B. Butler, B. Fisher (Chairman), T. Martin, C. Florance, M. Mitton

Apologies for absence: P. C. M. Ayre, District Councillor C. Bayliss

Declarations of interest in items on the agenda
There were none.

Minutes of the meeting held on 8.3.07
Signed as a correct record by the Chairman. Proposed: U. Cansfield. Seconded: C. Florance.

Matters arising from the minutes:

Follifoot in Bloom – report back. T. Martin had made enquiries of a local garden centre and reported that a mixture of conifer and roses for planting around the namestones had been suggested. This would offer a low maintenance approach. After some discussion the Parish Council stated a preference for flowers and B. Butler offered to supply some of the bedding plants he grew annually. The Clerk confirmed that NYCC Highways had no objection to the proposal. Councillors agreed they would start the work in May.
Hillside – report back. B. Butler had met with the NYCC inspector to examine the defects to the road and footways. These have been recorded by the inspector and it is anticipated that the work identified will be carried out in this financial year. A request to Harrogate Council for street cleaning had been complied with, but unfortunately it was done early in the morning when many cars were still parked on the roadside. The conifers edging the green on Hillside had been inspected by a Council officer. Some crown lifting will be programmed for the late autumn and inspections will be made every five years in future.
Spring Clean 2007. The annual litter pick will take place on 15.4.07. It was confirmed that bags of rubbish could be stored in the Radcliffe Arms car park to await collection the following day. It was also noted that the Harrogate Council would arrange for litter picking on minor roads as and when requested, but had insufficient staff and finance to do this on a regular basis.

Chairman’s communications:

Stile to footpath on Spofforth Lane – Complaint from residents on learning that the gates were to be replaced with a stile. The Chairman contacted M. Mackaness to discuss the potential difficulty the change might cause.
Rudding Estate tree survey – Letter received to explain that red marks on certain trees indicated that some remedial action was required.
Follifoot village board and seat, Leconfield Garth – The owner of the property on whose land the board is fixed has contacted the Chairman about the Leylandii trees which have become overgrown. He believes the trees were planted by the Parish Council and has requested that they be trimmed. Clerk to check if consent will be required from the Planning Authority.

Matters concerning Plompton
There was nothing to discuss.

Finance:

Quarterly reconciliation of accounts – This had been prepared by the Clerk and a paper circulated to councillors prior to the meeting. This was examined against bank statements, invoices and the income and expenditure account by C. Florance and found to be in order.
Request for authorisation of expenditure – total in the accounts is £ 7004.83 with all cheques issued to date now cleared through the account. Approval sought for the following: Subscriptions to Yorkshire Local Councils Associations £ 169 and Playing Fields Association £ 25; Jespers for stationery £ 17.01; Clerk for stamps £ 8.64; Allianz Cornhill for insurance £ 274.70 and Kitty Corner nature board repair £ 99.87. Proposed: T. Martin. Seconded: B. Fisher.
Internal Audit – this conducted by P. Carney and found to be satisfactory. P. Carney had expressed his willingness to continue to act as internal auditor and the Parish Council were pleased to confirm the position.

Clerk’s report and correspondence:

Pollution of watercourse off Harrogate by-pass – email contact from a resident to inform that he had reported this to the Environment Agency. The Agency plan to contact residents in the area about the matter. It was also noted that the Chairman had dealt with the Agency about this in mid 2006.
Revisions to the Clerk’s contract of employment – minor changes, mainly to comply with recent legislative change needed to be incorporated into the existing contract. The Parish Council will be asked to approve an amended contract in due course.
NYCC – a new council for North Yorkshire – the government have indicated that the NYCC submission to become a unitary authority can proceed to a consultation phase. The Parish Council will discuss at the May meeting.
Other papers received since the last meeting were circulated.

Planning Applications:

Rudding Holiday Park – 07/001552/COU for change of use of parkland to form extension of holiday park to site 3 of already approved 20 chalets. The Parish Council had no objections to the application.
Driving Range, Rudding Park – 07/01548/FUL for 2 storey rear extension (revised scheme). The Parish Council had no objections to the application.
Overdale, Tofts Lane, Follifoot – 07/01551/FUL for 2 storey front extension, raising of roof height to form 1 st floor living accommodation, replacement detached garage (revised scheme). The Parish Council had no objections to the application.
South View, Plompton Road, Follifoot – 07/01672/LB and 07/01662/FUL for 1 st floor rear extension, internal alterations including removal of 1 door and 1 window and blocking up 1 window. There was no objection in principle to the application but as this is a Listed Building, the Parish Council wished to seek assurance that all materials used in the building work will match the existing.

Date of next meeting: 10.5.07 at 8 pm for the annual Parish Council meeting.