Thursday 14th December

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
Thursday 14th December 2017

PRESENT: Chairman N. MacDermid, Vice Chairman T Martin, Councillors J Andrade, P. Cresswell, J. Hinchcliffe, A. Dewsnip and T. Hall. Also present County/District Councillor A. Paraskos, M. Richards (Clerk), Neighbourhood Watch M. Hammond and 2 parishioners.
1. Apologies: There were no apologies as all councillors were present..
2. Declaration of Interest and Notification of changes in the Members’ Register of Interest: None.
3. Public Participation session: A parishioner attended the meeting to discuss the appeal against the non-determination of the planning application for the land behind The Priory, Plompton Road (Ref 17/00076/out) – Residential development for up to 8 houses. The Chairman suggested that as this item was already included on the agenda, if there were no objections, he would prefer for discussion to take place then, to avoid repetition. This was agreed.
4. Minutes of the meeting held on 11th November 2017: Councillor Martin proposed the minutes to be a correct record, seconded by Councillor Dewsnip. The Chairman then duly signed the minutes.
5. Matters arising from the previous minutes:
a) Overhanging trees on Wetherby Road – The clerk reported that NYCC Highways and the landowner had now attended to the problem. Councillor Hall confirmed that the issue has now been resolved
b) Plompton Rocks – trees. The Clerk had followed up and obtained the original planning application which included a site plan of all the trees approved for removal and those to remain. Unfortunately the document is rather lengthy and it is not feasible to provide a hard copy for councillors to review. An electronic version will be made available for consideration via computer projection, at the next meeting.
c) Cold calling zone – The Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator (NWC) confirmed that he had met with the appropriate individual from Kirkby Overblow PC and obtained the relevant facts with regard to establishing a Cold Calling Zone (CCZ) Initially, it is necessary to collect the relevant facts for our area eg the number of residents over the age of 65, the number of cold calling incidents in the last three months. The NWC then set out the criteria deemed to justify the implementation of a CCZ:-
i) Perception by residents of crime
ii) Fear of crime
iii) Would the existence of a CCZ assist in crime reduction

Councillors then discussed the background to this whole issue, with particular reference to the original concerns expressed about supposedly rehabilitated offenders attempting to sell goods at inflated prices to vulnerable residents. It was agreed that although a low level of crime exists within the Parish, the accepted principle was for zero tolerance. Further discussion revolved around the use of window stickers referring to “no cold calling” but past experience had shown limited take up of this feature. A councillor did ask if there was any reason why a CCZ should not be established anyway. The balance of opinion was for the PC to evaluate the need and justification for a CCZ, before any further action was taken. To this end it was suggested that as there were now some 75 members in the Follifoot Facebook Group, a poll could be conducted to gather a representative view. Councillor Hinchcliffe agreed to set up this poll.

6. Chairman’s communications:
The Chairman reported that any communications received are dealt with as part of the agenda.
7. Clerk’s correspondence received
i) Community Defibrillator – having received correspondence from a company offering the supply and installation of this potentially life- saving equipment, the clerk sought the views of councillors. Councillor Hinchcliffe confirmed that this issue had been discussed previously but, for various reasons, particularly the location of the equipment, no progress had been made. Councillors agreed however, that the provision of this equipment should now be pursued. Discussion ensued over potential locations and it was agreed that the telephone box would be the best option. The clerk will contact BT with regard to the cost of the supply of electricity and also Harewood Parish Council which already has a defibrillator installed in its redundant telephone box.
ii) Recycling Bring Banks – the clerk reported that due to financial constraints, HBC will be removing the facilities located at the Harewood Arms and Rudding Caravan Park, as well as other facilities located throughout the Borough, early in the new year. The fortnightly kerbside collection of recyclable items will continue.
iii) Grass cutting – the annual contribution from HBC has been withdrawn and that from NYCC is just £41.43. There is no material effect on the Parish Council’s budget.
8. Matters concerning Plompton:
There were now no issues to report.
9. Neighbourhood Watch:
a) Report – The Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator (NWC) talked through his monthly report, which the clerk had circulated previously to councillors. There were no village specific issues.
b) Issues of general concern:
i) The NWC urged residents to be aware of cold callers (both physical and online) offering to obtain government grants for an upfront fee and,
ii) NY Police were warning drivers not to leave vehicles unattended with their engines running (to defrost windscreens etc) as thieves were on the lookout for such opportunities and vehicle insurance would be invalidated should a theft occur.
Councillor Dewsnip asked if there was now a representative on the Neighbourhood Watch Committee from the new houses on Radcliffe Close? The NWC confirmed he was in discussion with a resident to this end.

10. Village Up Keep:
a) Maintenance – The clerk reported that time spent on maintenance had been 10 hours for November at a cost of £150. A councillor commented on the unsatisfactory state of the bus shelter, with the accumulation of leaves and various items of rubbish. He asked if a “tidy up” could be performed on a periodic basis. The clerk will follow up.
11. Highways:
a) Traffic concerns Haggs Road – no further action seems to have taken place. The clerk will contact NYCC Highways regarding the possible installation of 40mph limit signage and also request an update on possible changes to the policy on Vehicle Activated Signs.
b) Councillor Paraskos commented on the availability of the NYCC Portal for Highways concerns. The clerk will forward details of the access arrangements for this site to all councillors.
c) Harrogate bypass – Councillor Hinchcliffe reported that he was aware that NYCC/HBC had initially agreed on Option B ie no bypass to be constructed but Councillor Paraskos stated that the whole issue was still under consideration.
12. FOFWRAP/Follifields:
a) The Chairman reported that the Curry Evening had been a success, with circa £700 being raised. Whilst this was not as much money as last year’s event, it was still considered a great event and had been enjoyed by those who attended.
b) Fundraising – there will be further FOFWRAP fundraising events throughout the year but the focus for the Committee has now changed with targets for capital funding now met. The emphasis will now be on other issues and fundraising for maintenance etc. This may well lead to a change in the structure of the FOFWRAP group. A councillor asked if any provision had been made for replacement of equipment etc sometime in the future and whether funds were available for this purpose? The Chairman responded that a healthy balance had been retained but as yet no formal plans were in place for equipment replacement. He will raise this point with the committee.
c) Inspection of Play Equipment – as reported previously, Playscheme has provided a list of equipment and an inspection report, A formal programme and rota for this activity will be implemented in the new year to replace the current ad hoc inspections.
13. Finance:
a) Balance at the bank on 30th November 2017, Current Account £5032.50 and Deposit Account £8543.02.
b) Monthly Budget – See Appendix 1.
c) Quarterly Reconciliation – not relevant, but a reconciliation as at 30th November was provided – see Appendix 2.
d) Expenditure – Unanimously agreed and authorised by two councillors.
Maintenance M. Collyer £127.50 Bank Transfer
Maintenance M. Collyer £150.00 Bank Transfer
Trim Trail deposit Playscheme £6100.20 Bank Transfer
Tree ties & fixings Green-Tech £445.46 Bank Transfer
Tree posts P M Dickson £53.58 Bank Transfer
Clerk’s add’l hours S. Hinchcliffe £219.80 Bank Transfer
Shredding S. Hinchcliffe £48.00 Bank Transfer
Clerk’s salary (Oct) M. Richards £325.59 Cheque
Clerk’s salary (Nov) M. Richards £325.59 Bank Transfer
Planning application HBC £97.50 Cheque
e) The Chairman went through the proposal for the precept submission for 2018/19. He set out the various components of the budget, explaining any significant variations from the previous year. He stressed that whilst FOFWRAP were undertaking to raise funds to cover the maintenance costs of Follifields (principally grass cutting at a cost of some £2,800) it was felt prudent only to include £2,000 as their contribution and provide for the full sum as parish council expenditure (£3,000 for grass cutting, plus statutory inspection costs) Whilst there were no significant additional budget costs projected, it was again seen as prudent to apply for a slight increase of 2.5% to cover inflation. All councillors approved. There was then further discussion over the potential replacement of Follifields equipment (as discussed at 12 b) above) and whether the Parish Council itself should consider establishing a “sinking fund” for this purpose. It was recognised that there were constraints over the total amount of reserves which could be retained and the clerk will establish the exact position and also whether it is acceptable to set aside a ring-fenced amount for such a purpose, with no limit.

18. Planning:
a) Approval received – The Kestrel Public House – Display of 4 non-illuminated fascia signs, 2 non- illuminated hanging signs and 2 externally illuminated hoarding signs – 17/04442/ADV. Councillors had supported the application, but with a rider that consideration should be given to removing or re-siting the external A- boards to provide better sight lines for cars exiting the car park. The clerk had responded as such, but this condition had not been included in the approval notification. Councillors considered this to be an important feature and the clerk will contact Vintage Inns requesting action be taken to re-site the A-boards.
b) Conversion of rural building to 3 no. office units and associated infrastructure. – Ducks Nest Farm, Rudding Lane, Follifoot, HG3 1JF. Ref. No: 17/05275/FUL. As no formal notification (other than inclusion on the “planning alert list”) had been received, it was agreed to defer this item to the next meeting.
c) Applications received since the agenda was compiled –.
d) Previous Applications:
Land behind The Priory, Plompton Road (Ref 17/00076/out) – Residential development for up to 8 houses. The applicant had appealed HBC’s non determination of the planning application. A parishioner was attending the meeting to express his concern at the likely approach of the applicant in making the appeal, which he felt would include reference to affordable housing – which is one way of treating an application in the Green Belt as an exception site. . Councillors discussed other details of the application, particularly the perceived weaknesses in the housing survey that had been used to justify the housing development. The clerk will circulate the Council’s original responses, objecting to the outline application and make an updated consolidated response to the Planning Inspector. (NB any submission must be made by 12 January 2018, the day immediately after the next meeting of the Parish Council)
19. Any other business
There being no other business, the meeting closed at 9.20pm.

Date of next Parish Council Meeting: 7.30pm on 11th January 2018 in Follifoot Village Hall, Tofts Lane, Follifoot.