8th July 2021

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
​Thursday 8th July 2021
Held in Follifoot Village Hall, following the relaxation of Government guidelines regarding the coronavirus pandemic.

PRESENT: Chairman N MacDermid, Vice Chairman A Dewsnip, Councillors C Dickinson, J Locke and T Hall. In attendance, M Richards (Clerk) and 8 residents.
1.​Apologies: Apologies for absence were received and accepted from Cllrs T Martin and S Riley, due to illness.
2. Declaration of Interest and Notification of changes in the Members’
Register of Interest: None.
3. Public Participation session: The Chairman welcomed the eight residents to ​the meeting and confirmed that they were able to comment on any issues ​raised.
4.​Minutes of the meeting held on 6th May 2021: The Chairman referred to two incorrect references in the minutes, 1) Cllr Dewsnip was now Vice Chairman, not Cllr Martin and, 2) It is the Rotary Club rather than HBC who are commemorating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. After noting these two corrections, Councillor Dickinson proposed the minutes to be a correct record, seconded by Councillor Locke. The Chairman then duly signed the minutes.
5 Matters arising from the previous minutes: Dealt with as part of the agenda.
6 Chairman’s communications
Dealt with as part of the agenda.
7 Clerk’s correspondence received.
a) Allotments. The clerk reported that he had received 3 applications for the vacant allotment. Councillors agreed that the fairest way to decide on the successful applicant would be by drawing lots. Following the draw (undertaken by one of the residents), Elaine Remmer was declared the successful applicant. The clerk will notify her, and the unsuccessful other two applicants will be contacted and informed that they will be placed on a waiting list for the future.
b) VAS. The clerk confirmed that the equipment, installed on the 16th June but not activated due to a connectivity problem, will become operational on 13th July.
c) Hillside – grassy area. A resident had written previously to the Parish Council, seeking information about the maintenance of this area. The clerk had confirmed that HBC carried out the grasscutting although there was not a defined frequency. Hillside residents (who were present at the meeting) asked if the Parish Council would be willing to provide assistance so that the appearance of the area can be improved and maintained on an ongoing basis. Councillors agreed to consider and the clerk will:
i) ascertain what the village handyman would charge per cut of the plot
ii) confirm HBC frequency of cut and annual charge
iii) ascertain cost of tree trimming at the location by HBC
d) Village benches. Several of the village benches had been identified as in
need of refurbishment. Quotations for the work had been sought from 2 local
contractors and the repair work will be allocated to Andrew Walker. The
“Cullingworth Bench” at Forge Green is beyond repair and therefore needs
replacement. Contact has been made with family members who are
considering the best course of action to take – whether to replace the bench
or provide a brass plaque to fit to the other “family bench” in The Pound. The
Parish Council would like to retain the carved dedication from the collapsed
bench and either fit to a new bench, place above the replacement bench or
combine with the one in The Pound (with the agreement of family members)
e) Solar powered defibrillator cabinet. The clerk had been notified of the
availability of solar powered cabinets in which to house a defibrillator. Given
the size of the Parish and the location of the existing defibrillator, should the
purchase of such a cabinet and defibrillator be considered for location
elsewhere (particularly as there would be no need for a power supply)?
Councillors discussed and agreed that locating a defibrillator in Plompton
should be considered. The clerk will follow up and ascertain the cost of the
cabinet and defibrillator.
8. Follifields.
a) Upkeep and ongoing maintenance. As reported previously, a quotation for
the work had been received from the existing contractor. Another initial quote
from the Village Handyman had been received, but was based only on
estimated time plus materials. The clerk will request a more detailed costed
quotation before recommending to the Council which quote to accept. ​
b) Goal posts and nets. The clerk has arranged for the purchase of the goal
post stanchions. Cllr Dickinson reported that he had heard no more from
HTFC and so it was agreed that the clerk would order the custom made nets
from the identified source and arrange installation by the local contractor.
c) Rubbish bins. The bins are being emptied but it is uncertain whether the
arrangement with HBC is being followed or whether Cllr Riley is still emptying
and HBC collecting sacks from her property. The clerk will check with Cllr
Riley.
9. Parish matters
a) Review of constituency boundaries. The Boundary Commission is
consulting on its proposals to reorganise constituency boundaries. The
current proposal would be to relocate Follifoot and Plompton within the new
constituency of Wetherby and Easingwold, instead of currently, Selby and
Ainsty. Councillors had discussed previously the current position and it was
felt strongly that alignment with the Harrogate constituency was much more in
keeping with all aspects of the Parish. Whilst this was still the case,
councillors did feel if inclusion within Harrogate were not possible, association
with Wetherby as the nearest larger town, was preferable to Selby. The clerk
will complete the consultation, stressing the above factors.
b) The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. This is to be celebrated throughout 2022
but the main focus will be the extended Bank Holiday week end of Thursday
2nd to Sunday 5th June. On the Thursday, beacons will be lit across the
country and also in the capital cities of Commonwealth countries. Councillors
supported the idea of beacons but felt that due to the low lying nature of the
Parish, a beacon would not be appropriate. It was agreed however, that the
other main feature of the weekend, the “Big Lunch” would be celebrated in
Follifoot. The Chairman undertook to liaise with the Village Hall Committee, to
organise a joint function.

10. Finance:
a) Balance at the bank on 30th June 2021, Current Account £1,841.47
and Deposit Account £29,361.86 (total £31,203.33) Bank statements to be ​ initialled by the Chairman in confirmation, as part of his payment
authorisation process.
b) Monthly Reconciliation – reconciliation as at 30th June was provided
with receipts and payments in the period 31st May to 30th June,
reconciling to the account balances shown above at a) Councillors
then unanimously agreed the 6 amounts below for payment.

M Richards
Clerk’s salary – June
£295.36
Bank Transfer
HMRC
PAYE – June
£73.84
Bank Transfer
The Countryside Gardener
Village maintenance
£270.00
Bank Transfer
Stuart Bush
Grasscutting
£145.00
Bank Transfer
M Richards
Microsoft licence
£79.99
Bank Transfer
M Richards
Goalpost stanchions
£152.40
Bank Transfer
c)The clerk then ran through the budget spreadsheet, explaining the updates
following the expenditure recorded above. The Cumulative worksheet
demonstrates on a monthly basis, the Parish Council’s financial position, and
the summary sheet provides comparison’s with the the annual budget.
Councillors had no issues or questions to raise.

11 Planning:
a) Applications Received
i) 21/02880/PNA – formation of private way to facilitate access to agricultural
fields. The Chairman explained that this was not an actual application but is an
enquiry to determine if prior approval is required for the proposed access
work. Councillors discussed and agreed on balance to await the actual
application before commenting.
ii) 21/02604/FUL – Change of use of parkland to holiday use and siting of 8
holiday lodges and ancillary communal service building for temporary staff
accommodation with access and landscaping works.
NB – this application was received too late for inclusion on the published
agenda, so cannot be discussed at this meeting. The Chairman ruled that a
response extension be requested to allow full discussion at the September
meeting. If this was not possible, an additional meeting purely to discuss this
application will be arranged in August.

b) Decisions
i) 21/01400/CLOPUD – erection of detached garden room, Oak House,
Pannal Road – lawful development – PERMITTED.
Councillors noted the above decision
ii) 21/01913/DVCON – 7 Plompton Square – WITHDRAWN
iii) 21/00285/PR15 – 5 Plompton Square, Plompton – use of annexe for
AirBnB and erection of outbuilding with hot tub.
Councillors noted the withdrawal of the contentious application
(21/01913/DVCON) and the Enforcement Notice against 5 Plompton Square
and agreed to await any further developments before considering any other
response.
c) Enforcement
21/00303/PR15 – alteration to wall in curtilage of listed building – The
Barn, Plompton.
Cllr Hall observed that in fact the property owner had created two holes in the
boundary wall for access. Outcome of the Enforcement Officer’s investigation
awaited.
12. Other matters
The Chairman recorded the thanks of the Parish Council to Lewis Sadler and
Patrick Creedy for their actions with regard to the tree blockage on Spofforth
Lane, following the recent heavy storm.

There being no other busuness, the meeting closed at 8.50pm

Date of next Parish Council Meeting:
7.30pm on Thursday 9th September 2021, in Follifoot Village Hall, Tofts Lane, Follifoot.

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