9th October 2025
MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
Held in the Village Hall on 9th October 2025
PRESENT: Chairman N MacDermid, Cllrs A Dewsnip, C. Dickinson, T Hall, and K Tharby. Also in attendance Cllr A Paraskos (NYC), M Richards (Clerk) and two residents
1. Apologies: Apologies for absence were received and accepted from S Gallimore and J Locke.
2. Declaration of Interest and Notification of changes in the Members’ Register of Interest: None.
3. Public participation. No items submitted.
4. Minutes of the previous meeting on 11th September were proposed as a correct record by Councillor Dewsnip and seconded by Councillor Dickinson. The Chairman then signed theminutes.
5. Matters arising.
a) Telephone Box/Information Centre – The Chairman reported that Cllr Locke’s son had sorted the problem with the internal light which had apparently “tripped” due to a water leak. The village contractor will be asked to re-seal where necessary. Thanks were conveyed to Ben Locke.
b) Apparent leak of sewage from a septic tank at a property on Pannal Road/Follifoot Ridge. The clerk had contacted NYC Environmental Protection who had carried out extensive checks, injecting copious amounts of dye into the tank system on separate occasions, but with no results. Engineers had also visited after bouts of heavy rainfall but had found no trace of sewage effluent. The property owner’s own tank engineer had also confirmed no leakage from the tank. NYC could offer no solution but suggested the original incident was probably a “one-off” and would not be repeated. They will, however, carry out ad hoc visits on occasion, in the future.
6. Planning
Applications Received
a) ZC25/00786/REMMAJ – Reserved matters application for Phase 1a (Tennis) seeking approval of access, appearance, landscaping, layout, and scale for the construction of a new tennis pavilion, outdoor tennis courts, access, car parking,landscaping, and associated engineering operations and ancillary works pursuant to outline planning permission reference: 23/01184/OUTMAJ. Rudding Holiday Park, Rudding Park, Follifoot.
The Chairman noted that Rudding Park have responded to the other consultees and taken any necessary action. On that basis, plus the fact that the PC supported the original application, he suggested a SUPPORT response and all councillors agreed.
b) ZC25/00787/REMMAJ – Reserved matters application for Phase 1b (Grounds Shed) seeking approval of access, appearance, landscaping, layout, and scale for the construction of a new grounds shed, with access, parking, landscaping, and associated engineering operations and ancillary works pursuant to outline planning permission reference: 23/01184/OUTMAJ. Rudding Holiday Park, Follifoot.
The same comment as a) above applies and councillors confirmed a SUPPORT response.
c) 25/03253/TPO – Crown lift (by 3.5-4m) with maximum pruning cuts of 50mm of 1no. Beech (T1) of tree preservation order 23/2021 T1. Rowan Tree Cottage, Pannal Road, Follifoot.
The Chairman displayed the location and noted that NYC’s arboriculturist had supported the application. Councillors discussed but could see no reasons to disagree and it was resolved to SUPPORT the application.
d) 25/03234/TPO – Fell 1 no Scots Pine (T1) of Tree Preservation Order 12/2007. The Chalet, 23
and 22 Hillside, Follifoot.
The Chairman displayed the location and also noted the reasons for the application ie damage to the footpath and blockage of daylight to the property. Councillors agreed and it was resolved to SUPPORT the application.
Decisions
e) 25/01453/FUL – Proposed change of use of agricultural land to site 6 holiday pods and conversion of an agricultural barn for associated parking, bin store and solar panels. This forms part of a farm diversification plan. Wingate Farm, Plompton.GRANTED
Councillors noted the above decision and had no comments.
Appeals
f) i) Plompton Hall Farm House, Plompton. Proposed rear extension and internal reconfiguration including insertion of 1no. external door. COUNCIL REF: 25/00049/NREFPP, APPEAL REF: APP/U2750/W/25/3371738 APP/U2750/Y/25/337174.
ii) Plompton Hall Farm House, Plompton. Listed Building Consent for proposed rear extension and internal reconfiguration including insertion of 1no. external door. COUNCIL REF: 25/00048/NREFLB. APPEAL REF: APP/U2750/Y/25/3371743 APP/U2750/W/25/3371738.
Councillors noted and agreed to await the outcome of the appeals.
Other
g) Land to the south of Glenshee, off Spofforth Lane – the original breach of planning regulations had been confirmed by the Enforcement Officer and now a further development, the construction of an additional stable type building had been observed. The two residents in attendance also made the council aware of concerning activity by the landowner and asked for support from the Parish Council. The clerk had reported the further development to Planning Enforcement but had received no response. Cllr Paraskos agreed to take the matter up directly with the Senior Enforcement Officer.
The two residents left the meeting at this point
7. Chairman’s communications.
a) The Chairman reminded councillors of the car parking issue raised at a previous meeting, with a car being parked by the Main Street bus stop, close to the junction with Leconfield Garth. The clerk had recently written to the individual concerned informing him that this is believed to be a breach of the highway code, and may potentially be unlawful, but no response has as yet been received. The Chairman has also received a communication from a concerned resident who has contacted both the bus company and the school’s coach company. If necessary, the need for further action will be considered after responses have been received.
b) Other matters covered as part of the agenda.
8. Clerk’s correspondence
a) Yorkshire Air Ambulance – request for donation. Councillors discussed and agreed the valuable and necessary service provided by the Air Ambulance. A donation of £100 was agreed.
b) Haggs Road. A communication had been received from a resident, concerned about the use of Haggs Road by large double-decker buses, weighing some 12-14 tons, which they believed to be in contravention of the publicly displayed limit of 7.5 tons. (This limit may however be disregarded if there is a need for access). The clerk had contacted the bus company who confirmed that their school buses did use Haggs Road, but there were no “drop-offs” or “pick-ups” involved on Haggs Road. This would seem to indicate therefore that there was no need for access and use of the road could not be justified. However, when councillors explored further details it was revealed that the school buses picked up and dropped off on Castle Street in Spofforth. This narrow road will not allow the buses to turn round and use the A661 to and from Harrogate, so the only option is to use Haggs Road, in both directions. The clerk will contact the resident to inform him of these facts.
9. Parish Matters
a) Plompton.
Cllr Hall advised that, at long last, whilst the drains on the A661 had been unblocked, those onthe “triangle” still needed attention. Cllr Paraskos agreed to follow up again with Highways and also mention that the black and white marker posts at the Plompton junction still had not been
replaced.
b) Village upkeep.
i) Potholes on Main Street and around the corner on Spofforth Lane. The Chairman had provided “What3Words” indicators to the clerk who forwarded the details to NYC Highways. The potholes have been marked for repair so residents should be prepared for some disruption.
ii) A “pothole” is apparent on Pannal Road outside Moorland House. It looks as though it may have been caused by the support leg of a crane, during building works at the property. The clerk will contact the house owner to elicit further details for possible contact with the contractor.
c) Defibrillators – training and maintenance.
The Chairman thanked Linda & Mark for providing the training session in September (and alsothe WI for organising the event), stressing the importance of this device in critical situations. He also observed the importance of the monitoring of battery and pad life – he will continue to check the Follifoot equipment and Cllr Hall will undertake checks on the Plompton device. Cllr Hall has registered the Plompton defibrillator with a local agency but needs to check whether it is also registered on the national “Circuit” database.
10. Road safety
a) VAS Speed Sign – Cllr Dickinson reported that there was no real change in traffic speeds data. As agreed, the device has been reversed to capture the speeds of traffic exiting the village towards the A658. He commented that although there was continuing evidence of speeds in excess of 30mph, the trend was less than previously recorded for traffic entering the village. The number of vehicles recorded was also lower. The Chairman suggested that this arrangement should continue for the next few months and councillors agreed.
b) Haggs Road. The installation of the 40mph zone is still awaited, but the clerk has been informed that erection of the signs is with NYC’s contractor and is imminent.
c) Guilders Bridge. The Chairman reported that although the signs erected by the Parish Council had been removed by “persons unknown”, they have had some effect as there were less instances of inconsiderate parking. He suggested that occasional photographic evidence ofimproper parking should continue to be collected and forwarded to the clerk or directly to thepolice.
11. Follifields
a) Equipment maintenance. The Chairman noted that most of the maintenance items required following the ROSPA inspection had been completed with the exception of the missing tile on the Fairy Bridge Tower. The clerk will remind the contractor.
b) Hedge maintenance. The top, bottom and far hedges bordering Follifields, have been trimmed by the local landowner and we thank them for this. The hedge along Radcliffe Close is maintained by the Parish Council and the clerk has contacted the local contractor to arrange for this to be done.
12. Finance
a) Review of finances, approval of expenditure.
. Balance at the bank on 9th October 2025 in Current Account £986.45 and Deposit
Account £29,328.90, total £30,315.35. Bank statements to be initialled by the Chairman in confirmation, as part of his payment authorisation process. Monthly Reconciliation – reconciliation as at 9th October was provided, with receipts and payments in the period 11th September to 9th October, reconciling to the account balances shown above. Councillors then unanimously agreed the 8 amounts below for payment.
| Clerk’s salary | M Richards | £298.69 | Bank transfer |
| PAYE | HMRC | £199.12 | Bank transfer |
| Village maintenance | A Walker | £485.00 | Bank transfer |
| Follifields grasscutting | S Bush | £92.40 | Bank transfer |
| ROSPA inspection | M Richards | £81.60 | Bank transfer |
b) The Clerk briefly ran through the Summary and Cumulative budget statements explaining the updates from September receipts and payments. Councillors had examined the budget statements prior to the meeting and had no questions or comments.
c) Commuted Sums. The clerk had circulated the sums available from this source and councillors are to consider potential areas for this expenditure. However, before any decisions can be taken, further clarification is needed on definitions of allowable expenditure and definitions of potentially “defunct” sites. The clerk will obtain the necessary information.
13. Items for the next meeting
Confirmation of 2 November as the date for the Autumn litter pick. The clerk will arrange the supply of equipment.
The meeting finished at 9.15pm
Date of next meeting – Thursday 13th November 2025, commencing at 7.30pm, at Follifoot Village Hall.