Annual Parish Meeting 2026
Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held in the Jupiter Room of Rudding Park Hotel
Thursday 14th May 2026
PRESENT: Chairman N. MacDermid, Vice Chairman A. Dewsnip, Councillors T. Hall, C.
Dickinson, K. Tharby, J. Locke and S. Gallimore. Cllr A. Paraskos (NYC) and M. Richards (Clerk) were also present.
- Apologies: There were no apologies for absence.
2. Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on 22nd May 2025 confirmed as approved at
the June 2025 meeting.
3. Matters arising – all issues had been followed up at the June 2025 meeting. No outstanding
matters.
4. Reports:
Financial report for the year to 31 March 2026 – presented by the clerk/RFO – The Parish Council continues to be in a healthy financial state, with a significant level of reserves, which are necessary due to the need to provide for unexpected incidents with regard to high value assets and the need to be prepared for replacement of high-cost play equipment at Follifields which is now in its 9th year. The draft annual accounts statement has been circulated for councillors’ review and approval. 2025-26 has again been a relatively normal year in financial terms with receipts and payments largely mirroring previous years. The main areas of expenditure have again been the clerk’s salary, village and Follifields maintenance.
The Internal Auditor has started his review work on the accounts and the state of internal financial control and governance and will be presenting his report to the June Parish Council meeting, at which the formal Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) will be available for Councillors’ scrutiny and review, prior to authorisation.
Councillors recognized the impact on residents of current cost of living but felt that with the unknown effect of inflation for the current year a small 3% increase in the precept was reasonable, given that there had been no increase for the last 2 years.
Chairman’s report to the Annual Parish Meeting
Thanks to all those attending this annual parish meeting
First, a quick “roll call” of parish councillors: –
I’m Nigel MacDermid – Chairman
Anne Dewsnip is our Vice Chair
Our fellow parish councillors are: –
Sam Gallimore
Charles Dickinson
Justin Locke
Keith Tharby
Terry Hall – representing Plompton
We also have Mike Richards, our parish clerk and Responsible Financial Officer.
As with previous years I’d like to give my thanks for the great service that the parish councillors and the parish clerk have given to the community, and the support they give to me personally.
Some other people I’d also like to thank are: –
Andrew Walker for carrying out maintenance tasks in the village.
Stuart Bush for cutting the grass and maintaining Follifields, and in the last year also cutting grass outside of Follifields.
Steve Smith for maintaining the follifoot.org website
And finally, a mention to Andy Paraskos – our local North Yorkshire Councillor.
Andy is a regular attender at our parish meetings. He also lobbies the various departments within North Yorkshire Council to help us with matters that concern our community.
Community Thanks & Appreciation
We have a great community, with several groups of people who volunteer their time to help make Follifoot (and Plompton) great places to live. These include Coffee & Cake Club, Friends of Follifoot School, FOFWRAP, The WI, The Bowls Club, Follifoot Cricket Club, The Village Hall Trustees/Committee.
A very special thank you to David Hinchley – 2026 is the 50th Year that he has been raising the Union Jack Flag on the flagpole at the top of Main St.
As always, a huge thanks must go to members of our community who attend and support the organised events that makes all the effort so worthwhile.
In Memoriam
A sad part of my report is to remember the passing in 2025 of Unice Cansfield and Ceris Sladdin.
Unice served the community over many years, including as Chair of the Parish Council. Ceris was a key member of the group that were responsible for creating Follifields. We thank them and miss them both.
Village Hall
The village hall is managed by a group of Trustees, and representatives of clubs and groups are also on the Village Hall Committee. There is a strong overlap between the Parish Council and the Village Hall Trustees, with several people volunteering for both.
In the Summer of last year there was an issue with the new Heating & Hot Water system that resulted in an escape of water, which caused significant damage to the village hall. This has been the subject of a major insurance claim, and the hall has been closed since the start of 2026.
Rudding Park Hotel has kindly let both the Parish Council and the WI hold their monthly meetings at the hotel, and this year’s Follifete will also be held in the grounds of the hotel. Our community is very appreciative of their support.
A lot of work has already been done on the village hall, with much more to come, and we are hopeful that the hall will be back in use by early September.
Safety & Transport
Having previously carried out a speed survey on Haggs Road, we used the results to support our lobbying of North Yorkshire Council to reduce the speed limit for the residential part of that road. During the year the reduced speed limit with signage and road markings was finally implemented.
We carried out a speed survey on Plompton Road (near The Pound), and the results showed that there were no significant traffic speed issues. We have very recently carried out a traffic and speed survey outside Follifoot Park Riding Centre, and these results will be reviewed to see if they support a case for a reduced speed limit.
We continue to monitor and report on traffic and speed data from the Vehicle Activated Sign that was installed a few years ago on the way into the village from the bypass.
We installed signage at Guilders Bridge on Plompton Road asking people to be more considerate with their parking. Sadly “persons unknown” decided to remove the signage, however, there does appear to have been some improvements in parking behaviour.
New “No Cold Calling Zone” signage was put up in the year.
After much lobbying a new LED light fitting was installed by NYC on the lamppost at the top of Main St.
We are continuing to press North Yorkshire Highways to address road safety related issues at the entrance to Plompton on Wetherby Road.
A defibrillator training session took place, organised by the WI. We thank Linda and Mark for providing the training and donating a Bleed Control Kit for the defibrillator cabinet in the Information Centre. The Parish Council purchased a Bleed Control Kit for the Plompton Defibrillator cabinet.
During the year Northern Gas Networks installed a new Gas Governor Unit on Plompton Road, near The Pound. This is significantly larger than the one it replaces, and much closer to the road. This was done using NGN’s statutory powers, and did not require planning permission, even though it is within the Conservation Area. There are several areas of concern, including Road Safety. There have been great efforts by a local resident, supported by me (on behalf of the Parish Council), both to hold NGN to account, and get the best possible outcome in terms of safety and visual appearance. We hope this matter will be concluded soon.
Health & Wellbeing
The Parish Council continues to maintain the Follifields wildlife, recreation and play area.
This includes the regular cutting of the grass, a major pruning of the hedge to maintain the open aspect of the play area, the removal of cuttings from the Wildflower area in the autumn/winter and maintenance of the play equipment and gates/fencing. We also have an annual safety inspection carried out by an external organisation.
We have long supported connecting the bridleway by the viaduct in Crimple Valley. North Yorkshire Council completed a legal Creation Order, and I’m pleased to report that in 2025 the bridleways were connected. We thank the organisations, individuals, and North Yorkshire Council for finally getting us to this point.
Maintenance, Litter Picking and Highway Repairs
Andrew Walker carried out refurbishment works on the interior of the Phone Box/Information Centre, and he also carried out various items of refurbishment on some of the benches around the village. Most recently he has refurbished the white kissing gate opposite the church, and he has done an excellent job with it.
We held both an Autumn and more recently a Spring litter pick. The litter picks had good attendance, with families participating in the event. Thanks go to those residents that were able to give up their time.
We appreciate Charles and Chris Dickinson for planting and maintaining flowers at the entrances to the village each year, and the work to look after the planting at Horse Pond Beck.
Potholes are a growing nationwide issue affecting our roads’ maintenance and safety. During the year there was work carried out by North Yorkshire Highways to address the most serious issues on Main St. We will continue to lobby them.
Whilst not a maintenance issue as such, it has been good to see lots of work going on by contractors to expand the availability of Full Fibre Broadband.
Waste & Recycling
There have been further changes to the waste and recycling arrangements by North Yorkshire Council, including a change to the number (and colour) of wheely bins. This appears to be a phased roll-out.
Planning & Development
The Parish Council plays an important role in the planning permission process, and as a consultee we provide local knowledge and comments on planning applications that are submitted for developments in the parish. We consider the National Planning Policy Framework and other planning policies in our formal responses. We take a positive and constructive approach to the review of applications, but where we feel that an application is inappropriate then we will respond accordingly. Perhaps the most significant planning application to come forward this year was an application to build 3 new houses on land on Pannal Road. The Parish Council considered all the details put forward in the proposals and, on balance, agreed to support the application. North Yorkshire Council has recently granted planning permission.
Rudding Park Hotel have also been progressing their Country Club development plans. This included detailed design and landscaping for the tennis courts and the grounds equipment store.
Most recently they have carried out consultation sessions for the development, including the Country Club itself.
Occasionally, we must address potential planning enforcement issues and report them to North Yorkshire Council for investigation. One such matter in the last year related to a field off Spofforth Lane. This matter has been resolved.
North Yorkshire – Local Development Plan
Work by North Yorkshire Council on the North Yorkshire Local Development Plan is continuing, with no doubt much going on in the background.
North Yorkshire Council had previously published details of the sites put forward as part of the “Call for Sites” process, and this process has recently been re-opened.
We will monitor and engage with the development of the NY Local Plan, focusing on its potential impact on our community. When the time comes to formally comment on any sites proposed by North Yorkshire, we will hold a dedicated event in the Village Hall to understand the views of our community.
Harrogate Town Council – Neighbourhood Plan
Two meetings have recently been held with Harrogate Town Council about potentially working with them and two other Parish Councils, (that neighbour Harrogate), about producing a combined Neighbourhood Plan. We will consider the pros and cons of such an initiative before making any decision.
A few comments on our finances
Mike has already talked in some detail about the Parish Council finances in his report so I will just make a few comments of my own.
The annual Parish Precept (which forms part of residents Council Tax Bills) was £11,150 for the financial year just ended. For this year ahead we have increased the precept by 3% to £11,485.
The Parish Council holds reserves for the maintenance and renewal of Follifields play equipment and other village assets such as the Bus Shelters, information centre/phone box, notice boards, benches, Defibrillators and the Vehicle Activated Speed Sign.
Closing Comments
We appreciate having an active and supportive community and anticipate the year ahead with a positive outlook.
That concludes my annual report.
North Yorkshire Council
Cllr Paraskos gave a brief outline of some of NYC’s key issues:
- abalanced budget was recorded for 2025/26 but significant pressure is anticipated for the current year, with social care expenditure expected to be at 40-50%;
- a change in the funding arrangement for Highways has meant that a greater share passes to the NY and York Mayor – this will equate to a loss of some £23m for NYC;
- Kex Gill/A59 – work is nearing completion and the new stretch of road is anticipated to be open in late June/early July.
The Chairman thanked Cllr Paraskos for his comments, and the meeting closed at 7.35pm.