Important Covid-19 information from North Yorkshire County Council
These are unprecedented times and we recognise that going into a third national lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic will be very difficult for many of you. We are sending you this email to help you to understand what this means for us all in North Yorkshire, and to make sure you know what support is available. We also want you to know that no-one in North Yorkshire should feel alone.
What is the current risk?
The new variant of the virus moves between people much more easily. A small amount of exposure can lead to infection. We know that people mixing inside homes has been a key way in which the virus transfers, so please play your part and do not meet other people inside. Infection rates have been rising very quickly in many areas of North Yorkshire, regardless of how rural the communities are. It is important to remember that one in three people with Covid has no symptoms and can be spreading it without knowing.
Here is a summary of the key points of this national lockdown. You are only allowed to leave home to:
shop for essentials for your household or a vulnerable person/people you are helping and this should be as locally as possible;
go to work, or provide voluntary or charitable services, if you cannot work from home;
exercise with your household (or support bubble) or one other person, this should be limited to once per day and you should stay local;
meet your support bubble or childcare bubble where necessary, but only if you are legally permitted to form one;
seek medical help or avoid injury, illness or risk of harm (including domestic abuse); and
attend education or childcare, for anyone who is eligible.
You can find information from the government website. You can find out more about help and advice in this area on the county council website.
What is a support bubble?
If you live alone or are a single parent who lives only with your children, you can meet one other household without social distancing. This is called a support bubble. Not everyone meets the government criteria for a support bubble and you can check if you do on the government website, above.
Symptoms
The main symptoms are a new and continuous cough, a fever, loss of taste and/or smell. Find out more about the symptoms.
If you feel unwell, with even mild Covid symptoms, please protect your friends and family by behaving as though you are infectious – self-isolate and book a test. You can book a test online
or call 119.
If you are required to isolate, you must comply for the full period required. This is ten days for anyone who tests positive or 14 days if you live with, or have come into contact with, anyone who tests positive. You are increasing the risk for others if you do not.
Supporting each other
Thank you to everyone looking out for friends and neighbours, and the many thousands of volunteers helping people across North Yorkshire. Please keep checking on people who might need a hand with things like shopping, collecting medication of just having someone to talk to. A brief telephone chat can make a huge difference to people who may feel lonely or isolated. Please keep in touch with friends and neighbours by phone or online. Find advice about how to help safely.
We all know that mental and physical health is important. All of us are allowed to undertake daily exercise, outdoors, once a day if we can. As long as we keep two metres apart, we can exercise with someone from another household, too.
What to do if you need help
If you need help with shopping or other essentials, please let family, friends or neighbours know how they can help you. If you do not have anyone to help you, you can contact us and we will direct you to help in your area.
You can complete an online form to let us know what help you need to let us know what help you need.
We are currently dealing with a high number of phone calls, so please use this form if you can. If you do not have access to the internet, our contact centre is open seven days a week between 8am and 5.30pm so please call 01609 780 780.
Shielding
People who are clinically extremely vulnerable are being asked to shield again. If you are in this group, the government will write to you with the latest advice. We will continue to offer support to North Yorkshire residents who are asked to shield. There is an online form to let us know what support you need.
If you do not have access to the internet, our contact centre is open seven days a week between 8am and 5.30pm so please call 01609 780 780.
Vaccine roll-out
The NHS in North Yorkshire is working hard to roll out vaccinations across many sites that are equipped to deliver it. When it is your turn, your GP will contact you directly and give you an appointment. If you cannot attend, please let them know so they can re-arrange the appointment for you and vaccinate someone else. Surgeries and other NHS staff are really busy, so it is important everyone remains patient and waits for their invitation.
Team North Yorkshire
As well as working with a network of community support organisations helping people right across the county, North Yorkshire is fortunate to have a strong spirit of volunteering. There are hundreds of people out there who can help you so please do not feel alone. Thanks again for looking out for those around you. We know that many people will want to get involved in their communities and help where they can. If you have the time and want to volunteer, we can introduce you to local organisations in your own community. See more information about volunteering.
Buy Local
If you cannot get out, there are also lots of great North Yorkshire businesses standing by to deliver services and shopping direct to you. There has probably never been a more important time to support local businesses. We encourage you to shop locally to support jobs and the economy at this really difficult time. Please have a look at our Buy Local website for details of businesses in your area.
Thank you
Even with the new lockdown measures, we still have personal responsibilities to protect ourselves, our families, friends and neighbours. Please remain careful, whether at home or outside for the permitted reasons. Act as if you have the virus and Stay Home, Protect the NHS and Save Lives. Thank you.
Richard Flinton | Chief Executive, North Yorkshire County Council
Louise Wallace | Director of Public Health, North Yorkshire County Council
Latest News
1. OPEN SESSION : nil 2. PRESENT: Parish Councillors: Mr Ron Barker (Chair), Mr Graham Clarke (Vice Chair), Mrs Norma Grubb (also Parish Clerk), Mr Minty Scaife, Mr Jim Wadsworth. Others: D Grubb (Minutes). NYC: Cllr David Webster. Residents: Mr R Walker APOLOGIES: None 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF LAST MEETING (7 Jan 2025 - Ref 339): Agreed. Signed by Chair . 4. MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES : 1. Speed reduction signage on entering Pickhill: still awaiting response from Highways. 5. PLANNING: 1. Church House, Pickhill (Grade II Listed) : retrospective application re various works discovered during ongoing renovation. Agreed – no objections. 2. Church House, Pickhill (Grade II Listed): change of use of land to domestic; create new vehicle access track and parking; alter existing yard access to pedestrian only. Agreed – no objections. 3. 1-2 The Cottages, Pickhill: retrospective application to convert existing garage to a granny annexe including small extension to create porch. Agreed – no objections. 4. Any updates on earlier applications - none 6. FINANCE: 1. Update since last meeting: Parish Clerk confirmed last statement from bank at end of November. Invoice received for parish council website renewal & domain name at £159.45. Renewal agreed. 2. Grasscutting contract for Sinderby: Following last meeting Mrs Grubb had signed and returned the Pickhill contract and had requested a copy of the plan for Sinderby showing the verges to be cut . Still awaiting a response. Cllr Webster offered to chase that with the member of staff. For next Agenda. 7. PROJECTS: Pickhill Village Green improvements. (i) Seats: Parish Clerk confirmed a grant application was submitted for three bench seats at £900 +VAT. (best of two quotes obtained). Cllr Webster said he had recommended a grant of £500 towards this, for which he was thanked. Design is to match the one existing fixed blue bench seat. Will be heavy but free standing; discussed need to try out positioning. If they get moved by the public we can consider securing them down later. It was proposed that the order be placed with Mr Charlton. Agreed. (Mr Clarke to order) (ii) Signage: Second quote, obtained by Mr Scaife from Swift Signs (£312 + VAT each) beats that from Fox’s. After discussion it was proposed two signs be ordered from Swift. Agreed. (Mr Scaife to order) 8. CORRESPONDENCE: (circulated to councillors in advance of meeting) (1) Speed campaign/road safety in NY villages – update from campaign co-ordinator – this is a campaign to have fixed enforcement cameras in villages, which is resisted by the Mayors office/Police & Crime Commisioner as the policy is to use mobile camera units across North Yorkshire. Noted. (2) Message from All Saints Church. Email received thanking Parish Council for the donation towards Church’s grass-cutting bill. Noted. 9. COUNCILLORS REPORTS: Mr Barker: reports that trees on the Street Lane verge opposite the “Station” wall have again been damaged during hedge trimming. He had spoken to the owner of the hedge who confirms the contractor had reported this back to him. Mr Barker noted that these trees were planted by the Parish Council some 20 years ago, yet it is only in the last 2 winters that this has occurred. The Parish Council had to replace one of the trees last winter and others needed “first aid”. Councillors to go and inspect the damage / layout: to discuss further at next meeting. For next Agenda. Cllr Webster: · NY Council meeting the following day to discuss the deficit. · It is likely that Locality Grants budget will be halved next year (to be applied for in second half of 2025 – applications will close 31 Jan 2026. · Each household will be getting one extra recycling bin. · There is a move to even out each Councillors area (based on number of residents) and it is likely that our Parish Council will not be in his area (Bedale division) by the next NYC elections in 2027. · National target of 1.5 million extra homes during this Government means North Yorkshire having to substantially increase its target on the local plan. Mrs Grubb: on that last point, she had downloaded the Local Plan map of the County showing sites suggested by landowners as possibly available for building/development. There was just one within our Parish Council area (copy viewed). Cllr Webster issued a note of caution in that these sites were unfiltered – ie., had not yet been evaluated. 10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS: none. Signed: R Barker Dated: 15.4.2025 New Paragraph
1. OPEN SESSION : nil 2. PRESENT: Parish Councillors: Mr Ron Barker (Chair), Mr Graham Clarke (Vice Chair), Mrs Norma Grubb (also Parish Clerk), Mr Minty Scaife, Mr Jim Wadsworth. Others: D Grubb (Minutes). NYC: Cllr David Webster. APOLOGIES: None 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF LAST MEETINGS (12 Nov 2024 - Ref 337 and 3 Dec 2024 - Ref 338): Both Agreed. Signed by Chair . 4. MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES : 1. Speed reduction on entering Pickhill: reinstatement of SLOW signs on road at 30mph entry points: Highways have been asked to reinstate them. Awaiting their response. 2. Vehicle damage to Pickhill Village Green: see Item 7(2). 5. PLANNING: 1. Application re land west of Sinderby Lane, Sinderby – change of use of farm buildings to dwelling house and associated building works – discussed. Agreed – no objections. 2. Previous applications: (1) Chancefield, Pickhill – conversion of agricultural buildings into six dwellings - has been refused by the planning department. (2) Church House, Pickhill – staircase/loft hatch, etc – was granted. 6. FINANCE: 1. Update since last meeting: The Parish Clerk outlined position of current account. A cheque for the Church grounds donation (£300) was signed. The proposed precept forms (2025/26) were submitted in November (£4,620). 2. Grasscutting contracts: Quotes for 2025 growing season received.... Pickhill: The NYC contractors will charge £1665.83, whilst Highways will pay £112.34 for cutting their visibility splays. After discussion, this was accepted. Sinderby: NYC originally quoted over £800, but when Mrs Grubb queried the amount it transpired this included the “village green”, as they believed we owned it. They have now accepted that NYC do own it and have re-quoted £416 for just the roadside verges. Highways will pay us £52 for the splays. Councillors queried the £416 as there seems to be little which was not splays. Mrs Grubb to request plans showing the verges to be cut within that quote For next Agenda. 7. PROJECTS: 1. Pickhill Playground improvements : due to winter conditions no further work had been undertaken. 2. Vehicle damage to Pickhill Village Green: Mr Barker had obtained a quote from Fox’s for two signs mounted on posts, at £334 each, plus VAT, and showed images of the wording options. Mr Scaife would obtain a second quote to same specification. For next Agenda. 8. CORRESPONDENCE: (circulated to councillors in advance of meeting) None 9. COUNCILLORS REPORTS: Cllr Webster : will be attending NYC budget meeting the day after, so little to report. Locality Grants available on a 50/50 basis; closing date is 31 January. Discussion regarding seating benches to improve amenities on Pickhill Village Green, which only has one bench currently. Quotes to be obtained. Mr Scaife: recalls earlier suggestion for a flower bed on the verge by Pickhill sign at top of hill – ongoing. Mrs Grubb: a resident at Holme on Swale had asked if our Parish Council could represent their village as their Parish Meeting had ceased to exist. Mrs Grubb had advised her that it was not within our remit and referred her to NY Council. Cllr Webster confirmed that was the position and advised there were other villages in the area in a similar position, such as Ainderby Quernhow and Howe. 10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS: none. Signed: R. Barker Dated: 4.2.2025 New Paragraph