Minutes of annual general meeting held on 23 May 2022 at Pickhill School. Ref: AGM22

1.    PRESENT: Parish Councillors: Mr Graham Clarke, Mr Ron Barker, Mrs Norma Grubb.           

Mr David Grubb (Minutes).          Residents – Mrs A Harvey, Mr N Burgess, Mr R Walker.

 

2.    APOLOGIES: Mr Minty Scaife, Mr James Wadsworth – both away on urgent business.

 

3.    MINUTES OF PREVIOUS  AGM - May 2019    Agreed.

 

4.    MATTERS ARISING FROM 2019 MINUTES:

(1)  Clarification re election of Vice Chairman (Item 7 in May 2019):  Mrs Grubb advised that whilst Mr Brook, then Councillor for Sinderby, had been elected Vice Chair at that AGM, he had retired as a Parish Councillor shortly after, triggering a by-election process; there were no candidates so eventually the Parish Council used its powers to co-opt Mr Wadsworth as the Sinderby Councillor. Mr Barker was elected Vice Chairman.

(2)  Defibrillators (item 9 in 2019): This noted that a defib. battery check was due in 2021. (Both units are checked regularly). Sinderby battery still ok. Pickhill battery replaced in December 2021, at £264 inc VAT.

 

5.    FINANCIAL REPORT: Audited accounts for year ending 31 March 2022 were presented. Thanks expressed to Mr Chris Robson for once again          carrying out the local audit of the Parish Council accounts.

 

6.    PARISH CLERK’S REPORT:

(1)  Result of Parish Council Election process April/May 2022: Mrs Grubb outlined that the only candidates were the five sitting Parish Councillors, so they were returned unopposed, for a further four years, without the need for an election.

(2)  Planning applications – summary for the year ending 31 March 2022: of the 12 applications made in this period, the Parish Council had no objection to 11 of them. The one where there were objections was withdrawn. The Parish Council did raise concerns about aspects of two applications and amendments were made or conditions set, as a result. It was pleasing to note that some regard is paid to local views.

 

7.    CHAIRMAN’S REPORT: Mr Clarke said it was three years since his last report due to the intervention of COVID 19, during which we could not hold an AGM but the Parish Council were able to continue functioning, through a mixture of telephone liaison and restricted meetings, on car parks, the village green, even in a barn in the colder weather.  He said he never expected to be Chairman for so long; he advised there was now to be a new Chairman and he wished them well. 

Mr Clarke added that we live in a special place. We do not get massive objections, mass meetings or protests as some villages do, for instance when planning applications are being considered. It is a very even Parish, which does not have an elite. Many people give freely of their time for the villages – it is a very special community.

 

8.    OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 2022/2023:

Election of Chair: Mr Barker was proposed by Mrs Grubb, seconded by Mr Clarke and he accepted the position.

Election of Vice-Chair: Deferred to next meeting in view of the absence of two councillors.

Appointment of Parish Clerk: Mr Barker and Mr Clarke proposed Mrs Grubb as Parish Clerk in tandem with her Councillor duties, which she accepted. Mr Grubb to continue taking Minutes.

 

Mr Barker thanked Mr Clarke for his many years of continuous service as Chairman and for all his hard work. He said Mr Clarke had done a lot for the villages and he hoped this would continue. Mrs Grubb cited just one recent example of Mr Clarke’s contribution, when he and his team re-built a substantial section of the Churchyard wall after a section collapsed. She also thanked him for all the advice and guidance he had given her as a new Parish Clerk, over the past three years.

 

9.    ANY OTHER BUSINESS:  None. 

Latest News

Minutes of meeting held on 20 May 2025 at Pickhill School. Ref: 342

July 1, 2025
1. OPEN SESSION : Mr Lane challenged Vice Chair Mr Clarke regarding a letter Mr Clarke had sent to the Planning Officer regarding Mr Lane’s planning application to convert farm buildings into homes. Mr Lane said he believed Mr Clarke was trying to stop him getting planning permission. Mr Clarke pointed out that the Parish Council had not objected to either of Mr Lane’s planning applications. He had written personally to Planning to correct an assertion in Mr Lanes’ architect report that Mr Clarke’s adjacent farm buildings were not used for rearing animals, pointing out that whilst he did not currently have animals there, he would in future and that he was applying for planning permission for a further building there. He emphasised he had not objected to Mr Lanes’ applications in his letter. Mr Barker wound up the discussion, saying Mr Lane clearly had strong views but that the Parish Council had not objected to the applications and he thanked him for raising the matter. Mr Barker invited Mrs Pawlow to comment on an issue involving her bee-hives on Swainby Lane, which had given rise to two complaints to the Parish Council, which would be coming up later. Mrs Pawlow said she had only learned that morning there had been an issue. She said that on 1 st May she had been causing dividing a hive, by creating a “false swarm”. There were bees in the air, but not a swarm. She has since learned that some people walking by on the lane had been stung. Mr Barker pointed out that one resident was hospitalised with multiple stings and that two children who were stung were now fearful of passing there – which they have to do to get to and from school. Mrs Pawlow said she was sorry about that – it was a case of wrong place, wrong time. She was happy to talk to the children about how to deal with the bees. She asked if Mr Barker should recuse himself as the children were related to him. It was pointed out this was an open session, not bound by meeting conventions. Asked if the hives could be moved further away from the road, Mrs Pawlow said she only owns an 11 metre triangular plot, with seven hives currently...they could not be moved further away. Asked if the timing of such activity could avoid school start and end times, she did not see how she could. Asked if there was anything she could do to minimise the risk she said the hedge could be allowed to grow, but that it gets cut back – not sure who by. Mr Barker concluded by explaining how the Parish Council works and that the complaints would be discussed during the meeting. He thanked her for attending. 1. 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). Residents: Mr R Walker, Mr B Lane, Mrs J Pawlow. 2. APOLOGIES: Cllr David Webster (NYC), Mrs A Harvey. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF LAST MEETING (15 April 2025 - Ref 341): Agreed. Signed by Chair . 4. MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES : 1. Damage to trees on Street Lane (opposite “Station” wall): Mr Barker said it was evident there was little appetite for replacing the damaged trees if they were to be damaged again during the hedge cutting. He agreed with suggestions to find an alternative verge to plant new ones. Mr Clarke favoured the verges between Pickhill and Sinderby. No other suggestions. Mr Barker concluded we were a long way from planting time and we could let the matter settle. 5. PLANNING: 1. New Applications (a) Windrush, Pickhill – application to erect an agricultural building : Mr Clarke declared an interest as the applicant and left the building for this item. Mr Barker said the Parish Council tried to support all applications wherever possible, particularly for farming. Agreed: no objections. (b) Sinderby Sewage Treatment Works – erection of a motor control kiosk . Agreed: no objections. (c) Church House, Pickhill - change of access and new driveway. Has been granted by Planning, but amended plans now submitted and referred back for further consultation. Changes involve adding seven trees and spec for the types of driveway surface. Agreed: no objections. 6. FINANCE: Update: accounts audited locally by Mr Robson; AGAR exemption form has been sent and the financial returns will be posted online. Noted. The public liability insurance is due for renewal at £449.24, an increase of £10 on last year. Agreed: renew with Zurich . 7. PROJECTS: 1. Pickhill Village Green improvements: (i) Seats: Mr Clarke reported that the three new benches have been manufactured; currently being painted. The invoice is on its way. Noted. (ii) Signs: Mr Clarke (holes) & Mr Barker (concrete) arranged to meet to install new signs. Noted. (iii) Goalposts: Mrs Grubb - two portable goalposts from YPO are £342.98 +VAT. Purchase agreed . 2. Pickhill Playground: (i) Sign: new entrance sign required to meet changes in legislation. Proposed wording accepted. Mr Scaife to order. Agreed. (ii) F ence: Mrs Grubb reported that more slaits have gone from the fence and Mr Grubb has filled the gaps with new from stock. (We lose half a dozen a year at about £4 each). As the existing ones are just nailed on and easy to remove by children, it was suggested they all be screwed. A couple of boxes of screws are less than a years losses. Mr Grubb offered to do this. Agreed . (iii) Gateposts: require renewal due to rot. Mr Barker would add this to his list. Agreed. (iv) Powerwashing : Mr Scaife and Mr Barker are to arrange a session to improve the appearance of play equipment, tables etc. Mr Barker is going to seek volunteers to help via social media. 8. CORRESPONDENCE: (circulated to councillors in advance of meeting) (1) NYC Newsletter to Parish Councils . Info only - no action required. (2) Pickhill School – consultation with stakeholders on nursery proposals - positive response sent. (3) NYC consultation - re new Local Plan briefings taking place online on 15 & 19 May. 9. COUNCILLORS REPORTS: Mr Clarke: the floodwater chamber in the old railway dip on Swainby Lane, referred to at last meeting, has now been completed by NYC Highways engineers. Noted. 10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS Letters of complaint: Mr Barker advised there had been two letters of complaint to the Parish Council regarding “a swarm of bees” having stung several people, multiple times, near hives on Swainby Lane. This included two children, and a lady who had been hospitalised after sustaining multiple stings to the head, all on the afternoon of 1 st May. At this point he declared an interest as the two children were related to him. The meeting felt there was no conflict in this instance. The owner of the hives, Mrs Pawlow, was present observing the meeting. Extracts of the letters were read out by the Parish Clerk. After a thorough discussion, during which Mrs Pawlow was able to answer some questions from Councillors, she was asked to consider changes aimed at minimising the risk, which she declined. She said she was happy to talk to the children concerned to advise how to deal with such issues. Mrs Pawlow said she had seen Mr Stafford’s letter, but asked for a copy of the other letter. The Parish Clerk said she would seek consent first from the writer. It was decided that the Parish Council would write to Mrs Pawlow, to North Yorkshire Council and to the Beekeepers Association. Parish Clerk to deal. Signed: R Barker Dated: 17 June 2025

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