Minutes of meeting held on 12 November 2024 at Pickhill School. Ref: 337

1.   OPEN SESSION:  nil

2.   PRESENT: Parish Councillors:  Mr Ron Barker (Chair), Mr Graham Clarke (Vice Chair) Mrs Norma Grubb (also Parish Clerk), Mr Jim Wadsworth.      Others: D Grubb (Minutes).      NYC: Cllr David Webster.  Residents: Mr Walker, Mrs Harvey, Mr Lane, Mr Burgess.    APOLOGIES: Parish Councillor Mr Minty Scaife

3.   APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF LAST MEETING (28 May 2024: Ref 336): Agreed. Signed by Chair.

4.   MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES:

1.    School use of public play area. Following liaison with school head, our insurers and parish councillors, this has been agreed and the public playground is now being accessed during school play sessions, with access direct from school grounds and supervised by their staff. Public still have access at these times.

2.   Improving water quality in Pickhill Beck: Mr Clarke reported that a grant has been applied for to monitor water quality and explore ways to make improvements. Separately Yorkshire Water is in the process of installing pipe-works between the sewage pumping station at Sinderby and the River Swale, to reduce the run-off that has been overflowed into the beck along that stretch, causing bad smells.

3.   Speed reduction on entering Pickhill: it is noted that the “Slow” signs painted on the road on approach to the 30mph area, at both ends of the village, had not been replaced after last years re-surfacing. Highways are being asked to reinstate them.

4.   Vehicle damage to Pickhill Village Green:  ongoing issue along the school lane side. Mr Barker has monitored this. Biggest mis-use is at school pick-up time when numerous vehicles wait, parked on the green. Also vehicles reversing out from driveways, or when delivery vehicles park. As winter approaches more damage will occur. It is accepted that infrequently a large funeral or wedding may encroach.   It was proposed quotes to be obtained for two signs... “No parking or driving on the village green”.     Agreed.

5.   PLANNING:  

1.   Applications dealt with since last meeting:

The applications for Manor Farm (holiday let rail carriage), Church House (internal & external alterations), Middle Park Farm (agricultural barn), and The Cottage in Pickhill (demolish and rebuild) – were not opposed by the Parish Council; all have now been granted.

2.   New Applications:

(1) Chancefield, Pickhill – to determine if prior approval is required for proposed conversion of three agricultural buildings into 6 dwellings.   Discussed at length, plans examined. The applicant Mr Lane was able to answer Councillors questions.                           Agreed: no objections.

(2) Broadlea, Pickhill – to demolish bungalow and build two detached dwellings. Mr Clarke declared an interest and withdrew from discussion. In 2019 permission was granted to convert this property into two semi detached houses. The new plans were examined.        Agreed: no objections.                                                                   

6.   FINANCE:

1.   Update since last meeting: The Parish Clerk outlined that in 2017 planning permission was granted to build 3 homes behind the Nags Head and the development was completed in 2020. At that time the Parish Council was told that no CIL money (Community Infrastructure Levy) was payable to us. Last month the Council contacted her to advise that a mistake had been made and there was a CIL payment for this development. We have now received £3,918.75.                                      Noted.

Recent payments made for a combination lock for playground vehicle gate, new pads (adult and paediatric) and a new battery for Pickhill defibrillator. We had also paid a contractor to trim the lime tree (around the Knowles seat) on Pickhill Village Green.                                                    Noted.

2.   Setting the Parish precept: For year 2024/2025 we had received a precept payment of £4,200.This is collected as part of the Council Tax.  We now need to set this for 2025/2026 (starts 1st April). A similar increase as the previous year would take it to £4,620. As this was divided by the total number of homes in the Parish and the number of new houses had again increased, the actual rise to each home was minimal (pence per month).                                                          Agreed to set at £4,620

3.   Request from Pickhill Church – assistance with grasscutting costs. In recent years we had made a donation of £250. It was proposed to increase this to £300 this year and this was seconded. The Parish Clerk said this was a 20% increase and suggested it remain at £250. After a vote it was carried by a majority to make a donation of £300.

 7.   PROJECTS:

1. Pickhill Playground improvements: Mr Barker reported he had continued improvement repairs on the Playground over the summer, particularly addressing issues identified in the last ROSPA inspection report. Mats fitted under “wear” areas, swing joist replaced; work on timber of climbing tower, all at minimal cost. Mr Clarke proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Barker which was agreed unanimously.

2. ROSPA Report. The annual inspection was carried out in October and the work undertaken by Mr Barker had paid off as there were no items rated as “red” this year. As a lot of the timber equipment is now approaching 30 years old, it is inevitable there will be wear and tear issues, such as ground level strimmer damage to swings and climbing equipment and rot to the top of posts. 

3. Defibrillators. Pickhill - routine renewal of pads and battery in October.  Pads (separate adult and child sets) cost £172 and expire in Nov 2026; they can only be used once. Battery cost £336 and lasts up to four years.  We were alerted just the day before this meeting that the unit may have been used (999 call to Ambulance). Mr Grubb checked and the unit was intact (pads still vacuum packed), but he then had an issue in re-setting; taking advice from suppliers to resolve. No info available to meeting re Sinderby unit.

8.      CORRESPONDENCE: (circulated to councillors in advance of meeting)

1.   Interest savings account offer for Parish Councils. Hinckley & Rugby Building Society offer an online account which pays 2.4% interest. It can be accessed by a single signatory. The Parish Clerk expressed her discomfort with that and it was agreed this was not viable.

2.   Northern Gas Network – Community Initiative Newsletter. Having studied the contents Councillors agreed there was nothing of relevance to the Parish Council.

3.   HugoFox Websites for Parish Councils: offering a “gov.uk” website and email facilities to Parish Councils.The annual charges are three times our current arrangements (a “co.uk” address with emails) supplied at cost by Ollie Reade, with design, updates and servicing for no extra charge, providing an excellent facility for the Parish. Councillors expressed their satisfaction with the current arrangements and declined the new offer.

9.    COUNCILLORS REPORTS:

Mr  Barker: explained why we had not had a meeting since May – no issues requiring a meeting and the few planning applications put in over the summer were straightforward and had been dealt with remotely.

Cllr Webster: gave an outline of the new North Yorkshire Council’s progress. There would be a deficit next year of some £28.2million. The recent National Insurance increases would add £8million to the Council’s costs as employers. However the second homes premium could bring in an additional £11million.

The Council aims to add 800 affordable new homes; several sites being explored.

The size and spread of the new Council is causing some communication issues. The old Hambleton District offices at Stone Cross, Northallerton, still houses Planning and Electoral Services but its future is uncertain.                                                                      

10.   ANY OTHER BUSINESS:  none. 

 Signed:    R Barker                                                                 Dated:   7. 1. 2025