Minutes of Meeting held on 15 June 2020, at Pickhill Minute Ref: 316
Held in compliance with Government restrictions: open space, limit of six, social distancing.
1. PRESENT: Mr Graham Clarke (Chairman), Mr Ron Barker (Vice Chairman), Mrs Norma Grubb (Parish Clerk), Mr Minty Scaife, Mr James Wadsworth. David Grubb (Minutes)
2. OPEN SESSION: Parish Clerk reported that as residents were not allowed to attend, agenda had been circulated with a request to send in any issues. Three emails received, all on the planning application, so included at Item 5.
3. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS (10 February and 16 March 2020)
Agreed by all and signed by Chairman.
4. MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES:
Mud etc on Swainby Lane: issue dormant over winter. Mr Clarke had been liaising and some improvement noted.
5. PLANNING
(i) Planning Application: Land to the rear of The Cottages, Street Lane, Pickhill: (HDC Ref: 20/00987/FUL).Construct one detached dwelling and associated garage, two semi detached dwellings and associated parking, new pedestrian and vehicle access to the public highway. (Full details distributed to parish councillors in advance, as had written objections from three residents.)
Mr Clarke said the outline application in 2015 was for three town houses across the rear of this site. The Parish Council objected then based on access, parking, flood risk and intrusion on neighbouring dwellings/gardens, but it was granted by Hambleton Planning. Mrs Grubb said the new application is for two semi detached homes, close to and at right angles to The Cottages, and a detached house with linked double garage and gym over, across the back of the site and facing the rear of The Cottages, a substantially larger development and closer to existing homes. Following lengthy discussions, it was agreed the original objections were still relevant and valid, plus this development was even more intrusive on adjacent homes. Vote taken – agreed to object. Decision: Parish Council objects
(ii) Planning Updates: The Parish Clerk reported that the applications considered remotely during lockdown, Roman Castle Barn, Pickhill and Devonshire House, Sinderby, had no Parish Council objections and were awaiting the planning decision.
6. FINANCE MATTERS
(i) Income/outgoings: Remittance Advice received re precept payment (£1,559), takes current account to £8,087.01
(ii) External Audit Exemption for 2019/2020: Due to lockdown, time limit for submission to PKF Littlejohn extended by Govt Statutory Instrument, to 31 July 2020; agreed we apply for exemption. Submit by 31 July 2019
(iii) Accounts for 2019/2020 – Independent Inspection. Deadline for publication of inspected accounts on our website also extended, now to be published by 1 Sept 2020. Accounts are ready in draft for independent inspection once exemption approved. Inspection and Publish by 1 Sept 2020
(iv) Insurance Renewal - Parish Clerk advised premium due 28 June at £402. She had asked Mr Grubb to review the policy docs. He noted that money cover was limited to members “aged 16 to 65 years”. That would exclude her as Parish Clerk and many other Parish Clerks in the District. She had raised this direct with the underwriter at Zurich and he came back within 24 hours noting that in other clauses, the age had been amended to “16 to 90 years” and he has issued new papers with this money cover similarly amended. The underwriter thanked her for pointing this anomaly out and it has resulted in a reduced premium, by £34. Cheque signed.
(v) Grass Cutting: The County Council quote for this year has been accepted. Mr Clarke advised that our grass was cut during lockdown, but he was unsure who by, as our regular crew were furloughed. So our arrangement with them, to not cut areas with bulb planting, was not followed. Hopefully back to normal arrangements for next year.
7. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Usually held in May each year, the Parish Council AGM clearly could not take place in lockdown. Agreed to postpone that meeting until residents can attend; also agreed current officer roles to continue in the mean-time.
8. CORRESPONDENCE - nil
9. COUNCILLORS REPORTS
Mr Scaife: Reports of hogweed in the village. Giant hogweed is the cause for concern and that had not been sighted.
Mr Barker and Mrs Grubb: Concern raised re public footpath past Low Ness Farm. Its route had been altered several years ago, taking it away from farm buildings, with signs and way markers placed. Path now follows Healam Beck and Pickhill Beck but it appears not to have been amended on the OS map or County Council map; walkers mistakenly going through Low Ness farmyard, a worry during current restrictions. Parish Clerk to raise with NYCC
Mr Clarke: Tree trimming for Sinderby village. Contractor had identified and marked the trees, but due to pandemic missed the ‘window’ before the growing period; will now be done next winter.
10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS - nil
Signed: Graham Clarke Date: 24 August 2020
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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