Minutes of Meeting held on 2 December 2019, at Pickhill School.
1. PRESENT: Mr Graham Clarke (Chairman), Mr Ron Barker (Vice Chairman), Mrs Norma Grubb (Parish Clerk), Mr
Minty Scaife, David Grubb (Minutes).
Residents: Mr Roger Walker, Mrs Ann Harvey, Mr Howard Broadwith . 2. APOLOGIES: Cllr David Webster. Mr James Wadsworth.
Mr Clarke explained that Mr Wadsworth, who had agreed to be the Parish Councillor for Sinderby following Mr Brook’s resignation, had now returned home from recuperation and his registration forms/declaration would be submitted shortly, so that he could take up his place, hopefully by the next meeting.
3. OPEN MEETING: Mr Broadwith outlined his continuing concern regarding the state of Lowfields Lane. Mud, deep potholes and the deteriorating road surface, added to by contractor wagons regularly blocking the way. This road is the only access to Scarborough House and Middle Park Farm.
The Parish Clerk said that following the last meeting when this subject was raised, several letters had been received from residents making the same points. She had drafted a letter from the Parish Council to County Council Highways and would be forwarding the residents letters with that, seeking urgent attention to the dangerous state of this road. Mr Broadwith said he would also write to the Parish Clerk so his letter could also be included.
It was noted that the work on the water supply to Lowfields Lane was still ongoing.
The 30mph zone was also discussed again. This ends mid way along the row of new houses and it would make sense to extend this to the village outskirts, beyond Avermal and Greenacres. It was recognised that the speed restriction is linked to the street lighting area.
The state of Street Lane leaving the village at the top of the hill was again highlighted but it was felt by the majority that the dangerous state of Lowfields Lane had priority, but this would also be pursued.
4. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING (21 October 2019)
Copies distributed and agreed. Mrs Harvey’s presence at the last meeting had been missed from the attendance list.
5. MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES:
(i) Parking signs at school: The new signs (Parking – school use only) and posts had been delivered and would be installed as soon as the water authority contractors had finished on the car park. Mr Barker and Mr Clarke agreed to install the signs, they hoped before the next meeting. An invoice for £- was now for payment.
(ii) Condition of Street Lane and Lowfields Lane: – as discussed in open meeting.
(iii) Parish Council website: Three quotes now received. Two, from website firms used by some local Parish Councils, were well over £1,000, with similar ongoing annual costs. However a Pickhill resident, Mr Reade, an IT specialist, has offered to set up the website, at cost. He will also assist with maintenance and advice. Set up and then annual renewals, would be around £350 per annum. Mr Reade’s offer was gratefully accepted. Discussion re website name, info pages, data/document storage and email addresses. Providing a website is now a requirement, not an option, for public access to minutes, annual accounts etc. Agreed. Review progress at next meeting
(iv) Affordable Housing (Pickhill): Nothing further heard from the Council
(v) Zip Wire – Rospa report: Mr Clarke had spoken to Image again and Mrs Grubb has also written to them two weeks ago, supplying to them the relevant extracts of the latest ROSPA report on the issues they had identified. No reply received as yet. Mr Clarke will chase again. Review at next meeting
(vi) Mud etc on Swainby Lane: currently dormant for the winter, to be kept on the agenda for review again in the Spring. The need for a ‘paper trail’ was discussed. For next Agenda
6. PLANNING
(i) Planning application – Mr S Fall, for Pasture House Farm, off Street Lane, Pickhill. Construction of timber framed
pig fattening building. Planning Ref: -/FUL. No objections from Parish Council (ii) The application for two new dwellings on land east of Maythorn Cottage in Sinderby now granted by Planning.
(iii) The application for alterations at Roman Castle Barn going to the next full planning committee on 12 December. (iv) Notice received of postal address for the new dwelling to south side of Lowfields Lane is “Stannum Barn”.
(v) The Parish Clerk had attended a training course on use of the Hambleton Council “Planning Portal”. There are useful search facilities available to assist her role. Future notification of planning applications to the Parish Clerk will be by email instead of post. These will be emailed on to Parish Councillors. Any printed documents/plans required for meetings would be printed off by the Clerk. Our decisions/observations are already notified to Planning by email.
7. FINANCE
(i) Setting Parish Precept for year -: Re-visited following discussion at last meeting. After a review of the income/outgoings and future needs, agreed to ask for only a 5% increase. Mr Clarke pointed out that neither the previous Parish Clerk, or the current holder, make any charge for the enormous amount of work they undertake (indeed this is barred due to also holding Parish Councillor role). If this changed in the future there would be substantial additional salary costs passed on to residents via the precept. Parish Clerk to submit return
(ii) VAT return -: The VAT 126 (re-claim of VAT paid) had now been completed online for the year 1 August 2018 to 31 July 2019 and we had re-claimed £1,-. Now await reply from HMRC.
(iii) Donation to Parish Council: Mrs Angela Cunningham has made a cheque donation of £- to the Parish Council with a request that it be used to benefit the children of Pickhill, either directly to the school or the village playground. Letter of thanks to be sent. For discussion at next meeting For next agenda
8. CORRESPONDENCE
(i) Changes to Bank business account terms and operating procedure circulated.
(ii) Cllr Webster had forwarded details of a grant available – “Making a Difference”. Last year Mr Clarke had referred Sinderby Village Hall management to this grant as they were recovering from the fire damage. Councillors will review the terms of reference as to whether we can apply. Closes in Mid January. For next agenda
9. COUNCILLORS REPORTS
(i) RAF LEEMING: Mr Barker mentioned the current exercises involving Typhoon jets, with late evening low flying over the villages (right on cue as he spoke). In the past he had been the nominated Parish liaison with Leeming and was always notified of such exercises, but had not been contacted recently. Agreed he would re-establish contact.
(ii) GRASS CUTTING: Mr Clarke referred to recent issues. The County Council are responsible for certain small roadside areas such as around road signs; for practical purposes these are done by the Parish Council contractor and then re-invoiced to recover that element from the County Council. Invoice for this has been raised and sent to County Council. Also, he said we have assisted the Church at Pickhill in recent years with their grasscutting liabilities, by a donation. Agreed we could review how we make this payment, if we can assist in future. For next agenda
10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
GOAL POSTS ON VILLAGE GREENS: Some repairs required for Pickhill sets and John Fletcher (Walking Football) has offered to help. Mr Clarke holds some spare parts and will make these available. For next agenda
CIL (COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE LEVY): Current position will be reviewed by Parish Clerk. For next agenda
Latest News
northyorks.gov.uk/localplan
OPEN SESSION 1. PRESENT 2. APOLOGIES 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF LAST MEETING (20 May 2025 - Minute Ref: 342) 4. MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES (1) Complaints re incident with bees on 1 May. 5. PLANNING (1) Four New Applications for Norton House Farm, Pickhill (a) Demolish agricultural buildings & construct 2 tourist accommodation units. (b) As at (a) above - listed buildings consent. (c) Demolish agricultural buildings & construct 4 dwellings (d) As at (c) above - listed buildings consent. (2) Any updates on previous applications. 6. FINANCE (1) Update since last Parish Council meeting. (2) Posting of financial returns for 2024/25 on website 7. PROJECTS (1) Pickhill Village Green improvements – progress on new signs, benches and goalposts. (2) Pickhill playground maintenance - progress. (3) Defibrillator update – Pickhill. 8. CORRESPONDENCE (circulated to Councillors prior to meeting) (1) NYC Newsletter to Parish Councils (2) NYC Parish Liaison – consultation with Town and Parish Councils. 9. COUNCILLORS REPORTS 10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS Norma Grubb, Clerk to the Parish Council. Posted: 8 June 2025 Email: clerk@pickhillandsinderbypc.co.uk