Minutes of Meeting held on 20 January 2020, at Pickhill School.
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).
County Cllr John Weighell. Residents: Mrs Anita Harvey, Mr Michael Monkton.
APOLOGIES: Cllr David Webster.
3. OPEN MEETING: Goal posts at Pickhill. Mr Monkton confirmed that a cross bar was broken and John Fletcher (Walking Football Group) had offered to carry out the repairs. Team unable to play at present due to prevailing wet conditions affecting the Green. Arranged that Mr Clarke would deliver the spare parts he had, to the Green on Saturday (25 January).
4. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING (2 December 2019)
Copies distributed and agreed.
5. MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES:
(i) Parking signs at school: The new signs (Parking – school use only) now been installed by Mr Barker– one on the front of the building, the other mounted on posts, in the side car park. Mr Barker was thanked for his work.
(ii) Condition of road - Lowfields Lane: Mrs Grubb wrote to County Council Highways in December enclosing letters from several residents. No response to date. There had been some restoration of the verge after the water mains installation to the new houses but the remainder of verges and road surface still require urgent attention. Mrs Grubb to chase them. County Cllr Weighell said the County’s A and B roads were in generally good condition, but he acknowledged that C roads, such as this, were not as healthy. NYCC had more roads than any other local authority. Mrs Grubb will copy him in and he will re-inforce the request. Review at next meeting
(iii) Condition of Street Lane: remains a concern – potholes and lakes making it single track, affects all residents of Pickhill. The engineer had recently marked further potholes for attention, but it’s only remedial on the most serious holes. Last written response from Highways on file was 2015, when they agreed work was required but funding was not available. Again, Mrs Grubb to write to Highways. Mr Weighell will follow up. Review at next meeting
(iv) Parish Council website: Mr Ollie Reade has purchased the website domain, which is: www.pickhillandsinderbypc.co.uk He had found a discount offer, so he got it at under £29 instead of the usual price of £125. Further set up costs to come, as the site is developed. Discussion followed re email addresses to be created, format and content, so that further “construction” work could be carried out. Mr Reade was thanked in his absence for his help and expertise. Review progress at next meeting
(v) Goal posts on village green: as discussed in open meeting. Review at next meeting
(vi) Zip Wire – Rospa report: Reply received from the director at Image Playgrounds. They have carried out an operational inspection and reported there were “no immediate risks”. This did not address the specific issues raised in the ROSPA report, the relevant extracts of which which had been sent to Image (ie. regarding the zip wire end stop and the rubber matting). They will again be pursued. As the Parish Council is in the middle of this dispute, it was suggested that Image and Rospa are invited to meet on site with a parish councillor, to try resolve this disparity. Review at next meeting
(vii) Mud etc on Swainby Lane: issue dormant over winter. Keep on agenda for review. For next Agenda
(viii) RAF Leeming – liaison re activity. Mr Barker had learned from the local paper that the activity in November/December was an exercise with US Air Force - fighter jets - bigger and noisier than the usual aircraft there. Up to two or three years ago, he got regular updates from Leeming in advance so he could post it on the notice-boards. County Cllr Weighell had also noted the lack of updates in the last couple of years. It was queried whether they may now just publish details on their website. Mr Barker will contact to clarify. Review at next meeting
5. PLANNING
(i) Planning application: Church Hill Cottage, Pickhill; work to fell two silver birch trees in conservation area. Mrs Grubb advised that this application had already been granted by Planning and she set out the timeline for this. The application was received by Planning on 4 December (two days after the last Parish Council meeting). Planning wrote to the Parish Clerk on 12 December, though this was received by her on 17th (presumably Christmas post). A meeting could not be convened before the holiday period (seven days notice required), so she had emailed councillors in the New Year to seek availability. The meeting was set for the earliest convenient date – 20 January. She received notification from Planning on 18 January that the permission had been granted.
Mr Barker expressed his dismay that the Parish Council had been denied the opportunity to express its view on the application, or suggest any conditions. Mrs Grubb said the application form indicated that the applicant had planted these two trees himself 40 years ago and that one of them was damaged by gales, the other is now leaning over the highway. The applicant stated he intended to replace the two trees with two new silver birches. She had spoken to the Planning Officer at Hambleton who advised that this type of application is in fact a notification, the planning authority then having six weeks to reach a decision – either to allow the work or to issue a tree preservation order, preventing it. In this case the decision was made on 13 January, the day before the 6 week period expired. None of the Parish Council members were aware of this procedure / time limit. The Planning Officer had said in any event these trees were not likely to have been made subject of such a preservation order. It was pointed out that other planning applications take much longer than six weeks. There followed a discussion on the parish council’s procedure, to avoid this happening in future, including prompt fixing of meetings and liaison outside of a meeting if necessary.
(ii) Update on outstanding applications: the remaining 2019 planning applications were outlined. Roman Castle Barn extension, Nags Head store-room alterations and the Pasture Farm construction of piggery unit, were all granted in December. Going into 2020, just two still pending: Manor Farm, Sinderby – new farm-workers bungalow and Broadlea, Pickhill - alteration to two dwellings.
6. FINANCE MATTERS
(i) Income/outgoings – update: We have now received the reclaimed VAT (£1,344.40), the Precept instalment and a grass-cutting payment. Account currently stands at £8,680.
(ii) CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy): In answer to a query raised at the previous meeting, the last levy payment received was in 2018/19, a sum of £7,116, in respect of the new homes opposite the School.
(iii) MAD (Making a Difference) Grant: The closing date for this was 13 January, but as the Clerk only learned of this grant at the previous meeting, there had been insufficient time to consult, cost, obtain quotes and prepare a bid. Suggestions made included provision of picnic tables made from re-cycled plastic, for the village green(s), or flashing speed warning signs, or additional dog waste bins. It was agreed that more time needs to be allowed to prepare a bid and work should be carried out through the year, so a bid can be ready, should the grants run again in January 2021. In relation to speed signs, C/Cllr Weighell said it had been found these were usually only effective for 6 to 8 weeks, so a good initiative was for three or four Parish Councils to share costs and rotate the signs, so each village had them for a period, a couple of times a year. The more effective type need a fixed electricity supply point, but the sign itself can be uplifted and moved. For next Agenda
(iv) Donation received : from Mrs Cunningham (£514.41) for use to benefit children of Pickhill. Suggestions invited for next meeting. For next Agenda
7. CORRESPONDENCE (not included above): nil
8. COUNCILLORS REPORTS:
C/Cllr Weighell was asked about the 30mph zone in Lowfields Lane, which now “straddles” the row of new homes opposite the school. He agreed it would make sense to extend it beyond the housing, though it is linked to street lighting area. The parish Clerk had raised it in the letter sent to County Council Highways last month.
Mr Weighell reported that whilst the level of Council Tax for 2020/21 had not yet been formally fixed, it did look like the County would raise the rate by 2% and it was probable there would again be the additional 2% precept for social care. That did not take account of the District, Parish, Police, Fire/Rescue elements.
Mr Clarke welcomed Mr Jim Wadsworth to his first meeting as Parish Councillor for Sinderby and begged his forgiveness for not introducing him earlier.
Mr Wadsworth mentioned that following the refurbishment after the fire at Sinderby Village Hall, broadband had now been installed, with a monthly charge of £18 per month, currently borne by the hall committee. He hoped it would attract future users to the Hall’s facilities.
Mr Clarke reported that Sandra Hedges had advised that some trees on the green at Sinderby need lower branches trimming before Spring; no planning consent required (not conservation area) and Mr Clarke agreed to speak to the tree surgeon about this. Review at next meeting
10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS - nil
Signed: G Clarke Date: 10 February 2020
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Residents are welcome Councillors are reminded they must declare any conflict of interest on an item, where applicable.
OPEN SESSION : nil 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. Also: D Grubb (Minutes). 2. APOLOGIES: Cllr David Webster (NYC) 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF LAST MEETING (14 April ‘26 – Minute Ref. 348) Agreed. Signed by Chair . 4. MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES OF 14 APRIL : 1 . Dog Fouling (raised in Open Session): Mr Barker referred to the complaint received at the previous parish council meeting. This was the only complaint on this subject raised in the past 12 months. The Parish Council still has spare signs from when they were placed around the village green. Agreed to look at placing additional signs; the Parish Council would not approach the school. 2. Crisis & Resilience Fund (raised at item 8): Parish Clerk reported that an information notice about this emergency funding source had been circulated via the Parish Council website, notice-boards and the villages on-line “Chatter” page, as requested by the Chairman. 5. PLANNING: 1. New Application: Sinderby Lane – proposed new barn & hardstanding . Agreed: no objections. 2. New Application: Low Ness Farm – farm buildings. Decided by Planning: no application needed. 3. Updates on Earlier Applications: Stannum Barn – plans for workshop now granted. Noted. 6. FINANCE: 1. Parish Clerk’s Update: Half payment received on Precept, other half will be paid in October. We have been advised the Parish Council is to receive a CIL payment of £5775.30 for the two new houses under construction in Sinderby. The Zurich insurance policy is due for renewal at £459. Zurich offered a cheaper on-line policy, but enquiries revealed that the zip-wire means we are not eligible for it. This prompted a cover review by them; as a result we have added the new goal posts, picnic benches, blue bench seats and playground fence – at no extra cost this year. Payment agreed. 2. Accounts/AGAR returns: to be posted on Parish Council website as required by regulations. Noted. 7. PROJECTS: 1. Car Parking . Mr Barker reported there were two types of matting. The best option would be mud control mats, but this would be around £12,000 (level area and lay mats). The cheaper mats require hard-standing beneath. Mr Barker has obtained samples of both but proposes the mud control type - much stronger, easier to install and grass will grow through, in time. We await hearing re the grant we have applied for towards the associated fencing. For next Agenda. 2. Playground: There would be a maintenance review this summer, prior to ROSPA inspection. 8. CORRESPONDENCE: (circulated to councillors in advance of meeting): Nothing requiring action. 9. COUNCILLORS REPORTS. Cllr Webster (NYC) has sent an update on current county issues: Attached as an appendix . Mrs Grubb: Mr Robson had raised the state of the road surface on Church Hill, breaking up. She will report it to Highways. Noted. Mrs Grubb: When a CIL payment is made, we get 15% and NYC get the remainder. Parish Councils who have registered a Neighbourhood Plan are entitled to a 25% share. However there is a lot of work required in preparing, finalising and having a plan adopted. She had a sample from another Parish Council. Noted. 10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS : Nil. Signed: R Barker Dated: 2 July 2026