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

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) Fence: 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