Minutes of meeting held on 20 September 2022 at Pickhill School. Ref: 326

1.     PRESENT: Mr Ron Barker (Chairman), Mrs Norma Grubb (Parish Clerk), Mr Minty Scaife, Mr James Wadsworth.             

David Grubb (Minutes), Cllr David Webster (HDC & NYCC).     

Residents:  Mrs Harvey, Mr Walker, Mr Burgess, Mr Boynton. 

APOLOGIES:     Mr Graham Clarke (Vice Chairman).

2.     OPEN SESSION:   

(1)  Parking in Pickhill. A resident raised the issue of parking in the village, Cow Corner to the Green and also along past the school; noting that obstruction to through traffic often occurs hindering larger vehicles and farm machinery. Emergency vehicles would often not be able to get through. Could flyers be sent to residents?                                                                                  Agreed: agenda for next meeting.

(2) High Hedges. A resident had emailed that high hedges at Street Lane / T junction with Cross Lane (top of hill), obstructed sight lines for traffic and created collision danger. The Chairman advised that whilst responsibility for sightlines was that of County Council Highways, as the hedges were on local farmers fields, we should first consult with those land-owners.     Agreed: Clerk to contact land-owners.

(3) Dog Fouling - Pickhill . A resident noted an increase in dog fouling not being cleaned up by the owners, on and around the village green and on roads out of the village, beyond the housing. Could this also be subject of a flyer? The Chairman said five dog waste bins were provided around the village, three around the green as that is seen as a primary issue, due to children playing on there. Signs were placed around the village green last year.                                                       Agreed: agenda for next meeting.

3.     MINUTES OF LAST  MEETING (1 Aug  2022 – Minute Ref 325): Agreed by all. Signed by Chairman.

4.     MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES: 

Item 8(1):  Defibrillators update:

Sinderby unit required a new battery and this was ordered; in the meantime the manufacturers recalled the unit for a software update. Manufacturers were told a battery was on order so not to replace it but replaced it anyway. After a month long series of exchanges it was resolved that the manufacturer would not charge for the battery they fitted. By that time the battery we had ordered had been received and as the 14 days “return period” had expired suppliers would not take it back, so Sinderby now have a spare. 

Pickhill unit now has new pads and a new prep pack as they were date expired. OK now to Aug 2024.

We have confirmed with Ambulance Control that they have the correct access codes for both machines.

Item 9: HDC Facilities meeting: Following last Parish Council meeting the Clerk formally wrote to HDC registering our interest in Sinderby POS. 

Item 10(1): Pickhill Playground – Ongoing efforts to improve the facilities here. The second tower roof on the climbing frame requires replacement and Mr Barker has volunteered to carry this out. The Parish Clerk is obtaining the timber and paint and Mr Grubb will prime and paint the slaits prior to installation.  The ROSPA inspection is due to take place this month and we await their report. 

Item 10(2) Project funding  – Parish Clerk has obtained quotes for new picnic tables made from multi-coloured recycled plastic.                                                                Agreed: on agenda for next meeting. 

5.     PLANNING:

(1)  Planning application : Land east of Maythorn Cottage, Sinderby: reserved matters re outline consent granted in 2019 for two new dwellings. Mr Wadsworth declared an interest and withdrew from discussion. Further amendments have been made to the plans since our last meeting, reducing the number of windows facing existing housing. Parish Councillors have reviewed the amended plans and the residents objections raised with Planning Dept.          Agreed: No objection from Parish Council.

6.     FINANCE:   

(1)   “Windfall” payment of £1,185 received from HDC re additional grass-cutting payments we should have been getting in past couple of years. Account now stands at £9,169.69.

(2)   Clerk has submitted VAT re-claim to HMRC for the year to 31 July 2022 – totalling £597.47. 

(3)   Donation being made to Pickhill Church of £250 to help with cost of grass-cutting in Church grounds, as agreed in previous meeting -1 Aug,  Item 7(3). 

7.     CORRESPONDENCE

(1)  Circular from Citizens Advice Bureau seeking funding help. The Chairman pointed out that past policy had been that the Parish Council did not usually donate precept monies paid by residents, to charities/organisations outside of the Parish.                                                                         Agreed.                       

(2)  Clerks and Councils newsletter received.    Noted.

(3)  News shot from KOMPAN, re webinar briefings on childrens play area/equipment.  Noted

8.     COUNCILLORS REPORTS: 

(1)  Mrs Grubb presented written proposals for updating the Parish Council website. These would be circulated to Parish Councillors, then for consideration at the next meeting. Mr Barker recommended the website, www.pickhillandsinderbypc.co.uk  to those present, for info about the Parish Council, access to minutes, audits and local updates.                  Agreed: For next agenda.

(2)  Mrs Grubb outlined the situation of a local Parish Council, who face  bills of £37,000 for official central audits which had to be carried out on the their accounts for the past five years, as a result of 366 complaints made by a single resident over that period. That Council had a turnover of only £7000 a year, similar to ours.  It highlighted the need to ensure that financial decisions are properly minuted and executed, with local audits carried out annually.   Noted                                       

(3)  Councillor Webster gave an update on local government reorganisation (1 April 2023) when District Councils and County Council will be replaced by a single unitary authority North Yorkshire Council. He will be our Councillor, for Bedale Division, on the new authority, one of 90 NYC Councillors. Planning and other departments will have local offices, all under the unitary authority. 

Discussions are taking place on harmonisation of council tax, as presently each District sets its own rate, with a wide variation. 

Because the City of York will still be a separate Council, a formal agreement with York will give access to additional devolved funding from central government. This brings with it an elected Mayor of North Yorkshire, with elections for this post probably in 2024. 

A question was asked about Council tax on “holiday homes”. Cllr Webster replied that changes were being considered due to concerns about the number of such properties across the County which remain unoccupied for much of the year. 

9.     ANY OTHER BUSINESS

None.