Minutes of meeting held on 25 April 2022 at Sinderby. Ref: 323

Minutes of Meeting held on 25 April 2022  at Sinderby 

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).        Cllr D Webster (Hambleton District Council)        Residents: Mrs A Harvey, Mr R Walker.                        APOLOGIESs: nil

2.   OPEN SESSION: 

 Mr Walker raised the condition of Lowfields Lane.  On agenda under ‘Matters Arising’ -  agreed to deal with it there. 

3.   MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING (7 March 2022 - Minute Ref. 322):    Agreed by all / signed by Chairman.

4.   MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES:

(1)   Road Maintenance in Pickhill:  The Parish Clerk has contacted Highways on many occasions regarding the terrible state of Street Lane and Lowfields Lane, but despite several verbal assurances that Street Lane re-surfacing was in their 2022/23 budget bid, she was told that funding had not been made available until the following Financial Year (2023/24). She then pressed for a site meeting with the engineer, which took place on 23 March. Highways revealed during a walkabout of the village, that although the funding had been delayed, they had decided to do an interim ‘patch up’ of Street Lane in 2022/23, when some road potholes would be filled using an experimental system.  Interim work would be carried out in the coming months on clearing drains and digging out ditches to ease flooding and stoning the off-road potholes. Highways also confirmed that in 2023/24 they would re-surface all Street Lane from Cross Lane down the hill, right round Pickhill village to Station House/Cross Lane and a passing place would be created between Cross Lane and the top of the hill into the village, but despite pressure from the Parish Councillors, they were informed this cannot be sited at the crest of the hill (opposite the bungalow), as there is insufficient width, so it would be further back. 

Highways also agreed that Lowfields Lane would be included in this 2023/2024 resurfacing programme, from the Green right through to Scarborough Farm. This news was well received.

(2)      Station Farm Development – Highways had been contacted straight after the last meeting and took prompt action to have the tarmac ramps removed from the kerb at the site entrance. They are monitoring this and damage to adjacent verges etc. 

5.  PLANNING APPLICATIONS   

(1)    Woodside Lodge, Pickhill – application to demolish existing outbuildings and replace with single storey extension to dwelling, with minor alterations to original dwelling.                         Agreed: No objections.

(2)    Pickhill House, Pickhill – non material amendment to granted application – design of garden room at front. This was included on the agenda in case Planning asked for our views, but they have not done so to date. It was agreed that, if asked, there would be no objection from the Parish Council.                                                                                                           

(3)    Updates since last meeting – Pickhill House (rear extension) – was granted by Hambleton Council. Pickhill School (detached classroom and playground changes) now been granted by the County Council.                           

6.   FINANCE:       

(1)     Update re year ending 31 March 2022: Balance sheet presented for approval.            Agreed.

(2)     Exemption from external audit - application required for exemption.                         Agreed and signed.

(3)     Local audit: Proposal for Mr Robson to again carry out the local audit.                     Agreed.       

7.   PROJECTS 

(1)   Queens Platinum Jubilee:  no updates.

(2)   Pickhill Playground:  The query over the ROSPA report (an issue with the zip-line end stop positioning) is still awaiting clarification. The Inspector has said it is in the wrong place; the installation company tell us it is in the right place and even though we have moved it, the ROSPA inspectors still say it’s wrong. The Inspector was contacted by email after the last meeting, but has not responded. It was questioned as to whether we are getting value for money from this inspection service provider, if they will not respond. Further attempt to be made to contact the Inspector, to ask what we need to do to comply. 

Some climbing wall cups are broken and loose. We now have some replacements available, which need fitting. 

Mr Barker understood that Pickhill School had obtained funding for school playground equipment, which would only be available to their pupils in school time, to be sited directly over the hedge from the village playground, which is available to all children, all the time. Cllr Webster pointed out it was a County Council issue. If elected in May to that Council, he could then take this up.

(3)  Ainderby Quernhow CIL:  After the last meeting, the four quotes we obtained for the new notice board were forwarded to Ms Branch at Hambleton District Council, so she can place the order and arrange installation. We have heard nothing further to date.

8.    CORRESPONDENCE

(1)    Parish Council Elections on 5 May 2022 - update: Parish Clerk advised that the existing councillors have been  returned unopposed. No election required.  Expenses forms (nil returns) and Declaration of Interests forms must be returned to Elections Office by 5 June. 

(2)    New North Yorkshire Council: Latest update: Cllr Webster provided an update. Elections take place on 5 May for the County Council (90 seats). The County and all District Councils will cease to exist on 31 March 2023 and the County Councillors will become Unitary Councillors on the new North Yorkshire Council on 1 April 2023.  District Councillors will continue their roles until then. 

(3)   Posters from North Yorkshire Police -  seeking people to join the Independent Advisory Group - have been placed on our website and notice boards.

9.    COUNCILLORS REPORTS 

Cllr Webster advised of progress on Hambleton District Council projects:

   *   The new crematorium, Maple Park, at Skipton on Swale is now operational and had a successful open day      recently. He was asked if we    could view the facilities and would enquire.

   *   The Everyman Cinema at Treadmills in Northallerton is under construction (on the former prison site). 

   *     Northallerton High Street improvements are ongoing – expected to be completed by July. 

   *   A decarbonisation programme on Council buildings and sites is underway. 

10.   ANY OTHER BUSINESS 

(1) ‘Twenty’s Plenty’.    The Parish Council has had an invitation to join this group which is seeking to get the County Council to adopt a standard 20mph speed limit for its villages. After discussion it was agreed we did not wish to join this campaign.

(2)  Next Meeting/Annual General Meeting. Agreed 7.30pm Monday 23 May 2022 – venue to be confirmed.