Minutes of meeting held on 28 June 2021 at Sinderby. Ref: 319

Held in compliance with Government restrictions (unable to yet invite residents)

1. PRESENT: Mr Graham Clarke (Chairman), Mr Ron Barker (Vice Chairman), Mrs Norma Grubb (Parish Clerk), Mr James Wadsworth, David Grubb (Minutes).               APOLOGIES: Mr Minty Scaife.


2.  OPEN SESSION:    No items received 

 

3.   MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING (5 Oct 2020 – Minute Ref: 318):  Agreed by all / signed by Chairman

                                                                                                                 

4.   MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES:

 (1) Playground upkeep – Following the Rospa report and subsequent site meeting last October, an action plan was formed and Hillside Landscaping engaged to do the work. They did repair the fencing and gate, but later advised were unable to meet Health & Safety regs re work on play equipment. Mr Clarke had power-washed the metal seating, adjusted the zip wire seat and stops and dealt with the trip hazard at the gate. Mr Grubb had sourced and affixed a Covid warning notice.                                  Agreed: Parish Councillors to meet on site on 2 July.

 

(2) Street Lane – road surface:  Mr Scaife had spoken with the Highways engineer who advised that any meaningful work would not be until 2022. Mr Clarke and Mr Barker noted that numerous potholes through Little Pickhill had been marked with yellow paint for attention, though there were many more not marked.

                                                                                                       Agreed: Mr Clarke will liaise with the engineer.

 

(3) Lowfields Lane - drainage: Noted that roadside drains still ineffective, particularly on the stretch between  school and the “Greenacres” bend.      Agreed: Mr Clarke & Mr Barker to meet on site on 2 July to investigate.

 

5.  PLANNING

(1) Planning updates since last meeting: Pickhill:  Middle Park Farm, Woodside Lodge, Stannum Barn, Church Hill Cottage, Pickhill House and Lupin House had all been granted, whilst Sandy Bank was refused.                 Sinderby:  West Garth – outline permission granted.


(2) Fresh application: for land at rear of 1 The Cottages, Pickhill, had just been received and the parish notices only posted that day, so not on this agenda.                     Agreed: Parish Council decision remotely after 5 July.     

                

6.  FINANCE MATTERS

(1)  Financial year-end accounts 2020/2021: balance sheet had been circulated prior to meeting.

                                     Agreed: accepted, subject to local audit by Mr Robson when he becomes available. 

 

(2)  Central Audit Exemption Certificate 2020/2021(Page 3 AGAR Forms). Signed by Chairman & Parish Clerk.                              Agreed: exemption certificate to be submitted to the central auditors PKF Littlejohn by 30 June.                             

Parish Clerk in presenting the 2020/2021 AGAR forms, reported that an error had been noted in one entry on the previous year’s AGAR forms, due to a poorly worded question re end of year figure. It had been spotted whilst this year’s forms being prepared. A corrected version has been attached to last years with an explanation. The Parish Council accounts are not affected.                Agreed: AGAR forms (1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021) approved.       

                                                                        

(3)  Insurance: renewed with Zurich from 1 July, at same terms/cost as last year.


(4) Parish Council Website –  Administration. Members agreed the website was excellent and expressed their appreciation for the work done to maintain/update it by webmaster Mr Ollie Reade, on a voluntary basis. The Chairman also expressed his appreciation to Mr Grubb for his voluntary role as Minutes Secretary, liaison with webmaster and planning administration.


7.    ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - MAY 2020: due to pandemic restrictions, not held in 2020 or 2021; these would be abandoned and we will schedule Next AGM for May 2022, if circumstances allow. Next Parish Council elections are due in May 2023.                                                               Agreed:   2020 and 2021 AGM’s cancelled.                                                                                          

 

8.    CORRESPONDENCE

(1)  Pickhill School – external appearance/improvements. Letter from School Executive Head, re creating an enclosure for their refuse bins. Seeks advice re land ownership around the school. Mr Barker, a former chair of Governors, was able to advise and Mr Clarke will liaise direct with school.

 

(2) Taxi Licensing changes – consultation: Hambleton District Council are to make procedural changes in line with new Government advice; relates to criminal record checks on drivers and operators, to tighten procedures. Agreed:  changes are welcomed. Parish Clerk to respond to Council.


(3) Play Equipment: Letter from MacVenture, a Yorkshire firm offering to provide playground equipment. Noted.


 9.    COUNCILLORS REPORTS            nil


10.   ANY OTHER BUSINESS            nil

 

 

 

 Signed:          G Clarke          Dated:      1/11/2021


Latest News

Minutes of meeting held on 4 February 2025 at Pickhill School. Ref: 340

April 17, 2025
1. OPEN SESSION : nil 2. 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). NYC: Cllr David Webster. Residents: Mr R Walker APOLOGIES: None 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF LAST MEETING (7 Jan 2025 - Ref 339): Agreed. Signed by Chair . 4. MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES : 1. Speed reduction signage on entering Pickhill: still awaiting response from Highways. 5. PLANNING: 1. Church House, Pickhill (Grade II Listed) : retrospective application re various works discovered during ongoing renovation. Agreed – no objections. 2. Church House, Pickhill (Grade II Listed): change of use of land to domestic; create new vehicle access track and parking; alter existing yard access to pedestrian only. Agreed – no objections. 3. 1-2 The Cottages, Pickhill: retrospective application to convert existing garage to a granny annexe including small extension to create porch. Agreed – no objections. 4. Any updates on earlier applications - none 6. FINANCE: 1. Update since last meeting: Parish Clerk confirmed last statement from bank at end of November. Invoice received for parish council website renewal & domain name at £159.45. Renewal agreed. 2. Grasscutting contract for Sinderby: Following last meeting Mrs Grubb had signed and returned the Pickhill contract and had requested a copy of the plan for Sinderby showing the verges to be cut . Still awaiting a response. Cllr Webster offered to chase that with the member of staff. For next Agenda. 7. PROJECTS: Pickhill Village Green improvements. (i) Seats: Parish Clerk confirmed a grant application was submitted for three bench seats at £900 +VAT. (best of two quotes obtained). Cllr Webster said he had recommended a grant of £500 towards this, for which he was thanked. Design is to match the one existing fixed blue bench seat. Will be heavy but free standing; discussed need to try out positioning. If they get moved by the public we can consider securing them down later. It was proposed that the order be placed with Mr Charlton. Agreed. (Mr Clarke to order) (ii) Signage: Second quote, obtained by Mr Scaife from Swift Signs (£312 + VAT each) beats that from Fox’s. After discussion it was proposed two signs be ordered from Swift. Agreed. (Mr Scaife to order) 8. CORRESPONDENCE: (circulated to councillors in advance of meeting) (1) Speed campaign/road safety in NY villages – update from campaign co-ordinator – this is a campaign to have fixed enforcement cameras in villages, which is resisted by the Mayors office/Police & Crime Commisioner as the policy is to use mobile camera units across North Yorkshire. Noted. (2) Message from All Saints Church. Email received thanking Parish Council for the donation towards Church’s grass-cutting bill. Noted. 9. COUNCILLORS REPORTS: Mr Barker: reports that trees on the Street Lane verge opposite the “Station” wall have again been damaged during hedge trimming. He had spoken to the owner of the hedge who confirms the contractor had reported this back to him. Mr Barker noted that these trees were planted by the Parish Council some 20 years ago, yet it is only in the last 2 winters that this has occurred. The Parish Council had to replace one of the trees last winter and others needed “first aid”. Councillors to go and inspect the damage / layout: to discuss further at next meeting. For next Agenda. Cllr Webster: · NY Council meeting the following day to discuss the deficit. · It is likely that Locality Grants budget will be halved next year (to be applied for in second half of 2025 – applications will close 31 Jan 2026. · Each household will be getting one extra recycling bin. · There is a move to even out each Councillors area (based on number of residents) and it is likely that our Parish Council will not be in his area (Bedale division) by the next NYC elections in 2027. · National target of 1.5 million extra homes during this Government means North Yorkshire having to substantially increase its target on the local plan. Mrs Grubb: on that last point, she had downloaded the Local Plan map of the County showing sites suggested by landowners as possibly available for building/development. There was just one within our Parish Council area (copy viewed). Cllr Webster issued a note of caution in that these sites were unfiltered – ie., had not yet been evaluated. 10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS: none. Signed: R Barker Dated: 15.4.2025 New Paragraph

Minutes of meeting held on 7 January 2025 at Pickhill School. Ref: 339

April 17, 2025
1. OPEN SESSION : nil 2. 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). NYC: Cllr David Webster. APOLOGIES: None 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF LAST MEETINGS (12 Nov 2024 - Ref 337 and 3 Dec 2024 - Ref 338): Both Agreed. Signed by Chair . 4. MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES : 1. Speed reduction on entering Pickhill: reinstatement of SLOW signs on road at 30mph entry points: Highways have been asked to reinstate them. Awaiting their response. 2. Vehicle damage to Pickhill Village Green: see Item 7(2). 5. PLANNING: 1. Application re land west of Sinderby Lane, Sinderby – change of use of farm buildings to dwelling house and associated building works – discussed. Agreed – no objections. 2. Previous applications: (1) Chancefield, Pickhill – conversion of agricultural buildings into six dwellings - has been refused by the planning department. (2) Church House, Pickhill – staircase/loft hatch, etc – was granted. 6. FINANCE: 1. Update since last meeting: The Parish Clerk outlined position of current account. A cheque for the Church grounds donation (£300) was signed. The proposed precept forms (2025/26) were submitted in November (£4,620). 2. Grasscutting contracts: Quotes for 2025 growing season received.... Pickhill: The NYC contractors will charge £1665.83, whilst Highways will pay £112.34 for cutting their visibility splays. After discussion, this was accepted. Sinderby: NYC originally quoted over £800, but when Mrs Grubb queried the amount it transpired this included the “village green”, as they believed we owned it. They have now accepted that NYC do own it and have re-quoted £416 for just the roadside verges. Highways will pay us £52 for the splays. Councillors queried the £416 as there seems to be little which was not splays. Mrs Grubb to request plans showing the verges to be cut within that quote For next Agenda. 7. PROJECTS: 1. Pickhill Playground improvements : due to winter conditions no further work had been undertaken. 2. Vehicle damage to Pickhill Village Green: Mr Barker had obtained a quote from Fox’s for two signs mounted on posts, at £334 each, plus VAT, and showed images of the wording options. Mr Scaife would obtain a second quote to same specification. For next Agenda. 8. CORRESPONDENCE: (circulated to councillors in advance of meeting) None 9. COUNCILLORS REPORTS: Cllr Webster : will be attending NYC budget meeting the day after, so little to report. Locality Grants available on a 50/50 basis; closing date is 31 January. Discussion regarding seating benches to improve amenities on Pickhill Village Green, which only has one bench currently. Quotes to be obtained. Mr Scaife: recalls earlier suggestion for a flower bed on the verge by Pickhill sign at top of hill – ongoing. Mrs Grubb: a resident at Holme on Swale had asked if our Parish Council could represent their village as their Parish Meeting had ceased to exist. Mrs Grubb had advised her that it was not within our remit and referred her to NY Council. Cllr Webster confirmed that was the position and advised there were other villages in the area in a similar position, such as Ainderby Quernhow and Howe. 10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS: none. Signed: R. Barker Dated: 4.2.2025 New Paragraph
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