Minutes of meeting held on 28 May 2024 at Pickhill School. Ref: 336

1.   OPEN SESSION: Cllr Webster (NYC) suggested we may want to consider an annual Open Village meeting, inviting organisations like school, church, village hall, charity groups, etc, to report. It is recommended good practice and some Parish Councils incorporate it into their annual general meeting.  Noted, to consider.

                                                                                                                                     

2.   PRESENT: Parish Councillors:  Mr Ron Barker (Chair), Mr Graham Clarke (Vice Chair) Mrs Norma Grubb (also Parish Clerk),      Others: D Grubb (Minutes).      NYC: Cllr David Webster.  Residents: Mr Walker

APOLOGIES:   Parish Councillors Mr Minty Scaife & Mr Jim Wadsworth.

 

3.   MINUTES OF LAST MEETING (5 March  2024: Ref 335): Agreed by Cllrs present. Signed by Chair.

 

4.   MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES:

1. Vehicle damage to Pickhill Green:  ongoing issue along the school lane side. Some damage caused by vehicles reversing out from driveways, or when delivery vehicles park as well as funerals/large events at Church. Vehicles mount the kerb and damage the grass surface. Always worse in winter/wet weather. Road widening or creation of passing places prohibitive. Posts and chain?          To monitor.

 

5.   PLANNING:

1.   Application: Church House, Pickhill: work to trees in garden (conservation area). Proposal to remove six trees at front of property, as they are causing damage. Discussed at length.  Agreed: no objections.                                                                                               

2.   Application: Manor Farm, Pickhill: siting one converted railway carriage for holiday let use. Mr Clarke declared an interest, which left the meeting without a quorum. Reply required by 7 June so no opportunity for another meeting. To deal with this remotely so absent councillors can be involved.   

                                               

6.   FINANCE:

1.   Update since last meeting: Precept payment received in full.

2.   Exemption from external audit (Agar forms): re accounts for year ending 31 March 2024.

                                                                                 Agreed: Parish Clerk to apply for exemption   

 

 7.   PROJECTS:

1. Pickhill Playground: Mr Barker has restored the climbing wall with new panels, supports and he replaced missing foot and hand holds. He has also completed the roof tower renewal, all for which he was thanked. Cost of materials only. Mr Grubb has replaced six missing fence palings.

2. Upkeep of trees in Pickhill. Mr Clarke reported that he had trimmed some trees on the village green and replaced the fatally injured cherry tree near Station House. Mr Barker reported that Mr Monkton had kindly trimmed some of the damaged young trees there as he is Forestry Commission trained.

                                 

8.      CORRESPONDENCE: (circulated in advance, as received)

1.   Pickhill School - consultation on expanding local federation of schools: has now gone ahead.

2.   Pickhill School – school proposal to utilise Pickhill playground with school play area: Questions raised – how often; would non school youngsters still have access during those sessions; need to consult our insurers, provide our risk assessment to school. (ie the annual ROSPA report).   Agreed: Parish Clerk to liaise with Head and report back.

3.   NYC Election on 2 May 2024 – Mayor of York & North Yorkshire: election notices posted in April.

4.   NYC – Standards in Public Life – document re Councillors register of interests etc. Request to check our Councillors details and declarations are on the NYC register of interests. Checked/confirmed.                                                 

                                                         

9.    COUNCILLORS REPORTS:

Mr Clarke: Villagers have asked whether Pickhill Beck could be made cleaner, Mr Clarke reports grants are available through Rural Payments Agency to farmers for monitoring/improving. He had met with a group of farmers to explore this. Would the Parish Council support such an initiative?  After discussion.... Agreed.

 

Mr Clarke: has been asked re speed warning signs for Pickhill. He is aware flashing speed signs not feasible, but could other warning signs re speed be installed?           Clerk to enquire with Highways.                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                                                          

10.   ANY OTHER BUSINESS:  none.      

 

 Signed:     R Barker                                                       Dated:   12 November 2024


Latest News

Additional Flying at RAF Leeming

March 5, 2026
A message from RAF Leeming: Exercise Agile Warrior 26; the RAF’s long-planned major homeland defence training activity is designed to rigorously test the RAF’s ability to protect the United Kingdom in an increasingly contested and volatile global security environment and forms a critical step to ensuring the RAF remains ready to 'fight tonight' in defence of the nation. Agile Warrior 26 (AW26) will allow the RAF to evaluate and, if necessary, enhance front line capabilities through dispersed, resilient and agile airbase operations. During the exercise, air and ground units across multiple RAF stations will train under contested, degraded and operationally limited conditions, simulating the effects of cyber-attacks, long-range precision strike threats, and persistent attempts to disrupt UK air operations. Essentially, the exercise is intended to test the RAF’s ongoing ability to defend the UK when under direct attack from an adversary, ensuring the RAF can continue protecting the country no matter what challenges it faces. Due to Exercise Agile Warrior, there will be increased movement by aircraft operating from RAF Leeming in the week commencing 9 March. We understand our responsibility as good neighbours to inform the local community of such events that are additional to our normal flying activities and every effort will be made to keep the disturbance to a minimum. Norma Grubb, Clerk to the Parish Council , 05 March 2026 Email: clerk@pickhillandsinderbypc.co.uk

Minutes of meeting held on 4 November 2025 at Pickhill School. Ref: 345

February 23, 2026
OPEN SESSION : Nothing raised. 1. PRESENT: Parish Councillors: Mr Ron Barker (Chair), Mr Graham Clarke (Vice Chair), Mrs Norma Grubb (also Parish Clerk), Mr Jim Wadsworth, Mr Minty Scaife. Others: Mr D Grubb (Minutes), Cllr D Webster (NYC). Residents: Mr R Walker 2. APOLOGIES: Nil 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF LAST MEETING (23 Sept 2025 - Ref 344): Agreed. Signed by Chair . 4. MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES : Item 4.1 : Parish Clerk said NYC have acknowledged receipt of the Parish Council letter re public consultation on proposed new bridleway. Will be considered in due course. 5. PLANNING: 1. New Application: 10 Rocking Horse Drive, Pickhill. Erection of garage & potting shed (combined). To occupy one of their two designated parking spaces. Agreed: no objections. 2. Re-consultation: Charity Farm, Pickhill. Erection of poultry sheds, dwelling & office. Additional information submitted. Considered earlier in the year - no objections then. Agreed: no objections. 3. Updates on earlier applications, if any – none. 6. FINANCE: 1. Update: The Parish Clerk provided a current balance. Invoice for ROSPA inspection received (£115.20) and paid. Precept bid for 2026/2027 has been submitted to NYC. Noted. 2. VAT re-claim : payment of £936.72 has been received from HMRC . Noted . . 7. PROJECTS: 1. Pickhill Playground: Mr Barker said the work this summer resulted in a positive ROSPA report, with just low hazard issues raised. Cllrs thanked Mr Barker for his work and for co-ordinating the “action days”, which saw residents and children help power-washing, painting and applying wood preserver; a real community effort. The new goalposts drew appreciation from residents. School’s award for play facilities due in no small part to including use of Pickhill playground. 2. Pickhill Green – parking: Mr Barker suggested improving parking on the grassed common land towards Church House. Vehicles currently park along road edge to avoid getting stuck down the slope. He proposes it is levelled, surface reinforced and fenced, so cars can park square to the road, without fear of getting stuck. It would increase available parking spaces. Parish Councillors offered help with infill, machinery, labour, though purchase of surface grid matting etc would be a substantial expense. Enquiries being made to cost this and establish what grants might be available. Cllr Webster (NYC) offered to assist where possible. For next Agenda. 3. Litter & Dog Waste Bins – Pickhill and Sinderby: After complaints , Parish Clerk had reviewed the provisions: eleven bins in the two villages, some litter only, some dog waste only and some take both. Of these, only three are in decent order . A further dog waste bin is needed for the south end of Sinderby (verge outside Manor Farm perhaps). She had produced a list and photographs, to assist. Discussion on responsibility for replacement/repair. The Clerk will speak to NYC in first instance. For next Agenda . 8. CORRESPONDENCE: (circulated to councillors in advance of meeting): Nothing requiring action. 9. COUNCILLORS REPORTS. Cllr Webster Cllr Webster mentioned the application by the Parish Council to last year’s Locality Fund towards seating on the Green. Through no fault of the Parish Council, the application was not processed by NYC, for which he apologised. He also referred to a coming seminar on cyber security and the cost of breaches; NYC had signed up to an early warning scheme with measures to protect systems. There is a 2 to 3 year project for moving to a new County wide planning online-hub. Currently operates on the individual former District Council systems. 10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS : Parish Clerk mentioned that invoices submitted for cutting the grassed splays have not yet been paid by NYC Highways she is chasing them up. For next Agenda. Signed: R Barker Dated: 3 Feb 2026
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