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

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:   15.4.2025New Paragraph