Minutes of meeting held on 7 March 2023 at Pickhill School. Ref: 329

1.   PRESENT: Mr Ron Barker (Chair), Mr Graham Clarke (Vice Chair), Mrs Norma Grubb (Cllr & Clerk), Mr Minty Scaife,  Mr Jim Wadsworth, David Grubb                         (Minutes), Cllr David Webster (HDC & NYCC).             

            Residents:  A Harvey,  D Alexander,  D Chissitt, S Meredith, S Scholes.

       APOLOGIES:     none

 

2.   OPEN SESSION:  

(1) Email from a Sinderby resident regarding:  

(a)  Speeding vehicles through Sinderby; can they be monitored? To explore with Highways.

(b)  Dog waste – need for bin at Manor Farm end of village – to explore with Council waste disposal.

(c)   Potholes on turning area between Village Farm and the former pub – being raised with Highways.

(d)  Village Hall parking area – overhanging bush – this has been pruned back.

 

(2) Pickhill residents present raised concerns about:

(a)  vehicles speeding through Little Pickhill;

(b)  heavy lorries, milk tanker and school buses – cause homes to shake, made worse by potholes outside those homes. Danger to residents, especially children and worry of structural damage to homes. Parish Clerk advised that Street Lane due to be re-surfaced in 2023/2024 and potholes were “patched” in 2022 in the interim.  Speed guns, speed signs & road markings discussed. Cllr Webster said that an advisory illuminated speed sign costs about £3k and can only be placed for limited periods (weeks). Adjacent Parishes could share cost and use. Funding can be explored. A resident suggested fundraising and approaching local businesses.

 

3.   MINUTES OF LAST MEETING (1 Nov 2022- Minute Ref 328):       Agreed by all. Signed by Chair.

 

4.   MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES: none.

       

5.   PLANNING:

(1)  Church House, Pickhill – Application for existing agricultural building converting to a residence with new vehicle access.                                                                         Agreed: No objections.                                                                                                     

(2)  Updates: Greenacres (agricultural shed) & Henry’s Workshops (totem sign) granted.     Noted.

 

6.   FINANCE:  

(1) Clerk’s update: Picnic tables invoice and website renewal paid. Grasscutting invoice just received re 2022 work. We will shortly be invoicing the Council for the splays that we cut for them.

After a review of banking arrangements Parish Clerk proposes we move to online banking, with a dual signatory safeguard maintained in the Parish Accounts book for all payments.       Agreed.                                                           

(2) Audit: Proposal to apply for exemption from external audit for 2022/2023.                     Agreed.                                                                   

 

7.   ONGOING ISSUES/PROJECTS:

(1) Playground: Mr Barker had completed all safety work, but had some general maintenance, such as renewing roof of the multi-play, when weather allowed. Mr Barker was thanked for his ongoing work. Mr Clarke is obtaining replacement nut/bolt caps.

(2) Footpath to Playground: Council contractor has completed the work. All dug out, re-laid with new edging and re-surfaced. Excellent job.

(3) Picnic Tables – three multi-coloured recycled plastic tables now installed in Pickhill playground, supplied by YPO. The old wooden tables have been re-sited on village green. With thanks to Cllr Webster for the grant towards these.                 

(4) Grasscutting contracts – proposal to continue existing arrangements with number of cuts per year to remain same.            Agreed.

(5) Parish Council website – update of content completed in November. Further minor update will be required after 1 April to reflect new Council.  Mr Reade (webmaster) thanked.

(6) Coronation of King Charles III – enquiries being made to see if any organisations are planning any events. Village Green available and we have two marquees.

 

8.   CORRESPONDENCE

(1) From Hambleton District Council (HDC) re the notice-board for Ainderby Quernhow (AQ). This has developed from obtaining quotes and possibly helping procure a village notice-board for AQ, as they don’t have a Parish Council, to HDC now wanting us to sign a contract accepting ownership, liability and upkeep for it. This is unacceptable to the Parish Council. The Parish Clerk has been unable to speak to the manager dealing at HDC but has emailed her setting out our concerns and seeking contact. Cllr Webster will also make enquiries.

(2) From North Yorkshire Council: Climate Change information pack – previously circulated.                                                   

                                                         

9.   COUNCILLORS REPORTS

Mr Clarke: had been approached by the school’s Head Teacher re their car park - surface breaking up. It is unclear who owns / has responsibility for it. Not the Parish Council. Clerk will contact Highways and Education to try and clarify who is responsible for its upkeep.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             

10.    ANY OTHER BUSINESS

(1) Mr Clarke: We had a grant via County Cllr John Weighell about five or six years ago for flower bulbs. Suggests we write to him to advise on their progress.

(2) Mr Wadsworth: Going back to the dog waste bins in Sinderby, could we get a price for re-siting one bin to Manor Farm end of village and alternatively cost of installing a new (additional) one.

(3) General discussion: with Cllr Webster about CIL entitlements/exemptions, precept format and affordable housing rules.

 

                 Signed:   R Barker                                                  Dated:   11 April 2023


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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