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