Parish Council Minutes 10th July 2007

Littlethorpe Parish Council

Minutes of Parish Council meeting - Tuesday 10th July 2007 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall

Present Cllrs. J.Wardle (Chair) , C. Laker, J. Jowitt, D. O`Connell. Clerk?W. Lupton .

1 Other Business

The chair added three additional items to the agenda. In accordance with the standing orders these were to be raised as items 4b,4c and14. (note: these changed the running order of published agenda)

2 Apologies
Received from Cllr W. Orme

3 Declaration of Interests.
None declared

4 4a Adoption of minutes of Parish Council Meeting-22nd.May 2007
Version incorporating amendments from Cllr Laker was adopted.

4b Minutes of Annual Parish Meeting -2006 (additional item)
Agreed that the decision to adopt the minutes, taken at the2007 APM on10th May 2007, would stand. Two letters from parishioners would be appended. One revision was required viz: the seconder was Cllr. O`Connell. The 2007 minutes will be adopted in 2008. Comments from parishioners on the minutes (not yet published) would be welcome and should be directed to the clerk.

4c Future Format of the Annual Parish Meeting (additional item)
Agreed that as discussed at the 2007 APM, the meeting should
- be devised by parishioners
- only facilitated by the Parish Council, if requested
- to be chaired by PC chair, if attending and if agreed
- encourage organisations in the parish to participate
- include guest input e.g. Police

Any new councillors to be made aware of these principles.

5 Chairman`s Report
-Resignation received from parish clerk with effect from 31st July.
-Resignation accepted: councillors thanked William for his service to the parish.
Agreed that until new appointee bedded-in, the following arrangements would apply with immediate effect-
Cllr Laker to be responsible for routine administration and correspondence, act as finance officer, and liaise on agenda compilation. He would also be 3rd signatory for payments, effective from 1st August. He agreed to contact all stakeholders re: interim arrangements. Cllr O`Connell to take and prepare minutes of meetings, and investigate the process for appointment of new clerk, and where necessary support Cllr Laker.
Parish Council documents to be held at Chair`s home from end of July.

6 Treasurer`s Report
- The clerk circulated income/expenditure statement
- Agreed to pay £285 Insurance premium (renewal). Cllr Laker to action.
- Confirmed £350 donation to St Michael`s Church had been received.
- Clerk to forward Accounts to Mazards by end of Week.
-Agreed to pay £50 to Walled Garden Project for grass cutting

7 County Councillor`s Report
Cllr Garnett made three main points-
- NYCC awaiting government response to `Unitary Council` bid. She believed savings would flow.
- Services would be more co-ordinated, parish councils could have more influence, and Area Committees would have devolved budgets.
-HBC has applied for judicial review.
Cllr Laker updated the Cllr on the Brown and Potter quarry application?before she left meeting.

8 District Councillor`s Report
Not present.

9 Correspondence
i) Support of Parish Council requested for erection of bus shelter close to South View/Washington Close (Sarah Dalton). Cllr Laker to investigate, Cllr O`Connell to add to issues list (item 12).
ii) Letter (R. Tite) raised Environmental/ Wildlife concerns related to Brown and Potter application. Deferred to item 10.

10 Public Time
(Key points noted only)
Richard Tite highlighted key points in the above letter and stimulated discussion on the issue.
One concern raised by parishioners was considered worthy of recording viz?when, due to time constraints, councillors meet on an ad- hoc basis between formal meetings (e.g. responses to questionnaires) the outcome must be communicated at the next PC meeting when any decisions required would be made. Councillors agreed this would be good practice, and the Chairman`s report was the appropriate point.

11 Planning
-Thorpe Farm??..approved
-Ox Close Farm?...pending (second application)
-Parkhill Cottages?pending



12 Ripon Service Centre - Transportation Strategy
Since reporting at the last meeting Cllr O`Connell had collated issues/concerns from other Cllr`s and the analysis of the Parish Plan questionnaires to pass on to the consultant group employed by NYCC. The list consists of the following:

-safety issues at Quarry Moor / New Park
-speeding controls on the straight 1km stretch of Pottery Lane, south of Deanswood
-RMBC track?.redesignation as footpath
-canal towpath surface upgrade
-old railway footpath?.clearance and upgrading
-roadside parking, West View
-raise awareness of community transport availability
-more suitable public transport vehicles e.g. low-loaders / hoppers

To this list will be added the need for bus shelter re: item 9i. Draft letter to be circulated to Cllr`s.

13 Updates
b) ?Cllr Laker to find out next stage in the framework process.(Mineral and Waste)

e) ?Cllr Laker gave details of the site visit at Brown and Potter quarry..He confirmed B& P team keen to obtain collective views of the parish before next stage of planning. Agreed that a `sub-group` should be set up, to include local experts (e.g. R. Tite and ? ), to
investigate areas of potentially diverse opinions (e.g. aftercare), contact organisations which have an interest in, and possibly funding for, long- term maintenance of the site. The group would also seek the views of parishioners. The results would enable the Parish Council to compile an `informed` draft submission in response to the planning application. This draft should then be presented to parishioners at an additional/extraordinary PC meeting, at which a final submission to NYCC could be approved.

f)?Cllr Jowitt provided an update on Village Hall activity, notably-
-cost of new fence is £2044, to be completed in September.
-Hall to be refurbished, ready for September. `Help` days arranged for preparation and completion phases.
-application for $500 from County Councillor fund for a storage shed expected to be successful.
-confirmed the `commuted` sum generated from the Littlethorpe Pottery development would be diverted to Village Hall funds.

g) Cllr Laker has sought a firm price for one Village Hall sign at the `T` junction. (previously agreed to proceed if within £200).

h) Cllr O`Connell confirmed that two Parish Plan meetings arranged for next week. Otherwise nothing to report. The chair welcomed news of progress.

i)?Agreed to spend £250 on `Pinfold? plaque. Cllr Wardle to ask local mason what could be possible within the budget. Feedback at next meeting

j)?Cllr Laker reported that-
-residents at Quarry Moor / New Park not happy with Recycling Collection via wheelie bins.
-HBC collection not possible due to funding constraints.(not access as previously suggested)
-site owner to introduce a `mini recycling centre` by end of September.
-owner to tarmac front of site to assist recycling process.

Agreed that other `update` items not discussed should be deleted from the next agenda.

14 Code of Conduct (additional Item)
The Parish Council need to approve a version of the new `Model Code of Conduct` and submit this to the Standards Board at the beginning of October 07. (Parish Councils have discretion to amend/adopt selected aspects of the `model`). Agreed that any decision must be adopted at an additional/extraordinary PC meeting to be scheduled for September.( Note: this decision will also require an amendment to `standing orders` )

15 Chairman`s Summary
The chair re-affirmed-
i) the interim arrangements to cover the resignation of the clerk
ii) progress setting up of `sub-group` re: Potter and Brown application, and arrange additional meeting to approve submission to NYCC.
iii) new `Code of Conduct` submission to be approved at same meeting.
iv) pledge of £250 for `Pinfold ` plaque if considered cost effective.
v) Discussions at any `ad-hoc` meeting to be reported at next formal meeting, when decisions will be made.

Future Meetings
20th September (additional /extraordinary meeting)

16th October 2007 Village Hall 7.30pm

15th January 2008, Quarry Moor 7.30pm

15th April 2008 Village Hall 7.30pm

27th May 2008 Village Hall 7.30pm (AGM)

29th May 2008 Village Hall 7.30pm (APM)


Meeting closed at 9.45 pm. Eight parishioners in attendance.

Minutes compiled by Cllr O`Connell Back to top