Parish Council Meeting 15th April 2008
Littlethorpe Parish Council
Minutes of Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday 15th April 2008
Venue Littlethorpe Village Hall Time 7.30 pm
Present Cllr W Orme (Chair and Clerk) (WO)
Cllr J Wardle (Vice Chair) from 7.50 pm (JW)
Cllr C Laker (Financial Officer) (CL)
Cllr J Jowitt (JJ)
Cllr D OÕConnell (Recorder of Minutes) (DOC)
7 Parishioners in attendance
1. Apologies
Received from Ian Galloway District Councillor.
2. Declaration of Interest
Both WO and CL declared an interest in the planning application for The Coach House.
3. Adoption of Parish Council Meeting Minutes held on 15th January 2008.
Agreed to delete lines 3 and 4 in item 4(i).
4. ChairÕs Report
Progress with Local Development Framework delayed due to official concerns over the public consultation process (mailing logistics).
5. TreasurerÕs Report
(i) Year-end Income/Expenditure statement circulated prior to the meeting. CL highlighted main points viz:
(a) Income (£2,230.16 in total) mainly due to:
á Precept £2,130
á HBC grants - £65 for grass cutting at VH
(b) Expenditure (£1,677.65 in total) mainly due to:
á £350 donation to St MichaelÕs Church
á £180 grass cutting at VH
á £280 Pinfold stone purchase
á £300 parish Clerk honorarium
á £285.75 insurance premium
á £145.50 Village Hall hire
á £82.85 external audit fees
Balance at year end £2,535.25.
WO and JW praised CL for the accuracy and quality of presentation of the year-end accounts.
(ii) CL confirmed the precept bid for 2008/9 of £3,315 had been approved (increase largely due to expected increase in ClerkÕs honorarium).
(iii) WO confirmed that in the absence of a Parish Clerk the Chair plus one other Councillor would be signatories for cheque issue.
(iv) The year-end accounts, prior to audit, were approved by Council and submission signed by Chair. This to be received by external auditors by 1st June 2008 (action CL).
(v) Proposal to retain Peter Robinson as internal auditor approved.
6. County CouncillorÕs Report
None attendance.
7. District CouncillorÕs Report
None attendance.
8. Correspondence
(i) WO read out letter of resignation from Cllr O,Connell.
(ii) HBC offering bags of daffodil bulbs to Parish Councils. Agreed VHC to decide if they wish to take up this offer by 18th May. If so CL to collect.
(iii) Agreed to defer response from NYCC on ÒRipon Service Centre Transportation StrategyÓ (Littlethorpe issues) until next meeting.
(iv) WO read out response to problems of skateboard facilities in Ripon.
(v) Letter from CPRE entitled ÒUnlocking LandscapeÓ provides an opportunity for Parish Councils to complete an assessment aimed at establishing protection against development.
(vi) Responses to letter dated 25th July 2007 from J Edmonstone read out (from former Clerk, 10th October and Chair, 7th November). Further letter from J Edmonstone had been received dated 27th January 2008. WO had replied in February. Following a request from CL that these letters be read out it was agreed they would be included in the next correspondence pack to be circulated to Councillors.
9. Public Time (not minuted)
Open discussion took place for 8 minutes.
10. Planning
Applications received for consultation:
(i) The Coach House – erection of first floor extension and stable/garage conversion.
WO and CL left the meeting during discussion and decision. Agreed. Parish Council did not raise any objection and to submit category ÔAÕ response to HBC.
(ii) Broadfields Farm – erection of agricultural building.
More information required on exact location and visual impact from A61. Agreed Council submit a category ÔCÕ response to HBC.
Permissions Granted
None but noted:
(i) The application by Morrisons supermarkets had been withdrawn.
(ii) It appeared that HBC had approved the ÒmirrorÓ lodge application previously submitted for Hollins Hall (supported by the Council for Protection of Rural England).
Refusals
The Long Meadows application for additional housing development had been refused.
CL had noticed a further revised application for Ox Close Farm on the HBC planning website dated 14th March.
WO to investigate the availability/receipt of the application.
11. Harrogate Borough Council Consultation Meeting - Update
WO reported on her response to the speculative proposal by a land agent to provide housing and community infrastructure for a population of 5,000 to south of the Parish as part of the ÒPlan the Future with UsÓ item.
No feedback received on the 2 other questions to be presented (as agreed at previous PC meeting).
12. South View Bus Shelter
Confirmed this will be included in 2008/9 financial year budget. Standard design to be erected.
13. Quarry Moor Crossing/Bus Shelter
An additional £4,000 from the 2008/9 budget of the Rural Road Safety Scheme had been received by NYCC and together with the previous grant this was enough to get the scheme kick started. Transport Department had agreed to move bus shelter to provide better visibility and access. Work expected to commence end of summer 2008. Parish Council will be consulted on proposals by end of May 2008.
14. Rights of Way
(i) WO informed Council of the document ÒRights of Way Improvement Plan for North YorkshireÓ. This can be downloaded from the internet or there is a CD available from the ÒRights of WayÓ team at NYCC.
(ii) Canal Towpath
á WO advised of progress, expected decision re: addition to Òdefinitive mapÓ in June 2008.
á CL and DOÕC had discovered an objection raised by the owners, British Waterways, due to need to carry out emergency repairs/maintenance. WO believed this issue covered by exclusion clauses in previous submissions.
(iii) RMBC Track to NicholsonÕs Bridge
Council agreed that WO and DOÕC
á would combine ÔevidenceÕ forms received. WO confirmed no response from Motorboat Club.
á prepare forms for submission to NYCC (based on Parish Council as petitioner) together with supporting documents (maps and ownership confirmation).
á inform owner of intention to submit proposal for right of way (footpath category only) to be included on Òdefinitive mapÓ and ÒoccupiersÓ (ie Motorboat Club).
Note: to be carried out early week beginning 21st April.
15. Parish Plan
WO confirmed
á the Committee had submitted the Plan for printing.
á the fixed quote for printing was £2,500.
á in accordance with the formula devised by Rural Community Council (RCR), Littlethorpe Parish CouncilÕs contribution to publishing costs would be £183 and sought approval for this amount. In response to queries from CL it was confirmed the total spend to date was £2,745 and a rebate of £34 to RCR was required. Council agreed that WO and CL could sign off cheque for £183 but as this was public money only when Òproof of spendÓ was confirmed.
The Chair publically thanked the Parish Plan Steering Group for all their efforts and hard work in producing the Parish Plan. The Parish Council confirmed their support and acknowledgement of the findings. The Chair requested this was minuted.
16. Parish Council Document Filing
The need for document reorganisation to assist newly elected Council was discussed. CL expressed concerns with proposal particularly over disposal of items, the organisational detail, archiving and confidentiality. Council agreed:
á maximum of £250 be allocated to employ external assistance.
á Christine Butt be approached to do this work (via Christopher Orme).
á no disposal of documents.
á CL to work alongside employee to advise on CouncilÕs needs and organisational issues.
JJ offered to assist in the sourcing of any document containers required.
17. Parish Local Policing
WO hoped to publish details on the website of results of recent police action in response to criminal activity in the Parish.
18. Village Hall – Parish Council Representative
Agreed to defer nomination until Parish Council AGM on 8th May when newly elected Council in place. Item to be included on Agenda and nominee submitted to VH Committee by 20th May (VH AGM).
19. Updates
(a) Village Hall – nothing to report.
(b) Signage – CL reported sign being fabricated by contractor commissioned by HBC.
(c) Fencing at Little Crossing – JJ to write to Michael Hutchinson to remind John Hoddinott, who is responsible for organising upgrade.
20. Standing Orders
Changes/amendments were required but Council agreed to defer item for consideration by newly elected Council.
21. ChairÕs Summing Up and Action List
(i) Pre-audit year-end accounts approved: CL to progress to audit.
(ii) Parish Council to acquire free bulbs on behalf of VHC and sort out planting later.
(iii) JW to progress Council decision on The Coach House planning application.
(iv) WO to seek further information on Broadfields Farm planning application.
(v) WO to investigate whereabouts of planning application information re: Ox Close Farm.
(vi) Positive progress with South View bus shelter and Quarry Moor Park crossing/bus shelter resiting.
(vii) WO to prepare summary of police action for website.
(viii) Parish Council representative for Village Hall Committee deferred for selection by newly elected Parish Council.
(ix) JJ to action progress with fencing at Little Crossing.
(x) WO/DOÕC to progress submission to NYCC etc re: RMBC track to be included on ÔÓDefinitive MapÓ.
(xi) Parish Council filing to be reorganised as soon as possible. Agreed £250 limit to employ external support. CL to monitor/advise appointee.
(xii) WO to include recent letters from/to John Edmonstone in next correspondence pack to Councillors.
The Chair thanked JJ, JW and DOÕC for their support to her and efforts on behalf of the Parish during their tenure as Councillors.
The Vice Chair warmly thanked WO for her energy and initiative during her time as Chair particularly in her approach and response to planning and development issues.
22. Dates of Next Meetings
Thursday 8th May 2008 Parish Council AGM
Thursday 29 May 2008 Annual Parish Meeting
Meeting closed at 9.23 pm.