Great Ayton

Minutes of the Annual Public Meeting of Great Ayton Parish Council

held in the Village Hall on Wednesday 19th March 2007 at 7.00 pm

Business

Chairman’s welcome and report
Minutes of the 2007 Public Meeting
Matters arising from those minutes
Councillors’ attendance
Any other business

Present

Councillors Mrs J Imeson, Chairman, R Kirk, N Waters, Mrs F Greenwell, J Fletcher and G Readman.  Eleven electors also attended.

Apologies

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor D Conroy

Chairman’s Welcome and Report

Councillor Mrs Imeson welcomed the electors to the meeting. She said that there had been elections for the District and Parish since the last annual meeting.  She had decided not to seek re-election  for District but Frances Greenwell and John Fletcher had been re-elected, and Ron Kirk had been elected.  Margaret Stevens and Peter Bell had retired from the Parish Council after many years’ service and were thanked for their time and dedication.  There had been no election for the Parish Council as 7 stood for the 7 seats, including Gary Readman and David Conroy who were new to the Parish Council.  Councillor Mrs Imeson introduced the Councillors.
She thanked the present Councillors for their support and also the Clerk, Louise Holden, for her work and support to all the Councillors.  Thanks were also given to Howard Atkinson, the Cemetery Superintendent, for keeping the cemetery and open spaces in tip-top condition, and to Paul Suggitt for cleaning the river.   Peter Greenwell and his team were thanked for the enjoyable Christmas float and Christmas tree, and Ian Holden for his work on the parish website.  The Parish Council was most grateful to the many people who helped throughout the year.  The Police attended as many meetings as they could and listened to the views expressed.
Councillor Mrs Imeson had read that the press reporter, Bob Lappin, was to retire.  He was thanked on behalf of the Council and village, and wished a happy and well-earned retirement.
Councillor Mrs Imeson remembered Brian Winn who had been a member of the Council for over 10 years, and who had sadly died during the year.  Although no longer on the Council, he attended all the public meetings.
The County Council hoped to find the money for a possible roundabout at Tree Bridge junction this year.  
Councillor Mrs Imeson hoped that the bad publicity over the antisocial behaviour of about 20 youths, both boys and girls, and some very young, would not give the village a bad name - it was no worse than other places of a similar size,
There was still a problem with dog fouling, the responsibility lying with the uncaring people at the other end of the lead.
The Village Fete would take place on June 14th 2008.

Minutes

The minutes of the Annual Public Meeting held on Wednesday 21st March 2007 were approved and signed.

Matters arising

The Council had made further efforts to have Royal Mail vans parked more considerately, but was aware that they had as much right as anyone else to park on the highway.
Councillor Fletcher said that the matter of the footpath at Langbaurgh Corner had been taken up with Highways and should be implemented.

Councillors’ attendance

At the thirteen meetings since the last Annual Public Meeting Councillors’ attendance was as follows:- Councillor Mrs Imeson 13, Councillor J Fletcher 12, Councillors Mrs Greenwell, R Kirk and N Waters 11, Councillor D Conroy 11(from a possible 11), Councillor G Readman 9 (from 11), Councillors P Bell and Mrs Stevens 2 (from a possible 2)

Any other business

Mrs E Batch asked how the plans for the village hall would affect Drama.  Councillor Kirk said that planning permission had been sought, and granted, to provide disabled access and for alterations to the rear of the hall.  Funding would be a problem and the possibility of allowing youth use of the hall could open up avenues for grants.  There would be no change for Drama at present and they would be informed immediately of any future changes.

Mr R Winterschladen had several questions about the proposed dispersal order.  He was advised that the evidence for the order had been based on winter figures, which were not as bad as those for summer, and this had caused the delay.  Mr Winterschladen believed that the problems would not arise if the police were more proactive and not merely reacting to reports from the public.  Councillor Fletcher said that the Respect questionnaire demonstrated that residents were most concerned by antisocial behaviour and thought that the solution was a greater police presence.  Councillor Mrs Imeson read out a letter from Mrs A Jarvis regretting the fact that there was nowhere for young people to “hang out” and questioning the need for a dispersal order.

Mrs M Wykes asked if there was a possibility of traffic calming in Newton Road to prevent speeding, especially at weekends and during the evening.  She was advised that the police could be asked to deploy speed cameras.

Mr M Petch believed that the village sewage pipe was inadequate.  The manhole lifted when the river was high and sewage spilled into the river.  He thought that the system would not cope with 36 new dwellings at Cleveland Lodge.  He was advised that Northumbrian Water were the experts and Hambleton had to accept their report.  The Parish Council would, however, continue to raise the matter.  Mr Petch expressed the hope that the work on the alder trees on Low Green would be finished, particularly the two large trees close to the white footbridge.  He was advised that the Parish Council would deal with all those in its ownership.

Mr P Greenwell thanked the Parish Councillors for all their hard work and for doing a marvellous job.

Councillor Mrs Imeson declared the meeting closed.