Minutes of the Annual Public Meeting of Great Ayton Parish Council
held in the Village Hall on Tuesday 12th April 2005 at 7.00 pm
Business
Chairman’s welcome and report
Minutes of the 2004 Public Meeting
Matters arising from those minutes
Councillors’ attendance
Council report
Any other business
Present
Councillors L Groves, Chairman, R Kirk, Mrs M Stevens, P Bell, J Fletcher. Twelve electors also attended.
Apologies
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs J Imeson and Mrs F Greenwell
Councillor Groves welcomed the electors to the meeting and introduced the Councillors. He expressed his thanks to his fellow councillors for their work during the year and especially the work done by the Clerk, Mrs Holden. His report covered the many events which had occurred during the year including the visit of the Model T Fords to High Green, which it was hoped would become an annual event, and the handing back of the Captain Cook Memorial Garden by Middlesbrough Council. Thanks were due to Councillor Mrs Imeson for all her hard work in persuading Middlesbrough to return the garden to Great Ayton’s ownership. The regular Christmas events had been successful and a donation had been sent to the Asian tsunami disaster fund. A River Warden Contractor had been appointed to keep the river and its banks tidy. A Village Hall management Committee was to be formed, which would be in a better position than the Council to apply for funding to repair the hall. The Council was disappointed that it had been un able to purchase the ambulance hall for the village.
The Council regretted the deaths of Eric Brown, a former clerk, and Leslie Martin, a former Parish Councillor and village stalwart, who had given devoted service to the village.
Minutes
The minutes of the Annual Public Meeting held on Wednesday 31st March 2004 were approved and signed.
Matters arising
Traffic matters Councillor Fletcher said that the road surface at the B1292/A172 junction would be re-engineered, road markings would be improved, and a roundabout was being considered. The Police had been alerted regarding motorbikes at Gribdale Gate. Parking in Romany Road was a perennial problem, and the plantation wall was still standing.
Councillors’ attendance
At the thirteen meetings since the last Annual Parish Meeting Councillors’ attendance was as follows:- Councillor Fletcher 13, Councillors Mrs Imeson and Mrs Stevens 12, Councillors Mrs Greenwell and Groves 11, Councillor Kirk 10, Councillor Bell 9.
Any other business
Mr C Tanfield raised the problem of heavy goods vehicles driving through the village. There followed lengthy discussion of the matter. Councillor Fletcher said that a traffic survey had been undertaken at Stone Bridge, the result of which indicated that a weight restriction on the A173 was inappropriate. However, signposting at both ends of the road would be examined, rectified and hopefully improved. Redcar and Cleveland refused to put any signposts at their end. Mr Tanfield said that signposts were a waste of time unless they were mandatory. Councillor Mrs Stevens said that many of the HGVs were servicing the village. Boulby Potash drivers had been instructed not to drive through the village and most did not. Councillor Fletcher said that if the survey had shown a weight limit was appropriate and practical he would have supported it.
Mrs D Bailey had read in the press of a suggestion by Councillor Bell to move the play equipment to Low Green. She was reassured that this would not happen. Councillor Bell felt that it was preferable that children could be seen. Councillor Mrs Stevens said that on police advice the play area would be locked at 4.00 pm following problems when a neighbour’s fence had been broken.
Mr Tanfield asked if there had been any prosecutions for dog fouling. He was advised that there had been one, and the dog warden had made several visits in an attempt to catch owners allowing their dogs to foul public areas.
Councillor Fletcher informed the meeting that the Environment Agency had been carrying out a review of the upper reaches of the Leven with a view to diverting flood water at its peak. It was hoped this would improve the flooding problem in the village.
Councillor Groves brought the meeting to a close and thanked the members of the public for attending.
Mr B Winn thanked the Councillors for their hard work during the year, much of which was carried out unseen by the public.