Minutes of a Meeting of Great Ayton Parish Council
held on Tuesday 11th September 2007 at 7.00 pm
Present
Councillors Mrs J Imeson, Chairman, N Waters, P Conroy, J Fletcher, G Readman. PC G Jones, Mr H Atkinson, Mr P Suggitt, and 6 members of the public also attended.
Apologies
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs F Greenwell and R Kirk
The Chairman called for a minute’s silence in memory of Brian Winn who had recently died. He had been a member of the Parish Council for 12 years from 1987 to 1999.
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 21st August 2007 were approved and signed
Police Business
The statistics for August showed that there had been a total of 29 crimes which included 6 violent crimes, 9 autocrimes and 2 burglaries. There had been 1 injury and 1 non-injury accident, and a total of 96 incidents. The statistics are broken down to show only violent, autocrime and burglary as they are the ones of most concern to the public. The total could also include fraud, domestic incidents, theft, damage etc.
PC Jones said that they were having difficulty getting cooperation from Great Ayton’s antisocial youth. An operation to deal with boy racers took several vehicles off the road but this could not happen every week. He was working with 4Youth who were doing some outreach work in Great Ayton.
Councillor Waters highlighted several serious incidents which had occurred recently. PC Jones said that good progress was being made on the robbery; progress was also being made on the riot, one man had been arrested and a number of others were to be arrested. None were from Great Ayton. Four people, again not from the village, had been arrested following a knife attack. The police had been most grateful for assistance from the youths and boy racers. The police had been concentrating their attention on Friday and Saturday nights and the problems in the TIP car park seemed to have died down. Councillor Mrs Imeson asked PC Jones to press for the return of the CCTV camera. The Council believed that a police presence was needed in the village, and continuity so that troublesome youths and the police were known to each other.
PC Jones would follow up a complaint from Councillor Mrs Imeson that she had twice reported an incident to the police and was still awaiting the promised attendance.
PC Jones reiterated the need for a problem solving group to be formed. He would prepare a proposal for consultation, hopefully mid to late October.
PC Jones was thanked for attending.
The Chairman invited the members of the public to state their business.
Their spokesman, Susan Jackson, said that they were residents of Frankfield Place, which was unadopted, and were very concerned about the condition of their road. The surface was in a severe state of disrepair, street lighting was minimal, dog owners exercised their dogs with the usual unpleasant results, litter was not cleared, two large vans were regularly parked there and the road was used as a through road by people who were not resident. All the other unadopted roads in Great Ayton were cul de sacs and did not therefore suffer the damage inflicted by through traffic. They sought the help of the Parish Council to find a solution. The Council said that it would ask the dog warden to visit, Councillor Fletcher would investigate the lighting problem and also talk to Mr Gresty at NYCC, a letter explaining their problem would be sent to Highways, and HDC would be asked to deal with the litter. The owners of the vans would be asked to park elsewhere.
Cemetery
Grave shoring – minute continued; drains – a report had been received from HCS but recommendations and costs were still awaited. Councillor Waters would read the report.
Councillor Mrs Imeson had inspected the vases at the Wall of Remembrance and found it to be untidy. Mr Atkinson said that he tidied up each Tuesday. Another regulations notice would be printed. The new hut was in place and was making life easier for Mr Atkinson. A letter would be sent to W Eves & Co Ltd asking them to consider donating a new seat to replace the broken one opposite the petrol station. The broken seat at Langbaurgh corner would be removed. Now that the grass was growing less vigorously Mr Atkinson would have more time to refurbish the other seats.
River
A further letter had been received from Mr Hetherington, plus additional petition signatories, and Mr P Ross had sent a letter and photographs showing the river as it was before the Hollygarth Bridge was built. Consideration would be given to the contents of both when the river was under discussion with Northumbrian Water and the Environment Agency.
Mr Suggitt had strimmed the bank sides and taken out rubbish, including 3 bikes. He expressed concerns about the water level in the river, Himalayan balsam and rats. Mr Suggitt would be asked to destroy the balsam, and HDC would be asked to take action against the rats.
Matters arising from the minutes
Village Hall – minute continued
Highways matters - Tree Bridge junction - minute continued; railings Waterfall Terrace etc - minute continued; footpaths - Easby Lane to Hollygarth, rear of Cliffe Terrace, Easby Lane to Suggitt’s field – minute continued
Yatton House lease – minute continued
Planning matters - tree planting to rear of 15 Easby Lane – minute continued
Memorial tree at Riverside – minute continued
Parking of Royal Mail vans There had been no response from Royal Mail. The problem had not improved. Further representations would be made to Royal Mail
Gates, Hall Fields – A reminder would be sent to Mr Ward
Accounts
W Eves & Co. Ltd (petrol)(direct debit) 73.57 Environment Agency (fee for application to re-register as waste carrier) 96.00 Eric Harrison (grass cutting) 615.00 Tancred Gravel Ltd (gravel for cemetery paths) 356.27 HCS Drain Services Ltd (cctv survey of cemetery drains) 854.82 Farmway Ltd (rat poison) 31.14 Sam Turner & Sons Ltd (padlock, bolt, hasp) 10.21 P Suggitt (work on river bank) 120.00 D I Holden (reimburse phone bill) 53.30 D I Holden (reimburse gift for R Holden for website work) 19.99 Receipts D Bailey (garage rent Sept) 10.00 Cemetery receipts 85.00
Correspondence
NYCC Highways – re damage to Stone Bridge. Repairs to be undertaken as part of NYCC Bridge Maintenance programme
Ms S Jackson – re poor road surface and abandoned cars in Frankfield Place. See above after police business
Mrs Holmes-Smith – re footpath from cricket field to Little Ayton Lane/Cross Lane, NYCC would be asked to improve the surface of the paths at the kissing gates
Mr E Harrison – re overgrown hedge near bus stop on B1292 – the owner would be asked to cut back the hedge; conifers cut down and left on verge opposite cemetery gates – these appeared to have been removed
The following items of information were received:-
CPRE – Fieldwork newsletter
Crown Prosecution Service – Annual Update 2007
NYMNPA - Planning Committee Agenda 13.9.07; list of members
Clerks and Councils Direct – magazine
NYCC Pension Fund – employers’ newsletter
Amanda Madden – re affordable housing; Hambleton Rural Housing Enabler Update
Danielle Barker, Reparation Development Officer – introductory letter and detail of work undertaken
NYCC – re temporary closure of 128R Tunstall Lane 17.9.07
Planning applications
Application for Listed Building Consent for replacement of a garage door to existing dwelling as amended – Beech Grove, 69 High Street. No representations
Construction of two dwellings – land adjacent 90 Marwood Drive – minor amendments 2 detached double garages changed to pair of single garages. No representations
Two storey extension to existing dwelling – 7 Race Terrace. The Parish Council would respond that the extension should not extend beyond the present conservatory, and access to the rear of properties in Race Terrace should not be blocked. The neighbour’s right of light should be considered.
Alterations and extensions to existing dwelling – 61 Roseberry Crescent. No representations
Application to carry out works to a tree the subject of TPO 2006/09 – 3 Mill Terrace. No representations
Plans approved
Alterations and extensions to existing domestic garage – 2 Angrove Close
Enforcement Appeal
Hearing for enforcement appeal at OS Field 4116 to be held at 10.00 on 15th January 2008
Development Control Committee Site Visit – change of use of agricultural land to the siting of 15 log cabins and associated works at land adjacent Angrove Plantation, Yarm Lane 9.30 am 17.9.07
Allotment Rents
It was agreed that the allotment rents should not be increased this year.
Councillors’ reports
Councillor Conroy was concerned that the repairs to the cemetery drains would prove expensive. He was advised that the job would be put out to tender if it was thought too costly.
Councillor Waters commented that Waterfall Park was very dark and would be attractive to youths to congregate there. He was reassured by Councillor Fletcher that there were no real problems.
Councillor Mrs Imeson commended Robert Holden for his work on the village website. She asked for the Council’s approval of the purchase of a gift for him to signify the Council’s thanks.
Councillor Fletcher said that the flower tubs had looked magnificent this summer. A letter of thanks would be sent to Mr Trenholme.
The date of the following meeting would be Tuesday 9th October 2007