Minutes of a Meeting of Great Ayton Parish Council
held on Tuesday 25th March 2008 at 7.00 pm
Present
Councillors Mrs J Imeson, Chairman, R Kirk, Mrs F Greenwell, J Fletcher and D Conroy. PC M McFarlane, Mr H Atkinson and Mr P Suggitt also attended.
Apologies
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors N Waters and G Readman
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 26th February 2008 were approved and signed.
Police Business
PC McFarlane said that Broadacres had taken ownership of the footpath at James Court and it was not therefore a public right of way. There would still need to be consultation on the proposed closure of the path. The Police were aware that not all incidents were reported to them. The Parish Council would write to Acting Inspector Walther supporting the proposed dispersal order.
The statistics for February showed that there had been a total of 22 crimes including 1 autocrime and 8 burglaries. There had been three non-injury accidents, including one at Tree Bridge. A total of 110 incidents had been reported. These figures were all up on the same period last year.
PC Mc Farlane was thanked for attending the meeting.
Cemetery
Mr Atkinson had taken delivery of the new shuttering for shoring up graves. It was very heavy but right for the job and he would be able to get help with it on most occasions. He had received a report that a tree had died at Langbaurgh corner. It would be removed.
Play area hedge – Report not to hand
River
Mr Suggitt had cleaned out the river a couple of times. Work had commenced on the felling of the alder trees at Low Green. Councillor Mrs Imeson said that she would like to revisit the issue of the trees upstream of the Stone Bridge. After discussion a vote was taken with two in favour of the original decision to remove the trees (Councillors Kirk and Fletcher) and two against (Councillors Mrs Imeson and Mrs Greenwell). Councillor Conroy abstained. The original decision was confirmed.
Matters arising from the minutes
Village Hall - a meeting of the subcommittee was arranged for 31st March 2008. Councillor Kirk said that there was a possibility of some labour from a returning military unit. Councillor Mrs Greenwell had telephoned for an application for Awards for All. Parish Councils were entitled to apply for funds for refurbishment up to a limit of £10,000. Estimates would be required for building work
Highways matters - Tree Bridge junction; railings Waterfall Terrace; footpaths - rear of Cliffe Terrace – minute continued.
Chapel steps – Highways had agreed to remove the salt bin. Minute concluded
Street cleaning – Station Road - Hambleton would arrange for the litter to be removed. The sweeping service had been poor recently due to a mini-sweeper having been involved in an accident. It was hoped that normal service would be resumed after Easter. Minute concluded
Beehive bins – The Clerk had been unable to locate a source of beehive bins. Councillor Fletcher would inspect the bins, see how many were required, and Mr P Rotheram would be asked to construct replacements.
Football and cricket field lease – The Parish Council had been asked if it was possible for it to extend its lease on the land. The Council confirmed that it was not possible. Minute concluded.
Accounts
M L Holden (reimburse stationery) 15.26 Farmway (rat poison) 64.40 Thompson’s Hardware (items for cemetery) 35.93 Hambleton District Council (cemetery rates) 84.73 Hambleton District Council (wheeled bin collection, cemetery) 327.54 G Ward & Son (shuttering for grave trench) 439.45 Richard Collins (grave digging) 80.00 Potts Parry Ives & Young (architect’s fee for village hall) 1627.79 Receipts D Bailey (garage rent) 10.00 H M Customs and Revenue (VAT refund) 1248.96 Cemetery receipts 250.00
Correspondence
Mrs S Thorogood – request for permission for Scouts to hold duck race 18.5.08. Approved
Yorkshire Planning Aid – everything you wanted to know about Sec 106 agreements – 10.04.08, St George’s Centre, Leeds
NYMNPA – Local Development Framework, Consultation on Draft Renewable Energy, Housing and Design Guide (parts 1, 2 and 3) Supplementary Planning Documents – comments invited
HDC – re establishment of “area forums” – comments invited. The Parish Council would reply that it was not in favour of more groups
NYCC – Local Transport Plan – request for comments on congestion. The Service Centre Transportation Strategy for Great Ayton and Stokesley had already been adopted
HDC – Flavour of Hambleton awards – entry forms
Residents of Hollygarth – re naming of new development. Residents had suggested that the new development be referred to as The Grove, Hollygarth. The Parish Council agreed that this would be a sensible compromise
Lt M Howden – re offer of free labour for village projects – see Village Hall above
The following items of information were received:-
NYCC – re urban grass cutting
NYMNPA – Planning Committee agenda 13.3.08; agenda for meeting 17.3.08
External Review – product information cards
Clerks and Councils Direct – magazine
Country Air – newsletter of YRCC
NYCC – County Committee for Hambleton – agenda for meeting 17.3.08
NYCC – Short Guide to Overview and Scrutiny in North Yorkshire
YLCA – notification of election of Mr Edward Sanderson to Parish Member of the NYMNPA Northern Area Parish Forum; invitation to join YLCA
NYCC – re Winter Maintenance Review
Standards Board for England – newsletter
HDC – Hambleton Local Development Framework; Adoption of Development Policies Development Plan Document (DPD)
Middlesbrough Council – notification of adoption of Core Strategy Development Plan Document
Glasdon – brochure
Liza Dundon, Rural Arts – invitation to “Arts in your Village” event 12.4.08
CPRE – Fieldwork newsletter
Tees Valley Joint Minerals and Waste Development Plan Documents: Redcar and Cleveland LDF Joint minerals and Waste Development Plan Documents – comments invited
Redcar and Cleveland LDF – Annual Monitoring Report 2006/7 and Low Grange Farm Supplementary Planning Document
Audit Commission – confirmation of appointment of external auditor
HDC – notes of last District/Parish Liaison meeting; notification of date for next - 15.9.08
Wicksteed – brochure
NYMNPA – Moorsbus timetable and poster
NYCC Pension Fund – request for end of year contribution details; New Look LGPS from 1.4.08: Employees’ Guide: Nominated Partner Form
Planning applications
*Conservatory extension – West Lodge Langbaurgh Grange
*Single storey extension to existing dwelling – 11 Farm Garth
*Single storey extension to existing dwelling – 5 Roseberry Road
Application for construction of an entrance porch – Heatherley, Dikes Lane. No representations
Application for demolition of existing garage and erection of double garage, insertion of a dormer window and construction of ground and first floor extensions at the White Cottage, 6 Dikes Lane. No representations
Single storey extension to existing dwelling – Millfield House, Little Ayton Lane. No representations
Siting of air conditioning unit at existing bank – 125 High Street. No representations
Application to fell a tree the subject of TPO2007/13 – Friends Meeting House. The Parish Council would be very reluctant to see this application approved. When the previous felling of a beech tree on this site had taken place it was observed that the trunk seemed perfectly sound. The Council would be very disappointed if this were to happen again.
Retrospective application for the construction of a building for use in association with the breeding of horses – Cherry Cottage, Stokesley Road. The Parish Council had concerns regarding this development. It objected to development in the open countryside. It would ask HDC to confirm that there was no dwelling on the site, as a house was shown on the plan
Retrospective change of use of domestic land to the storage of caravans – Greenhow Moor Farm. Councllor Kirk declared an interest. The Council would respond that there was insufficient information on the plan. The property was off a very fast road which would make it dangerous for caravans to turn into it. An application for a garage on the site had been refused some time ago because of visibility issues and the lack of standing area in the middle of the road.
Single storey extension to existing detached domestic garage – 23A Linden Avenue. The Parish Council would respond that it understood that some of the neighbours had concerns regarding an addition to this property which has largely been built with retrospective planning approval
Alterations and extensions to existing dwelling and detached domestic garage – Herdholt, Little Ayton Lane. The flat roofed extension was thought to be inappropriate to a building of character. It was too close to Garden House. The extension looked too big and represented over-development of the site.
*Delegated decision – date for comment passed
Applications approved
Revised application for alterations and extensions to existing dwelling – 78 Wheatlands
Siting of a summerhouse – 47 Addison Road
Proposed works to a weeping willow tree – 2 Low Green
Single storey extension to existing dwelling – 5 John Street
Siting of log cabin to be used as office/reception – Whinstone View Camp Site
Alterations and extensions to existing dwelling as amended – 4 Linden Road
Extension to existing agricultural building – OS Field 5890 and 6300
Fete
Three potential helpers had replied that they were unable to assist with the parade.
Councillors’ reports
Councillor Conroy said that a “Reduce Speed Now” sign would be useful at Tree Bridge. Councillor Fletcher would raise the suggestion with NYCC.
Councillor Conroy asked why blue recycling boxes were not being collected at Linden Close. He was advised that there were still problems with collecting from sheltered accommodation. He commented that Hambleton boasted that it had one of the lowest council tax rates in the country and felt it would be ironic if the balance were to be made up from car parking charges. Councillor Mrs Imeson said that HDC could not raise council tax above the rate capped by Government. The Government assumed income from parking and reduced the grant accordingly.
Councillor Mrs Imeson made reference to the imminent retirement of the press reporter, Mr R Lappin. He was thanked for his efforts and wished a happy retirement.
The date of the next meeting would be Tuesday 22nd April 2008