Minutes of a Meeting of Great Ayton Parish Council
held on Tuesday 9th September 2008 at 7.00 pm
Present
Councillors N Waters, Chairman, Mrs F Greenwell, Mrs J Imeson, J Fletcher, D Conroy, G Readman and R Kirk. PC Snowdon, PCSO J Lloyd, Mr H Atkinson, Mr P Suggitt and three members of the public also attended.
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 12th August 2008 were approved and signed.
Police Business
A letter had been received from Inspector Richardson outlining the strategy and success of the Safer Neighbourhood Team. The policing area had achieved a 100 crime reduction compared to the same period last year, which translated to a 27% reduction covering all crime groups.
The statistics for August for Great Ayton showed that there had been 2 violent assaults, 3 autocrimes and 2 burglaries. There had been a total of 20 crimes compared with 29 for the same period last year. There had been 4 road traffic accidents of which 2 were injury and 2 non-injury/animal. A total of 90 incidents had been reported.
PCSO Lloyd passed on a request from Broadacres for a letter of support from the Parish Council for the closure of the James Court footpath. This would be provided.
At a recent CIP meeting there had been adverse comment regarding youth behaviour. The meeting was told that 4Youth were short staffed and antisocial behaviour could be blamed on lack of resources. The snooker initiative at the Working Men’s Club was still in action.
Councillor Mrs Imeson enquired about a fracas in the Guisborough Road/Central Way trod and was advised that investigation was ongoing.
Councillor Waters asked if there had been any progress as a result of the letters sent to the boy racers. He was told that the matter was now being dealt with by the traffic unit.
The police officers were thanked for attending.
Cemetery
Play area hedge – Councillor Fletcher said that the hedge was creating a haven for youngsters who did not wish to be seen. The original proposal had been to remove the hedge. Councillor Mrs Imeson said that there could be a problem with dogs. Councillor Readman said that the area needed to be open so that people could see what was going on, but there had been some complaints from residents regarding the proposal to remove the hedge. Councillor Fletcher proposed laying the hedge. Costs would be investigated, including for 4 x 10 metres of paving or safety surfacing; cemetery hedge – the quotation from Stephen Johnson would be accepted.
Councillor Readman said that the hedge between the cemetery and Central Way was overgrown. Broadacres would be asked to inspect it.
River
Rats in sewer - the matter had been reported to HDC who would deal with the problem.
The members of the public were invited to speak. They wished to make the Parish Council aware of the problems they were experiencing with antisocial behaviour of youths who were congregating in Edward Kitching Terrace on a daily basis. Fences and cars had been damaged and eggs thrown at the houses. Elderly residents were terrified. The footpath to the rear of Cliffe Terrace was a hang-out for the youths and was used by very few people because it was so horrid. Highways would be asked to tidy it up. The residents were advised to notify the police of every incident and to keep a log of their calls. The police would be asked to include the area on their regular patrols.
Mr Suggitt said that the river had been self-flushing during the wet summer. He had strimmed the banks. Mr Atkinson said that the litter/dog waste bin had gone missing from Waterfall Park. He suspected it had been thrown in the waterfall. Councillor Fletcher was glad to note that there had been no flooding on Low Green.
Matters arising from the minutes
Village Hall – Councillor Kirk had secured a grant of £3000 from Hambleton Strategic Partnership and there were other applications in the pipeline. The roof had been inspected to see what was required and three roofers would be asked for estimates. The rear of the building would be left for the time being as that was where the proposed disabled access might be. Damp-proofing and windows were still to be considered. The sub-committee would meet to discuss findings and then make decisions to go ahead. Councillor Kirk was thanked for his efforts.
Highways matters - Tree Bridge junction – letters had been received from Jacobs Engineering outlining the works to be undertaken. Councillor Readman said that communication had been inadequate. The bus company in particular had not published anything and bus passengers had been let down. Letters would be sent to NYCC and Arriva asking them to improve notification of changes to bus services; railings Waterfall Terrace – minute continued; Bridge Street pedestrian improvement scheme – minute continued; drains Easby Lane – the drain had been cleared. NYCC would continue to monitor the situation. Councillor Mrs Greenwell said that there was a drain blocked near Tally’s in Station Road. Councillor Mrs Imeson said that water flowed down from the Hall Fields to Dump Corner. Highways would be asked to investigate both complaints. .
Library seats – Mrs Cumbor would be notified of the Council’s intention to replace the seats
Flooding Roseberry Crescent – NWL had responded that they would undertake an in-depth study into the cause of the flooding. Councillor Kirk said that pressure needed to be maintained on NWL. HDC would be asked for an up-date on the floodwater storage scheme.
Accounts
James C Pearson (pave round seat High Green, repair road sign) 1081.59 Douglas Peel Engravers (bronze plaque) 93.00 W Eves and Co Ltd (petrol (direct debit) 167.80 Eric Harrison (grass cutting) 630.00 Richard Collins (grave digging) 160.00 Mazars (audit fee) 470.00 Receipts Great Ayton Dramatic Society (third quarter’s rent village hall) 130.00 Mrs D Bailey (garage rent) 10.00 Cemetery receipts 1782.00
Correspondence
Mr and Mrs G Perks – re verges, hedges, footpath Yarm Lane. Letter to be forwarded to Highways for their attention.
Yorkshire Cancer – request for permission to sell cards 3 .10.08. Approved
K Walker – request for permission to plant tree in memory of Mrs S Dorn. Approved
Mrs J Roberts – re bus service. NYCC and Arriva to be notified of residents’ concerns
G Hetherington – re road closure at Tree Bridge. Received
HDC – invitation to join “The Big Tidy Up”; posters re litter and stray dogs. Received
HDC – re Remembrance Day parade. Arrangements to be made for road closure during procession
Mr L M Juckes – re seat at top of Chapel steps. The Parish Council did not think the youth problem sufficient to justify the removal of the seat
The following items of information were received:-
Mazars – notification of completion of audit
Hambleton Development Agencies – Community News
Middlesbrough Council – notification of Pre-Examination Changes to LDF Submission Regeneration DPD
External Environment – brochure
Glasdon – brochure
HDC Amanda Madden – notification of postponement of affordable housing tour
NYCC Statutory Orders – temporary closure/ speed limit A172 – Stokesley to Nunthorpe
NYCC Pensions – revised ESTFORM1; employer satisfaction survey
Biker Contracts – brochure
NYMNPA – Planning Committee Agenda 11.9.08
NYCC – County Committee for Hambleton – agenda for meeting 15.9.08
CPRE – minutes of AGM; newsletter ; Fieldwork magazine
YRCC – Conference and AGM 29.11.08; The Playing Field newsletter; Country Air newsletter
Clerks and Council Direct - magazine
Planning applications
*Revised application for a conservatory extension to existing dwelling – West Lodge, Langbaurgh Grange
Revised application for the construction of a stable block and garage – Stanley House, Yarm Lane – The Parish Council wished to see this application refused. As with previous applications on this site the Parish Council considered it to be over-development in the open countryside.
Creation of a new vehicular access and gates – Lime Close, Easby Lane – The Parish Council objected on the grounds that the existing access was perfectly adequate. There would be Highways issues with new access onto Easby Lane
Temporary siting of a caravan to be used as an agricultural worker’s dwelling – Bank Flow Farm – The Parish Council was totally opposed to this application which had been a travesty right from the start. The site was a smallholding, not a farm, and the owners had hitherto been content to travel from Acklam. They had not provided evidence of need for an agricultural worker’s dwelling. The Parish Council would request that HDC consulted its agricultural experts as the Parish Council’s financial expert had serious doubts as to the viability of the business.
Change of use from ancillary living accommodation to form a dwelling – Mill Farm Stables – The Parish Council wished to see the application refused. The site was located immediately adjacent to but outside the defined settlement limits for Great Ayton. Notwithstanding England and Lyle’s planning statement, it was not close to the shops and services of Great Ayton. It was outside Great Ayton’s development limits.
Single storey and two storey extension to existing dwelling – 2 Pearsonville – No representations
Two storey extension and garden room extension to existing dwelling – 40 Roseberry Road – No representations
Application for construction of front, side and rear extensions together with alterations to vehicular access at Mead House, 8 Dikes Lane – No representations
*Delegated decisions – date for comment passed
Plans approved
Proposed works to trees – Hunters Lodge 3 Station Road
Replacement porch extension to existing dwelling – 31 Skottowe Crescent
Appeal withdrawn – Chapel View Pony Stud
Date for allotment rent collection; rent increases
Rents would be collected on Wednesday 8th October 2008 at the Working Men’s Club. It was agreed that the rent for a standard sized allotment would be increased by 10% to £22 per annum, other rents to be increased proportionately. Rents had not been increased in 2007.
Victorian urinal
Councillor Fletcher said that the urinal needed to be cleaned and the lower section of it repainted. Mr Rotheram would be asked to undertake this work. Councillor Fletcher would ask Mr Ward to expedite the return of the gate.
Councillors Reports
Councillor Fletcher said that the cherry trees on High Green were in poor condition and suffering from canker. He recommended removing them as they died and not replacing them, as the ground would be infected. Residents had asked for them to be pruned. Expert advice would be sought. Advice would also be sought as to the best way to manage the beech trees on High Green. He reported that the twinning tree had been removed from the Riverside. He and Councillor Readman would investigate replacing the tree.
Complaints had been received about the high fence on either side of the footpath across the glebe field. Councillors felt there was nothing untoward with the fence.
The residents of High Green who had installed the new cobbles had asked if the Parish Council would contribute to the cost. Councillor Kirk declared an interest. The Parish Council declined to contribute.
Councillor Conroy asked what was being built in the field on the way to Stokesley. He was advised that it was a 9 hole pitch and putt course.
Councillor Kirk had received a complaint from residents of Byemoor Close that dogs were fouling their gardens. It was agreed that there was nothing the Parish Council could do.
Councillor Mrs Imeson had received a complaint that youngsters were throwing apples from trees in the allotment hedge into residents’ gardens.
Councillor Waters said that the Cricket Club had done very well to win the 15s competition. Councillor Mrs Imeson suggested that the Parish Council write to the Cricket Club to congratulate them . This was agreed.
He had received reports that the street lights were not working in Angrove Close.
The date of the next meeting would be Tuesday 7th October 2008