Minutes of a Meeting of Great Ayton Parish Council
held on Tuesday 2nd December 2008 at 7.00 pm
Present
Councillors N Waters, Chairman, Mrs F Greenwell, J Fletcher, D Conroy, G Readman. Mr H Atkinson, Mr P Suggitt, PC M McFarlane, PCSO T Rogerson, three representatives from Fairtrade, and one member of the public also attended.
Apologies
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs J Imeson and R Kirk
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 12th November 2008 were approved and signed
Fair Trade Presentation
Mrs B Hawkins told the meeting that she and her colleagues, Mrs K Harvie and Mrs J Chapman, had been trying to reach the criteria for Great Ayton to become a Fairtrade village since January 2007. There had already been movement towards Fairtrade status, they had written to schools and businesses in the village, and finally succeeded in the summer. Great Ayton was the first village in North Yorkshire to achieve Fairtrade status. Councillor D Conroy received a plaque from Mrs Hawkins on behalf of the Parish Council.
Police Business
Edward Kitching Terrace – PC McFarlane said that there had been few complaints but there were now similar problems in Romany Road; dispersal order evaluation and stats – PC McFarlane said that although questionnaires had been sent to all the people in the dispersal order area only 99 replies had been received. Councillor Mrs Greenwell was disappointed that only 6% of the respondents expressed willingness to help with youth activities.
Councillor Readman reported that there had been damage to property in the cemetery and at Yatton House and asked if there had been any progress on identifying the perpetrators. PC McFarlane said that so far they had no concrete evidence and the matter was unlikely to go any further.
Cemetery
Play area hedge/paved area – minute continued; cemetery hedge - minute continued; beech tree for Riverside - minute continued.
Mr Atkinson said that most of the damage caused by vandals had been put right. The stonemason had acted promptly to clean the headstone. A letter of thanks would be sent. Mr Atkinson had installed a padlocked gate to prevent easy access from Yatton House to the cemetery.
There had been no further problem with the drains since they had been attended to.
The play area was again shut to facilitate repairs. Children as young as 5 or 6 had got into the area whilst the gate was locked and dismantled the seesaw with a socket set.
River
Mr Suggitt said that he had removed some traffic cones. Councillor Fletcher said that the alders growing out of the wall near the stone bridge required attention. Mr Suggitt and Mr Atkinson would deal with them.
Matters arising from the minutes
Village Hall - a grant of £5000 had been received from the County Committee for Hambleton. Minute continued
Highways matters - railings Waterfall Terrace – minute continued; Bridge Street pedestrian improvement scheme – a letter would be sent to Highways expressing the Council’s disappointment that its views had been disregarded.
Library seats - minute continued
Floodwater storage scheme - HDC had responded that the Environment Agency would not be progressing any flood alleviation works in Great Ayton. They had investigated the possibility of flood storage on the Riverside but concluded that the cost/benefit was insufficient for a viable scheme. The Parish Council was extremely surprised as it was thought that the scheme would not involve a great deal of work and most of the materials required were already available on site. The EA would be asked to provide a copy of their report and costings.
Trees High Green - minute continued
Christmas – cards. There were no new names to add to the list
RoSPA report on play equipment – Councillors Conroy and Readman would prepare a job-list from the report. Minute continued
Replacement seat opposite Hookstone garage – a seat had been ordered from Robert Ward, blacksmith. Minute concluded
Planning matters – Mr M Cann from HDC would attend the January meeting
Accounts
M L Holden (reimburse sweets for Father Christmas float (£28.15)
stationery (£24.06)52.21 Thompson’s Hardware (items for cemetery) 29.99 Society of Local Council Clerks (annual subscription) 105.00 Peter Thompson (grass cutting Riverside) 352.50 P Bell (refund allotment deposit) 20.00 Richard Collins (grave digging) 160.00 Receipts Cemetery receipts 1381.00
Correspondence
HDC – Council Tax for Parishes – Revenue Estimates 2009/10. Ian Holden had prepared a budget which Councillors had checked and approved. It was agreed to precept for thirty-one thousand pounds
Mr E Harrison – re hedge at Leven Court. A letter would be sent to the management committee asking if they would consider undertaking works to the hedge before it turned into a row of trees.
NYCC – Budget and Council Plan Consultation – feedback invited
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council – Feasibility Study Consultations for “Odin’s Glow” outdoor event, Roseberry Topping - invitation to take part – the Parish Council would like to be consulted
HDC – invitation to “From Ideas to Implementation” event 3.12.08
Mike Newton – request to add link to Parish Council website. Councillor Waters would look at Mr Newton’s website to decide if a link should be added
Information Commissioner’s Office – Freedom of Information – fulfilling your obligation to disclose information. A new model publication scheme had been produced which all public sector organisations must adopt by 31st December 2008. There was no requirement to return any paperwork to ICO, nor to create any new information. The clerk believed that the Parish Council already complied with the requirements of the Act by publishing all relevant documents on the noticeboard or Council website
The following items of information were received:-
NYCC – NYPFOG meeting 22.10.08 minutes; Employer’s newsletter; minutes of NYPFOG meeting
YRCC – “Empowering your Rural Community “ conference and AGM 29.11.08
CE Electric UK – preparing for mother nature – information leaflets and posters
York and North Yorkshire Waste Partnership – newsletter
rekk – advertisement
NYMNPA – LDF Core Strategy and Development Policies Document – adoption
Hambleton and Richmondshire NHS PCT – re public review events 25.11.08/26.11.08
Hambleton Local Development Agencies – Community News
Glasdon - brochure
Planning applications
Application for listed building consent for alterations to existing attached garage, garden room and garden wall – Ayton Hall, Low Green. No representations
Application for alterations to outbuildings including new roof together with construction of a new livestock/machinery building at Aireyholme Farm. No representations
Plans approved
Proposed change of use of land to the keeping of horses – Langbaurgh Ridge. This would be added to the list of queries for Mr Cann at the next meeting.
Construction of a single storey extension to existing dwelling – 23 Easby Lane
First floor extension to existing dwelling as amended – 120 Newton Road
Front access ramps with handrail – 26 Greenacre Close
Construction of a conservatory to existing dwelling – 4 Easby Lane
Councillors Reports
Councillor Readman said that the road at Tree Bridge was to be closed in February. He expressed the hope that transport issues would be communicated to the village in good time. Letters would be sent Highways and Arriva asking them to ensure that adequate notification was given of changes to bus services
Councillor Conroy had received a letter complaining about hedges overhanging pavements at Skottowe and the High Street. Highways would be asked to investigate
Councillor Waters was awaiting a quotation for drainage works to the allotments
A resident had complained that a streetlight had been installed on top of the stop-tap for one of the bungalows at the bottom of Roseberry Crescent. The resident would be advised to contact Hambleton District Council.
The date of the next meeting would be Tuesday 6th January 2009