Minutes of a Meeting of Great Ayton Parish Council
held on Tuesday 6th January 2009 at 7.00 pm
Present
Councillors N Waters, Chairman, J Fletcher, Mrs J Imeson, Mrs F Greenwell, D Conroy, G Readman and R Kirk. Mr H Atkinson , and Mr M Cann from Hambleton District Council, also attended.
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 2nd December 2008 were approved and signed
Planning Matters
Mr Cann explained the District Council’s decisions on the various planning applications for which the Parish Council had recommended refusal but which had been allowed. Expert advice had been sought on the applications and the Planning Department had to accept advice given. Mr Cann said that the reasons for the Planning Department’s decisions could be found on the decision notices. Mr Cann was thanked for giving up his time to come to the meeting. The Parish Council was grateful for his explanations and accepted what he said, though it did not agree on all points.
Police Business
There was no police officer in attendance.
Councillor Fletcher said that the public toilets had been vandalised and the noticeboard outside the village hall destroyed.
Councillor Waters said that it had been encouraging to see police officers around the village, both uniformed and plain clothed.
Cemetery
Play area hedge/paved area – minute continued; cemetery hedge – the trees had been cut and an excellent job done – minute concluded; beech tree for Riverside – a new beech tree had been planted – minute concluded.
Councillor Mrs Imeson had received a complaint that youths had been taking palings from the fence separating Yatton House from the cut and throwing them about. Mr Atkinson would liaise with Mr Gawthorpe re removing them.
Mr Atkinson said that the amount of litter and dog dirt in the cut was atrocious. Councillor Mrs Greenwell would take up the matter with HDC
The number of rats on the allotments was being kept under control by the use of rat bait. Regular applications of rat poison were essential to keep the population down.
River
Mr Suggitt did not attend the meeting. Councillors had nothing to report
Matters arising from the minutes
Village Hall - the sub-committee would meet to discuss whether to carry out basic repairs, or spend a large sum of money on more major repairs, including replacing the roof. The Parish Council would accept the decision of the sub-committee - minute continued
Highways matters - railings Waterfall Terrace – the Probation Service would be reminded that there was still a considerable amount of work to be done and asked if it could be expedited when the weather improved – minute continued; Bridge Street pedestrian improvement scheme – the improvements had not yet been completed due to a problem with water pipes; Tree Bridge road closure – Highways had responded with details of road closure and revised bus times. Councillor Mrs Imeson had received a call from Mr G Hetherington saying that he understood that the Parish Council had not agreed to the closure of Yarm Lane for the duration of the closure of the B1292, although Highways had agreed to it. Councillor Mrs Imeson had responded that she would raise the issue with the Parish Council but Mr Hetherington should remember that the Council represented the whole village not just the residents of Low Green. The Parish Council would not support the closure of Yarm Lane. Councillor Readman suggested that Highways be asked to grit it and treat it as a main road for the duration of the B1292 closure. They would be thanked for keeping Yarm Lane open. Minute concluded
Library seats - minute continued
Floodwater storage scheme - Ian Cooke of the Environment Agency had responded that the modelling report indicated a very small reduction in water height and he could not, therefore, put forward a business case to create a storage area. He had enclosed a copy of the modelling report, which Councillors would study. Minute continued
Trees High Green - minute continued
RoSPA report on play equipment – Councillor Readman would meet Mr Atkinson to talk about the work necessary in the play area
Hedge at Leven Court – Councillor Mrs Imeson said that the management committee would deal with the hedge. Minute concluded
Link to Parish Council website – Mr M Newton – Councillor Waters had visited Mr Newton’s website and thought that as it had commercial implications a link would not be appropriate. The Council agreed with this view. Minute concluded
New model publication scheme – the Clerk would take the necessary action to comply with the regulations. Minute concluded
Overhanging hedges – Skottowe and High Street – the hedges had been inspected and did not appear to be causing any problems. Minute concluded
Christmas – recap – the two events had received good comments, and people from as far away as Danby had attended the carol singing. An attempt would be made to find more runners for the float. Councillor Readman suggested that the float should visit Hollygarth. He was informed that Hollygarth used to be on the route but so few people looked out it was decided to omit it. The police would be thanked for their support
Accounts
M L Holden (reimburse Christmas cards £11.25, postage £103.64) 114.89 Thompson’s Hardware (items for cemetery) 65.30 R D Alderson (hedge cutting) 152.75 Farmway Ltd (hardware, rat poison) 105.25 epw print and design ltd (cemetery receipt books) 70.15 The Snilesworth Trust (Christmas tree) 115.00 P H Greenwell (Christmas expenses) 200.00 P H Greenwell (Christmas lights, repairs to reindeer) 309.06 Northumbrian Water (cemetery supply (direct debit)) 7.64 Askew Bunting (fee for Yatton House lease) 287.50 A Hill & Sons Ltd (beech tree) 24.25 Richard Collins (grave digging) 160.00 H Atkinson (reimburse phone card) 10.00 K P Cancer Fund (donation - carol singing collection) 553.21 The Royal Oak (drinks for carol service bandsmen) 87.06 W Eves & Co. Ltd (petrol (direct debit)) 24.61 Receipts D Bailey (garage rent) 10.00 E Walker (grave reservation) 60.00 M Hopper (donation for loan of Father Christmas suit) 5.00 Allianz (insurance claim) 839.56 D Jackson (grave reservation) 60.00 Carol singing collection 553.51 Float collection 427.53 Cemetery receipts 1432.00 North Yorkshire County Council (grass cutting) 2793.23
Correspondence
Jacobs UK Ltd – notification of road closure at Tree Bridge from 5th January for 7 weeks
Dr J Rugg – request for information re burial provision. Clerk to provide information
Great Ayton Dramatic Society – re problems with youths; storage. Drama agreed to make storage space available
Mott MacDonald – request for information re flooding incident at 25 Station Road, July 2007. The Council had no knowledge of a flooding incident at this location
John Harris, walkinginyorkshire.co.uk – request for link to be added to PC website. Agreed
HDC – re stocks of sandbags. Graham Martin would be asked for permission to store sandbags at Manor Grange. Councillor Waters agreed that they could also be stored at Grange Farm, Little Ayton. HDC would be so advised.
Communities and Local Government – Code of recommended practice on local authority publicity – a consultation – Councillor Waters to complete
G Lodge – re TIC carpark – the Parish Council did not believe that any of the suggestions made would be workable
The following items of information were received:-
HDC – Update newsletter; posters re Christmas tree recycling; ; summary of Local Homes for Local People at Hambleton; Housing leaflet and Housing newsletter; re changes to sport nationally which could affect local sports clubs; cancellation of “Developing Youth Provision in Rural Areas” meeting 20.1.09; Newsline newsletter
CPRE – Fieldwork magazine; CPRE Overview newsletter
NYMNPA – notification of adoption of Business Plan; notes of meeting of Northern Area Parish Forum meeting 6.11.08; posters for Public Question Time meeting 19.2.09, request for agenda items; Local Access Forum annual report; agenda for meeting 15.12.08; agenda for Planning Committee meeting 11.12.08
NYCC – Putting People First in North Yorkshire newsletter; Winter Service leaflets; Pension Fund – Pensions Focus newsletter, contact list for staff; Job Centre Plus Services for Families – free Benefits Awareness Sessions for your staff
Image Playgrounds – Christmas card
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority – summary of accounts 2007/8; Community Fire Safety leaflet
Planning applications
Application for alterations to outbuildings including new roof together with construction of a new livestock/machinery building at Aireyholme Farm as amended (application already decided – see plans approved below)
Installation of 2 roof lights and dormer extension – 71 High Street. No representations
Plans approved
Application for alterations to outbuildings including new roof together with construction of a new livestock/machinery building at Aireyholme Farm
First floor extension to existing dwelling – 19 Central Way
Plans refused
Application to vary condition number 2 of planning consent 06/02336/MRC – Whinstone View Caravan Park
Councillors Reports
Councillor Fletcher asked for permission to spend £30 on willows for the Riverside wet area. This was agreed.
Councillor Waters asked if there were any spare allotments. The Clerk would contact the Letting Manager and find out.
Councillor Mrs Imeson said that the building opposite the Hall Fields gate was very unsightly. HDC Planning Department would be asked if the owner could be asked to tidy it up.
The date of the next meeting would be Tuesday 6th January 2009