Minutes of a Meeting of Great Ayton Parish Council
held on Tuesday 3rd March 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. PC G Jones, Mr H Atkinson and Mr P Suggitt also attended.
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 3rd February 2009 were approved and signed.
Police Business
PC Jones, who had kindly attended on his day off, reported on the previous month’s events. He said that there had been fewer complaints regarding antisocial behaviour. Twelve to fifteen youths had been taken into custody for questioning regarding damage to property and four were to be prosecuted. A distraction burglary had been carried out at Church Drive by men posing as water board officials.
Councillor Fletcher said that there had been problems on High Green again, and Councillor Kirk asked if there was any evidence that the troublemakers had taken their activities elsewhere. Councillor Mrs Greenwell suggested that the play area be made a “respect area”. PC Jones said that it would have to be done through 4Youth. Mr Atkinson said that there had been a 100% improvement in the play area and there had been no damage to equipment. Councillor Waters said that he was aware that there had been a number of thefts, or attempted thefts, from farms. PC Jones said that the police helicopter had been deployed to an incident at Kildale and the perpetrators caught.
PC Jones was thanked for attending.
Cemetery and Play Area - play area hedge/paved area; repairs to equipment
Mr Atkinson reported a very busy month. A new dog-waste bin in the cut between Central Way and Guisborough Road, which was being well used, had been removed. He understood that it had been taken away for use at Stokelsey.
Councillor Readman was awaiting advice from the Health and Safety people at HDC regarding repairs to play equipment. The goalposts would be relocated to allow the grass to recover.
River
Mr Suggitt had nothing to report
Matters arising from the minutes
Village Hall - a letter had been received from the Crash Bang Wallop Youth Theatre regarding the condition of the men’s toilets. The writer had been advised that repairs were to be carried out on 16th March Minute continued
Highways matters - railings Waterfall Terrace - minute continued; Councillor Fletcher reported that the B1292 would reopen on 6th March.
Floodwater storage scheme -– minute continued
Trees High Green – permission had been granted for work to the trees to be carried out. Mr Crombie’s estimate had been accepted and he would undertake the work. Minute concluded
Building opposite Hall Fields gate, Newton Road - minute continued
Esk Valley Railway – representatives would attend Parish Council meeting on 31st March 2009
Speed matrix – minute continued
Beehive bins – Councillor Fletcher would meet HDC to discuss the bins
Clerk – draft job description and contract received from SLCC; a proposal for a computer accounts package to be purchased was approved
Accounts
D I Holden (reimburse cost of new computer) 642.04 Farmway Ltd (rat poison) 63.02 Thompson’s Hardware (items for cemetery) 56.44 Sam Turner & Sons Ltd (shackles, oil, gloves) 53.06 C L Prosser (hire of skip, allotments) 172.50 D I Holden (reimburse cost of registering new mower) 55.00 H Atkinson (phone card) 10.00 R Collins (grave digging) 400.00 Receipts D Conroy (reimburse annual parish dinner) 23.80 R Kirk “ “ “ “ 47.56 F Greenwell “ “ “ “ 47.56 J Fletcher “ “ “ “ 47.56 G Readman “ “ “ “ 47.56 D Robinson (grave reservation) 60.00 O Teasdale (grave reservation) 60.00 A Salvatore (grave reservation) 60.00 H Petch (cemetery fees) 88.00 Great Ayton Dramatic Society (1st qtr’s rent village hall) 130.00 Cemetery receipts 3554.00 D Bailey (garage rent) 10.00 HM Customs and Revenue (VAT refund) 888.7
Correspondence
Neil Thomas – re opening of play area. The play area gate was no longer locked.
Theodore Street – request for help with academic research on rural housing
P J Dobson – re possibility of Parish Council keeping public toilets open through winter months. The Parish Council had received no information from HDC that the toilets were to be closed during the winter months. It was agreed to leave the matter until such time as HDC’s intentions were known
Great Ayton Tourist Information - request for permission to hold annual Yorkshire Day on High Green; placement of direction signs. Approved
Robert Holden – re website. It was agreed that Mr Holden be paid an annual sum to cover the cost of hosting the website and renewing the domain name
Great Ayton Scouts – request for permission to hold cake stall 9.5.09 and duck race 17.5.09. Approved
Guisborough and Great Ayton Rotary Club – request for permission to erect tent on High Green on 18.4.09 for Stroke Awareness Day. Approved
The following items of information were received:-
Denise O’Donnell – re gas works in Easby Lane commencing 16th March 2009
NYMNPA – Parish and Community Newsletter; agenda for Planning Committee meeting 12.2.09; Northern Area Parish Forum agenda for meeting 19.2.09; request for update of records
Rural Services Community – weekly digest x 3
NY Pension Fund – re new website; NYPFOG meeting 3/4/09; new “options on leaving” form
YCLA – invitation to join
Geoff Lodge – minutes of Great Ayton Problem Solving Group
Amanda Madden – RHE newsletter
NYCC – Local Transport Plan
Marc Holland – training grants for charities
Barbara Hawkins – list of local Fairtrade events
Rural Action Yorkshire – Country Air newsletter; The Playing Field newsletter; invitation to enter Calor Village of the Year competition
ArborTech – advertisement
HDC – Update newsletter
NYCC – copy of letter to Mrs Thirling re bus stop
RAF Linton on Ouse – notification of night flying 16 – 19 March 2009
CE Electric UK – community update
Clerks and Councils Direct – magazine
The Standards Board for England – Town and Parish Standard newsletter
National Probation Service – Community Payback poster
Planning applications
Construction of single storey extension to rear of property as amended – 41 Skottowe Crescent. Date for comment passed
Alterations and extensions to existing dwelling – 99 Wheatlands. No representations
Alterations and extensions to existing dwelling as amended– 99 Wheatlands. No representations
Application for advertisement consent for the retention of an internal illuminated sign – 115 High Street. The Parish council would like to see the size of the sign reduced. The sign urbanises the village scene and the Council would like to see signage more appropriate for the conservation area in which it is situated.
The retention of an Automated Teller Machine – 115 High Street. The Parish Council had no objection to the automated teller machine per se but felt that the light spill from the external light was excessive and should be directed down onto the ATM
Application to carry out works to 4 trees the subject of TPO 1993/13 – Holmlea, Great Ayton. No representations
Application for advertisement consent to display 2 illuminated signs – 117 High Street. The Parish council would like to see the size of the sign reduced. The sign urbanises the village scene and the Council would like to see signage more appropriate for the conservation area in which it is situated.
Application for advertisement consent to display 2 non illuminated signs and 1 internally illuminated sign – 115 High Street. The Parish council would like to see the size of the sign reduced. The sign urbanises the village scene and the Council would like to see signage more appropriate for the conservation area in which it is situated.
Single Storey extensions to existing dwelling – 35 Station Road. No representations
Alterations to existing shop/house to form 2 dwellings – 17 Arthur Street. No representations
Change of use of tattoo studio to shop – 7 Arthur Street. No representations
Construction of a dwelling and detached domestic garage – Ayton House East. The Parish Council would recommend refusal on the grounds that the proposed dwelling would encroach on the amenities of the residents of Hollygarth Grove. The building would be in important park land and would have influence on the setting of Ayton House, a listed building
Application for conservation area consent to demolish existing garage/outbuilding – Ayton House East. No representations
Application to carry out works to a tree the subject of TPO 1997/6 – 8 California Grove. No representations
First floor extension to existing house – 5 Old Mill Wynd. No representations
Revised application for alterations and extensions to existing dwelling and detached domestic garage – Herdholt, Little Ayton Lane. No representations
Plans approved
Proposed works to several trees – High Green, Great Ayton
Letter re planning application for Ayton House East
Parish Council computer – upgrade to be considered
The Clerk expressed her intention to resign from her post after the September 2009 meeting. Ian Holden had prepared a proposal for upgrading the Parish Council computer so that data could be transferred to it in time for a new clerk to take over. The existing computer was no longer fit for purpose and had been fully depreciated. This was approved. The Clerk would prepare a job description and a model contract for the Council’s consideration.
Date for Annual Parish Meeting
It was decided that the meeting would be held on Wednesday 25th March 2009 at 7.00 pm in the village hall
Councillors Reports
Councillor Fletcher had received reports from a number of village traders saying that trade had been affected because of the closure of the B1292. Councillor Fletcher had enquired of NYCC whether the work was on schedule. He had been advised that it was, and was due for completion on 10th March 2009. Despite the letter in the press, neither he nor the Parish Council had received any complaint about traffic using Yarm Lane as an alternative route.
Councillor Readman had received complaints regarding a blue car being parked amongst the “no waiting” cones on Yarm Lane. He was advised that the police were aware. The driver held a disabled badge and as such was permitted to park there.
Councillor Waters said that there was a possibility of an Australian over 60s national cricket team coming to England. It was hoped that a fixture could be arranged at Great Ayton, with a link to the Captain Cook theme.
Councillor Kirk had received complaints regarding the difficulty of getting a wheelchair down Romany Road because of cars parked on the pavement. Councillors recognised the problem but were also aware that the road was very narrow posing difficulty for drivers. The Methodists would put polite notices on the cars asking the drivers to try and park with more consideration.
The date of the next meeting would be Tuesday 3rd March 2009