Minutes Council meeting 16 Mar 22

Wednesday 16 March 22

Held at 7.30pm in Helperby Village Hall

Present: Cllr Peter Mitchell (Chairman), Cllr Mark Darwin, Cllr Pam Jackson-Vickers, Cllr Ben Carter and Roger Clements (Clerk)

1. Apologies for Absence
   1. Apologies were received from Cllrs Brown, Boyle and Denison. Cllr Mitchell took the Chair in the absence of the Chairman.
2. Declarations of Interest not already declared under the Council’s Code of Conduct or members Register of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests – no declarations were made.
3. Public Participation
   1. Cllr Darwin reported comments received concerning the amount of rubbish in verges outside the 30 mph signs. Health and Safety rules prevented the Council from organising litter clearing parties beyond these signs but noted some individuals had undertaken litter picking at their own initiative.
   2. Cllrs noted a current Facebook campaign to fly a Ukranian flag in the village. Cllrs liked the idea and felt this was an initiative best left for parishioners to take forward.
4. Minutes of the last meeting
   1. The minutes of the last meeting held on 16 Feb 22 were agreed to be a true record and were signed accordingly by the Chairman.
5. Clerk’s reported that:
   1. NYCC had confirmed that there were currently no plans to remove the gates at the Swing Bridge and, were such a plan to be considered, the Council would be consulted prior to any work being undertaken. Clerk to ask local blacksmith for quotation to fettle the gates with a view to inviting NYCC to pay the bill.
   2. The Council had established communication with the management of the Poultry Farm on Raskelf Road.
   3. The litter picking kit will be collected from Hambleton DC on 24 Mar and plans for the litter pick will then be announced.
6. Financial matters
7. Financial report – the VAS invoice for £4,810.80 had been settled leaving a bank balance of £12,401.23.
8. Clerk’s National Pay Award effective 1 April 2021 – Chairman proposed the award be implemented – resolved.
9. Council payment card from Unity Trust Bank – (for many online transactions the only acceptable method of payment is by payment card). Clerk outlined the growing and anomalous payment scheme used by the Council where the Clerk pays for some purchases from his personal account then reclaims the money. The Council’s bank has recently introduced a payment card on which individual and total transaction limits could be set then any balance settled monthly by variable Direct Debit. This would enable the Council to retain a proper level of financial control. The card has a set up charge of £50 and a monthly fee of £3. Chairman proposed that the Council should obtain a payment card from Unity Trust Bank once transaction limits were approved at the next meeting – resolved.
10. The following accounts were approved for payment:
    1. S Laux sundries £14.29
    2. Virtualandline renewal £8.95/month
    3. C Banks hedge whips refund £70.20
11. Matters for consideration
    1. Council elections on 5 May 22 – the period for nominations was about to begin with 5 Apr 22 the deadline for submission.
    2. Proposal by the Community Association to place a bench and picnic table on Swale Green – Cllrs liked the selected design and had no objection to it being permanently installed on the Green to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
    3. Changing the power supply to this year’s Christmas tree lights from battery to mains power – Hambleton DC had indicated that to take a power supply to the lights from Lamppost No 27 was feasible. A request for details of the process and likely cost had been submitted to the District Council.
12. To receive information on the following ongoing issues and decide further action where necessary
    1. Neighbourhood Plan progress:
       1. Data gathering underway to cover village demographics, housing stock, utilities etc with Census 2021 likely to provide an ideal base line when available in May.
       2. Concurrently, the history of the village and its architecture was in preparation.
    2. Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend 3-5 June 22 – the Steering Group confirms that plans are firming up with a flyer and other advertising in preparation:
       1. 3 June. Tree planting ceremony and Treasure Hunt tbc.
       2. 4 June. Big lunch/tea party pm at Village Hall. A ticketed event with DJ and supper
       3. 5 June Family Service at St Peter’s Church followed by children’s show tbc and drinks and nibbles.
       4. A Jubilee mug will be given to each child (age range tbc) funded by a donation of £400 from Deirdre Brown Travel and the Council. Chairman proposed that 180 of the selected design from Central Designs Ceramics be ordered at an estimated cost of £729 (plus VAT and p&p) – resolved.
13. To consider the following Planning matters
    1. Planning Application 22/00416/MRC, variation of conditions attached to application 12/01571 for construction of 6 poultry sheds as amended by plans received by Hambleton District Council – the Council finds it difficult to support, or object to, this application. It asks why works were not completed as per the approved scheme during the original construction period and seeks the basis for the revised proposals. Noting the proximity to the carriageway and concern over potential flooding, it seeks confirmation on the extent of due diligence completed that demonstrates this risk to be fully mitigated.
    2. Planning Application 22/00497/CAT, works to trees in Conservation Area at Blackthorn House, Main Street, Helperby – the Council had no objection to the proposal.
    3. Planning Application 22/00351/FUL, renovation of outbuilding at 2 Main Street, Helperby
    4. Planning Application 22/00352/FUL, renovation of outbuilding at Listed Building 2 Main Street, Helperby – the Council supported this proposal and 22/00351 above.
14. To receive the following Planning decisions/information
    1. Planning Application 21/02144/FUL, construction of 5 dwellings and associated access at OS field 0048, Raskelf Road, Boroughbridge Road, Brafferton – awaiting decision from Hambleton District Council
    2. Planning Application 21/00824/OUT, proposed 33 dwelling development to the south & east of Balk Avenue, Helperby – application withdrawn
    3. Planning Application 21/00966/REM, reserved matters pursuant to outline permission 16/01142 for construction of 28 dwellings at OS Field 0046, Brafferton – awaiting decision from Hambleton District Council
    4. Planning Application 22/00224/FUL, proposed rear extension and first floor extension over garage at 3 The Orchards, Brafferton – awaiting decision from Hambleton District Council
15. New Correspondence received and action planned where necessary
    1. Letter from A Moss handing back Raskelf Road allotment – a plan was needed to clear and improve the plot and to make safe the small dwelling thereon.
    2. Letter from Hambleton DC Making a Difference Fund confirming the award of a grant of £7,560 towards works to cobbles around the War Memorial, Main Street. To be an agenda item at the next meeting.
16. Matters for inclusion on the agenda for the next meeting
    1. Preparation of contract to re-lay the cobbles at the War Memorial curtilage
    2. Set transaction limits for Unity Trust Bank payment card.
17. The date of the next Council meeting was confirmed as Wednesday 20 Apr 22.