Wednesday 17 February 2021

Held remotely at 7.30pm

Present: Cllr Nigel Denison (Chairman), Cllr Peter Mitchell (Vice Chairman), Cllr Matt Boyle, Cllr Mark Darwin, Cllr Pam Jackson-Vickers, Cllr Jean Featherstone, Roger Clements (Clerk) and one member of the public.

1. Apologies for Absence
   1. All councillors were present.
2. Declarations of Interest not already declared under the Council’s Code of Conduct or members Register of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests
   1. Cllr Mitchell declared an interest in item 11.2.
3. The minutes of the last meetings, held on 13 & 20 January 2021, were agreed to be true records and were to be signed accordingly by the Chairman.
4. Candidates for co-option to the Council – none had come forward.
5. Public Forum – Cllr Denison reported that the new church roof work should start during May.
6. Clerk’s report – the river bank willow had been made safe and the footpath looked likely to re-establish higher up the bank. The village sign on the York Road was listed for production and expected soon.
7. Financial Matters
   1. Financial report – Clerk reported that annual hosting (£49.99) and domain name (£9.99) charges had been settled as had the J Rennison bill as per quotation of £1,560.
   2. The following accounts were approved for payment:
      1. Clerk Zoom refund (Feb) £14.39
8. Matters for Consideration
   1. Allotments plan from 1 April 21 – rental letters were about to be distributed and some tenants, whose gardens appeared to be uncultivated, would be asked whether they intended to cultivate their plots this year. Some plots of Council land are unsuitable to be used as allotment gardens and may be considered for sale in the future once Land Registration action is complete. Once face to face meetings become possible allotment tenants will be invited to consider forming an Allotment Association.
   2. Rationalisation of village street lamps styles – Cllr Boyle showed images of the various lamp designs used around the village. Cllrs wished to achieve a consistent appearance through Main Street and Raskelf Road, ideally using the lamp style by the war memorial, all painted black. This could be incorporated in the future into a Neighbourhood Plan (See 10.2).
   3. Attendance at the Annual YLCA Conference 21/22 April 21 – Cllrs considered remote attendance at the 2-day conference. The £40 charge per delegate was approved for Cllr Denison if he found that work commitments allowed him to attend.
   4. Swale Green as bonfire site for PCC churchyard garden waste – discussion roved across the types and amount of debris involved, the likely damage suffered on Swale Green and other options for removing the material. Cllr Denison proposed that combustible waste could be burnt on the Green this year as the PCC volunteers cleared years of neglect – resolved.
   5. Holly trees bordering the site of PA 20/02428/OUT (see 12.2) along the Raskelf Road – although the developer’s plans indicated that the holly trees were to be retained, Cllrs were concerned that the plan might alter. Clerk was asked to submit a request for a Tree Preservation Order to be placed on the line of holly trees.
   6. Traffic speed data collection – the booking for 8 March 21 will be delayed until lockdown is ended and the Clerk is to reinstate the booking when traffic flows return to normal.
   7. Maintenance contracts for urban verges, the Brafferton Pinfold, lych gate grass and the Hornby. Clerk asked to invite the existing contractors to continue with this work.
   8. Two-yearly contract for review of trees on council land – the Council had had all its trees surveyed and recommended works had been completed; it should now consider setting up a 2-yearly survey cycle, possibly in partnership with St Peter’s PCC, from 2022. Details will be confirmed in early 2022.
9. To receive information from the Lands and Maintenance Committee and decide further action where necessary
   1. There was nothing further to report.
10. To receive information on the following ongoing issues and decide further action where necessary
    1. Coronavirus crisis – volunteers continued to provide assistance where required.
    2. Neighbourhood Plan (NP) – Chairman described, with the aid of a map, the area selected for the NP and invited comments. Cllrs agreed that the project should move forward with an initial canvas of parishioner opinion. A flyer will be produced by the Chairman and Clerk to describe the purpose and scope of a NP and invite comments through a questionnaire.
    3. Register of Community Assets – Hambleton District Council confirmed that the Council had been successful in its submission to have a Right to Bid for the Golden Lion, which had been added to the Register of Community Assets. The owner of the Golden Lion has a right to appeal this decision.
11. To consider the following Planning Matters
    1. Planning Application 20/02835/FUL, proposed gravel track to Helperby Estates Glasshouses, Gardeners Cottage, Helperby – the Council had no objections to this application.
    2. Planning Application 21/00272/FUL, proposed extension to Toll Garth, Bridge Street, Helperby – the Council had no objections to this application.
    3. Planning Application 21/00204/CAT, proposed work to trees at 2 School Terrace, Brafferton – the Council had no objections to this application.
12. To receive the following Planning Decisions/information
    1. Planning Application 21/00061/FUL, proposed construction of a dwelling at Spring Field Farm, Pilmoor – awaiting decision from Hambleton District Council
    2. Planning Application 20/02428/OUT, proposed 5 dwelling development off Raskelf Road, Brafferton – permitted by Hambleton District Council
    3. Planning Application 20/02155/FUL, proposed rear extension and other works to 1 Dunroyal, Helperby – permitted by Hambleton District Council
13. Matters for Consideration
14. New Correspondence received and decide action where necessary
    1. Correspondence had been received from NYCC, Hambleton DC, and the remaining 6 District Councils in North Yorkshire on their proposals for the Government’s plans to reduce the principal local authorities to a single tier of unitary councils. Council resolved to keep a ‘watching brief’ on the issue.
15. Matters for inclusion on the agenda for the next meeting
    1. Riverside path from Swale Green
16. The date of the next meeting was confirmed as Wednesday 17 March 2021