Minutes Council meeting 18 Aug 21

Wednesday 18 August 21

Held at 7.30pm in Helperby Village Hall

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

1. Apologies for Absence
   1. Apologies were received from Cllrs Boyle and Brown.
2. Declarations of Interest not already declared under the Council’s Code of Conduct or members Register of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests.
   1. None were made.
3. Standing Orders
   1. Chairman explained that the July meeting had revealed some shortcomings in Standing Orders and detailed the necessary changes. Cllr Mitchell proposed that the amendments to Standing Orders, plus a single phrase linking these changes to the Council’s Document Management policy, be adopted – resolved.
4. The minutes of the last meeting, held on 21 Jul 21, plus those of the additional meeting on 7 Jul 21 and the L&M committee meeting on 7 Jul 21, were agreed to be true records and were signed accordingly by the Chairman.
5. Public Forum
   1. Mr Laux asked whether there were plans to improve the appearance of the current weedy frontage to the surgery. Chairman said a working party to clear the area would be considered once the building work was complete (see 6 below).
6. Clerk reported that the Church Lane practice had started building works to improve safe access at the Helperby surgery in preparation for reopening at a date tbc (possibly in September). The details will appear in the September issue of The Magazine.
7. Financial matters
8. Financial Report – Clerk reported receipt of the NYCC grant of £370.85 towards urban grass cutting and a current balance of £15,133.71.
9. The following accounts were approved for payment:
   1. Refund to Clerk Printer inks £122.18
   2. Refund to Clerk Voice recorder £38.80
10. Matters for consideration
    1. Maintenance of village verges, hedges and trees – the Council’s policy for maintenance of its lands were discussed. It was thought that there was an opportunity to alter the frequency of some hedge and verge cuts and, possibly, introduce a footpath along the south side of Raskelf Road linking the village with Brecks Lane. Clerk to start the process to instigate a 2-yearly survey of trees on council land and will revise the maintenance plan to incorporate comments made for subsequent adoption at the next meeting.
    2. Village litter picker – Mrs White had announced her decision to retire from the job. Council thanked her for keeping the village clear of litter for several years and asked the Clerk to advertise for a replacement.
11. To receive information on the following ongoing issues and decide further action where necessary
    1. Traffic speed data 17-23 June:
       1. The data showed that there was little speeding through Main Street although large vehicles travelling close to the footways caused understandable concern to pedestrians.
       2. There was some speeding on roads into the village with the Raskelf Road the worst affected.
       3. Several courses of action were discussed: further covert gathering of speed data on the Raskelf Road; purchase of a Vehicle Activated Sign (VAS) with one or more mounting posts sited at places to be selected; village ‘gateways’ at each village sign and installation of chicanes at each village entrance. Chairman proposed the scoping of purchase and positioning of a VAS on the Raskelf Road and its mounting posts at selected locations plus the feasibility of village ‘gates’ and chicanes to be researched with NYCC – resolved.
    2. Local Government services in North Yorkshire – Cllr Sowray provided an overview of the changes to local government in North Yorkshire. The rationale behind the changes was to reduce local government by one tier and the decision had been made to remove the District Councils and absorb their functions into a single North Yorkshire Council (but excluding the city of York). The change to take effect in 2023 with reductions in elected councillors and council staff with associated cost savings. It was expected that the new council would draw greater revenue from central government. Parish Council boundaries and compositions would be unchanged but these councils would be offered some additional devolved powers. To make the council accessible to electors in such a large area a series of local offices will be established.
    3. Neighbourhood Plan – the Council’s designated area for a Neighbourhood Plan was due to be proposed for approval at the Hambleton District Council Cabinet meeting on 7 Sep. Once received the outcome would be made public.
12. To consider the following Planning matters
    1. No new applications were received.
13. Planning decisions/information
    1. Planning Application 21/01475/MRC, change of use of building and land at The Post House, Main Street, Helperby and construction of pool house and siting of entrance gates – permitted by Hambleton District Council
    2. Planning Application 21/01445/MRC, variation of conditions attached to planning consent 13/02134/FUL at 8 Bridge Street, Brafferton – permitted by Hambleton District Council
    3. Planning Application 21/01429/FUL, proposed stone repairs and replacement of existing windows at the main school building at St Peters Brafferton Primary School, Brafferton – permitted by Hambleton District Council
    4. Planning Application 21/01416/FUL, proposed installation of a substation at Brafferton Poultry Farm, Raskelf Road, Brafferton – permitted by Hambleton District Council
    5. Planning Application 21/00824/OUT, proposed 33 dwelling development to the south & west of Balk Avenue, Helperby – awaiting decision by Hambleton District Council
    6. Application 21/00477/GENENQ for a tree preservation order to the east of Balk Avenue, Helperby – awaiting decision from Hambleton District Council
    7. Planning Application 21/00824/OUT, proposed replacement of garden store with garden annex to main building at the Old Bakery, Main Street, Helperby – permitted by Hambleton District Council
    8. 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
    9. Planning Application 20/02425/OUT, 5 dwelling development on Raskelf Road, Brafferton – permitted by Hambleton District Council with conditions.
14. New correspondence received and decide action where necessary
    1. None received for discussion.
15. To notify the Clerk of matters for inclusion on the agenda for the next meeting
    1. Council lands maintenance.
    2. Queen’s Green Canopy proposal.
16. The date of the next meeting was confirmed as Wednesday 15 September 2021