Wednesday 3 November 21

Held in Helperby Village Hall at 7.30 pm

Present: Cllr Nigel Denison (Chairman), Cllr Peter Mitchell, Cllr Mark Darwin, Steve Laux, John Featherstone and Roger Clements (Clerk).

1. Apologies for Absence
   1. All members were present.
2. Declarations of Interest not already declared under the Council’s Code of Conduct or members Register of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests
   1. No declarations were made.
3. Public Forum
   1. Steve Laux asked for an update on the surgery’s plans for improving access to Helperby surgery. An outline sketch from the Church Lane practice of improved access with a handrail against the wall to the right of the door had been seen but more information will be requested.
   2. Chairman reported that a meeting had taken place between the Beer Festival team, Sports Association and the Council to discuss the establishment of a possible village Recreation Area. Fund raising by the Beer Festival team had reached the point for a potential bid to Helperby Estates to lease the paddock next to the sports field for use as a Recreation Area (which would incorporate a Play Park). Such a lease would require the formation of an ‘entity’ like a Village Trust to become the lease holder. Further discussions would take place once the Beer Festival team had developed its costed business plan.
4. Registration of parish footpaths according to the Right-to-Roam legislation – it was decided that all parish footpaths would be walked to record condition, ease of access and state of stiles and signs to ensure that the NYCC Definitive Map correctly records all these public rights of way. Clerk to contact NYCC to confirm the reporting format.
5. Allotment gardens management policy – the draft Policy document was approved and will go to the Council for adoption on 17 Nov 21. All allotment garden tenants will receive a copy of the draft documents and an invitation to express their views before the Council decision is taken.
6. Cobbles Project
   1. Photogrammetry – there was no further progress to report and, with the software licence due to expire in December, it was likely that the project had come to a close. Alternatives were discussed: conventional photography using a cherry picker and the use of a surveying scanner. Further research to be carried out by the Clerk and Steve Laux.
   2. Cobbles Maintenance including the draft Care Plan – the Chairman thanked Steve Laux and John Featherstone for their hours of cobble laying; works which has confirmed the necessary skills and techniques to be used for further work. Areas for major work were confirmed to be those adjacent to the War Memorial and in front of the Old Post House. A list of potential ‘approved contractors’ was drawn up with work anticipated to begin in the summer of 2022. The Council had some funds earmarked already and a bid was to be made by the Chairman for a grant from the Hambleton DC Making a Difference Fund.
7. Agenda items for the next meeting
   1. Methods for weed control on the cobbles fronting the Helperby surgery.
8. The date of next meeting was confirmed as 5 January 2022.