Minutes of Council meeting 17 July 19

Wednesday 17 July 2019

Held at 7.30pm in Helperby Village Hall

Present: Cllr Chris Owens (Chairman), Cllr Andy Cuthbert (Vice Chairman), Cllr Andy Topps, Cllr Nigel Denison, Cllr Mark Darwin, Cllr Pam Jackson-Vickers, Roger Clements (Clerk), Cllr Peter Sowray (NYCC) plus 4 members of the public.

1. Apologies for Absence
   1. None were received.
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. Mr Furlong of Sally Farms Ltd gave a brief overview of future plans. A Planning Application had been submitted for an additional poultry unit; he hoped local people would be supportive. The farm includes 200 acres of new trees and 300 acres of wild flower meadows. Its aim is to be at the forefront of bird welfare and include an educational facility (for Askham Bryan students) and visitor facility. Additional jobs will be created. Cllr Denison enquired about plans for the granite engraved memorial plinth which Helperby PC had obtained to mark the WWl airfield which had been located on the farm site; Mr Furlong said he intended housing the plinth in a suitable structure beside the access road with associated information board(s).
4. Minutes of the last meetings, held on 19 June and 9 July 19
   1. The minutes were agreed to be a true record and were signed accordingly by the Chairman.
5. Clerk’s report
   1. Clerk reported that Cllr Jackson-Vickers would be attending a cllr training course on 20 July and Cllr Denison would be representing the Council at the Hambleton Liaison meeting on 18 July. A response to the Council’s enquiry concerning Street Furniture (see minute 12.7 of 19 June 19) was awaited from Hambleton DC.
6. Hambleton District Council news
   1. None was available.
7. Finance
   1. Financial Report – Clerk reported the costs associated with resolving the Council’s Clerking issues and noted that the transfer of the balance of Helperby PC’s funds to the Council remained outstanding (Mrs Windross is attempting to hasten action by Barclays in this matter).
   2. Bank reconciliation – the Financial Working Group confirmed the council’s bank reconciliation to be in order.
   3. Invoices received – all were approved and cheques issued
      1. Community First Yorkshire £235.52
      2. JCP Arboriculture Ltd £290.00
      3. YLCA (1 x Cllr trg course) £115.00
      4. Salary Mrs Windross (July) £170.14
      5. Salary Mr Clements (July) £105.15
8. Planning Matters
   1. Appeal APP/G2713/W/19/3229964 ref Planning Application 18/02156/FUL and 19/00022/REFUSE which proposed sundry demolitions and constructions at The Old Brewery, Main Street, Helperby – representations must reach the Planning Inspectorate by 18 July 19. The Council agreed to oppose the appeal: the 3 dwelling development included none of the Low Cost housing that the village required; the nature of the development was inappropriate to its location; access to serve the 3 new properties was proposed between the Old Brewery and Woodlands Cottage, a narrow gap that posed a threat of collision with the cottage and loss of amenity to the occupants.
   2. Planning Application 19/01341/TPO, proposed works to tree at St Peter’s Church, Brafferton – the Council has no objections to this application
   3. Planning Application 19/00941/FUL proposed change of use of land for the siting of 12 timber holiday cabins at Brafferton Manor Farm, Brafferton – the Council has no objections to this application
9. Business Matters
   1. Survey of trees within the village – JCP Arboriculture Ltd had been engaged to carry out the survey on 25 July.
   2. Council clerking arrangements – Mrs S Windross had requested voluntary redundancy and Mr R Clements was confirmed in the role of Clerk to the Council. The Council had approved the process at an Extraordinary Council meeting on 9 July 19 and the minutes of that meeting (available on the Council’s website) set out the details. Cllr Darwin proposed and it was resolved that Mr Clements should be employed, with effect from 1 April 2019, on the same salary and hours terms as those currently applied to Mrs Windross.
   3. Amendment to Land and Maintenance committee TORs – it was resolved to accept the amended TORs.
   4. Land and Maintenance committee report – a detailed report on preparations towards the committee’s first meeting was presented by Cllr Denison (read report here). He expected the committee to meet before the next Council meeting in August.
   5. Repositioning of the village defibrillator – the surgery had agreed that the defibrillator could be mounted on its outside wall. Clerk to make arrangements for the move and liaise with the surgery. Mr Morley confirmed that the village Community Association would pay for half the cost of the new cabinet. Chairman stated that as time is of the essence when a heart attack strikes a second defibrillator in the north of the village would be very advantageous. He undertook to investigate an earlier offer from Easingwold Lions to provide a second defibrillator for the village.
   6. Repairs to allotment boundary on Raskelf Road – it was believed that Mrs Windross had initiated arrangements to reinstate the boundary of the allotment damaged when a car crashed through the hedge. Clerk to confirm arrangements and expedite if necessary. Clerk also to attempt to trace responsibility for the crashed vehicle and invite payment for the damage to Council property.
   7. Re-siting of Brafferton PC notice board – Clerk to arrange.
   8. Council’s role in any future village Bonfire & Fireworks event – more research was considered necessary with regard to the details of cover within the Council’s existing insurance policy. The subject to be placed on the agenda of the next meeting.
   9. Future of Helperby Village Shop – a public meeting, hosted by the Council, was held on 10 July but the attendance was only 15. There was thought to be an appetite for retaining the shop but more support would be needed to make the venture viable. Consequently, a second public meeting is arranged for Wednesday 24 July (with a poster/flyer campaign to raise awareness) aimed at the formation of a group prepared to gather support and form a workable plan.
10. Correspondence
    1. Letter from Robert Sowray ref footpaths – RS confirmed that the Permissive Footpaths on Treble Sykes land remained open for use now and in the future; he asked users of the paths to keep dogs under control and not be allowed to disturb wildlife (for full text click here).
    2. Letter from Mr Kilpatrick to Hambleton District Council ref state of village roads – Cllr Sowray provided an update from the NYCC maintenance manager, confirming that the work was likely to start in August/September, would last for an estimated 4 days and road closures can be expected. Residents will receive letters providing about a fortnight’s advance notice of the planned work. Main Street will be repaired where subsidence has occurred; resurfacing and patching will only be carried out where required. Raskelf Road to Manor Drive will be re-surfaced and Manor Drive to the chicken huts will be deep patched and surface dressed. Clerk to contact the maintenance manager requesting a copy of the schematic plan of work as supplied to the contractor.
    3. Email from Mrs Laity ref traffic calming though the village – Both Helperby PC and Brafferton PC had addressed this issue in the past and the Council was minded to do the same. However, to be effective, the Council needed to formulate a plan considering issues like a speed survey, a Neighbourhood Speedwatch, recommendations for new/improved chicanes and re-marking of the pathways at the edge of the carriageway. The Council will return to the subject in due course.

Date of next Meeting Wednesday 21 August 19