Minutes remote Council meeting 19 August 20

Wednesday 19 August 20

Held remotely at 7.30pm

Present: Cllr Nigel Denison (Chairman), Cllr Chris Owens (Vice Chairman), Cllr Peter Mitchell, Cllr Andy Topps, Cllr Peter Sowray (NYCC), Roger Clements (Clerk) and one member of the public.

1. Apologies for Absence
   1. Apologies were received from Cllrs Boyle, Darwin and Jackson-Vickers.
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. Minutes of the last meeting, held on 15 July 20
   1. The minutes of the last meeting were agreed to be a true record and were to be signed accordingly by the Chairman.
4. Public Forum – Three topics were raised.
   1. Firstly, Cllr Denison spoke of the church roof fund which had reached about £55k of the £88k target leaving another £33k to raise while incoming money/pledges had slowed. The remaining lead was vulnerable to theft while an alarm system remained uninstalled and, with winter approaching, some additional weather proofing was likely to be needed. He asked Cllrs to support the project as far as they were able. Secondly, he asked Cllrs for their reaction to today’s NYCC seminar on the government’s intention to move to unitary authorities to replace County and District Councils. There was an acknowledgement that it is HMG’s direction of travel for the middle tier of government; Cllrs saw some possible advantages accruing to the parish but were concerned about additional responsibilities and workload.
   2. Mr Laux asked whether there had been any progress in achieving a standardisation in street lamp design through the village. The topic will be added to the next agenda.
5. Clerk’s report – following a discussion with Area 2, Highways NYCC it was confirmed that the proposed Dalton/Sessay Weight Restriction Order 2020 – 118344 was intended to restrict HGVs moving in and out of the Dalton industrial area to the A168; it was not expected to increase commercial traffic through our village.
6. Financial Matters
   1. Clerks’ Financial report – the bank reconciliation was confirmed and a VAT refund of £2,461 had been received from the government.
   2. Expenditure from NYCC Locality Budget grant – the month 5 subscription to Zoom had been paid.
   3. The following accounts were approved for payment:
      1. A Scarborough Hedge flailing £160 (awaited/estimated)
      2. P Considine Bench painting £40 (awaited/estimated)
      3. Clerk Zoom subs (month 5) £14.39
      4. Clerk Doxdirect refund £19.34
7. Matters for Consideration
   1. Update on Main Street surface dressing, footway coloured gravel dressing and HVH driveway drain – Cllr Denison reported that the footway dressing was expected soon and the driveway drain would be installed after 7 September. A volunteer work party would be assembled to lift and subsequently re-lay the cobbles over the route of the drain.
   2. Grant application for possible Vehicle Activated Sign in Main Street – Cllr Topps had drafted a grant request for £300 (with £30 agreed from the Council as 10% match funding) from the NYCC’s AJ1 fund. The grant would fund the hire of 3 traffic speed monitors for a week. If the evidence obtained confirmed a speeding issue through the village then the Council would consider purchase and installation of a Vehicle Activated Sign.
   3. Village Play Park – Cllr Topps reviewed the responses to the Helperby Beer Festival group (HBF) questionnaire to gauge village support for a recreation area. About 80% of those who responded said they/their family would use the area and there was positive support for all the suggested facilities. The HBF will now attempt to negotiate use of an appropriate piece of land.
   4. Neighbourhood Plan – the Council remained agreed on the value of having a Neighbourhood Plan but was wary of the time, commitment and cost of producing such a plan. It was agreed that Cllrs Mitchell and Denison would, with advice from Hambleton DC, formulate a plan with a view to that plan being controlled by a committee comprising Cllrs and co-opted members with appropriate skills.
   5. Re-activation of a village Neighbourhood Watch – in the absence of Cllr Boyle this item was deferred to the next meeting.
   6. Village litter pick – volunteers will be invited to join the litter pick on Sunday 20 September (fallback 27 Sep) assembling at the war memorial at 10.30 am.
   7. Cobbled frontage at the surgery – the area has become somewhat overgrown since lockdown began. The Church Lane practice has promised to improve the area and, in the meantime, the Council will apply some weed suppression.
   8. Review of the Clerk’s job contract and Terms of Employment – Chairman opened a discussion with the suggestion that YLCA be engaged to review the Clerk’s terms of employment at a cost of £90. Cllr Topps proposed that this process be undertaken – resolved.
8. To receive information from the Lands and Maintenance Committee and decide further action where necessary
   1. Cobbles project – only one small issue required resolution and the Helperby cobbles were expected to come into Council ownership within days.
   2. Lands Registration project – no progress to report.
9. To receive information on the following ongoing issues and decide further action where necessary
   1. Coronavirus crisis – Clerk reported that the excellent support provided by volunteers during lockdown was largely at an end barring occasional ‘on-call’ help for some individuals at high risk.
   2. Applications to place the Golden Lion and the ‘Butcher’s shop’ on the Register of Community Assets – it was agreed that the process should go ahead. An application was already drafted for the Golden Lion and another would be drafted for the ‘Butcher’s Shop’. Cllr Topps proposed approval of up to £40 to purchase Location Plans for both – resolved.
   3. Tree survey by Barnes Associates – Clerk advised that the survey was planned for this week and the report expected within a fortnight of the survey.
10. To consider the following Planning Matters
    1. Planning Application 20/01495/CAT, work to tree at 6 Dunroyal Close, Helperby – the Council had no objection to the application.
    2. Planning Application 20/00012/TPO2, tree preservation orders to trees bordering the development area to the east of Boroughbridge Road, Brafferton – the Council noted Hambleton District Council’s proposal to place Tree Protection Orders on several trees adjacent to the Boroughbridge Road.
11. To receive the following Planning Decisions/information
    1. Planning Application 20/00643/REM, proposed reserved matters pursuant to outline permission 16/01142/OUT for 28 dwellings on Boroughbridge Road, Brafferton – awaiting decision from Hambleton District Council
    2. Planning Application 20/00671/FUL, proposed SUDS pond relating to planning permission 16/01142/OUT at OS Field 0046, Boroughbridge Road, Brafferton – awaiting decision from Hambleton District Council
    3. Planning Application 20/01219/CAT, proposed work to tree at 2 Main Street, Helperby – approved by Hambleton District Council
    4. Planning Application 20/01154/FUL, proposed replacement of a static caravan with a dwelling at The Lodge adjacent to The Birches, Brafferton – refused by Hambleton District Council
    5. Planning Application20/01200/FUL, proposed two storey extension plus single storey extension at 3 School Terrace, Brafferton – approved by Hambleton District Council
    6. Planning Application 20/01429/MBN, to determine if prior approval is required for change of use from agricultural building to 2 x dwellings at the Grain Store, ne of Old Star Cottage, Back Lane, Brafferton – awaiting decision by Hambleton District Council
12. Matters for Consideration
13. New Correspondence received
    1. Citizens Advice had requested assistance to maintain its service. Cllr Owens proposed that a grant of £100 be made to Citizens Advice – resolved.
14. Matters for inclusion on the agenda for the next meeting
    1. Village street lamp design standardisation
    2. Reactivation of village Neighbourhood Watch
15. The next meeting confirmed as Wednesday 16 September 2020