Wednesday 24 June 2020

Held remotely at 7.30pm

Present: Cllr Nigel Denison (Chairman), Cllr Chris Owens (Vice Chairman), Cllr Peter Mitchell,

Cllr Andy Topps, Cllr Matt Boyle, Cllr Mark Darwin, Cllr Pam Jackson-Vickers, Roger Clements (Clerk), Cllr Peter Sowray (NYCC) and one member of the public.

Note: where signatures are referred to, they took place outside the meeting.

1. Apologies for Absence
   1. All Parish Councillors were present, Cllr Jill Mortimer (HDC) sent her apologies
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. Minutes of the last meeting, held on 20 May 20
   1. The minutes were agreed to be a true record and were signed accordingly by the Chairman.
4. Public Forum. The chairman introduced two items. He noted the sad death of David Bottomley on 15 June; David had been a councillor and chairman of Brafferton council and a revered local historian and will be greatly missed. Councillors held a period of silence as a mark of respect. Turning to Cllr Owens, he thanked him for 11 years of parish council service including time as Chairman of Brafferton and then Brafferton and Helperby councils. He had driven the merging process to a successful conclusion. He was presented with a tankard by councillors (which he unwrapped on camera!).
5. Clerk’s report – the Clerk had attended a ‘Council Finances’ webinar. A local IT specialist had agreed to draft the compliance statement and recommend any modifications to the council website required by the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
6. Financial Matters
   1. Clerks’ Financial report – the accounts were on budget but additional expenditure could result from works to/planting of trees and relaying of cobbles over the curtilage to the War Memorial.
   2. Expenditure from NYCC Locality Budget grant – to date £260 had been spent.
   3. Village litter picking – it was resolved to invite Barbara White to re-commence litter picking duties on the original terms at £30 per month.
   4. Purchase of crushed granite and site safety equipment for cobble laying – it was resolved to order two pallets of crushed granite at a cost of £344 plus VAT and site marking equipment (if it is not possible to borrow this from NYCC or HDC) at a cost of £173.82.
   5. The following accounts were authorised for payment:
      1. £75.28 Mr S Laux funeral bier refurbishment
      2. £71.97 Mr R Clements printer inks reclaim
      3. £48.00 YLCA Cllr Training course (Cllr Boyle)
      4. £28.78 Mr R Clements Zoom subscription reclaim (months 2-3)
7. Matters for Consideration
   1. Update on Main Street surface dressing, footway coloured gravel dressing and Helperby Village Hall driveway drain – the driveway drain installation was expected by mid-July and Main Street surface dressing by end August, with white lining and footway buff coloured stone dressing to follow. The Council was disappointed with NYCC’s negative response to its proposal that the Main Street white centre-line be omitted. This council believes that with no centre-line marking road users are encouraged to be more cautious in their spacing with other vehicles and pedestrians, with this effect enhanced further if the footways were widened a little. Further research will be conducted with a view to re-submitting the case for no centre-line white lining.
   2. Village Play Park – Cllr Topps outlined the Helperby Beer Festival (HBF) plan to construct a children’s play park and recreation area if suitable land can be found. In the event that land became available and before proceeding further, the HBF will conduct a survey to identify what facilities the community would support. The council was minded to support this venture and looked forward to receiving further details.
   3. Trees on Swale Green and the Hornby – it was resolved to ask JCP Arboriculture Ltd to survey the trees and recommend a management policy.
   4. Village Design Statement – Cllrs were very interested in the Village Design Statement produced by Bilton in Ainsty with Bickerton Parish Council. It was hoped that such a statement might offer some ability to influence the design of future village developments and aid their sympathetic incorporation into our village. It was resolved to add the topic as a regular agenda item and research the process with Cllr Mitchell taking the lead.
   5. YLCA Branch meeting held remotely on 17 June 20 – Cllr Topps reported that many parish councils had adopted volunteer support to their communities similar to our own but several had cancelled council meetings and had not adopted video conferencing replacements.
8. To receive information from the Lands and Maintenance Committee and decide further action where necessary
   1. Cobbles project – the Chairman reported that an historic moment was close; the council was poised to take ownership of the Helperby cobbles with land transfer documents agreed and prepared for signature. He cautioned that the agreement was not yet confirmed but Cllrs expressed their pleasure that the process had reached this point. Cllr Denison was thanked for his determination in driving the project forward. The council resolved to accept into its ownership the land known as the Helperby Cobbles. The transfer of title is in two parts: the first, Manorial Waste of the Manor of Helperby is to be transferred from the Church Commissioners of England to the council with councillors Denison and Owens authorised to sign on behalf of the council and, secondly, land at the entrance to Helperby Village Hall is to be transferred from Helperby Village Hall Charitable Incorporated Organisation to the council with councillors Denison and Darwin authorised to sign on behalf of the council.
   2. Lands Registration project – there were no new developments to report.
9. To receive information on the following ongoing issues and decide further action where necessary
   1. Coronavirus crisis – village volunteers continued to provide practical assistance to ‘at risk’ individuals and families. Feedback was positive.
10. To consider the following Planning Matters
    1. No new applications had been received
11. To receive the following Planning decisions/information
    1. Planning Application 20/00335/LBC, proposed listed building consent for change of use of walled garden into events location at Helperby Hall, Helperby – granted by Hambleton District Council
    2. Planning Application 20/00334/MRC, proposed modification relating to application 16/02159/FUL for change of use of walled garden into events location at Helperby Hall, Helperby – granted by Hambleton District Council
    3. Planning Application 20/00744/OUT, proposed outline permission for the construction of a farm workers dwelling at Spring Field Farm, Pilmoor – granted by Hambleton District Council
    4. Planning Application 20/00585/LBC, proposed Listed Building Consent for replacement roof to nave of St Peter’s Church, Brafferton – granted by Hambleton District Council
    5. 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
    6. 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
12. Matters for consideration
    1. New Correspondence received and action where necessary:
       1. A report had been received that some traffic travelled at high speed around the double bend on Tofts Lane. The council was concerned but had no specific powers in this matter. An item on the subject will be included in the next council newsletter.
       2. The council was invited to attend the Hambleton & Richmondshire Rural Transport & Access Partnership remote meeting on 30 June 20. Cllr Owens volunteered to attend.
13. Matters for inclusion on the agenda for the next meeting
    1. None proposed.
14. Date of the next meeting Wednesday 15 July 2020