DATE: Thursday 31 st July 2014 TIME: 19.30 hrs LOCATION: Mickley Church Room PRESENT: Councillors Nick Jackson (Vice-Chairman), Roger Fleetham, Reg Merrin, Brian Thackray and Robert Weatherhead. IN ATTENDANCE: Iona Taylor (Clerk) District and County Councillor Margaret Atkinson Mike Atkinson and Howard Mountain 1. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN ITEMS ON THE AGENDA none. 2. APOLOGIES Apologies were received and accepted from Councillor Macintosh who was on holiday. 3. OF THE LAST MEETINGS It was resolved that the minutes of the following meetings be approved and signed: 2014 Annual Parish Council Meeting 29 th May 2014 26 th June 2014 4. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE 4.1 Parish Consultation Meeting. It was noted that this annual meeting will take place on 11 th November 2014 at 6pm in Ripon Town Hall. Any questions to be submitted for inclusion on the agenda will be agreed at the Parish Council s next meeting. 5. VACANCY ON AZERLEY WARD It was noted that after the resignation of Lauren Carr there is a vacancy for a Councillor to represent the Azerley ward of the parish. It was agreed that the Council s thanks to Ms Carr be recorded. Harrogate Borough Council has been informed of the vacancy and instigated the necessary procedures to fill the vacancy. It is expected that the Council will be able to fill the vacancy by co-option at its next meeting. It was agreed that the vacancy should be advertised in the Council s newsletter and on its website, with particular effort made to attract applications from Azerley ward residents. 6. TREE MAINTENANCE It was noted that four quotations have been received for carrying out tree inspections as per the Council s agreed policy. It was resolved that Farm & Land Services Ltd be appointed to carry out the inspections using their Arboricultural Consultant at a cost of 500 plus VAT. They will be asked to produce an inspection report and schedule of works to enable the Council to go out to tender with a view to any necessary works being carried out in 2015. The possibility of training a Councillor(s) to carry out routine inspections will be investigated. Page 1 of 5
7. HARROGATE BOROUGH COUNCIL S CONSULTATION ON FUTURE ACCOMMODATION STRATEGY The Council considered proposals put forward by Harrogate Borough Council for its future office accommodation strategy. It was resolved that the Parish Council agrees with the Borough Council s preferred option of a new, purpose built building at Knapping Mount and disposing of old sites. 8. PARISH CARETAKER The caretaker will be asked to continuing working through the ongoing list. 9. WHAT COUNCILLORS NEED TO KNOW Councillor Weatherhead reported to the Council after attending this training session provided by the Yorkshire Local Councils Associations. He advised that it had been an informative session with particular emphasis placed on employment matters and financial propriety and security. 10. HIGHWAYS 10.1 Funding for road repairs. It was noted that North Yorkshire County Council has secured a further 15 million of funding for road repairs, especially those in rural areas, which can only be a good thing for this parish. The Clerk also reported that North Yorkshire County Council is unhappy with the performance of its highways maintenance contractor, Ringway. It has therefore convened a meeting with Ringway s senior executives to discuss the poor performance. The contract has already been reduced by a year. 10.2 Previously reported highways faults. Reference Issue Update / Outcome Az 5/12 Heathfield Lane, nr. Winksley Condition of Surface 20.6.14 Order raised for actionable defects. 26.6.14 specific details requested. Az 1/13 Dilapidated signage in Mickley. New signage installed, but question over why Ripon is no longer signed along Carr Lane. A number of new faults were recorded, for reporting to Highways North Yorkshire. 11. PLANNING APPLICATIONS 11.1 Consultations on applications. It was agreed that the Parish Council has no objections to the following applications: 6.37.61.TPO 14/02856/TPO Crown lift and clean of 1 lime and crown lift and balance of 1 horse chestnut of Group G1 and crown lift of 1 oak of Group G2 of TPO 88/2006 at Fountains Rectory, Winksley. 6.37.20.L.FUL 14/02666/FUL Erection of 2 first floor extensions, installation of a door and alterations to existing roof and existing windows at Peacock Farm, Winksley. 11.2 Updates and decisions on applications, appeals and enforcement investigations. Reference Proposal Update / Decision 6.37.60.FUL 14/00799/FUL Conversion of 2 flats to form one dwelling at Laver View, Winksley. Passed. 6.19.49.G.FUL 14/01191/FUL Erection of single storey extension (revised scheme) at Newfields, Gate Bridge Road, Galphay. Refused. Page 2 of 5
6.19.174.FUL 14/01117/FUL 6.37.24.H.FUL 14/02112/FUL Erection of a detached garage at West Farm, West Lane, Galphay. Retention of an agricultural shed at Manor House Farm, Winksley. Passed. Refused. 12. CORRESPONDENCE The Clerk reported on items received including: 12.1 Individual Elector Registration (IER). The introduction of IER in Great Britain will modernise the way people register to vote, help to tackle electoral fraud and improve confidence in the electoral register. Harrogate Borough Council has written to the Parish Council advising on its progress towards transferring to the new system. 12.2 Renewal of contracts for bus services in Harrogate area. The contracts for commercial bus services in this area come to an end in March 2015. The County Council is therefore carrying out an Area Transport Review. The renewal of contracts may mean that there will be some changes to operators, routes and timings. It is hoped that changes will be minimised, but where a significant change is proposed, detailed consultation will be carried out with stakeholders, including the Parish Council. 12.3 Implementation of Part 1 of the Commons Act 2006. North Yorkshire County Council has written with information about how it will be implementing Part 1 of the Commons Act 2006. Further details will be forwarded to Councillors in due course. 12.4 Call for sites for mobile masts. The Mobile Infrastructure Project (MIP) is a Government initiative to extend mobile coverage in areas where there are complete reception not spots, such as in and around this parish. A call for sites on which infrastructure could be located has been put out by the group coordinating the project who want to hear about any potential locations that members of the community may wish to offer or suggest. This will be promoted in the Council s next newsletter and on its website. 12.5 Nidderdale AONB Talk on the Lads from Leeds. Promotional material for this forthcoming talk, to be held in Grewelthorpe, was noted. 13 FINANCIALS 13.1 Financial report. It was resolved that a report containing the following information be approved and recorded: Bank Balances as at 24/7/14: Santander Current a/c ****2922 6,503.64 TOTAL 6,503.64 Payments to be approved and recorded: Payee Details DTMS Ltd Invoice 6293 - Caretaker, May 2014 144.00 DTMS Ltd Invoice 6347 - Caretaker June 2014 144.00 Page 3 of 5
Iona Taylor Expenses, May 2014 26.88 Iona Taylor Clerk Salary, May 2014 188.60 Iona Taylor Expenses, June 2014 99.93 Iona Taylor Clerk Salary, June 2014 136.50 HMRC PAYE, May 2014 2.20 HMRC PAYE, June 2014 6.60 The Sign Studio No Fire Signs for Winksley 48.00 Farm & Land Services Invoice 4087, Grasscutting 274.80 St. John's Church Village Hall Hall Hire on 31/7/14 14.00 TOTAL 1,085.41 Receipts to be recorded: Received From Details Northern Powergrid Wayleaves 17.70 TOTAL 17.70 13.2 Insurance. It was agreed that the Council s insurance policy with Came & Company Local Council Insurance should be renewed at a cost of 265. 13.3 Internal Auditor s opinion on the 2013/14 accounts. Mrs Angela Barrand s full opinion on the 2013/14 accounts had been circulated to Councillors prior to this meeting. The following points were noted: The Clerk needs to reimburse 36p of postage which was incorrectly over-claimed. It was agreed that from now on Councillors will consider and approve two bank reconciliations per year; one to the end of September and one at the end of the financial year in March. The Clerk has begun to separate her expenses form her salary and is now paid by two cheques each month. Staffing costs in future budgets and on the annual return will now only include salary and tax. It was resolved that, following advice from YLCA the Clerk should continue to account for financial transactions using the date shown on the invoice or receipt, rather than the date which it passes through the Council s bank account. 14 NEXT MEETINGS The dates of the next meetings were confirmed as being on 28 th August 2014 (to consider any planning applications) and 25 th September 2014 at 19.30 in Galphay Village Institute (for the next ordinary Parish Council meeting). 15 ANY OTHER BUSINESS 15.1 Fault reporting protocol. Councillors will be provided with copies of the Council s Fault Reporting Protocol (also available online) so that they can direct members of the public to the most appropriate contact for concerns or complaints. Page 4 of 5
15.2 Harrogate & District Housing Allocations DPD. It was noted that Harrogate Borough Council has decided to withdraw its Housing Allocations DPD which had been thrown out by the planning inspector reviewing it, mainly due to it providing an inadequate supply of housing. This could have implications for future development and house building in this parish and so this matter will be closely monitored by the Parish Council. 15.3 Application to record a public right of way, Green Lane to Hodgsons Top, Winksley. It was noted that a sign has been erected on the lane seeking information about the ownership of the land. It is understood that if a landowner does not come forward then the County Council will proceed to create a bridleway along the route. 15.4 Grasscutting - Tripping Lane, Galphay. It was agreed that the Council is not minded to start cutting the verge along this lane. Meeting closed at 20.30 hrs. These minutes were recorded and prepared by Iona Taylor, Clerk to the Parish Council. SIGNED:... (Chairman) DATE:... Page 5 of 5