- Open Forum: No members of the public attended for this purpose
- Apologies for Absence: Cllr. Norman Lamb (NL)
Present: Cllr. Nick Bell (NB) [Chairman], Dean Wise (DW) [Deputy Chairman], Cllr. Cllr. Kevin Ashdown (KA), Cllr. Gervase Dawidek (GD), Cllr. Simon Flounders (SF), Cllr. John Harrison (JH), Cllr. Joanne Jackson (JJ), Cllr. Peter Smith (PS), Bruce Skinner (BS) [Clerk/RFO]
Members of the Public: None. Members participating Unanimously Resolved that the Council approved NL’s reason (previous commitment) for his absence from the, postponed at the last minute, meeting.
JH left the meeting at 8.40p.m. having advised his familial interest in Item 7 vi). - Minutes of Previous Meetings: Those who were present at that meeting Unanimously Resolved to ‘take as read’ the Minutes of the 10 January Ordinary Meeting
- Matters to be Discussed:
a) Finance:
i} Current financial situation: Clerk reported the following figures:
Receipts since last meeting
| Source | Amount |
| None |
Payments since last meeting
| Payee | Amount |
| Clerk – Q4 2023 + Q1 2024 + Expenses | £688.51 |
| Clerk – 2022 & 2023 Rate Adjustments | £148.64 |
Accounts’ Balances
| Account | Amount |
| Virgin Money Current A/C | £7381.05 |
| Skipton BS – Branch Saver A/C No. 1 | £2440.16 |
| Skipton BS – Branch Saver A/C No. 2 | £2536.36 |
b) Road Safety:
i) VAS: SF advised that the December data shows some improvement over
the previous set, with no vehicle exceeding 45mph.
The current, March 2024, plan to have the VAS pointing towards incoming
traffic for half the month, and towards leaving traffic for the other half, could
indicate whether seeing the illuminated VAS has a positive effect on
adherence to the 30mph limit.
NB will research whether encouraging traffic police interest is likely to have a
positive effect, and whether it would be possible to install a ‘gate’ near the
Jubilee bench on the Beckside road to discourage green-laners.
Consideration will be given to installing the VAS next time on the Forkers
Lane entry to the village.
ii) Speed limit painted on road: Cllr. Goodrick agreed to support the request to
Highways, however there has been no response from Highways so far.
The meeting requested Clerk to re-engage with Cllr Goodrick to establish the
latest situation and, if appropriate, the reasons why this can’t be done
c) Village Estate Management:
i) Grass Cutting Contract: Rob Witty has acknowledged contract roll-over for a
further year at the same hourly rate
ii) Beck Management:
a) Brick Bridge: Chairman expressed the PC’s thanks to NL and his son
Nicholas Lamb for their generous removal of some 40-50 tons of bank
silt to open-up the east arch and alter the flow, which is now through the
centre arch. Monitoring the effect of this maintenance exercise will advise
future activity.
Budget provision will be made to ensure overflow provision through both
outer arches.
b) Reeds: Will have their first spraying when they reach some 15-20cms
growth, and thereafter will be sprayed as necessary during the 2024
season
iii) Back Lane cherry trees: NYCC LPA has no objection to the proposed works;
however, ‘would request that the crown lifting is to a height not in excess of
3 metres above ground level’.
Clerk will request Gary Liversidge to liaise with NL to execute the work at
the appropriate time
d) Quarry
i) Mineral Rights: Fenstone would like to secure the rights to extract the
underlying minerals from the ex parish-pit plot next to the site access which
the PC sold to the Beals in 2000.
However, despite detailed ongoing investigation, the PC is unable to
determine any written evidence that it had, or still has, the mineral rights.
ii) Extension of Time and Extraction area: The deadline for comment on these.
two Applications has been extended; proposals that the PC should object on
various grounds have been received from some residents.
After considerable discussion, the meeting agreed that residents should, by
copy of these minutes, be aware that their views collectively are likely to have
more impact if expressed individually to NYCC.
Meanwhile, the PC reflected that it had, during this protracted review period
had, in addition to having had quarterly, positively-influential meetings with
the quarry operator, made the attached formal comments on the planning
applications: See Attachment
e) Miscellaneous:
i) Website: After discussion, cllrs Unanimously Resolved that, in order to
comply with its statutory obligations, it would at this stage be preferable for
the PC to have its own independent website, with a gov.uk domain name.
The PC will now proceed to engage a website designer/manager and
accordingly pursue the changeover, with proposals presented at the next
meeting.
ii) Register of Interests: These have all been received from cllrs, and will be
posted on the village website
iii) Street Lights: Still no response from contractor Acorn
iv) Brick Bridge adornment: The proposal to place free-standing planters at no
cost on the parapets of the bridge was approved, with the understanding
that their effectiveness is subject to periodic review
5. Representation reports:
| John Harrison | – Neighbourhood Watch |
| Nick Bell | – YLCA Branch Representative – Quarry Liaison |
| Dean Wise | – YLCA Branch Representative |
JH expressed his thanks for the efforts of his list of volunteers and others in keeping the village and its environs litter free, and encouraged others to volunteer too.
Members present also expressed their thanks to JH and his volunteers
6. Planning:
i) Tree Works Application ZE24/00041/CAT: Prune 12 ornamental cherry
trees on Back Lane to allow tractor clearance for mowing. Approved – see
4 c) iii) above
7. AOB:
i) The suggestion that cllrs’ bios should be posted on the Information Pack,
alongside their existing contact details on the website Village Information
Pack, was considered and agreed on an optional basis
ii) Members of the meeting expressed the PC’s thanks to Cllr.DW and Ms
Wise for their seasonal Toad Patrol which saved the lives of countless
toads/frogs
iii) Easter Monday: The meeting endorsed NL’s proposal that the successful
Boxing Day gathering on the brick bridge should be repeated on Easter
Monday
iv) Bonfires: Having been made aware of a plume of obnoxious bonfire smoke
across the beck in early March, the PC encourages residents to be
thoughtful when lighting fires; if in fact they need to do so at all
v) Bus Service: Members were reminded of the recently announced change of
operator from 1 April, and the consequent timetable modest changes, i.e.
that 1310hrs departures from Foxholes will instead depart at 1325hrs and
that 1215hrs departures from Malton will instead depart at 1230hrs vi) Barking dogs: After discussion of continuing complaints, Clerk was
requested to seek clarification from NYCC’s Environmental Health
department regarding the status of their investigation of the situation in the
village
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8.50p.m.
Next Meeting: 8 May Ordinary Meeting after the 7p.m. Parish Meeting and Annual Meeting in the Village Hall