- Open Forum: Mr Alan Mitchell reminded members of the apparent instances of vandalism against his property and adjacent areas of the village green on beckside.
- Apologies for Absence: Cllr. Dean Wise (DW) [Deputy Chairman]Present: Cllr. Nick Bell (NB) [Chairman], Cllr. Kevin Ashwood (KA), Cllr. Gervase Dawidek (GD), Cllr. Simon Flounders (SF), Cllr. John Harrison (JH), Cllr. Norman Lamb (NL), Cllr. Philip Marwood (PM), Cllr. Peter Smith (PS), Bruce Skinner (BS) [Clerk/RFO]
Members of the Public: Mr Alan Mitchell, Dr Harry Featherstone Members participating Unanimously Resolved that the Council approved DW’s reason (medical) for his absence from the meeting. - Minutes of Previous Meetings: Those who were present at the meeting Unanimously Resolved to ‘take as read’ the Minutes of the 14 September Ordinary Meeting
- Matters Discussed:
a) Finance:
i) Current financial situation: Clerk/RFO referred members to an annotated
version the attached budget tabulation which had been circulated in
advance of the meeting, and advised that the current account balance is
some £8700.
In that light:
– It was Resolved that the net, ring-fenced ‘Just Giving’ sum of £504
should be offered (pro rata), with thanks, back to the donors
Proposed: NB Seconded: SF Votes: Unanimous
– It was Resolved that, given the likely underspend with Wold Ecology
£500 of her generous original donation of £1500 should be returned, with
thanks, to ex Cllr. Sue Blagden
Proposed: NB Seconded: KA Votes: Unanimous
ii) 2024/25 Budget/Precept: After discussion, the Meeting Resolved to
accept:
– the Draft Budget attached as the 2024/25 Budget, and
– the consequent Precept proposal of £6700(an increase of 6.35%)
Proposed: PS Seconded: NL Votes: Unanimousb) Road Safety:
i) VAS: SF will comment on the August/September experience at the
January meeting as the data has not yet been provided
ii) PS agreed to approach NYCC Highways again regarding their
‘reluctance’ to paint the speed limit on the road surface at the entrances
to the village, as apparently is done at other villages
c) Village Estate Management
:
i) Grass Cutting: PS reported that Cut 3, the last of the season, will
hopefully be completed without significantly exceeding the remaining
budget of £420.
Members endorsed the Chairman’s expressed thanks to contractor Rob
Witty for his efforts and to NL, SF and the many others who have
contributed their efforts in keeping the beckside and verges mown.
It was agreed that a notice should be placed on the noticeboard for 4
weeks requesting volunteers to rake, gather and lead-away the cuttings
from the annually-cut area below gardens #23-#27 Beckside – with PS
being the focal point for volunteering offers
ii) Grass Cutting Plan: It was agreed to postpone the Annual Review of
progress against the Plan until the January 2024 Meeting
iii) Beck flow restrictions downstream of road bridge: After discussion, in
particular after the recent incidents of the beck having been in spate,
members agreed that these apparent restrictions are of no particular
concern
iv) Beck clearance:
– EA have accepted the proposal to spray endemic reeds presented on
the PC’s behalf by Dr Featherstone; reed spraying will thus be carried
out as required in 2024
– EA have ‘withdrawn’ PC’s ‘Exempt flood risk activities’ applications
regarding clearing silt from the blocked arch of the brick bridge and the
banks up and downstream of it, on the basis that those Exemptions
apply only to ‘main rivers’. They refer us instead to NYCC and/or
the Internal Drainage Board, who deal with ‘ordinary watercourses’.
When contacted on this matter, a representative of NYCC advised that
they refer such issues to EA.
Yorkshire and Humber Drainage Boards advised that this stretch of
Settrington Beck is beyond their area of authority, but had it been their
responsibility such clearance would be considered a routine
maintenance matter. In discussion, their representative endorsed the
following proposal:
On the basis of the foregoing, it was Resolved to clear the silt, etc. as
described above by mechanical means, applying the conditions which
would apply to a ‘main river’.
Proposed: NB Seconded: PM Votes: Unanimous
To that end, it was agreed to request Wold Ecology to visit the site in
advance of the works to confirm that ‘the removal and subsequent
deposit of material will not have a significant adverse effect on
protected and priority species of importance for nature conservation’
v) Restricting access to Beckside pavement and replacement of verge
stones: NL has kindly installed a prominent, reflective bollard near the
north ford, and wooden poles to replace the protective stones on the
Ford Lane verge
d) Miscellaneous:
i) Village Hall & Play Area: It was Resolved to provide from the precept, on
a 1/3 basis:
– £150 towards the annual cost of the village defibrillator
– Up to £350 towards the actual annual cost of the village hall play area.
Proposed: NB Seconded: KA Votes: Unanimous
ii) LED street lights: Maintenance contractor Acorn intends to resolve the
switching problem this week
iii) Solar Panels on Listed Buildings/in Conservation Area: After discussion,
NB agreed to reply to Sir Richard Storey’s thoughtful letter, with the
sentiment that the PC shares his view and concerns
iv) Brook Farrn Barn incident: (for Mr Mitchell’s convenience, this item was
discussed out of sequence after his Open Forum presentation)
– After discussion, the meeting agreed to Minute that:
‘Settrington Parish Council condemns any form of criminal activity within
the parish of Settrington’
– Mr Mitchell agreed to remove the short steel ‘posts’ from the verge
under his hedge
5. Representation reports:
| John Harrison | – Neighbourhood Watch |
| Nick Bell | – YLCA Branch Representative – Quarry Liaison |
| Dean Wise | – YLCA Branch Representative |
No reports
6. Planning:
i) No matters outstanding
7. AOB:
i) Cllr Philip Marwood announced that, as he is moving to Malton, outside
the parish’s catchment area, he therefore regrettably has to resign his
membership of Settrington Parish Council.
The Chairman took the opportunity to express the Council’s thanks for
Phil’s considerable, enthusiastic almost 7 year contribution to the council.
ii) NB advised that the Blagden’s, who sadly are leaving the village, are
donating their salt-grit spreader and 8 bags of salt-grit to the PC, and
that Mrs Jane Ramsden has kindly agreed to house it
iii) Endorsed by members present, SF suggested that Settrington Estate
should be requested to repair the unsightly, potentially dangerous and
road blocking collapsing corner of the Glebe House stable block
iv) NB proposed that a ‘tradition’ should be established of having a
Settrington Social gathering in the evening of the first Monday of the
month, on the brick bridge in ‘the summer’ and at the Ham & Cheese in
‘the winter’.
The first such event will take place at the Ham and Cheese on Monday 4
December from 6.30 p.m.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8.35 p.m.