Present:  C. Fenwick (Chair), P. Escreet (PE), P. Fox (PF), A. Gambles (AG), B. Smith (BS), E. Smith (ES), Cllr. C Patmore (CP), J. Coulthard (Clerk), Keith Gittens.

1.  Apologies: C. Colton (working)

   Declarations of interest: NONE.

2.  Minutes of the Previous Meetings: Approved and signed as a true record.

3.  Matters Arising:

3.1           Parish Plan Actions Review: A visit by members of the PC to Husthwaite Primary School is still to be organised. Action: CC

3.2          Enforcement of Planning Laws: Bye Green Holdings application for an extension to a building for agricultural purposes has been received and the Parish Council has no objections. Following the rejection of Sunley Woods Farm’s application concerning the temporary storage of log cabins and static holiday homes, it appears there has been an increase in their number rather than any removal. On 15th March Helen Conte, the HDC Planning Enforcement Officer, reported that the applicant, Mr B Duffield, has a new agent with whom they are negotiating, and she has given them until mid-April to comply with planning orders.

3.3          Commons Act 2006 Registered Land – Kendrew Green: PF reported that he now had proof that NYCC own Kendrew Green, having bought it from the Wailes family in 1943. Consequently our application for Commons registration cannot succeed, so it was agreed to withdraw it. As this leaves the rights and duties of maintenance by the PC in some doubt, PF suggested agreeing to a proposal from Mr Bowe (NYCC) that the land be licensed to Husthwaite PC who can then manage it in the interests of the village. This was agreed providing the cost of any licence is funded by NYCC, and the issue regarding conservation of the Wych Elm tree (and the costs entailed) is resolved first. Action: PF

3.4          Fracking in North Yorkshire: PF reported that on 7th March an Executive Meeting of NYCC unanimously adopted the draft Minerals & Waste Joint Plan. PF was disappointed that the work of the local PC representatives, including himself, on a response to fracking was not included in the NYCC plan. The local villages group response had resulted in a detailed 4 point plan to ameliorate the worst effects of fracking on inhabitants, property, roads and environment, but none of their recommendations were acknowledged or included and the PC noted this with regret. There will possibly be a further consultation, before a Government Inspector examines the proposals in the summer, and PF hopes that the recommendations and concerns  of local villages will be allowed an airing before the Inspector. PF will try to register as a contributer at the public meeting. Action: PF

3.5      Kendrew Green Grass Cutting & Trees: Keith Gittens advised that, as there is an obligation on parish and county authorities to maintain rare species habitat where possible, the Wych Elm trees should be dealt with as recommended by NYCC arboriculturalists, in the light of trying to preserve the rare butterfly population dependent on them. Grass cutting and removal of cuttings also enables biodiversity if done correctly and AONB have volunteered to undertake this to maintain biodiversity. The attempt last year to do this method of cutting was appreciated by some villagers but there were also a few complaints about sightlines for drivers being obscured by grass on Kendrew Green. It was therefore decided to inform the villagers about the situation in more detail by means of a flyer to each household. Action: PE & KG

3.6      Emergency Planning: CC, JC and Mark Gambles continue to work on the plan. Action: CC

3.7      Parish Council Noticeboard: Andrew Coulthard has completed the restoration of the PC noticeboard. The total cost of materials was £149.80 and the board will shortly be erected back in place and should last many more years. The councillors thanked Andrew warmly for this voluntary work.

3.8      Battle’s Over – A Nation’s Tribute: PF had checked on areas of Beacon Banks as a site for a beacon in 2018 to commemorate the ending of WW1 and he thought that there may be a fire hazard because of bracken and undergrowth. CF will approach Richard Duffield, who has volunteered a place on his land, to discuss site options and possible hazards. Action: CF

3.9      MUGA Surface: A quote has been received from Tennis Courts, Yorkshire for cleaning and repainting the Multi Use Games Area. Further quotes have been requested and Cllr Patmore suggested asking Hambleton District Council for the name of companies who undertake this kind of work in the area. Action: CF

4. Matters that have arisen between meetings:

4.1       Damage to the North-East corner of the Village Green: The village green was damaged by a  lorry belonging to a transport company from Cheshire and, thanks to the actions of a vigilant parishioner, they agreed to pay for the restoration of the green to its original condition. The cheapest of three quotes, £90 + VAT, from Alasdair Downie of Land and Farm Services, was accepted by the transport company and the work has been completed. It was agreed to ask Alasdair Downie to provide a quote to remove the dead wood from the Lime tree on the Village Green, which he noticed as he completed the repairs. Action: CF

5. Planning Matters:

5.1       The following planning applications have been received:  

Woolpots Farm, Woolpots Lane, Husthwaite – Prior notification for change of use of agricultural building to a dwellinghouse and associated operational development. (The Parish Council had NO OBSERVATIONS on the proposal).

The Outwoods, The Nookin, Husthwaite – Works to remove Leylandi trees and hedge in a Conservation Area. (The Parish Council had NO OBSERVATIONS on the proposal).

Bruaich, The Nookin, Husthwaite – Works to trees in a Conservation Area. (The Parish Council had NO OBSERVATIONS on the proposal).

Bye Green Holdings, Low Street, Husthwaite – Retrospective application for an agricultural extension to an existing building. (The Parish Council had NO OBJECTIONS to an agricultural extension).

5.2      The following planning applications have been approved:

Woolpots Farm, Woolpots Lane, Husthwaite – Prior notification for change of use of agricultural building to a dwellinghouse and associated operational development.

5.3      The following planning applications are still awaiting a decision:

The Garage, Low Street, Husthwaite – Outline application (considering appearance, access, layout and scale) for the demolition of existing buildings and construction of 3no dwellings.

6.  Finance Report:                      

6.1       Current Account

Cheques/Monies out

 

17.01.17 .14

100914

£200.00

J Coulthard – Nov 2016 to Jan 2017

24.02.17

100915

£50.00

Donation to Easingwold Community Library

24.02.17

100916

£55.00

SLCC Membership

 

 

£305.00

 

Cheques/Monies in

21.03.17

£30.00

Interment of Ashes – Dawson (ex-resident)

 

£30.00

 

 

Statement balance at 15 March 2017 - £13336.69 (including £8924.88 Cemetery monies).

Balance as at 21 March 2017 - £13261.69 (including £8954.88 Cemetery monies).

Payments to be authorised:

J. Coulthard - £200 – January 2017 to March 2017

J. Coulthard - £125 – 2016/2017 Expenses

YLCA Membership- £128

A. Coulthard - £149.80 – PC Noticeboard Renovation

6.2      Recreation Area Account

Cheques/Monies in

15.12.16

.04

December Interest

15.01.17

.04

January Interest

15.02.17

.04

February Interest

 

.12

 

 

Statement Balance at 15 February 2017 - £1302. 23

7. Circulated Items That May Be Of Interest To The Council:

   Parish Liaison Meeting 18th May 2017: The PC awaits an agenda before nominating a representative.

8. Reports from Council’s Representatives:

Village Hall: JC introduced the idea for The Great Get Together, a nationwide tribute on June 17th or 18th inspired by the memory of MP Jo Cox, who was killed by a right wing extremist on June 16th last year. The idea is to have an inclusive community get together of some kind, on the principle that there is more that unites us all rather than divides us, a principle by which Jo lived her life. This non-partisan idea is supported by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Scouts and Guides, the TUC, the NSPCC, the Women’s Institute, the Countryside Alliance and many more. The PC supported the idea and it will be raised by JC at the next Village Hall Events Committee meeting. Action: Clerk

Easingwold & Villages Forum: PF was unable to attend the last meeting. The next meeting will be in Husthwaite Village Hall on 27th April.

YLCA: ES was unable to attend the last meeting.

Public Footpaths: Coxwold Parish Council have written to the PC suggesting that we continue to work together to preserve the Rights of Way in our area.

    Highways: CF reported that the repairs to potholes on Highthorne Lane were entirely inadequate, and it was agreed that a complaint should be made to the Highways Department. Action: Clerk

    Street Lighting: All street lights are working.

    Neighbourhood Watch: No report.

MUGA: It was agreed to ask Playscheme if the swings in the Young Childrens Play Area could be replaced with baby swings. Action: CF

9.Reports from County/District Councillor Caroline Patmore:

 

The Hambleton Business Conference will take place at Hawkhills, Easingwold on 19th May 2017 from 10:00 - 13:30 and will promote local businesses in market towns.

 

The Forget-me-not Club for dementia sufferers in Easingwold is closing down due to lack of funding.

 

Easingwold Community Library now has 150 volunteers and they will be trained with support from NYCC.

 

Parking problems are occurring with more frequency in Easingwold and surrounding villages, and will continue as the number of new houses increases. It has been suggested that developers should make more allowance for off street parking in their planning applications, but changes to planning legislation would be needed to enforce this.

 

Dog fouling is a problem common to all villages. People should collect and dispose of dog faeces properly.

 

There is a NYCC public footpath questionnaire coming to Parish Councils, with the purpose of deciding whether the footfall on any particular footpath is enough to warrant its upkeep. Footpaths are graded according to footfall, with countryside paths being only graded as 5, whereas urban paths get a higher rating. It may be that in future PCs will be required to support and maintain public footpaths. CP will forward this questionnaire to Husthwaite PC.

 

Residents are reminded that they must pay an annual fee of £35 if they wish their green bins to be emptied each fortnight after April. They can apply to HDC on line, by phone or in writing but bins will not be emptied unless they have the appropriate tag attached to show the fee has been paid. Also, recycling bins should be kept clean, and particular care should be taken to remove any food or other waste from objects put into the recycling bin.

 

Northallerton Prison is already half demolished, and plans are in progress to redevelop the site soon.

 

EE have successfully bid for the emergency services mobile communication programme.

 

A broadband scheme is available where people with very poor coverage may get subsidised connections. The website basicbroadbandchecker.culture.gov.uk enables people to find out about the scheme.

 

NYCC has one of the lowest council taxes in the country, and Hambleton DC has the lowest tax of any district council.

 

10.Date and Time of Next Meeting:

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 23rd May 2017 at 7.00p.m. in Husthwaite Village Hall.