MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 3 MARCH 2005
Present: Councillors E Bolton, U Cansfield, T Martin, A Chetcuti, B Fisher (chairman)
Mr K Horner for part of the meeting.

Apologies: Councillors M Mitton – vacation, B Butler – family commitment, District
Councillor C Bayliss.

The Chairman informed the meeting that District Councillor Bayliss had been elected Mayor for the coming year and offered his congratulations on behalf of the Parish Council.

Prior to start of the business on the agenda, the Chairman welcomed Mr Horner who had requested an opportunity to explain to the Councillors the current position relating to his accommodation in the field near Highmoor Stud, Haggs Road. Mr Horner’s application for a certificate of lawfulness for use of his caravan as a dwelling has been refused. Mr Horner wishes to continue to live on the site and care for his animals. Alternative accommodation offered by the Council had been rejected because there was no provision for them. The Chairman explained that the Parish Council had been asked for their views on his application. The councillors had opposed the application as they were concerned that it would create a precedent. Mr Horner was disappointed that no representative from the Parish Council had visited the site. The Chairman undertook to arrange to visit in the near future. Mr Horner indicated that he intended to appeal the refusal.
The Chairman thanked Mr Horner for coming to the meeting at such a difficult time for him.
Mr Horner left the meeting.

1. Minutes of previous meeting – held on 13.1.05
Accepted as a correct record.
Proposed: U Cansfield Seconded: A Chetcuti

2. Matters arising from the minutes
a) Street lighting – response to request for an additional light on upper Main Street indicated that this would be investigated. Residents would be consulted for their views.
b) Parish records – removed from under Village Hall, to be taken to County Records office for safe keeping. Quotation to be obtained for a display case for plates donated to the Parish.
c) Yorkshire Water – leak on Plompton Road still in need of repair. Water has frozen on the road creating a hazard for pedestrians and vehicles. Chairman and A Chetcuti agreed to contact Yorkshire Water to request repair.
d) Footpaths – stepping stones over River Crimple in need of repair - reported to NYCC. Proposals for connecting paths around the village have not progressed further. Chairman will contact relevant parties after Easter.

3. Chairman’s communications
a) Village litter pick – agreed will take place on 10 April. Volunteers to meet at 2 pm outside The Harewood Arms. Clerk to arrange for supply of bags, etc. A Chetcuti to prepare poster for notice boards.
b) Cricket Club – further contact as plans are about to be submitted to re site the pavilion. A letter of support from the Parish Council requested. Confirmed that councillors would await receipt of plans and then make comments.
c) Village Hall – a letter of thanks for the donation of new chairs received from Chairman, E Tatterton.

4. Freedom of Information Act - Update
The Clerk reported that several items of information were still required before the Publication Scheme could be properly available. These included a register of Parish assets, a complaints procedure and a contract of employment and job description for the Clerk. The three latter points required further discussion between the Chairman and Clerk and subsequent approval by the Parish Council.

5. Finance
a) Balance at bank - £ 6940.94 total in both accounts
b) Request for authorisation of expenditure – village Christmas trees - £ 23.50
Clerk’s salary £ 555.22 ; Clerk’s expenses £ 22.20 ; hire of Village Hall for meetings £ 63 ; donation of 15 chairs to Village Hall £ 583.57.
Proposed: T Martin Seconded: U Cansfield
c) Asset Register/ Insurance – list of village assets accepted by the Parish
Council. The Clerk had received no response from the YLCA’s regarding cover for some items.

6. Plompton
Directional signage board has been made and T Martin reported that he was soon to arrange to install it.

7. Highways
A number of matters were outstanding from correspondence exchanged with NYCC during the current year including overgrown footpaths, missing reflectors; proposals for changes to junctions at Freeman’s Corner and Haggs/Spofforth Roads. In addition the poor condition of the Spofforth Road between the village sign and ‘Brookside’ were noted. Clerk to write to the appropriate officers to request remedial work.

8. Clerk’s correspondence
Standards Board – review of Code of Conduct; DEFRA – re. Clean Neighbourhoods+ Environment Bill; ODPM – consultation documents – Citizen engagement and public services + Vibrant local leadership; Local Councils news; YLCA’s – various magazines; NYCC – Highways annual report, information on Integrated Transport Strategy, County committee for the Harrogate District newsletter; Harrogate Borough Council – Audit Commission Inspection briefing sheet; North Yorkshire small project development fund; issues consultation on the local development framework; Countryside Agency – conclusive map of registered common land and open country – Follifoot and Plompton.

9 Planning
New applications: Pinderpound, Plompton Road x 3 – demolish, re build or extend; 15 Leconfield Garth – extensions; Follifoot Hall – demolish offices, convert Hall to house, build house.
Approvals: Follifoot livery stables x 2 – storage units; Woodland, Haggs Road – extension; Rose Cottage – new garage/bicycle store.
Refusals: Aketon Lodge –extensions; Follifoot Ridge farm – variation of condition for agricultural use.
Appeals: Land at Thistle Hill – against refusal of erection of storage building; Wingate Farm -14 stables, washroom and additional parking – dismissed.
Enforcement: Haggs Road x 4 complaints not upheld, land by Highmoor Stud – application for certificate of lawfulness refused. Hilltop House, Main Street felling of tree – permission had been given.
Clerk to write to request that Parish Council be informed of such approvals in future. Noted that Church had received permission to fell some conifers in the churchyard.
Arrangements to ensure the councillor for Plompton receives documents for comment were discussed. Chairman to progress this matter.

10. Date of next meeting and arrangements for the Parish Assembly
Next meeting is 14 April 2005
The Parish Assembly will be held at 7.30 pm on this day agenda to include Chairman’s report, Neighbourhood Watch and Children’s platground reports and discussion. Poster to publicise event – A Chetcuti.