FOLLIFOOT WITH PLOMPTON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 12 November 2009

Present : Parish Councillors U. Cansfield, B. Fisher (Chairman), E. Bolton, T. Martin, B. Butler, C. Florance, District Councillor C. Bayliss and one resident.

1. Apologies for absence : Parish Councillor S. Milligan and P. C. M. Ayre.
2. Declarations of interest in items on the agenda : There were none.
3. Public Participation session : Mr. M. Hammond addressed the Parish Council in support of his planning applications which were to be considered later in the meeting.
4. Minutes of the meeting held on 15.10.09 : The Chairman signed the minutes as a correct record having been proposed by T. Martin and seconded by U. Cansfield.
5. Matters arising from the minutes :

•  Item 5 b) Sewage odours, Main Street - no sewage smells had been apparent since the last meeting. The Chairman agreed to arrange a meeting with representatives of Yorkshire Water, Rudding Park and the Parish Council and noted that councillors Butler and Martin wished to be included. District Councillor C. Bayliss had consulted with Environmental Health and reported that officers were prepared to become involved in the event that agreement on resolving the problem could not be reached.

•  Item 8 Response from NYCC Highways - arrangements were in hand to jet blocked gullies on Main Street, Hillside and the A 658/Pannal Road entrance. Fallen boughs on the Plompton Road verge would be removed in the next month.

1. Chairman's communications :

•  Community emergency plan - to be dealt with at item 8

•  Internal audit - letter received, to be dealt with at item 12 c)

•  Lime spreading by Rudding Estate - T. Martin had informed the Chairman that he had received complaints from a resident on the Paddocks that this activity had been conducted recently in a brisk westerly wind with the result that the chemical had blown onto nearby properties. A concern was raised about the potential impact on the health of residents and it was resolved to write to the Estate regarding the practice.

1. Matters concerning Plompton : E. Bolton raised the issue of the Listed telephone kiosk close to the village. This would be dealt with at item 11. There were no other matters to report.
2. Community emergency plan for Follifoot and Plompton : The Chairman explained that much of the groundwork had already been done in 2007. The councillors thought that the task should be completed and that former committee members should be contacted. Other potential members were suggested. The Chairman agreed to contact residents with a view to forming a new committee. A date for an initial meeting was proposed for Tuesday, 26 January 2010 . The Chairman agreed to give a progress report to the next meeting.
3. Harrogate Council budget 2010-2011 : There was some discussion about the questionnaire possibly paying lip service to consultation and whether any response made would affect the final budget. The Parish Council delegated its response to the Chairman.
4. Highways : A request to fix a loose kerb stone at the junction of Tofts Lane and Main Street, Follifoot would be made.
5. Telephone kiosk, Main Street, Follifoot : B.T.'s offer of adoption of the kiosk for £1 and removal of telephony was considered as there had been only 53 calls made from the kiosk in the previous year. This would not affect the Listed status of the kiosk. Likely maintenance costs, variable mobile ‘phone signal strength together with B.T.'s action should their offer be rejected by the Parish Council were discussed. C. Florance agreed to contact B. T. to explore these matters for the kiosks at both Follifoot and Plompton and report back to the December meeting when a decision would be made.
6. Finance :

•  Balance at the bank : £ 8272.61 in the accounts

•  Request for authorisation of expenditure : £ 18.39 to Jesper's for stationery and £ 15.49 to T. Martin for weedkiller for the Pound. Expenditure proposed by B. Fisher and seconded by B. Butler.

•  Internal auditor's report for 1.4.09 to 30.9.09 : The Chairman read the internal auditor's letter to the meeting. This stated that systems were in place that provided effective and adequate controls.

•  Budget 2010-2011 : A meeting of a working group to draft the budget was arranged for 26.11.09 at 7pm. The budget would be put before the Parish Council for approval at its December meeting.

•  Clerk's contract of employment : The Chairman signed the amendments agreed at the previous meeting on behalf of the Parish Council

1. Clerk's report and correspondence :

•  NYCC budget 2010-2011 : A questionnaire received which would be circulated and a response by the Parish Council discussed at the next meeting.

•  North Yorkshire Police : request for a volunteer to join a team set up to devise neighbourhood profiles designed to contribute to crime prevention. T. Martin offered to take part on behalf of the Parish Council, this was accepted with thanks.

•  Papers received since the last meeting were circulated to councillors.

1. Planning :

•  Application 09/04148/CON – Village End, Plompton Road, Follifoot - conservation area application for demolition of dwelling. The Parish Council supports the application.

•  Application 09/04053 - Village End, Plompton Road, Follifoot for replacement detached dwelling and new package treatment plant (revised scheme). The Parish Council supports the application.

•  No further applications had been received.

•  Outcome of previous applications : Approved - Village End, Plompton Road, Follifoot for felling two hollies and a certificate of lawfulness for the erection of a single storey rear extension and garage. Forestry Commission application, Rudding Park - further information obtained revealed that this was an application to thin broadleaf trees which was regarded as good management of woodland.

1. Meeting dates for 2010 : The dates were approved.
2. Date of next meeting : Thursday 10 December at 8pm.