MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY 4 MAY 2006

Presentation on emergency planning by Emma-Jane Ellison from Harrogate Council and Louise Collins from North Yorkshire County Council, emergency planning officers.

The role of NYCC in providing support and coordination in emergencies including setting up reception centres was explained. The Police were likely to be the first point of contact in emergencies. The need to manage the media in such situations was stressed as it had been found that their presence could hamper rescue operations and provision for those most affected.

It was held to be good practice for parishes to develop their own emergency plans and to conduct risk assessments for local occurrences. Harrogate Council were in process of producing a pro forma to facilitate this and a copy would be made available to the Parish Council. Discussion of methods of devising an emergency plan would be held at a later date.

The officers were thanked for attending the meeting and for their offers of support in producing a plan for Follifoot and Plompton.

THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

Present : Parish Councillors B Fisher, B Butler, E Bolton, U Cansfield, T Martin

Apologies for absence : Parish Councillor M Mitton, P C M Place

Election of Chairman

B Fisher was nominated by U Cansfield and seconded by E Bolton. B Fisher expressed his willingness to stand, was duly elected and signed the acceptance of office.

2. Election of Vice-Chairman

B Butler was nominated by B Fisher and seconded by T Martin. He expressed his willingness to stand and was duly elected.

3. Election of Village Hall representative

B Butler was willing to stand for a further year and was nominated by T Martin and seconded by E Bolton and duly elected.

4. Declarations of interest in items on the agenda

T Martin declared an interest in item 8 - Parish Records.

5. Minutes of the previous meeting – held on 6 April 2006 were signed as a correct record. Proposed; B Butler Seconded: T Martin

6. Matters arising from the minutes

a) Commuted sums – Letter to Clerk from the Tennis Club Chairman describing a current project which would benefit from financial help. This was checked with the Council officer responsible who stated it would not meet the criteria for funding, Tennis Club Chairman to be informed. The verge at the junction of Pannal Road and Rudding Lane may be planted with bulbs.

b) Resignation of parish councillor – a notice inviting electors to request an election will be placed on the notice board.

7. Chairman’s communications

a) Children’s playground proposal – letter received from M Mackaness stating that he would not be proceeding with the project.

b) Litter pick – letter of complaint received from a resident of Manor Fold concerning the bags of litter left for collection next to the re cycling bins. Bags were left from 9th April and picked up on 24th. Clerk had contacted the Council officer responsible on two occasions during this period. Chairman had responded to the resident with an explanation, but he was not satisfied by this. Parish councillors requested sight of the correspondence.

B Butler and T Martin reported they had completed the litter pick on Pannal Road and found there was sewage present in a ditch. The Chairman agreed to speak to the Environment Agency which is aware of the problem.

8. Parish Records

T Martin reported on his attendance at the Village Hall AGM when he sought clarification on the whereabouts of some items formerly hung in the Village Hall. Some had been stored temporarily in the toilet for disabled people and framed photographs were thought to be in the safekeeping of residents. B Butler agreed to enquire further re their location. Agreement had been sought and secured from the Chairman of the Village Hall that ‘ Best Kept Village ‘ certificates, etc could put on display, letter received confirming this. These items required re mounting. A written estimate for the work to be requested from P + V Manning. Proposed: B Butler Seconded: U Cansfield.

Noted that a display of old photographs prepared by the Yorkshire Film Archive was stored under the Hall. Importance of listing location of Parish property was stressed.

• Plompton

There was nothing to report.

• Finance
• Balance at the bank – Total of £ 6790.28 in both accounts including receipts of £ 154.86 for VAT refund, £ 20 for one allotment rental and .02p interest on current account.
• Request for authorisation of expenditure - £305.50 to Harrogate Sign and Display (as quotation ) for Kitty Corner nature board and £ 274.70 for insurance premium from Allianz Cornhill. Documents examined and amount verified by B Butler and T Martin. Proposed: B Fisher Seconded: B Butler
• Insurance – Minimum standards of control. Paper previously circulated outlined insurance company’s new requirements and the extent to which the Parish Council were complianct. Full compliance to be achieved by preparation of a quarterly reconciliation and provision of associated documentation for scrutiny and verification by councillor (s) at a Parish Council meeting. The Parish councillors resolved to accept the recommendations.
• Clerk’s report and correspondence

Rural safety Schemes – noted that a report was considered at the April meeting of the Area Committee for the Harrogate District. The bid from the Parish Council was included with a recommendation for approval. Outcome not yet communicated.

Papers received since the last meeting were circulated.

• Planning
• Application 06/01864/CON and 06/00648/FUL – Plompton Hall Farm, Plompton. Conservation area application for demolition of agricultural building and erection of a detached dwelling on site. Following discussion, the councillors concluded that they had no objection to either application, although the scale of the proposed dwelling seemed rather large.
• No further applications had been received for comment. Parish Council consultation not required – Brooklands, Follifoot for felling 3 Lawson cypress and coppicing 1 eucalyptus.
• Outcome of previous applications: Approved – 13 Leconfield Garth for extensions; Low grange Farm, Plompton for lean-to agricultural building. Appeal – agricultural building at Follifoot Ridge Farm allowed. Documents relating to appeal judgement to be circulated to Parish Councillors.
• Date of next meeting

Thursday 8 June at 8 pm