Brompton-on-Swale Parish Council Minutes – 2015/16 21 May 2015 – Annual Parish Meeting 21 May 2015 – AGM 9 July 2015 3 September 2015 22 October 2015 3 December 2015 14 January 2016 3 March 2016 14 April 2016 Brompton on Swale Annual Parish Meeting Minutes of Meeting held on Thursday 21 May 2015 1. Attendance/Apologies The meeting was attended by: Councillors: A Guest, M Barber, J Coventry, A Hunter Apologies were received from: Councillor I Threlfall Cllr Dempsey 2. Minutes of the previous meeting The minutes of the previous meeting held on 29 May 2014 were approved. Proposed: Cllr M Barber Seconded: Cllr J Coventry 3. Matters Arising There were no matters arising from the minutes 4. Chairman’s Annual Report 2014/15 The Chairman presented the annual report for the past year. This had been circulated prior to the meeting and further copies were available at the meeting. This provides details of the projects and events that the Parish Council has been involved with during the past year. One issue was raised regarding the Chairman’s report. Mike Sharpe stood down from the Parish Council in 2013/2014 and not during the past year. No other issues were raised from the report. 5. Issues raised by the public No issues were raised by members of the public. The meeting closed at 7.05 pm Signed:…………………………………………………….. Date:……………………………………………………….. Brompton on Swale Parish Council Clerk: Shireen M Rudge, 58 Brompton Park, Brompton on Swale, Richmond, DL10 7JP Tel: 01748 818155 email: [email protected] Minutes of the Parish Council Annual General Meeting Thursday 21 May 2015 Present: Cllrs A Guest, Chairman M Barber J Coventry A Hunter D Sharp The Clerk Cllr C Les 1. Apologies for absence: Cllr Threlfall, Cllr Dempsey, PCSO Jordan Wallace 2. Declaration of Acceptance of Office for Parish Councillors: The declarations have been duly signed and witnessed. Action – the Clerk 3. Minutes of the Last Meeting The minutes of the meeting held on 16 April 2015 were approved Proposed: Cllr Coventry Seconded: Cllr Barber 4. Matters Arising North Yorkshire Timber Planning Application (item 6.2) – The Chairman and Cllr Barber mentioned that work at North Yorkshire Timber had started before the planning application had been submitted. Comments will be noted to RDC Planning Department. Action – The Clerk Richmondshire Local Sports Association (item 9.2) – There were no nominations for Junior Sports Awards for 2015 Broken Bench Gatherley Road – The Chairman will visit the site. Action – The Chairman Replacement Tree St Pauls Drive (Item 11.1) – Cllr Barber asked if the matter had progressed. The Clerk will contact NYCC to seek permission. Action – The Clerk 5. Election of Officers 5.1 Chairman – The Clerk requested nominations for this role for the year 2015/2016. One nomination was received, Cllr A. Guest, who agreed to stand and was duly elected. Proposed: Cllr Coventry Seconded: Cllr Hunter 5.2 Vice-Chairman – The Chairman requested nominations for this role for the year 2015/2016. One nomination was received, Cllr D Dempsey, who was nominated in his absence and duly elected. Proposed: Cllr Coventry Seconded: Cllr Barber 6. Election of representatives to Village Society and Richmondshire Local Sports Association 6.1 The Chairman proposed Cllr Coventry represent the Parish Council on the Village Society. This was seconded by Cllr Barber. Cllr Coventry accepted the offer. 6.2 Cllr Dempsey although not in attendance had previously indicated that he would be happy to continue to be the Parish Council’s representative on the Richmondshire Local Sports Association. This was agreed by all present. The Chairman proposed the co-option of Mr David Sharpe, who had attended a previous Parish Council meeting. All Councillors present were in favour. Mr Sharpe crossed the floor to join the Councillors. 7. Reports 7.1 Reports from Cllr Carl Les The Clerk mentioned communication issues between Highways and Passenger Transport regarding recent road closures that had taken place for resurfacing works. Cllr Les will look into communication between departments at NYCC. Cllr Les informed the Councillors that on 20th May he had been appointed Leader of the Council. The Chairman mentioned further cutbacks in bus services. The services in the village have been reduced by one journey each day to Northallerton. He suggested an external review of the services provided. 8. Current Issues 8.1 Grass Cutting – Gary Hudson, Head of Open Spaces for RDC produced detailed maps with measurements showing the grass areas in the village. He produced a quote from RDC for grass cutting at a cost of £517.70 per cut, which is higher than previously estimated. A quote was received by Mac Plant for the same area of £475 per cut. The Chairman said if the grass was to be cut for a full year, assuming 10 cuts per season the cost would exceed the budgeted figure for 2015/2016. This year it is estimated 6 cuts will be sufficient. A resident from Augustus Gardens commented that during the past 12 months the area looked unkempt. He mentioned a contractor from Persimmon Homes had cut a small amount of grass on the estate that morning. He showed on the map the areas of grass that had been cut, including the sports field. The resident had been informed that the Parish Council was responsible for the grass cutting in this area. The Chairman informed the resident that the verges and grassed areas in Augustus Gardens had not been adopted by the RDC and were still the responsibility of Persimmon. Cllr Sharp asked whether it would set a precedent if the Parish Council were to cut the grass in Augustus Gardens in the short term if this was the responsibility of Persimmon. It was agreed to contact Persimmon Homes regarding the grass cutting in Augustus Gardens. Cllr Coventry suggested a consultation with the residents next year regarding grass cutting in the village. The Councillors agreed that Mac Plant Hire should be engaged to carry out grass cutting within the village. Adjustments have been made to the areas of grass to be cut therefore a reduced price will be negotiated per cut with the number of cuts this growing season not exceeding 6. Action – The Clerk 8.2 Clerks Salary – The Chairman had emailed the Councillors prior to the meeting. It was agreed to increase the Clerks Salary by 2% as per the budget for 2015/2016. 9. Parish Finances – The periodic accounts which had been circulated prior to the meeting were read out. The Clerk mentioned the understated budget figure for grass cutting. No further questions were raised and the accounts were approved. Proposed: Cllr Barber Seconded: Cllr Sharp The Annual Accounts for 2014/2015 had been circulated prior to the meeting. They have been returned from the Internal Auditor. The Chairman signed the Accounting statement in order that they be sent to the accountants. Proposed: Cllr Barber Seconded: Cllr Sharp The Councillors agreed to give the internal auditor a gift voucher of £75.00. Proposed: Cllr Barber Seconded: Cllr Sharp Action – The Clerk Insurance – A quote for insurance for 2015/2016 has been received from Came And Co. There is an 8% increase on last year bringing the cost this year to £328.38. The Councillors noted that the increase was a little steep. The Clerk to discuss a possible price reduction with Came & Company. Action – The Clerk Correspondence 10 No correspondence had been received. 11. Planning Applications 11.1 15/00345/FULL – Planning Permission for Proposed New Vehicular Access from Adjoining Public Highway (Station Road and Catterick Road) to Water Ectraction and Treatment Plant at Catterick Water Treatment Works. Station Road, Brompton-on-Swale, DL10 7SE. No objections were raised. Action – The Clerk 12. Minor Matters 12.1 Cllr Hunter mentioned a recent police visit to residents of Honey Pot Road regarding vehicles parked on pavements. Someone from Highways has met with Cllr Hunter to look at the safety of the junction. She asked why, when the junction had recently been resurfaced, the white line had been redrawn to the left of the road rather than in the centre. The Clerk to discuss with Area 1. Action – The Clerk 12.2 Cllr Coventry attended a recent LaFarge Tarmac meeting where she was informed that they were being taken over by CRH who are based in Ireland. They will be called Tarmac Blue Circle. 12.3 Cllr Coventry mentioned the blocked drains in Gatherley Road. Cllr Barber mentioned the drains and gulleys had not been cleared for some time and are blocked. The Clerk to contact Area 1 to discuss blocked drains and whether there is a schedule for regular maintenance. Action – The Clerk 12.4 Cllr Sharp mentioned vehicles parked on the grass verge along Gatherley Road near to the junction with Bridge Road, opposite Off Rhodes. The land belongs to NYCC and would require planning permission for vehicles to be parked. The Clerk to write to RDC Planning Department informing that vehicles are parked on a regular basis and to ask whether they have planning permission and to NYCC to ask if they are aware that vehicles are parking on their land and destroying the grass verge in the process. Action – The Clerk 12.5 Cllr Coventry asked on the progress of landscaping at the Unique Cars site. The Clerk to discuss with Cllr Threlfall. Action – The Clerk 12.6 The Chairman mentioned a meeting he attended with A1L2B. They need an additional easement at the edge of the sports field for maintenance of the embankment area. They will replace the current safety fence when the works are complete with a post and rail fence further up the embankment.