Skeeby Parish Council Minutes – 2016/17

11 December 2016

2 February 2017

30 March 2017

SKEEBY PARISH COUNCIL Mrs F.R. McGregor Clerk to the Parish Council 30 Springfield Skeeby Richmond North DL10 5DY

11th December, 2016

Dear Sir,

Submission to the Darlington and Stockton Times

MATTERS ARISING Community Parks - A brief report was given on the progress of plans for replacing the slide in the Springfield Park. Two estimates had been received and third was anticipated in early December. So far the cost of replacing the slide with associated groundworks was estimated at £11/12K and once all three estimates were available, SPC would decide on which to progress. It was confirmed that all debts relating to the two parks had now been discharged. Following the Ladies Night, a donation of £120.00 had been received and letters of thanks would be sent to the two organisers. A draft poster for the Burns Luncheon on 22nd January was approved and distribution was arranged. It was also confirmed that Fourum had agreed to perform in the village hall on 24th February. A meeting of SPC and the members of the Fund-Raising Sub- Committee would be held at 7.00pm on 13th December 2016 in the village hall. The Clerk had completed the RDC survey in relation to dog fouling in parks. Dog Fouling - The Chairman had accessed a website relating to this ongoing problem and had exchanged emails requesting assistance, a final answer to appropriate action was still awaited. However it was thought that any bye-law application would have to go before the relevant Secretary of State for approval. Car Parks Rates - Two Councillors had attended the tribunal and presented the case for SPC. A response had been received refusing the appeal, although the number of spaces had been reduced from ten to eight. The order should be confirmed within two weeks from the date of the making of the order. Once the order was in place, the Clerk would write to the owner of Rose Cottage asking for the removal of the sign claiming access to a particular space on the car park. It was noted that they had never sought permission to erect the sign, although this was referred to in the tribunal report. Retail Park - No information was available following the Secretary of State review although this should be completed by the end of November. Transparency Code - The only outstanding item was the pension rights for the Clerk, who provided the reference details for Cllr Rummery. Speeding - The Clerk had forwarded the names to PC Wood but it would appear that in the change-over from PC Wilbor the original paperwork relating to SPCs application had been mislaid. PC Wood had been asked to provide new documents for completion. 43 Richmond Road - The Clerk had provided the owner with a letter in which SPC agreed that utility companies could traverse the village green for connection purposes providing the land was reinstated to SPCs satisfaction.

VILLAGE GREENS Beck Clearance - The Clerk had asked Steve Gibbs to carry this out as soon as possible. The Clerk was asked to advise him that the padlock to Linden Road had been returned and would be fixed to the gate, so the contractors would need the key to gain access.

Tenby House - The Clerk was asked to contact both the owner of the property and the contractors regarding inappropriate parking on the village car park which was denying access to other users. The Clerk would also request that the village green currently damaged by building work should be reinstated to SPCs satisfaction. 27 Richmond Road - The Clerk was asked to contact the owner regarding the parking of a skip on the village green outside his house and also remind him to ensure that his vehicle was parked above the line of the village green.

FINANCE Precept - After discussion it was agreed that the precept would be raised by £200.00 to £5,800.00 in order to cover the anticipated payment of car park rates. This was proposed, seconded and carried unanimously. The Clerk would complete the form and return it to RDC.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS A6108 - It was reported that water was bubbling up in the area of recently completed works to alleviate flooding and water was running down the A6108. The Clerk was asked to contact the Highways Authority to seek urgent action. Highways - Meeting 15th December, 2016 - It was hoped that two Councillors would be able to attend.

DATE AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING The next ordinary meeting of the Parish Council will take place at 7.30pm on Thursday 26th January 2017 in Skeeby Jubilee Village Hall.

Yours faithfully,

Mrs F R McGregor

The Editor Darlington and Stockton Times Priestgate DARLINGTON

SKEEBY PARISH COUNCIL Meeting 2nd February 2017

MATTERS ARISING Community Parks - A brief report was received on the success of the Burns Luncheon which had been attended by forty-four people. Plans for the musical evening by Fourum were well in hand, with flyers and notices distributed and the pie and pea supp organised, and 20th February was the cut-off date for tickets. Dog Fouling - A reply had finally been received from the office of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which basically referred the Parish Council back to DEFRA, which had dealt with the initial request and it was agreed to take no action but file the correspondence for future reference Car Parks Rates - Confirmation had been received from District Council that no rates would be charged on the car park up to the end of the financial year in March 2017. Cllr Thompson was asked if he could confirm whether rates would be charged in the future and although he felt it unlikely, he could not state categorically that this would be the case. Scotch Corner Retail Park - Approval for this had been received from the Secretary of State, it was proposed that work on this would commence in the second quarter of 2017, with completion by December 2018. Speed Watch - The Clerk was still waiting for a reply from PC Woods. Average Speed Checks/NICE report - The Clerk had written to the late Cllr Heseltine regarding the NICE report and following his reply had been in touch with Highways, but so far had not received a reply as to whether Skeeby could be regarded as a test site for installation of average speed cameras instead of speed cushion. The Clerk would continue to press for a response and copy the correspondence to Cllr Thompson. Telephone Box - It was not known whether it had been disconnected. Highways England - Two Councillors had attended the meeting and reported that the work was on track to be finished by June 2017. Some delays had been experienced due to archaeological surveys and there were some complaints about access to the A1 from residents from further south. A query regarding the bund to the east of Scurragh Lane which now had a solid wood fence along the top and the Clerk was asked to contact the project manager to see whether this had replaced the proposed larger bund shown on the plans. A6108 Water Egress - The Clerk had been in touch with Highways but had not had a reply. A further email would be sent, copied to Dist Cllr Thompson to ask what progress had been made. Travellers Rest - The owner had taken the matter to the Secretary of State and it was agreed that as Richmondshire District Council already had comments from the Parish Council on record, nothing further should be added. GNAAS - A letter acknowledging a donation had been received.

VILLAGE GREENS Village Green Damage - Concern was expressed concern regarding the damage to the village green, both outside 43 Richmond Road and Tenby House, with the latter causing the most worry as there was some slippage of the bank, which the contractors kept shoring up. As both home owners had been sent letters regarding reinstatement of the green, it was agreed to monitor the situation and it was acknowledged that the owner of 43 Richmond had been in touch with the Clerk to apologise for the damage which had occurred when he was not on site and stated that as soon as it was practical the village green would be restored.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS Cycle Path - The Clerk was asked to ascertain whether the footpath from Mile Planting down to Skeeby constitutes a cycle path. Overhanging Hedge - It was reported that an overhanging bush on the footpath just west of the 30mph sign was obstructing the footpath. Speeding - Members of the public attending gave their views on speeding through the village and

asked whether any further action could be taken by the Parish Council to curb excessive speed and they were told that every action possible had already been taken by Highways, Fire and Police personnel and H&RSP and that the Parish Council was in the process of ascertaining whether average speed cameras could be installed.

DATE AND VENUE The next ordinary meeting of the Parish Council will take place at 7.00pm on Thursday 30th March 2017 in Skeeby Jubilee Village Hall and would be followed by the ANNUAL PARISH MEETING.

SKEEBY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 30TH MARCH 2017

MATTERS ARISING Community Parks - a brief report on the success of the Fourum evening. Arrangements for the Duck Race were all in hand and at the present moment no further fund raising activities were planned. Regarding the grant application this was in hand. Car Parks Rates - Confirmation had been received from RDC that no rates would be charged on the car park commencing in April 2017. Speed Watch - The Clerk had received registration forms from PC5008 Jamie Smith at York who was now dealing with the matter. Once completed, the Clerk would forward the forms. Average Speed Checks/NICE report - The Clerk had received a reply from NYCC stating that there were no plans to install average speed checks in Skeeby, nor were the Council intending to implement the findings of the NICE report. Water Egress A6108 - NYCC claim to be monitoring the problem, although it was noted that following heavy overnight rain the condition of the leak had worsened. SJVH alternative accommodation - The problem of double booking at the village hall had been resolved as the yoga class had moved to another night. It was reported that at the SJVH annual meeting, the Chairman had indicated that Parish Council use of the village hall takes priority. Cycle Path - The Clerk had spoken to both RDC and NYCC, both of whom had stated that the footpath between Mile Planting and Skeeby was not a cycle path and the Clerk would advise the complainant accordingly. Overhanging hedge - The Clerk was asked to request that the overhanging hedge adjacent to the footpath at the bottom of Skeeby Bank be trimmed. Travellers Rest - The enquiry into change of use had been held recently but no result was available. Highways England - The Clerk had written regarding the change to the planned bund at the end of Scurragh Lane, but no response had been received. As the change appeared to have been carried out over quite a large stretch of the A1 it was felt that no action would result.

VILLAGE GREENS Grass Cutting contract - It was agreed unanimously to accept the quote supplied by NYCC and the Clerk would email to confirm. 45 Richmond Road - The Clerk was asked to contact the owner regarding the exposed pipe work following laying of access for utilities to this property.

RICHTS OF WAY 53 Richmond Road - Concern was raised regarding the state of the land to the rear of this property on which piles of rubbish had accumulated, together with the lean-to building erected in the field below the property. After discussion it was decided that there was little SPC could do, but the situation would be monitored. ANY OTHER BUSINESS Railings - The Clerk was asked to contact RDC regarding the repainting of the railings to the front of 45 Richmond Road.

DATE AND VENUE The next meeting of the Parish Council will take place at 7.30pm on Thursday 25th May 2017 in Skeeby Jubilee Village Hall.