Minutes of the Meeting of Thirsk Town Council held on Thursday 17 April 2014 at Thirsk and Sowerby Town Hall Present: Cllrs: J Watson (Chairman), D Adamson, H Dalgleish-Brown, D Duffey, E Fraser, C Hesmondhalgh, M Penson, F Roberts. Apologies: None received Cllr J Jackson A minute’s silence was held in memory of the late Cllr Jim Jackson who passed away on 21 March 2014 following a short illness. C261 Police Report PCSO Walker reported the latest crime figures. She advised that the concern regarding heavy goods vehicles travelling through Thirsk Market Place had been passed on to the traffic police and that 20 HGVs had been stopped going through Thirsk. She also advised of an incident close to the Tesco roundabout where a cyclist had been knocked off a bicycle and sustained injuries. C262 Reports on Matters Relating to Thirsk (a) NYCC Cllr Dadd’s apologies were submitted. No matters were reported. (b) HDC Cllr Adamson reported that an economic study of the area had been completed which indicated that Hambleton appeared to be in a better position than many areas and that the unemployment figure was very low at 5%. Cllr Adamson noted that the trees adjacent to the town clock in the Market Place had been removed by Hambleton District Council. Several members expressed concern regarding the lack of consultation in this respect. Cllr Watson understood that the trees had been removed for health and safety reasons and that there would now be consultation prior to the redevelopment of the area. Cllr Penson stated that she had been shocked to find the trees had been removed and felt that the reasons given by HDC were not justified. C263 Open Forum Resolved: that standing orders be suspended. Mrs Konieczny attended the meeting to complain about the difficulties faced by wheelchair and pushchair users in negotiating the pavements around the Market Place due to uneven surfaces. The Clerk stated that he would pass on the comments to North Yorkshire County Council. Mrs Konieczny was also concerned about flood risks and enquired if the Town Council was aware of any plans for dredging the River Cod Beck. The Clerk advised of the various issues discussed with an officer of the Environment Agency during a walk along the riverside and that he would pass Mrs Konieczny’s concerns on to the Environment Agency. Resolved: that standing orders be reinstated. C264 Minutes C264(a) Town Council Meeting held on 17 March 2014 Resolved: that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Town Council held on 17 March 2014 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. 1 C264(b) Matters Arising C223(b) Site of Cherry Tree on Stockton Road The Clerk advised that the resident who had requested a replacement tree on Stockton Road had agreed to contribute £25 towards the cost of stump grinding works. Resolved: that the offer be accepted. C244(g) Bus Subsidy Reduction Implementation Cllr Adamson advised that the new bus timetable had been published following the removal/reduction of bus service subsidies and noted that the Sowerby – Norby 152 route would continue to operate. C246 Finance The Clerk advised that confirmation had been received from the bank authorising Cllrs Adamson and Hesmondhalgh as new Town Council cheque signatories. C256(g) Tour de France - Turn the County Yellow – Planting/Flowers The Clerk advised that he had advised Thirsk in Bloom of the email regarding planting in yellow to celebrate the Tour de France Grand Depart to Thirsk in Bloom. C251(b) HDC – Cycle Racks Cllr Adamson advised that he had discussed the provision of cycle racks with the engineer at Hambleton District Council and that further cycle racks would be provided as part of the ongoing improvements to the Market Place. C265 Committee Minutes and Reports C265(a) Planning Committees held on 17 March and 3 April 2014 The meeting received the Minutes of the Planning Committee held on 17 March and 3 April 2014. Resolved: that the Minutes be received and noted. C265(b) Central Areas Committee held on 21 March 2014 The meeting received the Minutes of the Central Areas Committee held on 21 March 2014. Cllr Fraser gave an update on the difficulties he had encountered regarding the Aspire building. Cllr Watson requested Mr Stuart Minting to prepare an article for publication in the press concerning the poor condition of the Aspire building and the Town Council’s attempts to rectify the situation. Resolved: that the minutes be received and noted. C265(c) Greens and Open Areas Committee held on 27 March 2014 The meeting received the Minutes of the Greens and Open Areas Committee held on 27 March 2014. Resolved: that the Minutes be received and noted. C266 Burial Board The meeting was advised that further repairs were needed to the cemetery wall and that two alternative quotations had been received. It was felt necessary to accept the higher quotation for repairs using bricks as a very visible part of the cemetery wall was affected Resolved: that applications for memorials for Gwendalucy Mather and Roy McCallum be approved. C267 Correspondence/Items Raised (a) Proposed Pedestrian Crossing - Front Street, Norby The meeting received an email dated 25 March 2014 from North Yorkshire County Council advising that the proposed pedestrian crossing would be a zebra type 2 crossing as opposed to a push button controlled crossing which had been anticipated. Resolved: that North Yorkshire County Council be requested to examine whether a light controlled crossing could be installed at a different location on Front Street, Norby. (b) Urban Grass Cutting The meeting received a letter dated 19 March 2014 from North Yorkshire County Council confirming the contribution to be paid towards grass cutting of highway verges for 2014/15. Resolved: that the letter be noted. (c) Town Hall Room Hire The meeting received a letter from Thirsk and Sowerby Town Hall advising of an increase in fees for room hire. Resolved: that the letter be noted. (d) Street Naming and Numbering – Former 52 St James Green The meeting received a letter dated 21 March form Hambleton District Council confirming the formal postal address of the above development as 1 – 8 Little Green Mews, Piper Lane, Thirsk. Resolved: that the letter be noted. (e) Meadowfields Extra Care Housing Scheme The meeting received a bulletin dated March 2014 from North Yorkshire County Council concerning the Meadowfields Extra Care Housing Scheme. Resolved: that the letter be noted. (f) Thirsk Cricket Club - Sponsorship of Cricket Match Ball The Clerk advised that a letter had been received from Thirsk Cricket Club requesting that the Town Council sponsor a cricket match ball during the 2014 cricket season. Resolved: that the Town Council sponsors a cricket match ball during the 2014 cricket season in the sum of £30. C268 Policy for CCTV Provision at Public Toilets The Clerk circulated a draft policy document and Code of Practice with regard to the proposed installation of CCTV at the public conveniences in Millgate. Resolved: that the draft policy document and Code of Practice be examined by members of the Public Convenience Committee prior to consideration at the next Town Council meeting. C269 Extraordinary Meeting Resolved: that an extraordinary meeting of the Town Council be held on Monday 23 June 2014 at 7.00 pm to consider the Annual Return for 2013/14. C270 Finance Resolved: (a) that the accounts for payment as at 17 April 2014 be approved and cheques signed; (b) that the Balance Sheet for March 2014 be received and approved; (c) that the Budget Report for March 2014 be received and approved. 3 C271 Reports from Members/Representatives Cllr Roberts advised that she had attended a recent YLCA meeting at which the charging of business rates for public toilets had been discussed. Cllr Duffey reported that he had attended a recent meeting of the Children’s Centre steering group and that there had been a request to use Carrs Field and the Millennium Green for children’s activities during the school holidays. Cllr Dalgleish-Brown reported that there had been no meetings of Thirsk & District Business Association during the previous two months. Cllr Fraser advised that he would be attending the St George’s Day Parade on 26th April. Cllr Watson advised that she would be attending a parade by RAF Leeming in May. C272 On-going Items Nothing to update. The meeting closed at 8.30 pm. 4 Minutes of the Annual Town Council Meeting held on Monday, 19 May 2014 at 7.00 pm at Thirsk and Sowerby Town Hall Present: Cllrs: J Watson (Chairman), D Adamson, H Dalgleish-Brown, D Duffey, E Fraser, C Hesmondhalgh, F Roberts, A Robinson. Apologies No apologies were received. 1. Election of Chairman Resolved: that Cllr J Watson be re-elected Chairman of Thirsk Town Council for 2014/15. 2. Election of Vice-Chairman Resolved: that Cllr D Adamson be elected Vice-Chairman of Thirsk Town Council for 2014/15. The Clerk read a letter of resignation received from Cllr Penson. Town Councillors noted the hard work undertaken by Cllr Penson particularly concerning Millgate toilets. Resolved: that a letter be written to Cllr Penson thanking her for her contribution as a Town Councillor and requesting that she continue to carry out some duties as a volunteer. 3. Minutes of the Annual Town Council Meeting held on 20 May 2013 Resolved: that the minutes be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair. 4. Matters Arising There were no matters arising. 5. Committee Reports for the year ended 31 March 2014 The meeting received Committee reports. Resolved: that the Committee reports for the year ended 31 March 2014 be received and noted.