GREAT OUSEBURN PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a meeting of the Parish
Council held on Wednesday 21st November 2007
at 7.30 p.m.
in the Village Hall, Great Ouseburn.
Present: Mr K Scott (Chairman), Mrs J Burton,
Mrs R Kay, Mr L Paterson, Mr M Rampling,
and Mr R White.
In Attendance: Mrs Z Hopps.
2007.168 Apologies for absence were
received from Cllr B Robinson and Cllr Chris Lewis (HBC).
2007.169 Declarations of Interest.
2007.169.1
All
Parish Councillors, as Trustees of the Village Hall, declared a personal
interest in the Village Hall.
2007.170 Minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 17th October
2007 having been previously circulated were approved and signed by the Chairman
as a correct record.
2007.171 Progress Reports.
2007.171.1
Village
Design Statement (minute 2007/148.1 refers).
Cllr Paterson informed members that the questionnaire was now completed
and that copying costs would be just over £60.
It was agreed that this should be paid by the Parish Council. The questionnaire will now be distributed –
replies could be handed in at the Post Office or at Cllr Rampling’s workshop.
2007.171.2
Use
of Aldwark Manor footbridge (minute 2007.148.2 refers). The Clerk confirmed that North Yorkshire
County Council’s Definitive Map Team has prepared the Creation Agreement and
forms have been sent out to the relevant parties.
2007.171.3
Adoption
of Moor Lane (minute 2007.148.3 refers).
The Clerk advised that she had spoken to the legal department at North
Yorkshire and that a response was expected in the next few weeks.
2007.171.4
Accent
Homes development at Carrside Road (minute 2007.151.1 refers). The Clerk advised that she had not yet been
able to speak to the developer, but that she would keep trying. The land ownership has now been transferred
from Harrogate Borough Council to Accent Homes.
It was noted that complaints had been received about scrap being left on
the site, and it was agreed that a complaint should be made to the developer.
2007.171.5
Lyndlea,
Branton Lane (minute 2007.151.2 refers).
The Clerk advised that she had been in touch with the Enforcement
Officer in the planning department at Harrogate Borough Council, and had been
told that a new planning application is being submitted relating to the single
storey link extension., which will then have to be dealt with in the usual way.
2007.172 Planning applications.
2007.172.1
Outbuildings to rear of Church Hill, Main Street,
Great Ouseburn. Conversion to form 1
dwelling with 3 front dormer windows.
At this point the Chairman adjourned
the meeting and took contributions from the floor. The meeting was then reconvened.
It was agreed that the Parish Council would
respond with Option C – making comments
regarding the introduction of dormer
windows into the Conservation Area, and the setting
of a precedent for future development
along Back Lane.
2007.172.2
The Firs, Carrside Road, Great Ouseburn. Erection of detached double garage. The Parish Council had no objections.
2007.172.3
Prospect Farm House, Church Field Lane, Great
Ouseburn. Erection of detached annexe
and rebuilding of boundary wall (incl. Listed Building application). The Parish Council objected on the grounds
that the proposed building would be completely out of keeping with the main
house and with other properties in the area, and would have a detrimental
impact on the main listed building and on the streetscene. Comments were also made about the access to
the new building.
2007.172.4
The Forge, Main Street, Great Ouseburn. Felling of one sycamore and dead wooding and
crown cleaning of 1 sycamore. Concerns
were expressed over the fact that the Parish Council was not a consultee on
this matter, which is for trees right opposite the Village Green, on the Main
Street and next to a bus stop. It was
agreed that Harrogate should be contacted and asked that in future the PC
should be consulted on applications for tree works within the Conservation Area
where the trees are in a prominent position.
It was agreed that the removal of the sycamore tree would cause damage
to the appearance of the Conservation Area and a second opinion should be
sought over the need to remove the tree as every effort should be made to save
it.
2007.173 Commemorative Plaque. It was agreed that a
plaque in memory of Keith Raspin and Elliot Swann should be placed on the new
shelter on the Village Green.
2007.174 Verges on Church Field Lane and
Lightmire Lane. The present overgrown
condition of these verges was noted and it was agreed that they should be cut
at least once a year to stop them reverting back to scrub. The Clerk to contact Dalton Enterprises to
arrange.
2007.175 Internal Audit Action Plan. The Clerk advised members of the requirements
under the new audit regulations for a review of the effectiveness of the
internal audit, and it was agreed that the Chairman should liaise with the
Clerk on what appropriate measures should be put in place to carry this out. A report to be made to the next meeting.
2007.176 Parish Precept 2006/7. Budget
proposals put forward by councillors for the precept to be demanded for 2006/7
were considered, and the final budget will be approved at the next
meeting. Suggestions included:
2007.176.1
A sum set aside each year for pruning trees that
were planted by the Parish Council. The
Clerk advised that she had received confirmation from both Harrogate and North
Yorkshire that these are the responsibility of the Parish Council
2007.176.2
An increase in rents charged to allotment holders,
mooring holders, and to the cricket and football clubs, followed by annual
increases to keep pace with inflation.
2007.176.3
Removing smaller items such as seats and troughs from
the insurance policy, on the understanding that reserves should be kept for
replacing them.
2007.177 Statement of accounts for the period 1st April 2007 – 20th November
2007. The
statement of accounts for the current year and the following payments were approved
(copy appended to the minutes).
P31/07 Websters – churchyard £ 235.00
P32/07 CPC
– Village Hall sound system £ 191.54
P33/07 CPC
– Village Hall sound system £1,135.01
P34/07 The Ouseburns Youth Forum £ 250.00
2007.178 Correspondence received.
2007.178.1
Harrogate
Borough Council – Parish Briefings on new Code of Conduct. Noted.
2007.178.2
Harrogate
Borough Council – Highways Agency Agreement consultation. No comment.
2007.178.3
Harrogate
Borough Council – consultation on hackney carriage and private hire vehicle
licensing. The Clerk to respond on
behalf of the Parish Council.
2007.178.4
Harrogate
Borough Council – questionnaire on HBC’s budget 2008/9. The Clerk to respond on behalf of the Parish
Council.
2007.178.5
North
Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority – summary of accounts 2006/7. To be circulated.
2007.178.6
CPRE
York & Selby District branch newsletter Autumn 2007. To be circulated.
2007.178.7
Ripon
CVS – November 2007 mailing. To be
circulated.
2007.178.8
NYCC
Minerals and Waste Development Framework Site Allocations preferred options
consultation. It was noted that responses
must be in by 24th December.
This document and disc to be circulated, and the matter to be discussed
at the next meeting.
2007.178.9
BBC
Breathing Places Grants. Applications to
be submitted by Friday 18th January – the letter to be circulated
and the matter to be discussed at the next meeting.
2007.179 Reports from representatives.
2007.179.1
Village Hall Committee. The
sound/lighting system is nearly finished.
Fundraising is going well.
2007.179.2
Youth Forum. Thanks
were expressed for the donation from the Parish Council. Numbers are steady at present.
2007.179.3
Police Liaison Group.
No meeting.
2007.179.4
Yore Vision. It has been
agreed that the interpretation board being erected at Great Ouseburn will
feature the local links to the Bronte family.
The next meeting will be on 24th November.
2007.180 Date and Time of next
meeting. It was confirmed that the next meeting of the
Council would be held on Wednesday 19th December 2007 at 7.30 p.m. in the Village Hall, Great
Ouseburn.
There being no further
business, the meeting closed at 9.15 p.m.