GREAT OUSEBURN PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a meeting of the Parish Council held on Wednesday 19^th April 2006 at 7.30 p.m.
in the Village Hall, Great Ouseburn.

Present: Mr K Scott (Chairman), Mrs J Burton, Mrs R Kay, Mr B Robinson and
Mr M Rampling.

In Attendance: Mrs Z Hopps.

Also present were 6 members of the public.

2006.49 Apologies for absence. No apologies for absence were received.

2006.50 Declarations of Interest.

2006.50.1 All Parish Councillors, as Trustees of the Village Hall, declared a personal interest in items relating to the Village Hall.

2006.51 Minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 15^th March 2006 having previously been circulated were approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record

2006.52 Accent Housing Development at Carrside Road. (This item brought forward). The Chairman introduced Mr Simon Garnett-Spence from Accent Yorkshire, who made a brief presentation based on the contents of a letter sent to the Parish Council on 3^rd April. He confirmed that the drawings had not changed substantially from those seen before, and he outlined the various stages that the proposal will have to go through before planning permission is sought from Harrogate. These included informal discussions with the Highways Authority (formal feedback would be via the planning process) and surveys of the site, including a thorough investigation of what may or may not be beneath the ground. Councillors asked for clarification on several points, including the area defined as ‘the Ouseburn District’ in the 2003 Housing Needs Survey, the status of the development with regard to s106 (commuted sums) payments, the restrictions to be placed on ownership and the planned selling prices for the houses.
The meeting was then adjourned for contributions from members of the public, and Mr Garnett-Spence answered questions from the floor.
After further discussion it was agreed to make a request to Accent Yorkshire for the draft figures for pricing and discounting these properties, and also to request a copy of the ground survey report when it was available. In addition, it was agreed to investigate the history of how Harrogate Borough Council acquired the title to this land, as it had at one time been part of Lord Knaresborough’s estate.

2006.53 Progress Reports.

2006.53.1 Basketball court (minute 2006.40 refers). The Clerk reported that Harrogate Borough Council had advised her that planning permission would be required for this project. Additionally, the cricket club had made a request that the fencing around the new section of basketball court be made higher and painted white. This was because the new section of court will be behind the wicket, and the white colouring would act as a sight screen. The cricket club have offered to pay for any additional costs incurred. It was agreed that this should be incorporated in the planning application.

2006.53.2 Spring Clean (minute 2006.45.1 refers). The Clerk reported that a long section of Boat Lane had been cleared by the Girdham family, who were thanked for their efforts. Church Field Lane had been cleared of the small amount of rubbish left behind by the gypsies, and offers had been made to clear other parts of the parish in advance of the Open Gardens Day.

2006.54 Planning decisions notified by Harrogate Borough Council. The following decisions were notified by the Borough Council:

2006.54.1 Avenue House, Branton Lane, Great Ouseburn. Retention of two-storey side & rear extensions with two dormer windows front porch and chimneystack. Refused. Now the subject of planning enforcement consideration.

2006.54.2 Land comprising OS field nos 0050 & 0029, Church Field Lane, Great Ouseburn. Erection of agricultural barn for use as hay/straw storage, sheep lambing area and machinery storage. Refused.

2006.54.3 Ousebank Farm, Boroughbridge Road. Erection of two-storey side extension. Application withdrawn.

2006.54.4 Wayside, Carrside Road, Great Ouseburn. Erection of two-storey side extension, single storey front conservatory, single storey rear extension and formation of new access. Application withdrawn.

2006.55 Questions from Councillors. Cllr Rampling asked if the Village Hall Committee could be asked to improve the accuracy of their minutes. Cllr Kay agreed to pass the request on.

2006.56 Enforcement of Speed Limits. It was agreed that enquiries should be made of the Highways Authority regarding the installation of another vehicle-activated sign, to be installed near the school. The Clerk to write to the bus company to request that the buses slow down before entering the village.

2006.57 Condition of the Roads and Tipping on Roads. The current condition of the roads was noted, and it was agreed to write again to the Highways Authority about the various potholes.

2006.58 Damage to Trees. It was noted that four of the young trees in Church Field Lane had been ‘barked’ quite badly by the chains of ponies tethered to them. It was agreed that there was no remedial action that could be taken.

2006.59 Village Hall Committee. Cllr Burton was appointed the Parish Council’s representative on the committee for the year to April 2007.

2006.60 Community Emergency Plan. The template provided by North Yorkshire County Council was noted, and it was agreed that the plan should be circulated so that the various sections could be completed.

2006.61 Village Design Statement. The Chairman explained the purpose of a Village Design Statement and the benefits of such a Statement being incorporated into Harrogate Borough Council’s Local Development Framework. It was agreed that the Clerk should make initial enquiries of Harrogate Borough Council and other Parish Councils to find out more about how Village Design Statements are drawn up, and to give the matter publicity in the next Newsletter. It was agreed that this would require the setting up of a committee to deal with the work involved as and when the project was started.

2006.62 Statement of accounts for the period 1^st April 2006 – 18^th April 2006 The statement of accounts for the current year and the following payments were approved (copy appended to the minutes):
P1/06 Harrogate Borough Council – non-domestic rates £ 90.93
P2/06 Yorkshire Local Councils Association – subscription £143.00
In addition the Clerk’s salary and expenses for the fourth quarter of 2005/6 (£481.58) were approved.
It was noted that the external audit fee for the 2005/6 accounts might possibly be at the higher rate of £260 (instead of £125) because gross income and expenditure both exceeded £25,000 in that year.

2006.63 Correspondence received.

2006.63.1 Harrogate & Area CVS – Funding Bulletin April 2006 and other documents. To be circulated.

2006.63.2 YLCA – gratuities and the new taxation regime for pension schemes. To be circulated.

2006.63.3 North Yorkshire County Council – ‘Our plans for your local tip’. To be circulated and given publicity in the next Newsletter.

2006.63.4 North Yorkshire County Council – review of contracted bus services. It was noted that the 142 bus to Ripon currently has an average of one passenger per journey, subsidised at the rate of £7.94 per passenger. This service will be monitored and reviewed again in 2007.

2006.63.5 Harrogate Borough Council – changes to charges for plastic sacks etc. Noted.

2006.63.6 Hambleton District Council – LDF Statement of Community Involvement. To be circulated.

2006.63.7 Sanctuary Housing – notice of vacancy at Branton Court. The Clerk reported that she had given this matter publicity in the last Newsletter.

2006.63.8 North Yorkshire County Council – Village Green application. It was agreed that a site meeting should be arranged between the various interested parties.

2006.64 Reports from representatives.

2006.64.1 Village Hall Committee. No report.

2006.64.2 Youth Forum. No report.

2006.64.3 Police Liaison Group. No report.

2006.65 Matters for inclusion on the next Agenda. The proposed lease of land to extend the playing field, and moving the path of the bridleway from Brown Lane to Boroughbridge Road.

2006.66 Date and Time of next meeting. It was confirmed that the next meeting of the Council would be held on Wednesday 17^th May 2006, immediately following the Annual General Meeting, in the Village Hall, Great Ouseburn.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9.50 p.m.