MINUTES OF THORGANBY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT THORGANBY VILLAGE HALL ON TUESDAY  3RD NOVEMBER 2009

PRESENT:    Cllr Paul Tulip (Chairman), Cllr David Clegg, Cllr Andrew Dudley Smith, Cllr Elizabeth Garnham,     

                     Cllr Doreen Knott, Cllr David Woolgar, Cllr Chris Wright. D. Cllr Bill Inness.   

1         APOLOGIES:  None

2         PUBLIC  SESSION:  8 members of the public attended the public session and a letter received from a resident who could not attend.

Cllr Tulip outlined the need for speed restrictions within the village and gave details of the solar matrix signs preferred by the Parish Council at a cost of £6300.00 for the installation of two signs.  Cllr Tulip then opened the session to the members of the public.

During discussions it was agreed that some traffic was travelling through the village at speed and restrictions were required.   It was pointed out that the bend to the south of the village did restrict the speed of traffic at the entry to the village but it then speeded up again through the village.   The position of the signs was also discussed and the need for speed control within the main part of the village. The possibility of erecting portable signs as an alternative to static signs was also discussed - it was thought that these would be less expensive and could be used more effectively in the village where traffic tended to speed up. It was agreed that the possibility of renting mobile signs, for a month, should be looked into.  Also, the possibility of a police speed trap, as this was always a good deterrent.

 D. Cllr Inness said that many other villages in the area also had problems with speeding and that he would raise the matter at the next JAG Meeting to be held in Wistow on 11 November 2009.  He also suggested that a round robin letter to the police from all villages concerned would be a good idea. 

The question of funding the signs was also raised and whether fund raising within the village would be a possibility.  As there were only about 120 houses within the speed restriction area this was not considered to be a viable option.

Other suggestions included:

.   Asking residents to keep to the 30 mph limit.

.   Asking residents to cut hedges back from pavements to ensure pedestrian safety.

As no more points were raised the public session came to a close.

Action:  Notes to be put in Parish Magazine asking residents to ensure they abide by the points above.

               To contact NYCC, if necessary, regarding garden hedges.

               Quotation to be obtained for the purchase/ hire of two matrix mobile signs.

        Cllr Tulip welcomed Jonathan Beckerlegge to the meeting and it was proposed by Cllr Dudley –     

         Smith and seconded by Cllr Garnham the he be co-opted onto the council.

3         The minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday 1 September 2009 were approved unanimously and signed.

4           MATTERS ARISING

(a)    Horse Chestnut Trees.  As Cllr Wright had still not received a revised quotation from Mark Bell it was proposed that an alternative quote be obtained.  Cllr Dudley-Smith to pass on details of another company to Cllr Wright for a new quotation to be obtained.  Cllr Woolgar stressed the need for urgency as the work should be carried out as soon as possible.  Quote to be e-mailed to councillors when received.  SDC to pay half the costs.

(b)   Website.  Cllr Tulip had contacted Skipwith Parish Council regarding setting up a Thorganby Parish Council website.  The cost would vary between £5.00 pm and £10.00 pm. Cllr Dudley-Smith thought that perhaps this was rather a grandiose idea for such a small village and Cllr Woolgar wondered how much interest there would be from residents.   Cllr Dudley Smith proposed and it was unanimously agreed that this idea be abandoned.  It was agreed that Parish Council Meeting Minutes could be e-mailed to anyone requiring a copy.

(c)    Vacancy.  Jonathan Beckerlegge has now been co-opted onto the Parish Council to fill the vacancy left by Carl Martin.  A new vacancy is to be advertised on the parish notice board for 14 days due to the resignation of Cllr Jackie Gaunt.

(d)   Matrix Signs.  Cllr Dudley-Smith proposed that it would be a waste of money to install Matrix signs in the village and it was unanimously agreed that the only solution was the need for a police presence.  Cllr Tulip proposed and it was unanimously agreed to reject the proposal to install matrix signs   Cllr Tulip asked that ideas on how to get the police involved to be brought to the next meeting.  It was also proposed that the cost of hiring a counter to ascertain the speed of traffic through the village be looked into.  Action: Clerk to follow up.

(e)   Jefferson Arms (Mona Lisa). Clerk had written to the Insolvency Service asking for information regarding the position and upkeep of the Jefferson Arms. A reply had been received advising that in accordance with the Data Protection Act they were unable to divulge information to an unauthorised third party.  Action:  Clerk to follow up with phone call.

               Cllr Dudley-Smith asked that SDC be contacted regarding the state of the eaves of the old 

               people’s  bungalows. Action: Clerk to write to SSC.

(f)      Audit Report re Grass Cutting Grant/VAT.  An invoice for the period 2006/7 had now been sent to NYCC for £450.18.  A payment of £679.41 has been received for reclaimed VAT.

5            DISTRICT COUNCILLORS REPORT.

          Road Closures

          Following concerns raised by Cllr Clegg at the last Parish Council Meeting D Cllr Innes had received     

          an assurance that the project managers and contractors were aware of the concerns raised and

           the inlay patching work to be carried out had been programmed to ensure no conflicts arise.

           Cllr Garnham did point out that when work was carried out between Skipwith and Thorgnaby no

           prior notification was given that the road would be closed.

          Refuse Collection

          Enterprise had now begun their new 7 year contract with new machinery and vehicles. Collections 

          and recycling  were working fairly well.

         Selby Centre

         Cllr Inness confirmed that work had now been completed in the centre of Selby.

         New Hospital

          Work on the new Hospital is to begin in the Spring and completion expected in 2 years time.

6           COUNTY COUNCILLORS REPORT.

  None

7           FINANCE. 

         A new bank mandate was signed.

8          CLERK’S SALARY.

        Clerk to be self employed and payment to be in accordance with the YLCA guideline.

        9     PLANNING PORTAL EQUIPMENT GRANT.  SDC has recently undertaken a Business Process Review,

               which, among other measures, identified the need to move forward with electronic consultation  

               from all Town and Parish Councils in the consideration of future planning applications. Cllr Clegg

had attended a presentation given by Mr David Hand from the Planning Portal who advised of the   grants which were available to purchase any equipment that would be required to be able to electronically view and comment on planning applications.  Cllr Clegg circulated a report on the presentation to all councillors.   It was felt that the purchase of a laptop, screen and projector had ‘got to happen’.  It was proposed by Cllr Dudley- Smith seconded by Cllr Clegg that a grant be applied for from ‘Awards for All’ a lottery website.  Application form to be downloaded from website

10        PLANNING APPLICATIONS. Retrospective planning permission for the erection of a greenhouse in   the field adjacent to Derwent House has been granted.  Listed building consent to demolish reception buildings, walls, fences and gates at Thicket Priory has been granted.  

11   DATES FOR 2010 MEETINGS.

        It was proposed by Cllr Dudley-Smith and unanimously agreed that meetings should be held    

        on the second Tuesday of January, March, May, July, September and November.

12   RED PHONE BOXES.  Due to the lack of usage of the two telephone boxes in the village BT had   

        written to the Parish Council inviting them to adopt the telephone boxes for £1 each.  The question

        of keeping the telephone boxes in a good state of repair was raised,  also, how the kiosks could be  

        used.  As one of the kiosks was located at the bottom of the garden at Rose Cottage it was 

proposed that a letter be sent to Lisa and James to ascertain their views on the adoption of the  kiosk. Action:  Clerk to write to BT to ascertain the yearly cost of maintaining the kiosks.

13     CORRESPONDENCE.  A letter was read out from Selby Citizens Advise Bureau asking for a donation,  as  this was a local charity it was proposed by Cllr Dudley-Smith, seconded by Cllr Garnham that a donation of £100.00 be sent.

14      REPORTS ON MEETINGS ATTENDED. 

        No reports were made.

15      NOTICE BOARD.  It was noted by Cllr Garnham and the Clerk that it was very difficult both pinning         notices onto the parish notice board and removing them.  Action: Cllr Wright to look into having a new notice board made.

16     ANY OTHER BUSINESS.  Cllr Dudley-Smith stated that he was up-dating the Thorganby Website as a useful exercise and requested that if anyone had any information, photographs, etc that might be of interest he would very much appreciate it if he could borrow them to put on the website.

The meeting closed at 9.35 pm.  The next meeting to be held on Tuesday 12 January 2010.