MINUTES OF THORGANBY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT THORGANBY VILLAGE HALL ON TUESDAY MAY 11 2010.

PRESENT:  Cllr Paul Tulip (Chairman), Cllr Jonathan Beckerlegge, Cllr David Clegg, Cllr Elizabeth Garnham,          

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

1.       APOLOGIES:  Cllr Andrew Dudley- Smith.

2.       PUBLIC SESSION.  Dan Vickers and Maureen Burkinshaw attended the public session.   

Concerns were raised regarding work to be carried out on the Horse Chestnut Trees and whether this could be delayed, until the end of the season, to prevent disturbing the bird population including Tree Creepers.  Cllr Tulip said that he would ensure that this work would not begin before the end of July.  He pointed out that the work had to be carried out to prevent accidents occurring for which the Parish Council would be liable. Environmentally sound trees would be used to replace the existing trees which are to be taken down. 

Mr Vickers requested that a service be carried out on the village mower - it was unanimously agreed that John Lewis be asked to carry out this work.  Also, as requested, that a gallon of oil be supplied.

Paul Sheppard NYCC Highways attended the meeting, by arrangement with C Cllr Casling, to discuss concerns raised by the Parish Council.  Cllr Tulip outlined these as:   Highways/ Flooding / Gritting.

Highways.   Concern was raised regarding the work to be carried out on the A19 starting in June for 16 weeks and the impact it would have with vehicles re-routing through the village.  Paul Sheppard pointed out that the work was the responsibility of York City Council and that NYCC had had discussions with YCC and raised concern about it.  NYCC had suggested that the work be carried out overnight but, unfortunately, YCC had rejected this proposal. Cllr Clegg raised concerns about 7.5 ton prohibited vehicles coming through the village.  Mr Sheppard said that Trading Standards can prosecute if a vehicle has passed illegally through a village but as access is permitted this can be difficult to prove.  NYCC will have further discussions with YCC and pass on the concerns of the Parish Council to them.

Gritting.  Two years ago a major review was carried out by NYCC and roads put into three priority zones -   Priority 1, gritting to be carried out twice daily, Priority 2, gritting to be carried out once daily and Priority 3, gritting to be carried out after 72 hrs -Thorganby being  Priority 3.  Cllr Clegg felt that as Thorganby was on a bus route not being gritted daily was an accident waiting to happen. He suggested that the priority be changed.  Paul Sheppard said that a letter could be sent to NYCC asking for this to be changed to priority 2, but pointed out that as many other villages faced the same problem he doubted whether the application would be successful. It was unanimously agreed that a letter be sent.  When asked about restriction on gritting Mr Sheppard said these were caused by the salt supply ( NYCC are looking for premises to store 15,000 – 20,000 tons more than the 6,000 tons they can store at the moment), the number of gritting machines available and the number of drivers - many of whom are contractors - and the number of hours they can work.   He said that contractors, mainly farmers, were also used by NYCC to clear roads – the nearest contractor to Thorganby being Wrights of Crockey Hill – but if snow was less then 2” deep a plough was ineffective.  Also, Grit Bins could be supplied at £85 plus VAT.  Action: Clerk to write to NYCC

Flooding.  Concern was raised regarding flooding near the sewerage works and the danger it presented during the winter months.  As this is in the remit of YCC Paul Sheppard was asked if he could pass on the concerns of the Parish Council to them.  The flooding at Roth Hill Lane to be resolved by NYCC.

The Chairman thanked Paul Sheppard for attending the meeting.

3.       The Minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday March 9 2010 were approved, proposed by Cllr Woolgar        seconded by Cllr Garnham, and signed.

4.       MATTERS ARISING.

(a)    Horse Chestnut Trees. Cllr Wright had compiled a history of the trees which he circulated at the meeting.  It was proposed that the village have a say as to the replacement trees to be planted.  Cllr Wright to produce a list of suitable trees from which residents can list their preference.  List to be sent out in Parish Magazine.   Action:  Clerk to write to Bartlett Tree Experts to postpone work until end of July.

(b)   Matrix Signs.  Nothing to report.

(c)    Planning Portal Equipment Grant. The Parish Council’s request for a grant had been turned down.  D. Cllr Inness to make enquiries as to whether a grant would be available from SDC.

(d)   Red Telephone Boxes.  BT have now signed the contract regarding the adoption of the kiosks .  They will now arrange to remove the payphone equipment.  Once this has been done they will send a completion notice and an information pack.  It was unanimously agreed to find out what villagers would like to use the Kiosks for, once this work has been completed, and to hold a competition, open to anyone in the village, to find out the best idea.  A suitable prize to be given to the winner.  Action:  Cllr Garnham to put competition details in Parish Magazine.

(e)   Parish Notice Board.  A quotation had been received from Jim Pethullis, for the plans he had been given, but he did think that the notice board was on the large size.  Cllr Beckerlegge suggested that a two-sided notice board would be more suitable, with glass on one side.  Action:  Cllr Wright to ask for a new quotation and to e-mail it to councillors when received for their approval.

5.       DISTRICT COUNCILLORS REPORT.

Gypsy  Sites.  Cllr Inness said that there had been problems with illegal gypsy sites on the western side of the area and although he did not think there would be a problem in this area asked Councillors to be vigilant and to keep their eyes open.                                      

     Committee System.  SDC are looking to move to a new Leader and Cabinet executive system

     to speed up decision making. This would mean that decisions are made by a cabinet rather than

     through the Council’s existing cumbersome route of boards and committees.

     Community Engagement Forum Meetings.   The first meeting of the new Eastern Area Community    

      Engagement Forum was held on April 14 and the main themes discussed were gritting, speeding  and  

      antisocial behaviour in Barlby.  Four Parish Councillors had been elected onto the committee and the

      next meeting is to be held on Wednesday 16 June at Barlby School .  Cllr Inness thought this to be a    

      good mechanism for getting things done.

  COUNTY COUNCILLORS REPORT. None

6.       FINANCE.  Parish Requirement 2010/2011. The first instalment of £1000.00 was received in April.                                                                                       Presentation of invoices for payment.  It was unanimously agreed to pay the following invoices: Clerks Fees and Expenses from 1/1/10 – 31/4/10 £467.63, York Road Garage £34.19, EON £61.92.  An Invoice from NYCC for £597.58 to be checked with NYCC before approval is given.

       Baxters Indices Increase 2010.  This has been fixed at 1.23%

       Audit of Accounts for year ended 31 March 2010 has been received.

7.       PLANNING APPLICATIONS.  No new planning applications have been received.

8.       CORRESPONDENCE.  A letter had been received by Cllr Dudley-Smith from NYCC thanking him for depositing the minute books of Thorganby Parish Council at North Yorkshire County Record Office.  The two volumes had been added to the other records of the Parish Council and a new copy of the list enclosed.  A Register of Electors 2010 had also been received – to be given to Cllr Dudley-Smith for inclusion on the Thorganby web site.  

9.       REPORTS ON MEETINGS ATTENDED.  Nothing to report.

10.   NEW HEDGE AT VILLAGE HALL.  It has been brought to Cllr Tulip’s attention by Joy Stromberg, Chairman of the Village Hall Committee, that the Carstairs Countryside Trust had planted a mixed variety of trees in the field next to the Village Hall and it was feared that if these trees were not maintained the view onto the Ings would be obscured.  It was unanimously agreed to send a letter to the Trust regarding the maintenance of the trees.  Action:  Clerk to write to Carstairs Trust.

11.   RINGMASTER. It was agreed that further information was required before a decision to join Ringmaster could be made.  Action:  Clerk to e-mail information to Councillors when received.

12.   ANY OTHER BUSINESS.   Cllr Garnham did not know whether the Parish Council could help but it had been brought to her attention that two children residing in Thorganby has been refused places at

        Wheldrake with Thorganby Primary School and instead had been given places at Barlby Primary School.

        An appeal had been made, by the parents, regarding this decision but any help the Parish Council could   

        give would be  very much appreciated. After further discussion it was proposed by Cllr Garnham,

        seconded by Cllr Tulip and unanimously agreed that a letter be sent to NYCC raising the council’s

        concerns that Thorganby children are being turned away from  their  local school.  Action:  Clerk to   

        write to NYCC.

       Cllr Clegg brought to the Council’s attention an article that appeared in the Daily Telegraph on 4 May

       2010 regarding speed reviews which were ordered in August 2006 by the Department for Transport. 

       He also produced a copy of the review “Setting Local Speed Limits” which he urged councillors to read. 

       One of the speed review suggestions was to use a short length of 40 mph speed limit as an

       intermediate transition to a 30 mph speed limit which Cllr Clegg though would be a good idea for

       Thorganby.  It was unanimously agreed to write to NYCC to ascertain whether a 40 mph intermediate

       transition would be possible extending out to Roth Hill Lane in the south of the village and Ferry Lane in          

       the north.  Action: Clerk to write to NYCC.

      Cllr Clegg also brought to the Council’s attention information from NYCC regarding speed checks and the

      use of mobile matrix speed message signs which were deployed by community safety officers for a

      period of time to address concerns raised by local residents - as black speed detection boxes had been

      placed in the village recently it was decided to see what action resulted from these before looking         

      further into the use of mobile matrix signs.  NYCC had also produced a leaflet “Community Safety

      Strategy 2009/11” highlighting Community Lorry Watch   – detailing how 15 local communities,  where

      environmental weight restrictions are in place, have been  taught how to pinpoint  heavy commercial

      vehicles  and report them to Trading Standards officers.

       Cllr Tulip has discovered 3 ponds in Hab Lane, where a family of Moorhens had made their home. He   

       thought that if cleaned out (they were currently full of rubbish including metal objects) they would make a

       good wild life habitat.  It was unanimously agreed that the land owner, thought to be Home Farm, be

       contacted and asked whether this could be done.  Action: Clerk to write to Home Farm.

             The meeting closed at 9.35 pm.  The next meeting is to be held on Tuesday 13 July 2010.

Signed.....................................................

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Dated......................................................