HESSAY PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL ZOOM MEETING HELD ON-LINE AT 7.00PM ON THURSDAY 18 MARCH 2021
Attending on-line: Councillors Mark Barratt (Chairman), Olivia Johnson, Mike Lord and George Ramshaw. Also present on-line were three member of the public, City Councillor James Barker and the Clerk, James Mackman.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
None.
21.018 – CO-OPTION AND INTRODUCTION OF NEW COUNCILLOR
The Chairman said that Ann Watson had resigned as Councillor and thanked her for the service she had given the Council during her term of office.
The Clerk reported that he had advised the City Council of the vacancy and had just been informed that, as no by-election had been requested, the City Council had given permission for the Parish Council to co-opt a replacement for Mrs Watson.
Councillor Barratt said that he had the names of two residents in mind and Councillor Johnson also had a name. Both are going to speak with their likely candidates to see if they have any desire to become a Parish Councillor for the village.
21.019 – TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTEREST (NOT PREVIOUSLY DECLARED) ON ANY MATTERS OF BUSINESS
None.
21.020 – TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE GIVEN IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING
All Councillors being present there were no apologies.
21.021 – TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF REASONS GIVEN FOR ABSENCE
All Councillors being present there were no reasons of absence to consider.
21.022 – TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 12 JANUARY 2021
The minutes of the meeting held on 12 January 2021, having been circulated and read, were accepted as a true record. They will be signed when circumstances allow.
21.023 – TO RECEIVE THE CITY OF YORK COUNCILLOR’S REPORT – FOR INFORMATION ONLY
City Cllr. James Barker reported: –
• That the City Council’s budget for 2021-22 is now set.
• The income from the Castle car park was £1 million less than normal in the last financial year owing to the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The consequence of this reduction in income has meant some hard decisions have had to be made on where spending cuts can be made.
• Ward funding was £22,000 for the 2020-21 year. If there are any schemes for spending the money the claim forms need to with the City Council by 31st March 2021.
• Grant schemes are capped at £3,000 per scheme but there is no limit to the number of schemes that can be put forward.
21.024 – TO MAKE DECISIONS ON PARISH COUNCIL LAND
(a) Registration of Parish Land – To receive an update
Councillor Barratt reported that the Statements of Truth are now in the hands of the Land Registry.
(b) Hessay Pond
Councillor Johnson is working on grant claims for money to be used to develop the pond area.
(c) Willow Garth
Councillor Barratt reported that all the trees from the Woodland Trust have now been planted and that the water level has risen to its normal level.
(d) Allotments
No report on this subject
(e) Thief Lane
Councillor Barratt reported having looked at the trees in Thief Lane. Some are dead, some are dying. There are gaps. It looks like no tree is in a dangerous condition. It was agreed that a site visit by the Councillors would be a good idea and then a plan of what action to take can be drawn up.
(f) Sandpit Field
It was noted that Roger Hildreth had cleared the gateway and installed a gate to the sandpit area.
21.025 – PLANNING APPLICATIONS
To note Local Authority Planning Decisions
It was noted that the Local Planning Authority had approved no Hessay applications since the January 2021 Parish Council meeting
21.026 – TO DISCUSS THE PROVISION OF TWO “VILLAGE SIGNS” AT THE ENTRANCES TO THE VILLAGE
The idea of having a village sign at each of the two entrances to the village was favourably received. Councillor Ramshaw is going to investigate the subject further. The Clerk said that he would be able to give Councillor Ramshaw details of how the Nether Poppleton Parish Council arranged for their village sign to be installed in March 2014. (Action Councillor Ramshaw and Clerk)
21.027 – TO DISCUSS THE NOISE ARISING FROM THE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
The presence of a noise which continues 24 hours a day was discussed. The noise is low-pitched, around 7 kilohertz, and can hear in many parts of the village. Its origin has proved impossible to find up to now. Residents are endeavouring to trace the source of the noise.
21.028 – TO RECEIVE A REPORT ON VILLAGE POLICING
Prior to the meeting the Clerk had given each Councillor a schedule of incidents in Hessay reported to the police in January and February 2021. The schedule was noted.
21.029 – FINANCE
(a) Financial Report
The Clerk had circulated a detailed report showing the actual income and expenditure for the year for the period to 18 March 2021. The report reflected the receipts and payments (net of VAT) below.
The bank balances on 18 March were: –
Current Account £500.00
Business Money Manager Account £9,818.72
(b) To note accounts for payment
390 Hessay Methodist Church Grant towards room hire £120.00
391 James Mackman Salary – February & March £299.40
392 HM Revenue & Customs Income tax – February & March £74.80
393 James Mackman Expenses £8.74
(c) To receive a report on income received
HSBC Bank interest £0.35
City of York Council Double taxation grant £331.01
(d) To consider adopting electronic banking for payments in place of cheques
The Chairman explained that this item was to make a decision on the principle of internet banking and not the detail. The Councillors agreed in the principle and the Clerk is to circulate details of how the system would work which will be considered at the May Parish Council meeting. (Action Clerk)
(e) To appoint an internal auditor for 2021-22
It was agreed that Linda Cariss be re-appointed the Parish Council’s internal auditor for 2021-22.
21.030 – CLERK’S REPORT:
(a) Progress on the refurbishment of the notice board (Min 21.013a)
It was noted that the work still needs to be done. Because of the way that the notice board is constructed it is not possible for it to be taken away and refurbished indoors. The work has to be done on site and is, therefore, dependant on the weather.
(b) Progress on the replacement of the matting in the playground (Min. 21.013b)
There is no sign of replacement matting. It was assumed that the Covid-19 restrictions are playing a part in the delay.
21.031 – TO NOTE CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED BY THE CLERK
It was noted that the correspondence received since the January Parish Council meeting listed below had been circulated to Councillors prior to the meeting
(a) CYC – Local Government Re-organisation
(b) Explore York Libraries & Archives – Census 2021 details
(c) Julian Sturdy MP – Two Newsletters
(d) Selby District Council – Local Government Re-organisation
(e) YLCA – North Yorkshire Police, ‘Ask The Experts – Safer Internet Session’
(f) YLCA – Notice of York Branch meeting on 11 February
(g) YLCA – Rights to Regenerate questionnaire
(h) YLCA – Survey Monkey questionnaire re remote meetings
(i) YLCA – White Rose Update
(j) York NHS – Four Wheels – Covid-19 offer
(k) Yorkshire Green – Consultation newsletter
21.032 – TO CONSIDER MINOR MATTERS
None.
21.033 – TO CONSIDER NEW ITEMS FOR THE NEXT AGENDA
None.
21.034 – TO AGREE THE DATE OF NEXT MEETING
It was agreed that the next meeting would be held on Thursday 25 March 2021 specifically to discuss two planning applications which had not made it on to the agenda for the 18 March meeting. A decision as to where and when the May meeting and the Annual Parish meeting will be held will be agreed when more is known about the Government’s guidelines for dealing with the ending of the Covid-19 pandemic.
There being no more business the meeting was formally closed at 8.03pm.
Chairman……………………………. Date………………….…
James Mackman, Clerk 39 Calder Avenue, Nether Poppleton, York, YO26 6RG
Tel: 01904 399277 email: jmackman3@gmail.com