HESSAY PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT 7.00PM AT THE CURLEW FIELDS FARM CAFE, HESSAY ON WEDNESDAY, 18 JANUARY 2024
Present: Councillors John Savage (Chairman), Tom Hildreth, Anne Hook and Emilie Knight. Also present were one member of the public and the Clerk, James Mackman.
24.001 – CO-OPTION AND INTRODUCTION OF NEW COUNCILLORS
Tom Hildreth was co-opted on to the Parish Council and signed his Declaration of Office.
24.002 – TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTEREST (NOT PREVIOUSLY DECLARED) ON ANY MATTERS OF BUSINESS
None.
24.003 – TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE GIVEN IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING
All Councillors being present there were no apologies.
24.004 – TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF REASONS GIVEN FOR ABSENCE
None.
24.005 – TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 29 NOVEMBER 2023
The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 29 November 2023, having been circulated prior to the meeting, were approved and signed.
24.006 – PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
None.
24.007 – TO RECEIVE THE CITY OF YORK COUNCILLOR’S REPORT – FOR INFORMATION ONLY
City Councillor Emilie Knight gave a short report.
City Councillor Anne Hook reported: –
• The Big Conversation from CYC is a long questionnaire to collect residents’ asks for transport in all its form for the next ten years. It would be great if as many residents as possible filled in at least one of the questions, especially buses, so we might get a good bus service in the next ten years. The consultation expires on 4 February.
• The budget proposals were released on 17 January and include many cuts to address the shortfall in funding. Proposals include charging for green bins and cuts to the funding of the library service.
• Explore are protesting any cuts to their funding but it is worth a reminder that the mobile library service which visits Hessay enables residents to borrow books, return books from other libraries, request books and update library cards or York Cards. Use it or lose it!
• The budget proposals will be discussed in full council on 22 February.
24.008 – TO RECEIVE THE CLERK’S REPORT:
(a) Progress on the new website for the Parish Council (Min. 23.080a)
It was noted that the new website is now live. The Clerk reported having downloaded the minutes for the last six years and the information required under the Transparency Code. The statistics on the website show that it has had 71 visitors in the seven days since it went live.
24.009 – PLANNING APPLICATIONS
(a) The Councillors considered the planning applications received since the November Parish Council meeting as listed below: – Details of Planning Applications Comments
Ref: 23/02348/CLU – Certificate of lawfulness for use of land and the building for storage of motor vehicles at OS Fields 0025 and 1124, York Road.
The Parish Council objects on the following grounds
• We question the length of time of the claimed usage.
• Special circumstances for development in the Green Belt are not being satisfied.
• We believe that the site has been deliberately concealed from view from the A59.
• We seek assurance that existing hardcore is not contaminated and is suitable for development.
• We seek assurance that the access to the site will be assessed in line with current highway standards.
• Should the certificate be granted it should only be for the storage of small vehicle of the sort that we currently believe are stored on the site.
(b) To note Local Authority Planning Decisions
It was noted that the Local Planning Authority had approved the following application: –
• Ref: 23/01840/FUL – Two-storey rear extension and single-storey side extension at Shirbutts, York Road, YO26 8JX.
It was noted that the Local Planning Authority had refused the following applications: –
• Ref: 23/02039/FUL – Erection of storage building and change of use of surrounding land for storage of motor vehicles (retrospective) at OS Fields 0025 and 1124 York Road – Eastings: 452073, Northings: 454265.
24.010 – FINANCE
(a) Financial Report
The Clerk presented a detailed report showing the actual income and expenditure for the year for the period to 18 January 2024. The report reflected the receipts and payments (net of VAT) below:
The bank balances on 18 January were: –
Current Account £100.00
Business Money Manager Account £10,892.32
(b) To note accounts for payment
29 BP Zurich Insurance Annual insurance premium £257.60
30 CHG HSBC Bank charges – Oct/Nov £8.00
31 BP James Mackman Salary – December/January including back pay to 1 April 2023 £449.60
32 BP HMRC Income tax on above £112.40
33 BP James Mackman Expenses inc. SLCC contribution £28.44 – £39.19
34 BP Upper Poppleton PC Stationery contribution for 2023 £20.00
(c) To receive a report on income received
HSBC Bank interest £38.54
HMRC VAT refund £218.10
(d) To consider making a donation to the Chapel School Room
It was agreed to make a donation of £120 towards the use of the Chapel school room for the current financial year. (Action Clerk)
(e) To consider the Budget for 2024-2025 and set the precept
The Councillors considered the proposed budget that the Clerk had circulated prior to the meeting. It was agreed that the precept for 2024-25 be increased to by £200 to £4,200. The Chairman and Clerk signed the form.
(f) To agree to pay a proportion of the Clerk’s SLCC subscription (£28.44)
It was agreed that the Parish Council would pay £28.44 towards the total of this year’s subscription of £229.00.
24.011 – TO MAKE DECISIONS ON PARISH COUNCIL LAND
(a) Registration of Parish Land – To receive an update
No report.
(b) Hessay Pond
No report.
(c) Willow Garth including discussion on the future of the sheds
It was agreed to defer discussion on the subject of the future of the sheds.
(d) Allotments including discussion on the well It was noted that there has been a change of tenants.
Councillor Savage reported that he and Stuart Cariss had inspected the well and that it was a brick-lined well, fenced but not child proof. It was agreed that the well should be capped with railway sleepers and Councillor Hildreth and Stuart Cariss agreed to carry out the work. The Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman, was authorised to commission the work when the cost was known.
(e) Thief Lane
No report.
(f) Sandpit Field
No report.
24.012 – TO DISCUSS, THE CONDITION OF THE VILLAGE ROADS, FOOTPATHS, VERGES, AND SIGNAGE IN THE VILLAGE.
(a) It was agreed that residents should report the incidents of potholes by way of the internet, to the City Council or to Fix My Street. The Clerk is to advise residents of the details of the two websites on the Hessay Facebook Community page. (Action Clerk)
(b) It was agreed that the City Council’s Executive Member for Economy, Place, Access and Transport be invited to attend the March Parish Council meeting. (Action Clerk)
24.013 – TO PROGRESS THE VILLAGE SIGNS
It was agreed not to pursue this subject for the time being.
24.014 – TO CONSIDER COUNCILLOR AND CLERK TRAINING
Details of YLCA training courses are circulated to Councillors on a regular basis. It was agreed that none of the forthcoming courses were required.
24.015 – TO RECEIVE A REPORT ON VILLAGE POLICING
The Clerk said that no incidents in Hessay had been reported to the police in November 2023 but that there had been one incident in December 2023.
24.016 – TO NOTE CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED BY THE CLERK
It was noted that the correspondence received since the November meeting, as listed below, had already been circulated to the Councillors.
(a) CYC – Response to No Through Road signs query
(b) CYC – Xmas/New Year waste collection details
(c) Open Spaces Society – OSS Subscriber eZine – December 2023
(d) YLCA – NALC Chief Executive’s Bulletins
(e) YLCA – White Rose Bulletins
(f) YLCA – Website password change
24.017 – TO CONSIDER MINOR MATTERS
None.
24.018 – TO CONSIDER NEW ITEMS FOR THE NEXT AGENDA
None.
24.019- TO AGREE THE DATE OF NEXT MEETING
It was agreed that the next meeting would be held at 7.00pm on Thursday 14 March 2024 in the room adjacent to the ice-cream parlour at Curlew Fields Farm, New Road.
There being no more business the meeting was formally closed at 8.40pm
Chairman……………………………. Date………………….…
James Mackman, Clerk 39 Calder Avenue, Nether Poppleton, York, YO26 6RG
Tel: 01904 399277 email: jmackman3@gmail.com