HESSAY PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT 8.00PM IN THE CHAPEL SCHOOLROOM, HESSAY, ON WEDNESDAY 8 MAY 2019
Present: Councillors Mark Barratt (Chairman), Olivia Johnson, Mike Lord and Ann Watson. Also present were City Councillor Anne Hook, six members of the public and the Clerk, James Mackman.
ANNUAL MEETING
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
None.
The Councillors present signed their respective Declaration of Office.
19.041 – TO ELECT A CHAIRMAN FOR THE YEAR
Councillor Barratt was elected as Chairman unanimously.
19.042 – TO RECEIVE THE CHAIRMAN’S SIGNED DECLARATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE
Councillor Barratt signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.
19.043 – TO ELECT A VICE-CHAIRMAN
Councillor Watson was unanimously elected Vice-Chairman
19.044 – TO APPOINT A COUNCILLOR TO ATTEND THE YLCA YORK BRANCH MEETINGS
The Chairman explained that in order to attend a YLCA Branch meeting a Councillor had to be appointed to do so by the Parish Council. Councillor Watson agreed to be the Parish Council’s representative for the YLCA and was unanimously elected.
MEETING
19.045 – TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTEREST (NOT PREVIOUSLY DECLARED) ON ANY MATTERS OF BUSINESS
None.
19.046 – TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES AND APPROVE REASONS FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received and approved from Councillor Johnson.
19.047 – TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 13 MARCH 2019
The minutes of the meeting held on 13 March 2019, having been circulated and read, were accepted and signed as a true record.
19.048 – TO RECEIVE THE CITY OF YORK COUNCILLOR’S REPORT – FOR INFORMATION ONLY
Newly elected City Councillor Anne Hook attended the meeting which was being held the day after she had officially become the member for Rural West York Ward. Councillor Hook said that she would work hard to represent the interests of the residents of Hessay.
19.049 – TO MAKE DECISIONS ON PARISH COUNCIL LAND
(a) Registration of Parish Land – To receive an update
No further news to report on this subject other than that our solicitor is endeavouring to obtain an update from the Land Registry.
(b) Hessay Pond including the provision of a picnic table
i. Councillor Watson reported that it was proving difficult to find a table which would circle a tree. One of the residents present at the meeting said that he would see if he could come up with a solution.
ii. It was noted that the vegetation in the pond is excessive and needs to be thinned out. Councillor Barratt is to move this forward. (Action Councillor Barratt)
(c) Willow Garth
No news on this subject.
(d) Allotments
No news on this subject.
(e) Thief Lane
No news on this subject.
(f) Sandpit Field
No report.
19.050 – PLANNING APPLICATIONS
(a) To note Local Authority Planning Decisions
It was noted that the Local Planning Authority had approved the following application: –
• Ref: 19/00139/FUL – Two-storey and single-storey rear extensions at The Rowans, 3 Laburnum Farm Close.
(b) To note the latest news on the proposed asphalt plant on the Hessay Industrial Estate
It was noted that the applicant had not yet lodged an appeal with the Secretary of State against the City Council’s decision to refuse the application.
19.051 – TO DISCUSS THE CONDITION OF THE VILLAGE ROADS, VERGES, POTHOLES, FOOTPATHS AND SIGNAGE IN THE VILLAGE
(a) It was agreed that Community Payback be asked to clear the vegetation off the footpath and cut back the nettles in Shirbutt Lane.
(b) It was noted that there is a pothole in front of the Church in New Road. Councillor Barratt is to report this to the City Council. (Action Councillor Barratt)
19.052 – TO DISCUSS SPEEDING VEHICLES AND COMMUNITY SPEED WATCH
It was noted that it takes at least six people to operate a scheme. There are a few volunteers, but more are needed. Councillor Barratt agreed to produce a leaflet to be delivered to the houses in Hessay giving details of the scheme, including the likely time commitment. (Action Councillor Barratt)
19.053 – TO DISCUSS THE PROVISION OF A DEFIBRILLATOR IN THE VILLAGE
The question as to what a new defibrillator should be attached to was discussed. Councillor Barratt agreed to take the subject forward. (Action Councillor Barratt)
19.054 – TO DISCUSS THE PROVISION OF BROADBAND PROVISION FOR THE VILLAGE
No further news on this subject. Cllr Watson is to endeavour to move this forward.
19.055 – TO DECIDE THE FUTURE FORMAT OF THE PARISH COUNCIL WEBSITE.
It was noted that one of the residents is interested in taking over the existing website.
19.056 – TO CONSIDER COUNCILLOR TRAINING
The Clerk gave each Councillor a list of the YLCA’s training events. It was agreed that when a new Councillor is co-opted, they will be asked to attend a suitable training course.
19.057 – TO RECEIVE A REPORT ON VILLAGE POLICING
No incidents for Hessay had been reported to the police during March and April.
19.058 – FINANCE
(a) Financial Report
The Clerk presented a detailed report showing the actual income and expenditure for the year for the period to 8 May 2019. The report reflected the receipts and payments (net of VAT) below.
The bank balances at 8 May were: –
Current Account £500.00
Business Money Manager Account £10,580.59
(b) To note accounts for payment
359 Sanderson Associates Professional fees re the Asphalt Plant £120.00
401 YLCA Annual subscription £123.00
402 James Mackman Clerk’s salary April & May £296.98
403 HM Revenue & Customs Income tax – April & May £74.00
404 James Mackman Expenses £14.54
(c) To receive a report on income received
HSBC Bank interest £2.72
City of York Council 1st half-year’s precept £1,825.00
(d) To agree to subscribe to the YLCA for 2019-20 – £123.00
It was agreed to subscribe to the YLCA for 2019-20.
(e) To agree the Annual Governance Statement on the Annual Return
The Councillors considered the questions in the Annual Governance Statement of the Annual Return. It was agreed that the Parish Council response to all the questions is “Yes” and the Chairman and Clerk signed the form.
(f) To agree the Statement of Accounts on the Annual Return
The Clerk showed the Chairman supporting evidence as to where the entries in the Annual Return had come from. The Chairman, being satisfied with the answers, put the Annual Return to the vote which was carried. The Chairman and the Clerk then signed the Annual Return
(g) To sign the exemption form for the Annual Return
It is a requirement of the external audit procedure that an exemption form is completed, signed and returned to the external auditor if a Parish Council’s income or expenditure for 2018-19 was less than £25,000. As the Parish Council falls into this category the Chairman and Clerk duly signed the form.
(h) To agree the statutory increase in the Clerk’s salary from 1 April 2019
It was agreed to pay the nationally agreed increase as from 1 April 2019.
19.059 – CLERK’S REPORT:
(a) Progress notice board refurbishment (Min 19.036c)
Mr Claus agreed to refurbish the notice board.
19.060 – TO NOTE CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED BY THE CLERK
It was noted that the correspondence received since the March Parish Council meeting listed below had been circulated to Councillors prior to the meeting
(a) Julian Sturdy MP – Two E-bulletins
(b) Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire – fire service survey
(c) YLCA – White Rose Update March 2019
(d) YLCA – Request for photos
19.061 – TO CONSIDER MINOR MATTERS
Councillor Barratt thanked Roger Hildreth, who didn’t stand for election this year, for the hard work and dedication he had given to the Parish Council for the last twenty years or more.
It was also noted that the Parish Council’s thanks should go to Chris Steward who had worked so hard, as a City Councillor, on behalf of the Parish Council, especially over the asphalt plant planning application.
19.062 – TO CONSIDER ITEMS FOR THE NEXT AGENDA
None
19.063 – TO AGREE THE DATE OF NEXT MEETING
It was agreed that the next meeting would be held on Wednesday 10 July 2019.
There being no more business the meeting was formally closed at 9.17pm.
Chairman……………………………. Date………………….…
James Mackman, Clerk 39 Calder Avenue, Nether Poppleton, York, YO26 6RG
Tel: 01904 399277 email: jmackman3@gmail.com