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Minutes of the Town Council meeting
held on Monday 16th May 2011 at 7:15pm
in the Annexe Thirsk & Sowerby Town Hall.
Present:
Cllrs: C. Hesmondhalgh (Chair), D. Adamson, H. Mills, A. Morton, M. Penson, F. Roberts, A. Robinson, J. Watson.
Apologies:
Cllr J. Jackson (out of country)
334. Police Report
No Police representatives were present.
335. Reports on Matters Relating to Thirsk
335.a N.Y.C.C
Cllr Dadd noted the unpaid work carried out by the Town Council and thanked everybody who had again stood for the Authority. He welcomed Cllr Hazel Mills and congratulated Cllr Hesmondhalgh on her election as Chair of the Town Council.
Cllr Dadd advised that the new County Council Chairman from Wednesday was John Fort and detailed the efficiency savings to be made to equate to the 7.6 million pound deficit.
Cllr Dadd referred to the fire at Todd’s and noted that it was a relief that nobody was injured. He considered that this would be an appropriate time for Todd’s to re-consider the suitability of the site location. Cllr Dadd advised that the County Council was reviewing the passive safety decision in relation to street furniture in Long Street.
335.b HDC
Cllr Robinson advised that the first meetings of the new Council commenced on Wednesday.
Cllr Adamson gave details of the fire at Todd’s and advised that he would be happy to work with NYCC and the Environment Agency in relation to the Todd’s site.
336 Open Forum
Resolved: that standing orders be suspended
A resident advised that there was a need for public toilets in the Market Place. She advised that following the conversion of the toilets into the TIC the alleyways leading to the Town Centre were in a bad state. Members noted that the Town Council was taking over the Millgate toilets from HDC to ensure that public toilets remained in Thirsk but in view of financial constraints together with a lack of appropriate premises it was extremely unlikely that public toilets would be reinstated in the Market Place. It was agreed to pass on the comments regarding the alleyways and ginnels to the Police Authority and HDC Street Scene.
Resolved: that standing orders be reinstated
337. Minutes
337.a Town Council Meeting held on 21 March 2011
Resolved: that the minutes of the Meeting of the Town Council held 18 April 2011 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair
337.b Matters Arising from the Minutes of the Town Council Meeting held on 18 April 2011
Minute 331.b - YO7 Divert
Members were to include the body when considering being representatives.
338. Committee Minutes and Reports
338.a. Planning Committee
The Meeting received the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 18 April 2011.
338.b. Central Areas
The Meeting received the minutes of the Central Areas Committee held on 12 April 2011.
339. Burial Board.
The Meeting received the Minutes of the Burial Board Meeting held on 21 April 2011
Cllr Adamson noted the minute requesting the Town Council to suspend standing orders to accept the quotation received for resurfacing the roadway. He advised that he was examining whether the Burial Board actually pre-dated the Town Council as a stand-alone body.
Resolved:
a) that the minutes be received
b) that standing orders be suspended and that the quotation for resurfacing the cemetery road be accepted
340. Correspondence/Items Raised
340.a FD Todd & Sons – Thirsk Fire
A letter dated 5 May 2011 was received from FD Todd and Sons advising on the fire and that investigation into the cause was continuing. As had already been mentioned Members agreed that it would be an appropriate time for Todd’s to consider the suitability of the site location.
Resolved: that Todd’s be requested to give consideration to the suitability of the site location
340.b Reduced Opening Hours of Household Waste Recycling Centres
A letter dated May 2011 was received from NYCC advising of reduced opening hours of waste recycling centres. Members noted how well run the local centre was.
Resolved: that the letter be noted.
340.c Hackney Carriage & private Hire Licensing Policy – Consultation.
The Meeting received a letter dated 10 May from HDC enclosing consultation questionnaire on Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.
Resolved: that the questionnaire be completed and submitted as follows:-
Q1 Agree, Q2 Agree – aligned to PSV Drivers, Q3 Agree, Q4 Agree, Q5 Not Agree, Q6 Not agree- actual licensing policy needs reviewing, Q7 Agree, Q8 Need to provide adequate facilities for taxis.
340.d Condition of Market Place
Cllr Watson advised that HDC had stated in October 2009 that the cobbles in the Market Place would be refurbished in a £100,000 scheme and yet some 18 months later a scheme had not been implemented.
She noted that a covenant imposed in the transfer of the land to the District Council from Major Bell required the upkeep of the cobbles in the Market Place.
Cllr Adamson advised that HDC engineer was in the process of preparing a comprehensive scheme which would be submitted to cabinet next month.
Cllr Watson advised that the matter was also an item on the next Thirsk Area Forum.
Resolved:
a) that Hambleton District Council be advised of the Town Councils concern over the condition of the Market Place and in accordance with the covenant imposed would wish to see the Market Place restored to its proper condition.
b) that Thirsk Area Forum be advised of the Town Councils concerns.
340.e Floodlighting St Marys Church
The Clerk advised that following vandalism to one of the floodlights protective cages the electrician had undertaken repairs and had fitted four iron bars to the cage making it more robust.
The cost to improve all the cages would be in the region of £250.
Resolved: that subject to examination of the repaired cage all the cages be improved.
341. Finance
341.a. Accounts for Payment.
Resolved: that the accounts for payment at 16 May 2011 be approved and cheques signed.
341.b. Balance Sheet/Budget
Resolved: that the balance sheet and budget report for April be received and approved.
342. Reports from Members/Representatives
Cllr Adamson advised that soil placed on the banking of the Tranmire Ditch adjacent to the new house at the junction of Hambleton Place and Dowber Way was slipping into the waterway and a concrete lintel had been deposited in the ditch.
Cllr Adamson advised that the trial period of one Council Meeting per month had come to an end and he proposed that an item be placed on the agenda to make the arrangement permanent and amend standing orders accordingly.
Cllr Adamson advised that he had been involved with Thirsk Clock raising money through washing cars outside the premises.
Cllr Penson advised that she had attended a meeting of the Business Association in the Black Lion which had been well supported particularly by young people with local businesses.
Cllr Robinson noted that Simon Griffith had been sweeping and tidying alleyways in the Town Centre and proposed that the Town Council wrote to him to acknowledge and thank him for his efforts
Members considered that HDC Street Scene had done a good job in relation to the recent problems with graffiti.
Cllr Roberts advised that she had attended the YLCA Joint Executive Committee where it had been suggested that that the Public Rights of Way Liaison Committee be disbanded. This would be discussed in October.
Cllr Penson noted the need for a HDC Parking Enforcement Officer on weekends.
Cllr Hesmondhalgh advised that the East Thirsk Community Hall was to hold a party for the Queens Jubilee.
343. On-Going Items
Cllr Watson questioned whether there had been any progress with regard to accounts and documents in relation to Carrs Field. Cllr Roberts noted that details regarding the re-election of Trustees had not been supplied. The Clerk advised that the Chair of the Trust had expressed an interest in attending a Meeting to update members on the Trust and this would be arranged for a future meeting.
The meeting closed at 8.55pm
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