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Minutes of the Town Council meeting
held on Monday 20th June 2011 at 7:15pm
in the Annexe Thirsk & Sowerby Town Hall.
Present:
Cllrs: C. Hesmondhalgh (Chair), D. Adamson, J. Jackson, H. Mills, A. Morton, M. Penson, F. Roberts, A. Robinson, J. Watson.
Apologies:
None
344. Police Report
No Police were present.
345. Reports on Matters Relating to Thirsk
345.a N.Y.C.C
Cllr Adamson advised that Cllr Dadd was away.
345.b HDC
Cllr Adamson advised that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had decided to do in-depth reviews on the leasing of Council vehicles and markets. A mini review was also to be undertaken in respect of disabled parking facilities.
Cllr Robinson advised that the new chair of the Council was Peter Sowray with Bridget Fortune as Vice Chair. Cllr Robinson was on Planning, Licensing and Thirsk Area Forum.
Cllr Jackson noted that Banbury in Oxfordshire had abandoned their parking charges scheme.
346 Open Forum
Resolved: that standing orders be suspended
Betty Woodham of Thirsk in Bloom advised of weed problems throughout Thirsk particularly in the Market Place and adjacent to the library and expressed concern that Hambleton District Council did not spray the Market Place in early April.
The Clerk advised that he had been contacted by Northallerton Prison Resettlement Manager who was interested in placing offenders into community work and projects and the weeding of areas might be something that could be included.
The Chair confirmed that a further letter would be sent to Hambleton DC requesting that the Market Place be sprayed in early April.
Resolved:
a) that standing orders be re-instated.
b) that Hambleton District Council be again requested to implement a spraying programme for the Market Place.
347. Minutes
347.a Town Council Meeting held on 16 May 2011
Resolved: that the minutes of the Meeting of the Town Council held 16 May 2011 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair subject to the transfer of Cllr A Morton from present to apologies.
347.b Matters Arising from the Minutes of the Town Council Meeting held on 16 May 2011
Minute no.339 Burial Board
Cllr Adamson advised that Burial Boards had been abolished under the Local Government Act 1972.
Minute 340.d Condition of Market Place
Cllr Adamson advised that that the report by the Engineer had not been prepared in time for Cabinet.
Minute 340.e Floodlighting St Marys Church
Cllr Adamson advised that he had inspected the improved cage and found it to be much stronger and more secure than before. He considered that the improvements were good value for money.
348. Committee Minutes and Reports
348.a. Planning Committee
The Meeting received the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 7 June 2011.
348.b. Central Areas
The Meeting received the minutes of the Central Areas Committee held on 7 June 2011.
Cllr Watson noted that J.Gallagher NYCC had advised that a ‘bung’ had not been put back into position in the drain in Kirkgate and this was to be rectified within the next fortnight. Cllr Watson also noted that she had mentioned the condition of Gillings Court and the roadway had now been repaired.
348.c Open areas/Play areas
Notes of a walk round open spaces and play areas by Cllr Hesmondhalgh and the Assistant Clerk were received. It was noted that the seat to the front of the church was to be re-sited following repair. Cllr Adamson advised that the seat around the tree on St. James Green was very well used and should not be removed. Cllr Hesmondhalgh advised that quotations would be sought for the repair and painting of the seats.
349. Burial Board
Cllr Adamson reported that the re-surfacing of the cemetery roadway was to commence on Monday 27 June and would take approximately three days.
350. Correspondence/Items Raised
350.a Skate Park
A letter dated 18 May was received from Thirsk 8 advising of the finances and shortfall in respect of the skate park to be provided for the young people of Thirsk, Sowerby and surrounding villages.
It was noted that the Town Council had agreed an allocation of £5000 in the previous financial year but this had not been paid due to the scheme not progressing at that time.
Resolved:
a) that a grant of £5000 be made to Thirsk 8
b) that it be established when the money will be required.
350.b Replacement Street Lighting.
The Meeting received an email dated 10 June from NYCC advising that it was the intention to replace approximately one hundred and ninety columns throughout Thirsk in the next few weeks. A list of the streets affected was included.
Resolved: that the information be noted.
350.c Countywide Civil Parking Enforcement – Consultation
A letter and questionnaire dated 13 June was received from NYCC.
Civil Parking Enforcement already operated in Harrogate and Scarborough and the County Council was considering implementing enforcement in the remaining five districts within North Yorkshire.
A consultation was being carried out to understand the parking issues and opinions that mattered to people.
Members questioned how the scheme had operated and functioned in Harrogate and Scarborough.
how the enforcement would be carried out.
Following further discussion it was
Resolved: that details as to how the existing scheme had operated and how the enforcement would be carried out be obtained.
350.d Land at Norby
An email dated 1 June was received from HDC advising that in principle the Council would have no objection to disposing of the land to the Town Council.
HDC required confirmation that the Town Council would reimburse the valuation fee, in the region of £250.00
Members felt that only a nominal sum should be paid for the land.
Resolved: That the nominal sum of £1.00 be offered for the land at Norby
350.e Queens Diamond Jubilee
The Meeting received an email dated 14 June from R.Smith of the Thirsk weekly News regarding the Town Council organising a Diamond Jubilee Street Party with public donations.
An email from the YLCA was also received regarding the Government being pressed to ensure that funding would be made available to help communities celebrate the occasion.
Cllr Adamson noted that for the Millennium the Town Council had bought school children a millennium ‘mug’.
Following further discussion it was
Resolved: that local bodies, associations and business groups be approached to establish the interest in pursuing a local event to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee.
350.f Thirsk and District RBL Parade and Church Service
Cllr F. Roberts advised that the Thirsk and District branch was having a parade and church service for the 90th anniversary of the Royal British Legion on 3 July.
The Branch would incur a charge of£120 for traffic management together with refreshment costs.
It was expected that Sowerby would meet half the refreshment costs.
Resolved: that the Town Council fund the traffic management costs and half the refreshment costs for the event
350.g Thirsk in Bloom/ Thirsk Clock
The Meeting received thank-you letters from Thirsk Clock and Thirsk in Bloom in respect of the grants made.
Resolved: that the letters be noted.
350.h Millgate Toilets
The Clerk reported receipt of an email from a resident of York regarding the condition of the toilets on Saturday 18 June.
Cllr Adamson advised that the problems that had occurred with the toilets had been as a result of Hambleton DC moving the cleaner to cover at Northallerton. The District Council accepted that it had been a mistake and the matter would not re-occur.
Cllr Penson advised that the general cleanliness of the toilets was poor and in particular the disabled toilet required attention.
Cllr Morton considered that the closing time of the toilets should be altered from 6.00pm to7.00pm as there were still a considerable number of people in the town during this period.
Resolved:
a) that Hambleton District Council be advised of the condition of the toilets
b) that the Council be requested to alter the closing time from 6.00pm to 7.00pm
350.i Northallerton Prison
The meeting received an email from the Resettlement Manager in respect of placing offenders into working in the local community. The prison already had placements in charity shops and local volunteering projects and would be interested in undertaking work for the Town Council.
Resolved: that the Town Council discuss work projects with Northallerton Prison Resettlement Manager.
350.j Sowerby Gateway
The Clerk reported receipt of an email from Sowerby Parish Council advising that a public meeting to discuss the Sowerby Gateway project was to be held on 6 July, between 7pm and 9pm, at Sowerby Parochial Hall.
Resolved: that the information be noted
351.k Meetings
It was noted that the six month trial of one meeting per month had expired.
Resolved: that the Town Council adopt the schedule of one Council meeting per month
352. Annual Return for the Year ended 31 March 2011
The Meeting received the annual return for the year ended 31 March 2010 together with the internal audit report undertaken by W.G Pearson ACA,FCCA of the Barker Partnership.
The meeting considered the annual governance statement and the scope and effectiveness of the internal audit.
Resolved:
a) that the statement of accounts for the year ended 31 March 2011 be approved and signed by the Chair
b) that numbers 1 to 8 on the annual governance statement be agreed and the statement signed by the Chair
c) that the standards and effectiveness of the internal audit be agreed
353. Finance
Resolved:
a) that the accounts for payment at 20 June be approved and cheques signed
b) that the balance sheet and budget report for May be received.
Committees/Representatives
Members put forward their committee and representative requirements.
Resolved:
a) that the Town Council Committees be appointed in accordance with schedule A
b) that representatives be appointed in accordance with schedule B
354. Reports from Members/Representatives
Cllr Roberts reported that she had attended the YLCA AGM and that Hambleton was no longer in the North Yorkshire Playing Fields Association.
She noted that it had been Ian Strong’s last meeting who was to retire and asked that a letter be sent wishing him a happy retirement.
Cllr Penson had attended the early part of the Business Association Meeting, which had clashed with Central Areas, and the problems with the smell from drains in the town had been raised.
Cllr Adamson noted the time spent at St James Green by Thirsk Clock and that a sponsored cycle ride from Morecambe to Saltburn was being undertaken to help raise much needed funds.
Cllr Hesmondhalgh had attended the Junior Schools swimming competition at Thirsk swimming pool.
355. On-Going Items
HDC replacement of cobbles – Market Place
Cllr Watson advised that the matter was on the Thirsk Forum to be held on 12 July.
Cllr Roberts referred to the ribbon stone adjacent to the Market Place cobbles which were in a bad state of repair and unsuitable for delivery vehicles. The NYCC local highway engineer had advised that to replace a single flagstone cost £200. The original work had been carried out with grant funding.
Cllr Roberts considered that the footpaths should be examined at the same time as the cobbles.
Part II
Resolved: that in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 the Press and Public be excluded from the Meeting for the discussion of confidential business.
356. Councillor Vacancies
The Meeting received three résumés from residents interested in filling the vacancies.
Resolved: that Mr Edward David Fraser and Mr David Duffey be co-opted onto Thirsk Town Council to fill the two vacancies
The meeting closed at 9.45pm
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