Thirsk Town Council

Minutes of the Town Council Meeting
held on Thursday 1st April 2010 at 7:30pm in the Annexe,
Thirsk & Sowerby Town Hall

Present:
Cllrs: D. Adamson (Chair), C. Hesmondhalgh, M. Penson, F. Roberts, J. Watson.

Apologies:
Cllrs: J. Jackson (abroad), J. Marshall (appointment), A. Morton (appointment), C. Pack (unwell).

165. Minutes
Resolved:
a) that the minutes of the meeting of Thirsk Town Council held on 4 March 2010 be approved as a correct record and signed by the chair.
b) That the minutes of the Meeting of Thirsk Town Council held on 15 March 2010 be approved as a correct record and signed by the chair.
b) that the minutes of the Planning committee held on 15 March 2010 be received.

166. Matters arising from the Town Council Meeting held on 4 March 2010.
166.1 Litter Bin adjacent to Railway Station
The Meeting was advised that the litter bin would be provided without cost due to it being sited on part of the highway.
166.2 Central Areas
It was noted that the work to Mill Gardens and re-painting of the bus shelter had been completed.

167. Correspondence/Items Raised
167.1 Letter dated 22 March from SELRAP re: re-opening of the Colne to Skipton missing rail link.
The Clerk reported the letter which requested the Town Council to send a message of support for the re-opening of the missing rail link.
Resolved: that a letter of support be sent.
167.2 Parking on A170
The Clerk reported receipt of a letter dated 29 March from Sutton under Whitestonecliffe Parish Council regarding cars parking on the A170.
Resolved: that the letter be referred to the NYCC Highways department.
167.3 Equipment Demonstration Thirsk Fire Station
The Clerk reported receipt of a letter dated 25 March from County Councillor Huxtable inviting representatives to an equipment demonstration on 22 April.
Resolved: that Cllrs Penson and Watson attend the demonstration.
167.4 Affordable Warmth and Fuel Poverty
The Clerk reported receipt of a letter dated 16 March 2010 from the Home Energy Efficiency Programme Co-ordinator HDC offering to give a presentation.
Resolved that the letter be noted
167.5 Traffic Management Training for Event Organisers.
The meeting was advised of a letter dated 17 March 2010 received from NYCC regarding traffic management training.
Resolved: that the letter be noted
167.6 Bus Shelter
The Clerk reported receipt of a letter from Mrs T. Diment regarding paint damage to her sons coat and trousers following the re-painting of the bus shelter.
Resolved: that the cost of the coat and trousers in the sum of Ł27.00 be reimbursed.
167/8 Ongoing Amenity Items
167.1Tree Assessment Survey
The Clerk advised that no contact had been made following the instruction in January, and a reminder had been sent.

168. Minutes/Reports from Committees /Working Parties
168.1 Central Areas
The Meeting received the Minutes of the Central areas Committee held on 2 March 2010.
Cllr Watson advised that the policy regarding delivery and collection of sandbags was being established and a follow-up on the re-laying of the cobbles in the Market Place.
168.2 Ditches
The Clerk advised that no response had yet been received from Barratts.
168.3 Greens and Ingramgate
The Clerk advised that the topographic survey had been commissioned.
168.4 Sensory Garden
The Clerk advised that all applications for grant aid had been submitted with supporting details and receipted invoices.

169. Items of Information
Cllr Roberts advised that the waste bin adjacent to the shop at the White Mare roundabout had been removed. The matter was been pursued with the District Council
Cllr Watson reported that the Town Hall had received a Big Lottery grant of Ł10000 which was to be utilised for work to the roof and toilets.
Cllr Adamson noted a likely date of the General Election was 6 May which clashed with a Town Council meeting.
Cllr Penson advised of trees cut down at Millgate Bridge.
Resolved: that the Town Council meeting scheduled for 6 May 2010 be cancelled in the event of a general election on that date.

The Meeting closed at 8.45pm

Minutes of the Town Council Meeting
held on Monday 19th April 2010 at 7:15pm in the Annexe,
Thirsk & Sowerby Town Hall

Present:
Cllrs: D. Adamson (Chair), C. Hesmondhalgh, J. Marshall, A. Morton, A. Pagram, M. Penson, A. Robinson.

Apologies:
Cllrs: J. Jackson (abroad), C. Pack (unwell), F. Roberts (Holliday), J. Watson (Holliday),

170. Minutes
Resolved: a) That the minutes of the Meeting of Thirsk Town Council held on 1 April 2010 be approved and signed by the Chair
b) That the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 1 April 2010 be received.

171 Police Report
Inspector T.Osbourne was in attendance for the item.
Inspector Osbourne advised that that the formation of a problem solving group was being examined which would involve local councils and organisations to enable a wider view on issues affecting the Town.
The Police had again utilised a market stall at the market to allow discussion with members of the public and a dispersal order had been applied for in respect of various areas.
Cllr Robinson questioned the enforcement of the on street drinking ban on race days and Inspector Osbourne advised that all duty Officers were made fully aware of the situation.
Problems with parking in Chapel Street were noted and Inspector Osbourne advised of the lower crime figures for the year to date.

172. Reports on Matters relating to Thirsk
172.1 Hambleton District Council
Cllr Robinson advised that the TIC was an item on the HDC Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
The recommendation was that the move of the TIC be deferred until 30 September 2010.
The report also stated that Thirsk Town Council had not responded to the offer of leasing 49 Market Place. It was noted that no formal consultation had been submitted or relevant details such as the actual cost of the lease.
Cllr Marshall suggested that the Town Council needed to give full consideration to the whole issue. Following further discussion it was
Resolved: that Hambleton District Council be advised that the Town Council wish to give full consideration to the matter with all relevant details available.

173. Matters arising from the Minutes of the Town Council Meeting held on 15 March 2010.
173.1 HDC – Market Stalls
Cllr Adamson reported on the consideration of the markets stalls at the Prosperity and Places OSC. 173.2 Long Street
Members noted the continued bad condition of the road surface at Long Street.

174. Finance
174.1 Accounts for Payment
Resolved: that the accounts for payment as at 19 April 2010 be approved and cheques signed. 174.2 Monthly Balance Sheet and Budget Report for February/March 2010
Resolved: that the balance sheet and budget report for February/March be received and approved

175. Correspondence/Items Raised
175.1 Business against Crime Hambleton – letter dated 15 March from BACH
The meeting received a letter from BACH advising of details of the consortium and requesting a contribution of Ł50 to continue the provision of lanyards in Thirsk.
Resolved: that a contribution of Ł50 be made to Business against Crime Hambleton.
175.2 Review of Passenger Transport Services/Home to School Transport Services in Hambleton and Surrounding Area – letter dated 19 March from NYCC
The meeting considered a letter from NYCC relating to a review of passenger transport services.
Resolved: that the letter be noted
175.3 Alzheimer’s Society – Letter dated 19 March from Hambleton/Richmond Branch
A letter detailing the work of the local Society and the need for volunteers was received.
Resolved: that the letter be noted
175.4 Urban Grass Cutting – Letter dated 29 March from NYCC
The Clerk reported receipt of a letter from NYCC advising of the payments in relation to grasscutting for 2010.
Resolved: that the letter be noted.
175.5 Local Council Insurance – Letter from AON
The Clerk reported receipt of a letter from AON advising that the administration of the Local Council Insurance policy had been transferred from Allianz Insurance Plc.
Resolved: that the letter be noted
175.6 Town Hall Hire Charges
The Clerk advised the meeting of notification of increase in room hire charges from April 2010 based on an average 2% which in effect would mean an additional 0.20pence per hour for the Annexe. Cllr Robinson questioned whether the charges for meeting rooms at Rural Arts was known and suggested that the scale of charges be obtained to compare the charges.
Resolved: that the scale of hire charges at Rural Arts be obtained
175.7 CCA Salary service
The Clerk reported that the cost of payroll service by the CCA was to rise to a monthly processing fee of Ł4.50 per name per payroll run with a minimum cost of Ł13.50 as a result of the annual cost of the payroll licence, projected overall costs of the Association and requirement to ensure staff remain fully conversant with the requirements of HM Revenue and Customs.
Resolved: that the Town Council continue with the payroll service provided by the CCA.

176. Burial Board Report/Applications for Memorials
Cllr Adamson advised that it was intended to hold a Burial Board meeting in the near future to discuss a number of matters.

177. Reports
177.1 Members
Cllr Robinson noted that not all of Todd’s Skip lorries utilised nets on the skips causing waste to fall which was a particular concern in the Town Centre.
Cllr Morton advised that the highway signs at St. James Green were still difficult for motorists to read and required cleaning.
Resolved:
a) that a letter be sent to Todd’s requesting that nets be used on all skip wagons
b) that the cleaning of the highway signs at St. James Green be pursued with NYCC
177.2 Representatives
Cllr Marshall advised that she had attended a meeting of the Civic Society and had been advised that there had not been a meeting of the Conservation Area Advisory Group for several months.
The Clerk advised that he understood that there had been no recent applications and that on occasions there was also problems regarding numbers attending.
Cllr Marshall considered that the Group was set up to meet on a regular basis.
Cllr Hesmondhalgh advised that a new Booking Clerk had been appointed for the East Thirsk Community Hall.
Cllr Marshall reported that following selective work to trees on the Millennium Green at the rear of properties other trees had been unprofessionally cut resulting in all the trees in the specific area having to be cut down to ground level.

The meeting closed at 8.50pm