Minutes of the Town Council meeting
held on Thursday 5th August 2010 at 7:30pm
in the Annexe Thirsk & Sowerby Town Hall.
Present:
Cllrs: D. Adamson (Chair), C. Hesmondhalgh, C. Pack, M. Penson, J. Marshall, A. Morton, F. Roberts, J. Watson.
Apologies:
Cllr. J. Jackson (bereavement)
The meeting held a minutes silence for the late Mary Jackson.
230. Minutes
Resolved:
a) that the minutes of the meeting of Thirsk Town Council held on 19 July 2010 be approved as a correct record and signed by the chair subject to spelling amendments.
b) that the minutes of the Planning committee held on 19 July 2010 be received.
231. Matters arising from the Minutes of the Town Council Meeting held on 1 July 2010.
231.1 Sowerby Gateway Consultation Events
Cllr Roberts advised that she had attended the public event in Thirsk with Cllr Watson.
It was noted that the main concerns were the roads to and from the development and the drainage system.
Cllr Watson questioned what effect on Thirsk the development would have and noted that the scheme should not make things worse for the people of Thirsk.
Cllr Roberts considered that the roads and drains should be resolved and implemented before anything else went ahead.
Cllr Watson expressed concerned regarding a link road between Topcliffe Road and Station Road which could be used as a rat run. The junction with Station Road needed to be examined.
Following further discussion it was
Resolved: that the developer and HDC be made aware of the Town Council’s concern in respect of the roads and drainage system.
231.2 Minute no.216.2 Greens and Ingramgate
The Clerk advised that the Whitemare roundabout had been replanted with geraniums.
231.3 Drains in Finkle Street
The Clerk noted that NYCC had confirmed that they were to jet flush the drains.
234. Correspondence/Items Raised
234.1 Prohibition of Traffic – A61 Thirsk
The Clerk reported receipt of a copy NYCC memorandum to legal services requesting a temporary order to prohibit traffic on the A61 adjacent to Tesco’s to enable reconstruction and maintenance work. NYCC had confirmed that the closure would be from the 13 September to 20 September between 7.00pm and 3.00am daily. A diversion would be put in place.
Members were concerned about the times specified as considerable work traffic would still be using the road. It was also felt that better and more local diversion routes could be applied.
Resolved: that NYCC be advised that the Town Council considers that
a) the closure times should be 9.00pm to 5.00am to reduce the effect on traffic
b) more appropriate and local diversion routes should be applied.
235. Schedule of ongoing amenity items
235.1 A Boards – Industrial Estate.
The Clerk advised that NYCC were moving any A boards which were considered dangerous or causing an obstruction.
236. Reports from Committees/Working Parties
236.1 Carrs Field
Cllr Roberts advised that a function had taken place on Carrs Field which included break dancing, street activities and DJ’ing.
236.2 Central Areas
The Meeting received the minutes of Central areas Committee held on 13 July 2010.
Cllr Watson noted that the setting up of a working group for the Market Place had been discussed with Inspector Osborne and would hopefully involve representatives from Pubwatch, the Business Association, Thirsk in Bloom, HDC, Sowerby PC, the Police and the Town Council.
236.3 Ditches
Cllr Morton advised that A. Scargill from HDC had resolved the issue of the fly tipping in the ditch north of St. Marys Walk. He noted that it appeared that someone was discharging liquid into the ditch. The Clerk advised that HDC Environmental Health were aware of the matter and were monitoring the problem. Members felt that the EA should be involved.
Resolved: that the EA be advised of the discharge into the ditch north of St. Marys Walk
236.4 Office
Cllr Morton advised that an Office Committee had been held and had examined all options open to the Town Council in respect of future office accommodation. The future growth of Thirsk, increased workload and permanency of the office had been taken into account. Further examination of various options was now proceeding.
236.5 Open Areas
Cllr Marshall advised that J. Harron had carried out her inspection of play areas and apart from some minor issues that were being taken up with Playdale there were no particular problems.
Two large ash trees on the boundary of Whitelass and Springfield Close had been examined and a quote of £350 had been received to undertake various maintenance work The adjoining householder had agreed to meet half the cost.
Unauthorised access was been taken from several properties at Springfield Close and Whitelass Close onto Whitelass and a letter was to be sent to advise that the only access was by way of the public footpath.
A site meeting had been held with C. Thornton HDC and M. Wildin Taylor Wimpey regarding the play area and open space at the Norby development. The amenity space on the corner of the development was in order other than some minor tree maintenance. The play area was sited inside a larger area of open space. The site visit had revealed that considerable planting was earmarked for the open space which had not been revealed at the time of the initial discussions.
It had also been originally agreed to take land to the front of the site and again there had been some shrub planting in this location although this was not extensive and was low maintenance.
It had however come to light that the wall and metal fence running along the front of the site had not been passed to the property purchasers and therefore was incorporated with the land to pass to the Town Council.
Maintenance monies for the play area and open spaces had been calculated by HDC based on grass cutting and did not appear to take into account planting and shrubbery.
T. Wood of HDC had advised that the sums calculated was on the basis that the Town Council was accepting responsibility for the central play space, landscaped margins and the area in the north eastern corner of the site. He also advised that the area to the front of the site was not considered to be recreation open space and was not part of the equation. Therefore a further commuted sum would be required directly from Taylor Wimpey. Cllr Marshall noted the number of landscaped pockets on the development plan and that it had never been agreed to take these areas over.
Discussion took place with regard to the planting adjacent to the play area which was felt to be inappropriate.
Following further discussion it was
Resolved:
a) that the quotation of £350 for tree work be accepted subject to the adjoining householder meeting half the cost.
b) That a letter be sent to properties at Springfield Close and Whitelass Close regarding access onto Whitelass/Holmes
c) that HDC be questioned as to why extensive planting was incorporated into the open space adjacent to the play area and whether this was an integral part of the planning consent.
d) that HDC be requested to clarify what landscaped margins are expected to pass to the Town Council
e) that HDC be requested to clarify the calculation of the maintenance money
f) that Taylor Wimpey be advised that the Town Council would not accept the ownership or maintenance of the walls and fences adjacent to the verge area at the front of the site
g) that Taylor Wimpey be requested to advise of maintenance money for the grass verge area.
236.6 Sensory Garden
Cllr Marshall reported that the legal side of the project was now moving with the Land Registry agreeing to disapply the restriction which had prevented the land transfer to the Town Council taking place.
At the site meeting with Mark Wildin of Taylor Wimpey he had confirmed that the company would give the triangular area of land to the Town Council if the Councils solicitors prepared the documentation.
The documentation in respect of access through the library car park was to be signed at the meeting and would be completed at the same time as the land transfer.
Cllr Marshall advised that the fencing works had recommenced and two of the art features had been installed.
M. I’Anson had commenced full time employment and therefore whilst continuing project management was unable to continue on-going maintenance. He had recommended Rebecca Franks, one of the volunteers who had been involved from the concept and who was appropriately qualified.
The provision of seats and planters in the meeting area was subject to confirmation of receipt of Section 106 monies by HDC and HDC was to pursue the opening of the pathway past the Sensory Garden.
It was intended that a poetry competition would be held with the local primary schools for verse to be included within the garden features.
237. Items of Information
Cllr Marshall advised that the cinema had been offered second hand digital equipment but this equipment did not come cheaply. It was hoped that the Town Council would support and assist the Cinema in accessing money from bodies such as the UK Film Council in order to pursue the purchase of digital equipment. The partnership which NYCC was part of had allocated £400,000 for digital equipment across North Yorkshire and monies had already been allocated to Easingwold and Northallerton.
Cllr Marshall requested the Town Council to write to County Councillor Carl Les in support of the cinema.
Cllr Penson expressed concern regarding lack of Police action in respect of drinking in the Market Place on Race days, and gave several instances. It was noted that the Blacksmiths and Darrowby had doormen in place for race days.
She also noted the parking of race day coaches in the coach park rather than at the racecourse.
She considered that letters should be sent to the Police and Pubwatch regarding the on-street drinking and to the Police and HDC regarding the coach parking.
The Meeting closed at 9.24pm
Minutes of the Town Council meeting
held on Monday 16th August 2010 at 7:15pm
in the Annexe Thirsk & Sowerby Town Hall.