Draft – subject to approval
EARSWICK PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting of Earswick Parish Council, held in Earswick Village Hall on Monday 11th July 2022.
Councillors present: D Jones
G Offler
P Leveson
BS Wiseman
E Dowsett
Members of public present: 2
1. Apologies for absence
Clerk (B O’Connor), Cllr Bell
2. Declarations of Interest and Any Other Declarations
None.
3. Minutes of Previous Meetings
The minutes for the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council (PC), and the Parish Council Meeting held on the 16th May 2022, were approved as accurate records by the Councillors and signed.
4. PCSO Introduction
Earswick’s new PCSO, Chris Pritchard introduced himself and listened to some of the issues within Earswick..
5. Galtres Garden Village Presentation
Mark Hawthorn of Galtres Garden Village Development Company and Eamonn Keogh of O’Neil Associates gave a presentation on the proposed Galtres Garden Village development.
6. Ward Councillors’ Reports
Ward Cllr Doughty / Fisher gave a brief report about the proposed changes to the Fire Station at Huntington.
7. Clerk’s Finance Report & Authorisation Of Expenditure
The following pre-authorised payments (incl VAT where appropriate) have been made from the Barclays bank account since the Parish Council (PC) meeting on 16th May 2022:-
· B O’Connor’s salary for May & June 2022
· For Village Hall cleaning: £150 (May), £120 (June)
· British Gas payments for the Village Hall - £42.04
· E-on Next payments for the Village Hall - £16.26; £49.06
· Business Stream payments for Village Hall water rates - £12.5; £54.27
· Business Stream payments for standby £7.33
· Hallmaster (Village Hall booking software licence £224.40
· Bus Shelter Lease £100
· Public Open Space maintenance – May £1,656, June £1,440
· Insurance £753.48 including £31.80 authorised by email
· Mole removal £120
· ICO (Daya Protection) £35
· Planter £39
· Sovereign Playground equipment £5,627.04
· A Hill – POS Maintenance £1,440
There were also internal transfers as follows:
· £249.26 from the RBS tennis account to the Barclays Account
· £543.89 from the Nat West VH account to the Barclays Account
The following amounts have been received by the PC into the Barclays account since reported at the meeting on 16th May 2022:
· £707 VH Bookings
· £260 in tennis membership fees;
8. Ratification of Payments
The PC approved the following payments:
i. £32 - Treatment of Community Garden Lawn
ii. £223.34 – printing of newsletter
iii. £5.98 - reimburse Cllr Leveson - cable ties
iv. £335 – Steel & Maw - dealing with fallen tree
v. £66.53 - reimburse Cllr Leveson – Village Hall items
vi. £26.50 - reimburse Cllr Leveson – Village Hall utensils
vii. £12 - reimburse Cllr Offler - keys £12
9. To discuss & agree action related to closing RBS accounts
The matter was discussed and it is now seen as safe to close the RBS Current & Savings accounts as they are no longer used. The money from them will be transferred into the PC’s Barclays a/c as soon as possible. Action BSW/PL/BOC
10. Revised Asset Register
The change in the value of the Village Hall was agreed and the revised asset register was signed by the Chairman.
11. Clerks Hours
The matter was discussed and it was agreed that the Clerks hours should be increased to 50 hours a month, and that this should be backdated to the start of February which is when Mr O”Connor took over as clerk. Action BOC/PL/BSW
12. Planning Applications
The following planning applications were approved by City of York Council:
· 21/00531/EXTH 20 Lock Huse Lane (retrospective planning application for garden office)
· 22/00208/FUL 21 The Garden Village, Earswick, YO32 9TP (installation of wood burning stove + flue pipe)
· 22/000633/FUL Earswick Grange Moor Lane YO32 9LL (Two storey side extension)
And to discuss and agree actions related to
13. Monthly Equipment Check
A check was carried out by Cllr Offler and a report circulated prior to the meeting. There has been further damage to the artificial grass in the goal mouth and the Cllrs would like the clerk to make a report of criminal damage on the 101 online reporting system Action BOC
All the benches and arbours in the scented garden need varnishing and Cllr Offler was asked to get some quotes. Action GO
14. Implications Of Weekly Hiring Of Village Hall By Age UK
The implications of the above on housekeeping were discussed and it was agreed that our current cleaner should be asked to do an extra visit of one hour on a Friday to clean the toilets, fill the soap dispensers and check the oven and cooker, This will cost £20/week. The clerk was asked to write to the cleaners Action BOC
The state of the oven will be monitored, and as and when it needs cleaning, we will arrange for it to be done by an oven cleaning company - quotes to be obtained nearer the time.
The need for extra storage cupboards was discussed it was agreed that we should not purchase a further cupboard.
15. Implications Of Potential Closure Of Fire Station
The matter was discussed. The clerk was asked to write to the office of the PFC. stating that Earswick PC does not support the changes, mainly because it leaves the north of York exposed to the times that could be taken for staff to travel in response to a call. Action BOC
16. YLCA Membership
Our membership of the Yorkshire local Councils Association was discussed and it was decided that Earswick PC should remain a member of the YLCA
17. Change To Standard Orders Resulting From Earswick Parish Council Having Withdrawn from CYC’s Joint Standards Board
The matter was discussed and the changes agreed. BOC to publish revised version on the website. The PC thanked Cllr Wiseman for her work on this Action BOC
18. Replacing Bench On Path From LHL Car Park To Haxby Footbridge
The matter was discussed and Cllr Offler agreed to try cleaning the bench Action GO
19. Ratification of decisions
The PC ratified the following decisions:
i. To request CYC to improve road markings at the end of The Village/Strensall Road. (as a result of request from resident). This work has now been done and a ‘thank you’ letter received from the same resident.
20. Date Of Next Meeting
It was agreed that the date of the next meeting would be changed from 12th September to 19th September.
21. Items for information
Items for information – to include any reports from Councillors attending meetings as representatives of the Parish Council, any updates on Neighbourhood Watch, and items for the next agenda.
Cllr Wiseman reported that the piling on the river Foss near the weir was excellent.
Cllr Wiseman reported that she has resigned from the Liaison Committee of the YLCA
Cllr Jones told the meeting the contracts for the POS and Flower Meadow are up for renewal next April and as the precept needs to be set in November we need to put the notice out for tenders so that we can have applications in by mid September. Please could the clerk send out maps of the areas maintained to all the councillors so that everyone can comment on any changes that they feel can be made to the maintenance contract bearing in mind that longer grass is more difficult to cut. Action BOC
The meeting closed at 9.10 pm.
B O’Connor
Clerk To Earswick Parish Council