STRENSALL WITH TOWTHORPE PARISH
COUNCIL
The Village Hall, Northfields, Strensall, York YO325XW
e-mail: strensalltowthorpePC@outlook.com
phone: 01904 491569
Chairman : Mr A H Fisher
MINUTES OF AN PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN THE VILLAGE HALL ON THURSDAY 08th MARCH 2022 AT 7.15 PM
Councillors Present: Andrew Bolton Chris Chambers Tony Fisher** Ray Maher Lawrence Mattinson Susan Nunn Kevin Ogilvy
In Attendance: Fiona Hill - Parish Clerk
Public Present: 3
** City of York Councillors
22/1 a) To receive apologies for absence given in advance of the meeting:
Parish Councillor John Chapman*
Paul Doughty**
b) To consider the approval of reasons given for absence: *Resolved - Approved (Unanimous)
22/2 To discuss the ordinary and casual vacancies: NTR
22/3 To receive any declarations of interest under the Parish Council Code of Conduct or
Members register of interests: Cllr Chambers – member of the Strensall Community Events Team
22/4 a) To approve the minutes of the Parish Council meetings of 08th and 22nd February 2022:
Resolved – Approved (Unanimous)
b) To endorse the approved Planning Committee minutes of 08th and 22th February 2022:
Resolved – Approved (Unanimous)
22/5 Public participation on any subject relating to the agenda: Bus stop on York Road near Barley Rise had been damaged, so would be reported to CYC
21/109 To receive matters raised by/with City of York Ward Councillors: Haxby Station project – the public consultation would commence soon
21/110 To discuss and, if necessary, agree action on matters arising/ongoing issues: a) North Yorkshire Police monthly reports The February 2022 report was circulated by email on 07 March 2022 b) Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022 The W.I. had invite the Parish Council to attend their tree planting at 0900 hrs on Thursday 17th March 2022. Resolved – Up to £350.00 would be spent on plants for the six village gateway sign planters and the round planters around the parish. Parish Councillors Tony Fisher and Susan Nunn, along with James Dickson, would supervise the planting. (Unanimous) C) Bench at Redmayne Square Resolved – The Parish Council would obtain quotes for a recycled plastic bench to be sited near the bus stop. (Unanimous)
21/111 To discuss and, if necessary, agree action on matters raised since last meeting: a) Light pollution – street lights with LED bulbs A Parish Councillor had emailed as follows – CYC have replaced to older yellow sodium street lights with brilliant white LED lights. Whilst led lights are more efficient from an energy saving viewpoint, the type chosen by CYC are in my opinion totally inappropriate in a village such as Strensall for the following reasons:- 1) The leds should be warm white not bright white which is dazzling to both pedestrians and motorists and interferes with wildlife 2) The lights are non directional and pollute the night sky and interferes with night black out for nearby housing. Cowls should be fitted to direct light downward and prevent glare. 3) I am not aware of any consultation with our PC before these new light heads were fitted by CYC. CYC Ward Cllr Tony Fisher had responded as follows: “There is already a CYC policy in place to replace all sodium and other lights with LED lights as they reach the end of their life. There is no requirement to consult the Parish Council. LED lights are far more energy efficient, cutting both the Council's costs and its carbon footprint. But they are also much more reliable and have a longer life, cutting costs and increasing public safety. During my time as councillor for Strensall, I have reported over 100 faulty street lights. I can only think of 3 that have been LED lights. Every one that needs repair costs engineer time to repair and risks public safety whilst it's off. The LED lights are actually more directional than the sodium lights. You don't get the same yellow sky glow from LEDs and I sometimes find it hard to judge whether an LED light is working until I get close to it. Whilst at St Andrews, the Professor of Astronomy had to ask the council there to replace all sodium lamps as sky glow was making research very difficult”. Resolved – The Parish Council asked Cllr Fisher to request that warm white rather than brilliant white LED bulbs were used in this parish. b) Grass cutting contract November 2022 draft specification Cllrs noted receipt of this specification, which would be discussed in more depth at the next meeting.
21/112 To discuss and, if necessary, agree action, on any correspondence received: a) Strensall Community Events Team – Carnival Grant Request Resolved – A grant of £1200.00 was approved towards first aid, entertainment and T-shirts
21/113 To discuss matters raised by/with Responsible Financial Officer (RFO): a) Bank reconciliation, income received, payments made to date The Parish Clerk had circulated a financial report, which is shown below b) Internal controls checks Cllr Fisher would these checks tomorrow. c) Yorkshire Local Councils Association – NTR
21/114 To confirm the date of the next meeting as Tuesday 12th April 2022 at 7.15 p.m.: Resolved – Approved (Unanimous)
