A download of the minutes, website proposals, and Broadband Research are available at the bottom

DRAFT MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD ON TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2010
IN THE OLD SCHOOLROOM, MOOR MONKTON AT 7:30PM

Present – Cllr Chris Allen, Cllr Peter Gibbs (chair), Cllr Elaine Hall (Vice Chair), Cllr Carol Walker, County Cllr John Savage (for part of meeting), Mark Pickering (Parish Clerk), 6 Parishioners

The meeting was opened by the Chair at 7:32pm.

1. Apologies for absence were received from District Cllr Martin Leather.

2. Minutes of planning meeting 15 December 2009 – These were approved and signed by the chair.

3. Community Emergency Scheme – The meeting was closed between 7:32 and 7:53 to take a presentation from Chloe Westerman and Robin Derry of HBC’s emergency planning dept. The scheme helps parishes develop contingency planning for emergencies such as flooding, severe snow, power failure etc so they can cope until the local authority can reach them and resume services. A generic plan can be adapted for local use, detailing the human and other resources available, and vulnerable people likely to need help.

Council agreed to develop a local plan and return to subject at a future meeting. It was confirmed that individuals acting under the scheme do not incur extra legal liability for their actions.

4. Matters Arising from 15 December:

Sign at Red House Lane corner and Oaklands Pothole – nil further.
Drainage East Lane – NYCC Highways still working on it.
A59 Resurfacing – likely to take place in March/April.
‘What’s on the Agenda?’ potential training – all councillors present interested in doing session; Clerk had identified five others from neighbouring councils. Clerk to email round potential dates.
Tockwith Incinerator Appeal – John Savage gave update. No appeal made yet but may come; would be very expensive for Tockwith to fight.
Village broadband access – David Kirkham spoke to his tabled paper with some potential options and costs. None are simple or cheap. To be digested and returned to at a future meeting. David would welcome discussion from interested parishioners – me@davidkirkham.com.

5. Phone box adoption (Main Street) – Further information obtained indicated the adoption was likely to be much more hassle than suggested by BT. Cowthorpe village had adopted theirs but this had taken a huge amount of effort. Electricity costs were around £150/yr. Disconnecting the electricity would cost around £300. Other additional costs and liabilities had also emerged.

Clerk to contact project manager at BT to discuss further, but this new information had turned the Council against adoption as things stand. Location of analogue landline phones could be included in community emergency scheme document (in case of power failure knocking out mobile/cordless).

6. Village Website Updating – Clerk spoke to tabled paper. Will Wright has volunteered to revamp website. Aim is to update it and make it more reflective of village life, eg adding sections for social events, parish council and Moor Monkton Mercury. Council agreed to press ahead with plans. David Kirkham suggested buying moormonkton.org or .net as we’re not a company. This idea was noted and may be returned to.

7. Financial issues:

Internet banking access – still no sign of current phone banking PIN. Cllr Allen will arrange internet banking. Question raised about accountability – cheques need two signatures, but internet can be done by one person. Cllr Allen will look into having different accounts for different users.
Parish Clerk’s wages – cheque was signed for July-December 2009.

8. Parish Council Timetable of Responsibilities – Clerk had retyped list. No additions but clerk will update later if necessary. Cllr Allen will let clerk know details of audit report timetable.

9. Planning response – The meeting was informed that Steven Asquith’s resubmitted plans with wider vehicle access for a new agricultural building on Church Lane had been approved by the council outside of the meeting.

10. Any other business:

Planning application – Beck House Farm – Application for single storey extension to existing pig breeding building. One parishioner noted the poor road condition of Marston Lane, that was likely to worsen with more industrial traffic. Council also queried whether landscaping plans had been followed for original building. Clerk to ask HBC. Otherwise council agreed to support application.

YLCA – Branch meeting 8 Feb, 7:30pm at Crescent Gardens, Harrogate. They are also offering a new web-based planning resource – clerk to confirm council’s interest.

Police – Safer neighbourhoods team are offering a control room visit. Cllr Hall will pass on to Neighbourhood Watch.

11. Date of Next Meeting – AGM, 11 May, 7:30.

The meeting was closed by the chair at 8:58pm.

Mark Pickering (Parish Clerk)
15 January 2010