Snape with Thorp Parish Council

Minutes of a Meeting of the Parish Council held on Wednesday 25 September 2024 in the Schoolroom, Snape Methodist Church

Present: Councillors John Duck, Liz Watson, Colin Hodges, Richard Poole, Sara Pringle, two Trustees of the Snape Men’s Shed for item 8, a representative of Snape Climate and Conservation Group for item 9 and Cllr David Webster.

Note: Items 8 and 9 were taken earlier than on the agenda but are included in the minutes below on the basis of the original order on the agenda.

1. Apologies for absence – There were no apologies
2. Declarations of Interest – There were no declarations of interest.
3. Minutes of the meeting held on 21 May, copies of which had already been circulated, were accepted as a true record and were signed by the Chairman.
4. Matters arising
   1. Car parking issues – The Clerk enquired if a note about courteous and legal parking should be issued again in the village.  It was RESOLVED that the Clerk should contact the Police to seek approval to do so.
   2. Accidents on the Carthorpe corner – The Clerk reported that she had heard from the contact in Highways; he had advised that the road surface improvements should occur in February 2025.  He had also offered that his name and contact details be given to anyone who came off their bike on the corner as he would like to speak to these cyclists.  The Clerk would prepare a note with his contact details.
   3. Annual Accounts – The Clerk reported the recent receipt of the notification of exempt status notice from the Auditors.
   4. Financial Regulations – this would be deferred to the next meeting
   5. Quickline – The Clerk reported that she had heard from Quickline and they were still in discussion with Broadacres about connecting this area so there was no further news concerning the crossing of the green.
5. Policing matters – no representative of the NYC Police attended.  The reports provided by them for June, July and August, which had already been circulated, reported no crimes had occurred in Snape during this period. 
6. Financial matters
   1. Receipts and payments

Receipts: NYC £354.67 (grasscutting); Northern Electric - £3.45 (wayleave); Bank Interest - £79.74

Payments: S Lowe (salary) £273.05, £131.94, £25.18, £37.67; S Lowe (expenses) £16.85; HMRC £143.20; YLCA (membership £147.00; Mashamshire Community Office (printing of newsletter) £36.00, Farm & Land Services - £436.80, £489.60, 888.00; Insurance £415.19; Information Commissioner’s Office - £35.00 NYC £40 (licence for raffle for the Playing Field).

Bank accounts as at 19 September 2024

Current account – £5506.09

Deposit account – £10764.91

Deposit account – £64214.13

It was noted that further funds of around £200 would be required for the repairs to the village pump.

1. 2. Hours worked by the Clerk

It was noted that the Clerk had worked a total of 32 hours 45 minutes since the last meeting.

7. Playing Field
   1. General report – Cllr Hodges advised that the recent RoSPA report had been received and was quite favourable with no major risks although some equipment was in need of cleaning and the wooden picnic table need to be repaired, but in discussion it was RESOLVED to remove this item.  The waste bin needed replacing so the Clerk would contact NYC on this.  Another issue raised in the report was a moveable fence; it was RESOLVED to write to the occupiers of the property to ask for this to be made more stable and in so doing to emphasise that the existence of this fence did not give formal rights to cross the playing field.  The weekly checks were being undertaken.  The zip wire chain cover had been repaired.  The new Goal posts would be installed and as a consequence the field would need to be closed. 
   2. Toddler equipment - Cllr Hodges advised that a tendering process had been undertaken and the Under 5s group and School had been consulted on the proposals from the companies.  Fund raising, via a raffle, was underway by the school and parents

8. Request from Snape Men’s Shed – Two Trustees from the recently established Men’s Shed attended the meeting and presented a letter and paper, which had already been circulated. The Men’s Shed was offering an opportunity for local men to meet up, create new friendships, offer a recreational space and helping with wellbeing.  Currently, the Shed was based in a resident’s outbuilding but the Men’s Shed was seeking a permanent home and was seeking the support of the Council to help it secure a new base.  In discussion, the Council congratulated the setting up of this group but could not offer any suitable base for the Group.  However, the Council RESOLVED to include a statement on the Shed and premises in the forthcoming newsletter.
9. Snape Climate and Conservation Group – A representative of the Group attended to present the request already circulated in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Council. This request was to use land at the east end of Ings Lane to create an area which the Conservation and Climate Group could improve with a wild flower meadow, reposition of the dog bin, repair to the gate posts etc.  In discussion it was noted that this was not PC land.  It was unclear whether it was owned by Highways, as it abutted a road that was their responsibility, or Thorp Perrow Estate, as it was the area in front of land owned by the Estate.  The Council RESOLVED to contact Highways and Thorp Perrow Estate to clarify ownership.  During the discussion the representative was asked about the Group’s view on the outcome of the project in the Avenue to increase wild flowers and she was asked to report back on this and clearer plans for the land to the side of Ings Lane once ownership had been confirmed.  
10. Highway matters:  Following an audit of the village undertaken by Cllrs Duck and Hodges the following issues had been identified:
    1. Road sign at west end of the Avenue – no sign pointing to Well
    2. Road sign at Salmon lane – no sign pointing to Bedale
    3. Road surface on western corner of Meadow Lane
    4. Road surface at Low Park
    5. Uneven pathway at the western end of Meadow Lane
    6. No street lamp number on the lamp outside Cherry Tree Cottage

It was RESOLVED to raise all of these items with Highways and in addition a street light out on Beech Close.  A letter would be sent to a resident about a tree over hanging the footpath.

11. Phone box – The meeting discussed a number of ideas for the Phone Box’s use but did not reach any decision.
12. Cleaning of the millennium stone – It was RESOLVED to leave the stone as at present
13. Purchase and planting of 3000 daffodil bulbs – Cllr Pringle had ordered the bulbs which would need planting by early November.  It was RESOLVED to plant them in week commencing 28 October.  Those involved in both cleaning the beck and removing the resulting weed debris were thanked for their hard work.
14. Planning applications
    1. The following new applications were discussed.  All were approved by the Council.

• ZB24/01414/LBC - Listed Building Consent for removal of internal stud wall between 2 bedrooms to create 1 bedroom - Snape Castle Mews
• ZB24/01536/FUL - 2 number single storey extensions and conversion of existing garage – Shalom, Ings Lane
• ZB24/01693/CLE -  Application for a Lawful development certificate (existing use) to confirm the implementation of planning permission for demolition of existing dwelling and associated buildings and proposed construction of 3no. new build detached dwellings Ref. No: 20/01460/FUL - Howden Hill, Ings Lane
• ZB24/01800/CAT - Works to 14 Trees in a Conservation Area - Snape Trees, Snape
• ZB24/01800/TPO - Works to 7 Lime Trees subject to TPO 1997/02 - Snape Trees The Avenue, Snape

      The outcome of the following planning applications were noted:

• ZB24/01325/FUL - Two storey rear and single storey front porch - 2 West End Cottages Snape – Granted
• ZB24/00100/CAT - Application for works to tree (to crown thin Magnolia tree by 5% and crown reduce/shape by 10-15%) in a conservation area - Beck House, 1 Meadow Lane, Snape – Granted

15. Bio-diversity  – Cllr Pringle stated that the Council was meeting its duty as it continued to support bio-diversity in the parish.
16. Bedale Villages and Community Forum – Cllr Watson had attended the last meeting and reported that the Forum was seeking input from villages to the Forum’s strategic plan.
17. Items for the Newsletter – a number of items for inclusion in next newsletter were agreed.  The Clerk formally announced that she was resigning her post but would remain in place until a new Clerk was found and would also support the new appointee.  She was thanked for her service over the last 27 years. This would be included in the newsletter.  The Clerk would prepare a draft version of the newsletter and circulate it to Councillors.
18. To resolve to exclude members of the public and press under item 19a due to the nature of the business to be transacted being prejudicial to the public interest - The Council RESOLVED to exclude members of the public and press under item 19a
19. Outcome of tender and financial matters

1. Under 5s equipment tender – The Clerk had prepared a summary of the tenders received and the consultation that had taken place with the Under 5s group and the School.  This summary had already been shared with Councillors.  It was noted that 4 businesses had been approached and 3 submissions had been received.  The Council discussed the information submitted from all the tenderers and it was RESOLVED that HAGs was the preferred supplier.  The Clerk would communicate the outcome to those who had submitted a tender.  Cllr Hodges and the Clerk would discuss the tender in detail with the representative of the successful company.
2. The Council also discussed the funding for the project.  It was RESOLVED to use £2k of Parish Council funding which had been allocated in the budget for project funding towards this development and in addition the Bedale and Villages Forum, Nevilles Trust and Freemasons would be approached.

The meeting closed at 9.00 pm.