Snape with Thorp Parish Council

Minutes of a Meeting of the Parish Council held on Thursday 12 December 2024 in the Snape Institute

Present: Councillors John Duck, Liz Watson, Colin Hodges, Richard Poole, Sara Pringle and Cllr David Webster.

1. Apologies for absence – There were no apologies
2. Declarations of Interest – Cllr Duck declared an interest in item 14 and took no part in the discussion.
3. Minutes of the meeting held on 29 October, copies of which had already been circulated, were accepted as a true record and were signed by the Chairman.
4. Matters arising
   1. Financial Regulations – the Clerk reported that she had reviewed the current document against the YLCA updated version. The Clerk would undertake further work on this.
   2. Use of Phone box – the Clerk reported that she had contacted each of the groups in the Village.  She had received a positive response from the History Group and Snape Birds group.
   3. Car parking issues – The Clerk reported that she had sent the PC’s request for improvements in the vicinity of the School to the Senior Road Safety Engineer for North Yorkshire Council.  She had subsequently spoken with the Officer who was awaiting a response from his Highways colleagues before he could fully respond. 
   4. Bulb planting – there were 3 boxes still to plant.  It was RESOLVED to plant the remaining bulbs on Wednesday 15 or 22 January, weather permitting, at 1.30pm.
5. Financial matters
   1. Receipts and payments since last meeting and up to 3 December 2024

Receipts: Interest - £40.26

Payments: S Lowe (salary) £194.60; Mrs S Lowe (expenses) £21.34; Royal British Legion - £30.00; Farm & Land Services - £357.60, £1056.00; Mashamshire Community Office (printing) - £66.00

Bank accounts as at 3 December 2024

Current account – £7472.05

Deposit account – £10805.17

Deposit account re Institute - £67261.52

1. 2. Hours worked by the Clerk – It was noted that the Clerk had worked  24 hours 30 mins in October and  November
   3. Discussion of the above documents

During the discussion of the above financial situation it was agreed to make a donation of £75 to the two local Air Ambulance services and to Citizens Advice.

The Clerk advised that the CIO for the Institute was progressing and as previously discussed and agreed, once the application had been approved by the Charity Commissioner the funds in the separate bank account and the Institute building would be transferred to the new CIO.

6. Quickline – connection to Beech Close – a representative of Quickline had been invited to the meeting to present plans on the connection to Beech Close as this would involve submerging the lines under the Registered Village Green.  As no-one attended from Quickline the Council RESOLVED to offer for two Councillors to meet the representative on site.
7. Playing Field – Cllr Hodges updated the Council on works to be undertaken in the field including the cleaning of one seat, removal of the wooden picnic table and replace with the plastic table using the same concrete base, obtaining a new rubbish bin (the Clerk would pursue this action), checking the zip wire and putting up the new goalposts.  Regarding the new equipment project, Cllr Hodges reported that clarity had been obtained from the preferred supplier on a number of points.  A date and time for the draw to be held would be finalised so the raffle tickets could be printed and sold.  A number of prizes had already been deposited with the Clerk. Support from parents and the school was sought.  £2k had been obtained via the Locality Budget, £2k from the PC and other applications would now be made to seek the remainder of the funding.
8. Planning applications
   1. The following new applications were discussed. 

There were no new applications.

1. 2. The outcome of the following planning applications were noted:
      1. ZB24/01957/CAT - Works to Trees in a Conservation Area - Cherry Tree Cottage, Meadow Lane Snape - Granted
      2. ZB24/01910/CAT - Works to Trees in Conservation Area - Cedar House Snape – Granted
      3. ZB24/02010/CAT - Works to a tree in a Conservation Area - Brook House 4 Meadow Lane Snape – Granted
      4. ZB24/01837/LBC - Listed building consent for the replacement of 1No timber window to front elevation. Alterations to unblock internal doors to create new room layout - Parr Cottage And Castle View At Snape Castle Mews Snape – Granted
      5. ZB24/01702/TPO -  Works to trees subject to a Tree Preservation Order Ref - 16/00001/TPO1 tree numbers T1,T2,T3,T5,T6 - Tilia House Meadow Lane Snape – Granted
   3. Update on any other planning application

An updated plan had been submitted to NYC in connection with ZB24/01863/FUL - Application to site Shepherd Hut (5.18m x 2.55m) on driveway as a holiday let - Buckles House Snape.  This was discussed.  One Councillor stated that he considered this application was for the wrong thing in the wrong place. 

The Parish Council RESOLVED to refuse this application.  Again the Council had been presented with a plan which was not drawn to scale so the true impact of the application was not clear.  In addition the Council noted that the newly planned parking space was smaller than the standard recommended parking space of 2.5m x 5m as found on a gov.uk site.

9. Replacement of the Parish Clerk

The Council received final documentation (copies of which had been already circulated).  The documentation was agreed with some minor amendments and the timetable for the recruitment and selection process decided

10. Biodiversity

Cllr Pringle updated the Council including on a meeting she had had with the Snape Climate and Conservation Group.  An audit would be drawn up by Cllr Pringle for discussion at the next Council meeting.  Tree planting in the playing field was discussed.  It was agreed that Cllr Poole would develop a plan for limited tree planting including around the boundary and in the top eastern corner of the field.

11.  Items for the Newsletter

These were agreed; the Clerk would prepare a draft document and circulate to the Council

12.  It was resolved to exclude members of the public and press under item 13 due to the nature of the business to be transacted being prejudicial to the public interest

13.  Financial matters

1. Works to the trees in the Avenue - the Clerk presented a paper, copies of which had been previously circulated on the tenders received.  The paper was discussed.  It was RESOLVED to ask Farm and Land Services be offered the contract.  The Clerk would communicate the outcome to all those who had submitted a tender.
   1. To receive a report regarding the budget for 2025/26 and to consider the precept for 2025/26 – The Clerk had prepared a paper which outlined the current position on receipts, payments and bank balances as at 3 December.  The paper also included the expected position as at 31 March 2025 alongside a proposed budget for 2025/26.  The paper included an assessment of the outcome of the works to the Avenue tree tender.  It was RESOLVED that based on providing a balanced budget for 2025/26 the precept would be set at £9117.  This was an increase of 2.5% on the current precept.  The Clerk would notify NYC of the agreed precept before the required date of 31 December 2024.

14. Additional item – letter from a resident

A resident had written a letter, received within 48 hours prior to the meeting, asking for permission to extend a footpath at the side of her house, Lyme Lodge, on Registered Village Green.  The Council considered the request fully.  It was RESOLVED that due to consistency with other recent requests and legal obligations the Council had an obligation to protect its assets so the request must be declined.