SNAPE WITH THORP PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Annual Open Parish Meeting held on Tuesday 30 April 2024 in the Institute

1. Present: Parish Cllrs John Duck, Richard Poole, Colin Hodges, Liz Watson and Sara Pringle, County Cllr David Webster, a representative of NY Police for item 3 and 8 members of the public.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 18 April 2023 were agreed as a true record and signed by Cllr Duck.
3. Policing matters – A representative of the Police was present and presented the police report for the month for Snape; there had been one incident of damage.  She referred to Community Messaging which individuals could subscribe to and receive up to date policing information for their area.  In discussion the issue of poor parking in the village, cold calling and Neighbourhood Watch were discussed.  The presentative advised that she would provide the Clerk with information on cold calling and Neighbourhood Watch.  She advised that if there were instances of cold calling residents should ring the police and they would investigate and take action as necessary.
4. Parish Council main activities/update for the year:

• Precept and finances – Cllr Duck advised that the precept for 2024/25 had increased very slightly to £8895 from £8858.  This minor increase had been as a result of the Council taking the decision to hold the precept at the previous year’s level. 
• The Council had supported a request from the Climate and Conservation Group to use pre-seeded turf to encourage wild flowers to grow in one bay of the Avenue. Excluding VAT which could be reclaimed this had used £191 of the £1k bequest from Mr Linton Gaunt. 
• Grass cutting and maintenance had cost £2179 in 2023/24.  This cost represented 24% of the precept.  After grass cutting the other main regular payment in year was the salary costs for the Clerk. 
• Insurance had increased slightly; the Council was nearing the end of a three-year contract with the insurance company.  
• In year, the Council had spent £568.40 on planting a tree, purchasing plaques and bulbs in recognition of the Coronation of King Charles III.
• The Council continued to publish a newsletter after each of its meetings to ensure everyone was fully updated on discussions, new projects etc.  This was now costing around £50 each occasion.  Those present indicated this was a useful resource.
• The website continued to be used to publish information regarding the Council and village groups
• An unexpected cost during the year was on the defibrillator with the need to replace the battery pack at a cost of £334.  Annually, the Council put a small reserve aside to fund future replacements of the battery and pads.
• A new laptop had been purchased at a cost of around £600.
• All payments made exceeding £100 were listed on the PC’s website. 
• The regular income comprised the precept, bank interest and a small annual wayleave.  In addition the Council recovered VAT repayments and a payment of £332 from North Yorkshire Council for the urban grass cutting undertaken by the Parish Council.  In discussion, a resident expressed his thanks for the mowing undertaken by another resident of the grass at the west end of the Avenue.    
• Cllr Duck reported on a number of Highways issues –
  • He advised that the Council still sought a revision to the winter gritting routes to include the school and Ings Lane.
  • The Council continued to raise issues with the Highway Team around the flushing of blocked drains, signage, and the continuing problems of actual or near flooding at the Marina Bridge.  He advised that residents could personally report issues direct to the Highways team via the portal.
  • Cllr Duck referred in detail to the Marina bridge and action taken to protect houses by using sandbags and bales.  Three of the Councillors had removed grit upstream from the bridge as this was required before the NY Highway’s team would clear out under the bridge.  There was discussion of other possible approaches to relieve the pressure here but it was concluded that the bridge with its low clearance level was the flooding pinch point; the alternative to the bridge was a water splash but this was unlikely to be introduced.
• Planning issues
  • Cllr Duck reminded the meeting that the Council had been consulted on all planning applications affecting the parish.  In particular, the Council had been represented three times at the Planning Committee when the Prices Paving’s application had been considered.  Whilst the outcome was not what everyone had wanted the Council had worked hard to put forward arguments to represent the views of parishioners on a number of significant issues.
• Playing Field
  • Cllr Hodges reported that the annual RoSPA report in September 2023 showed the playing field was in a good state of repair and was safe.  The Council undertook weekly checks in summer and fortnightly ones in winter.    
  • New steel goal posts have been purchased and once the surface had dried out these would be installed via volunteer help led by Cllrs Hodges and Poole. 
  • It was good to see that more regular use was being made of the field by the School.
  • The Council had agreed to a request from the school and parents for a small number of additional pieces of equipment for younger aged children and a seating area for outdoor classes to be installed.  The hard work of raising the funds via grants and activities would now commence; some of the latter would be led by parents.
  • A request had been received from a parishioner for tree planting in the playing field.  In view of the Council’s bio-diversity duty the Council had considered limited planting in the southern part of the field.  There was discussion concerning infilling in the hedge and ensuring the hedges were adequately maintained.
  • One of the attendees enquired if consideration had been given to adult exercise equipment.  Cllr Duck advised that should there be a formal request from residents for this alongside support for fund raising the Council would consider this.  However, the land had been transferred to the Parish Council on the basis that it remained a play area for children so any additional items could not interfere with this requirement.
• Avenue
  • A tree survey had recently been undertaken at a cost of £900.  The Council had been pleased to see that the recommendation had been for works to be undertaken on only a small number of the old trees in the Avenue and on a number of trees on the main green.  All these works needed to be actioned within a 12 month period.  The survey included trees on the green of which a small number also need action within 12 months
  • The new wild flower turf would not be included in the grass cutting of the Avenue to allow the flowers to grow. The Conservation and Climate Group would be undertaking maintenance of this area.  The area between the old trees would be mowed after the daffodils had died back.
  • It was noted that the Council had agreed to have a more regular cut of the village weather permitting.
• Emergency planning – Cllr Duck announced that an ex Parish Councillor had led on this in the past and should anyone wish to volunteer to lead this they should contact him.
• Institute – Sarah Lowe, Chair of the Institute Committee reported on the activities at the Institute and the major projects including the move to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, the double glazing and solar panel project and the building extension.  Grants were being applied for to fund the extension although the Committee also had reserves to make a considerable contribution to these costs.  She advised that should anyone wish to see the Institute’s accounts they should make contact with her.  Thanks for the hard work of the Committee were given by those present.
• Show Committee – Colin Hodges, Treasurer of the Show Committee gave a presentation on the success of last year’s show and the plans for the 2024 show.  The number of entries and the number of visitors had both increased last year.  It was noted that the Committee had donated £500 to the Institute for which Mrs Lowe expressed grateful thanks. Mr Hodges advised that new members of the Committee were being sought.  A number of ideas for other entertainment activities to include on the day were raised.
• Motor Vehicle Activated System – Cllr Hodges gave a presentation on the statistics generated from the equipment.  This had been reported in the recent newsletter. 
• Bio-diversity – Cllr Pringle reported on the new duty for the Council on bio-diversity.  She had attended a recent webinar which had explained this duty.  She referred to the things currently being undertaken by the Council and the new activities which would be occurring for example adding links and information to the website.  A resident referred to a wild meadow which had been created in Fearby and asked if the Council might consider leaving the green uncut to convert to meadow.
• Report from North Yorkshire Council – Cllr David Webster provided an update on the NYC
• Village maintenance and appearance:

The Clerk reminded the meeting about the problems caused by inconsiderate dog owners who did not clean up their dog’s dirt.  She reminded that any occurrences should be reported to the Dog Warden. 

She thanked those who litter picked in the village and those who were involved in clearing the weed from the beck.  She advised that without this volunteer help to keep the village clean and tidy the Council would need to employ someone to do this work

Thanks were expressed to the Council for the hard work they undertook on behalf of the Community.

There being no other business the meeting closed at 8.30pm