MINUTES OF ORDINARY MEETING OF NEWBY AND SCALBY PARISH COUNCIL
held virtually on the Zoom platform, on Wednesday, 9th September 2020 at 7pm
PRESENT: Councillor R Towse (Chairman), Cllrs. D Bastiman (left 8.28pm), E Black, P Harriott, R Holliday (left 8.10pm), D Langmead, D Sutton, RI Thompson, D Wiles.
ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Borough Cllr. Sharma (left 8.28pm), 1 member of public, Mrs J Marley (Clerk).
ABSENT: Cllrs. S Foote, R Pickersgill.
The meeting was called to order at 7pm.
83/20 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Received & accepted from Cllrs. Foote & Pickersgill (health).
84/20 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:
84/20.1 Received from Cllr Bastiman (non-pecuniary – agenda items 10-12 as he was a substitute member of SBC’s Planning Committee).
85/20 MINUTES
85/20.1 Having been previously circulated, the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 12th August 2020 were approved as a correct record and Cllr. Towse was authorised to sign them.
PROCEDURAL MATTER At 7.03pm, Standing Orders were suspended to allow the Public Open Forum.
86/20 PUBLIC OPEN FORUM No matters raised.
PROCEDURAL MATTER At 7.04pm, Standing Orders were resumed.
87/20 EXTERNAL REPORTS
87/20.1 Police:- The report for Scalby (emailed to councillors on 7/9/20) was received & noted. Cllr. Towse reported he would shortly be meeting the Inspector for the Newby area and would raise the lack of reports for that area.
87/20.2 County Council:- Cllr. Bastiman reported that under the proposed devolution to unitary authorities, all land and buildings would be available for Community Asset Transfer. NYCC intended that finance would accompany devolved functions.
87/20.3 Borough Council:- Cllr. Sharma reported 1] the hedge on Dunwell Avenue continued to project across half the width of the pavement; 2] he had recently attended a meeting of Raincliffe Woods Community enterprise and they had received no information about devolution. Cllr. Bastiman reported 1] he and Cllr. Heritage were supporting the residents of Danes Dyke in their objections to the development of the proposed women’s refuge development at Danes Dyke; 2] the proposed increase in crematorium fees had been called in and the charges were to be re-visited. Cllr. Towse said the Parish Council was not getting much from SBC on their proposals for devolution – this needed to improve, for balance with NYCC proposals. Cllr. Harriott asked about the grant to protect property from seagull damage – Cllr. Sharma explained this was a trial scheme and currently only relates to specific areas in the centre of Filey, Scarborough and Whitby.
88/20 COUNCILLOR’S REPORTS & UPDATES
88/20.1 AJ1 Road Safety Fund – Cllr. Towse gave details of the grant submitted for VAS signs at six potential locations in the parish. It was hoped to know by the end of October whether or not the application has been successful.
88/20.2 Pedestrian refuge on Scalby road near sea cut bridge [Minute 39/19.1 refers] – this project had been withdrawn last year due to the possible creation of an additional highway access to a nearby property. It was understood the access was not now likely to proceed so the project had been revived. Details of cost and specific location were awaited from NYCC. Cllr. Bastiman said he would put some of his NYCC Environment & Locality budget towards it and hoped the Parish Council would also make a contribution.
88/20.3 Reports from Councillors of any highway & footpath or general matters requiring attention – none.
89/20 CORRESPONDENCE
89/20.1 Email from parishioner [circulated with agenda] regarding difficulty in crossing Scalby Road and the excessive speed of traffic on Scalby Road as well as a request for Scalby Road to be designated a “dogs on lead” area – received & noted. Councillors were not happy with the sarcastic tone of the email or the accusation Council was taking no action. Councillors observed that since the Covid-19 lockdown had started to ease, the speed of all traffic seemed to be higher. Difficulties in crossing Scalby Road were not new, hence why last financial year the Parish Council and County Cllr. Bastiman last year drew up a project to jointly fund a central reservation near the sea cut bridge (the issue had been discussed earlier tonight and it was hoped the project would proceed this financial year). The Parish Council and CaP Group have been instrumental in getting the speed camera van at several locations in the parish, an application for grant funding to provide Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS) has been submitted. The historical locations of VAS are not necessarily now compliant with NYCC’s protocol for VAS. Repeated attempts to get people interested in doing a Community Speedwatch have been unsuccessful. Scalby Road has been in a “Dogs On Lead” area since 2012. Clerk to reply to parishioner.
89/20.2 Emails between Clerk and MP [circulated with agenda] regarding request for town and parish councils to be included in the list of local government bodies which are exempt from paying Stamp Duty Land Tax. Received & noted.
89/20.3 Email [circulated with agenda] from St. Laurence’s re availability of Rickinson Hall for holding of Parish Council meetings – received & noted. Agreed meetings to remain virtual for the moment.
89/20.4 Correspondence received after preparation of the agenda which the Chairman of the meeting deemed it necessary to consider as a matter of urgency – 1] letter from Cllr. Mrs Black requesting to speak in response to a letter from the Clerk alerting her to an impending disqualification under the LGA 1972, s85 six month rule. The Clerk explained she had written to Cllr. Mrs Black as a matter of procedure to explain that if she did not attend a meeting or have apologies for absence approved by 11th September 2020 she would forfeit her seat. Cllr. Mrs Black said she was not happy she had been sent this letter as she wanted to be treated the same as the other white people on the parish council, and considered Council had broken the law. A robust exchange of views ensued. Cllr. Bastiman confirmed the Clerk’s actions were normal practice in such situations at both parish and borough council level. Cllr. Mrs Black remained dissatisfied with the situation. Council felt it needed clarity on every point and with councillors agreement the Chairman asked Cllr. Mrs Black to put any complaint in writing so it could be investigated.
Cllr. Holliday left the meeting at this point
90/20 FINANCIAL MATTERS
90/20.1 Resolved the Schedule of Accounts Payable for September 2020 (Sch 6, £5,963.35) be approved. Cllrs. Langmead and Sutton to do the online authorisations within 24 hours.
90/20.2 PWLB loan application to create premises for office and community hub [Minute 79/20.4 refers]. Received & noted Clerk’s verbal report that the application had been submitted to the approver at MHCLG on 24th August and a decision was hoped for within the next week.
90/20.3 Casual Vacancies [Minute 67/20.3 refers]. One vacancy Newby Ward, one vacancy Scalby Ward. Council considered the applications received for the two vacancies. The letters of application had been emailed separately to councillors as confidential items since they contained considerable personal detail. One of the candidates was present and with the Chairman’s permission he outlined why he would like to be a parish councillor. It was agreed Mr Fieldhouse be co-opted to the Newby Ward vacancy and Mr Barnes be co-opted to the Scalby Ward vacancy. The Clerk is to formally notify both parties and get the necessary declarations and documents completed.
90/20.4 2020-21 National Salary Award – noted the National Joint Council has agreed the new pay scales for 2020-21 to be implemented from 1st April 2020 and agreed to apply this increase to the Clerk’s salary with effect from 1/4/2020.
90/20.5 Parish Council website – received & noted verbal update by Clerk and Chairman regarding the re-design, requirements for accessibility compliance and costs. First year cost in region of £1,000, subsequent years would be in region of £180 for hosting plus any domain renewal fees. The package with the current hosting provider expires at end of September and there may be an invoice from them for services provided. Agreed to move re-design and hosting to Eyelid Productions and also to move to a gov.uk domain. Clerk to put into effect as soon as possible.
Cllr. Bastiman and Borough Cllr. Sharma left the meeting at this point
91/20 PLANNING APPLICATIONS NOTIFIED
Comments on the following applications received [circulated with agenda] were agreed:-
- 20/01636/HS. Erect part two storey/single storey extension and extension to existing driveway/parking at 11 The Meadows, Newby. Agreed no objections
- 20/01675/HAS. Vary Condition 2 of 17/02195/HS so as to allow render finish at 549 Scalby Road, Scalby. Agreed no objections
- 20/01682/HAS. Erect single storey rear extension at 35 The Green, Newby. Agreed no objections
- 20/01714/HS. Erect two storey extension to front of dwelling at 64 Station Road, Scalby. Agreed no objections
92/20 PLANNING DECISIONS – The following [circulated with agenda] were noted:-
- 20/00342/HS Erect two storey side extension with integral garage and single storey rear extension at 63 Cross Lane, Newby. Approved (with conditions)
- 20/00824/HS Erect ground floor extension to front side and rear elevation and first floor extension to side at 15 Ling Hill, Newby. Approved (with conditions)
- 20/00989/FL Install dropped kerb and new gated entrance to parking and turning area at 1 Derwent Close, Newby. Refused
- 20/00995/HS Alterations to garage roof at 67 Burniston Road, Newby. Approved (with conditions)
- 20/01024/HS Erect two storey side extension, single storey rear extension and form additional vehicular access off Burniston Road at 171 Burniston Road, Newby. Approved (with conditions)
- 20/01069/HS Erect side and rear extension, form open porch, install rooflights at 41 Station Road, Scalby. Approved (with conditions)
- 20/01088/HS Erect single storey extension and porch to front elevation at 47 Fairfield Crescent, Newby. Approved (with conditions)
- 20/01220/FL Erect 1 dormer bungalow at land adjacent to 2 Hackness Drive, Scalby. Refused
93/20 PLANNING MATTERS RECEIVED AFTER 2/9/2020 None.
There being no further business, the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 8.31pm.
Cllr. Reg Towse, Chairman
Dated: 14th October 2020