Huttons ambo parish council MINUTES
November 12th 2019
1.
Welcome, Councillors present &
Apologies
David Banks, Philip Barraclough, Andy Dorman, Simon Lealman
and Sarah Banks (Clerk). Apologies were received from Emma Samuel. There were
also three members of the public.
2. Approval of Minutes
Minutes of the September meeting were approved and signed as
being a true record.
3. Matters Arising
a)
Call Box: The clerk had received a letter from RDC regarding a
consultation process on the removal of the telephone from the phone box in Low
Hutton. Following consultation with councillors and notices on village
noticeboards and in Herbie’s, no objections were received to the phone’s
removal. The PC has decided to adopt the call box. Plans for future use of the
call box will be discussed once the BT consultation period is finished
(December 15th 2019).
b)
Village Information Board: Since the last meeting Sarah has
sourced two companies who create village information boards. The two costings
for the project include a local company who are able to help with the design of
the board as well as the creation. As Castle Howard has recently put up a
similar information board, councillors were keen to get an idea of costings for
this before the next meeting.
c)
Tree Inspections: David has asked Cundalls to carry
out tree inspections and remedial work as already agreed. Their report will be
circulated once it has been received. If it identifies any further works these
can be discussed and approved by councillors.
d)
Low Lane End:
•
David, Simon and Andy recently met with Highways England
regarding current safety and access concerns at Low Lane End. Recent work on
the A64 including new barriers appear to have caused traffic to speed up,
making it difficult to exit and enter Low Lane safely. The problem of cars
doing U-turns continues to be a hazard. There had also been an issue with
overgrown foliage next to the new cycle path, causing visibility issues for
cars coming off the A64. The increased foliage is due to the sowing of a
wildflower mix. Councillors were sympathetic to this but wanted to be certain
it would not cause visibility problems for cars getting onto the A64. Foliage
has been cut back but may need to be monitored next spring and certain splays
may need trimming back to enhance visibility.
•
Future plans for the A64 following four fatalities near
Crambeck village in 2017 include a reduction of the speed limit to 50mph
between the Malton junction of the A64 and Crambeck village. This would reduce
the speed of the traffic passing the Huttons Ambo lane ends. However, as a
consequence of this Highways England are legally obliged to put an ‘end of
speed limit/national speed limit applies’ sign at each lane end into the
village to mark the transition between two speed limits. This potentially gives
licence for cars to travel at 60mph through the village.
•
Councillors and three members of the public present felt this
was unacceptable and it was decided that a public meeting would be held in the
village to discuss overall concerns with the A64. This would most likely take
place in spring when the weather is better. This also gives time for good
publicity and to invite officials and councillors from NYCC and Highways
England to the meeting. There is clearly a strength of feeling amongst
villagers regarding safety issues with getting onto and off the A64 at both
junctions. It would be important to amass anecdotal evidence from villagers in
preparation for this meeting.
e)
Superfast Broadband: Following work in the village by
Superfast North Yorkshire, some residents have had cards through their doors to
say they are now eligible for super fast broadband. However, not all houses
have received a card meaning they are not yet eligible for connection despite
the broadband spine being in place. David has spoken to SFNY who explained that
houses are randomly grouped in ‘ponds’. Each pond needs activating before it is
capable of being connected. This will happen in batches. Certain villagers have
been told they will not be eligible for super fast broadband until spring 2021.
Superfast was promised last year and subsequently moved to 2019 and now 2021.
David has taken up the case as chair of the PC and is currently objecting to
this piecemeal connectivity.
f)
Grass Cutting/Pavement edging: David has spoken to Mark Wilson who
will cut the grass where needed and edge pavements through the village before
winter.
4. New Matters
a)
Street Lighting: A member of the public approached the council
regarding the possibility of street lighting down by the railway bridge. Over
summer she had noticed visitors in unfamiliar cars parked here. The parish
council is unable to be a lighting authority so this wasn’t something it could
deal with. However, if residents got together they may be able to work out a
solution to lighting the area. If there are any suspicions of drug use amongst
visitors in this area, this should be reported to the police who will monitor
the car park.
b)
Dog fouling: A number of residents had asked for the issue of dog
fouling to be put on the PC agenda. This has been a particular problem in the
field behind Station Cottages. A member of the public present explained that
not only is dog mess unpleasant, it is also a serious issue for pregnant cows
who may be exposed to a parasitic virus (Neospora) via the faeces causing them
to abort calves. Another resident has had problems with regular dog faeces on
the path to their house. The PC will invest in signs to put up reminding dog
walkers to pick up, bag and dispose of their dog’s faeces. Notices will remind
dog owners that it is important to pick up their dog’s faeces - even when
walking across fields where it may be felt it doesn’t need picking up and
bagging. There are a number of bins around the village and it is permitted to
put dog waste bags in these. Councillors agreed to post some polite reminders
on the village website/facebook sites and via notices in the village.
c)
Highway maintenance works - Low Hutton - road closure: NYCC
Highways are currently filling in the pot holes along the lanes into the
village. This means the roads being closed at each lane end in turn as they do
the work. There is an issue with villagers only being able to use the top lane
exit as it is a dangerous junction to turn right onto. David had spoken to NYCC
about a solution. However, temporary traffic lights are not an option. It is
therefore important to leave time for any journey and in order to keep safe,
turn left onto the A64 and double back at the Welburn turn for journeys east on
the A64.
5. Planning:
The clerk had received a letter from RDC regarding the refusal of planning
application 19/00902/ADV Harrison Developments at Cherry Tree Close, Malton,
for an internally lit sign.
The Clerk had also received a letter from RDC regarding a
Certificate of Lawfulness for Holly Cottage, The Green, Low Hutton. Councillors
had no evidence to submit with regard to the certificate.
6. Finance: Budget Progress to October 31st
2019. The current balance is £7967.34.
7. AOB: The clerk had received an email from NYCC regarding
the parish precept for 2020 which councillors agreed should remain the same as
the current year.
8. Date of next meeting
January 14th 2020
Sarah Banks, Clerk to the Parish Council -
huttonsamboparishclerk@gmail.com
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