Huttons Ambo Parish Council Minutes - November 2019

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

© 2019 www.huttonsambo.com