PRESENT:

Chairman: J Armsby, Councillors N Fowler, D Mitchell, A Barwick, B Rowe, I Longster. PC D Mortimer of North Yorkshire Police, One member of the public, Mr S John of Port Mulgrave. County Councillor J Kenyon and P Fenton, the parish clerk.

APOLOGIES:

Councillor Dalton and Councillor Smith – on holiday. Councillor Harland – another meeting.

Letters to be sent by the clerk to councillors not attending reminding them of their obligation to forward their apologies.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN RESPECT OF AGENDA ITEMS:

Councillor Fowler declared an interest in an Application for Section 137 expenditure from Staithes Fisheries. It was not considered a prejudicial interest and he remained in the meeting but took no part in deliberations, merely providing some background detail when requested by the council.

Councillor Armsby declared a non prejudicial interest in the planning application in respect of land at Captain Cooks Close, Staithes.

MATTERS RAISED BY/WITH NORTH YORKSHIRE POLICE

PC Darren Mortimer introduced himself as Nigel Whaling's temporary replacement. He has transferred from the West Yorkshire/Leeds are where he has been very involved in neighbourhood policing. He provided his contact details and asked if councillors had any specific issues to raise.

Councillor Mitchell raised the matter of youths, particularly girls, and their behaviour in the evenings in the bus shelters, mostly those at Staithes. PC Mortimer advised that their activities were known to him and they were being targeted.

PC Mortimer left the meeting at 7.10pm.

REPORTS FROM COUNTY/BOROUGH COUNCILLORS

Borough Councillor's Armsby advised that there would shortly be big changes at cabinet level at SBC as currently the entire cabinet were Conservative Councillors and they were to move towards a more proportional representation of the various other political parties (including independents) within cabinet.

Also a consultation is to be carried out into a different method of allocating housing stock and Councillor Armsby outlined briefly the main points of the proposed system.

County Councillor Kenyon reported that it was being made clear to larger borough and county councils by Government that they were expected to do their part in "paying back" Government borrowings incurred during the current recession by way of massive savings in their own spending in 2010/11 and 2011/12. This is at a time when it is felt that the population can neither withstand large increases in Council Tax nor will they tolerate them. NYCC have been economising as much as possible over the past three or four years and are undertaking to maintain "front line services" as currently and trying the find further savings at "back office" level. They are currently awaiting the formula for calculating how much they are expected to "save" from the Home Office.

A small amount of funding is available and the clerk is to prepare an application to the Area Committee on behalf of the Brownies.

MATTERS ARISING

The Clerk is to inspect both play areas, take photographs of any equipment needing repair and e-mail them to the installers. They will either send us the parts with instructions (if only small repairs are required) or send out their technicians to repair if larger repairs are required. Councillors reported two more faults at the Staithes play area so it may well be necessary for their engineers to visit.
Clerk to inspect mole damage to Browns Terrace play area and act accordingly.
The clerk will investigate the costs of purchasing and installing a new dog waste bin on the A174 between Hinderwell and Staithes. She will also make enquiries at SBC with regard to the costs of regular emptying of same and include this within the budget for the next financial year.

PLANNING APPLICATIONS:

Spindrift, Seaton Garth, Staithes – no objections.
Spindrift, Seton Garth, Staithes – no objections.
Land between 20 and 24 Captain Cooks Close, Staithes – no objections.

PLANNING DECISIONS:

Oakley, High Street, Staithes – granted 4 conditions.

CORRESPONDENCE

HSBC bank statements – for info.
SBC re Transport Forum meeting on 9 december from 9.30am to 1.00pm – for info.
SLCC re Viking Direct Membership Savings Scheme – for info.
SBC re VIP Champagne Reception 5 November – clerk to RSVP.
YLCA re consultation "Strengthening Local Democracy" – Clerk to respond.
SBC re Precept and Model Agreement payments – for info.
NYMNPA re Secretary of State Member Vacancy – for info.
NYMNPA re Block Parish Insurance – clerk to review.
NYCC re Transportation Strategy Consultation Questionnaire – Clerk to respond.
NYMNPA re Parish/Community Caretaker Scheme – for info.
NYMNPA re Enforcement Action at Valley View Cottage, Lower Village, Staithes – for info.
NYCC re Winter Service Salt Bins and Heaps – clerk to respond.
NYMNPA re Coastal Area Parish Forum – for info.
NYCC re Parish Planning "A guide to the support available from NYCC" – clerk to review.
SLCC re AGM for info.
Anonymous letter with no return address or contact details regarding proposed affordable housing scheme for Hinderwell parish – It is not council policy to respond to such letters. Genuine queries or complaints will be addressed in full if contact details are provided – Clerk to file letter.

PARISH MAINTENANCE

Staithes Play Area – a vehicle has reversed into one of the posts – clerk to investigate and arrange a replacement. Also two planks missing from fence.
The Fisherman's Store in Staithes is obscuring a "rock fall" warning sign – clerk to arrange for it to be moved.
Brown's Terrace play area – Councillors still not happy with the condition of the large gate and fence – clerk to investigate.

2009/2010 PAY INCREASE

The Clerk read out a confirmation from NALC on the increase to the pay scales for 2009/10 and it was proposed (Councillor Mitchell) to increase the clerk and assistant clerk's hourly rates in line with these. This equates to £0.13 per hour for the Clerk and £0.08 per hour for the assistant clerk.

2009/10 INTERNAL AUDITOR

The clerk advised that YLCA will carry out the audit at a rate of £30 per hour. They have advised that there is a company who specialise in this work but, as yet, the clerk had been unable to obtain a quotation from them. It was agreed to use YLCA for this year and to look for a permanent solution for the next financial year.

SECTION 137 EXPENDITURE

1. Bollard has already been removed by local builder at no charge to the council.
2. Staithes Fisheries re Navigation Lights – It was PROPOSED (Councillor Mitchell) to provide a grant of £500 (£300 from the 2009/10 budget and £200 from the 2010/11 budget). SECONDED: Councillor Longster.
3. Mencap – It was PROPOSED (Councillor Rowe) to provide a grant of £200. SECONDED: Councillor Barwick. SO RESOLVED.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

The Clerk raised the issue a common grave in the cemetery where an error occurred (in 1918) over the name of the person interred within. His descendents have provided evidence of the error and the clerk will amend the records. They also wish to purchase the Exclusive Right of Burial and erect a memorial – The clerk to arrange this but for less than a 100 year term.

Clerk to track planning conditions for Co-Op in Staithes as restrictions were placed on delivery time and these are being flouted – this matter to be raised with the store manager.

Clerk to request parking enforcement across the road from the Co-Op in Staithes as people are parking on the grass verges.

Councillor Fowler offered thanks to the council on behalf of Staithes Fisheries for the grant monies – the provision of the navigation lights is a health and safety issue and a legislative requirement.

The meeting closed at 8.15pm.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Thursday 5 November, 7pm, Parish Rooms, High Street, Hinderwell