Environment Committee Meeting

Environment Committee Meeting

18 February 2014

TADCASTER TOWN COUNCIL

PRESENT CHAIRMANCouncillor G R Parker

COUNCILLORSD N Bain Mackay,S Cobb,I Edmondson, Miss M Middlemiss, Mrs K Perkins, K Price and R Sweeting

CLERKJane Crowther

DEPUTY CLERKJo Mottershead

PRESENTthree members of the Public.

E128APOLOGIES – (Item 1)- were accepted from Councillor E B Mansfield and G Lodge

E129 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – (Item 2) - None

E130CLERK’S REPORT –(Item 5) - Clerk updated members regarding Environment matters as follows:-

C130.1 –The new Lighting Scheme in Queens Gardens was underway and was due to be completed in the near future. Neighbours had been pleased with the progress.

C130.2 –The Clerk read out a reply received from SDC regarding the change of energy supply to elderly residencies in the Woodlands Estate area and any polices in place for power supply failures.

RESOLVED – That due to the comprehensive reply received from SDC that a further meeting would not be required. Members voted unanimously.

ACTION – Clerk to reply accordingly.

RESOLVED – That Item 12 be discussed at this juncture

E131FLOODING IN THE TOWN – (Item 12)

131.1 – Members were updated of Resilience Sub Committee meeting held on the 29 January 2014 and discussedrecommendations for a Use of Sandbag Policy as follows:- (Circulated prior to the meeting)

RESOLVED –

• Thatthe Tadcaster Sandbag Agreementbetween TTC and SDC drawn up by Access Selby be adopted
• That the Tadcaster Town Council Policy for the use of Sandbags within the town be re drafted by Councillor Parker and the Deputy Clerk and raised as an agenda item at the next Environment meeting.

ACTION – Clerk to deal

SUSPEND STANDING ORDERS FOR THE PUBLIC SESSION – (Item 3) -

A local business owner reported that he had been elected to become a trustee for the National Flood Forum.

He reported that a voluntary group including residents from the town and villages were in the process of forming a local Flood Alleviation Group. The group were working together to investigate the best techniques and equipment required for flood alleviation to protect properties. Protocolof how the group could work together was to be devised.

A local business owner reported that they had been successfully working alongside Yorkshire Water to find a solution to drainage problems.

REINSTATE STANDING ORDERS – (Item 4)

Councillor suggested that information regarding flood alleviation be placed on the Website and in the newsletter.

Councillor Sweeting reported that the CEF were planning a Community Fare where flood issues would be raised

E131.2 - Members elected a Town Council representative for the Tadcaster Flood Action Group as follows:-

RESOLVED - That Councillor Cobb be elected to represent TTC at the Tadcaster Flood Action Group. Members voted unanimously.

131.3 – Members noted the Flood Action Group meeting date 6.30pm 27 February 2014

E132PLANNING – (Item 6)

E132.1– Members noted and commented on the following planning application received from Selby District Council:-

47/13 –The Jackdaw Inn, Stutton Road – Outline application for the demolition of current building on site and the construction of 9 new dwellings (1 block of 5 terraced dwellings and 1 block of 4 staggered terraced dwellings)

RESOLVED - Members objected to the above planning application as follows:-

• The Localism Act is keen to preserve Assets of Community Value
• The plans would cause the loss of a popular valued public amenity used increasingly by the elderly population in the Woodland estate.
• The Jackdaw is a nationally recognised estate public House and is in the Britain’s Real Heritage Pub Guide.
• The proposals are unsympathetic to the area and totally out of character with surrounding buildings.

ACTION – Clerk to reply to SDC accordingly.

E132.2 Members noted the following granted planning applications received from Selby District Council:-

43/13 – John Smiths Brewery High Street – Proposed extension to the existing Draught Packaging Building to form an enlargement to the open canopy over a loading area on the south west elevation and a small enclosed bay extension for depalletiser equipment on the north east elevation at Heineken UK .

44/13 – 22 Edgerton Drive – Two storey extension to the south side of the house.

E132.3 – North Yorkshire County Council – Members noted the following notices:-

E132.3.1 -Notice of Temporary Prohibition of Traffic (A659) Commercial Street Tadcaster. (Circulated prior to the meeting)

E132..3.2 – Consultation on planning application for the purposes of the Application under Section 73 of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) to carry out development without complying with Condition No2 of Planning Permission reference C8/70/16D/PA dated 31 March 2004 to allow extraction operations to continue until February 2016 on land at Jackdaw Quarry Tadcaster.

E133CORRESPONDENCE – (Item 7) the following items of correspondencewereTabled at the meeting:-

E133.1 - NYCC Passenger Transport – Notice of Bus Subsidy Reduction Implementation (Circulated prior to the meeting)

E133.2 - Age UK – Letter of thanks for Tadcaster Town Council Grant Aid donation.

E133.3 - 1st Tadcaster Brownies – email of thanks for Tadcaster Town Council Grant Aid donation and offer of litter pick help post the Tadcaster Litter Pick.

E134ALLOTMENTS –(Item 8) Members were informed that three plots at the Westfield site were due to be rotivated and re – let. An inspection of both sites were due to be carried out.

E135VIADUCT EMBANKMENT RENTS AND LETTING AGREEMENTS – (Item 9)

E135.1 - Members considered a reply to a letter regarding position of fencing on viaduct embankment behind 17 Wharfedale Crescent

RESOLVED – That in this instance permission for the present position of fencing at 17 Wharfedale Crescent be accepted on the understanding that it be repositioned to the correct position upon sale of the property and the signing of the Tenancy Letting Agreement and payment of rent.

ACTION – Clerk to reply accordingly.

E135.2 – Members reconsidered the previous decision to increase Viaduct Garden Rents.

TheDeputy Clerk reported that the Letting Tenancy Agreement required 12 weeks’ notice for the increase in rent or any changes to the tenancy agreement.

RESOLVED – That notice of an increase from £5 to £10 for the bi annual letting of Embankment Land be included in the letters due to be sent to all Embankment Land Tenants.

ACTION – Deputy Clerk to deal

E136PLANTING OF BEDS AND CONTAINERS IN TADCASTER – (Item 10) Members discussedproposals for the future and the next planting contract (Circulated prior to the meeting)

RESOLVED – That Councillors Parker, Cobb and the Assistant Clerk arrange a meeting to discuss priorities for the Planting contract and raise as an agenda item at the next appropriate meeting.

ACTION – Assistant Clerk to deal

E137GRIT BIN POLICY – Members discussed a proposal for a town gritting/grit bin policy (draft assessment form circulated prior to the meeting)

RESOLVED – Thatthe draft gritting policy be adopted on a 12 month trial basis.

E138LITTER PICK – Saturday 15 March 2014 (Item 13) - Members discussed and agreed Councillor volunteers to assist at the event and to deliver pre event publicity material.

E139CLEANLINESS OF THE TOWN– (Item 14) – Members discussed dog fouling and weed clearance/control of unsightly weeds in the town.

RESOLVED –That the issue be raised at the next Environment meeting.

E140 SELBY DISTRICT COUNCIL - COMMUNITY INFASTRUCTURE LEVY – Members to decide a reply to SDC consultation ending 28 February 2014 as resolved at the Council meeting held on the 4 February 2014.

RESOLVED –That the Council oppose the consultation due to the imbalance in charges between North and South and would like to see a uniform levy across the district.

ACTION – Clerk to deal

E141CENTRAL AREA CAR PARK DRAINAGE FOR TOILETS – Members were updated of a drainage provision in the Central Area Car Park.

Councillor Mackay reported he had received information that drainage works in the Central Area Car Park were to go ahead.

The Clerk reported that an email received from the Chief Executive of SDC (circulated prior to the meeting) stated that there were no plans for drainage works to ensure a future toilet provision.

ACTION – Councillor Mackay to monitor drainage works in the Central Area Car Park.

E142GRAFFITI REMOVAL – (Item 17) - Members discussed a way forward to remove unsightly graffiti in the town.

RESOLVED –That following the completion of a Risk Assessment, the Youth Council take responsibility for the removal of graffiti in public areas of the town.

ACTION – Clerk to inform the Youth Council of areas in need of graffiti removal in the town.

E143ILLUMINATIONS SUB COMMITTEE – (Item 18)

E143.1 - Letters of complaint from two businesses in the town – Members noted the letters.

E143.2 - The future of the Christmas trees and illuminations in the town – Councillor Sweeting reported that the Community Interest Company (CIC) were in the process of looking into the future of Christmas illumination in the town.

RESOLVED –Councillor Sweeting to report back to the Council meeting to be held on the 25 March 2014 with CIC proposals for the future of the Christmas Illuminations.

E144QUOTE FOR REPLACEMENT STREET LIGHTING IN COAL YARD -(Item 19) Members considered a quote received from NYCC for the replacement of 2 lanterns at the lighting column in Coal Yard Tadcaster.

RESOLVED – That a quote for the replacement of 1 lantern be sought and be raised as an agenda item at the Council meeting to be held on the 25 March 2014.

ACTION – Clerk to deal

E145FINANCE – Payment of accounts (Item 20) – Schedule circulated at the meeting and three Councillors signed the cheques and stubs as follows:-

1 / 7951 / Viking / 66.83 / 13.37 / 80.20
2 / 7952 / J Crowther / 1316.04 / 0 / 1316.04
3 / 7953 / J Mottershead / 910.57 / 0 / 910.57
4 / 7954 / J Ibbotson / 472.69 / 0 / 472.69
5 / 7955 / P.O.L (Tax and NI) / 598.46 / 0 / 598.46
6 / 7956 / North Yorkshire Pension Fund / 729.06 / 0 / 729.06
TOTAL / 4093.65 / 13.37 / 4107.02

E146NEWSLETTER

E146.1 – Members noted the timetable for the Summer 2014 Newsletter and the items previously agreed (circulated prior to the meeting)

E146.2 – Members put forward and agreed the followingitems for the Summer Newsletter:- Removal of graffiti by the Youth Council, Motte and Bailey excavation update (upon receipt of information), Riverside Park update, Central area refurbishment (on completion)

E147 MEDIA AND WEBSITE MATTERS – (Item 22) - Members put forward the following item for the Website:- Information on national flood guidance.

E148MINOR MATTERS AND AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING – (Item 23) No items were raised for the next meeting of the Environment Committee

E150 RESOLVED – That the items discussed in PART II be ratified and approved

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