ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING 13 JANUARY 2015
TADCASTER TOWN COUNCIL
The Ark, 33 Kirkgate, Tadcaster. North Yorkshire. LS24 9AQ
T: 01937 834113 E: W: tadcastertowncouncil.co.uk
Office Open: Monday to Thursday, 9.30 am to 12.30 pm (closed Fridays)
CLERK TO THE COUNCIL: Jane L Crowther
MINUTES OF THE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING
HELD ON TUESDAY 13 JANUARY 2015 AT 7 PM IN THE ARK, KIRKGATE
PRESENT: Chairman Councillor D Bain Mackay
Councillors G R Parker, S Cobb, I Edmondson, G Lodge, C W Metcalfe and
K Price.
In Attendance Clerk to the Council, Jane Crowther
Deputy Clerk to the Council, Jo Mottershead
Present One member of the public
E121 APOLOGIES – (Item 1) - Were received and accepted from Councillors, E Mansfield,
K Perkins and R H Sweeting.
E122 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – (Item 2) - There were no declarations of interest at this point or at any other point on the agenda.
E123 PUBLIC SESSION – SUSPEND STANDING ORDERS – (Item 3 &4) –
E101.1 - A resident reported evidence of dead vermin in the Bus Station.
ACTION – Clerk to report the above to SDC
E101.2 – A resident was concerned that the Right of Way across the building site on St Joseph Street had been blocked off.
Councillor Metcalfe reported that the Right of Way would only remain blocked during building works and it would then reopen.
E124 CLERK’S REPORT – (Item 5) - The Clerk reported the following items to members:-
· There had been reports of tree damage on TTC land on the Viaduct and on the riverside. The Viaduct tree had been removed at no cost to TTC. The tree on the riverside had been moved to the edge of the footpath and arrangements were to be made for removal at no cost to TTC.
· The Town Beacon had blown down in the winds, it had been removed for safety reasons and the matter would be raised as an agenda item at the Finance and General Purposes Committee meeting to be held on the 27 January 2015.
· All items were ongoing or on the agenda.
E125 PLANNING – ((Item 6)
E125.1 - PLANNING APPLICATIONS – Members noted and commented on the following planning applications received from Selby District Council:-
30/14 - 26 BRIDGE STREET, TADCASTER. LS24 9AJ – Listed Building consent to directly replace current ATM with new ATM due to maintenance upgrade with no changes made to the building or structure
RESOLVED – Members had no objection to the above application.
31a/14 - 2 HIGH STREET, TADCASTER, FORMER HSBC BANK – Advertisement consent to display 3 no illuminated fascia signs and 1 no projecting sign
RESOLVED – Members had no objection to the above application.
31b/14 - 2 HIGH STREET, TADCASTER, FORMER HSBC BANK – Change of Use from Use Class A2 to Use Class A1/A3, minor external alterations to facilitate the use of the unit as a Costa Coffee
RESOLVED – Members had no objection to the plans and welcomed the application.
32/14 - TADCASTER ENTERPRISE PARK, Station Road, Tadcaster – Installation of 2 no. non illuminated totems
RESOLVED – Members had no objection to the above application.
ACTION – Clerk to reply to SDC accordingly
125.2 – GRANTED PLANNING APPLICATIONS – Members noted the following granted applications received from Selby District Council9
24/14 - 15A Stutton Road, Tadcaster. LS24 9HE - Removal of existing roof and extend first floor extension to two storey
25/14 - 33 KELCBAR WAY, TADCASTER. LS24 9NX – Proposed two storey side/rear extension plus new former to front
28/14 - 22 WESTFIELD CRESCENT, TADCASTER. LS24 9JQ – Proposed front porch extension
29/14 - 20 HEATHERDENE, TADCASTER. LS24 8EZ – Part retrospective application for a two storey side extension with first floor dormer to front elevation
125.3 – REFUSED PLANNING APPLICATIONS – Members noted the following refused application received from Selby District Council
27/14 - 2 GOLF LINKS AVENUE, TADCASTER. LS24 9HF
E125.4 – PLANNING INSPECTORATE – Members noted the Inspector’s Note of the pre-enquiry meeting re proposed new footpath across former Barnardo’s land, Wighill Lane (circulated 15.12.14)
C126 NORTH YORKSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL – REPORT OF THE OUTCOME OF THE “INITIAL PHASE” OF THE TEMPORARY VEHICLE ACTIVATED SIGN (VAS) – (Item 7)
C126.1 – Members noted the above report received from the NYCC Corporate Director – Business and Environmental Services. (Circulated 7.01.15)
C126.2 – NYCC email - Members discussed the Councils participation in the Temporary VAS Scheme on Wighill Lane and considered a cost implications over a four year period to use the NYCC VAS scheme in the future . (Circulated 7.01.15)
Members felt that the VAS scheme could also be used in other areas of the town.
Councillor Metcalfe reported that there was to be a Police Crime Commissioner lead initiative regarding speeding that would be free to access.
RESOLVED – That the Council take no further action at the present time. The Council could buy into the NYCC scheme in the future when consideration could be given to the use of a VAS in all areas of the town.
C127 FLORAL TADCASTER – PLANTING CONTRACT – (Item 8)
C127.1 - Current Contract – Members discussed and considered the current contract. (Current Contract Specification circulated (8.01.15)
C127.2 - To Discuss and Agree Planting Contract 2015/16 – Members discussed the contract specification and felt that when a contractor had been assigned that consideration be given to expand planting to include additional areas of the town.
RESOLVED –
· That an updated version of the contract specification be approved and put out to tender.
· That expansion of the contact be discussed with the successful Contractor in due course.
ACTION – Clerk to deal
C127.3 - THE REMOVAL AND REFURBISHMENT OF THE LARGE PLANTERS TO A NEW SITE – Clerk updated members regarding plans to refurbish the planters removed from Kirkgate. A quotation for the refurbishment was to be discussed in part II of the meeting.
C128 THE FUTURE OF TADCASTER LIBRARY – (Item 9) – Councillor Parker reported that the Friends of Tadcaster Library were due to hold a meeting on the 19 January where the future of the Library would be discussed.
Councillor Metcalfe reported that the completion date for a final decision regarding NYCC Libraries was during 2017, however should The Friends of Tadcaster Library wish to show an interest in looking at a Community lead Library this could be done at any time.
A survey regarding the Library consultation was available for members of the public to complete.
Children’s Services currently held at Manor Farm would to be a separate consultation.
C129 MATTERS AS THEY RELATE TO THE RIVERSIDE – (Item 10)
129.1 – Figure of Eight Walk – members were informed that NYCC had agreed to replace the Kissing Gate adjacent to the Weir and were to replace disk marks on the Figure of Eight Walk route.
RESOLVED – That following completion of the above NYCC improvements TTC agreed to carry out a further inspection of the Figure of Eight Walk.
129.2 – Trees on the Riverside – The Clerk reported that a tree had been hacked down and further trees vandalized on the river bank. Remedial work to remove the tree had been carried out. The incident had been reported to the Police and a quote for replacement of the tree was to be discussed in Part II of the meeting.
129.3 - SIGNAGE ON THE RIVERBANK – Members discussed the recent erection of signage on the riverbank.
RESOLVED – That as the sign had been put without permission that a letter asking for its removal be sent to the Tadcaster Angling and Preservation Association.
ACTION – Clerk to deal
C130 CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL 2014 – (Item 11)
130.1 – Christmas Market 2014 – The Clerk reported the following:-
· There had been a small increase in expenditure for the Christmas Market mainly due to the changes in payment of Staff Pension. Members noted the increase.
· There had been issues regarding the stalls and communication with Tadcaster Social Club.
RESOLVED – Clerk to contact Tadcaster Social Club in an attempt to resolve problems regarding the Christmas Stalls.
ACTION – Clerk to deal.
130.2 – Christmas Illuminations 2014 – The Clerk reported that an inventory for insurance purposes of all the Christmas Illuminations had been requested from TRCIC. Ownership of the Illuminations was to be established.
Members felt that it was important that as a major funding contributor the Council should be informed of future plans for the Illuminations.
RESOLVED – That TRCIC be invited to the Environment meeting to be held on the 17 February 2015 to discuss plans for the future of Tadcaster Illuminations.
C131 STREET LIGHTING IN THE TOWN (Item 12)
C131.1 – Tadcaster Owned Streetlights – The Clerk reported that eight of TTC owned Street Lights were in need of upgrading over the next 3 ½ years, it was suggested that the Parish Grant be use partly for this purpose.
RESOLVED –
· That NYCC Street Lighting be asked that if the eight TTC Street Lights were brought up to Highway Standard if they could be adopted by NYCC.
· That the agenda item be raised at the Environment Meeting to be held on the 17 February 2015.
ACTION – Clerk to deal
C131.2 - Street Lighting Project – The Clerk reported that in order that street lights could be reported to NYCC more efficiently that a numbering and mapping system was needed. A night and day survey of the condition of all TTC was required.
RESOLVED –
· That the Clerk & Deputy undertake a day survey of TTC Street Lights and creates a numbering and mapping system.
· That Councillors Cobb and Parker undergo a night time survey of TTC Street Lights.
C132 TREE MAINTENANCE POLICY – (Item 13) - Members discussed the adoption of a Tree Maintenance Policy as recommended by the Cemetery Sub Committee. (Circulated 7.01.15)
RESOLVED – Members agreed to adopt the Tree Maintenance Policy.
C133 PLAN SELBY – (Item 14)
C133.1 – Update of Plan Selby Workshop - Councillors G R Parker and Cobb updated members regarding the Plan Selby Workshop
C133.2 – Plan Selby Consultation - Members discussed and considered further the reply for the “Plan Selby” consultation taking in all questions posed on the website as they relate to Tadcaster.
Councillor Metcalfe reported that the Green Belt may need to be looked at as a last resort should phases one and two fail to go ahead.
Members discussed a draft reply to the Plan Selby Consultation and agreed that a small group was required to meet to finalise the reply.
RESOLVED –
· That Councillors Cobb, Mackay, Parker and Lodge hold a meeting on Wednesday14 January 2015 to finalise the Plan Selby consultation reply, draft to be circulated to members for comments.
· Clerk to forward the reply to SDC on Thursday 15 January 2015.
ACTION – Clerk to deal.
C134 KEYHOLDERS FOR THE ARK – (Item 15) Members to discussed ongoing key holders for the Ark.
RESOLVED – Councillor D Mackay to replace Councillor G R Parker as key holder.
ACTION – Clerk to inform the relevant bodies regarding the changes.
C135 ALLOTMENTS – (Item 16) – The Clerk informed members that rents were being collected and re – let where necessary.
C136 CORRESPONDENCE – (Item 17)
C136.1 – Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire – Have your say on the local police precept & Police and Crime Plan - Members noted the Crime Plan.
C137 FINANCE – (Item 18)
C137.1 - Payment of accounts – Schedule was circulated at the meeting and three Councillors signed the cheques and stubs
1 / 8162 / Enterprise Managed Services Ltd / 244.00 / 48.80 / 292.802 / 8163 / D C Cleaning Solutions / 50.00 / 0 / 50.00
3 / 8164 / Bartle & Son / 300.00 / 60.00 / 360.00
4 / 8165 / St John Ambulance / 144.62 / 28.92 / 173.54
5 / 8166 / J W Myers Monumental Masons / 195.00 / 39.00 / 234.00
6 / 8167 / Living Landscapes / 654.60 / 0 / 654.60
7 / 8168 / B K Parnaby & Sons / 31.00 / 6.20 / 37.20
8 / 8169 / B K Parnaby & Sons / 929.00 / 185.80 / 1114.80
9 / 8170 / B K Parnaby & Sons / 41.67 / 8.33 / 50.00
10 / 8171 / B K Parnaby & Sons / 144.90 / 28.86 / 173.76
11 / 8172 / DCG Tree Surgery (replacement for 8126 stopped cheque) / 950.00 / 0 / 950.00
12 / 8173 / J Crowther / 16.80 / 0 / 16.80
13 / 8174 / J Mottershead / 63.20 / 0 / 63.20
14 / 8175 / Berrys / 675.00 / 0 / 675.00
TOTAL / 4439.79 / 405.91 / 4845.70
Direct Debit Payments
DD Date / Amount / VAT / Credit / Total1 / BT / 31.12.15 / 71.96
2 / BT / 31.12.15 / 151.93
3 / Virgin Media / 12.01.15 / 26.35
4 / npower / 20.01.15 / 28.76
5 / npower / 20.01.15 / 2327.68
C137.2 – Agreement for the stopping and reissuing of a cheque – Members agreed and three Councillors to signed a letter for authorisation for the stopping of a bank cheque.
C138 NEWSLETTER – (Item19)
C138.1 - Members noted the timetable for the Spring/March Newsletter 2015 and the items already agreed at previous meetings (circulated 8.01.15)