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Annual Parish Meeting 2024
Although not as well-attended as usual (perhaps the blustery night put people off), there was wine before the meeting started and then plenty of presentations to enjoy.
The meeting began with Gerry Spoors, Chair of the parish council, outlining what the council had achieved this year and the activities it had organised.
Keith Pettitt, the Parish Clerk and RFO, followed this with the financial report of which there were copies for everyone.
Johnathan Leadley from Yorkshire Wildlife Trust was unable to be at the meeting but had given his report to Richard Tite to pass on. Two important things to note were that the they have now secured a 50 year lease on the reserve and the car park and that there is to be an open day on Sunday 19th May. If you enjoyed seeing the Banded Galloways, the good news is that they are due to return!
Commodore of Ripon Motor Boat Club, Geoff Graham, ran through some of the club's activities during the last year and told the meeting that, on Saturday 4th June, they are holding an event to raise awareness of waterways and on 14th September there will be an open day at the club to which everyone is welcome.
Chris Winterburn talked about the events the Entertainments Committee had staged this year and advertised the next event on Saturday 4th May when the band, Cooler King, will be performing Music from 50/60s onwards in the village hall.
Jackie Laugher spoke on behalf of the village hall committee about their achievements over the last year including new guards for the heaters as people insist on sitting on them!
As a church warden at St. Michael's Church, Christopher Orme informed the meeting that the church was in need of a lot of repairs so funds were needed.
As editor of the village website, Sandra Roberts explained how the website was useful for local people but also for people around the world wanting information.
The village hall is well-used by a wide variety of organisations and two came along to the meeting - BCG Sports and Fitness and the Greyhound Trust.
Liz Tite thanked the councillors and the clerk for their work during the last year.
Gerry Spoors with Liz Tite enjoying a glass of wine before the meeting
Geoff Graham - Commodore of Ripon Motorboat Club
Helen and Beth from BGC Sports and Fitness
Jeff, Angela & Karen from the Greyhound Trust along with Niamh and Ned
Financial Documentation for the Year End 2022-23
Annual Parish Meeting 2023
This was a very enjoyable evening with lots of information about activities in the village. Here follows a brief summary of events but if you want a more detailed account, minutes of the meeting will be available shortly.
Gerry Spoors, Chair of the Parish Council, reported that there had been two litter picks and that three councillors continue to empty the dog bins. He also praised the late district councillor, Margaret Atkinson, for her support.
Clerk and Financial Officer, Keith Pettitt, explained that the accounts were with the auditor and were expected back next week, the precept has stayed the same and a new notice board had been put up.
Councillor Vhairi Luck informed the meeting that the parish council had been approached by a resident who had expertise in Climate Action so Vhairi has compiled a paper questionnaire and a link will be put on the website.
Jonanthan Leadley from Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reported that an Osprey tower with a camera had been installed. The Trust also wants to install a wind pump to help control water levels.
Ripon Motor Boat Club was represented by Commodore Karen Riddiough and the meeting was told that they hope to have an open day in September to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the canal.
Chris Winterburn reported that the Entertainments Committee had organised lots of events and the next one would be the Coronation Celebration.
Jackie Laugher told everyone that the village hall continued to host lots of classes but due to the rising cost of electricity, hire costs have had to be raised.
Christopher Orme explained that St. Michael's Church has a new Priest in Charge, Canon Claire, coming in June. He also reported that, due to settlement under the nave, they may well be organising fundraising events in the future.
Sandra Roberts reported on the village website which is accessed by people from around the world. She asked for more contributions by villagers.
This was followed by a glass of wine or elderflower cordial!
April 2023
Chris Winterburn, Christopher Orme & Steve
Steve & Rob Ankcorn looking at the Entertainments Committee display
Liz Tite & Chris Winterburn
Rob Ankcorn, Jackie & Dave Laugher
Vhairi Luck & Gerry Spoors
Karen Riddiough & Wendy Orme
Bird talk!
Richard Tite & Jonathan Leadley
Sandra & Steve
Notice of Public Rights and Publication of Annual Governance & Accountability Return
(Year ended 31st March 2022)
Annual Governance and Accountability 2021/2022
Annual Parish Meeting 2022
There was a good turnout to see displays and hear reports from the various village organisations and Gerry Spoors (Chair of the Parish Council) opened the meeting by welcoming everyone then reported on the activities of the parish council. He also asked if anyone would like to be co-opted onto the council as there is a vacancy. This was followed by Keith Pettitt (RFO for the parish council) telling the meeting that the accounts have been signed off by the auditor. Jono Leadley (North Regional Manager, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust) explained that the reserve had faced challenges during the last three years because of Covid but the wildlife had flourished! Ripon Motor Boat Club Commodore, Karen Riddiough, invited villagers to their open day. Chris Winterburn outlined the events which the Entertainments Committee have held and gave details of the up-coming Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Jackie Laugher, as the parish council representative on the Village Hall Committee, reported that lots of groups are using the hall and the committe is planning to erect a permanent gazebo in the grounds. Christoper Orme, representing St. Michael's Church, said that it is a happy place and very much part of the community. He feels they are fortunate to be part of the cathedral and have weekly services. Finally Sandra Roberts told the meeting that the website is attracting more visitors each year and thanked everyone who had contributed. Following the meeting, there was wine and nibbles on offer.
April 2022
Resignation
Annie Gray, who has served on the parish council for several years, has handed in her resignation as she is moving from the area and we wish her all the best for the future.
July 2021
Notice of public rights and publication of unaudited annual governance & accountability return
New Parish Clerk
Keith Pettitt officially takes over today, 1st June, as our new parish clerk. Appropriately seated on Roly's bench, Keith is not actually new as he was originally parish clerk a few years ago when Roly was chair of the parish council. Welcome back Keith.
June 2021
New Dog Bin
The parish council has used money from the precept to purchase and install another dog waste bin in the village. It is situated at the junction of Littlethorpe Road and Canal Lane.
November 2020
Remembering Roly
The bench in memory of Roly Curtis has been installed in the village hall grounds. Woodberry of Leamington Spa made it and are the same firm that made the bench in the garden of remembrance at St. Michael's Church. It was this that led the parish council to choose them because of the excellent quality. The owls etched on the bench were drawn by Richard Tite. The next stage is to decide whether to have gravel or slate on the base. The parish council would like to thank everyone who contributed.
November 2020
Parish Council Minute Books
John Edmonstone has been busy producing edited-down versions of two Littlethorpe Parish Council minute books, 1914-1938 and 1974-1998, both of which can be downloaded below.
January 2020
Bulb Planting
Parish councillors, Gerry Spoors, Jackie Laugher and Chris Winterburn have been busy planting bulbs around the village hall. This year, Harrogate Borough Council provided them with snowdrops.
November 2019
New Stone Plaque
Thanks to Littlethorpe Parish Council, a stone plaque has been placed on the outer wall of the village pinfold explaining the significance of the boundary stone which was placed inside the pinfold in 2018.
March 2019
Parish Boundary Marker Stone
Ripon City Quarry, which has been operated for a number of years by Aggregate Industries Limited (AIL) has come to the end of its working life. At some point during the years of extraction of gravel, AIL unearthed a large stone which had carved on one side the letter 'T' and on the other the letter 'G'. A local archaeologist was asked to have a look at it and he was of the opinion that the stone was a boundary stone marking the boundary of Thorpe and Givendale parishes (or townships). The quarry does border the two parish boundaries so this was a plausible explanation. The name 'Thorpe' as a parish or township hasn't existed for maybe 300 years and is now known as Littlethorpe.
The stone was put in storage but recently, as the quarry has come to the end of its natural life, when AIL has been clearing out its stores prior to demolishing its buildings, the stone has been 'unearthed' for a second time. AIL has kindly given the stone to Littlethorpe Parish and it has been placed in the Pinfold.
The photograph shows Adam Mathwig (Quarry Operations Manager for Aggregate Industries) in the middle, with his assistant Dave on his right, and Gerry Spoors, Chairman of Littlethorpe Parish Council, with the stone in the pinfold.
September 2018
Traffic in Littlethorpe
As many local residents can testify, Littlethorpe is marked by many narrow lanes and sharp bends and car drivers frequently encounter large vehicles on these roads. Apart from causing obstruction to motorists, roadside verges are frequently ploughed-up by such vehicles. The vehicles are generally of two types – lorries and school buses.
Lorries: Concerned by the number of lorries using narrow lanes, the Parish Council approached both North Yorkshire County Council Trading Standards and North Yorkshire Police on this issue. Both have the power to enforce weight limits (which are posted on roads leading into Littlethorpe) – but not the responsibility so they can choose what to do within their resources. NYCC Trading Standards view is that enforcement of weight limits in Littlethorpe is impractical due to the nature, size of the area and the multiple entrances and exits. The matter can, however, be taken up by residents directly with the companies concerned provided that details of the vehicle, the time of day and particular company concerned can be established.
School buses: These are operated by contractors for NYCC and they have been advised by the County Council not to undertake any reversing manoeuvres when children are on board unless it is absolutely necessary. The safety of the schoolchildren is the paramount concern. If reversing is unavoidable then the driver has to obtain assistance with guiding the vehicle backwards where possible. Any such reversing manoeuvre will only be attempted provided that the bus driver is satisfied that it is safe to do so. In general, children are not allowed to disembark the bus unless it is at an allocated drop off or collection stop. The only time that children would otherwise be allowed to disembark would be if there was an emergency and it was absolutely necessary for them to do so.
Cyclists: There will naturally be an increase in bicycle traffic therefore drivers should be aware of the increasing frequency of bicycles and also the number of groups of cyclists using more of the road. We want all road users and pedestrians to be safe on our roads.
Harrogate District Local Plan
Harrogate Borough Council have now produced their draft District Local Plan.
The following areas have been designated in the draft Plan as being “developable” for housing in Littlethorpe:
• Within 5 years: Grange Farm site, Littlethorpe Road – 6 houses
• Within 6 to 10 years: Orchard Lane to Littlethorpe Lane – 56 houses
Railway View – 21 houses
Little Crossing – 5 houses
This is a total of a further 88 properties within Littlethorpe village itself. Additionally, the proposed development at West Lane, which abuts Ripon but falls within Littlethorpe parish and for which a planning application is currently outstanding, has the following numbers of houses as “deliverable” in the draft Plan:
• Within 5 years: 60 houses
• Within 6 to 10 years: 150 houses
• Within 11 to 15 years: 150 houses
• Within 16-20 years: 70 houses
Therefore, on this site alone there would ultimately be a further 430 properties.
Concerns
"The Parish Council is aware of concerns regarding the field use at Little Crossing and access to the old dismantled railway line. For clarification, the situation is as follows:
· Field: The land is owned by the Hield Trust and has been for over 20 years. After several historical complaints about the maintenance of it (damage to fences, overgrown, etc) the Trust recently decided to improve it and have now let the field to a village resident to keep horses in. At no time has there been an established right of way across this land, despite it being used informally by dog walkers for some years, without the Trust’s knowledge. Around 2010 the Trust sought and obtained a Section 31 Statutory Declaration to prevent the creation of a public right of way across this land. With this Section 31 designation in place the land cannot be used to establish a new right of way. Existing local rights of way include the footpath from Orchard Lane to Littlethorpe Lane and Mankin Lane, the latter being a public bridleway.
· Railway Line: Public rights of way do not include dismantled railway lines. North Yorkshire County Council’s maps of rights of way in this area quite specifically do not include the railway track. While NYCC seeks to preserve the route, given the possibility of reinstatement of the line from Harrogate to Ripon and Northallerton (something unlikely to happen in most people’s lifetime), the land itself belongs to local landowners and therefore anyone accessing it without permission is trespassing."