Newsletter August 2011

Easingwold's new Town Council is already hard at work. Of the eleven councillors, whose details are given below, six are first-time councillors and have been familiarising themselves with the Town Council's procedures and powers.

There is a lot going on at present, not least discussions and negotiations on the future of the library and the toilets. Much of the detailed discussion takes place in four committees - Recreation, Open Spaces, Town Centre and Finance and General Purposes. In general each councillor serves on two committees, chosen according to their particular areas of interest and experience, in addition to attending monthly council meetings. Individual councillors also serve as Town Council representatives on various local bodies and from time to time on special working groups.

All councillors take turns in committee at considering planning applications. These come before the Town Council for comment because the Town Council is asked for its views on planning applications in its area. The Town Council is a member of the Yorkshire Local Councils' Associations which provides legal and other specialist advice and information for town and parish councils as well as providing a wide range of training courses for councillors and clerks.

Easingwold Public Toilets

As part of its cost cutting agenda Hambleton District Council has decided to either close or return to the various Town and Parish councils across Hambleton District the stock of Public Toilets. This is affecting Stokesley, Northallerton, Thirsk and other towns as well as Easingwold.

This will affect Easingwold with the possible closure of the toilets that are in the Market Place. At the July Town Council Meeting the Council decided that, if at all possible, they would try to keep the toilets open and retain them as part of the amenities of the town.

At the meeting a small working party was set up consisting of three Councillors* to explore ways of achieving this. The working party will report back in full to the August Town Council Meeting. However it is believed that there is a viable way of retaining the toilets for the community.

Once the transfer date has been confirmed by Hambleton District Council, and the necessary legal process has been confirmed, the Council will be inviting from the public, both individuals and potentially local businesses, expressions of interest to take on the running of the toilets.

This will entail opening and closing the toilets on a daily basis, regularly cleaning them and making sure they are suitably stocked.

This will be a commercial exercise and the Council will pay the successful individual or organisation on an annual contract basis.

If no-one or no organisation comes forward or the Council cannot make provision to run the operation of the toilets successfully then regretfully it is likely that the toilets will have to close.

* Councillors Snook, Readman and Tanfield.

Easingwold Library

Discussions with NYCC are ongoing, with Easingwold Town Council trying to secure long term office accommodation in the Library building. EDCCA are also exploring relocation into the premises. NYCC have confirmed they will provide 18 hours per week of supervised cover from the Library supervisor, with hopefully the shortfall being taken up with cover provided by the voluntary sector. EDCCA would undertake the provision of volunteers and ensure adequate training is provided by the Library Service.

Easingwold in Bloom 2011

Once again the standard was very high and the judges had a difficult task. The colour, variety, quantity and the quality of the displays were fabulous and must have made a favourable impact on visitors and residents alike.
We would like to say a special "thank you" to our gardening contractor, Andrew Nelson, for all the work that he does in planting and maintaining the public parks, grassed areas and flowerbeds of Easingwold.

The council also wishes to thank the local residents for their hard work spent tending council owned land to enhance it for the benefit of the community.

Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations in Easingwold, June 2012

Easingwold Town Council is seeking volunteers to come forward to help to organise a community event to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. It has been announced that there will be a Bank Holiday weekend 2-5 June 2012. If you feel that you can help in any way whether with your ideas, your time, skills or experience in arranging a celebration for the community, please contact the Clerk.

It may seem early but there will be a lot to do and the Town Council wish to know how the community want to celebrate the event. Depending on the level of interest shown, the Town Council intend to set up a Steering Committee to organise the celebrations.

The council will host an initial community meeting to be held on Tuesday 27th September 2011 at 7.30pm in the Council Chamber, Galtres Centre and the Jubilee Steering Committee will be formed at the meeting.
PLEASE ATTEND IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ANY WAY

Memorial Park

The Memorial Park has undergone a major refurbishment over the past 18 months seeing the park become a more popular place for children and families to visit.

Unfortunately in April the play area had to be closed for a matter of weeks following the arson attack on the Multi Activity Tower. The youths responsible have since attended a council meeting and apologised for all the upset and damage that they have caused and have agreed to undertake some work to enhance the town over the next few months e.g. planting bulbs in the autumn with Councillors.

The insurance settlement has been received with the shortfall being made up of donations from the parents of the youths responsible. The new equipment will be installed in place of the Multi Activity Tower before November 2011.

Offensive graffiti was recently found on the picnic benches we had installed, forcing the council to apply anti graffiti varnish to the benches to prevent any further damage.
Following the recent criminal offenses that have occurred in the park, the council have agreed to install a further CCTV camera to cover the whole area, this will hopefully deter any further damage but will also enable the police to identify culprits without difficulty.

We hope families and children of all ages continue to use the park and enjoy the stimulating space; with star attractions such as the aerial zip cable, rope swing, and roundabout with an attractive seating area, den and so much more.

Trees
The Open Spaces Committee has the responsibility for the management of all trees in Easingwold, and deciding on which trees are priorities. Due to financial constraints the council is limited to the tree work that it can undertake. Easingwold Town Council work with local tree surgeons, currently Yorkshire Stump grinders and Bartlett tree experts, using their recommendations to assist in making decisions.
The Past:
Over the past 12 months we have overseen a lot of work to individual trees as well as 3 larger projects.

Lime Tree Avenue
In November 2010 37 Lime trees were crown lifted to improve and formalise the street scene in addition to improving light levels to neighbouring dwellings. Several of the trees were treated with pest and disease control to ensure long term health.

Larch Rise
In November 2010 6 Lime trees were crown cleaned, thinned by 20% and lifted 4 metres above ground level to improve light, structure, form and reduce nuisance issues.

Easingwold Market Green
At the beginning of 2011 works to several of the trees on the Market Green were undertaken, resulting in the removal of a cherry tree that had an aggressive fungus affecting the lower stem and roots. Five of the other cherry trees were crown cleaned, thinned by 15% and lifted by 2.5 metres.
A future maintenance plan is in place for the trees on the Market Green, but given the limited age diversity, it is recommended that we plant several semi mature trees to allow development and to maintain maturity of the green. If you would be interested in sponsoring a new tree on the Market Green or making a donation towards the re planting of new trees please contact the Clerk's Office.

Tree Preservation Order's (TPO's)
The council has a responsibility to carryout ongoing maintenance for such trees where subsequent overplanting has occurred e.g. Copperclay Walk; this is to help prolong the life of the trees covered by TPO'S.

The Future:
The committee will consider the future management of Mallison Hill Wood when it next meets in September and will make recommendations to full council on 20/09/11.
Other individual trees on Uppleby and Mallison Hill drive will also be considered.

September 19th Planning Committee 6.30pm
September 19th Open Spaces Committee 7.00pm
September 20th Town Council Meeting 7.00pm

October 17th Planning Committee 6.30pm
October 17th Recreation Committee 7.00pm
October 18th Town Council Meeting 7.00pm

November 14th Planning Committee 6.30pm
November 14th Town Centre Committee 7.00pm
November 15th Town Council Meeting 7.00pm

Correspondence for consideration by the council at the meeting must be received at the Clerk's Office by close of business six working days before the meeting day e.g. meeting date 20/9/11 then correspondence must be received by 9/9/11.

Council Office
Issues which you wish to raise with the Council in writing should be addressed to the Town Clerk: Mrs. C Armitage, Easingwold Town Council, Police House, Church Hill, Easingwold, York YO61 3JX, by email to clerk@easingwold.gov.uk or by phone 01347 822422.

The office is open daily from 9.30-12.30.

Information on the Town Council and the minutes of meetings can be found on our website which is http://www.easingwold.gov.uk/ Information on Hambleton District Council, including planning matters, local development framework and all other services can be found on www.hambleton.gov.uk

You are welcome to contact a councillor to discuss any complaints or queries.

Cllr. Mrs. D.E. GALLON	Rose Cottage, Alne Road, Easingwold YO61 3JZ	821294
Cllr. Mrs. S. A. SHEPHERD	Far Shires, York Road, Easingwold YO61 3EJ	838256
Cllr. N. MADDEN	7 Tiplady Close, Easingwold YO61 3GA	823049
Cllr. Mrs. F. M. READMAN	Burnside, Spring Street, Easingwold YO61 3BL	821320
Cllr. G.W. ELLIS	East Carolina Farm, Easingwold YO61 3PD	821639
Cllr. Ms C.L. HARRISON	40A Galtres Drive, Easingwold YO61 3DJ	824659
Cllr. N. HARRISON	128 Long Street, Easingwold YO61 3JA	823278
Cllr. R. SNOOK	South Villa, York Road, Easingwold YO61 3ED	822464
Cllr. J.P. FOWELL	19 Whiteoak Avenue, Easingwold YO61 3GB	823609
Cllr. R. TANFIELD	24 Leasmires Avenue, Easingwold YO61 3DU	822684
Cllr Mrs. L. HARRISON	128 Long Street, Easingwold YO61 3JA	823278

A larger print version is always available if requested from the Clerk.