Meeting May 27th 2026 7.30pm

DRAFT Minutes of the meeting: Wednesday 27^th May 2026

Present: Cllrs T. Hames, A. Lagden, J. Barker, E. Spurdens, C. Wheatley, Dt Cllrs P. Booth and M. Livsey, and Ms J. Kendall Clerk

Apologies: None.

No members of the public attended the meeting.

2. Cllr Hames took the role of chair and welcomed all to the meeting.
3. Minutes

The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 25.3.26 were approved: Proposed Cllr. Spurdens. Seconded Cllr Lagden.

3. Matters Arising:

Signage for the new boundary: Cllr Barker reported that the Clerk had emailed Mr Richard Hobman at WMDC to report that the funding is in place and the boundary project can go forward but had received no reply. A month later Dt Cllr Mayhew was asked to contact Mr Hobman to request an update but again no response was forthcoming.  Dt Cllrs advised us to contact Cllr Keith Anderson as he now has the Highways portfolio. ACTION: The Clerk will email.

The millstone on Station Road: Cllr Hames reported that there has been no progress and now that the elections are over, he will contact Mark Tolson at WMDC.

Village Hall land ownership: Cllr Hames reported that he is now a member of the village hall committee and will attend a meeting shortly to ascertain progress.

Cricket Club concerns:  a letter has been received expressing concern about a recent incident when a cricket ball smashed in to resident’s conservatory. Sympathy was expressed for the resident concerned. ACTION: the Clerk will acknowledge receipt of the letter and Cllr Hames will approach the cricket club to discuss measures that they can take to ensure that residents and passersby in the area are safer in the future.

Allotments: Cllr Wheatley reported that that the overgrown vacant allotment has now been cleared and the hedge has been cut back. This can now be advertised. She suggested that if there is no interest this could be offered as a community space.

Telephone Box restoration: work has commenced on the phone box; the requisite colour paint has been purchased. It is felt that to replace the misted panels would be too difficult and expensive. Research has shown that the telephone box was erected sometime between 1932 and 1952. Mr Brian Lunn has kindly offered to photograph the finished telephone box for the website.

4. Accounts

Cllr Barker reported that the current balance is £15648.82. The CIL money balance is £7729.90, part of which must be spent by Autumn 2026, the capital grant is £2500.

The annual CIL report has been completed and returned to WMDC.

5. Highways

Cllr Wheatley reported that Yvette Cooper MP replied to her letter applying for Highways support for communities adversely affected by the A1 closure to say that all monies have now been allocated and East Hardwick had not been acknowledged as a community adversely affected by the A! closure!  ACTION: Cllr Wheately will reply to say we are disappointed by this response.

Dt Cllr Livsey asked about Highways concerns in the area as the Highways budget has been raised. Current highways concerns were discussed: the need for speed signage, the poor drainage on the A639 at Station Road and Water Lane, the potholes on Doncaster Road, the dangerous bend on Darrington Road and the ineffectual speed bumps.  ACTION: Cllr Wheatley will contact Dt Cllr Anderson whose remit is Highways.

6. Planning

Cllr Lagden reported that there have been no new applications.  Two applications are ongoing: sliding gates at Granary farm and the Potwells Farm development.

7. Correspondence

• YLCA White Rose Bulletins, training courses and bulletins were forwarded to councillors as relevant.
• NALC updates.
• Election notifications – displayed.
• Requests for booking of the village hall.
• Request to WMDC re boundary signage – funding is now in place.
• Return of the CIL report to WMDC.
• A letter of thanks to Mr C Banks at WMDC for his assistance with the capital grant application.
• Emails to Dt Cllr Mayhew regarding signage and a thank you for his support as district councillor.

8. AOB

Complaints have again been received about the overgrown hedge blocking visibility at the junction. ACTION: Cllr Hames will visit the residents of the property.

The Clerk will book the village hall for this year’s meetings.

9. Date of the next meeting: Wednesday 29^th July 2026 at 7.30pm.

The meeting closed at 8.20pm.