Village council
Councillors held their monthly meeting at the community centre with chairman Cllr Amanda Evirgen presiding. Those present were Cllrs Christine Jones, vice-chairman, Marianne Dunford and Carole Robinson, County Cllr Tony Randerson, Borough Cllrs Simon Green and Roberta Swiers, council clerk Peter Hemmingham and nine members of the public.
In a written report received on police activities in the area in the past month it was stated that no incidents had occurred in Osgodby.
Borough Cllr Swiers reported that Cayton Parish Council will arrange to cut the overgrown areas on the closed section of Filey Road but the bund will not be included.
County Cllr Randerson said that North Yorkshire county councillors had been given £5,000 to distribute as grants to applicants in their area. The county council will not cut the grass on public footpaths in Osgodby and had no legal responsibility to do so. Meetings have been arranged in Scarborough concerning the proposed reduction in the local fire service.
Cllr Randerson said that the rumours regarding moving people from outside Scarborough into affordable housing in Middle Deepdale had no foundation. Plans for the Scarborough multiplex cinema were still under discussion.
In an open forum, residents expressed concern about the switching off of street lights at midnight, with Osgodby Lane and Fenton Close being mentioned. Walkers sometimes encounter cyclists approaching them without warning on the closed Filey Road and a designated cycling path was suggested. Responsibility for the maintenance of the bund was queried.
The clerk reported that the Yorkshire Local Councils Association had advised that members of the public are presumed to have agreed to the recordings of meetings by their attendance at meetings.
The council’s agreed accessibility policy is to be implemented and placed on the website www.osgodbyvillagecouncil.co.uk. Three amendments to the standing orders were agreed: that meetings should start at 7pm, that the prescribed regulations regarding the recording of meetings should be carried out, and that the minutes of meetings should be concise and informative.
The clerk is to write to the legal department of North Yorkshire County Council regarding the ownership of the land on the closed section of Filey Road. Cllr Jones reported that the footpath, now part of the diverted Cleveland Way, is well used and showing signs of wear. Clarification of responsibility in the event of an accident is to be sought.
The problem of the refusal of the county council to carry out grass cutting was discussed and the following suggestions will be considered: that the Pay Back organisation should be asked to help, that outside contractors or local residents with strimmers should be employed.
The council will consider the feasibility of staging a public event in 2016 similar to the Osgodby Carnival with the possibility of involving neighbouring councils.
Cllr Robinson presented the budget for the memorial garden for the current year. The garden is now well cared for and the lawn area has been treated by Green Thumb with whom an annual contract has been arranged for maintenance of the area. Using the grant received from the cluster group, a large stone ornament to enhance the lawn area is to be purchased.
After consideration of the applicants, the council will participate in the county council ballot for a vacancy on the Yorkshire Moors County Area Committee.
Scarborough Borough Council has advised the village council that no requests were made to hold an election to fill the three vacancies on the council. Anyone interested is now invited to apply by Wednesday August 19, to be considered for co-option to fill the vacancies which the council wishes to do as soon as possible. Full details of the co-option are given in the current newsletter. Applications should be sent to the Clerk at 5 Middlefield Close, YO11 3PU.