2026-27 Minutes

Open Forum

There were 14 residents present as well as Simon Braid the Applicant to the planning application on the agenda. The Chair welcomed all present and explained that this was a formal parish council meeting which allowed the public to speak on any matter on the agenda . The time allocated for that was 15 minutes with each person being given no more than 5 minutes to express their opinions and thoughts. The general consensus was that the hotel was a project that was better than leaving the premises to become derelict. However, there were reservations. The first was about the pods/lodges being cladded at the front to a high specification whereas at the back it was not so good. This was a problem in that they would be close to the adjoining premises and would be unsightly. There was also concern about trees being cut down or moved as well as what was the proposals regarding sewage and how it was to be disposed of. Mr Braid was able to explain that no trees would be cut down, and the pods/lodges would be piped into the main system. He was asked whether there was a possibility that there could be a clause within the planning consent that the hotel would not be used for anything other than what was being asked for in the plan. There was concern that immigrants might be housed at the hotel. Mr Braid again was happy to say that there was no way that this would be something he wished  for and was happy for such a clause being placed on the planning consent. Mr Braid was able to give answers to resident’s concerns. Some of the residents expressed their concerns that they had been limited to having a few minutes to express their concerns as they thought it was a meeting just to discuss the planning application. Again, it was explained that we had called the special meeting as we were unable to conclude the Audit as the Internal Auditor had not completed the task, After the meeting was arranged the planning application arrived and we had until the 2 June to respond. As that was before our next meeting it was agreed we would add this to the agenda. As it was a parish council meeting and not a public meeting, we had certain rules and regulations to abide by and one was how to allow parishioners to address the council on any matter that was on the agenda. It was noted that the notice placed at the premises was only undertaken the day before, so the response date was the 10 June 2026. We had not been notified of that and so we had until the 2 June. The residents were asked to write their own objections to the planning officer rather than just to rely on the parish council doing so. Mr Braid pointed out that there were 4 lodges 2 of which were doubles and the other 2 were trebles. The maximum height of the lodges was 2.8 metres at the highest point. The only people sleeping within the premises would be the disabled with a new bedroom being specifically built for that purpose.

The meeting was formally opened at 19.31

23.

Apologies for absence, acceptance of Apologies & noting of resignations received

23.1

Apologies were received from B Gunner (personal), P Haley (personal) and L Lowe,  (personal) Resolved that the apologies be accepted.  

24.

Declaration of Interest – To receive Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary and Other Interests, as set out in Chapter 7 of the Localism Act 2011 and the nature of those interests relating to any Agenda item

24.1

No one declared any Disclosable Pecuniary and Other Interests on any matter on the agenda.  

25.

Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held on the 6 May 2026 (Min26-01)

25.1

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on the 6 May 2026 be signed by the Chair as a correct record.

26.

Planning applications: 

26.1

To consider any Planning Applications received – S26/0441 - Change of Use from Sui Generis (Youth Hostel) to C1 (Hotel) with the erection of 4 new lodges and 1 associated function room Youth Hostel , 16 High Street, Thurlby. Response by 2 June 2026. Resolved that we would not object to the application on that condition that the hotel was only going to be used as described in the planning application. There was a concern with the entrance/exit at the property as it was not wide enough and that it should be improved or enlarged. Stephen Holland pointed out that this plan did not go against the Neighbourhood Plan and he was of the view that it could be a benefit to the community.

27.

Audit of 2025/26 Accounts  

27.1

To approve the Annual Governance Statement 2025/26, Resolved: that the Annual Governance statement be approved after this was considered in detail

27.2

To accept the Accounting Statement 2025/26 as a true record, . Resolved: that the Accounting Statement for 2024/25 be accepted as a true record.

27.3

 To sign the Annual Return and submit for Audit. Resolved: that the Annual Return be signed by the Chair and submitted for Audit

There being no further business the meeting was formally closed at 19.53

28.

The date of the next meeting – to be held on Wednesday 3 June 2026 at 7.30 p.m. in the Lawrance Park Social Room, Thurlby