Draft Minutes of a Parish Council meeting on April 13, 2006, at 7.30pm at the Club House
Present: Cllr Andrew Wheatstone (Chair)
Cllr Michael Binns (Vice-chair)
Cllr Helen Marshall
Cllr Mike Gover
In attendance: Stephen Cohen (parish clerk)
Cllr Mark Wheeler
Cllr Pat Fairbank
1 Declarations of interest. No declarations were made.
2 To receive and accept apologies for absence. Apologies were accepted from Cllr Willetts.
3 To approve minutes of the meetings held on March 9 and April 4, 2006. The minutes were agreed as a correct record with the addition of the words ‘from North Yorkshire’ in the second line of item 6 so that it now reads: ‘. . . the Clerk was asked to write to the school governors requesting assistance from North Yorkshire towards the traffic calming scheme;’
4 The Chairman made a statement (copy attached)
5 Questions from the floor. A resident praised the qualities, service and achievements of the Parish Clerk and asked about the wording of the agenda for the April 10 meeting, what progress had been made and how quickly a resolution could be reached on the issues concerning the clerk and the council. The Chairman replied that the wording of the agenda had been advised by the chief officer of the YLCA and that the matter could not be discussed during an election period, but progress had been made. The resident went on to ask if the wrong impression about the clerk’s conduct could have been taken from the wording on the agenda. The Chairman said it could have been but nothing could be said or done until after the election. He said there was no suggestion that the clerk had committed a serious crime and he would take advice about publishing a notice saying so.
Another resident asked what could be done to make disabled access to the Club House easier. The Vice-chairman replied that work would be done during the summer.
6 Clerk’s report. The report was accepted. It was noted that the Youth Shelter had not cost the council anything – the full purchase price had come from grants and donations. It was agreed to accept two estimates for repairing a seat on White Hill Lane and fitting replacement interiors to the notice boards that had been supplied by the manufacturers free of charge. Cllr Wheeler said NYCC had written to him about the footpath across the dam.
7 Village caretaker. It was agreed to draw up a contract for 50 hours’ work to be done within the 30mph zone. Cllr Marshall asked to see the contract. Cllr Binns offered the use of his premises for organic waste to be dumped.
8 County and District Councillors’ reports. Cllr Fairbank said a waste management service was trying to be developed which would sort items centrally. Penalties were in prospect for litter offences. The free bus pass for the elderly allowed travel throughout North Yorkshire and to anywhere else if there was no change of bus after crossing the county boundary. 31 taxi drivers in Skipton had still not taken their driving tests.
Cllr Wheeler reminded the council that a letter could be sent to the planning inspector in support of the Eco House planning application appeal. The chairman would send it to the clerk who would forward it to the inquiry. Work on Stansfield Bridge would begin on July 20 and end by September 2. The Craven Area Committee had rejected the county’s budget for traffic calming and capital road works projects. Lothersdale was now even lower in the list for work to be done.
9 Correspondence received:
a) CDC: Playground Committee ( £200,000 available) nominee required for meetings April 27, June 22, August 17 The Chairman offered to attend/ Craven Events leaflet/Election timetable/Planning strategy press release The Vice-chairman requested a copy/Minutes/Plastic recycling press release
b) NYCC: Minerals and Waste Development Framework Supplementary Waste Issues Paper/Area Committee Newsletter and Agenda March 23/Review of bus services (Lothersdale bus service not stopped)
c) Northwest Development Agency: Northwest plan
d) DEFRA: Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 – fixed penalty notices for dog fouling/Guide to the Act available on request/Training course for authorised officers
e) The Local Channel: Free website offer
f) YLCA: New website (www.yorkshirelca.gov.uk) secret password available
g) CE Electric: Emergency number during power cuts 0845 3370151 and dedicated PC official
h) Relate: receipt for £25 donation
i) Magazines
10 To discuss the annual return to auditors (if available). It was agreed to approve the annual accounts. Copies would be provided for the annual parish meeting.
11 Finances: These payments were approved:
SP Cohen £181.71 salary and expenses
Robertshaws £580 lawnmower
YLCA £116 membership fee
CDC £746.11 street lighting electricity 2004 – 2005
JC Cowgill £74 park maintenance
It was agreed to ask the clerk to obtain more quotes for electricity supply for street lights.
12 Planning applications approved:
53/206/6076 Replacement conservatory to rear, Ad Viam, Sidegate Lane, Miss Slater
13 To discuss progress towards traffic calming measures. Letter received from Lothersdale School/Quotations from sign companies. It was agreed to seek a meeting with NYCC senior official on speed signs.
14 Footway lighting maintenance contract: To discuss renewal of NYCC contract. It was agreed to renew the contract.
15 To discuss installing a new path in the park and cleaning the tennis court (estimates received). It was agreed to go ahead with the path (subject to Kit Cowgill speaking with Cllr Binns about the dust to be used) and to seek a full labour quote for the tennis court work.
16 To discuss a community emergency plan. Item postponed.
17 To discuss Tennis Court refurbishment. Cllr Wheeler to check on availability of grants.
18 Items of minor information. Cllr Marshall complained about dog fouling. Cllr Gover said he would write something for the Parish Magazine. There was concern expressed about potential new telephone poles to Cross Green Farm; Cllr Wheeler said he would make enquiries at CDC planning office.