Draft Minutes of a Parish Council meeting on August 24, 2006, at 7.30pm at Bethel Chapel

Present:                            Cllr Andrew Wheatstone (Chair)

                                            Cllr Michael Binns (Vice-chair)

                                            Cllr Helen Marshall

                                            Cllr Mike Gover

In attendance:                10 members of the public

1      Declaration of interest.   None

2         To receive and accept apologies for absence.  Cllr Cullen, Cllr Fairbank, Cllr Wheeler.

3         To approve minutes of the meetings held on June 15, 2006. The minutes were agreed as a true record with the following change. In Item 6, line 4 spelling of Bus.

4     Matters arising from the Minutes

(i)                  New Goal Posts – These have been ordered but have not yet arrived.

(ii)                Improvements in the access to the Club House – These are in progress.

(iii)              The Village Map – Not yet seen.

5.     Questions from the Floor

(i)            Tennis Court – The surface near the beck is dangerous and power washing is ineffective in the long term. Re-tarmacing would cost around £10,000 while an all weather multi-purpose surface would be around £30,000. Cllr Wheeler is investigating the possibility of help from CDC and other funding sources will be examined.   

6         Correspondence. This was received as on the agenda.

7.     Finances: Payments were approved as follows

                                JC Cowgill                                                                £175.92            Park Maintenance

                                K Gott                                                                           £97.50            Village Maintenance

A contract had been given to K. Gott for village maintenance work. This had not been signed and returned and no further work had been done.

                                Receipts: None were received.

                The Council had a total balance of £17,232.60, which includes £10,000 for traffic calming.

8.     Planning.             No applications were received.

                                        Approval had been given for conversion of a barn at Noah’s Ark Kennels..

9.     To consider the replacement of a damaged commemorative tree in the park. The tree planted by the W.I. has been damaged and it was agreed to replace this and to move the damaged tree to another part of the park. Cllr Binns would deal with this.

10   To consider the appointment of a new Clerk to the Parish Council. A subcommittee recommended that Anthony Fellows be appointed. This was agreed unanimously.

11   To discuss the nomination of trustees to the Spencer Homes Charity Raygill Trust and Lothersdale Parish Trust. Cllr Marshall was nominated for the Spencer Homes Charity, Cllr Wheatstone for the Raygill Trust and Cllr Gover was re-appointed to the Lothersdale Parish Trust.

 12   To discuss complaints from parishioners regarding motocross events at Hawshaw Moor. Noise pollution had occurred in three recent Sunday events. Complaints had been made to CDC. With the small amount of use during the year, it appears that little can be done. Three events are planned for next year, spread out during the spring and summer. If further use occurs representation will be made to CDC.

13.  To discuss a 20mph Traffic Calming Scheme. Despite a letter from David Curry MP to NYCC, no monies have been offered. Confusion over the placing of the zigzag lines had led to the contract being delayed but this was now cleared up. They will go outside the Club House and opposite there will be a Keep Clear sign. These will be paid for by NYCC. These signs are not statutory but we hope that they will be observed. A 20mph zone running from the Chapel to beyond the School has been drawn up and will be within our budget of £10,000. There will be 20mph roundels on the road and road signs and speed tables at each end. Two sets of simulated cushions will be placed within the zone. It was unanimously agreed to go ahead with the plan and the timing would be discussed with NYCC. The public attending the meeting commended the Council for its persistence and success in getting a successful outcome to the traffic calming around the School and Recreation Ground.     

14   Items of minor information.

(i)    Bent Hall Bridge coping stones would be kept on the agenda until action was taken by N. Yorks.                                                                                                                                                                                (ii)   2 rubbish bins would be purchased for the Recreation Ground – one near the entrance and another near the BBQ. The decision on their design would be taken at the next meeting.                                    (iii)  The cabinet and the safe would be removed from the Club House and the documents placed in a filing cabinet. Some documents might be put on the Village website and an exhibition could be part of a future Part in the Park.                                                                                         

At this point the agenda was complete but it was urgently necessary to discuss a further matter in confidence.

It was proposed by Cllr Wheatstone that the all the public bar one be excluded from this part of the meeting. The motion was seconded by Cllr Marshall and approved unanimously.

  Dates of next meetings: September 14 and October 12 2006