Minutes of a Council Meeting on December 8, 2005, at 7.30pm at the Club House

Present:   Cllr Andrew Wheatstone (Chair)

Cllr Michael Binns

Cllr Mike Gover       

Cllr Helen Marshall

Cllr Malcolm Willetts

Cllr Mark Wheeler

In attendance:                        Stephen Cohen (parish clerk)

1                  Declarations of interest.  None were made.

2                  To receive and accept apologies for absence.  Apologies were accepted from Cllr Fairbank.

3                  To approve minutes of the meeting held on November 10, 2005.  The minutes were accepted with the correction of Bower to Barrow in paragraph 6, line 2.

4                  Clerk’s report.  The report was accepted.

5                  County and District Councillors’ reports.  Cllr Wheeler said the CDC planning officers had recommended refusal of the Eco House application. There would be a site meeting. There was a dispute with NYCC over the copingstones on Bomber Clough Bridge; officials in the highway department claimed there were no stones there originally. Drains had been jetted but the system was inadequate and new drains should be installed.

6                  Correspondence received:

YLCA: White Rose Update/Country Air magazine/Playing Field magazine

Craven CAB: Appeal for funds.  It was agreed to make a donation of £25.

September and October crime figures

NYCC: Winter gritting arrangements leaflet

                Play equipment and other catalogues

7                  Finances. It was agreed to pay:

SP Cohen                               £180.29 salary and expenses

8                  Planning applications approved:

53/2005/5696: Two-storey extension, Hawshaw Heights, Skipton Road, Mr and Mrs Smith. Conditions apply to windows and doors (to be made in timber), external walls (to be faced in natural stone to match the adjoining dwelling) and roof (to covered in approved blue slates).

Planning applications received:

52/2005/5947: The Willows, Quarry Lane. Single storey extensions to form family room, porch and utility. Mr and Mrs Murphy. It was agreed to raise no objections.

9                  To discuss items for the next financial year.  It was agreed to increase the amount of grant applications by £3,000 and to provisionally set the precept at £10,700.  A final decision would be made at the January meeting.

10               To discuss an estimate for repair of walling. It was agreed to accept an estimate of £141 from Michael Parker.

11               To discuss early years education and childcare in Lothersdale.  It was agreed that a meeting would be called for all interested parties to discuss the issue.

12                Items of minor information. No one could attend the Eco House site meeting and it was agreed that the chair would write a statement for the planning committee meeting.

It was agreed that Cllr Wheatstone would read a lesson at the Christmas Service.

Dates of next meetings: January 12 and February 9, 2006