Minutes of a Council Meeting on February 24, 2005, at 7.30pm in the Club House
Present: Cllr Mike Gover (chairman)
Cllr Michael Binns (vice-chairman)
Cllr Helen Marshall
Cllr Malcolm Willetts
Cllr Andrew Wheatstone
In attendance: Stephen Cohen (parish clerk)
One member of the public
Minutes
1 Declarations of interest. None were made.
2 To receive and accept apologies for absence. Apologies were accepted from Cllrs Wheeler and Fairbank.
3 Craven Citizens Advice Bureau guest speaker Erica Cadbury. The talk was postponed.
4 To approve the minutes of the meeting held in January. The minutes were agreed as a correct record.
5 Questions from the floor. The issue of vandalism was raised and it was agreed that the chairman would approach the Police with further information. Residents were urged to contact the Police and the Parish Council when any incidents of vandalism were discovered. A notice publicizing these points would be put in the village notice boards.
6 Clerk’s report (attached). The report was accepted, and it was agreed that:
The Clerk would contact CDC to increase the frequency of the collection service for dog waste bags along Quarry Road.
A quote would be obtained for repair of the Pennine Way bench.
Cllr Greaves would be contacted about overgrown hedgerows on White Hill Lane and Calf Wood Lane.
Highways Engineers would be contacted about bumps in road surface at Four Lane Ends.
It was agreed to advertise logs for sale when trees in the park were logged.
7 Correspondence received/items for circulation
1 Craven District Council: North Craven area forum March 10/Amendment to Register of Electors/Skipton High Street survey/Chairman’s details/Proposals for expenditure 2005-2006/Spring Area Forum timetable/Annual Parish Meetings notice/Guidance on paddling pool safety/Parish Clerk’s Forum Agenda
2 NYCC: Consultation on the council’s plan/Closure of Babyhouse Lane/ Closure of Whitehill Lane/Confirmation of footpath change Burlington Farm/
It was agreed to contact the Highways Engineers about the two road closures to make sure that both were not closed at the sane time and also to ask for a metal plate to be laid over the works on White Hill Lane so that traffic could use the road at night.
It was also agreed that the Clerk should contact the Fire Service to request the use of the mobile speed signs.
3 Craven Crime Reduction Partnership: December crime figures
4 Advertising materials
5 Sue Ryder Care: Invitation
6 NEDL: Power outage explanation
7 NYPFA: Newsletter
8 YLCA: Country Air/White Rose update/Revised salary scales/YRCC Membership leaflet/Calor Gas competition/Parish Government conference/Community Halls conference/Regional Spatial Strategy
9 Airedale NHS Trust: Newsletter
10 Clerks and Councils Direct magazines
11 DEFRA: Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill (giving Parishes the power to issue fixed penalties for litter, graffiti, fly posting and dog offences)
12 ODPM: Discussion documents on Citizen Engagement and Vibrant Local Leadership
8 Reports from County and District Councillors. No reports were received.
9 Finance: Accounts payable:
Local Council Review Magazine £13.00 subscription
JC Cowgill £100.64 Recreation ground works
Anne Salter £155.20 Clerk duties for January
Lothersdale Village Trust £58.00 Rent
YRCC £25.00 subscription
Malcolm Willetts £10.00 conference fee
Parish Plan Group £46.98 Parish Plan expenses (pass through)
Stephen Cohen £183.96 Salary and expenses (December 04)
It was agreed to pay the accounts
Received:
NYCC £3,200 Youth shelter grant
Countryside Agency £46.98 Parish Plan expenses
Balances at February 26, 2005:
Savings account £7583
Current account £3436
Deposit account £24
10 Planning:
1 Applications received:
53/2005/5091 Two-storey extension, Bent Laithe Farm, Mr and Mrs Pickles
No objections were raised to the application
2 Applications approved:
53/2004/4923 Conservatory, Croft House, Denise Burton and Derek Cooper
53/2004/4929 Conversion of traditional building to form 2 dwellings, Raygill Farm, Mrs L Whitaker
53/2005/5073 Remove 1 horse chestnut, Lothersdale Parish Council Recreation Ground
11 Risk Assessment: To consider alterations to certain assessments. It was agreed to amend the Risk Assessment Registers
12 Funeral Cart: Cllr Wheatstone to report, letter from PCC received. It was agreed to let the PCC approach museums that might house the funeral cart.
13 Recreation Ground. To consider:
The purchase of a horse chestnut tree
It was agreed to buy a replacement tree. Cllr Binns would obtain it.
Servicing of gardening equipment
It was agreed to have the equipment serviced. Cllr Gover would arrange it.
The removal of a section of dry stone wall by the recycling area
It was agreed to seek estimates for the work.
Seeding an area, draining the adventure playground, remove a fallen tree
It was agreed to seed the area and drain the ground during the April tidying up operation.
Report on the tennis court – Cllr Willetts
Cllr Willetts indicated that between £26,000 and £40,000 would be required to improve or expand the tennis court. No funding had been obtained.
14 To consider complaints about Tow Top footpath.
It was agreed to seek a grant to re-instate two footpaths.
15 To consider street lighting at The Brow
The lights had been repaired.
16 To consider setting up a footpaths committee
It was agreed not to set up a committee.
17 To consider the repair or replacement of a Pennine Way bench
It was agreed to repair the bench
18 Village signs: To consider a strategy for signage in the village. No decision was taken.
19 Parish Plan: To consider a progress report (Andrew Wheatstone). A brief report was made that a meeting had been held with CDC.
20 Roads and Drains To consider a progress report. No progress had been made.
21 Traffic Calming: Cllr Gover reported that he had attended a meeting with Cllr Greaves and Mr Bill Isherwood of NYCC who said the county would contribute 20% towards the cost of planning and designing a calming scheme. A new speed survey was being carried out.
22 Lengthsman/Community Warden Provision: The Clerk was asked to obtain further information from Cononley Parish Council about their proposal for a Lengthsman.
23 Dates of future meetings. It was agreed to hold the next PC meeting on April 7 and the Annual Parish Meeting and Annual Council Meetings on May 12.
24 Items of minor information: Chairmanship for 2005-2006. The chairman said he would be standing down if there was anyone else who wanted to take over the job.
Dates of next meetings:
April 7 at 7.30pm in the Club House
Annual Council Meeting May 12 at 7.00pm
Annual Parish Meeting May 12 at 8.00pm