Minutes of a Council Meeting on February 9, 2006, at 7.30pm at the Club House

Present:                                    Cllr Andrew Wheatstone (Chair)

Cllr Mike Gover       

Cllr Helen Marshall

Cllr Malcolm Willetts

Cllr Mark Wheeler

In attendance:                        Stephen Cohen (parish clerk)

                                                    One member of the public

1                  Declarations of interest. No declarations were made.

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

3                  To approve minutes of the meeting held on January 12, 2005.  The minutes were agreed as a correct record.

4                  Questions from the floor.  This item was moved to the end of the meeting.

5                  Clerk’s report.  The report was accepted.  Cllr Wheeler said work would begin on broken drains by the Chapel in April but their capacity was not sufficient to cope with the run-off of water from nearby fields. CDC would write to the landowner requesting assistance to remedy the situation.  An estimate for the replacement of coping stones on Bent Hall Bridge had been received.

6                  County and District Councillors’ reports. Cllr Wheeler said CDC’s rate increase would be 2.9%, NYCC 4.9% and the police authority’s 2.2%.

7                  Correspondence received:

(b)      CDC: Invitation to meeting on council expenditure for coming year – February 13 at CDC office, 7.00pm/Parish representative on Standards Committee - appointment process suspended while CDC thinks about increasing the number of Parish reps/Parish Clerks’ forum March 9 in Lothersdale Village Hall.

(c)      NYCC: Proposed diversion of footpath at Salt Pye Farm.  No objection was raised.

(d)     YLCA: Councillor skills seminars

(e)      Dogs Trust: Poster

(f)       South Craven School: Decision to become a Foundation School from April 3, 2006

(g)      Relate: Appeal for donations for young people’s service.  It was agreed to donate £25.

(h)     Awards For All: Notification of receipt of youth shelter grant application

(i)       Local Government magazines

(j)        Play equipment and other catalogues

8                  Finances: Payments to be approved.  It was agreed to pay:

SP Cohen                                                   £176.06 salary and expenses

 Cllr Willetts                                             £18.00 photocopying large map

Receipts:
Parish Trust                                              £405 War memorial Tarmac Grant

9                  Planning applications received:

Planning Applications rejected:

Planning applications approved:

53/2005/5947 Single storey extensions to form family room, porch and utility, The Willows, Mr and Mrs Murphy. Conditions apply to the windows, roof lights, facing materials and roof slates.

Cllr Wheatstone left the meeting for a prior engagement at 9.00pm and Cllr Gover took the chair.

10               To discuss progress towards traffic calming measures.  Revised costings had been received from NYCC.  Speed cushions would be £500 each.  It was agreed to contact the school asking for their support for a ‘no parking’ area. NYCC would be asked for more information on costs.

11               To discuss the Lothersdale Millennium Fund.  The item was postponed to another meeting.

12               To discuss receipt of accounts and reports from local charities.  No decision was taken.

13               Items of minor information. 

(a)     Problems with the repair of the council mower were outlined. The matter would be on the agenda for March.

(b)     Kit Cowgill would be asked to fence off the damaged part of the playground.

(c)     It was felt that the FA should be asked to use the football field for practice sessions, rather than the former bowling green. Cllr Marshall agreed to talk to them.

14               Questions from the floor.  Mrs Barrow objected to telephone poles going up Sidegate Lane.  It was agreed to object to the road closure and to the installation of poles.  Mrs Barrow then asked who owned the pavement along North View.  She wanted to see it repaired and a footpath created outside the Ayrton’s house.  Cllr Wheeler agreed to investigate the ownership issue, and the new footpath would be on the next agenda.

The meeting closed at 9.20pm

Dates of next meetings: March 9, April 13 2006