LOTHERSDALE PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a Council Meeting on January 22, 2004, at 7.30pm in the Club

Present:                     Cllr Mike Gover  (chairman)

                                    Cllr Andrew Wheatstone

                                    Cllr Helen Marshall

                                    Cllr Malcolm Willetts

                                    Cllr Pat Fairbank

                                    Cllr Mark Wheeler

                                    Cllr Irene Greaves

                                    Clerk Stephen Cohen

                                    Two members of the public

1             Apologies for absence were accepted from Cllr Michael Binns.

2                  Declarations of interest: None were made.

3                  To approve the minutes of the meeting held on December 11, 2003. The minutes were agreed as a correct record

4                  Questions from the floor. There were no questions.

5                  Clerk’s Report (attached and copies available for inspection under the Freedom of Information Act 2000).  The report was accepted.

6                  Correspondence received/items for circulation

(i)                 Craven District Council:  Corporate Plan and Comprehensive Performance Assessment/Equality Counts Event Feb 3 2.30 Skipton Town Hall/Parish Clerk’s Forum Jan 29 Settle 2.00pm/Report of the Parish Remuneration Panel/Review of Local Government meeting Council Chamber January 28.

(ii)               NYCC: Craven Area Committee newsletter/Invitation to Community Transport Strategy conference, Northallerton Feb 9 09.00

(iii)             Primary Care Trust: First report and questionnaire/Consultation document on the way forward for Craven, replies by March 22.

(iv)             YLCA: White Rose update/Minutes/Introduction to being a Councillor/Headstone Push Tester/Branch agenda/Branch Minutes/Letter re branch attendance

(v)               Craven District Transport Forum: Ordinary Meeting January 22, Hellifield.

(vi)             York and North Yorkshire Waste Partnership: Christmas tree recycling

(vii)           Welfare Benefits Unit: Pension credit leaflets

7                  Reports from County and District Councillors. Cllr Greaves said the main issue was the forthcoming budget. It looked like the increase would be between 5 and 5.75%. The next Area Committee meting would be on February 5 at Giggleswick School.  Highways department had been notified about flooding on Wintergap Lane. Bent Hall Bridge would now be repaired in the summer of 2004.

Cllr Fairbank said CDC was likely to reduce the council tax discount for second homes from 50% to 10%. Headstones in Skipton cemetery had been laid flat for safety reasons.

8                  Finance:

(i)       Payments Approved:

S.P. Cohen                                          £147.56 + £4.45 expenses

Lothersdale Village Trust                  £56          Rent

Parish Plan Steering Group               £1,870.55

(ii)      Receipts                                   

YEDL                                                  £9.93       Way leave

(iii)     Balances:

Treasurer                                            £2949.20

Money Manager                                 £7177.41

(£1,870.55 is held on behalf of Parish Plan Steering Group

£2,000 is grant for recreation ground)

9                  Planning

Application received: 53/2003/3901 Millwood Cottage, Wedding Hall Fold Erection of a Conservatory to rear Mr and Mrs Booton.

No objections were raised.

Application approved:  53/2003/3750 Lower Kirk Hill, White Hill Lane Detached garage and water pump store Mr and Mrs Liversedge

10              Draft financial standing orders were agreed and adopted.

11              Draft Standing Orders were agreed and adopted. 

12              Parish Plan.  It was reported that an application had been made for the loan of computer laptops to carry out the village survey.

13              Recreation Ground.  The results of consultation with local young people were discussed and it was agreed to investigate whether the first choice of shelter design could be made in more traditional materials. Cllr Willetts and the Clerk agreed to speak to Andy Durham, architect, to obtain a design for two shelters and a new entrance to the recreation ground.

It was also agreed to write to the PCC welcoming the proposal to establish a youth club and a youth worker in the village, but pointing out that the council did not have the funds to make ongoing commitments to the project.

14              Boundary Committee: To consider draft proposals for unitary local government in North Yorkshire. Four options have been put forward for comment by February 23, 2004.

a.      North Yorkshire

b.      Craven & Harrogate/Hambleton & Richmondshire/Ryedale & Scarborough

c.       Craven & Harrogate/ North Riding

d.      Yorkshire Dales/North York Moors

It was agreed to postpone discussion until the February meeting.

15              Village Map.  To consider preparing a map of the village with names of farms, houses and local features to assist emergency service crews.  Cllr Gover agreed to check with the Women’s Institute to see if they were preparing a map. It was agreed that two maps should be installed in the village entrances.

16              Minor items

Notice boards: Cllr Wheatstone reported that notices were becoming stained in the new boards. The Clerk said the manufacturer had already been informed.

Potential accident at school: Cllr Marshall said a car reversing into the school playground had almost knocked down two children. It was agreed to discuss the issue of parking outside the school at the next meeting.

Next meetings: February 12, March 11, April 8 at 7.30pm