Minutes of a Council Meeting on January 27, 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: Clr Pat Fairbank
Cllr Mark Wheeler
Anne Salter (Acting Clerk)
AGENDA
1 Declarations of interest. No declarations were made
2 To receive and accept apologies for absence. No apologies were received.
3 To approve the minutes of the meeting held. The minutes were agreed as a correct record.
4 Questions from the floor. There were no questions
5 Clerk’s report (attached). The report was read out. No actions required.
6 Correspondence received/items for circulation
1 Craven District Council:
2 NYCC: Christmas tree recycling scheme
3 Crime figures for November 2004
4 Craven Harrogate and Rural NHS Trust: Annual report 2004/December Newsletter
5 Base sports catalogue
6 YLCA: FoI Act training seminar, January 27, Tadcaster/White Rose Update/New employment conditions for Clerks/
7 NYPA: Newsletter Advice on the ‘Freedom of Information Act’
Requests should go directly to the Clerk; if there are any doubts the Chairman should be informed. There is a need for a complaints procedure and audit information (cabinets). Item to go onto the next meeting to give Stephen a chance to read it
8 YRCC Competition flyer
9 Ramblers’ Association: Footpaths guide
10 Calor Gas: Village of the year competition
11 Local Council Review Magazine
12 Freedom of Information Act 2000
13 Amendments to the Register of Electors
14 The Local Channel (Free Website service)
15 Rekk (Youth Shelter catalogue)
16 Highways North Yorkshire Annual Report 2003/4
17 NHS Trust Newsletter
18 Craven District Council Meeting Minutes Oct – Dec 2004
19 Parish Clerks’ Forum meeting notes 19th July 2004
20 Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (preservation of allotments & green spaces)
21 Yorkshire Local Councils Associations Craven Branch Meeting
- Meeting Minutes 9th October
- Annual Meeting Minutes 23rd October 2004
- Agenda for Meeting 20th January 2005
7. Reports from County & District Councillors. Cllr Fairbank advised council members that CDC is looking for new ideas for the development of Skipton. Government money has been allocated to update market towns and must be spent The Bus station will be improved and new car parking provided, at first in Cavendish Street. The back of the Town Hall is be renovated with car parks and shops.
Cllr Wheatstone asked who would be moving into the shops, as there are now a vast number of charity shops in Skipton town centre. The intention is that bigger chain store shops would be attracted to Skipton as the charity shop premises are not big enough to be taken by a big shop. A one-stop community services would be developed. Cllr Fairbanks asked for any comments to be passed to herself or Cllr Wheeler.
Amended plans for the re routing of the footpath around Burlington House have been approved by the CDC. The Parish Council had no objections.
Cllr Wheeler talked about the possibility of a new role of a Community Warden. The post would look at community liaison, security and would involve looking round the village as a deterring effect. The money would initially be funded from North Yorkshire County Council, Craven District Council and Europe. Cononley are interested. Cllr Wheeler asked if Lothersdale Village would like to share this role with Cononley. The following concerns were raised:
i) Would Lothersdale receive their fair share of the role, as the village had not yet
had their share of the speed displays. This would have to be agreed.
ii) Community Warden would be doing the job of the police and Social Services etc.
iii) As this was a three-year plan, once the funding had finished, we could be held responsible for continuing and funding the role.
Cllr Gover thought it would be worth pursuing even if we don’t commit to it. More detail in respect of the scheme was required.
8. Finance
8.1. Accounts payable
i) Bill from David Cook for refurbishment of the bench - £58.00
ii) Clerks Annual Sub to SLCC- £64.00
iii) Kit Cowgill for repair of strimmer etc.- £143.72.
The invoices were approved for payment.
The mower/strimmer requires servicing. Item to be included on the February
Agenda.
8.2. Account balances
1. Balance of Treasurer’s account £3,435.98
2. Insurance payment received in respect of damage caused by the tree £230.00
3. Annual way leave of £10.04 received.
9. Grant to Craven Citizens Advice Bureau
Letter received at the end of December regarding a donation to the Craven Bureau.
Council agreed a payment of £25.00
10. Planning
No applications received.
One application approved:
53/2004/4842 extension to provide a day room and bedroom/en suite and dressing room, Rockwood. Mr. and Mrs. Lee
11. Roads and Drains
Cllr Marshall said the Knott field drainage was causing problems. This could be due
to an old land drain in Booths field being blocked.
Cllr Marshall also asked for something to be done at the bridge in order that the water could be channelled down before it reaches South View. An extra drain could be put into the beck from the school side of the bridge.
The pavement by the bridge is also cracking up.
The flags on North View pavement are lifting and are extremely dangerous outside Eddie Lowes’ house.
The renovation of Bomber Clough Bridge has been completed but the top stones have not been put back.
Cllr Gover will list all issues and forward to Irene.
12. Traffic Calming
Cllr Gover has been asked to attend a meeting regarding road safety in Lothersdale next Friday with Irene and Bill Isherwood. No agenda received as yet. There was a general consensus that cobbles, rumbles or chicanes would be preferable to speed bumps and that cobbles had been suggested in the past. The cost of this would need to be investigated. Cllr Gover requested council members e-mail him with any ideas over the next few days
Queries were again raised as to where the shared speed display was as Lothersdale hadn’t had their turn.
13. Risk Assessment
Cllr Gover made his comments regarding the Risk Assessment as follows:
- Football field – Probability 1 was on the low side, would prefer 2 remotes,
which comes to a 4.
- Garden Equipment severity 2 is low – should be a 3 severity
- Tennis Court 1 probability which is probable – put 3 as a possible accident and severity could be medium = 2 & 3
Cllr Binns will update the forms with the changes.
14. Village signs
No discussions held.
15. Parish Plan
There is a need for a map of the village for emergency services. Recently, again an ambulance could not find an address. This could be a life saving situation.
Cllr Wheatstone suggested we obtain an ordnance survey map to put in the village. There may be a charge for copyright by Ordnance Survey. Cllr Wheatstone to investigate.
The Clerk to the Council had a meeting with CDC Matthew Collins re the Parish Plan and is putting a draft action plan to him for comments.
An option would be to employ an artist to paint a map of the village but this would
cost around £15,000.
The Clerk to the Council has tried meet NYCC to discuss the Parish Plan. These will be put on hold until the Clerk returns from his holiday. We are still on schedule for March.
16. Items of minor information.
The W.I Jubilee tree to be moved alongside the beck towards the wood rather than
the tennis courts. The W. I are OK with this.
The Chestnut tree that the branch fell off is diseased and needs to be looked at by a specialist with a view to being cut down. Cllr Gover to arrange for Ted Gill to investigate and advise.
Cllr Willets is trying to raise money for a new tennis court.
There is a meeting in Settle on 15th February at Settle Civic Centre at £10 per head advising how to raise money and guidelines etc. There is a cost of £10 per person for attending. This is to go on the agenda for next week.
Cllr Gover has received a report in respect of the Parish Trust.
The wall by the recycle bins has collapsed again. Discussions were held as to whether it should be repaired. Cllr Willetts to investigate and report back at the
next meeting. If so, it was suggested Michael Parker should do the work this time.
The recreation wheelie bin had been filled with domestic rubbish. Cllr Gover will put a notice in the Parish Magazine advising this is only for recycling waste.
There is an old Funeral Cart under the village hall. It is an interesting relic and should probably be in a museum somewhere. The PCC and Parish Council do not know who owns it. The PCC have asked if the Parish Council could pass it to somewhere (museum) on loan. Cllr Wheatstone to investigate if Craven Museum are interested.
Next meetings: 24th February, 10th March at 7.30 pm