Minutes of a Council Meeting on January 12, 2006, 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

Cllr Pat Fairbank

In attendance:                        Stephen Cohen (parish clerk)

1                  Declarations of interest. None were made.

2                  To receive and accept apologies for absence. No absences were recorded.

3                  To approve minutes of the meeting held on December 8, 2005. The minutes were approved with an amendment to minute 9, ‘to provisionally set the precept at £7,700’.

4                  Questions from the floor. Thanks were expressed to the council for supporting Mr and Mrs Abbatt’s planning application. Although unsuccessful, they would launch an appeal.

5                  Clerk’s report. The report was accepted.

6                  County and District Councillors’ reports. Cllr Wheeler said a reorganisation of the county’s community education policy was underway. The Village Club had been granted £3,500 for improvements.  Subsidy for post-16 school transport was likely to be stopped. Coping stones on Bent Hall Bridge would be replaced. A new footpath on Calf Wood Lane had been costed but was unlikely to be built within the next three to four years.

7                  Correspondence received:

CDC: Parish Precept reminder/Register of Electors/Crime figures/Refuse collection service timetable/

NYCC: Craven Area Committee meeting, Bolton Abbey Village Hall 10.00/Newsletter/Minerals and Waste development framework submission statement/Review of Contracted Bus Services (proposal to abandon Lothersdale bus route - comments to be made by February 3). It was agreed to protest at the closure and to push for increased timetable frequency on two days a week, for an improved Saturday service for young people working in Skipton and for a sensible re-timing of the early morning and evening services.

NHS: Consultation on merger of local health authorities/Guide to local services

ODPM: Discussion Paper on standards of conduct in local government

YLCA: White Rose Update/New audit fees (up 12.5%)/New clerk salary scales (up 2.95%)

North Yorkshire Criminal Justice Board: Newsletter

Local Government magazines

                Play equipment and other catalogues

8                  Finances: It was agreed to pay:

SP Cohen                                                   £172.14 salary and expenses

Lothersdale Village Trust £81 rent

SLCC                                                           £64 membership subscription

Helen Marshall                                       £15 flowers

Backing South Craven                           £10 membership fee

Receipts:
YEDL                                                          £10.31 way leave payment

9                  Planning applications received:

53/2005/5961 Alterations to existing dwelling to reinstate part of front elevation and extend above existing rear lean-to extension. Thorn Cottage, Mr Oddy and Ms Pentelow.  No objections were made.

Planning Applications rejected:

53/2005/5839 Proposed granny flat, Trout Hall, Raygill, Mr and Mrs Clement

53/2005/5706 Construction of Ecohouse and erection of wind turbine, Surgill Head, Mr and Mrs Abbatt

Planning applications approved:

53/2005/5799 Garage and private office, Banks Ghyll Kennels, Mr and Mrs Smith.

53/2005/5845 Single storey extension, Wedding Hall Barn, The Fold, Mr and Mrs Fenton

53/2005/5836 Demolition of existing dwelling and construction of 2 new dwellings, Cross Green Farm, Mr A Dunne. (with 13 conditions)

10               To discuss items for the next financial year and set a precept.   It was agreed to set a precept of £7,700 and to apply for £5,000 Lottery funding for the tennis court, and to approach the Lawn Tennis Association for support.

11               To discuss proposals for traffic calming measures. It was agreed that neither of the schemes was liked, and both were too expensive. Cllr Wheatstone would contact the local MP to take the issue further.

12               Items of minor information. Cllr Willetts called for a volunteer clean-up day for the village before a caretaker was employed. Cllr Marshall said she had received complaints about dog fouling. Cllr Gover reported that the Lothersdale book was now in profit and would be discussed at the next meeting. It was felt that the NYCC archaeology service should be asked to take positive action the preserve the mill, replace the stone cross at Cross Green and provide a signpost to it.

Dates of next meetings: February 9, March 9, and April 13, 2006