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

Present:                                    Cllr Andrew Wheatstone (Chair)

Cllr Mike Gover       

Cllr Helen Marshall

Cllr Malcolm Willetts

Cllr Michael Binns

Cllr Mark Wheeler

Cllr Pat Fairbank

In attendance:                        Stephen Cohen (parish clerk)

                                                    Two members of the public

1                  Declarations of interest. Cllr Willetts declared an interest in items 10 and 14. Cllr Marshall declared an interest in item 10. Cllr Willetts left the meeting for item 14 and both took no part in discussions of item 10

2                  To receive and accept apologies for absence.  No apologies were received

3                  Helen White, NYCC Emergency Planning. Following a short talk on emergency planning it was agreed to raise the matter as an agenda item for the April meeting.

4                  To approve minutes of the meeting held on February 9, 2006.  The minutes were agreed as a correct record.

5                  Questions from the floor.  Mrs Ayrton noted that she and her husband owned the footpath outside her house.

6                  Clerk’s report. The draft minute of this item was not accepted and altered at a subsequent meeting.

7                  County and District Councillors’ reports. Cllr Wheeler said that, following the PC’s representations, the bus route would be preserved, and he had no more news on extra funding for traffic calming.  Cllr Fairbank said the over 60s could now travel on buses for free throughout all North Yorkshire, including return journeys to Keighley. A senior rail card would now cost £17.  Plastic recycling bins would be placed in the Town Hall car park.

8                  Correspondence received:

(b)      CDC: Reminder for annual parish meeting/Minutes/Minutes of Area Forum/Notice of Area Forum Meetings/Invitation to Civic Dinner/Election for parish representative on standards committee/Invitation to attend area forum to talk about youth shelter/Refuse collection timetable

(c)      NYCC: Scrutiny news

(d)     Lothersdale Parish Trust: Notice of new secretary and annual report

(e)      Craven Transport Forum: Agenda for February 14 meeting

(f)       SLCC:  Regional conference March 29

(g)      YLCA: White Rose Update/Country Air/College leaflet/Playing Field newsletter/Village of the Year competition

(h)     Play equipment and other catalogues

(i)       NHS annual report

(j)        Magazines

9                  Finances: Payments  approved

SP Cohen                                                   £184.75 salary and expenses

Michael J Parker                                      £223.25 walling repair

Pennine Playgrounds                            £6293.73 Youth Shelter

NYCC                                                         £53.00 Street light repairs

Kit Cowgill                                                £56.40 November-February grounds maintenance

Local Council Review                           £14.00 Magazine subscription

Relate                                                          £25 donation (already agreed)

YRCC                                                          £25 subscription

Receipts:

10               Planning applications received:

  53/206/6076 Replacement conservatory to rear, Ad Viam, Sidegate Lane, Miss Slater.  It was agreed to oppose the application ion the grounds that the roof was too high, it would be visible from the road, the conservatory was too big and there was no clear indication of materials to be used.

Planning applications approved:

      53/2005/5483 Renewal of extant permission for conversion of garage to bedroom and office, Fox House, Springs Farm, Mr S Richards

      53/2005/5961 Alterations to existing dwelling to reinstate part of front elevation and extend above existing lean to, Thorn Cottage, Mill Yard, Mr Oddy and Ms Pentelow. Seven conditions attached.

      53/2005/5750 Conversion of redundant barn to 4-bedroom dwelling, erection of sun room, storm porch and double garage, resite existing store and create landscape curtilage, Calf Edge farm, White Hill Lane, Mr Michael Binns, 8 conditions attached.

11               To discuss progress towards traffic calming measures. The item had been discussed earlier.

12               To discuss a footpath below North View. Ownership of the footpath lay with Mr and Mrs Ayrton

13               To discuss the Lothersdale Millennium Fund. £1,600 was on deposit with Skipton Building Society. It was agreed to allow the fund to continue, the money being available to the council.

14               To discuss tenders for work 2006-2007.

15               To discuss the purchase of a new grass cutter.  It was agreed to purchase a new machine for £580.

16               Items of minor information.  It was agreed to write in support of the planning appeal for the ‘EcoHouse’.

It was agreed to discuss land use at the next meeting.

It was agreed to ask Cllr Willetts to inspect the bench on White Hill Lane.

A pothole at Lane Head and a hole in the pavement by the chapel were reported.

The annual parish meeting was fixed for May 11.