Minutes of a Parish Council meeting on May 11, 2006, at 7.00pm at the Club House

Present:                            Cllr Andrew Wheatstone (Chair)

                                            Cllr Michael Binns (Vice-chair)

                                            Cllr Eddie Cullen

                                            Cllr Helen Marshall

                                            Cllr Mike Gover

In attendance:                Cllr Mark Wheeler

                                            Cllr Pat Fairbank

                                            8 members of the public

1               Declarations of acceptance of office and undertaking.       
All councillors signed the declaration forms in the presence of other councillors.

2               Election of Chair and vice-chair.

Cllr Wheatstone was proposed as chair by Cllr Binns and seconded by Cllr Cullen. Cllr Binns was proposed as vice-chair by Cllr Marshall and seconded by Cllr Gover. Both were elected unanimously           

3         Declaration of interest.                ~
                    None

4         To receive and accept apologies for absence. 
                    Apologies were accepted from Stephen Cohen.

5               To approve minutes of the meetings held on May 3 and April 13, 2006.
The minutes were agreed as a true record. It was noted that a statement by the Chairman in the April 13 minutes had not been attached.

6               Questions from the floor.

(i)      A car park at the Village Hall – This is not a Parish Council matter but if a planning application was put forward the Parish Coucil would consider it in the usual way.

(ii)    BT poles on Sidegate – The Chairman read a minute from the May 3 Minutes stating that the Council first heard of the proposal at the end of January. At the February Council meeting strong objection was raised and a letter sent to BT. Notificationof the road closure was not received. It is not clear what consultation BT or other utilities have to make.
The public asked the Council to investigate further the consultation process.

7               To approve a statement of assurance to the annual accounts for 2005-2006.
These had been signed by the external auditor Mr Eric Johnson and were approved.

8               Clerk’s Report.
The report was accepted. It was noted that the tennis court had been cleaned. The transfer of the shelter grant towards the tennis court had been refused by the Parish Trust. Correspondence had begun on the dam crossing.                                                                         
Twinning and the Village map would be put on the next agenda.                                               
The map has not yet been seen by the Councillors nor has a payment been agreed. The Bent Hall coping stones would be added to the Clerk’s Report each month until the work had been completed.

9               Correspondence.
This was received as in the agenda.

10           Finance. The following payments were approved.                                                                                                           
 NYCC                   £655.85             Footway lighting block change and clean 24 lights.             
JC Cowgill               £325.00             New path in park                                                                                   
Allianz Cornhill                    £906.58             Insurance premium                                                                                           
Communicorp        £9.00                  Clerks and Council Magazine subscription                                   
Will Arts                  £83.40               Relay bench on Whitehill Lane                                                               
Will Arts                  £48.75               Fit new backs to noticeboards                                                                  
LexisNexis              £65.45               Arnold Baker 7^th Edition                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
 It was noted that there was a large increase in the insurance but that it now also covered the youth shelter.
The work on the noticeboards had not been sanctioned by the Council.

11           Planning.
The approval of conversion of the barn at Mitton House was noted.

12           Traffic Calming.
NY schemes were to cost £30,000 although only £10,000 was available from Council funds. Speed activated lights could be afforded but would not be approved by NY Highways. Traffic calming around the School is the most likely outcome and the Council proposed to ask for this to be extended as far as the Chapel and down to Rose-in-the-Dale. The use of zig-zag lines will be considered.                                                                                                                 
A site meeting with Stuart Marshall was proposed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           The meeting was adjourned at 8.00 p.m. so that the Annual Parish Meeting could be held. It recommenced at 9.15 p.m.                                                                                                                                                   

13           BT poles along White Hill Lane.
These were to go from Kirk Sykes to Cross Green. If they were to cross the road they needed to be 16ft high to allow farm hay wagons to pass under.
It was suggested that they should be on the North side of the road and cross underground.                   
It was agreed to write to BT to ask details of the Wayleave protocol and for a plan of the proposed poles.

14           Community Emergency Plan.
This was postponed until the next meeting.

15           Parish Council Clerk.
A sub-committee of the Chair, Vice-chair and Cllr Marshall was set up to advertise and appoint a new Clerk.  This Committee would also consider the job specification for the contractors used by the Council.

Nettles along Calfwood Lane.
NY highways were asked to deal with this matter.

Marquee.
A request for the loan of the marquee was agreed at a rate of £50.

Recreation Ground.
An estimate would be sought for repair of the steps by the tennis court.

Estimates would be obtained for a new tennis net.  
The Hawthorn hedge will need laying in the near future.

Council Storage. The facility at the Club House will soon disappear.                                                                                                
This will be discussed at the next meeting.

 Road Drainage between Lane Head and Winter Gap.
The offer of Mr H. Lee to put pipes into his fields would be conveyed to NY Highways. This had been done before with no action resulting. 

Village Facility Coordination.
A letter had been received offering help.                                                                                                              
This would be discussed at the next meeting.

Next Meeting. This would be moved to June 15.

  Dates of next meetings: June 15 and July 13 2006 at 7.30pm in the Club House