LOTHERSDALE PARISH COUNCIL

 Minutes of the Annual Council Meeting on May 13, 2004, at 7.00pm in the Club House

Present:                     Cllr Mike Gover (Chairman)

                                    Cllr Michael Binns

                                    Cllr Malcolm Willetts

                                    Cllr Andrew Wheatstone

                                    Cllr Helen Marshall

                                    Cllr Pat Fairbank

                                    Cllr Mark Wheeler

                                    Clerk Stephen Cohen

1                  Election of Chairman and Vice-chairman.  Two nominations were made for Chairman.  Cllr Binns proposed Cllr Gover; Cllr Marshall proposed Cllr Wheatstone. Two votes were cast for each candidate. The Chairman’s casting vote was given to Cllr Gover and he was duly elected.

Two nominations were made for Vice-chairman. Cllr Gover proposed Cllr Binns; Cllr Willetts proposed Cllr Marshall. Two votes were cast for each candidate. The Chairman’s casting vote was given to Cllr Binns and he was duly elected.

2                  Declaration of Acceptance of Office of Chairman.  The Chairman and Vice-chairman completed the declaration forms which were duly signed and countersigned.

3                  Apologies for absence were received from County Cllr Irene Greaves

4                  Questions from the floor. There were no questions.

5                  To approve the minutes of the meeting held on April 8th, 2004. The minutes were agreed as a correct record.

6                  Clerk’s report (attached). The report was accepted and, during discussion, it was agreed to re-consider the siting of the proposed youth shelter at the next meeting after hearing of some concerns expressed by local residents.

It was also agreed to place a new bench on the Pennine Way near to John Pickles’ Farm and to ask Kit Cowgill to strim the area there.

It was agreed to request more estimates for renovation of the war memorial.

Cllr Wheatstone agreed to find out more information about the South Craven Community Action group and report back to the council with a proposal.

7                  Correspondence received/items for circulation

1        Craven District Council: Elections Notice June 10 (local and European)/Payment of allowances to co-opted parish council members/Craven Community Strategy/Spring and Summer calendar of arts events/

2        Local Council Review magazine

3        NYCC: Craven Area Committee Special Meeting May 13 6.45pm CDC office

4        Airedale NHS Trust: OpenAire newsletter

5        5Craven Harrogate NHS Trust: newsletter

6        Glasdon: Street furniture catalogue

7        Craven Crime Reduction Partnership: Invitation to join a local problem solving group

8        Home Office: Guidance on changes to the law on preventing illegal working

8                  Reports from County and District Councillors. Cllr Fairbank said she had arranged for Little Red Bus leaflets to be placed in the mobile library. 

Cllr Wheeler said he had visited Harrogate to look at parking schemes there which might be introduced in Craven; NY Police wished to be relieved of parking control duties. He had also attended a Parish Liaison Group meeting where the issue of websites had been raised. A CDC officer would be trying to coordinate meetings which Parish Councils were invited to try to avoid clashes.

The meeting adjourned at 8.03 pm for the Annual Parish meeting to be held and reconvened at 9.30 pm

9                  Finance

Payments approved:

S.P. Cohen                                          £147.56 + £11.23 expenses

JC Cowgill                                          £111.52 Rec ground maintenance

NYCC                                                 £507.56 Streetlight maintenance

David Cooke                                      £269.95 Supply + install Millennium Walk signs

Receipts noted:

Customs and Excise                           £57.86 VAT repayment

Craven District Council                     £3,500 Precept (50%)

Balances noted:

Treasurer                                            £1702.10

Money Manager                                 £10,206.85

10              Annual Return: To receive a report on the council’s finances for the previous year and to approve resolutions and a statement of assurance thereon. The annual statement of accounts was approved and the statement of assurance was agreed with the exception of one item which would be explained in an accompanying letter to the external auditor.

11              Planning

Applications received:

                 1 53/2004/4229 Proposed works to protected trees, Horrocks Close/Fair Acre. Fell 7 sycamore,4 beech,1 horse chestnut and crown lift/thin and dead wood 35 beech, elm, sycamore and horse chestnut. No comments were made.

2 53/2004/4230 Conversion and alterations of garage/workshop to form extension to existing dwelling. Briggstone Barn.  No comments were made.

Applications approved:

1 Rear conservatory, Millwood Cottage, Wedding Hall Fold. Conditions applying to stone, pointing and method of walling, and a 1.6metre high private screening boundary along the eastern boundary.

2 Amendments to conversion of barn to dwelling and double garage, Low Kirk Hill. Conditions applying to timber windows and doors, rooflights to be approved, roof to be reinstated toits original level, pitch and recovered in natural stone slates, garage and porch stone sample and roof slate to be approved prior to use, no demolition other than indicated on the amended plans, north elevation to be rebuilt using the original stone and pointed to match, vehicular access to be constructed according to the submitted plans, surfaced in tarmacadam for the first 10 metres and at a gradient of not more than 1 in 10.

12              Parish Plan.  Progress report.  Cllr Wheatstone said the questionnaires were being circulated along with the Little Red Bus leaflets and an invitation to the Party in the Park.

13              Party in the Park: To consider the event and take appropriate decisions. Cllr Gover agreed to prepare a display panel for the event.

14              Insurance: To receive a verbal report on the council’s insurance and take decisions on further action.  It was agreed to discuss the matter with the insurers and hear a report at the next meeting.

15              Speeding survey: To receive a report on the results of speed monitoring.  The item was postponed to a later meeting.

16              Parish Magazine:  To consider a request for financial support. The item was postponed to a later meeting.

17              Recreation ground:

To consider a request for purchase of wheelbarrow at approximately £35. The request was agreed.

To consider a request to create a compost heap. It was felt that more information was needed.

18              War Memorial: To consider a quotation for renovation. It was agreed to seek further estimates

19              Millennium Book: To consider a proposal for ownership of copyright. The item was postponed.

20              Minor items for information.  Cllr Wheatstone said he would try to find a new location for the filing cabinets.

                  Cllr Binns reported that the telegraph pole near his house had been removed.

                 It was requested to put the issue of a barbeque on the agenda for the next meeting.

Next meetings: June 10 and July 8 at 7.30 pm