Minutes of a Council Meeting on September 11, 2003,

at 7.30pm in the Clubhouse

Present: Cllr Mike Gover (chair)
Cllr Andrew Wheatstone
Cllr Helen Marshall
Cllr Malcolm Willetts

District Cllr Mark Wheeler
County Cllr Irene Greaves

Parish Clerk Stephen Cohen

  1. Apologies for absence.
    Apologies were received from Cllr Michael Binns and District Cllr Pat Fairbank.
     
  2. Declarations of interest
    Cllrs Marshall and Willetts declared an interest in item 14.
     
  3. To approve the minutes of the meeting held on July 24, 2003
    The minutes were agreed as a correct record.
     
  4. Questions from the floor
    There were no questions from the floor
     
  5. Clerk’s Report
    The report was accepted.
    1. Millennium Memorial funds: Cllr Gover said he would visit the Yorkshire Bank to investigate the status of the funds. The original stone selected for a clock was no longer available. It had then been decided to erect a cross at Cross Green. The treasurer of the Millennium Committee had moved away from the village, causing problems in accessing the bank account. The committee was separate from the Parish Council, he said.

      Cllr Willetts then asked where the £300 raised for a basketball court had gone. The Clerk was asked to investigate.
       

    2. New signposts: Cllr Willetts offered to repaint the old ‘non-standard’ signpost at Lane Head.
       
    3. Review of public conveniences: It was agreed to request CDC to provide conveniences in the recreation ground.
       
    4. Traffic Speed: NYCC would be undertaking a new speed survey in the village.
       
    5. Pavement repairs: Repairs had been carried out by NYCC.
       
    6. Litterbin: Cllr Wheeler said he would work with Cllr Fairbank to obtain a wheelie bin for the rec. CDC had agreed to provide another litterbin.
       
  6. Correspondence received/items for circulation
    1. Craven District Council: Performance Plan for 2003-2004/’Get Active’ guide/
    2. North Yorkshire County Council: Craven Area Committee Newsletter/
    3. Yorkshire Local Councils Association: Annual report and accounts/Annual Meeting Filey September20/
    4. Yorkshire Forward: Skipton Renaissance Vision pamphlet
    5. Airedale NHS: Invitation to open evening September 16/OpenAire Newsletter
    6. Crosshills MAPS Group: Minutes of August meeting
    7. Standards Board for England: Guidance leaflet
    8. Lumalite: Christmas display catalogue
    9. DEFRA: Rural Service Standard flyer (On notice board)
    10. Local Council Review magazine
    11. South Craven School: Opening of Technology and Engineering College October 1.
       
  7. Reports from County and District Councillors

    Cllr Greaves reported on the issue of local government reform. The county area committee would be held on October 2 in Skipton. The main agenda items were the closure of a ward at Skipton Hospital and level crossings at Cononley and Crosshills.

    Cllr Wheeler said CDC’s favoured option for regional government was to merge with Harrogate. Dog bins on lampposts might be removed. The flooding panel had requested more information from residents in danger areas. CDC’s new chief executive, Jill Dixon, would be visiting the parish on September 15.
     

  8. Finance:

    It was agreed to pay these accounts:

    J.C. Cowgill £127.73 July recreation ground maintenance

    J.C. Cowgill £153.52 August recreation ground maintenance

    T McCallum £220.10 Brass plate, install new seat, remove old bench

    S.P. Cohen £320.03 Salary, expenses July and August

    It was noted that additional items of work given to contractors had to have prior approval.

    Accounts:

    Treasurer £2109.14

    Money Manager £3895.85
     

  9. Planning
    1. Applications received:
          1. 53/2003/3489 rear of existing garage to provide dining room and home workers office with space below allocated to boiler room. Gateshead Cottage, Adj Stone Gappe Hall. Mr and Mrs R McAlpine. No objections were raised.
             
    2. Applications approved:
        1. 53/2003/3062 Conversion of Barn to Dwelling and garage extension. Low Kirk Hill. Mr and Mrs Liversedge.
        2. 53/2003/3366 Remove 2 Ash, crown lift and thin 1 oak and prune/reshape birch. Sidegate Cottage, Sidegate Road. Mr Tony Binns
        3. 53/2003/3377 Remove 1 ash and 1 willow, prune and reshape Lila, elm and elderberry including removal of 6 lower branches from sycamore. Dale End Mill. Mrs June Barrow.
    1. Appeal dismissed:

53/2002/2790 Hazelhead House, Gap Lane. Mr and Mrs Reid. Permission was given for a new 2-storey extension with a condition that natural stone was used. The appellants wanted the condition removed. The planning inspector dismissed the appeal.

  1. Recreation ground
    To consider proposals for laying an aggregate path and strimming a wild area.

    It was agreed to accept written estimate of £25-£37.50 from J.C. Cowgill for strimming the wild area and £210 for resurfacing paths in the recreation ground. Volunteers with wheelbarrows were requested for October 19 to help with the resurfacing.
     

  2. Lengthsman
    To consider employing a lengthsman for the village.

    No decision was taken. It was agreed to accept Chris Baker’s offer of community service and to purchase appropriate safety clothing
     

  3. Village Twinning
    To consider twinning the village with another.

    It was agreed not to twin.
     

  4. Youth Shelter
    To consider a proposal to install a youth shelter in the recreation park.

    It was agreed to seek more details on costs and also to obtain prices for a roundabout.
     

  5. Wall at North View
    Mr Colin Parker had made a generous offer of land to widen the road from North View to just past the telephone box. It was agreed to accept the offer and press for a widening of the pavement to make it safer.
     
  6. Allotments
    It was clarified that the council did not own any allotments.
     
  7. Parish Trust nominee
    To consider appointing a trustee to the Parish Trust

    It was agreed to appoint Cllr Gover as the council representative on the trust.
     

  8. Minor items

It was agreed to apply for a Community Foundation Grant and to CDC and NYCC for a youth shelter

It was agreed to ask NYPFA for the current specifications for goal posts and to ask Terry McCallum to inspect and report on their condition.

It was agreed to offer the marquee to the Young Farmers’ Club

Cllr Greaves agreed to report a collapsed grate to NYCC

The meeting closed at 9.45 pm

 

Dates of next meetings: October 9, November 13, and December 11 at 7.30pm in the Club