Minutes of
between 7.30pm and 9.45pm in the
Village Hall
Present: Cllrs.
Burns (Chairman), Handley,
Hird, Mason, and Whitworth; District Cllr. Barrington; PC McClurg; two members
of public
In attendance: The Clerk.
Apologies:Cllr Salrein, District Cllr.
Camacho.
1.
Declarations of interest (if any) re this meeting; signing of
Declarations Book; changes to be updated on Register of Members’ Interests
There were none.
2.
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting of 26th
November 2009
The Minutes for the above mentioned meetings were circulated to all councillors prior to this meeting and taken as read.
The Minutes for
the above meeting were accepted as
a fair record. The Chairman signed and
dated the Minutes. Copies of the Minutes were made available for the Village
Hall Notice Board.
3.
Public Questions or Statements: There were none.
4.
Matters Arising from the Minutes of 26th
November 2009, if not on this Agenda
Item 9c (pg 187): quotes for new seats for
Village Green and
5.
Police matters
PC McClurg reported the recent cold weather
had appeared to suppress criminal activity over Christmas and New Year.
However, since the weather has improved, 6 metal farm gates were stolen from
Sunderland House, and there was a road traffic accident at
In a brief discussion about traffic speed
monitoring PC McClurg confirmed the speed ‘gun’ has been re-calibrated, and he
will be monitoring traffic speeds in
7.45pm: PC McClurg left the meeting
6.
Finance Matters
a) Bank balances, including receipts as at 19th January
2010
The Clerk
presented the bank balances as at 19th January 2010, The statement
includes a schedule of commitments and payments. (Appendix 1)
b) Payments of budgeted and non budgeted items
Resolved
To authorise payments on
behalf of the Parish Council as per Appendix 1, following inspection of
accounts payable by Cllr. Handley
c) Quotations for new Village Green seats & Notice Board on
7.
Reports
County, District and Parish Councillors, including wind farm application at
Longfield Tarn, Kirkby Lonsdale (see: http://www.eon-uk.com/generation/longfieldtarn.aspx
)
District Councillor Barrington reported
·
Community
Governance Review of parishes in Craven will be taking place during the coming
financial year. The review will consider such matters as representation (ratio
of councillors to residents) and councillor numbers in light of recent
electoral history (ie if casual vacancies are not filled after a certain time.
·
The
Disability Group is an on-going review of facilities for the disabled in Craven
(eg access). Cllr Barrington attended a recent meeting; an 11-page meeting
notes has been circulated to parish councillors.
·
Local
Council Elections: details of possible arrangements for the forthcoming local
elections will be published in the Burtonian in February. The date may be
changed if the General Election is called for early May, thus moving local
elections to the end of May.
·
Rural
Voice (a part of South Craven Community Action) is a free advisory service for
local groups, visiting Bentham on a periodical basis; local groups are
encouraged to use its services.
8pm:
Cllr
Parish Councillors
Cllr Whitworth commented on the recent mail
shot by Eon regarding the proposed windfarm at Longfield Tarn, Kirkby Lonsdale.
Discussion established the site was not
within the parish boundaries and would therefore be difficult to make comment
upon. However, it was
Resolved
To advise villagers to go to the
forthcoming workshops:
Tuesday 9
February 2010 1pm-8pm at Hutton Roof Village Hall, Hutton
Roof,
Wednesday 10
February 2010 1pm-8pm at Whittington
Village Hall,
Clerk reported:
·
Craven
District Council’s Rough Sleeping and Gypsy and Travellers count for the
district, by parish.
Resolved
To report that, to the parish council’s
knowledge there were none of the above in
·
The
Village Hall Committee advised making alternative arrangements for the parish
council’s May meeting, as it is likely the local council elections will be held
on 27th May, due to the general Election likely to be held on 6th
May (see Cllr Barrington’s report above).
Resolved
To enquire regarding the Chapel Room’s
availability on 27th May 2010.
·
North
Yorks Police requesting assistance in sending details of neighbourhoods for
police ‘profiles’.
Resolved
No action for the time being.
·
Craven
District Council has sent a reminder re the Annual Parish Meeting which should
be held between April and June.
Resolved
To hold the Annual Parish meeting on the
same evening as the April monthly meeting, 22nd April 2010.
·
Year
End Annual Accounts
The Clerk reminded the Finance Committee
that annual accounts will have to be prepared promptly after year end, as
submission to the external auditors will be a month earlier than last year.
·
Burton
Community Sports has written a letter of thanks for the donation of £500 to be
put toward the all-weather pitch re-conditioning, and requests a formal letter
of support to be used when applying for further funding for the
re-conditioning.
Resolved
To write a letter of support to Burton
Community Sports, highlighting the current donation.
·
Village
Shop Association: the recent resignation of postmistress has presented the
Association with several options as to how to retain the Post Office counter
service in
YLCA: no report
Woodland
Trust: no report
Village
Hall Committee: a short
report was submitted by Frances Dodson – see appendix 2.
Joint
Access and Rights of Way Committee
The parish council’s representative
reported Footpath No 1 (Longber) had not been reinstated after the maize
harvest in 2009, and that it might be useful if the Parish Council could
point out to Mr Robinson of Longber that if he is going to plant that field
again that there should be a minimum of a metre between the outside of the
hedge and the crop. If the crop is maize this should be nearer two metres to
allow for growth. As the path is on a headland it would be better if a strip of
this width could be left unploughed which would avoid having to reinstate it
each time.
Resolved
Cllr
Mason to walk the footpath and report to the council at the February meeting.
Bentham
Common Lands Charity
Cllr. Mason reported
continuing problems regarding co-operation of the Charity’s Chairman and Secretary
in calling a meeting. It is now over
one year since the last meeting; Cllr Mason and Mr Mills, a second trustee,
will call a meeting. In the meantime, Cllr mason will write to BCLC secretary,
expressing her dissatisfaction with the Charity’s conduct of business.
8.
Recreation Field
a) Play Area Maintenance: councillors’ inspection report
· Cllr. Mason reported there is a lot of
litter near the entrance to the all-weather pitch partly due to the waste bin having
been up-ended; BCS to be reminded users must clear up any litter on or near the
all-weather pitch.
· The tyre swing is ready for demolition; the
swing will be disposed of in the Spring.
· Some parts of the dry stone wall require
attention. Cllr Burns agreed to ask Mr
Burns to look at the wall to assess amount of work required.
· The bonfire site has not been cleared, due
to the bad weather; it now needs to be tidied up. Clerk to contact bonfire organiser.
b) Folding Bollard on parking area
Cllrs Burns and Hird will look at the site,
to determine to which position bollard should be moved. Liaise with L Marshall.
Cllr
Burns again expressed disappointment there is not a purpose-built sports
pavilion, and is considering raising the matter at the Annual Meeting.
9.
Very Old and Separate Churchyard
a) Access through Harris Garth garden
Harris Garth owners padlocked the Lychgate
early in the New Year; the padlock is still in place as of this week.
Resolved
Clerk to write a letter similar to that of
2007, requesting the padlock be removed to allow access across the garden from
the Village Green to the Lychgate.
b) Insurance company reply to enquiry re
status Very Old and Separate Churchyard maintenance
The Clerk reported receipt of insurance
company’s explanation of insurance cover regarding the VOSCY. It is a condition of the insurance cover that
a regular inspection of headstones is done.
Resolved
Cllr. Whitworth and the Clerk to arrange a
date for an inspection.
10.
Village Green area
Gravelled path on east side of Village Green:
ownership enquiries
Following the re-gravelling of the strip of
land to the east side of the Village Green in September 2009, the Clerk has
endeavoured to ascertain who owns the land in question. Thus far, an owner has not been identified. The Clerk advised it may be in the parish’s
interest to make enquiries into registering the land as belonging to the
parish, whilst allowing the occupiers of both Harris Garth and Stone Bower to
use the land as a parking space, as the land abuts that of the Village Green
and would ensure the space remains open to the public.
Resolved
Clerk to make further enquiries.
8.50pm K Dodson left the meeting.
11.
Sustainable Communities Act Amendment Bill
Call for local MPs to support amendment
bill.
The Clerk explained the proposed amendment
would extend more powers to parish councils, enabling them to have control over
more activities, without recourse to more centralised bodies.
Resolved
To write a letter to David Currie MP,
supporting the proposed amendment.
12.
Craven District Council
a)
Planning
Matters:
i) 15/2009/10197 proposed works to trees in
Burton in Lonsdale Conservation Area 11 High Street, Burton in Lonsdale LA6
3NE; Removal of 1no. sycamore (consultation end 17/12/09)
Resolved
There were no comments regarding the application.
ii) 15/2009/9851:
The Clerk circulated Craven District Council’s
response to the parish council’s objection prior to the meeting.
After discussion, it was reluctantly agreed no further
action could be taken.
iii) 15/2009/10055:
Lower Greta bank – new garage: application withdrawn.
b) Community
Governance Review of all Parishes in Craven District
See
Cllr Barrington’s report above.
c) Disability
Review Working Group
See Cllr. Barrington’s report above.
13.
a) Emergency Planning for flooding.
Following some discussion, it was agreed
the owner of
Resolved
To join the NYCC Community Emergency
Scheme, as it would be of benefit in planning for future possibly emergencies,
such as localised flooding.
9.05pm A. Ive left the meeting
b) Northwest Craven Service Centre
Transportation Strategy: new schemes at Ingleton – workshop 5.45-8.pm Wednesday
10th February 2010,
The Clerk will circulate the NYCC letter
about two new traffic schemes proposed for Ingleton.
Councillors are encouraged to go to the
workshop advertised.
c) NYCC Gritting policy: village contingency
plan for future bad weather
After some discussion, it was
Resolved the
Clerk get advice as to liability if the parish council grits public paths or
roads if the county gritters are unable to grit
d) Chapel
The drain and surrounding area have been
patched; however there is still grave concern regarding the state of the
junction, and fears of a complete collapse.
Resolved
The Clerk to pursue the matter higher up at
County level, and to contact United Utilities (whose main sewer runs under the
junction), for a site meeting and discussion as to when a full repair will be
done.
e) Footpath No 1: Longber footpath restoration
after crop harvest: see above Footpath report.
f) Village speed limits: see Police report re
advice on speed matrix.
g) Wheelchair access outside Old Peoples’
Bungalows
NYCC has proposed to paint lines on the
road to stop parking in front of the kerb where wheelchair access is
required. The wheelchair user has
rejected the offer, as it would be unlikely to work, and would disrupt car
owners wishing to park near their homes (OAP Bungalows). Clerk to pass on views
to NYCC.
14.
Correspondence No urgent items.
15.
Items to be included by Clerk in press
release re the meeting.
Clerk to write report.
16.
Date, time and venue of next monthly Parish
Council Meeting
Thursday 25th February 2010, either
in the Village Hall, or pending enquiries, in the Chapel meeting room.
The meeting closed at 9.25pm
Signed…………………………… Dated…………….
Appendix 1
Bank
Balances, Commitments, Receipts and Payments
January
2010
|
NatWest Current Account at 19.01.10 |
300.00 |
|
NatWest Business Reserve Account at 19.01.10 |
12,407.17 |
|
Receipts portacabin
utility costs 12.51 |
|
|
interest 1.68 |
|
|
NatWest Bonus Saver Account at 07.09.09 |
7,165.69 |
|
Receipts
interest & bonus 15.17 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
19,872.86 |
|
|
|
|
Commitments at 19th January 2010 |
|
|
Contingency Fund |
2,000.00 |
|
Very Old & Separate Churchyard Lych Gate Restoration (200+500) |
700.00 |
|
VOSCY Safety Notice |
150.00 |
|
VOSCY memorial safety inspections |
600.00 |
|
Burton Regeneration Group set aside in 2005/6, 2006/7 |
3,334.00 |
|
Street Lighting renewals (2006/7; 2008/9) |
2,000.00 |
|
Clerk's Retirement Gratuity & pension provision (2007/8; 2008/9) |
836.00 |
|
Carried Forward from 2006/7 budget/precept: |
|
|
Play Equipment |
900.00 |
|
Carried Forward from 2007/8 budget/precept |
|
|
Travel |
50.00 |
|
Carried Forward from 2008/9 budget/precept: |
|
|
Street Light Maintenance re-sched for
2009-10 |
580.00 |
|
Minute Book Binding |
50.00 |
|
Parish Plan Expenses |
100.00 |
|
Village Transport Needs Survey grant money |
202.00 |
|
2009-10 Budget remaining at 19.01.10: approx. inc unspent items |
4,430.00 |
|
|
15,932.00 |
|
|
|
|
Cash at Bank 31.03.10 (forecast) |
3,940.86 |
|
|
|
|
Parish Council - Payments January 2010 |
|
|
1481 E.On (portacabin
Electrcity supply Nov, Dec 09) |
55.72 |
|
1482 E.On (street lighting
1.10.09 - 31.12.09) |
159.55 |
|
1483 Yorkshire Water 3rd
quarter 2009 |
9.62 |
|
1484 Mazars (annual audit fee
ye 31.03.09) |
155.25 |
|
1485 Society of Local Council
Clerks annual sub. 2010 |
61.00 |
|
1486 Community & Seasonal
Engineering (Xmas Tree) |
200.00 |
|
1487 A Dale (re electricity for
Xmas tree lights) |
75.00 |
|
1488 Gregory & Co (computer
servs December qtr 2009) |
132.25 |
|
1489 S Gregory (Clerks salary
& Expenses Oct - Dec 09) |
352.45 |
|
|
|
|
|
1,200.84 |
Appendix 2
Village Hall News January
2010
Frances Dodson