THE MINUTES OF RIBBLE BANKS PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD AT RATHMELL
NB: These minutes are in draft form and are subject to
confirmation at the March 2007 Parish Council Meeting.
David Clarke, Chairperson, welcomed the following councillors
and members of the public.
Councillors: F.D. Higginson, R.A.K. Crabtree
Mrs. C. Howorth, Messrs E. Gudgeon, B. Procter, R.
Booth, and R.W. Stone (Clerk) (RWS)
Councillors: B. Houghton and
Mrs. R. Crabtree and Mr. M.D. Dean
The minutes of the full Council meeting of
Proposal by Councillor F.D. Higginson and seconded by Councillor
F.A.K. Crabtree. The minutes were signed
by Chair and Clerk.
There were no matters arising.
1.
An invitation had been received to attend
the Craven Branch Meeting in Skipton on
It was agreed the Clerk should attend. (Action RWS)
2. Voluntary Sector Network Forum
An invitation had been received to attend
the next meeting in Skipton 19th January 2007.
It was agreed the Clerk should attend.
(Action RWS)
3. Craven Area Committee
The Clerk reported that he had not attended the last
meeting in Skipton since almost all the agenda items were Skipton related, with
the exception of a report on green lanes in relation to motor vehicles, none of
which seemed relevant to this Parish.
He
would keep a watch on future agendas and attend when relevant. (Action RWS)
4.
LDEP
The Clerk reported that he had spoken with
Mr. R. Wales to check if he was still interested in representing this Parish at
the LDEP meeting. Mr. Wales said he was
finding it increasingly difficult to find the time to attend and would be
pleased if someone could replace him in this role. Councillor Crabtree agreed to take on the
role of Parish representative. All
meeting papers and file to be handed to Councillor Crabtree. (Action RWS)
5.
Play
Initiatives Planning Group
The Clerk reported that the group was at the
stage of presenting their bid for monies, which would probably be sent late in
March 2007, well before the closing date of September 2007. There are to be two
schemes in the proposal:
a) A static play scheme in Skipton.
b) A touring play scheme to cover the
villages in the rest of Craven. (Action
RWS to continue to attend meetings.)
6.
StART
The Clerk reported the meeting had been delayed
until
7.
Rowntree
Housing
The meeting’s attention was drawn to the
pamphlets and notes received from this housing group. No action necessary.
8.
ASDA
Request for sites
The Meeting’s attention was drawn to the
request that had been received from ASDA for information on any land or
buildings available for them to rent or purchase for development of their
business. No action necessary.
9.
Precept
application for 2007
The Clerk confirmed that the application
for £4000 had been sent in to Craven District Council offices on
10.
Minerals
and Waste
The Clerk reported that a C.D. had been
received with the proposals and aspirations of the NYCC Minerals and Waste Group. A copy had been left with Councillor Clarke
and a copy was available from RWS should anyone wish to investigate further.
11.
Response
on affordable housing
The comments that were generated at the
special meeting at
Craven District Council has responded with
the statement they expect final consultation in the spring of 2007.
12.
Insurance
for Parish Council
Following a re-check the insurance company agreed
to stand by the quoted premium, which was now technically out of date. It was
proposed by Councillor Crabtree and seconded by Councillor F.D. Higginson their
offer should be accepted. (Action RWS)
13.
Date
for AGM/Audit
Agreed that the Annual General Meeting
should continue to be held with the May Council Meeting, with the auditing
process being carried out later in the year to accommodate MAZARS. Annual accounts will be presented to the AGM, but
they will not be audited.
The 2007 AGM is to be held in Rathmell
Reading Room on
14.
Appointment
of Parish Clerk
It was agreed that this should become a
salaried position with formal guidelines and responsibilities written down, and
it was recognised the post will have to be advertised. The Clerk was asked to investigate for the
next meeting:
a. Likely hours, hourly rate of pay, and
hence annual salary.
b. Employment rules – National Insurance,
etc.
c. Model job description.
d. Standard roles, responsibilities and
targets.
e. Cost of advertising in the Craven
Herald. (Action RWS)
1. Current Balances
Reported that as
Treasurer’s account £80.66
Business Money Manager Account £5, 951, 07
2.
Donations already agreed
The meeting was reminded that previous
agreement had been reached for the following special donations:
a) £600 to Tosside Community for improvement
work to ventilation system.
b) £600 to Rathmell Reading Room for storage
heaters.
It was agreed that the regular donations as
made in previous years to local organizations should be repeated:
c) Tosside Community Link £100
d) Halton West Parish Meeting £100
e) Rathmell Parish Meeting £250
f) Wigglesworth Parish Meeting £250
g) Settle Area Swimming Pool £300
h) Craven Citizens Advice Bureau £40
j) Settle Tourist Information Office £40
(Action RWS)
3. Citizens Advice Bureau
Pamphlets and papers had been
received from CAB describing their service and offering to send a speaker if
wished. No action required.
4. Craven Transport Forum
A set of minutes from a
previous meeting were received, with an invitation for the Council to join this
forum at a cost of £25. It was agreed
not to accept the offer on this occasion.
No action required.
5. War Memorials
Condition reports from
Copies of report were requested by Councillor
R.A.K. Crabtree and Councillor F.D.Higginson.
Agreed
6. Clerks expenses
It was agreed the Clerks expenses of £63
covering the period
(Action RWS)
1. Halton West
Councillor Higginson reported that there
had been general road deterioration caused by the vehicles involved in the gas
pipeline construction. The damage was an
amalgam of road edge damage, increased potholes and general dirt on the road surfaces.
2. Rathmell
Councillor Crabtree echoed the comments on the
road damage caused by the gas pipeline vehicles. The situation in Rathmell was similar to
Halton West. Craven District Council
Panning Department’s ruling that the misuse of the field in Rathmell, as a
builders yard, should cease was approaching the date of 25.01.07 which is the
limit of the prescribed appeal period. The ruling should be enforced after the
expiration of the appeal period.
The Highways Authority had failed to
respond to requests for salt bins to be provided on Rathmell Brow, Cockley
Brow, Corner of Hesley Lane adjacent to the Reading Room, the slope on
The storage
heaters had been now been installed in
Rathmell Reading Rome served by a separate meter.
Several planning matters related to
Rathmell are reported below.
3. Wigglesworth
Councillor Clarke reported that the
Trustees of
Road works controlled by traffic lights are
to take place between Long Preston and Tosside starting
Queries were made about the future of the lay-by
close to
1.
RWS
reported permission had been granted for the extension of the 30mph limit
through Rathmell and handed copies of the notice, with maps to councillors.
2. Councillor
Houghton was asked to pursue Highways regarding the salt bins on the steep road
sections close to Rathmell. (Action RWB & BH)
3. The road surface and potholes at the dip
in Cockley Bank are particularly bad and dangerous and getting worse. (Action: RWB
& BH).
1. New Endeavour Barn- Wigglesworth Proposal
for wooden dog kennel
No
objection
2.
Plough
Inn Wigglesworth – Proposal for rear fire escape staircase. No objection
3. Huggson House Rathmell –Proposal for window
in gable end
No objection
4. Wigglesworth House
Wigglesworth –Proposal conversion of two existing outbuildings to holiday
cottages. No objection
5. Pen-y-Ghent
View Rathmell –Proposal for changes to roof design building work currently in
progress. No objection
16.1.10 Booths Supermarkets- application to withdraw
restriction imposed by 106 agreement
Objections were expressed to the proposals
in order to preserve the remaining businesses
that existed with the older long standing Town Centre Businesses. It was felt that the proposal would be likely
to lead to Booths taking more of the business, currently carried out by town centre
shops, e.g. Newspapers, stationary, bakery, post office, music, video, clothing
etc would damage the current activity in the market square causing Settle to
lose its personality and vibrancy.
RWS explained to the meeting
that Councillor Houghton had asked him in her absence, to register her support
for a café in Booths.
A letter indicating the
Council’s objections had already gone to CDC planning Dept.
1. It was pointed out that when salt spreader
was in operation, the blades were set too high causing salt to be spread on
roadside kerbage causing most of it to die (Action RWS or BH to contact NYCC Highways Officer).
2. Reported that in Rathmell Notice Board
could not be read for condensation on inside of glass (Action: RWS).
3. With the recent talk in the national press
of the imminent closure of many post offices, it was suggested the council
should formally support the Wigglesworth Post Office, and write seeking
assurances as to its continued future as a Post office. Councillor Clarke explained he had already spoken
to Chris Thorpe who thought this action would be inappropriate at theist
time. Councillor Clarke will speak to
him again to check that was still his view.
4. Reported that heavy vehicles (over 7 tons)
were still illegally using the road through Rathmell. Parishioners were requested
to record the registration numbers of these vehicles and report them directly
to the quarry or to the Clerk for collation and later report.
5. There was some discussion regarding the
possibility of employment of a linesman for the road and hedges in the villages.
This matter has been considered in the past by the LDEP. (Action: Councillor
Crabtree to take this up with the LDEP group.)
Tuesday 22nd May, Rathmell
Reading Room 19.30 (AGM)