THE MINUTES OF RIBBLE BANKS PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD AT CLARK'S
AT 19.30 HOURS
NB: These minutes are in draft form and are subject to
confirmation at the January 2008 Parish Council Meeting.
David Clarke, Chairperson, welcomed the following Councillors and members of the public.
Councillors: F.D. Higginson, B Houghton, and R.A.K. Crabtree.
Mrs. C. Howorth, Messrs M. Dean, E. Gudgeon, K. Gerrard, T. Askew, H. Marley and R.W. Stone, (Clerk).
Councillor I. Wright.
The minutes of
the Parish Council meeting held on
There were no matters arising.
The index of all correspondence received (with reference numbers) was handed out at the meeting and all those present informed that copies of the correspondence can be made available by the Clerk.
Only one external meeting had been attended by R.W.S. since the last Parish Council meeting.
1/ R.W.S. reported his attendance at the Parish
Clerks Forum at Craven District Council (CDC) Offices on
1.1 Meeting chaired by Jill Cooper, Head of Legal Services.
1.2 Presentation was given explaining the role of Parish Clerks and a handout of the slides kept for future reference. This was considered excellent training.
1.3 It was strongly advised that Councillors who allow general public to visit them at home should always ensure they have a second Councillor present.
1.4 Councillors declarations in respect of the ‘Register of Interests’ need sending to C.D.C. this declaration includes all property own in the parish and therefore must include councillors’ houses.
1.5 Jill Cooper confirmed that documents connected to the Settle Festival application will be posted on the internet and a paper copy will be available to the Parish Clerks.
1.6 If a Council vote is needed for a decision, (e.g. planning,) any person with a prejudicial interest has the right to speak at the meeting, but must leave the room when the debate and vote takes place [See the recently adopted Code of Conduct for more details].
1.7
The next Parish Clerk’s Forum
is to be on
2/ Councillor R.A.K. Crabtree’s letter (index 179/07) regarding Gary Baines field was read out. Councillor Crabtree explained the letter was written by him as an individual, not as a Councillor. Agreed no action required by Ribble Banks Parish Council.
3/ Letter (index 202/07) R.W.S. requested that the Parish Council receive the Register of Electors in the form of a paper copy.
1.1. £2000 had been received as the second half of the 2007 Precept.
1.2. Cash in the bank stands at:
£4142-savings account
£542 –management account
1.3 MAZARS the external auditors, have approved the 2006/07 Audit.
Their fee was £58.75; approval for payment was agreed by the Council.
(Action RW.S.)
1.4 Agreed that the Parish Council’s internal auditor, W.K. Gerrard be paid an honorarium of £50. (Action R.W.S.)
1.5 An invoice for £395.64 had been received from the Insurance Company in respect of renewing the insurance policy held by Parish Council. It is not due for immediate payment and is to be left until January 2008 meeting.
1.6 Letter (index 184/07) from Settle Swimming Pool seeking a grant. Decision delayed until January meeting.
1.7 Detail of Clerk’s expenses, since the last meeting, were presented at £267.70. Payment was agreed. (Action R.W.S.)
1.8 £40 cheque agreed to
Council meetings. (Action R.W.S.)
1.9 £20 cheque agreed to Rathmell Reading room for rental of rooms for Parish
Council meetings. (Action R.W.S.)
27.11.7: Planning
1.1
Application 182/07-Detached
Housing Development in the
Meeting advised of the objections raised at the Rathmell Parish Meeting about the revised application.
Ribble Banks Parish Council agreed to support Rathmell Parish Meeting’s objections to this development. A letter outlining the objections to be sent to C.D.C. Planning Dept. (Action : David Clarke)
1.2 Huggon House application for two timber garages. Adjacent house occupiers to be consulted to see if they have any concerns or objections. (Action: RWS)
The Chairman explained the general layout of the documents and recognised the assistance he had had in sharing the work load in reviewing the proposals with Councillor Crabtree.
The Chairman and Councillor Crabtree reported on a list of concern identified. These were discussed by councillors present and proposed responses were agreed.
Action: Chairman
to send the revised list of comments to C.D.C. on
Craven District Council had not responded to the letter seeking their comments on the current position in respect of the planning approval given and the decisions along the way leading up to the present (and contested) use of the building. The Clerk to write again seeking a response before the next meeting, emphasising that Ribble Bank Parish Council only seek clarification of the route taken for decision. (Action R.W.S.)
1.1 Councillor Houghton to press for action on gritting and the placing of grit heaps in strategic places particularly in Rathmell.
1.2 The tractor regularly parked at Town End Wigglesworth/Long Preston junction was considered to represent a road safety hazard by Councillor Higginson. It was noted that the vehicle had parked there for a number of years. Highways to be reminded they had agreed to provide white lines indicating no parking. (Action R.W.S.)
Mr Dean was at the meeting representing the Festival Committee, being one of the Directors.
He presented a report on the current position- a copy of which is attached to, and forms part of these minutes.
-Planning was ongoing for the 2008 Festival and it was expected a fresh application for a license would be submitted to Craven District Council before Christmas.
-A meeting had already been held between the Festival organisers and the Statutory Safety Committee.
-A meeting had also taken place between the organisers and the Festival’s appointed traffic management company, a local resident Mr W.J.Garnett attended the meeting. No local elected representatives were in attendance [there being no requirement for this to occur].
-Mr K. Gerrard asked if it was the intention to close the road from Rathmell to Settle on occasion. Mr Dean reported that the road would be closed from time to time but residents of the village would be provided with access to their homes and businesses.
A question was asked in relation to whether compensation for inconvenience would be considered for residents and local businesses; it was reported that compensation was not being considered.
1.1 Halton West – Nothing to report
1.2 Rathmell- Ash tree and Sycamore tree in the Reading Room car park. Councillor Crabtree reported on the apparently dangerous condition of the Sycamore in particular, it appears dangerously hollow at its base. As Chairman of the Reading Room Committee he would be writing to the Weston family to ascertain who owned the trees and then seek to get a decision on the course of action to remove any danger.
1.3
Wigglesworth- Wigglesworth Parish
Meeting is working with Craven District Council and NYCC Highways Department to
improve the lay-by at
-There is to be an Open Public Meeting at Clark’s Old School in January to present proposed future actions in the development of Clark’s Old School in preparation for the11th March 2008 submission to the Big Lottery Fund.
Councillor Higginson had read the CV’s of the 3 applicants and it was agreed all 3 should be interviewed.
R.W.S. asked to call in the referees comments for each applicant before the interviews.
Interviews to
take place
Interview to be conducted by Councillors Higginson and Clarke, with the Clerk in attendance. (Action R.W.S.)
There being no other business the meeting closed at 21.40 hours
Next meetings-
29th January-Rathmell Reading Room
25th March- Clarks Old School
20th May (A.G.M.) –Rathmell Reading Room
All meetings
will start
Chair person Date
Clerk Date