RIBBLE BANKS PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting of Wednesday 28 May 2008

This included the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council

 

Present:        Councillors:    David Clarke, Barbara Houghton, Frank Higginson, Richard Crabtree

 

In Attendance:        4 members of the public; David Heather, District and County Councillor

Clerk:             Alison Fawcett

 

28/05/01:       Apologies for absence:

Cllr Ian Wright, Michael Dean, Bryan Proctor

 

28/05/02:       Declarations of Interest:

None at this moment, Councillors were reminded to declare interests as necessary during the meeting.

 

28/05/03:       Election of Officers:

1. Chair – Cllr Clarke was proposed by Cllr Houghton, seconded by Cllr Crabtree, with all in favour. He accepted the position.

Ron Stone proposed a vote of thanks from the floor for Cllr Clarke’s work as Chair over the last year.

2. Vice Chair – Cllr Clarke said that it would be useful to have a Vice-Chair and after some discussion, Cllr Higginson was nominated by Cllr Houghton, seconded by Cllr Crabtree with all in favour. He accepted that position, hoping that he would only need to act in exceptional circumstances.

 

28/05/04:       Report from District Councillor:

It was agreed to take this item next so as to enable Cllr Heather to leave the meeting afterwards.

He has been concentrating on service provision at Castelberg Hospital and reported that the PCT is now looking at re-opening Harden Ward in conjunction with Harrogate, as a bed based nursing facility, with a ring-fenced budget. This is the result of public pressure and follows the formation of a working group which has worked hard at lobbying the PCT. The PCT has given assurances that it will not act in a similar way in future and has agreed to listen to local opinion.

The other local item is the proposed wind farm at Brightenber, and whilst as a member of the planning committee, Cllr Heather cannot comment, he is happy to receive any information or comments from the Council.

Cllr Heather was thanked for this and then left the meeting.

 

28/05/05:       Standing Orders and Financial Regulations:

1. Standing Orders and Financial Regulations - Drafts of these had been circulated to Councillors and, following discussion and various comments, it was agreed to arrange a separate meeting during June to discuss the both items further. Councillors were asked to forward any specific comments or issues prior to this meeting.

2. Future operation of the Parish Council and Parish Meetings – The reply received from YLCA had been circulated to Councillors and Parish Meeting contacts prior to the meeting. It was agreed that this had addressed all the concerns. A letter will be drafted by the Clerk and circulated to Councillors which will be sent to the Parish Meeting contacts. Other actions agreed were that the archive material, including minutes, relating to each parish be located so that the Council can manage its future storage, and that notes from any Parish Meeting should be sent to the Council within 28 days of the meeting taking place.

The notes circulated to Councillors were adopted in principle and is to be appended to these minutes as Appendix 1 – 28 May 2008.

 

28/05/06:       Yorkshire Local Councils Association:

It was agreed to renew the membership of this organisation at a cost of £177.00, proposed by Cllr Higginson, seconded by Cllr Crabtree with all in agreement.

 

28/05/07:       Public Participation:

It was agreed to trial having this session at the start of the meeting for 3 months and then review.

There were no matters raised at this time.

 

28/05/08:       Minutes of the last meeting:

The minutes of the meeting of Tuesday 25 March 2008 had been circulated to Councillors prior to the meeting and were made available to members of the public present..

With one alteration to minute 25/03/04: 5 Precept – it was Cllr Crabtree who asked about the precept, not R Stone, the minutes were agreed as a true record and duly signed.

 

28/05/09:       Matters arising:

1. Register of Interests forms – Copies have now been received from Craven DC.

2. SELRAP – A further newsletter has been received which addresses some of the questions raised at the last meeting and was passed to Cllr Higginson.

3. Precept – The notation on CDC annual bills is still to be checked.

4. Settle Festival – The Clerk gave an update she had obtained from the website that the organisers are looking at running the festival in 2009; it was confirmed the date for appeal against the licence refusal has passed for this year. Cllr Crabtree commented on the financial support and grants received by the organisers and it was agreed that the council should monitor the proposals for a festival or other events in 2009.

5. War memorials – The Clerk apologised but she had been unable to find the previous information and will check back through all the Council papers for the report and then seek formal quotations for carrying out the work required.

6. Lengthsman – This will be carried forward to the next Agenda.

7. Junction of Hesley Lane, Rathmell – The poor condition of the resurfacing has been reported to NYCC for action.

 

28/05/10:       Finance:

The Clerk circulated a list of payments and receipts for the year, and this was noted. An account from Clark’s Old School for room hire is to be requested.

Cllrs Clarke and Higginson will meet to finalise the Clerk’s contract and salary.

Following the YLCA advice (see 28/05/08/2 above) monies currently held by the separate parishes will be requested to be returned at the soonest opportunity. It was confirmed this relates to monies given by the Council subsequent to requests made against the precept only and not other monies held by the Parishes in trusts or accrued from fund raising events.

It was agreed, that with the change in management of the Settle TIC, the usual donation cheque will be withdrawn and not issued in this financial year.

Full accounts for the year will be brought to the next meeting.

The form for the new bank mandate has been lodged with HSBC and Councillors will need to present identification documents for the mandate to be completed and information was circulated about this; it is hoped this can be done by mid June.

 

28/05/11:       Planning Matters:

1. Applications:

59/2008/8482 – Installation of LPG tank, Smithy Forge, Rathmell – Noted with no comments.

2. Other planning matters:

Planning appeal – Roselea – Cllr Crabtree asked if further details were available on the grounds for the appeal. The Clerk agreed to get a copy of these if possible and put up a notice on the board in Rathmell so that everyone is aware of the situation.

Planning granted – 72/2008/8381 – The Furrows, 1 Teenley Croft, Wigglesworth – Noted.

Holly Dene – A question was asked about the recent application and the current advertisement for sale or rent. The Clerk will check up on these matters and report back.

Enforcement - Field OS3405 Rathmell – A letter has been received saying that CDC is not planning to take any further action on this matter.

 

28/05/12:       Reports from Councillors and Council Representatives:

1. Halton West – Cllr Higginson had no report, other than to say that he had attended a general meeting and information session at Hellifield on the proposed wind farm at Brightenber.

2. Rathmell – The Chair asked R Stone to report on the recent Annual Parish Meeting. Approximately 35/40 people attended the meeting and the main item discussed was the future of the parish meeting and that a separate parish council should perhaps be requested, however, no-one came forward who would be willing to take this matter up at the moment. It was agreed that notes from the meeting will be passed on to the clerk to the council. The Council agreed to pass on information regarding the formation of parish councils and agreed that it would be happy to facilitate a discussion if a formal request were made.

It was recognised that there are various village action groups in Rathmell (for example the group working to improve traffic management) which would not be affected by the change in operation of parish meetings; these will of course continue and may ask the Parish Council for support and help as necessary.

3. Wigglesworth – Cllr Clarke reported on the recent Annual Parish Meeting which was attended by fewer people than usual. It was agreed that the village would like to discuss the current situation in more detail; there was some interest in considering a separate parish council in this village too.

4. Clerk – No report.

 

28/05/13:       Village Environment, Rights of Way and Highways matters:

Nothing new was raised.

 

28/05/14:       Correspondence:

All items as listed were noted – item 311 was circulated to each Councillor for information.

 

28/05/15:       Any other matters of urgent local concern:

None.

 

28/05/16:       Dates of future meetings:

Were set for the next year, all Tuesdays:

2008               22 July – Rathmell

30 September – Wigglesworth

25 November – Rathmell (to receive submissions for the precept from parish             meetings and agree a draft precept for consideration)

2009               06 January – Wigglesworth – precept to be agreed

                        24 March – Rathmell

                        19 May – Wigglesworth – Annual Meeting of the Parish Council

 

 

The meeting closed at 9.30pm