Present: John Gundry(JG);Mike Harris(MH); John Horton(JH); Caroline Jones(CJ);Clive Myatt(CM); Ian Padley(IP); Tom Sumner(TS); Sylvia Tilford(ST); Mike Walker(MW).
Also in attendance: DCllr Matt Palmer(MP). 

In the chair: Bruce Speed(BS). 

1. Apologies for absence: Peter Jenkins(PJ); John Sparshatt(JS);Richard Thompson(RT); Tony Thompson(TT). 

2. Minutes of the last meeting. These were accepted as a correct record and signed. 

3. Matters arising not covered elsewhere on the agenda.

• Item 3: MH reported that the two new benches funded by Ilkley Parish Council were now in place outside the Pudding Tree garden and TS confirmed that they were bolted down.
• Item 4  BS sent in the necessary document to secure  resources from Shipley for a village clean-up project at the Recreation Ground, to take place by the end of May. Peter Settle, Chairman of the Chamber of Trade has written to suggest a joint clean-up involving Chamber members and other groups, and seeks BCC support.  There was agreement that this joint activity would be a good idea and BS will write back to PS.
• JG asked for clarification about  the status of the Youth Forum since there seemed to be some disparity between the BWCT Minute in March and the information in the Burley Bulletin. CJ and MW confirmed   that the current Youth Forum members would be resigning in June when it was hoped that new people would come forward to maintain the Youth Forum and  continue its activities.

4. Correspondence

BS reported:

• Letter received from Hazel Shelton, Secretary/Treasurer of the Royal British Legion Women’s Section, thanking BCC for the stall at the March Coffee Morning, where they made a profit of £61.
• Letter from Bob Jones, Chairman of Burley Youth Forum, requesting a time slot at the April Neighbourhood Forum to publicly thank members for their support. This is an agreed agenda item. Bob also requests financial assistance of £230 to make up a shortfall relating to computer equipment in the Queen’s Hall. The remaining History trail booklets will be donated to BCC for sale.
• Salman Mather  has confirmed (by email) that proposals were submitted to the Electoral Commission as soon as BMDC had a firm indication of the Secretary of State’s approval. There is no rational explanation for the recent letter in the Gazette, so it has not been followed up. He has contacted the Electoral Commission again to check on progress but they had not come to a firm decision and, with the election  under way, he does not expect a reply until after 5^th May.
• Request from Helen King to meet about affordable housing. BS will arrange a meeting after the Forum presentation about the Lawn.
• Information about ‘Warm Front’, a government funded programme that offers qualifying households a wide range of heating, hot water and thermal insulation measures, often completely free.
• Information received from Festival Lights Division of BMDC offering services for making refurbishing, repairing and storing Christmas lights..
• ST reported receipt of copies of letters sent to Phil Sawley by Brian Sayer expressing concerns about road safety in Moor Lane/Station Road/Langford Lane and  also about the safety of an ash tree in Langford Lane.  MP reported on his own follow up  enquiries (also previously undertaken by BCC) on the poor performance   of the speed bumps in Moor Lane in  reducing traffic speeds. There was a problem with the work undertaken by the contractors which had not been taken up at the time. Improvements will require further expenditure which will not be available in the short term. ST raised concerns about the safety of children and parents walking up to the Scalebor housing development  and stressed the importance of some early action. There was support for the suggestion  that a well designed bump under the bridge plus widening of the   pavement  could be a relatively low cost amendment which would make some impact. The priority given to  traffic coming down Moor Lane at the Smithy Lane junction  was also a  problem  and the arrangement at the bridge in Ben Rhydding was a more satisfactory solution in a similar situation.
• CJ reported receipt  from Chris Dale (Parish Clerk) of  an e mail  from Brian Dobson. As he had noted earlier the  superloo is ready for installation. He has been waiting  for Yorkshire Water and Yorkshire Electricity to give a date for new supply and connections. A timescale of 28 days  has been indicated. BD will contact Damian Fisher (Principal Officer) to see if the dates can be brought forward

5. Treasurer’s Business

MH circulated the monthly joint accounts summary for BCC and BWCT (attached) and  drew attention to key BCC items:

Income: Receipt of the water feature support grant  and the refund of the Parish Plan costs refund both  from IPC; and  payment in advance for adverts.  Some Handbook income was still outstanding.

Expenditure: The 2^nd main payment for the installation of the water feature and also payment for  the materials and labour for the outer paving. The paving has been well done  for a very fair price.

Taking into account committed expenditure net BCC  free funds currently stand at  £9060 (approx).  There were no significant items of income or expenditure for the Trust during this month.

MH recommended that we buy a further two replacement seats for inside the Pudding Tree Garden. There was full support for the use of £1000 for seats.

The request from the Youth Forum for support in  meeting the £300 shortfall in connection with computer equipment in the Queen’s Hall was discussed. MH proposed that BWCT provide this funding and this proposal was supported.  MP who is involved in supporting the computer provision in the Queen’s Hall agreed to make the payment himself. We were pleased to accept his generous offer.

6. Anti- Crime Partnership  Report.

No report this month.

7.  Current issues.

7.1 Burley House Field.

JG reported that the Inspector’s decision on the village green application had not yet been received. Even if the application is refused the Field does have Recreation Ground status  for the period of the current UDP. It was important, therefore, to begin consideration of how the community would like to see this space developed as a recreational area. A series of ideas  were developed some years ago and they will need to be reviewed and a sub-group created to take this project forward. A brief comment along these lines will be made at the Forum.

JG was thanked for all the work that he has put into the village green application.

MP reported that he has asked for a review of the current notices at the entrance to the field.

7.2 Handbook

BS thanked MH for his work in preparing and then distributing the new Handbook to our volunteers for delivery. He expressed his disappointment that some entries had not been thoroughly verified by BCC members who had been given sections to check. Stickers to amend one serious error will be  added to copies not yet distributed. ST suggested that in any future  revision of the Handbook   consideration should be given to an alternative process for checking entries.

7.3April Neighbourhood Forum

The agenda and running order were discussed. Small amendments were made. MH will produce copies for the meeting.

7.4Mobile phone masts.  ST reported that she had  e mailed  T- mobile (UK)  to agree  to their suggestion for a meeting  to discuss proposed sites. No reply has been received but Harlequin on behalf of T- mobile(UK)  have, in the interim,  put in a planning application for masts in Burley and Menston. In Burley Option A proposed a mast at  St Philips Way and  Option B involved sharing of the existing mast in Otley Road  At the IPC Planning Meeting on March 14^th  the Committee recommended refusal of the St Philips Way Option   on residential grounds and  recommended approval  of Option B. BS reported that  he had  asked  Peter Bridgman(PB)   to look over his summary of the Planning Regulations for Telecommunications  (reported in the March minutes). PB said  it was  an accurate summary.  With the incorporation of the recent amendment of the  consultation period  from 42 to 56 days copies of the summary will be made available at the Neighbourhood Forum. It is expected that  there will be regular applications for siting of masts and wider dissemination of the regulations may be advisable.

7.5 Recreation Ground. BS has been given a contact name at ‘Business in the Community’ who may be able to provide the project management input. The current Youth Forum has agreed that involvement in this project would be a matter for the new  Forum after June. JH reported that the work on the skateboard park  is in progress and the curbs are in place.

8. Reports from Sub-committees

8.1Local Government

CJ reported that a presentation on the Burley Parish Plan will be given at the Neighbourhood Forum with  the final report  available by the AGM. It has been agreed that  the Burley Plan will be a separate document and not a chapter within the Ilkley Plan. CJ emphasized that the Plan is a working document and amendments will be made in the light of further information. It will provide a baseline  against which  activities can be assessed. A summary of the Plan as an A4 folded sheet will be circulated with the June Burley Bulletin. The full report will go on the website and copies will be available for a modest charge.

8.2 Planning.

JH provided a summary of the current applications relating to Burley. The most significant this month was a modified application for the Elm Grove/Prospect Road site. A large semi-detached house with dormers fronting on to Prospect Road is now proposed.  JH will contact Martyn Burke to check when the Main Street housing application for the  garage/Otley Mills site will come up for consideration. DCllr MP has also asked to be kept informed by BMDC about the date this application will come to Committee. If local people intended to attend the meeting he would ask for the item to be placed early on the agenda.

8.3 SCAPAG. No meeting in March

8.4 Projects

TS reported that the water feature is well underway. The cobbles  have been laid and the pointing virtually completed. Yorkshire Electricity testing is due to take place on April 19^th. The stones for the feature have been ordered. The work on the stream   leading up  to the installation of the pump will start this week and should take two weekends.  The stones remaining on site will need to be removed quickly. If the person who expressed interest in these does not come forward the contractor Tim Scott will be asked to take them away.  Reseeding of the grass area can take place soon. An opening ceremony date will be agreed at the next meeting.

8.5  Ilkley Parish Council Minutes. The Minutes had been received and noted.

8.6 Website.

A presentation was given at the recent  website committee meeting on  increasing the accessibility of the site for people with visual handicaps. Because the site has been up and running for a long time it is relatively difficult to make it accessible. Malcolm Fisher is thinking about ways to enhance accessibility and will take action. Changes will take place over a period of time. MP reported that 25% of  the work of his own company is concerned  currently with increasing the accessibility of sites.  

8.6  Road safety

MW reported:

• On the parking difficulties reported on Main Street during Sunday morning football.  The suggestion of cones was seen by the police to be a good idea but currently there was a shortage of cones. PC Stuart Hudson suggested  putting in a white line across  the York Street entrance and extending a few yards on Main Street on both sides. The Council can put in these lines. While only advisory they do work. An application will be made.
• The condition of the  islands in the mini-roundabouts in the village. This was causing a hazard to cyclists.

8.7  Round Table. No report this month.

8.8  WRUG. Because of a clash with the website meeting it had not been possible to attend the recent meeting

9        Any other business

MP raised:

• The situation of the land adjacent to the old railway line. He has spoken to Burley Wildlife Group who have an interest in the area. The  old line is also designated as a possible Sustrans cycle route although doubts were expressed about this given the lack of a bridge over the A65.
• The issue of what has happened to the sum of money commuted for social housing from the Scalebor  development. It was important that this money was used in Burley. There are time limits on the use of such monies.  BS will raise this matter at his meeting with the Rural Housing Enablers.
• Yellow lines are to be attached to the end of Southfield Road – these should ameliorate some of the Station Road problems. He reported that can be possible to  add  small yellow lines changes on to  activities  taking place. Given the time it takes for new applications to gain consent and funding this was useful information.

Ian Padley reported two Trust items as he had to give apologies for the Trust meeting.

• He asked whether BWCT would like to renew our entry in the Ilkley and District Healthy Living Network Service Directory. This was agreed.
• An invitation to the Volunteers Fair in Riddings hall on Friday 3^rd June.  Awards for voluntary service are made at this event. The Lord Mayor (or representative) will be present to give awards. The Committee agreed to propose two people  for awards -  Bob Jones for his work with the Youth Forum and Malcolm Fisher for his work on the  website.

BCC Coffee Morning is on Saturday 16^th April. BS is not available as previously noted. 

NOTE Because of the length of the BCC meeting is was agreed to postpone the BWCT meeting to May.   There were no matters on the Agenda which required immediate  consideration. 

10. Date of the next meeting:  Thursday  May  12^th at 7.30 in the Roundhouse. 

The meeting closed at 9.45pm

 Sylvia Tilford.  Hon Secretary    s.tilford@btinternet.com