• Card from Nicky Harris thanking the Committee for the small Christmas gift  in recognition of her organization of the BCC coffee mornings throughout the year.
• Reply from Mr R  Morgan  closing the matter following Tom Sumner’s apology.
• Chamber of Trade  Newsletter
• Contact from BMDC Rights of Way Department concerning access to the old railway embankment footpath at Menston Old Lane. Because this is an informal path, a letter to them, and to Asset Management department,  would be needed before a safe access can be built. In recognition of the fact that this is an informal path  and a wildlife corridor  it was decided  that no letter would be written at this point.

5.   Treasurer’s Business
See BWCT Minutes 

6. Anti-Crime Partnership 

CH reported on the most recent meeting.  The vandalism at Burley Oaks School had been discussed and  observation is being maintained. Burley had received somewhat less police contact hours than usual  in the  period immediately before Christmas because of  competing demands.  Following complaints about firework nuisance in Burley Woodhead the matter had been successfully resolved.  The 3 weekly schedule of meetings has been changed to 6 weekly and the next meeting takes place in 5 weeks.  

7    Current Issues

7.1 Burley House Field

JG reported. The Public Inquiry is due to take place on Tuesday  January 25^th  and 26^th  in the Council Chamber, Ilkley Town Hall. 11 witnesses will be called by BCC and 6 by BMDC. JG is arranging times for BCC witnesses. Our barrister, Nigel Clayton(NC), has been in contact  and will be setting aside time  for reviewing papers and preparing cross examination. This is a lengthy exercise but he is not proposing to  charge an extra fee. The Committee  were most appreciative of his generous contribution and warm thanks were expressed. JG and BS will convey these to NC

7.2 Parish Plan and January 15^th Jamboree

CJ and PJ reported that there had been  a good response to the second questionnaire following target interviewing. Over 150 questionnaires have been returned to date.  Some help will be welcomed in analyzing the data, using a computer based package. It is hoped that there will be a good attendance at the Jamboree on 15 January in the Queen’s Hall. There will be about a dozen voluntary groups  represented. Visitors will  be asked to  indicate their priorities  for Burley on a BCC display.  The same display will be at the Neighbourhood Forum on January 20^th.  Parish Plan costs are to be covered by  Ilkley Parish Council  (Item 04/168). All Committee  members were asked to give some time on Saturday to support the Jamboree activities.

7.3 Handbook

MH reported  that the work on the revised handbook was well underway. Some of the promised income for advertisements had been received and some of the required artwork has also been submitted.  More advertisements are still needed to cover the costs of the extended print  of  the coming edition.  (Costs for adverts: £140 full page, £75 for half page, and £40 for a quarter page.  Contact John Sparshatt). 

7.4 January Neighbourhood Forum and Burley Bulletin

• the work undergoing at Brookside House especially that relating to the beck;
• the very narrow one metre wide passage for the public footpath next to the proposed new house at the Cornmill. JH also queried the amount of parking in these plans.

UDP: JG reported  that the Inspector’s recommendations  were considered by BMDC in November but were passed on to a Scrutiny Group. A decision is likely to be made at the BMDC meeting on Tuesday January 18^th, after which  there will be a 6 week window of opportunity to  make any protests.  It was important to register concerns about the Endor Crescent triangle. Reminders about this will be made at the forthcoming Forum meeting.

8.3 SCAPAG  BS reported that the Area Committee accepted the recommendations  contained in the Action Plan that came from the 2004 Area Conference. He had registered his view  that the Area Committee risked being overwhelmed  by the number of reports being requested, and that it may not be possible to achieve very much in the 2-year period. The next meeting takes place on  February 23^rd.

8.4 Projects. The Christmas Lights were taken down last weekend despite the difficult weather and are currently being temporarily stored at various locations within the village  Thanks were extended  to those who  helped with this activity. 

Water feature: MH reported that because of the time required for the work on  the  Christmas Lights  and some  problems which had occurred with the  electrical wiring  the speed of progress on the water feature had  been affected. There is still quite a lot of outstanding work and the expected time for completion is April. The need to keep costs under control has been recognized.  Contributions towards the water feature  are being requested in the Burley Bulletin and Committee members were asked to contact any businesses who might be interested to contribute. 

Benches: 3 benches in the Pudding Tree Garden area have come to the end of their lives and sponsorships for new benches would be gratefully received.

Toilets: BS met Brian Dobson from BMDC and a contractor  about the use of the existing toilet block for Christmas lights when the new ‘superloo’ is installed. The indications are that the Planning department will allow the change of use under Permitted Development Policy and that work could commence in February, both on the conversion and the installation of the new toilet, assuming price is within budget. Thanks were extended to Brian Dobson and Chris Flecknoe for support on this matter.

• BCC Coffee Morning is on January 15^th. BS and DW will run the BCC table and sell raffle tickets.
• MW reported that the Cricket Club is considering agreeing to a mobile phone mast at the cricket ground entrance on Grange Road.  This matter will be raised at the Neighbourhood Forum meeting.

10.   Date of the next meeting: Thursday  February 10th  at 7.30pm in the Roundhouse 

The meeting closed at 9.45pm