Minutes of the Full Council Meeting
held Thursday 08 February 2007 at the Parish Rooms
Commenced: 7:30pm – Concluded: 9:10pm
Present:
Cllr. Caroline Jones (Chair)
Cllr. Sylvia Tilford (Vice Chair)
Cllr. Keith Dale
Cllr. Kath Forrest
Cllr. John Horton
Cllr. Peter Riley
Cllr. Mike Walker
Clerk:
Mrs Jo Griffiths
240/0607 – Chairman's Remarks
Cllr Jones opened the meeting and offered a welcome to Kate Evans from the Wharfe Valley Times.
241/0607 – Apologies for absence
Apologies from Cllr Jenkins and Cllr Palmer were received and accepted.
242/0607 – Disclosures of Interest
Cllr Riley declared an interest in item 12 as a member of the Burley Bridge Association.
243/0607 – Public Participation
None
244/0607 – To approve the minutes of the last meeting
It was proposed by Cllr Riley and seconded by Cllr Forrest that the minutes of 11 January 2007 were a true and accurate record and signed accordingly.
245/0607 – Matters arising from the Minutes
215/0607 – Cllr Jenkins had made further enquiries on the potential encroachment at Leatherbank.
Further postal investigation through the Land Registry shows that the recently fenced strip of land on the east side of Leatherbank at the Main Street/West Terrace end was purchased, along with its unfenced continuation up to the underpass, in 2005 by one of the adjacent houses in Tanfield Drive.
220/0607 – Cllr Riley had a copy of the form used by Ilkley Parish Council for voluntary groups applying for funding. It was agreed that the principle of making available an amount per annum for groups should be discussed at a future meeting.
246/0607 – Parking Review
Simon D'Vali, Principal Engineer for Shipley will be attending the next council meeting on 8th March but an update had been sent by Craig Williams. The speed and volumetric traffic surveys on West Terrace between the junctions with Peel Place and Far Mead Croft has been carried out, and the analysed results should be available by the time of the next Parish Council Meeting. A preliminary look has been taken at the section of Station Road (on the approach to the mini–roundabout) where some members of the public expressed concerns regarding crossing the road. A more detailed site assessment will be carried out within the next week or two, and feedback available for the next meeting. Cllr Jones urged any councillors with any further feedback to report them to Traffic and Highways before the next meeting. Cllr Walker confirmed that Burley Woodhead School were aware of the issues regarding parking on Rose Bank and were carrying out their own survey with the most important issues to them being parking around the school and crossing Station Road.
247/0607 – The Grange
A meeting between representatives from the Parish Council and Bradford College is scheduled for Wednesday 14th February. Representatives of the Parish Council would be urging the college to consider the Grange for affordable housing with part for community use including some by the Parish Council. It is believed that a meeting between the college and representatives from BCHT and Housing at BMDC is scheduled for Friday 16th February.
Cllr Jenkins had continued his research into the ownership of the Grange, a further letter had been sent to the Principal of Bradford College on 24 January requesting copies of conveyances of the Grange from Burley UDC to Ilkley UDC, and from Ilkley UDC to Bradford MDC – a response was still awaited.
Ian Strong at YLCA had also suggested writing to Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Rt Hon Ruth Kelly and Minster of State, Department of Communities and Local Government, Phil Woolas MP. Mr Strong felt that they are supposed to be championing the involvement of local communities and empowerment at local level, etc.
Attention was drawn to the advert by Bradford College in the Ilkley Gazette on 25 January announcing free courses such as cake decoration, Spanish and wine appreciation. This perhaps suggested that either Bradford College can't fill Bridge House and/or are spending money on the type of courses they cut at Burley Grange because they said they couldn't afford them.
An initial proposal had been received by the Parish Council for use of the Grange as a music centre.
Council agreed that no further decisions could be made until there was more information available.
248/0607 – Parish Rooms
Cllr Jones proposed a motion to exclude the press and public from this item as it contained confidential information regarding a possible tender. The motion was seconded by Cllr Riley and passed unanimously. Press and public were therefore excluded from this item and the published minutes would reflect this.
It was proposed by Cllr Walker and seconded by Cllr Riley that a valuation be carried out of the Parish Room. After discussion it was agreed that the council would seek to find a permanent home in the village but that a variety of options would be explored. It was proposed by Cllr Walker and seconded by Cllr Horton that a further structural survey of the Parish Room is carried out as a matter of urgency. An emergency extra meeting of the Parish Council would be held to discuss the Grange and the Parish Room. The meeting was provisionally agreed for 1 March but this was subject to confirmation.
249/0607 – Newsletter
Parish Clerk circulated copies of the draft newsletter, further information was still required. It was agreed that a less shiny paper be used for the next newsletter and that it should state on the newsletter that it was printed on recycled paper.
After discussion it was agreed that a separate photocopied sheet would be inserted inviting views on the issues surrounding parking at the station and with some questions regarding frequency of use of the station and alternative methods of reaching the station e.g. car sharing, Hoppa bus etc.
250/0607 – Flooding
Cllr Jenkins had studied the documents provided by the Environment Agency 'Floodpact – parishes and communities together' and video tape. There is a CD and booklets about preparing a flood plan, this is needed as the flood risk areas according to the Environment Agency's website are: part of Manor Park, near Greenholme Mills, a swathe along Coldstone Beck from Moor Lane to the Burley House roundabout, extending to the A65 in extremis, the by–pass between Iron Row and almost to the Otley roundabout. It was also necessary to keep a register of important contacts in case of emergency. Cllr Walker expressed some concerns over the accuracy of the Environment Agency's information and it was confirmed that the problems in the village over the last 10 years were due to water descending from the moor rather than from rising water levels from the River Wharfe.
Cllr Horton confirmed that a meeting was due to take place at 10.30am on 28 February with Tony Poole from BMDC and representatives from the Parish Council. The Environment Agency had been in contact with Cllr Horton and thanked him for the amendments he had made to their map, they had also enquired as to how many properties were affected by the flood risk in the village.
251/0607 – To nominate Cllr Riley as the Parish Council's liaison with the Burley Bridge Association
Cllr Riley reminded the Council that this would also involve liaison with the Ramblers Association of which he was also a member. Nominated by Cllr Tilford and seconded by Cllr Horton the motion was passed unanimously. It was noted that Cllr Riley would not enter into any commitments on behalf of the council without bringing them back to full council.
252/0607 – Maintenance Issues
Cllr Jones offered thanks to Cllr Tilford for the work she had undertaken in gathering bags of rubbish on the Village Green. A date for the maintenance group to start had been agreed as Saturday 31st March, Cllr Tilford requested help for a further clear–up before this date. From 10am on Saturday 3rd March a small group would undertake some pruning work on the village green.
253/0607 – Public Toilets
The Superloo is now operational. A detailed snagging list had been sent to the Cleansing Department at BMDC, most items were cosmetic but it was hoped that these would be dealt with as soon as possible. Cllr Jones wished to mark the occasion with a small ceremony as it has been a long and drawn out affair to get the Superloo operational, Cllr Mann and the Parish Clerk from Ilkley were to be invited as both had played a part in the process.
254/0607 – Reports from councillors on any other meetings attended
Cllr Walker reported that it was likely that the Road Safety Group would be wound up at the AGM in July.
Cllr Dale reported that he and Cllr Riley had been unable to attend the Ward Tasking Group as it clashed with Parish Council meetings. Issues arising from the Ward Tasking Group and affecting Burley were: damage at Greenholme Mills and parking offences around the railway station.
It was confirmed that no further progress had been made on establishing the Police Contact Point as the PC in charge was on sick leave.
255/0607 – Correspondence
Cllr Jones had received documents from the Standards Committee with the agenda for the next meeting. An item of interest was the proposal that all parish councillors receive training on codes of conduct after the elections this year. Cllr Jones would review further and report back any matters of interest.
Information had been received on a Neighbourhood Improvement Strategic Partnership Network Event on 5th March; any councillors interested were welcome to attend.
Information had been received from Bradford Vision on funding of between £1000 and £6000 for action in communities to create safer neighbourhoods through projects that make them cleaner and greener.
The Parish Council had joined the Council for the Protection of Rural England, Cllr Forrest to act as the liaison person.
256/0607 – Schedule of Payments
Proposed by Cllr Walker and seconded by Cllr Riley, the schedule of payments was received and accepted.
257/0607 – Any other business
It was noted that the Civic Service had gone very well, Revd Burley had made pertinent remarks and the work of the Parish Council had been well appreciated. Thanks were expressed to those who attended and read the lessons.
Cllr Walker had received a complaint about the re–siting of a lamp post on Sun Lane that was now blocking a footpath. BMDC had been contacted and were reviewing the work.
258/0607 – Date & time of next meeting
Planning Committee – 22nd February
Emergency Full Council Meeting – 1st March
Full Council – 8th March