Minutes of the Full Council Meeting
held on Thursday 12 July 2007 at The Queen's Hall
Commenced: 8:30pm — Concluded: 10:00pm
Present
Cllr. Caroline Jones (Chairman)
Cllr. Sylvia Tilford (Vice Chairman)
Cllr. Kath Forrest
Cllr. John Horton
Cllr. Peter Jenkins
Cllr. Matt Palmer
Cllr. Mike Walker
Clerk:
Mrs Jo Griffiths
61/0708 Chairman's remarks
Cllr Jones opened the meeting.
62/0708 Apologies for absence
Cllr Dale had sent apologies; these were received and accepted.
63/0708 Disclosures of Interest
Cllr Palmer declared an interest in item 10 - Burley House Field - as it concerned an asset of BMDC of which he is a District Councillor.
64/0708 Public Participation
Enquiries were made on the status of The Lawn. The Parish Council had arranged a meeting with BCHT for the end of July and The Lawn would be discussed amongst other matters. Officers at BCHT had recently notified the Parish Council that they would be submitting a planning application for an additional 5 new build units on the site of The Lawn.
65/0708 Minutes of previous meeting
Proposed by Cllr Jenkins
Seconded by Cllr Tilford
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of 27th June be accepted as a true and accurate record.
66/0708 Matters arising from the minutes 14th June 2007
31/0708 - Iron Row
Traffic and Highways had not yet reported back on their investigations.
38/0708 - Gulleys on Station Road
Cllr Riley reported that further gulley cleaning had been taking place on Station Road. Operators of the gulley cleaning wagon had reported concerns that 2/3 of the gulleys may have collapsed and the implication was that a survey would be carried out. Councillors agreed that the problems in the village with regard to flooding and drainage needed to be considered in more detail and as a whole. It was agreed that discussions would be opened with representatives from the various agencies involved.
67/0708 Minutes of the Planning Committee
Copies of the minutes from the planning committee meetings on 24th May 2007 and 14th June 2007 were received.
68/0708 Minutes received from other organisations
Copies of the minutes listed were received and are available from the Parish Clerk:
· Minutes of Burley in Wharfedale Community Trust - 13th June 2007
· Minutes of the Ward Tasking Group - 21st June 2007
69/0708 Clerk's Report
Councillors agreed to write a letter of support to Burley Trojans Juniors Football Club to assist them in the grant applications for the new changing room project. Parish Clerk circulated copies of the Standards Board Guide to Members on the New Code of Conduct to all councillors present.
Parish Clerk would be on annual leave from 30th July-10th August and 27th-31st August. Tuesday morning cover was required for 31/7, 7/8 and 28/8, Cllrs Riley, Jones and Tilford agreed to cover the dates. It was suggested that the meeting of the Plans Committee on 9th August be cancelled and decisions deferred until the 23rd August.
The next meeting of the Maintenance & Allotments Committee would be on 6th September.
70/0708 Management of Verges and Roundabouts in the Village
Item deferred until the next meeting of the Maintenance and Allotments Committee.
71/0708 Parking scheme
Councillors reviewed the amended parking scheme. It was agreed that the length of double yellow lines on Peel Place in front of the Scout Hut appeared to be excessively long and it was agreed that this should be raised with Traffic & Highways. Councillors were pleased to note the reduction of yellow lines on West Terrace.
It was unanimously agreed by the Parish Council that the scheme should be approved.
72/0708 Burley House Field
A decision would be made by BCC before December on pursuing a third application for Village Green status. There are many restrictions on land that is classified as Village Green; it would not be possible for example, to use the land for allotments. Cllr Jones proposed that the Parish Council seek to negotiate a water tight lease with BMDC for lease of the field to commence no later than June 2009 and to be signed as soon as possible. Legal advice to be sought on negotiation of the lease. If a watertight and lengthy lease could be negotiated this may provide an alternative to pursuing Village Green status.
Cllr Palmer noted that in his opinion Village Green status remained the most effective way to prevent development on the field. It should be ascertained that any negotiations with BMDC on a lease would not prejudice any further application for Village Green status. Cllr Jones and Parish Clerk to consult with John Gundry on this point.
Proposed by Cllr Jones
Seconded by Cllr Palmer
RESOLVED that Burley Parish Council seek to pursue a long-term lease with BMDC for Burley House Field subject to clarification that any such negotiations will not harm any further applications for Village Green status.
73/0708 The Grange
Cllr Jones reported that discussions were on-going with the property developer and it was hoped that a meeting could be set up with representatives of Bradford College for early August.
74/0708 Allotments
Cllr Walker reported on the meeting with allotment holders on 5th July. The meeting had been well attended and well received by the allotment holders. Two allotment holders had been co-opted onto the Maintenance & Allotments Committee.
75/0708 Village Handbook
If the handbook was to continue to be produced every three years, it would be due for publication again in 2008. Councillors were asked to think about suggested formats and ideas. There was some discussion of how the work should be distributed and it was agreed that Cllr Jones and Parish Clerk would start work on a suggested timetable for production and costings.
76/0708 Greenholme Mills
It was noted that Greenholme Mills was now for sale and the sales details were widely available. Councillors were asked to think about any planning consents that the Parish Council might wish to see on any application.
77/0708 Parish Plan
It was agreed to defer discussion of section F (The Community) of the Parish Plan until the next meeting of the Full Council in September.
78/0708 Reports from councillors on other meetings attended
Cllrs Jones and Tilford had attended SCAPAG.
Neither Cllrs Jones or Tilford were able to attend the Parish Council Liaison meeting on Wednesday 18th July, any councillors who wished to attend in their place were invited to consult the Parish Clerk.
79/0708 Correspondence
· Rail link: letter from Northern Rail stating that they will not re-install the ticket machine at Burley station and letter from local resident requesting more conductors on early trains into Leeds, reply to be sent to Northern Rail addressing this issue and requesting installation of mirrors at top of steps
· Newsletter of Burley & District Chamber of Trade
· Invitation to Chair to Denholme PC's civic service 8th July - declined
· YLCA & YHRTP training conference for Parish Councillors and Clerks - Scarborough, 28-30 September
· YLCA Annual Report & Accounts 2006-07
· White Rose Update - June 2007
· Notice of Joint Annual Meeting of YLCA
· 2007 Planning White Paper Free Information Event - information circulated via email
· Letter from Bruce Speed re: Gulley maintenance - information to be used in discussions with relevant agencies
· BMDC - offer to send representative to discuss school meals with the Parish Council, to be considered for a future Neighbourhood Forum
· BMDC had offered to install hanging baskets or similar on the toilet, councillors agreed this was not desirable at the current time
· Letter from St Mary's Parish Church, Serving the Community Group raising concerns over recent flooding. Information to be taken into consideration in the suggested wider review of flooding issues.
80/0708 Schedule of Payments
Proposed by Cllr Walker
Seconded by Cllr Tilford
RESOLVED that the amended schedule of payments be approved for payment.
81/0708 Any Other Business
Cllr Riley reminded all councillors that there would be a guided walk around the Nature Reserve on Sunday 15th July at 2pm.
Cllr Palmer reported that several comments had been made that the Neighbourhood Forums were too long. Cllr Jones confirmed that a review of Neighbourhood Forums was to take place.
Cllr Jenkins asked that the Parish Council consider finding an office space, even if only temporary to alleviate some of the current issues in terms of storage of documents.
82/0708 Date and time of next meetings
Planning Meeting - 26th July & 23rd August 2007
Full Council & Planning - 13th September 2007