BWCT Minutes – 15 January 08
Present
John Gundry(JG); Mike Harris(MH); Clive Myatt(CM); John Sparshatt(JS); Sylvia Tilford(ST); Mike Walker(MW)
In the chair:
Bruce Speed
BS also welcomed Caroline Jones, Chair Burley parish Council (for item 6); Jed Smith (Burley Trojans) and Bill Howson (BH) as a visitor
1. Apologies for Absence
Peter Jenkins(PJ); Tom Sumner(TS); Judith Ullock(JU)
2. Minutes of the 12th September 07 meeting.
These were accepted as a correct record and were signed.
3. Matters Arising
BS reported:
· The missing vent cap on the septic tank at Scalebor has been replaced There has been no progress with the ceiling in the pavilion. JS reported that he had emailed Ian Sutherland on the matter. It had not been possible to go ahead over the Christmas period. Work should soon be possible. The cricket club is providing the funds and Burley Trojans will do the work. If any assistance from BWCT is needed JS will contact BS.
· There has been no further attempt to flush out the pond on Cornmill Lane. BS will contact Steve Carruthers offering help on the working party morning - January 26th. In reply to a question BS reported that the marker stones were not yet in place.
4. Correspondence
· December copy of Briefing Bradford, the monthly newsletter for voluntary groups.
· Request to support Friends of Ilkley Moor. In reply he said that BWCT Constitution limits it to matters directly related to our community and its environs. Had the group encompassed Rombalds Moor, which includes Burley Moor, we might have been able to help. The Village Design Statement makes reference to the SSSI status of the Moor.
· CVS Training Courses brochure and ICCVS Annual Report.
· Autumn edition of Country Air, the newsletter of Yorkshire Rural Community Council (YRCC), plus notification of a conference in November on c21 villages. The subscription renewal for YRCC has not been taken up because we have made little use of the organisation since the Village Design Statement. Burley Parish Council is a member.
· Notification of the Police and Community Contact point.
· Various communications from Shipley Area Coordinator's Office, most of which, including application form for a village clean-up, fall within the Parish Council remit.
· IIDCVS Grapevine newsletter, with notice of Community Showcase on 7th June and a 2 day course on understanding outcomes.
· Notification of Energy and Water Efficiency Audits of community buildings. The Committee discussed any possible actions. The two buildings for which it had responsibility, the Roundhouse and the Scalebor pavilion were not appropriate because of intermittent usage.
5. Treasurer's Report
CM circulated a 3 monthly set of figures. In the light of very recent information some updating was provided on Christmas Lights income and expenditure. A revised version of the accounts document would be circulated. The quotation for the additional feature (£1400) was made available at the meeting. Concerns were expressed in the Committee that it had been agreed that there were to be no new features in 2007 and that expenditure should not exceed £2500. In the absence of TS to explain it appeared that £1400 had been spent on an extra feature without authorisation, and in addition to the agreed budget. Whatever the outcome the Trust will have to pay the bill. BS would clarify the situation. It was agreed that a system should be put into place to ensure that this situation does not arise in future years.
It was agreed that the co-trustee for the Jennings Bequest would be approached for release of some funds for work during the spring and summer in the areas covered by the bequest.
CM reported a reduced number of people who have paid BWCT subscriptions for this year. After discussion it was agreed to maintain the subscription at £5 for the coming year. Efforts to publicise trust membership would be renewed. JS offered to take a proposal to his Committee that a form for BWCT Trust membership be added to the Trojans' annual membership renewal form. Currently their membership was 354 children and over 2000 adult members. This suggestion was warmly welcomed.
6. Burley House Field
Caroline Jones reported that the Parish Council had still not been offered the lease for the Field. On the basis of communication with Richard Schofield (BMDC) It was the Council's understanding that the Legal Department at BMDC was still examining the advice from counsel to BWCT on the chances of success from a third application. The Council would continue to urge that the lease be offered as soon as possible
It was decided, in accordance with discussion at the September Committee meeting, that BCC should meet in the next three weeks to make a decision about a third village green application. JG indicated his willingness to contribute to a third application. It was his understanding that there would be no financial implications It was important that as many committee members as possible should attend the BCC meeting. 3 alternative dates would be circulated to members.
CJ was thanked for attending the meeting.
7. Website Report
Dennis Warwick had submitted a report developed in consultation with Steve King, manager of the website in the absence of Malcolm Fisher who is on holiday. Steve has said that he did not have much to report except to say that he was now pretty well up to speed with the site and its organisation and updates are taking him less time to do. He is going to speak with Jo Griffiths (Clerk to the Parish Council) about the Parish Council part of the site as some of the information there looks to be out of date or missing. Efforts have been made to get more contemporary events on the site and recently a member of the committee had been attending parish council meetings and putting a report on the proceedings on the website of the following day. This obviated to an extent the need to wait for the full minutes from the Council after official approval. It would be good if the Trust could also send a report of its meeting to the website for "home page" coverage. The website seems to be increasingly popular and receiving more hits per month than initially. Up to date statistics can be gathered from the website.
It was noted that BWCT Minutes go to the website within a week of meetings. Consideration would, however, be given to producing an immediate report.
The importance of information on the Parish Council part of the site staying for a reasonable length of time was stressed.
8. Christmas Lights
Very grateful thanks were extended to Tom Sumner and his team of volunteers who had erected, maintained and dismantled the lights. As in previous years many favourable comments had been received. Thanks were also extended to the Round Table for organising the provision and setting up of the Christmas tree. This was provided by Yorkshire Water and delivered and erected by Marsland Timber. Thanks also to the Chamber of Trade for the organisation of the Christmas market and to all those who provided stalls.
Notification has been received from the Chamber of Trade about "Make Burley Sparkle" a dinner dance organised by Tina Archer and to raise funds for the 2008 lights. It will take place in the Queen's Hall on 8th March and costs £35.00. Thanks were extended to the Chamber of Trade for this initiative.
Dates in February have been offered to the Chamber of Trade and Churches Together to discuss arrangements for the 2008 Christmas Lights Switch-on event in the light of the 2007 experience. Tuesday 12th February ay 7.30 in St Mary's Church Centre has been agreed. It was agreed that all BWCT Committee members available would attend.
BMDC is about to change some of the lighting columns in Main Street to heavy duty ones specified as suitable for carrying Christmas lights features. The number of these columns would not be sufficient to carry all the features currently used. The extent to which the remaining columns can be used to support the lights display was not fully clear from the BMDC correspondence with the Parish Council. TS and Jo Griffiths will have a further meeting with Masood Khan, BMDC, on Friday 18th to discuss the matter.
9. Scalebor Sports Facilities
BS had arranged a meeting with Andrew Hampton(AH), North England manager, the Greenbelt Group and representatives of Burley Trojans Juniors and Burley Cricket Club on 6th November to discuss what standards of maintenance can be expected for the playing field, and when drainage problems will be resolved. Only part of the field can be used except in very dry conditions, summer and winter, and long term the foundations of the verandah of the pavilion are at risk from standing water. AH explained the role and commitment of his company, and agreed to find plans of drains that are deemed to be in place, prior to checking and rectifying faults. He contacted BS in December with news that no plans are available and asked for recommendations of contractors who could survey the area. BS had recommended A Kennedy Construction Ltd. Feedback had not yet been received. J S endorsed the problems of playing on the field as a result of the drainage problems. This site was very important, particularly for the junior girls' football. The other pitches were fully in use and there were no alternatives available. The Trojans would be very sorry if Scalebor became unplayable.
Further graffiti on the back of the pavilion was reported to the police in December and has been painted out. Regular checks need to be made and reports made to BS when action required.
10. Pond on Cornmill Lane
See item 3.
11. The Round House
Following confirmation by Zurich Municipal that theft of lead is not insured, estimates were obtained for the work, including the replacement of the fallen pillar. However, a local contractor has offered to repair the roof for the cost of the materials only, and this offer has been gratefully accepted.
Although it has been confirmed that we will lease the building at a subsidised rate, the transfer from BCC to BWCT has not yet been received.
12. Pudding Tree Garden
The new 10-year lease at a peppercorn rent has been agreed. A plaque explaining the ownership and lease has been made and will be installed at the entrance when the final phase of refurbishment is done. This includes painting the framework of the seat and attaching the new timber, which has been supplied at cost by John Myers Joinery. The seat will be inscribed to acknowledge that Burley and District Probus Club contributed to the costs. In addition it will be necessary to remove the ivy round the gateway, which is damaging the wall. The wall and entrance is grade II listed and must, therefore, be adequately maintained. General tidying and ivy removal will be carried out regularly beginning on January 26th 10am -12pm to coincide with the Parish Council working group maintenance morning. This group will give support to the BWCT. Burley Gardeners have agreed to provide 4 hanging baskets and David Allison will make these up. Thanks were recorded.
13. Any other business
· The BWCT Coffee Morning is at the Parish Centre on Saturday 19th January. BS and CM are in attendance and the charity table is for Guide Dogs for the Blind.
· Renewal of BWCT application to sell tickets etc. under the Gambling Act has raised some important matters related to selling tickets on the street. After discussion it was agreed that some kind of kiosk will need to be created at the bottom of Station Road . In addition some ticket selling will need to be transferred to door to door. MW reported successful door to door selling of tickets in 2007.
· A letter had been received from Mark Selby (St Mary's) asking if the duck race could be held a week earlier in order to coincide with the end of a week long Church Festival. The Committee were happy to agree to the request but BS would need to speak to TS.
14. Date of the next meeting
To be agreed at the February 12th meeting.
Sylvia Tilford, Hon Secretary