BCC Minutes – 08 June 06
Present:
Mike Harris (MH); Christine Hill (CH); John Horton (JH); Caroline Jones (CJ); Peter Jenkins(PJ); Clive Myatt(CM); John Sparshatt(JS); Tom Sumner(TS); Tony Thompson(TT); Sylvia Tilford(ST); Mike Walker(MW)
Visitors from the first BCC Committee in 1976 ; and Cllr M Palmer.
In the chair:
Bruce Speed
1. Welcome and apologies
BS welcomed everyone to what had been planned as the last Committee meeting of Burley Community Council (see item ). He was pleased that some members of the very first Committee, which met in July 1976 were able to join us to celebrate 30 years of considerable achievement by many dedicated people.
Apologies had been received from Terry Clegg, Doffy Milner - aka Dorothy Johnson, and Colin Hunter. They sent best wishes to all and noted the great achievements of BCC. From the current Committee apologies had been received from Ian Padley.
BS said that item 9 on the agenda would be a retrospective look at the 30 years of activities and achievements by means of a slide show presentation prepared by Dennis Warwick and Mike Harris. Before that there would be a break for a light buffet and a chance to socialize.
2. Minutes of the meeting on 11th May
These were accepted as a correct record and were signed.
3. Matters arising not covered elsewhere on the agenda.
Item 3:
JH was asked to clarify arrangements for the clean up on the following evening. People were to meet at 6.0 pm. There would be a team in the village from BCC, the Chamber of Trade and Scouts and a further small group at Woodhead. Thanks were expressed to the volunteers who had delivered the Bulletin over the years and BS hoped that they would continue to support the new parish council in the same way.
Item 4:
CJ was asked if she had a completion date for the new toilets since the meeting with the Cleansing Department to discuss it had been cancelled. No date was as yet available.
Item 4:
Water feature: thanks were recorded to Terry Clegg for the contribution which had been received from the Masonic Lodge
Item 9.4
Duck race: TS reported that ticket sales were well underway and all Committee members had been asked to sell an allocation of tickets. Arrangements to open the Cornmill Lane pond had still to be finalised. The Committee agreed that the duck race day was the best day for this opening and one or more members would be happy to supervise, if required.
4.Correspondence.
BS reported:
· Notification of the Area Committee Meetings on 20th June and 18th July. It was not yet known if Burley House Field petition would be on the agenda for 20th June.
· Notification of the Building Communities Partnership AGM
· Invitation to the Shipley Area Committee on 24th June. In common with other groups BS has agreed to give a 5 minute presentation on what BCC has achieved in the past 2 years.
· Notice of site refurbishment at Golden Butts, due for completion in October.
· The disc containing studies of the Greenholme areas for use in a listed Buildings application
· Report from the Anti-crime Partnership meeting concerning events in April/May
5. Agenda for the AGM on June 15th
5.1
BS reported that the Burley Bulletin and previous minutes had indicated that it was intended to put a motion to the forthcoming AGM winding up BCC on June 30th. Because of a small number of matters that had arisen the alternative proposal would be put to wind up BCC on 30th September rather than June 30th. The reasoning was:
· The Burley Parish Council had not yet had a meeting at which it was able to decide and agree those parts of BCC business that it will be responsible for eg Burley House Field.
· In the light of the House of Lords ruling on the Oxford v Oxford case it may be possible to put in a further application for the Burley House Field. A preliminary view from our barrister, Nigel Clayton, is that there should be no difficulty in the parish council making a village green application, but we needed to allow him time to confirm that. If a further application was to go ahead Nigel Clayton has generously said that he would not charge for any extra work.
· The transfer of leases from BCC to BWCT was not yet completed.
In the light of this information there was discussion of the appropriate date for winding up BCC. Given the considerable amount of work that has gone into the Burley House Field issue there was a strong view that we should not jeopardise being able to make a further application. It was possible that we would still not be sure about the situation by September 30th and CJ proposed that BCC be continued with the sole purpose of handling the Burley House Field matter. It would need to hold an AGM in the usual way but would be wound up as soon as the matter of the field was resolved. The current Committee members, apart from CH who was leaving the village, would be willing to continue in office. MH expressed some reservations about such an arrangement on financial grounds but it was agreed that the transfers of funds from BCC to BWCT could go ahead by June 30th. The decision was taken to propose to the AGM that BCC be continued as long as necessary, for the purpose described.
5.2
At the AGM MH would present the financial report and the details of how funds would be transferred to the BWCT by June 30th.
5.3
It would be proposed to the AGM that the leases on the Roundhouse and the Pudding Tree garden be passed to BWCT and our solicitor, James Bloomer has been entrusted accordingly.
5.4
The owners of 4 Lewis Buildings have been contacted concerning the BCC sub lease of the small parcel of ground adjacent to their garden that borders Back Lane and forms part of the village green. At the AGM MH would comment on the future maintenance of the village green, fountain etc.
6. Current Issues.
6.1 Burley House Field.
Shipley Area Councillors had been contacted inviting them to look at the field on the 12th or 13th June. Replies had been received from Cllrs Chris Greaves, John Briggs and Philip Thornton. Cllr Palmer also indicated his intention at the meeting to visit at the same time as other councillors.
JG was asked to make any further comments on the Burley House Field. He would be available to meet councillors on 12th and 13th together with any other BCC Committee members who could be available.
6.2 Burley Grange.
Concern was expressed about the Bradford College decision to close the Grange for adult education. Cllr Palmer had organized a meeting with the principal, attended by BCC Committee members and parish councillors, at which our concerns had been discussed. MP has also asked for a special Neighbourhood Forum meeting at which the Grange would be the only item. Residents and students were urged to sign the petitions available at shops in the village as well as online at www. saveourcollege.com and to write to the local MP, Philip Davies. It was felt that every effort should be taken to safeguard the future of the Grange as a public building in the village.
7. Any other business.
None
8. Date of next meeting:
AGM on 15th June at 7.30 in Burley Oaks School
9. Celebrating 30 years of achievement of Burley Community Council.
Dennis Warwick gave the presentation, prepared together with MH. It was much enjoyed and Dennis and Mike were thanked warmly for their efforts. The presentation would be repeated at the AGM.
After an enjoyable buffet and the opportunity to reminisce on 30 years of BCC the meeting closed at 10.00 pm