CHAIRMANS
REPORT TO SKELTON ANNUAL PARISH MEETING 8 APRIL 2008
During my 17 years on the Parish
Council, I have also served on several other Village and associated relevant
outside organisations, as have some others of your elected representatives, who
mostly also signed on last May for a further 4 year term. Since the last Annual
Parish Meeting however, it is pleasing that we now have 2 lady members keen to
add their support to that of our excellent Clerk, whose many ancillary duties
include keeping us within the law, controlling the budgeted finances and
managing the Cemetery.
Some
Items of Interest over the past and the coming year
Brecks
Lane
Yet
another clean up has been organised, but it is sad to note the frequent fly
tipping by some individuals too idle to take their rubbish to the tip and the
cost to clear this up. Brick
Bus Shelter Due to
anti-social behaviour and criminal damage to neighbouring properties and other
problems over the years, this has finally had to be demolished.
Cemetery
and the new
Extension A
large tree fell down and damaged the boundary wall, It is now rebuilt at more
expense. Further work on the extension is planned, and arrangements are in hand
for part to be consecrated hopefully later this year.
Dog
Fouling. This
remains a problem on the open spaces and grass verges and also the Playingfield.
It is hoped the dog warden will visit.
Finance
The Clerk will be reporting fully on the position. I have however noted
many more plot reservations down the road lately and wonder what the rush is
all about. Media gloom?
Information
A
newsletter is delivered to every household. Each month the Council holds an Open
Forum session prior to our meetings, the minutes of which are posted on our web
site.
An
additional notice board inside the school gate is to be provided by the Village
Trust.
Planning
Applications for consideration usually vary from 1 to 4 each month.
Playingfield
Day to day running and upkeep is delegated to the Skelton Football
& Recreation Club.
Skelton
Pond
The Vice-Chairman and I represent the Council on the Friends of Skelton
Pond who will be reporting shortly.
Ward
Funding
The main allocation is for Youth Workers, but the Village Hall, Design
Statement, lighting and traffic calming have all had funding allocated.
OTHER
TOPICS
There are many others I could mention, but you are free to ask questions
later on any which I have already covered or indeed, for example, topics such as
:-
(i) Police liaison
(ii) Speeding (iii) Tree
Planting (iv) Alcohol Restriction
Zones (v) Flooding (vi) Village
Hall (vii)
Village seats (viii)
Eco-Town at Cliftongate (ix) Goings on in the Lay bys
(x) Moles --- all have been
on our Agendas during the year.
Very
Important
This is the proposed Children’s Equipped Play Area
on the land behind the public Telephone box. Yorkshire Housing will come
up with some money and have agreed a 25 year lease.
The first hurdle for substantial Lottery funding has been climbed and the
final Application is required by June. Alas due to staff changes and various
reasons the former project team has
dissolved, leaving Ian Drake holding the fort. Volunteers are urgently required
to help out before we lose that £50,000 to add to the money the Council has
already set aside.
CONCLUSION
The
Parish Council strives to maintain the village environment to a high standard
and is grateful for the input and close collaboration of the Village Trust.
Financial
constraints limit all we would wish to spend on improvements, but we have made
substantial progress over the last few years on a restricted budget within a
reasonable precept.
My
thanks go out to my fellow Councillors and in particular to our Clerk, without
whom we could not function. May I remind you that you are very welcome to
join our Open Forums which precede all our monthly meetings? Thank you for
attending tonight.
WILLIAM LUMLEY (CHAIRMAN) 8 April 2008