SKELTON PARISH COUNCIL

CHAIRMANS REPORT TO SKELTON ANNUAL PARISH MEETING 21^st APRIL2009

This past year has kept your Councillors fairly busy and has seen pleasing progress in several ongoing matters.

We maintain close contact with the Village Trust of which some of us are members and have jointly undertaken further tree and bulb planting.

Various hedge pruning and especially extensive work on the oak trees fronting Radcliffe Court was costly but necessary.

Planning applications were averaging 2 a month but may reduce with relaxed regulations on some works.

Two more footpath lights were Ward funded on the Pasture but no more are envisaged anytime in the near future.

The Pasture and Orchard Field are now registered as Village Green ( making parking thereon illegal) whilst the Land Registry have completed formalities of the Council’s Custodian

Trusteeship of the Village Hall where previously the title deeds could not be found.

The Lease of The Playing Field from CYC has finally been signed and the Clerk obtained Permitted Development status for the large changing hut installed without prior notice to us.

We have agreed to assist the Football Club with funding for ground improvements.

Down the road to the Cemetery the road lay bye has been greatly expanded up to the new extension, where the long newly planted hedge is thriving. A firm date for part consecration is imminently expected. This may fulfil a demand for extra plots due to the credit crunch.

The Village Pond is looking really well and the management team are represented for the Council by myself and the Vice-Chairman, who will shortly be making his report.

He will be followed by our able Clerk covering the Council’s Finances and your queries.

After Cllr.Thomas resigned last May a vacancy existed until December when Marc Crosbie agreed to co-option after serving for some time on the Play Area Steering Group.

Although the promised removal of the Telephone Box has yet to take place, parishioners will have noted much ground clearance on the land behind. Hopefully the many hours of debate, planning and funding approaches will finally soon see the contractor commence on site.

The new Play Area will be our major scheme for this year and has long been a provision we have been keen to see come to fruition. Perhaps just as well that this area together with the entire Ward has been designated  an Alcohol Restriction Zone - signage awaited.

The foregoing should have given you all a snapshot of  some  of our agenda, given financial constraints, over the past year. Towards the end of the meeting you will have the opportunity to address the meeting or pose questions. Your attendance is appreciated.

Thanks to my fellow Councillors, and especially for the support of our Clerk, Ian Drake,

In the current climate I feel we have done much to maintain our village to a high standard.