SKELTON PARISH COUNCIL

CHAIRMAN'S REPORT TO ANNUAL PARISH MEETING HELD 12th APRIL  2011

Welcome everyone. I wish more parishioners would lend their support at the Ward Meetings where we are heavily outnumbered by Rawcliffe and Clifton Without residents. Next month the local elections will take place when two out of our three Ward Councillors are not seeking re-election. This Parish Council's 4 year term expires today. In August 2010 and February this year no Parish Council meetings were held to facilitate holidays. However, the remaining 10 monthly agendas have covered much ground and councillors have attended several additional meetings in between as representatives on the Village Hall, Playground and Cemetery committees. Some of the subjects covered were:-

Playground - snagging list addressed. Picnic tables sited, landscaping carried out. Lockable notice board installed. The official opening ceremony by the Lord Mayor was a highlight. Plans are in hand for more equipment in both the toddlers and general playground.

Cemetery - given an improved appearance with the removal of ivy from the walls and some wall capping. The extension is now in use -1 burial, 1 reservation. Your council intends to have a large stone to bear a commemorative plaque erected on the patio area in addition to other plans.

Orchard Field - fence erected in collaboration with the Village Trust which has replaced trees and shrubs removed with new hedging along Orchard View. On the Moorlands Road boundary well received professional hedge layering was arranged.

A19 verge - maintenance now agreed and looking better. A19 bus shelter re-furbished by Councillors to save expense.

Trees - about 9 dead trees around the village have required felling - an expensive exercise.

The Village Pond - After problems from non-resident anglers the Council agreed to the erection of notice board restricting use to residents. This seems to have improved the situation and we will now hear more at item 6 on the agenda.

Parish Boundary - it is most pleasing to report that after man y years of trying our Southern boundary has at long last been moved from the lay-by near the Ramada Jarvis to the Outer Ring Road on a land exchange with our ward partners. This is effective from the December 2010 Electoral Register.

Obviously I can only have covered some of the items and problems arising over the past year and constant reminders have to be placed in the Parish Magazine about dog fouling and damage to grass verges from vehicles, but enforcement is difficult. The Police no longer attend our monthly meetings, whilst we are told the entire team is changing for this area.