Arkengarthdale Parish Council Minutes – 2017/18 15 May 2017 (Annual General Meeting) 15 May 2017 18 September 2017 6 November 2017 8 January 2018 5 March 2018 8 March 2018 (Annual Parish Meeting) A parish council annual general meeting was heldon Mondy the 15th May 2017 when apologies were received from councillor Clark Stones and District Councillor Ian Scott. Councillor Stubbs was again elected as Chairman, with Councillor Lundberg re elected as Vice Chairman. It was decided that the standing orders should remain the same. The chairman signed the minutes of last years AGM. There are six dates suggested for meetings for the coming year. These are: July 10th, September 18th, November 6th, January 8th 2018, March 5th and May 14th. This concluded the business and the meeting closed at 8.10 A parish council meting was held on Monday 15th May 2017, following the AGM. Apologies were received from Councillor Clark Stones and District Councillor Ian Scott. The chairman welcomed County Councillor John Blackie to the meeting and councillors congratulated him on his recent election success. Affordable housing - County Councillor Blackie brought the council up to date on progress with the plan to build four affordable home in the dale. The intention is to form an Upper Dales Community Land Trust, under the auspices of the Upper Wensleydale Community Partnership (UWCP), whose objective would be to develop sites in the upper dales to provide affordable houses for rent in perpetuity, and beyond the reach of the recent right to buy legislation. Councillor Blackie has approached Richmondshire District Council for a grant towards the funding of a part time worker at the UWCP, whose role would be to undertake the tasks necessary to form the Upper Dales Community Land Trust, whilst also bringing forward the architectural plans for the development, drafting the planning applications to the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, and seeking the funding from various available sources to actually build the houses. The initial projects would be the one at Langthwaite and another at Hawes. Councillor Blackie made clear that any affordable housing for rent scheme in Arkengarthdale that came forward via the Upper Dales CLT would be delivered as a full working partnership between the Trust and the Parish Council, this including deciding who would be offered the tenancy of the houses initially and as they become available for re- allocation. However the Parish Council would not be required to provide any funding towards the scheme. The Councillors voted unanimously to support in principle the proposals as put to it by Councillor Blackie. There are several road repairs pending in the dale and Councillor Blackie is to take a Highway Engineer round to highlight them. Councillors pointed out problems with the roads to Booze and Whaw, the road from Whaw to Faggergill and the deep holes at the edges of Stang Lane. Speeding motorists through the dale are causing concern and the police will be contacted to determine the best course of action Mr.Robert Baker had informed the council of his retirement from the grass cutting. He has served us extremely well over the years and the councillors thank him for his work and wish him well in his retirement. Local resident and Scar House gardener Mr. Steve Colman is to take on the role for a trial period. Financial matters – Richmond District Council wrote to confirm having paid our precept payment of £1150 into our account at the end of April. A cheque was received and paid into our bank, for £60 covering the way leave payments for our electricity poles. Two cheques were issued, one for £15 for use of the school room, and one to Zurich insurance for £257.60, for our annual premium. The end of year accounts were signed and the relevant documents will be sent to the external auditor.. Mr. David Williams again assisted with this and we thank him most kindly for his help. The clerk showed the relevant bank statements covering the years expenditure and expressed her thanks to the Chairman for his help with the finances during the Arkle Beck project. All bills have now been paid. Planning - Planning applications have been approved for a low-level extension at Town End Whaw, a barn conversion at Bouldershaw Lane, and new windows at Plantation and Watson's Cottage, Stang Lane. The next parish council meeting is scheduled for July 10th. This concluded the business and the meeting closed at 9.40 A parish council meeting was held on the 18th September when apologies were received from Councillor Stones and County Councillor John Blackie. The Chairman welcomed District Councillor Ian Scott to the meeting, which was also attended by local resident Mrs. Pamela Whickham from the old chapel at Whaw. Mrs. Whickam had discovered by accident that there was a dispute over land on her property which was bought in good faith at the time and not noticed by her solicitor at the time. However it now transpires that the land is officially registered as village green. Fortunately councillor Scott was able to advise her on the best course of action to see the matter resolved. Proposed development of the car park land – Councillors Stubbs, Watkins and Scott had attended a meeting at RDC where a draft proposal for the houses was discussed. This proposal did not meet our criteria for the housing as it included the sale of at least two of the properties and would greatly reduce the number of car parking spaces available. It was agreed at a subsequent meeting with County Councillor Blackie that we would pursue our ideal goal of 4 homes for affordable rent in perpetuity, with maximum public parking spaces, with the Upper Dales Community Land Trust. The damaged wall in Arkle Town has now been repaired. Councillor Watkins reported that the police have undertaken speed checks and agreed that there is a problem. Action will be taken. Progress report on road problems in the dale – Councillor Watkins had again contacted Highways about problems on Stang Lane, and the roads from Whaw to Faggergill and Langthwaite to Booze. However these same issues were also reported to District Councillor Blackie at the subsequent meeting to discuss the housing project, and he is to take these up with the Highways Manager direct. Planning – the application for alterations to the old workshop in Langthwaite R/01/6D has been approved. Local matters – In view of the many overgrown areas in the dale that need attention it has been decided to increase the hours for grass cutting and to ask for additional precept money to cover the increase in cost. Local matters – Councillor Lundberg reported a badly overgrown and inaccessible stile on the path to Sleigh Gill, as well as the fact that the handgate on the bridge at Arkle Town is missing. Complaints have been received about the cars parking on the pavement opposite the Rigg. This will be discussed with the owner of the Rigg. Similarly, there is an issue with a badly parked car obstructing the access to the Storthwaite track, and the car owner will be spoken to. The next meeting will be on the 6th November. This concluded the business and the meeting closed at 9.55 A parish council meeting was held on the 6th November 2017 when all councillors were present. Apologies were received from district councillor Ian Scott and the chairman welcomed County councillor John Blackie, together with Kate Jump, project officer for the Upper Dales Community Land Trust. Kate and John gave the council an update on the UDCLT and in particular, it’s commitment to obtaining affordable housing for the dale. Various funding channels are being explored and a further update will be given at or before our January 2018 meeting. Road repairs in the dale – Highway department had emailed confirmation that all notified repairs are in hand. Precept requirements were discussed and an application for an increase was agreed due to the additional grass cutting undertaken this year and necessary for each year going forward. Correspondence – A letter was received from the secretary of state to advise of the intention of ENTRUST to erect a telecommunications mast at High Seal Houses. The clerk was asked to reply advising of the parish council’s support for the project. The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority wrote to invite a councillor to attend a forum at Ingleton on the 23rd November. Local matters – Feedback had been received about the police activity around the issue of speeding motorists in the dale. Two officers had been sent from York to assess the places best suited for any for potential further police activity. The cars parked opposite the Rigg are still causing a problem and further complaints have been received. Councillors hope to resolve this issue. The next meeting is scheduled for the 8th January 2018. This concluded the business and the meeting closed at 9.53 A parish council meeting was held on 8th January 2018, when all councillors were present and the Chairman welcomed County Councillor John Blackie and District Councillor Ian Scott to the meeting. Two local residents were also in attendance, along with the new owners of the old Methodist chapel. Councillor Blackie gave an update on the situation with the proposed affordable houses in the dale. Land next to the chapel was also being considered for purchase as the car park land presented several drawbacks, including the necessity to use piling for underpinning and the loss of badly needed car parking spaces. The owners of the chapel would need to have some of the land for parking as a condition of planning permission to convert the chapel into a dwelling.