Arkengarthdale PC meeting March 2018

A parish council meeting was held on 5th March 2018. Apologies were received from councillor Stones, district councillor Scott and county councillor Blackie.

The chairman thanked the councillors for their work in distributing and discussing the housing needs needs survey with parishioners. The forms received to date are still being analysed but it would appear that a positive response has been received, showing a need for affordable housing in the dale.

Road repairs – apart from the clearing of the flooded road near Reeth, none of the reported problems on our roads had yet been attended to. The chairman said that he had offered to show a highway engineer around the problem areas but no one had contacted him as yet.

Thanks were expressed to Jack Stones and the council who had kept the roads open during the recent heavy snowfalls and icy conditions. The clerk reported dangerous conditions on the Booze road due to heavy snow; she had contacted the council but was told that any snow clearing service to Booze had been discontinued. She was advised to minute the issue and put it on the agenda for the next meeting on the 14th May when it was hoped that county councillor Blackie could be asked for his help on the issue.

Proposed five fold increase in council tax on second homes – Although the motion had now been defeated, we had been asked beforehand to state our councils position on the matter and so a vote was taken where the majority of councillors were against the increase.

Correspondence – a letter was received from RDC regarding parish and community plans.

Financial – three cheques were issued, one to pay for the hire of the school room, one to Mrs. Hutchinson for expenses on materials to clean and maintain the war memorial, and one to the clerk to cover annual salary and expenses.

Planning – application R/01/30L was received to correct a mistake made the architect in applying for permission for eight ground-mounted solar panels, when the quantity should have been sixteen. The permission for eight had been granted. The chairman declared an interest and the remaining councillors agreed to ask the clerk to send a letter to explain the error and re apply for the correct quantity.

Local matters – Mrs. Moses, owner of the dilapidated seat on High green is in the process of purchasing a new replacement. Councillors agreed that the new seat should be delivered to the chairman’s house and they would help to replace the old one.

The date of the next meeting is the 14th May, which is the AGM. This concluded the business and the meeting closed at 9.50pm