BENTHAM MATTERS
Issue 7. June 2010
BENTHAM TOWN COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT

Although the year started badly with Craven’s decision to close the public toilets, the Council’s idea to utilise the Town Hall facilities has hopefully meant that visitors and locals alike have not been too inconvenienced and extra costs have been kept to a minimum.

The Council and residents have successfully fought the introduction of Pay and Display parking giving at least a temporary reprieve from parking charges.

The saga of Cleveland Square lease has still not been resolved, but the Council are hopeful that a conclusion can be reached in the coming months following a change of staff in the Property Services Department

During the past year the Council has negotiated in principal a license for the use of Low Bentham School Playing Field. The final details are currently awaited and the field should be available for use in the coming summer months.

The proposed site for the new primary school has progressed with an agreement to purchase apparently being made in principle although the finer details are still awaited.

Planning issues continue to take a considerable amount of time, although there have been few controversial applications in the last 12 months. Work has commenced on the 34 affordable homes on Wesley Way, and a section 106 agreement with the developer has benefited both the Playing Fields Association & Goodenber Play.

The harsh winter has led to many complaints about the winter service programme, and the state of the roads has deteriorated. The Council continues to work with NYCC Highways to maintain the roads, but budgetary cuts within the Highways department suggests that major improvements will not be seen in the coming year. Additional white lining on Grasmere Drive has been provided at the residents’ request to ease parking issues. Discussions with United Utilities about the state of Wenning Avenue has led to a limited response.

Problems with the grass cutting contractor meant that the good service received over the last few years was not maintained and a new company has been appointed until 2013. After 3 years of searching, 2 offers have been received of land for allotments. Discussions with Craven Planning are on going and it is hoped a site on Robin Lane will be approved this summer.

Match funding, made available through the Rural Development Programme for England (LEADER) which is jointly funded by Defra and the European Union, and is managed by Yorkshire Forward in the Yorkshire & Humber region, has been secured to pay for a Parish Caretaker for the next 3 years. The Caretaker will be tasked with various jobs around both High & Low Bentham, to improve the appearance of the parish. High on the list of priorities will be maintenance of the public benches and improving the planted area on School Hill.

The old community centre was purchased at the end of March for £57,500, to provide a dedicated youth building for Bentham. The refurbishment contract has been awarded to a local building contractor and should be complete by September, listed building consent permitting. So far £37,000 has been raised in grants, from both Craven District Council and LEADER towards the purchase and refurbishment.

Usage of the Town Hall was up 50%, and the routine building maintenance schedule continues.

The Council met with Paul Ellis about Alternate Weekly Collection, Claire Mazurke on the Craven Council Plan, Cathy Hopley on the Forest of Bowland & Sharon Sunter and Bowman Riley on the Station Road carpark.

Anne Yaman was co-opted onto Council in July following the resignation of Cllr Stannard, who had served on the Council for many years.

1)2009/10 figures are subject to audit
2)Receipts  & Loan Payments both increased by £212,000 due to the renegotiation of the existing loan at a more favourable rate of interest
3)Receipts also increase by £80,000 due to loan to purchase and refurbish the Community Youth building, although success with grant applications means that some of this will be repaid.
4)Payments increased due to purchase of old Community Centre for £57,500
5)Cash available increased with monies for the refurbishment, and also money held over for specific projects.
6)Fixed assets now include the Community Youth building
7)Borrowing increased due to second loan
    
    NEW COUNCIL YEAR

The new Council year began on 6 May with an uncontested election, seeing 8 Councillors appointed to the 11 seats within High & Low Bentham, leaving 3 vacancies – 2 for Low Bentham and 1 for High Bentham.

At the meeting on 10 May the Council appointed Cllr Thomas Marshall as Chairman / Mayor for 2010 / 11, and Cllr Tony Burton as Vice Chairman.

At the meeting on 7 June seven applications were considered for the vacancies, and the Council co-opted Mrs Elaine Brown, Mrs Claire Procter and Mr Keith Webster as Councillors for the 2010/14 term of office (see back page)