SKELTON VILLAGE TRUST

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING MINUTES

SKELTON VILLAGE HALL

7th MAY 2008

 

 

Present:  The Officers of the Trust and a number of members

 

ITEM 1 – CHAIRMAN’S OPENING REMARKS

 

The Chairman Philip Butler welcomed everyone to the 39^th AGM of the Skelton Village Trust. The agenda for the meeting had been published on village noticeboards. A copy of our annual newsletter and a calling notice, including a summary of the accounts for year ending December 2006, had been delivered to every member by hand or e-mail.

 

Apologies were received from 8 members

    

ITEM 2 - MINUTES

 

The minutes of the AGM held on 9th May 2007 were accepted as a true and accurate record of the meeting and were duly signed by the Chairman.

 

ITEM 3 - MATTERS ARISING 

 

There were no matters arising.

 

ITEM 4 – CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 2006/7

 

I have pleasure in presenting my report for the last year on behalf of your  committee.

 

We arranged three speaker evenings on a variety of topics which we thought would be of interest to members and each evening was well attended. The new seating in the Hall has added considerably to our comfort and the new floor, installed during the summer, to our sense of security. Following last year’s AGM  Henry Stapleton, rector of Skelton in the late sixties and early seventies and a founder of the Village Trust, gave us an illustrated tour of historic Skelton enlivened by his insights and reminiscences. It was a real pleasure to welcome Henry and his wife back to a community which is obviously still dear to them. Our November speaker was John Symington, a true raconteur, who entertained us with episodes from the remarkable life of Blind Jack of Knaresborough and in February Ray Parkinson’s well illustrated presentation on Bishopthorpe Palace covered the history of the building as well as the lives of some of its more memorable incumbents .

 

We’re always on the hunt for speakers whose subjects relate to our interests in social and environmental issues both contemporary and historical.

 

Moving on to planning matters. Your committee has examined a number of planning applications in the village to most of which we have raised no objection . However we have made detailed comments in three instances. In all three we objected to all or part of the application, because we felt the proposals unsuited to the locality. In two of these, outside the Conservation Area, the applications were granted, in the third which was within the Conservation Area, the application was withdrawn prior to a decision being made. 

 

Regarding the wider planning scene in and around York, John Goodsir has continued to monitor the progress of what is now called the York Local Development Framework . The biggest event on this front, of course, has been the proposal to build a 5500 house so-called eco-town between Skelton and the northern ring road. After hugely mismanaging its communications on the whole subject of eco-towns the government has now published its shortlist of 15 possible sites – except in the so-called Leeds City Region, where it has left the region to come up with its own suggestion from those submitted. This means that the so called Clifton Gate proposal is still alive, albeit the general view is that both in size and location it will not qualify for serious consideration. We understand that July is the next announcement date.

In autumn we undertook two annual tasks. A hardy group walked the public right of way from Moorlands to Shipton and return. The path which has been redirected in one stretch was found to be generally in good order and well signed

 

In November bulbs were again planted in various parts of the village with particular emphasis on Fairfield Drive and the area of ground around the noticeboard next to the surgery. In conjunction with Parish Council the annual tree planting programme has been undertaken; this year trees have been planted on The Green – to replace trees which are reaching the end of their days – and on Brecksfield . We aim to continue tree planting in selective areas on public or council owned land and again welcome suggestions as to possible locations. I would particularly like to thank Ian Richardson who leads this project and also keeps a watchful eye on applications to cut back or prune trees throughout the village which are subject to Tree Protection Oders.

 

In summer we surveyed the condition of public seats and repainted as required.

 

You may have also noticed that members of the committee have recently repainted the two pedestal Skelton signs, one outside the garden centre on the A19 and the other at the junction of Church Lane with the A19. Both these signs were becoming dilapidated and we felt they are well worth preserving.

 

Nancy Spratt continues to oversee and update the village Archive and is happy to receive any contributions which will add to our social history of Skelton life – photos, letters, diaries and the like.

 

Diane Thornton’s dedicated IT work culminated this year with the launch of our website www.skeltonvillagetrust.org which tells the story of Skelton past and present and of the activities of the Village Trust. The site has been visited from far and near – we even had a nice Christmas greeting from a family called Skelton living in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Whilst on the subject of the internet can I remind members that if you have email and are happy to receive

communications from us that way, you can give your address to Derek Jackson who produces our newsletters or to any committee member.

 

Finally the Village Design Statement. The Village Trust is represented by John Mc Meekin and myself on the steering committee. Considerable progress has been made in the last year. Last November we circulated a questionnaire to all houses in the village and received over a hundred responses. In March we produced a first draft which was publicised on our display at the Village Hall open days and again we have received welcome comments and suggestions. The next step is to send a further draft - which we hope really reflects the views of residents – to the City Council for their comment. The target for a final version, endorsed by the City Council, is autumn this year.

 

ITEM 5 – TREASURER’S REPORT 2006 

 

The Treasurer, Ian Richardson, confirmed that the accounts detailed in the AGM Calling Notice had been audited by Ian Hutchinson whom he thanked. Receipts for the year totalled £916.49 and Expenditure was £998.16, resulting in a cash balance of £917.03. There were no questions and the accounts for 2007 were approved.

  

ITEM 6 - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2006/07

 

The Chairman reported as follows

 “Once again I am pleased to acknowledge the strong support I have received from the committee, all of whom have actively participated in one or other of our several activities. This year all the officers and committee offer themselves for reelection I’m pleased to say since there have been no other nominees or volunteers – so may I put the existing officers and committee forward to you for your approval.

 

Can I just add that organisations such as ours do rely on a fairly regular supply of new blood. I think most people who have served on the committee over the years would say they enjoyed the experience and that the duties are not onerous. So whether you would be new to the committee or have previously served, do let Jean Lumley or myself know if you are interested and we will bring your name forward in plenty of time for next year"

 

The meeting approved the nomination of officers and committee members

 

ITEM 7 – ANY OTHER BUSINESS

 

There was no other business

 

 

Philip Butler     Chairman