Chairman’s Report May 2016

Design Statement

Work has continued to develop and write the Design Statement for Bilton in Ainsty and Bickerton. We hope to complete this in the coming months.

Upon completion of the work, a Draft Document will be produced for initial assessment.

I would like to thank Janet Hansen and the team for all the time and work given to this project.

Finance

Trevor Grant has continued to provide financial information and statements in respect of the accounts to his usual high standard. The auditor has approved the accounts which are in a good place.

Tockwith Airfield

We will continue to support Tockwith Parish Council and TAAG in the fight to make progress on the outstanding issues.

Capital Investment

There was no Capital Investment expenditure in the last year.

Highfields, Bickerton

The issues continue to be unresolved due to a lack of support and action by Harrogate Borough Council. We will continue to pursue these issues with our newly District Councillor, Tim Myatt.

Grass Verge Cutting

Tim Bilbrough provided this service to cut the grass in both villages during the last year.

Unfortunately, he is now retiring so we need to find someone else to carry out this work.

To date, we have not found anyone to do this.

Superfast Broadband

At long last we have a commitment from BT regards the timing to make this happen in the middle of 2017 for Bilton in Ainsty.

Bickerton will go live by the middle of 2016.

Contributors

I would like to thank John Savage for his work and help as our District Councillor. John has decided not to stand again as a councillor, but continues as County Councillor. I would like to wish him well for the future on behalf of the Parish Council.

My thanks also to Tim Myatt for the short time we have worked together.

Sue Brooks has retired and has been replaced by Tim Craven to provide community policing.

Tim organised a Home Security talk which was held in St Helens church earlier this year. My thanks

to Sue and Tim for their good work.

Trevor Grant as Clerk and RFO has continued to provide a highly professional service. I am sure all the Councillors will join me in thanking Trevor for his good work over the past year.

To all the Councillors I offer my thanks for their support, efforts and contributions in the past year.

Sadly, Julie Davies and Ken Talling have decided not to stand for re-election.

Challenges for 2016/17

Village Design Statement.

Highfields.

Footpaths and Bridleways.

Superfast Broadband.

Tockwith Airfield.

Tree Root issue in drains

Sam Mackouly

Chairman of Bilton in Ainsty with Bickerton Parish Council

May 2016