Chairman’s report from Helperby Parish Council

Year to 31 March 2019

I have been very privileged to be the chair of Helperby PC the last few years and have enjoyed my role within this fabulous community. I have been well supported by the rest of the Councillors and Clerk – thank you. As many will know, I have decided not to continue with the new council, but hope to see good things come from a new, larger council which can represent the whole community with one voice.

When I first came into HPC, there were a number of items on the agenda which keep coming back time and again, notably land registration, cobbles, the condition of the Main Street, parking issues, dog fouling etc. These are all things that the local council can encourage the higher levels of Government to deal with or in some cases, like land registration of the allotments, deal with internally. We do hear many comments that “things move slowly” but given the fact that we only meet once a month at best, the “next stage” of acting on a resolution can take a while.

Quite a few of our ongoing projects like land registration and cobbles which seemingly go on for ever, are actually in a positive frame. Sandra has taken very positive steps to facilitate the land registration and hopefully we will have resolution on a sizeable part of this project completed in the very near future. The cobbles are an amazing story which have gathered pace thanks to Nigel Dennison and a crew of assistants who I am sure will be making positive reports back into the new Council over the rest of this year. Our Main Street will be repaired later this year thanks to Peter Sowray and his work in working with NYCC on behalf of Helperby and Brafferton.

We have a great community here and I am looking forward to the new council of Brafferton and Helperby taking up where both individual councils left off. Let’s wish them all the best.

Thank you

Duncan Preen