AGM and ANNULA PARISH MEETING 2026
UPPER NIDDERDALE PARISH COUNCIL
Parish Clerk Alan Bean
21 Doublegates Avenue, Ripon
Tel: 07419 583881 E-mail: clerk@uppernidderdaleparishcouncil.org.uk
MINUTES OF ANNUAL PARISH MEETING HELD ON
MONDAY 11TH MAY 2026
LOFTHOUSE MEMORIAL HALL
Chairman Cllr S Ramsden
PRESENT
Cllr S. Ramsden Cllr D. Fothergill, Cllr D Verity, Cllr R Harker, Cllr J Carter, Cllr M Wells, County Cllr A Murday and Clerk Mr Alan Bean plus members of Upper Nidderdale Heritage
APOLOGIES
Cllr J Graham, Cllr A Challis, Cllr A Sykes
MINUTES OF 2023-24 MEETING
Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting MAY 2025 was approved JUNE 2025
PARISH CHAIR REPORT
The chairman, Cllr S Ramsden, stated the following
Thank you for coming to The Upper Nidderdale Parish Council may 2026 AGM.
Firstly, thank you very much to everyone who has contributed to the last years’ parish council business, including our Clerk and our County councillor Andrew Murday, who continues to support us and communicate with the County council.
Thank you also to Dave Fothergill for looking after the admin for the Millennium Marquee and any communication with NYC concerning commuted sums.
Thank you also to Jane Carter for doing the admin/communication with a parish council caretaker, Jim Benson and his son.
Back in May,/June, the trustees of the Lazenby trust [2 St Chads Church wardens and the vicar] put in a formal challenge to the registration of part of the Lofthouse school site, which is now been empty for at least two years.
We have heard nothing back from NYC or HM Land Registry.
Back on the 4th of May, the community celebrated 80 years since VE Day, on the Lofthouse cricket field
In October, we tried unsuccessfully to sell Middlesmoor Pinfold, so this matter remains outstanding if we wish to proceed with a sale.
We have no documentary proof that we actually own this site, and it will not be registered with the land registry.
There are still no new owners in the adjoining property, the Cockpit barn.
In November, we gave £300 to each of the village halls, towards the cost of annual insurance of these properties. [in the case of Middlesmoor £900 a year]
We are, of course, the trustees of both Lofthouse and Middlesmoor village halls, but it has to be said that although these halls have some money, but with a lack of attendance and committee members, in the case of Middlesmoor, the future is not looking good, as any money raised is only keeping the property ticking over, with only a limited amount of events.
In January 2026, Wath Bridge [it is listed] was repaired after a lorry damaged one wall.
We are still waiting for signage from NYC to be put up to discourage wide lorries from using this bridge. [on both sides]
In February, it was agreed that the “mosaic” on Lofthouse School can be removed and put on Lofthouse Memorial VH, but this has yet to be carried out.
COUNTY COUNCILLOR REPORT
Report from Andrew Murday, North Yorkshire Council. I have almost completed my fourth year representing Pateley Bridge and Nidderdale Division on what is now North Yorkshire Council. In addition to sitting on the full council, I also am a member of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, and since the Autumn of 2024 have been member champion for development in the national park. I also sit on the Skipton and Ripon Area Constituency Committee, the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and I am chairman of the Joint Advisory Committee of the Nidderdale National Landscape. I am a member of the board of trustees of Nidd Plus. I am also a member of the Gouthwaite Board and of the trust ees of the Greenhow Fund. I attend each of the Parish councils and parish meetings within the division,providing regular reports to those council meetings and acting as a liaison between the councils and North Yorkshire Council.
Council finance The UK government withdrew the Rural Services Delivery Grant for the new financial year. This reduced the direct grant to the council of £20million. The grant was designed to provide the extra funds required to provide services in rural areas. Gary Fielding, NYC Chief Finance Officer, has prepared a slide presentation with his commentary, of the current council budget. It can be downloaded here: https://youtu.be/rdbwjCcPiDM Prostate cancer awarenessI successfully proposed a motion that North Yorkshire Council should launch a campaign to increase awareness of prostate cancer and to write to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in support of a screening program for men at high risk of prostate cancer. Locality budget grants
OFFICIAL Each year every councillor has a pot of money which is available to support community projects and activities. This year the amount available to each councillor was reduced to £5,000. Amongst projects which this fund supported were:Purchase of a defibrillator at Heyshaw Thread Creative Community CIC Upper Nidderdale Heritage Trust Accessible bench at Millenium Green Nidd Plus community transport Upper Nidderdale Youth Club Pateley Bridge junior football club Millenium Green pump track Dacre Bank Cricket Club The locality budget will continue to provide £5000 per councillor for the year2026/27. Please contact me if you have a project which you think might be appropriate for funding. Nidderdale Greenway Extension The ambition to extend the Nidderdale Greenway remains just that, an ambition. Discussions with countryside access officers at NYC and the combined mayoralty continue, but at present there is no finance available to take the project forward. In particular, the Walk Wheel Cycle trust (previously called Sustrans), which had been a participant in the steering group as well as a potential source of construction funding, is no longer considering supporting the project. Nidderdale National Landscape The NNL has published its new management plan which can be found here: https://nidderdale-nl.org.uk/our-work/our-new-management-plan-for-2025-2026
MILLENIUM MARQUEE REPORT
During the year, it was agreed that the marquee was no longer in a state suitable for renting out. It is now going to be used for Local events only like Belfest, Young Farmers etc. It was also being discussed if the funds currently in the marquee account should be put into an account that could earn extra interest.
UPPER NIDDERDALE HERITAGE
Over the past year they have established partnership with the Church and the National landscape, helping to promote renewed community awareness. A website is due to arrive soon and is aimed to be present in time for Belfest. They have put a number of plans in place including the use of microscopes for use with children to be able to see and understand the environment around them, with a plan to use with the likes of the local secret agent group and local schools. They also thanked the Parish Council for the support given throughout the year.
PROVISIONAL DATE FOR NEXT ANNUAL PARISH MEETING – 10th May 2027
Close of Meeting 7.20pm
………………………………………………………………………. Date ……………………………………………………
Chairman of Upper Nidderdale Parish Council
UPPER NIDDERDALE PARISH COUNCIL
Parish Clerk Mr Alan Bean
www.uppernidderdaleparishcouncil.org.uk
E-mail: clerk@uppernidderdaleparishcouncil.org.uk
07419 583881
___________________________________________________________________________
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING HELD ON
MONDAY 11TH MAY 2026 at 7 20 pm
LOFTHOUSE MEMORIAL HALL
1. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Councillor S Ramsden was elected Chairman. Proposed Cllr. D Fothergill
Seconded Cllr. J Carter
Councillor R Harker was elected Vice-Chairman Proposed Cllr. D Verity Seconded Cllr. J Carter
2. DECLARATIONS OF ACCEPTANCE OF PARISH COUNCIL CHAIRMAN
Was signed by Councillor S Ramsden, Chairman.
3. PRESENT
Cllr S. Ramsden Cllr D. Fothergill, Cllr D Verity, Cllr R Harker, Cllr J Carter, Cllr M Wells, County Cllr A Murday and Clerk Mr Alan Bean plus members of Upper Nidderdale Heritage
4. APOLOGIES
Cllr J Graham, Cllr A Challis, Cllr A Sykes
5. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
Minutes of the Annual Meeting held on May 2025, were approved June 2025.
6.PARISH COUNCIL CHAIRMAN’S CLOSING REMARKS
Cllr S Ramsden thanked the members of the Parish Council for their continued work in the community and Cllr A Murday for his support from North Yorkshire Council, then thanked everyone for attending.
7. PROVISIONAL DATE OF NEXT ANNUAL MEETING – 10th May 2027
8.CLOSE OF ANNUAL MEETING – 7.30 pm
Signed by Chairman…………………………………………………… Date …………………………………..