SKIPTON TOWN COUNCIL ELECTIONS 2019
Elections for Skipton Town Council are only held once every FOUR years.The next elections will take place on THURSDAY 2nd MAY 2019
There are SIXTEEN seats in total, spread across four wards within the Parish of Skipton - and all sixteen seats are covered by the election.
Skipton Town Council would actively encourage anyone with an interest in the Town to consider putting themselves forward as a candidate.
Full details on how to become a Councillor are covered in the section below:
HOW TO BECOME A COUNCILLOR
Councillors undertake a vital role in the community, shaping local policies and helping to improve the Town for its residents.As a Councillor, you would work alongside fellow Councillors and with the Council's team of Officers - who deal with the day-to-day running of the Council, offer advice and guidance and implement the decisions made at Council meetings.
Chief Officer of the Council, Dave Parker, said: “Over the last four years the Council has continued to develop, taking on a number of new duties and responsibilities – and our existing Councillors and Council Officers have worked very hard to make this happen.”
He added: “As the election approaches, it is only right that we should encourage new people to think about standing for election – so, if you have an interest in what is happening in your town, this is a good time to consider putting yourself forward as a Town Councillor.”
Anyone elected as a Councillor would represent residents in one of four Skipton wards, they would help determine how the Town Council’s portion of the Council Tax is spent – and would help support and promote Skipton as a vibrant market town.
To become a Councillor, you need to be put forward as a candidate by completing a nomination form.
Mr Parker said: “As part of election rules you need to be able to prove that you have a direct connection with Skipton, so you will need to either be on the electoral register within the Parish, or you need to have lived or worked in the Town, or within 4.8km of it, during the whole of the last year.
There is no need to be linked to any political party, so you can stand in your own right as an individual and, traditionally, younger people are significantly under-represented on local councils so we would very much encourage anyone over the age of 18 to consider standing.”
Nominations open on 19th March and close on 3rd April.
Nomination packs are available from the Town Council’s offices, in the Town Hall on the High Street, Skipton - or from Electoral Services at Craven District Council.
If anyone would like further information - or would like to arrange a confidential appointment - you should contact the Council's Chief Officer, Dave Parker.
Email: chiefofficer@skiptontowncouncil.gov.uk
Or call: 01756 700553
The next section, below, shows a list of the most frequently asked questions about becoming a Councillor
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Here is a list of the most frequently asked questions about becoming a local Councillor. If the question you have is not listed, please contact the Town Council's offices for more information.How old do I need to be?
The minimum age is 18. Younger people are very much under-represented on councils across the country, so the Town Council would encourage people of any age to consider standing for election.
Do I need any qualifications?
No. All you need is an interest in what is going on in your local area. Common sense and a reasonable knowledge of the local area would prove useful, however.
I work full time, can I still stand?
Yes. Many Councillors successfully undertake their duties alongside a full-time job. Most meetings tend to be in the evening – and some employers will allow you occasional time off to attend meetings if you need to.
Do I have to be linked to a political party?
No. You can stand for election in your own right as an individual and there is no need to have any political views or affiliation whatsoever. If, however, you would like to represent a particular party you cannot do so without their permission. You should contact the relevant party directly for more information on how you might represent them.
Will I get paid?
No. The role as a local Town Councillor is unpaid.
How much time would it take up?
Being a Councillor will take up some of your spare time. You will need to find time to speak with the local people you represent when they have an issue they wish to discuss, and you will need to attend some meetings of the Council and find time to read the associated paperwork – but you can choose for yourself how much time you spend overall.
Would I need to attend any meetings?
Yes. Councillors are required by law to attend meetings unless they have a valid reason for not being there (illness, work commitments, holidays etc). On average you will need to attend one or two evening meetings each month.
Does it cost anything to stand for election?
No. Unlike a general election, there is no deposit to pay when you stand in a local council election. You can spend some money on promoting yourself on the run up to the elections (producing a leaflet or flyer for instance) but, to make things fair for everyone, there are very strict rules on how much can be spent.
What are my chances of getting elected?
There are a total of 16 seats on the Council which need to be filled at the elections in May. These are split into four ‘wards’ each with four Councillors. The four people who get the largest number of votes in each ward will be elected. You can only stand for election in one ward so you will need to decide which part of the Town you would like to be involved with.
I’m still not sure, is there anyone I can talk to?
Yes. You could talk to an existing Councillor – or you can contact the Council’s Chief Officer for more information on the work of the Council and the role of Councillor.
Your Existing Councillors
Skipton Town Council's current Councillors all remain in office until the fourth day following the scheduled elections on May 2nd 2019, regardless of whether they will be standing in the election.Skipton Parish is divided into four Wards and four Councillors serve in each of those Wards.
Contact details for each of the Councillors are shown below, together with details of any positions they hold on the Council.
Councillor details 2018-19North Ward
Four Councillors serve the North Ward of Skipton Town Council. They are:Councillor Paul WHITAKER (Conservative)
2 St Stephens Mews, SKIPTON, BD23 1RB
(01756) 709531
Councillor John DAWSON (Conservative)
Chairman Public Services Committee
42 Gainsborough Court, SKIPTON, BD23 1QG
(01756) 700151
Councillor Jonathan KERR (Conservative)
Chairman Events & Tourism Committee
10 Bell Busk, SKIPTON, BD23 4DT
(07766) 245440
Councillor Anthony BARRETT (Independent)
Vice Chairman Events & Tourism Committee
Contact details to follow. For further information please contact the Council's offices on (01756) 700553.
East Ward
Four Councillors serve the East Ward of Skipton Town Council. They are:
Councillor Pamela HESELTINE (Conservative)
10 Nelson Street, SKIPTON, BD23 2DT
(01756) 700165
Councillor Eric JAQUIN (Liberal Democrat)
Chairman Planning Committee
11 Grassington Road, SKIPTON, BD23 1LL
(01756) 799684
Councillor Chris HARBRON (Conservative)
10 Nelson Street, SKIPTON, BD23 2DT
(07825) 987757
Councillor Wendy CLARK (Conservative)
Vice-Chairman Audit & Scrutiny Committee
28, Regent Crescent, SKIPTON, BD23 2HR
(01756) 798077
South Ward
Four Councillors serve the South Ward of Skipton Town Council. They are:Councillor Robert G HESELTINE (Independent)
The Ginnel Place, Newmarket Street, SKIPTON, BD23 2JB
(01756) 701243
Councillor Karen McINTYRE (Independent)
Shadow Leader of the Council;
Vice-Chairman Finance & Policy Committee;
Vice-Chairman Public Services Committee
52 Roughaw Road, SKIPTON, BD23 2QA
(01756) 797588
Councillor Martin EMMERSON (Independent)
4 Greatwood Avenue, SKIPTON, BD23 2RU
(01756) 701304
Councillor Gordon BELL (Independent)
Chairman Audit & Scrutiny Committee
39 Western Road, SKIPTON, BD23 2RU
(01756) 790155
West Ward
Four Councillors serve the West Ward of Skipton Town Council. They are:Councillor Christopher CLARK (Conservative)
Leader of the Council
Chairman Finance & Policy Committee
3 Crossley Place, SKIPTON, BD23 1PZ
(07967) 307936
Councillor Andrew RANKINE (Independent)
44 Rombalds Drive, SKIPTON, BD23 2SP
(01756) 700848
Councillor Peter MADELEY (Labour)
Deputy Town Mayor;
Deputy Leader of the Council;
Chairman Market Committee
17 Alexandra Court, SKIPTON, BD23 2RG
(01756) 797951
Councillor Alan HICKMAN (Labour)
Town Mayor and Chairman of the Council
1 The Farm, Keighley Road, SKIPTON, BD23 2QT
(01756) 700565
Members Register of Interests
All Members of Skipton Town Council are, by law, required to complete a register of their personal interests. This will include, generally, details of any employment or business activities, membership of any public bodies, clubs or organisations and the details of any property interests.The records are maintained by Craven District Council, but it is the responsibility of each individual Councillor to complete the register and to ensure that information is kept up-to-date.
Copies of the Members Registers will be available to view on this website in the near future - but can be viewed on request at the Town Council's offices .
Meetings of the Council
All meetings of Skipton Town Council are open to members of the public. This section gives you access to the agendas and minutes of meetings in the current civic year (which runs from the AGM, generally held in mid-May each year). Documents from the last civic year will shortly be archived into a separate section of the website.Information is also provided in this section on attending a meeting, including your right to record, film or report on the meeting as it is taking place.
The agendas and minutes are listed in the appropriate section for each of the Council's committees. Further details about the work done by each Committee can be found in the Your Council section of this website.
Please note that dates and times can change and, occasionally, a meeting may be cancelled or rescheduled. Details will appear in the appropriate section when this happens:
Agendas are usually available approximately four working days ahead of each meeting
Minutes of meetings are produced in draft format as soon as possible following the meeting.
Please note that minutes are not regarded as a true and correct record until they have been accepted and approved at the following meeting of each Committee and subsequently by Full Council.
The draft minutes available on the website will not include any items which were dealt with in private session, with press and members of the public excluded.
Annual Town Meeting
The Annual Town Meeting is not actually a meeting of the Council itself, but a meeting of the electors of the Parish.It must be held at least once per year, between April and June. In Skipton it is generally held immediately before the Annual Meeting of the Council and is an opportunity for local electors to raise issues with the Council.
If they wish to do so, electors can pass resolutions requesting that the Council takes certain actions. Although such resolutions are not legally binding on the Council, the will be considered carefully.
The meeting is normally chaired by the Town Mayor and will start with a short report on the Council's activities over the previous year.
Only those who appear on the register of electors for the Skipton Parish can vote on any resolution, although the meeting is open to anyone.
Additional Town Meetings may be called by the Town Council (although this is unlikely to happen as business relating to the Town will generally be dealt with at normal Town Council meetings).
There is provision, in law, for an additional Town Meeting to be called by a minimum of six local electors writing to the Council to request that a meeting takes place. However, electors and other members of the public have the right to attend and address any meeting of the Town Council and this is likely to be a better option in the vast majority of cases.
The next Town Meeting will be on Thursday 16th May 2019
Full Council
Meetings of Full Council for the 2018-2019 Civic Year are scheduled for the following dates:Thursday 28th June 2018 (Approval of Annual Return [AGAR])
Thursday 19th July 2018
Thursday 13th September 2018
Thursday 15th November 2018
Thursday 17th January 2019 (Budget & Precept Setting)
Thursday 14th March 2019
Thursday 16th May 2019 (Annual Meeting)
Meetings will normally be held in the COUNCIL CHAMBER at SKIPTON TOWN HALL, High Street, Skipton, BD23 1FD
All meetings of Full Council start at 7pm unless otherwise stated.
Meeting Agendas
Agendas are normally published approximately seven days ahead of each meeting.
Full Council Annual Meeting Agenda 19 May 2016Full Council Agenda 2 June 2016 Full Council Agenda 14 July 2016Full Council Agenda 19 May 2016 Extra Ordinary Full Council Agenda 2 June 2016Full Council Agenda 14 July 2016Extra Ordinary Full Council Agenda 11 August 2016Full Council Agenda 15 September 2016 Extra Ordinary Full Council Agenda 27 October 2016Full Council Agenda 17 November 2016 Full Council Agenda 19 January 2017Full Council Agenda 16 March 2017Extra Ordinary Full Council Agenda 27 April 2017Annual Meeting Agenda 18 May 2017 Additional Full Council Agenda 29 June 2017Full Council Agenda 20 July 2017Additional Full Council 27 July 2017Full Council Agenda 14 September 2017 Full Council Agenda 16 November 2017Full Council Agenda 18 January 2018Full Council Agenda 15 March 2018Full Council Annual Meeting Agenda 17 May 2018 Full Council Agenda 28 June 2018Full Council Agenda 19 July 2018Full Council Agenda 13 September 2018Full Council Agenda 15 November 2018Full Council Agenda 17 Jan 2019Full Council Agenda 14 March 2019Minutes of Previous Meetings
The minutes of each meeting are produced in draft format as soon as possible after the meeting. They remain as a draft until formally approved at the following meeting.
Full Council Minutes 14 July 2016Extra Ordinary Full Council Minutes 11 August 2016Full Council Minutes 15 September 2016Extra Ordinary Full Council Minutes 27 October 2016Full Council Minutes 17 November 2016Full Council Minutes 19 January 2017Full Council Minutes 16 March 2017Extra Ordinary Full Council Minutes 27 April 2017Full Council Annual Meeting Minutes 18 May 2017Full Council Minutes 29 June 2017Full Council Minutes 20 July 2017Additional Full Council Minutes 27 July 2017 Full Council Minutes 14 September 2017Full Council Minutes 16 November 2017 Full Council Minutes 18 January 2018Full Council Minutes 15 March 2018Full Council Minutes 17 May 2018Full Council Minutes 28 June 2018Full Council Minutes 15 November 2018Minutes Full Council 13th September 2018Full Council Minutes 17 Jan 2019Finance and Policy
Meetings of the Finance and Policy Committee for the 2018-2019 Civic Year will be held on the following dates:Thursday 14th June 2018
Thursday 16th August 2018
Thursday 18th October 2018
Thursday 13th December 2018 (Budget Proposals)
Thursday 14th February 2019
Thursday 18th April 2019
All meetings will be held, starting at 6.30pm, in the meeting room at the Town Council offices in Skipton Town Hall - unless otherwise stated.
Meeting Agendas
Agendas are normally published approximately seven days ahead of each meeting.
Finance & Policy Agenda 18 June 2015 Finance & Policy Agenda 20 August 2015Finance & Policy Agenda 15 October 2015Finance and Policy Agenda 17 December 2015Finance and Policy Agenda 18 February 2016Finance & Policy Agenda 14 April 2016Finance & Policy Agenda 16 June 2016 Finance & Policy Agenda 18 August 2016Finance & Policy Agenda 20 October 2016Finance & Policy Agenda 15 December 2016 Finance & Policy Agenda 12 January 2017Finance & Policy Agenda 16 February 2017Finance & Policy Agenda 20 April 2017Finance & Policy Agenda 22 June 2017Finance & Policy Agenda 17 August 2017 Finance & Policy Agenda 19 October 2017Finance & Policy Agenda 9 November 2017Finance and Policy Agenda 14 December 2017 Finance & Policy Agenda 11 January 2018Finance & Policy Agenda 15 February 2018Finance and Policy Agenda 19 April 2018Finance & Policy Agenda 14 June 2018Finance & Policy Agenda 16 August 2018Finance & Policy Agenda 18 October 2018Finance & Policy Agenda 13 December 2018Finance & Policy Committee Agenda 14 February 2019Minutes of Previous Meetings
The minutes of each meeting are produced in draft format as soon as possible after the meeting. They remain as a draft until formally approved at the following meeting.
Finance & Policy Minutes 15 October 2015Finance and Policy Minutes 17 December 2015Finance & Policy Minutes 18 February 2016Finance & Policy Minutes 14 April 2016Finance & Policy Minutes 16 June 2016Finance & Policy Minutes 18 August 2016Finance & Policy Minutes 20 October 2016Finance & Policy Minutes 15 December 2016Finance & Policy Minutes 12 January 2017 Finance & Policy Minutes 16 February 2017Finance & Policy Minutes 20 April 2017 Finance & Policy Minutes 22 June 2017 Finance & Policy Minutes 17 August 2017 Finance & Policy Minutes 19 October 2017Finance & Policy Minutes 9 November 2017Finance and Policy Minutes 14 December 2017Finance & Policy Committee Minutes 11 January 2018Finance and Policy Minutes 15 February 2018Finance and Policy Committee Minutes 19 April 2018Finance and Policy Minutes 14 June 2018 Finance and Policy Minutes 16 August 2018Finance & Policy Minutes 13 December 2018Draft Finance & Policy Minutes 14 February 2019Audit and Scrutiny
Meetings of the Audit & Scrutiny Committee for the 2018-2019 Civic Year will be held on:Thursday 21st June 2018
Thursday 27th September 2018
Thursday 20th December 2018
Thursday 28th March 2019
All meetings will be held, starting at 6.30pm, in the meeting room at the Town Council offices in Skipton Town Hall - unless otherwise stated.
Meeting Agendas
Agendas are normally published approximately seven days ahead of each meeting.
Audit & Scrutiny Agenda 9 July 2015Audit & Scrutiny Agenda 8 October 2015Audit and Scrutiny Agenda 12 November 2015Audit and Scrutiny Agenda 21 January 2016Audit and Scrutiny Agenda 10 March 2016Audit & Scrutiny Agenda 12 May 2016Audit and Scrutiny Agenda 21 July 2016Audit and Scrutiny Agenda 22 September 2016Audit & Scrutiny Agenda 24 November 2016Audit & Scrutiny Agenda 9 February 2017Audit & Scrutiny Agenda 13 April 2017Audit & Scrutiny Agenda 6 July 2017Audit & Scrutiny Agenda 24 August 2017Audit & Scrutiny Agenda 26 October 2017Audit & Scrutiny Agenda 12 April 2018Audit and Scrutiny Agenda 21 June 2018Audit and Scrutiny Agenda 27th September 2018Audit and Scrutiny Agenda 20 December 2018Audit & Scrutiny Agenda 28 March 2019Minutes of Previous Meetings
The minutes of each meeting are produced in draft format as soon as possible after the meeting. They remain as a draft until formally approved at the following meeting.
Audit & Scrutiny Minutes 9 July 2015Audit & Scrutiny Minutes 8 October 2015 Audit and Scrutiny Minutes 12 November 2015Audit & Scrutiny Minutes 21 January 2016Audit & Scrutiny Minutes 10 March 2016 Audit & Scrutiny Minutes 12 May 2016 Audit and Scrutiny Minutes 21 July 2016Audit & Scrutiny Minutes 22 September 2016Audit & Scrutiny Minutes 24 November 2016Audit & Scrutiny Minutes 9 February 2017Audit & Scrutiny Minutes 13 April 2017 Audit & Scrutiny Committee Minutes 6 July 2017Audit & Scrutiny Minutes 24 August 2017 Audit & Scrutiny Minutes 26 October 2017Audit and Scrutiny Minutes 12 April 2018Audit and Scrutiny Minutes 21 June 2018Audit and Scrutiny Minutes 27 September 2018DRAFT Audit & Scrutiny Minutes 20 December 2018Public Services
Meetings of the Public Services Committee for the 2018-2019 Civic Year will be held on:Thursday 31st May 2018
Thursday 30th August 2018
Thursday 29th November 2018 (Budget Proposals)
Thursday 28th February 2019
All meetings will be held, starting at 6.30pm, in the meeting room at the Town Council offices in Skipton Town Hall - unless otherwise stated.
Meeting Agendas
Agendas are normally published approximately seven days ahead of each meeting.
Public Services Agenda 31 March 2016Public Services Agenda 28 April 2016Public Services Agenda 9 June 2016Public Services Agenda 7 July 2016Public Services Agenda 8 September 2016Public Services Agenda 8 December 2016Public Services Agenda 12 January 2017Public Services Agenda 2 March 2017Public Services Agenda 6 April 2017Public Services Agenda 11 May 2017Public Services Agenda 15 June 2017Public Services Agenda 13 July 2017Public Services Agenda 10 August 2017Public Services Agenda 7 September 2017Public Services Agenda 5 October 2017 Public Services Agenda 30 November 2017Public Services Agenda 11 January 2018Public Services Agenda 8 March 2018 Public Services Agenda 3 May 2018Public Services Agenda 31 May 2018 Public Services Agenda 30 August 2018Public Services Agenda 29 November 2018Public Services Agenda 28 February 2019Minutes of Previous Meetings
The minutes of each meeting are produced in draft format as soon as possible after the meeting. They remain as a draft until formally approved at the following meeting.
Public Services Minutes 31 March 2016Public Services Minutes 28 April 2016Public Services Minutes 9 June 2016 Public Services Minutes 7 July 2016 Public Services Minutes 8 September 2016Public Services Minutes 8 December 2016Public Services Minutes 12 January 2017 Public Services Minutes 2 March 2017 Public Services Minutes 6 April 2017Public Services Minutes 6 May 2017Public Services Committee Minutes 11 May 2017Public Services Committee Minutes 15 June 2017Public Services Committee Minutes 13 July 2017Public Services Minutes 10 August 2017Public Services Minutes 7 September 2017 Public Services Minutes 5 October 2017Public Services Committee Minutes 30 November 2017Public Services Minutes 11 January 2018Public Services Minutes 8 March 2018Public Services Minutes 3 May 2018Public Services Minutes 31 May 2018Public Services Committee Minutes 30 August 2018DRAFT Publice Services Minutes 28 February 2019Public Services Minutes 29 November 2018Planning Committee
Scheduled meetings of the Planning Committee for the 2018-2019 Civic Year will be held on:Thursday 24th May 2018
Thursday 22nd November 2018
Additional meetings may be called, as required, to discuss any large or contentious planning applications which may be submitted to the Planning Authority (Craven District Council) during the course of the year. Details of any additional meetings will be posted here as and when they arise.
Generally, meetings will be held, starting at 6.30pm, in the meeting room at the Town Council offices in Skipton Town Hall - unless otherwise stated.
The Council also operates a Working Group of Councillors to monitor routine planning applications. The Working Group is not classed as a formally constituted meeting of the Council and will meet on an ad-hoc basis. Please contact the office if you require any further information.
Meeting Agendas
Agendas are normally published approximately seven days ahead of each meeting.
Environment & Planning Agenda 30 July 2015Environment & Planning Agenda 24 September 2015Environment & Planning Agenda 22 October 2015Environment and Planning Agenda 26 November 2015Environment & Planning Agenda 28 January 2016Environment and Planning Agenda 24 March 2016Environment & Planning Agenda 26 May 2016Environment and Planning Agenda 25 August 2016Environment and Planning Agenda 13 October 2016Environment & Planning Agenda 23 February 2017Environment & Planning Agenda 27 July 2017Environment & Planning Agenda 21 September 2017 n.b. this meeting will be held in the Assembly Room at the Swadford Centre, Swadford Street, SkiptonEnvironment and Planning Agenda 23 November 2017Environment and Planning Agenda 22 March 2018Planning Agenda 24 May 2018Planning Agenda 6 September 2018 n.b. this additional meeting has been called to allow Town Councillors and members of the public to comment on planning application 2018/19563/FUL, land north of A629 and west of Carleton Road Planning Committee 22 Nov 2018Minutes of Previous Meetings
The minutes of each meeting are produced in draft format as soon as possible after the meeting. They remain as a draft until formally approved at the following meeting.
Environment & Planning Minutes 28 May 2015Environment & Planning Minutes 25 June 2015Environment & Planning Minutes 30 July 2015Environment & Planning Minutes 24 September 2015Environment and Planning Minutes 22 October 2015Environment and Planning Minutes 26 November 2015Environment and Planning Minutes 28 January 2016 Environment & Planning Minutes 24 March 2016Environment & Planning Minutes 26 May 2016 Environment and Planning Minutes 25 August 2016Environment & Planning Minutes 13 October 2016Environment & Planning Minutes 23 February 2017Environment & Planning Minutes 27 July 2017 Environment & Planning Minutes 21 September 2017Environment and Planning Committee Minutes 23 November 2017Environment & Planning Minutes 22 March 2018Environment and Planning Minutes 22 March 2018Planning Minutes 24 May 2018Planning Minutes 6 September 2018Planning Committee Minutes 22 November 2018Events & Tourism Committee
Meetings of the Events & Tourism Committee for the 2018-2019 Civic Year will be held on:Thursday 12th July 2018
Thursday 4th October 2018 (Budget Proposals)
Thursday 10th January 2019
Thursday 11th April 2019
All meetings will be held, starting at 6.30pm, in the meeting room at the Town Council offices in Skipton Town Hall - unless otherwise stated.
Meeting Agendas
Agendas are normally published approximately seven days ahead of each meeting.
Events and Tourism Agenda 12 July 2018Events and Tourism Agenda 4 Oct 2018Events and Tourism Agenda 22 Nov 2018Events and Tourism Agenda 10 January 2019Minutes of Previous Meetings
The minutes of each meeting are produced in draft format as soon as possible after the meeting. They remain as a draft until formally approved at the following meeting.
Events and Tourism Committee Minutes 12 July 2018Events and Tourism Minutes 4 Oct 2018Events & Tourism Committee Minutes 22 November 2018DRAFT Events & Tourism Minutes 10 Jan 2019Market Committee
Meetings of the Market Committee for the 2018-2019 Civic Year will be held on:Wednesday 8th August 2018
Wednesday 7th November 2018
Wednesday 6th February 2019
Wednesday 8th May 2019
All meetings will be held, starting at 5.30pm, in the meeting room at the Town Council offices in Skipton Town Hall - unless otherwise stated.
Meeting Agendas
Agendas are normally published approximately seven days ahead of each meeting.
Market Committee Agenda 8 August 2018Market Committee Agenda 7 November 2018Market Committee Agenda 6 Feb 2019Minutes of Previous Meetings
The minutes of each meeting are produced in draft format as soon as possible after the meeting. They remain as a draft until formally approved at the following meeting.
Market Committee Minutes 8 August 2018DRAFT Market Committee Minutes 7 November 2018DRAFT Market Committee Minutes 6 February 2019Attending a Council Meeting
All meetings of Skipton Town Council are open to the public. You may attend to watch the proceedings, or to address Members of the Council if you wish to do so. A section is included at the start of each meeting to allow the public to speak.New regulations now allow for the proceedings of any Council Meeting (or one of its Committees) to be recorded or filmed - or for the proceedings to be reported on as they are happening (via Facebook, Twitter or a Blog, for instance). A protocol has been approved by the Council to assist those wishing to make recordings etc.
Protocol for Recording at Council MeetingsOccasionally, there may be an item on the agenda which needs to be taken in private. This may be where the Council is considering, for example, a tender for a Council contract and needs to keep the value of any bids for the work confidential. Generally, private items are placed at the end of the agenda. The Chairman of the meeting will notify you if you need to leave the meeting. No recording, filming or reporting is allowed during any item taken in private.
There is no need to notify the Council if you wish to attend, although anyone wishing to record the proceedings of a meeting is requested to contact the Council in advance so we can ensure that facilities are available to help - and so we can make any members of the public aware, as they may not wish to be recorded.
The notice giving advance warning of the meeting will generally be issued around a week ahead of the date of the meeting itself. Agendas will appear on this website around four working days before the meeting.
Procedures at a Council Meeting
Each Council meeting operates to an agenda, issued in advance by the Council's Chief Officer. Each agenda is published in the appropriate section of this website. Copies are also available from the Council's offices on request.Although items can be removed from the agenda after it has been issued, no new items can be added. Members of the Council are only allowed to make decisions on items already listed on the agenda.
The first item at every meeting (except the Annual Meeting where the first item must be the election of the new Town Mayor) is known as 'Representations from the Public'.
This gives any member of the public the opportunity to talk to the Members of the Council or the Council Committee. You can make a statement, ask questions, or propose a matter for the Council to consider. You should note, however, that if the item is not on the agenda, the Council will not be able to discuss the matter and make any decisions - so the matter may be referred to the next meeting, or to a different Council Committee. Council Officers may also be requested to look into any issue raised by a member of the public.
If you do wish to address the meeting, it is always useful for the Council to know in advance - although there is no obligation to do so. Please contact the office if you do wish to speak at a meeting. Staff will also then be able to confirm the time and location of the meeting with you.
You should note that, although the recording and filming of meetings is permitted, any member of the public has the right to request that they are not included in any recording. If you do not wish to be recorded, you should let the Chairman of the Meeting (or a Council Officer) know before the meeting starts. This way, we can ensure that no recording is made against your wishes.
No person under the age of 18 may be recorded or filmed without the permission of a parent/guardian.
The 'Public Participation' section of the meeting lasts for up to fifteen minutes, although this can be extended at the discretion of the Chairman. Individuals will only generally be allowed to speak for up to five minutes.
Once the 'Public Participation' section of the meeting has concluded, members of the public cannot take part in the remainder of the meeting, although they may remain to observe (other than those items being held in private).
At his discretion, the Chairman may bring forward item(s) on the agenda if they are connected to a matter raised by a member of the public.
Skipton Town Council Email: admin@skiptontowncouncil.gov.uk Tel: 01756 700553
Skipton Town Council, Town Hall, High Street, Skipton, BD23 1FD