Your Councillors
Skipton Parish is divided into four Wards and four Councillors serve in each of those Wards.Details of each Councillor are shown in this section of the website, including details of any position(s) they hold on the Council.
Councillor can be contacted using these details:
Councillor Contact DetailsNorth Ward
Four Councillors serve the North Ward of Skipton Town Council. They are:Councillor Tony BARRETT (Independent)
Chairman: Planning Committee
Councillor Claire NASH (Green)
Chairman: Management & Staffing Committee Committee
Councillor John DAWSON (Conservative)
Chairman: Audit & Scrutiny Committee
Councillor Sheila BENTLEY (Independent)
East Ward
Four Councillors serve the East Ward of Skipton Town Council. They are:
Councillor Richard JUDGE (Independent)
Councillor Darren SHAW (Independent)
Councillor Eric JAQUIN (Liberal Democrat)
Chairman: Public Services Committee
Councillor Winston FEATHER (Independent)
South Ward
Four Councillors serve the South Ward of Skipton Town Council. They are:Councillor Robert G HESELTINE (IndRPOS*)
Councillor Karen McINTYRE (IndRPOS*)
Town Mayor
Councillor Gordon BELL (IndRPOS*)
Councillor Andy SOLLOWAY (Independent)
* Independent Respecting & Protecting Our Skipton
West Ward
Four Councillors serve the West Ward of Skipton Town Council. They are:Councillor Peter MADELEY (Labour)
Deputy Leader of the Council
Chairman: Market Committee
Councillor Alan HICKMAN (Labour)
Leader of the Council
Councillor David PAINTER (Independent)
Councillor Ruksana MAHMOOD (Independent)
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 held 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.
Members have a period of 28 days from the date of signing their Declaration of Acceptance in which to submit their completed register of interests.
Subject to any GDPR regulations, copies of the completed forms will be available to view here in the near future.
Meetings of the Council
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the majority of Council Committee meetings are not currently taking place. Meetings of the Full Council are generally taking place 'virtually' via Zoom - and this practice is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. Some of the information in this section, therefore, may not currently apply. If you have any questions about raising matters with the Council or about participating in Council meetings, please contact the office for advice.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.Normally 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.
Full Council
The Annual Meeting of Skipton Town Council has been postponed until October 2020 as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak.Meetings of Full Council for the 2020-2021 Civic Year are: 18th March 2021 and the 20th May 2021
Meetings are currently held using Zoom Video Conferencing.
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 Agenda 14 March 2019Full Council Annual Meeting Agenda May 16 2019Agenda Full Council 18 July 2019Full Council Agenda 19 September 2019Full Council Agenda 17 October 2019Full Council Agenda 14 November 2019Agenda Full Council 16 January 2020Full Council Agenda 22 June 2020 reconvened from 16 JuneExtra Ordinary Full Council 12 August 2020Full Council Agenda 13 August 2020Agenda Full Council 15th October 2020Agenda Full Council 19 November 2020Full Council Agenda 14 January 2021Minutes 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 March 2019Full Council Minutes 16 May 2019Full Council Minutes 20 June 2019Full Council Minutes 18 July 2019Draft Full Council Minutes 19 September 2019Full Council Minutes 17 October 2019Full Council Minutes 14 November 2019Draft Full Council Minutes 16 Jan 2020Draft Extra Ordinary Full Council Minutes 12 August 2020Draft Full Council Minutes 13 August 2020Full Council Minutes 15th October 2020Full Council Minutes 19th November 2020Draft Full Council Minutes 14th January 2021Finance and Policy
Meetings of the Finance and Policy Committee for the 2020-2021 Civic Year will be held on the following dates:Thursday 18th February 2021
Thursday 15th April 2021
All meetings will be held, starting at 6.30pm, via Zoom - unless otherwise stated.
Meeting Agendas
Agendas are normally published approximately seven days ahead of each meeting.
Finance & Policy Committee Agenda 14 February 2019Finance & Policy Agenda 18 April 2019Finance & Policy agenda 13 June 2019Finance & Policy Agenda 15 August 2019Finance & Policy Agenda 17 October 2019Finance & Policy Agenda 19 December 2019Finance & Policy Agenda 20 Feb 2020Finance & Policy Agenda 29 October 2020Finance & Policy Agenda 16 December 2020Finance & Policy Agenda 18th Feb 2021Minutes 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 14 February 2019 Minutes Finance & Policy 18 April 2019Finance & Policy Minutes 13 June 2019Finace & Policy Minutes 15 August 2019Finance & Policy Minutes 17 October 2019Minutes Finance & Policy 19 Dec 2019Draft Finance & Policy Minutes 20 Feb 2020Finance & Policy Minutes 29th October 2020Draft Finance & Policy Minutes 16th December 2020Audit and Scrutiny
Meetings of the Audit & Scrutiny Committee for the 2020-2021 Civic Year will be held on:Thursday 4th March
All meetings will be held, starting at 6.30pm, via Zoom - unless otherwise stated.
Meeting Agendas
Agendas are normally published approximately seven days ahead of each meeting.
Audit and Scrutiny Agenda 21 June 2018Audit and Scrutiny Agenda 27th September 2018Audit and Scrutiny Agenda 20 December 2018Audit & Scrutiny Agenda 28 March 2019Audit & Scrutiny Agenda 6 June 2019Audit & Scrutiny Agenda 5th September 2019Agenda Audit & Scrutiny 5 March 2020Audit and Scrutiny Agenda 2nd September 2020Audit & Scrutiny Agenda 4th March 2021Minutes 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 28 March 2019 Audit & Scrutiny Minutes 6 June 2019Audit & Scrutiny Minutes 5 September 2019Audit & Scrutiny Minutes 5 December 2019DRAFT Audit & Scrutiny Minutes 5 March 2020Audit & Scrutiny Minutes 9th September 2020DRAFT Audit & Scrutiny Minutes 10th December 2020Public Services
Meetings of the Public Services Committee for the 2019-2020 Civic Year will be held on:Thursday 4th February 2021
Thursday 29th April 2021
All meetings will be held, starting at 6.30pm, via Zoom - unless otherwise stated.
Meeting Agendas
Agendas are normally published approximately seven days ahead of each meeting.
Public Services Agenda 29 August 2019 Public Services Committee Agenda 7 November 2019Public Services Agenda 28 November 2019Public Services Agenda 23 January 2020Public Services Agenda 6 Feb 2020Agenda Public Services Committee 26 Nov 2020Public Services Agenda 4th Feb 2021Minutes 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 29 August 2019Public Services Minutes 28 November 2019Public Services Minutes 23 January 2020Draft Public Service Committe Minutes 6 Feb 2020Public Services Minutes 26th November 2020Planning Committee
Scheduled meetings of the Planning Committee for the 2020-2021 Civic Year will be held on:Thursday 1st April 2021
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, via Zoom - 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.
Planning Committee 22 Nov 2018Planning Committee Agenda 5 November 2020Minutes 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.
Planning Committee Minutes 22 November 2018Planning Committee Minutes 23 May 2019DRAFT Planning Committee Minutes 21 November 2019Draft Planning Committee Minutes Nov 2020Events & Tourism Committee
Meetings of the Events & Tourism Committee for the 2021-2021 Civic Year will be held on:Thursday 11th March 2021
All meetings will be held, starting at 6.30pm,via Zoom - unless otherwise stated.
Meeting Agendas
Agendas are normally published approximately seven days ahead of each meeting.
Events and Tourism Agenda 10 January 2019Events & Tourism Committee Agenda 11 April 2019Events & Tourism Agenda 6 June 2019Events & Tourism Committee Agenda 11 July 2019Events & Tourism Agenda 26 September 2019Events and Tourism Agenda 10 December 2019Events and Tourism Agenda 12 March 2020Agenda Events & Tourism Committee 3rd December 2020Minutes 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 & Tourism Minutes 10 Jan 2019 Events & Tourism Committee Minutes 6 June 2019Events & Tourism Minutes 26 September 2019DRAFT Events and Tourism Committee Minutes 10 Dec 2019Draft Events & Tourism Committee Minutes March 2020Draft Events & Tourism Minutes 3rd December 2020Market Committee
Meetings of the Market Committee for the 2020-2021 Civic Year will be held on:Wednesday 17th February 2021
Wednesday 12th May 2021
All meetings will be held, starting at 6.30pm, via Zoom - unless otherwise stated.
Meeting Agendas
Agendas are normally published approximately seven days ahead of each meeting.
Market Committee Agenda 6 Feb 2019Market Committee Agenda 19 June 2019Market Committee Agenda 6th November 2019Market Committee Agenda 12 Feb 2020Market Committee Agenda 11 Nov 2020Agenda Market Committee 17th February 2021Minutes 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 6 February 2019Market Committee Minutes 7 August 2019Market Committee Minutes 6 Nov 2019Market Committee Minutes 17th February 2020Draft Market Committee Minutes 11th November 2020Attending 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.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND A COUNCIL MEETING REMOTELY PLEASE EMAIL admin@skiptontowncouncil.gov.uk for assistance.
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 details of how to join the meeting, as meetings are currently held via Zoom due to COVID 19 restrictions.
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.
Code of Conduct
Skipton Town Council has adopted a code of conduct for members. Please click below to view this policy:Standing Orders - Code of Conduct
Skipton Town Council Email: admin@skiptontowncouncil.gov.uk Tel: 01756 700553
Skipton Town Council, Town Hall, High Street, Skipton, BD23 1FD