The good news is that during the year I held my Civic Service at St Mary’s Church in

Honley, and a Charity Dinner at Honley Cricket Club, which together with other

donations, have enabled me to raise over £1,000 for my two charities, Honley Aid In

Sickness and the Forget Me Not Trust. Thanks are due to Stotts who again generously

donated the proceeds from the Boxing Day Bus Service to the Chairman’s Charity

Appeal.

The Chairman and Lady of Holme Valley

Parish Council, Councillor Charles and

Mrs. Diana Kaye, welcomed guests to their

Civic Sunday celebrations held Autumn

2007 at St. Mary's Church, Honley.

www.holmevalleyparishcouncil.gov.uk Design & production by Cllr Rhona Bratt Printed by Walker Design and Print

Ward Name Telephone Address

Brockholes L. Bailey 01484 662398 4 Oakes Lane, Brockholes, HD9 7AR

Fulstone D. M. Firth 01484 683735 34 Penistone Road, New Mill, HD9 7JP

Fulstone D. Hall 01484 686488 45 Sude Hill, New Mill, HD9 7BL

Hepworth T. Dixon 01484 685928 Wood Nook, South View, Jackson Bridge, HD9 7HT

Holmfirth Central G. Christofi 01484 682721 10 Oak Tree Avenue, Scholes, HD9 1SD

Holmfirth Central K. Smith Resigned April 2008

Honley Central & East M. Bower 01484 661354 17 Woodroyd Avenue, Honley, HD9 6LG

Honley Central & East P.D. Searby 01484 661980 10 Townhead, Honley, HD9 6BW

Honley Central & East B. Smith 01484 689961 Southfield, Holmfirth Road, New Mill, HD9 7LX

Honley South C.M. Kaye 01484 666424 Springfield House, 7 Field End , Honley, HD9 6NE

Honley West R Oldfield 07909 740021 180 Roundway, Honley, HD9 6DG

Honley West P. Robinson 07769 905957 6 Lea Rise, Honley, HD9 6EZ

Netherthong T. Dearnley 01484 686034 Ashgrove Barn, Broad Lane, Upperthong, HD9 3JS

Netherthong J. Roberts 01484 684930 30 Wolfstones Road, Netherthong, HD9 3UU

Scholes R. P. Dixon 01484 685928 Wood Nook, South View, Jackson Bridge, HD9 7HT

Scholes M. Walker 01484 684927 43 Scholes Moor Road, Scholes, HD9 1SJ

Upper Holme Valley T. Bellamy 01484 683147 146 Woodhead Road, Hinchliffe Mill, HD9 2NL

Upper Holme Valley J. M. Osborn 01484 685068 Greengates Farm, Greengates Road, Austonly, HD9 3RG

Upperthong G. Cropper 07703 314313 Midgley Farm, Wickens Lane , Upperthong HD9 3RE

Upperthong A. R. Otterburn 01484 685437 1 Holme View Park, Upperthong, HD9 3HS

Wooldale R. Bratt 01484 689122 5 Millfold, Holmbridge, HD9 2TQ

Wooldale J. Greenwood 01484 222462 32 Bourn View Road, Netherton, HD4 7JZ

Wooldale B.A. Smith 01484 689961 Southfield, Holmfirth Road, New Mill, HD9 7LX

Councillor contacts — 2007/2008

Holme Valley Parish Council

ANNUAL REPORT 2007/2008

A look at the past year in the Holme Valley

Page 1

The Chairman’s report—Cllr Charles Kaye

Time passes very quickly, especially as we

all get older, and this has certainly been the

case for me during my year as Chairman of

the Parish Council.

This was a year of change, as we started

with the number of Wards reduced from 16

to 12, and the councillors reduced from 31

to 23, each councillor on average

representing 870 electors. Following the

elections, there were many new councillors,

including father/son and mother/daughter

combinations for the first time, and it is

most encouraging to see how well the

‘newcomers’ have settled down in their

roles and are adding value in their new

positions.

In a busy Council year, another key change

was the retirement of our Deputy Clerk, Liz

Hirst, after 24 years’ service with the

Holme Valley Parish Council. Liz, with her

always cheerful, bubbly personality and

knowledge, especially on planning matters,

will be sorely missed and we all wish her

well in retirement. In her place we

welcome Sally Barber as our new

Administrative Support Officer, and wish

her every success in her new career with the

Parish Council. Thanks to Cllr Otterburn

and the Staffing Committee for putting in

place, and implementing, a new recruitment

policy for the Parish Council.

Most of the Committees have had a busy

year. One exception is the Strategy and

Policy Committee, where we were unable

to carry out the external survey work

originally planned. With the revised

Kirklees policies on the new seven

localities and recent Local Government

legislation, we now plan in 2008/2009 to

work with Kirklees and other agencies to

develop a future Four Year Strategy Plan

for the Holme Valley. This will include

surveys and questionnaires of residents in

the Holme Valley.

With the changes in the Council’s structure,

it has been a year of review and

consolidation. Several of the Committees

have taken time to review policies and

practices, and made changes in some cases,

or confirmed that current practices

represent good value for the residents. This

is a process which the Council must go

through from time to time to assure itself

and its electors that it is using its funds

The Chairman’s Charities

prudently and effectively.

One result is that the Council managed to

achieve a 10% reduction in its precept for

2008-09 and there should be no diminution

in the services offered next year. Its

minibus services will continue to be

supported, match funding has been gained

for improvement works to war memorials,

play areas will be improved in partnership

with Kirklees Council, together with many

other projects highlighted by the Committee

Chairmen in their reports.

What has been most encouraging is the

increased support and involvement from

residents. The quarterly newsletters

continue to generate much interest, and the

Council website is also gaining in use, with

increasing numbers taking part in our online

polls and live discussions about the Parish

Council. Recognition must go to Cllr

Rhona Bratt, our editor and webmaster, for

all the hard work she has put in over the last

year.

We have also seen many residents attending

our Planning and Council Meetings, now

that we welcome opportunities for people to

speak in public sessions at the start of our

meetings. Planning continues to be a key

activity for us all, as we remain concerned

to preserve our Green Belt and utilise listed

Brownfield sites for development.

Affordable housing in the Holme Valley

continues to be a key objective and we will

be pursuing opportunities in our strategy to

support this objective. Thanks to Cllr

Judith Roberts who has taken on the role of

Chair of this Committee.

Another key priority policy area for us is

rural transport, and over the year our

General Purposes Committee councillors

have spent many hours working (wrestling

at some stages!) with members from

Kirklees, Metro and First Bus, who

coordinate and provide our rural bus

services. Recognition goes to Cllrs Firth,

Tom Dixon, Cropper and Cllr Sims of

Kirklees Council who, with others, have

worked hard to meet the needs of local

residents during the changes.

Our councillors are continuing to work to

retain key services, and together with the

Holme Valley Minibus Service we are

committed to retaining and improving rural

services throughout the Valley. This

includes supporting the Holme Valley

Patient Transport Scheme which operates a

service for patients for all the Holme Valley

medical practices.

Finally I would like to thank all my fellow

Councillors and Chairs of Committee for

their hard work in the last year – all our

Members continue to receive no payment

for their time. A special mention to our

Clerk, Marjory Bewick, who has patiently

supported the efforts of the Councillors, old

and new, and whose hard work and

dedication is essential for our continued

service.

Next year will be an exciting time for the

Council and I would like to wish our new

Chairman, Cllr Trevor Bellamy, best wishes

for the year ahead.

Charles Kaye

Chairman, 2007/2008

Chairman Charles Kaye (far right) and

Mrs Diana Kaye with guests enjoying

the entertainment provided by the

magician (far left) at the

Chairman’s Charity Dinner.

The Chairman Councillor Charles Kaye

presenting cheques for £580 to Karen Dineen

(left) of the Forget Me Not Trust and

Miss Doreen Maude, MBE, of Honley Aid In

Sickness at St. Mary's Church, Honley.

(Photograph courtesy Holme Valley Echo)

It gives me pleasure to provide the annual

report of the Publications and Communications

Committee for 2007/8. Recognition should first

go to a hard working team for meeting

deadlines, working within a budget and for the

production of excellent reading material which

provides the community of Holme Valley with

news about the Parish Council’s activities.

Reflecting on the 'year that was' there has been

a lot of activity, and content for the quarterly

news letter has not been difficult to find.

Perhaps one of the highlights this year was the

excellent work that Cllr Tom Dixon organised

in rallying support and campaigning against the

bus changes that affected many if not all public

transport users in one way or another.

We are very pleased that the Council’s website

is also growing in use. This was proved during

the 'Bus Changes' campaign, as an online poll

was used to acquire opinion from visitors of the

site. The Publications and Communications

Committee is dedicated not only to providing

information about local events, for the local

people, but through future use of the Parish

Council website we hope to make more

opportunity for visitors to collaborate and

interact with polls, discussion and 'Live'

opinion about our Parish.

Alternative ways for our news to reach the local

people are kept under review, although, having

just renewed a contract with the Royal Mail and

printing company for the next year, you can be

sure that your copy of the Parish Council

newsletter will be dropping through your letter

box at regular quarterly intervals.

Copies of previously published newsletters can

be printed/ downloaded or viewed on-screen by

visiting the Parish Council website.

Report from the Chairman of the Planning Committee - Cllr Judith Roberts

Vice Chairman - Cllr Greg Cropper

Kirklees MC is empowered by law to consult

with a number of groups on all planning

applications and the Parish Council is one such

consultee.

As usual the year has been very busy with over

500 applications, many of which are

straightforward extensions. However, one or

two larger proposals have been contentious,

some are not.

Town centre properties, some of which are still

under construction, will provide new ventures

for some, whilst other properties are still

awaiting planning agreement to satisfy both

parties.

We are always concerned to preserve our Green

Belt and, as in past years, existing Brownfield

Sites must be utilised for development.

The Parish Council has once again welcomed

the public interest in the open sessions held at

the beginning of Planning Meetings; these have

provided both applicants and objectors with an

opportunity to have their say about particular

applications. The Planning Committee is

pleased that the number of people taking up this

opportunity has increased during the year and

Members welcome the extra information and

insight gained, to assist them in formulating

comments submitted to Kirklees Council

regarding planning applications.

One of my concerns over the past year has been

Affordable Housing within the Valley. We

must try to ensure that our younger generation

has the opportunity to remain within the Valley,

should they choose to do so. We realise it will

be difficult in this economic age, and the Parish

Council welcomes any comments from

Kirklees Council regarding this.

And finally, eco-power, which will affect us all

in the coming years, has been touched on in the

past year, and will be looked into with great

interest in the future.

Report from the Chairman of the Publications and Communications Committee -

Cllr James Greenwood

Page 2

The accounts

are subject to

audit. Fuller

details of the

accounts are

available on

the parish

council

website and

will be

updated after

the accounts

are returned

from the

auditor.

The website

also has

financial

information

from previous

years.

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS TO 31 MARCH 2008

2006/2007 2007/2008

£ £

Opening Balances 79,798.31 76,780.61

Receipts

Precept 152,500.00 165,000.00

Income 19,629.09 11,885.25

Total Receipts 172,129.09 176,885.25

Refund of VAT 2,881.54 2,447.00

TOTALS: 254,808.94 256,112.86

Payments

Charities 3,048.50 2,264.98

Civic Governance 5,893.29 16,630.82

Consultation and Communications 8,218.25 5,708.38

Corporate Governance 69,036.17 74,812.12

Environment, Highways and Transport 44,823.94 32,706.21

Arts and Recreation 43,804.90 8,490.99

Planning and Economic Development 50.40 54.80

Total payments 174,875.45 140,668.30

VAT during year 3,152.88 2,327.63

Closing Balances 76,780.61 113,116.93

TOTALS: 254,808.94 256,112.86

Holme Valley Parish Council Annual Report 2007/2008

www.holmevalleyparishcouncil.gov.uk Design & production by Cllr Rhona Bratt Printed by Walker Design and Print

Report from the Chairman of the General Purposes Committee - Cllr Donald Firth

Vice Chairman - Cllr Joan Osborn

Over the last year the Committee has discussed

some contentious issues, including significant

changes to commercial bus services in the

Holme Valley. The General Purposes

Committee, the whole Council and Members

individually, pushed Metro and the bus

operator strongly to retain the bus services that

had been operating throughout the Holme

Valley for many years.

Some success was achieved with some of the

proposed services, but one significant problem

remained which meant the loss of a bus service

from New Mill to Hepworth and Scholes.

Following pressure by Parish Councillors and

local public opinion, Metro agreed to fund new

services, H8 and H9, to cover this gap.

Fortunately, up to press, that service is still

running, but the Parish Council would urge you

to use these services more than at present, or

they may be withdrawn.

Installation of covert cameras in areas where

serious vandalism occurs was discussed A

local company has offered, free of charge, two

cameras for use over the next 12 months.

Discussions will be ongoing with the Police

and Kirklees Council as to possible uses of

these cameras, and to ensure that all relevant

legislations and regulations will be met.

Other things discussed were play areas,

improvements to which the Council, together

with Kirklees Council, part fund. This

programme has been running over a number of

years, and most of the play areas have been

improved. Improvements to the play area at

Booth House should be carried out in 2008.

The General Purposes Committee agreed to

look at necessary repairs and refurbishments to

local War Memorials, following a survey

carried out for the Parish Council during a

previous year. The Council successfully

applied to the War Memorials Trust and

English Heritage, and has gained grants

totalling £5,350 which will match fund repairs

to three War Memorials. The work will be

carried out during summer 2008. Further grant

applications for other War Memorials in the

Holme Valley will be considered. I would like

to express my thanks to the Members who

served on the War Memorials Working Party

which prepared the successful applications.

The annual Tidy Trader competition attracted

more entrants than last year, although an

extension of the scheme to the whole of the

Holme Valley did not prove possible. The

winner for 2007 was Harrow’s. My thanks go

to Cllr. Bellamy, who acted as the Council’s

judge for this competition which encourages all

shopkeepers and businesses to keep their shop

fronts, and the surrounding area, tidy.

It is with great pleasure that I give you my first report as Chairman of the Finance &

Management Committee following the elections in 2007. We have been able, in our first

year, to reduce the precept in 2008/09 by 10% with a target to reduce by 25% in the three

years, 2008-2011. We are keen to attract match funding for projects which will benefit the

residents of the Holme Valley.

After many years’ efforts by previous Parish Councils, we have now concluded the

process of land registration of the awarded quarries held in trust by the Parish Council.

We are now working with the Charity Commission to agree a charitable scheme whereby

the income generated from the quarries can be used prudently to benefit the residents of

the Holme Valley.

The service given by our minibus operator again excels and we are working to ensure

services remain in areas where the commercial bus services are being reduced.

During the year, grants have been awarded to community and voluntary organisations:

All Saints Church, Netherthong Works to the Church Clock

Holmfirth Camera Club Creation of Display Stands

Hade Edge Band Work to Fire Exit of Building

Hepworth Village Hall and Community Assoc. Replacement flooring

Purchase of new Chairs

Wooldale Old Folks Treat Centenary Grant

Holme Valley Business Association Christmas Lights

Agbrigg Girl Guiding Support for attendance at Guide

Events

Holme Valley Piscatorial Association Rebuilding works

Holmfirth Festival of Folk Street Theatre

Holy Trinity Church, Holmfirth Calligraphy Exhibition

Resurfacing of Paths in Cemetery

Kirkroyds Pre-School Outdoor Play Equipment

Holme Valley Brass Band Contest Prizes and general donation

Holme Valley Parish Council Telephone & Fax: 01484 222462

Council Offices, 49/51 Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth, HD9 3JP

Clerk: Marjory Bewick Admin Support Officer: Sally Barber

E-mail admin@holmevalleyparishcouncil.gov.uk

Website www.holmevalleyparishcouncil.gov.uk

The last year has been extremely busy for the

Staffing Committee as we have had to find a

successor to Liz Hirst, our highly regarded

Deputy Clerk who retired after 24 years with the Council. After much deliberation and

discussion, the Council decided not to appoint

a replacement Deputy Clerk for the time being.

A new post was created of Administrative

Support Officer and Minute Clerk.

We were delighted to appoint Sally Barber to

this post. Sally has settled in very well, and

will, we hope, play an important role in the

Council over the coming years.

The Committee also carried out its first Annual

Staff Development Review of the officers, after

the successful trial run last year. This ensures

that each year, a systematic review is carried

out of the work, training needs and future plans

of each member of staff. As well as input from

the staff, all Councillors have the opportunity to contribute to the confidential review.

Report from the Chairman of the Staffing Committee - Cllr Andrew Otterburn

Financial Report from the Responsible Financial Officer - Marjory Bewick

Report from the Chairman of the Finance & Management Committee - Cllr Paul Dixon

Vice Chairman - Cllr Beryl Smith