A (relatively) short report immediately prior to the election on May 5^th.  Over the last month much of my time has been spent drafting and redrafting text, arranging printing, and, equally importantly, arranging distribution of leaflets stating my views on what should be the priorities for our Parish (and Skipton north ward) together with a broader view of the future for the Craven area as part of the imminent mega – authority of NYC which will come into being on April 1^st next year.

Purdah restrictions have limited publication of details of my involvement relating to a number of current CDC issues, but I am pleased to report that details of a scheme, required as part of a legal agreement made in conjunction with the current development being undertaken by R N Wooler on Shires lane, to provide 2 football pitches has been approved by CDC Development Control under Officer delegated powers. This has involved consultation with a range of other bodies including Sport England, the local Flood Authority, Environment Agency and NYCC Highways.  This tract of land, formerly an area unusable for much of the year due to being waterlogged should, on completion, provide ‘home’ facilities for supervised soccer for teams ranging from u7s to under 17s under the organisational umbrella of Embsay Juniors which regularly play other similar age teams from many other parts of Craven. They may also offer scope for supervised other sports subject to effective organisational input.

As part of the imminent election and particularly the related leaflet distribution process I have, regardless of the result, to sincerely thank every member of the willing teams who each offered to take on a specific area of Embsay w Eastby, allowing Judith Benjamin (current chair of the Parish Council) and myself to concentrate on the northern section of Skipton which now forms approx. 60% (in electorate numbers) of the new Ward. It proved to be somewhat of an experience – I had never quite appreciated how many properties there are in Skipton involving  negotiating a steep road or street  – with a subsequent steep drive and a flight of external steps to access the anticipated letter box (on fortunately few occasions only to find a message to say ‘please leave all letters and parcels in the box at the rear’, a paint seized flap or only to find, being unable to locate an appropriate posting point at the house, to find a box on the house side of an entrance drive or gate pillar at the roadside!) Even every terraced house seemed to involve access up a steep street, path or flight of steps or a venture into unchartered territory (for me) down ginnels and other tucked away locations.  However, the weather was thankfully dry – albeit cold – and towards the end of each session I had to encourage myself by saying ‘this is doing you good!’.  Letter boxes had their own characteristics – some apparently designed to lacerate fingers, others to ensure the missive was crumpled –even though a 2 handed approach was adopted. There were also cases where the inevitable dog was lying in wait to snatch and shred the leaflet – goodness knows what happens when a newspaper or similar multipage communication is posted!

However, all, to the best of my knowledge, have been delivered and it is now up to you, the reader, to express your opinion as to which of the 5 candidates should be charged with representing you and ensuring the final year of CDC and NYCC is efficiently and effectively administered with a ‘seam free’ handover to NYC and a new era of 4 years beginning with new challenges and effective handling of any on-going issues in a consistent manner with similar problems in other areas involved in the unification process. It will not be easy nor instantaneous but the decision was made and subsequently enacted in statute by the government following public consultation responses last year. Now the chance must be grasped and implemented to ultimately deliver a once in a generation opportunity to deliver a multi-faceted public administration for the betterment of all residents. I very much hope, with your appropriate support, to be able to report shortly as your continuing Craven District Councillor and as your newly elected North Yorkshire County Councillor for the year to 31 March 2023 prior to being your representative from 1 April 2023 for 4 years on the newly formed North Yorkshire Council upon dissolution of both CDC and NYCC.

Brian Shuttleworth  – your Craven District Councillor 

 07432 803647    Cllr.BShuttleworth@cravendc.gov.uk