Ian Taylor
Posts by Ian Taylor:
Accounts – Public Rights of Inspection
The Parish Council’s period for the Public Right of Inspection of its accounts has been set as Monday, 15th June to Friday, 24th July inclusive
The Parish Council has now submitted its accounts and Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) to the external auditors.
NETHER KELLET PARISH COUNCIL ARE RECRUITING
Due to the resignation of the current Clerk, a vacancy has arisen for a new Parish Clerk with immediate effect. You will need:
- Good organisational and I.T. skills are essential together
with the ability to manage a website; - The ability to exercise tact, diplomacy and discretion with
Councillors, the public and representatives of outside
agencies is essential; - Previous experience in an administrative role, preferably
with a knowledge of local government would be an
advantage; - The Parish Council meets on the first Wednesday evening
Pay rate – NJC pay scale range 5 to 17 – £9.37 to £12.39 per hour, depending on experience and based on 18 hours per month.
If you wish to be considered for either position, please contact the undersigned or a Parish Councillor for an informal chat and full job description.
Closing date for applications is 15th January 2020
Bob Bailey, Parish Clerk;
email: netherkelletpc@gmail.com; tel: 07828254149
Report an Issue
The following links take you to services for reporting to Lancaster City Council (Streetscene) and Lancashire County Council (Report It). If you report an incident using these services, please also inform the Parish Clerk Thank you.
Streetscene
Fly-tipping, graffiti, dog fouling, litter and bins.
‘Street Scene’ incidents can be reported directly online to Lancaster City Council.
You will need to supply your contact details and the location, nature and extent of the problem. Depending on the issue, one or more photos can be added to help with the report.
Highways (Report It)
Roads, pavements, cycle paths, public rights of way, street lighting, traffic lights and flooding incidents (includes issues with trees and hedgerows and winter conditions, e.g grit bins)

Faults on roads, pavements, cycle paths, public right of ways, street lighting, traffic lights or flooding incidents can be reported directly online to Lancashire County Highways using their ‘Report It’ service.
The online service displays a map showing existing issues and their status enabling you to check whether to proceed with the report.
Other issues
If you identify an issue but don’t know who to contact, please email the Parish Clerk: netherkelletpc@gmail.com
Public Rights of Inspection
Poplar Tree
The Parish Council has been discussing the tree for a few months now following concerns that were raised about the short and medium damage the tree is/has the potential to, cause to the footpath and the drainage system as well as safety concerns given the size and a number of ‘tripping points’ caused by the roots.
Having considered the matters raised Lancaster City Council, Public Realm were asked to inspect the tree and the damged footpath etc. This subsequently led to an application being made to Lancaster City Council requesting permission to undertake work on the tree – this did include an option to fell it should this be absolutely necessary.
The decision notice received from the City Council allows a period on two years for any work to be carried out and sets out a number of conditions (see Round and About) that must be considered and/or adhered to. There is no suggestion that the tree must not be felled under any circumstances.
At a subsequent meeting of the Parish Council, Members confirmed (as had always been their intention) to consult with residents, initially through an article in Round and About, to seek views on the tree. It was agreed that a period of three months consultation should take place.
Before this article was published a campaign to ‘Save the Tree’ was launched following which around 60 objections to the ‘felling of the tree’ have been received. Very valid and well thought out comments have been provided in many cases and Members are very grateful to those that have taken the time to contact the Parish Council on this issue. Every response has been acknowledged by the Parish Clerk.
Several responses and indeed the leaflet as part of the campaign refer to a tree surgeon declaring that the tree had ‘reached its maximum growth and was strong and healthy’. Members are also grateful that this has been brought to their attention and this statement is backed up by the Parish Council Minutes of November 2016. There is, and apparently never was, however, a detailed written report on the state of the tree at that time.
Members have now decided to contact three Arboriculturalists, directly from the City Council’s list of specialists, seeking quotations for gaining their expert written advice and detailed options, including long term options and cost of maintaining the tree.
We hope that this post goes someway to clarifying the Parish Council’s position. In the meantime, the consultation goes on. Please contact the Parish Clerk with your views by email to: netherkelletpc@gmail.com
Election of Parish Councillors
Here is the Notice of the Uncontested Election for Nether Kellet Parish Council (All 7 vacancies have been filled)