2008 has been a very busy and hectic year for your parish council. The year, beginning in May, started with the news that Joe Dawson who had been a member of the council for over 30 years and Chairman for 20 had passed away. Joe's vast knowledge of the parish and its residents was invaluable when discussing many issues and is greatly missed. The council's newly appointed clerk, Mrs Tracey Poulter, took up her post at the beginning of the month working alongside the retiring clerk Mr Alan Pennington ensuring a smooth hand over of the ever increasing administration which the council has to deal with on a daily basis. During the year the council continued to be represented on numerous committees and forums including Diggles First Fruits, Charity of Richard Dawson, Village Hall management committee, WARDEN, Yorkshire Local Council Association, A1 action group, North East Outer Area Committee of Leeds City Council and Wetherby and District Crime Prevention Panel.

The council continues to carry out improvements to both the playing field and woodland area at Northways. The playing field itself has been treated to improve the playing surface and it is hoped that Clifford AFC will start using the pitch for their games from September. The council also continues to work with Clifford AFC in arranging a suitable sub-lease for their planned changing rooms to be built on the field and the Northways committee are to look at a management plan for the woodland area. I would like to thank the members of the committee for all the work they have undertaken during the year to enhance this area of the village and I wish Clifford AFC the best of luck for next season.

Litter continues to be an ever increasing nuisance across the parish, spoiling the appearance of our village and surrounding area. Fortunately for the parish a resident, who was dismayed by the amount of rubbish littering the parish, came forward and offered his services to undertake a litter picking role. I would like to thank Paul for undertaking what at times must be quite a demoralising role to see an area he has cleared only days later to be strewed with litter once more. I am also aware that several other volunteers undertake litter picking duties around the parish and I thank them for the work they do. To help reduce the about of rubbish being discarded irresponsibly the council have been awarded a grant of £2400 from Leeds City Council area management team to purchase and install six new litter bins. I encourage everybody to use the bins provided around the parish whether it is for a sweet wrapper, cigarette butt or dog faeces and help make the parish a cleaner environment to live and work in.

In the autumn the council applied and was successful in obtaining 5000 daffodil bulbs from the area management team environmental fund. These were planted by Wetherby in Support of the Elderly in conjunction with Wetherby Young

Offenders Institute at various locations around the village. I am sure when you have gone around the village in spring and saw these daffodils swaying in the breeze you will agree they have made a welcoming addition to our village. It is hoped that over the coming years similar improvements can be made to the village to make it an even more welcoming community to belong too. With this in mind a group is being formed to look at similar improvement projects and if any resident would like to be involved please contact the clerk.

Questions continue to be raised regarding the former primary school site. Despite two attempts by Leeds City Council to sell the site at auction and approaches from interested parties falling away the future for the site remains uncertain. The parish council have been asked by Leeds City Council if they would like to take a licence on the green space area of the site, with the intention of managing and making the area available for public use similar to Northways field. The council awaits further information from Leeds City Council before any further consideration can be given to this suggestion.

In these days of modern technologies the council is fully embracing the internet revolution and although the council has had a website for a number of years it was felt that it was fast becoming out of date. It was decided to build a new updated site and this has been undertaken by Mr. Chris Allen, a resident of the village, under the guidance of Councillor Andy Shaw. Please do visit the site at www.clifford-pc.org.uk not only does it contain records from the parish council but information on nearly every aspect of Clifford village life.

As part of a £95 million scheme to replace street lighting across the Leeds area, work started in Clifford at the end of January. Whilst the parish council had no say on whether the village wanted the new lighting scheme they appreciated that many of the pre-cast concrete lamp posts around the village were in a dangerous condition and needed to be replaced. The parish council have worked alongside local residents when requested, the contractors, Leeds City Council and Ward Councillors in trying to resolve the issues raised about the scheme. Opinions on the new lights are mixed with some residents appreciating the brighter light for security and safety and others not liking what they see as the urbanisation of the village. Following on from a meeting in late March between senior managers from Leeds City Council, Ward Councillors and the parish council, revisions to the original plans have been made and a reduction in the planned number of replacement lamp post has been achieved. The parish council are eagerly awaiting the outcome of a funding application to include heritage lamp posts as part of the scheme between the War Memorial and down the High Street to its junction with Old Mill Lane.

Two public events organised by the council continue to have an ever increasing attendance, these are the Remembrance day service at the war memorial which was this year conducted by Father Ingwell from St. Edward's church at which I laid a wreath of poppies on behalf of the parish and the second was the Carols around the Christmas tree which this year was lead by Susan Greenhart the new Methodist minister for Clifford. At this event a collection was made on behalf of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance to assist them in the invaluable work which they do. The Christmas tree, which each year is erected by a group of volunteers from the village, looked resplendent with new lights which had been purchased with a grant from the Boston Spa Gala Committee for which we are very grateful. It was only a shame that vandals choose to damage some of the lights and spoil the enjoyment given by the tree to so many people in and passing through the village.

In July the council's clerk for ten years, Mr Alan Pennington retired from his post. Alan can look back on a long period of achievements during his time in office, he guided us through many adventures and the parish is a better place for all his endeavours. Alan's achievements as clerk were numerous but the one which I think will make the most lasting is the Northways playing fields and woodland walk. This project took up so much of Alan's time over the last few years sorting out the lease for the field and then liaising with the contractors carrying out the improvement works, but again like everything Alan did, he did it for the benefit of the parish. On behalf of the parish, thank you Alan and enjoy your well deserved retirement.

In January this year we heard of the death of Michael Willis B.E.M. Michael was a parish councillor for a staggering period of 38 years, two of which he served as Chairman. He also served as chairman of the planning committee with an unsurpassed knowledge of local affairs where he managed to master the complexities of local planning law which was no mean feat. Failing health caused both Michael and his wife to leave the village in 2007 to go in to a care home and with his passing on New Year's Day he leaves his wife of 55 years, Vera, and his two daughters Janine and Susan.

The council also lost one of its longest serving members over the Christmas period, Councillor Peter Dyson. Peter had been a member of this council since being co-opted to fill a vacancy in September 1987, and served on various committees and also as vice chairman for several years. When the late Joe Dawson stood down as Chairman in 1998 it was a natural step for Peter to move up into the top job. Peter was an accomplished Chairman, always courteous, patient and supportive, not only to members of the public who could be very vocal about issues of importance to them, but also to fellow members of the council. Peter was passionate about Clifford and supported efforts to keep any of its community assets which were under threat or needed extra support. His advice on matters of insurance, his field of professional expertise, was gratefully accepted by this council and others including the village hall.

Peter had the admiration and full support of all the members and officers of this council in his battle and I hope, Joan and his family can take some comfort in that knowledge and it was a great mark of respect to Peter that St Edward's church was packed to capacity for his funeral.

With Councillor Dyson's passing a vacancy arose on the council. As the notice of the vacancy did not receive the required number of electors requesting a poll the council was in a position to co-opt a new member to serve until the next full election in 2011. Two candidates put their names forward for co-option and after discussion at the March meeting Mr Colin Aspinall was co-opted onto the council. Councillor Aspinall signed his declaration of acceptance of office and was welcomed onto the council. I wish him well in his new role.

The councils own internal auditor also decided to retire this year. This is an important role carried out by somebody outside of the council to oversee that correct accountancy procedures have been carried out by the council. Mrs Jenny Mardsen had undertaken this role for a number of years and we appreciate the work that she did. Another resident of the village, Mr David Anstey, offered to take up the role of internal auditor and we thank him for undertaking this role and look forward to working with him.

Now I would like to thank personally my fellow councillors who give up so many hours to undertake valuable unpaid service for the parish. In between monthly meetings they carry out numerous duties by serving on committees, investigating projects or dealing with enquiries from residents. This work can be very frustrating but I believe they all find it a worthwhile cause. My personal thanks also extend to Mrs Tracey Poulter, our clerk. The year has been a steep learning curve for both of us but Tracey has managed to keep the council and myself well informed and up to date on all the important issues.

Finally I would like to thank all the residents of Clifford who make this village such a pleasure to live in. The many organisations from churches to schools, playgroups to sports groups, drama group to the village hall committee all undertake vital roles which make this village such a vibrant community of which I am proud to say that I live in and serve. Thank you.

Councillor Nicholas P. P. Fawcett - Chairman of Clifford Parish Council 2008/2009