It was decided to continue with the Village Improvement Fund during this financial year, as it has proved popular.  The Council can contribute up to £1,000 per Councillor to the cost of projects, which are of benefit to the local village.  If you have an idea for something which could be achieved in your village, tell your local Councillor about it.  It may be possible to fund it from this money.  To apply, the Councillors need to submit a form giving full details of the project, costings and a quote.  Forms and documents must be received by Friday 29 October 2021 or Friday 4 February 2022.

The Grants & Community Projects Committee will consider all the proposed projects, with the Council taking the final decisions at the December / March Council meetings respectively.

The Council agreed to award the following grants and village improvement

Cllrs B Armer, R Bray & T Moores / Shelley Education Foundation: £900 to cover the legal costs for changing the Foundation documents, which will permit public use of the Foundation's land.

Cllrs R Barraclough & A Cooper / Farnley Tyas Community Group: £198 to contribute towards the costs of a new interpretation board on the recreation ground.

Cllrs R Barraclough & A Cooper / Farnley Tyas Community Group: £351 to contribute towards the purchase costs of litter picking equipment.

Cllr P Taylor / Burton Environment Group: £199 to purchase Yellow Rattle flower seeds to be planted on Burton Community Fields to increase the biodiversity.

Shelley Education Foundation: £2,360 to contribute towards costs of clearing derelict land for public use, to be paid out when the legal process is complete.

Lepton Pre-School & Just for Fun: £2,124 towards the cost of new play equipment and storage facilities.

Shelley Community Association: £298 to provide QR signs for events taking place in Shelley Village Hall, Shelley Methodist Church and Emmanuel Church on condition that they are sited at Shelley Village Hall, and people are directed to Shelley Community Association's website.

The Cabin: A grant of £750 was agreed in principle, to be paid out on completion of the updated Constitution.

Small Groups Emergency Grants: Each of the following groups is recommended a grant of £500 to help them cope with the loss of income caused by the Covid restrictions:

Kirkburton & HIghburton Community Association

Flockton WI

Burton Out of School Club

Lascelles Hall Cricket Club

Farnley Tyas Community Group

Grange Moor Community Association

Lepton Highlanders Senior Football Club

Lepton Highlanders Junior Football Club

Lepton Highlanders Sports & Social Club

Shelley Over 60's Club

Lepton Community Link

The cheques will be sent out in the next few days.

Once again we are pleased to see the hanging baskets gracing our villages and bringing summer colour.  We have supplied 94 baskets, 25 of which have been paid for by grants from Kirklees Council.

Shelley Over 60's and Yetton Together also raised funds to put up additional baskets in Shelley and Kirkheaton respectively.  We are very grateful to those groups for extending the areas covered by hanging baskets.

If you value the baskets, it would be of enormous help to us in securing funding in the future if you could please send us a quick email or mention us on Twitter, maybe with a photograph.

Following tradition, a new Chairman and Vice Chairman were elected at the Annual Meeting on 27 May.  They are Cllr Derek Hardcastle (Chairman) and Cllr John Cowan (Vice Chairman). 

One of the Chairman's roles is to represent the Parish Council at civic and community events.  If you would like to invite him to your event, please contact the Clerk.  He tries to accept all invitations, but if for any reason he is not able to attend, we will pass the invitation to the Vice Chairman.