News & Events from Otley Town Council
Sunday 9th November
Remembrance Sunday Parade will commence at 2:00 PM
on Station Road, Otley
Following the parade, a Remembrance Service will be held at Our Lady and All Saints Catholic Church on Bridge Street, Starting at 2:30 PM, led by Fr. Nicholas Hird.
Tuesday 11th November
A short service will also take place at 10:45 AM in the Memorial Garden.
All are welcome to attend and pay their respects.
#OtleyRemembers #RemembranceSunday #LestWeForget
Otley Town Council Support for Proposed Kirkgate Improvements
Otley Town Council welcomes the news that Leeds City Council has been successful in a funding bid to Active Travel England (a government organisation) which will enable significant improvements to the pedestrian environment in the town centre. The Town Council supported the bid on behalf of residents who told us, during extensive consultation, that improvements on Kirkgate would be welcome*. It should be positive for residents and visitors, benefitting business as well.
In line with community requests, the proposals will widen the footpath on the east side of Kirkgate to provide more space for walkers and wheelers, develop a ‘café culture’ further, whilst the usable carriageway will be made wider to improve traffic flows. Planning discussion will consider how best to provide a loading bay for both business deliveries, a pickup point for shoppers and provision of dedicated disabled spaces.
It is intended that a financial contribution from the Town Council will enable tree planting and new seating in the area to further enhance the environment
*The Town Council commissioned a report into town centre improvements from PJA Consulting. PJA Consulting specifically asked the public their views on Kirkgate improvements; during a two stage consultation, pavement widening on the east side of the street was supported. The report can be found here: www.otleytowncouncil.gov.uk/streetvision2030/
Following changes announced by First Bus late last year and early this year, Otley Town Council has commissioned People and Places Insight to conduct an independent survey of the bus services to and from Otley.
We would like to hear from current and former users including commuters, visitors, disabled people, late-night travellers, and students. The survey will take five-minutes to complete, and there is an option to enter a prize draw for a £50 Voucher. Your responses are completely confidential and are protected under the Data Protection Act (1998) as amended.
All responses will be anonymised, analysed, and included in a Report to be used to lobby West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), First Bus and others to improve bus services to and from Otley. To access this all-important survey please visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OtleyBusUsers25 or scan the attached QR Code.
Alternatively, if you struggle to complete surveys electronically, please do not hesitate to contact Mike King, Director, People and Places Insight, [email protected]
The Annual Parish Meeting and Town Council Annual Meeting will take place on Monday 12th May 2025 @7pm at the Bridge Church, Otley
Deputy Town Clerk
Grade: NJC Scale 22 -28 (£32,654 – £37,938) Permanent
30-37 hours per week. Office based.
Location: Otley Town Council Offices
Are you someone who thrives in a role that offers both challenges and variety?
Are you able to balance administrative responsibilities with hands-on involvement in projects?
Do you want to be part of a team making a real difference in the community whilst demonstrating your organisational and practical skills?
The Role
This is an excellent opportunity for someone who wants a varied, interesting and challenging role and is willing to become fully involved in the work of the council. No two days are the same. As Deputy Town Clerk, you will be the right-hand person to our Executive Officer, supporting them in the day-to-day running of the Town Council. This is no ordinary desk job – you will be involved in everything from helping prepare for and service council meetings to overseeing local projects and supporting events. The role includes evening meetings (approximately ten per year) and very occasional weekend working.
What You Will be Doing:
Based primarily in Otley Town Council offices you will be:
What We are Looking For:
Why Join Us?
This is not just a job – it is an opportunity to be part of a friendly close-knit team working to improve our town every day. You will have a role that keeps you engaged, with plenty of variety and the chance to see the impact of your work firsthand. Plus, we offer a competitive salary and benefits, and the opportunity for personal and professional development.
Ready to Apply?
If you are ready for a role that offers variety, responsibility, and the chance to contribute to the community, we would love to hear from you!
For an informal chat about this role please call Jason Knowles (Executive Officer) on 01943 466335.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Deputy Clerk Employee Specification
The latest update on the Otley Bridge replacement works can be found on the Leeds City Council website. The article includes a 4D animation video.
Otley replacement footbridge works gets underway with new 4D animation video
Otley Sustainable Building Award 2025
Otley Town Council Sustainable Building Awards are being launched in 2025. The award has been developed to recognise, promote and encourage excellence in sustainable building practices in Otley, for both new build and renovated properties.
A number of criteria relating to carbon efficiency and regard to the local environment and economy will be considered when selecting award winners.
There will be up to three awards made in any one year under the following categories (a maximum of one award per category):
A new or refurbished building outside the conservation area
A new building within the conservation area
A refurbished building within the conservation area
Eligibility Criteria
The awards are not monetary and will be awarded at the Annual Parish Meeting on 12th May 2025.
If you believe that your new build/refurbished property deserves recognition in the 2025 awards, you can enter by sending in an application including any supporting evidence against the award criteria which can be found in the application form
The closing date for applications is Thursday 13th March 2025 at 4.00pm
The Otley Town Council budget for 2025-26 is aimed at ensuring maximum value for money and we expect residents to see many positive results.
The Council will invest to maintain Otley’s traditions, heritage assets and events, but also work to improve our environment – for the benefit of residents, visitors and shoppers. There are playpark investments, better signage, new trees and other nature recovery initiatives – a vision for a better town at the cost of a small increase in local Council tax of 3%, or 5p a week for a typical household.
The Town Council’s Activities
People
The 15 Councillors bring individual passions, skills, and knowledge to their roles, as well as a desire to come together for the good of Otley. Councillors are volunteers, but often spend considerable time on Council business, lobbying on Otley’s behalf and getting involved in projects both for the Council and other community organisations.
The Council employs great people, who are well-qualified for their roles. There is the equivalent of five full-time office staff who: ensure that the Council is run efficiently, legally and with due regard for public money; provide a counter service for resident and visitor enquiries; manage the over 280 allotments, the nature reserve, our heritage assets, the Town Council events, including Remembrance Day and the Christmas Lights Switch-On; support all Council projects, including active travel and pedestrian safety, town centre monitoring, the town toilets and the Town Caretaker (who is paid for by the Council and Otley BID). We also employ staff to supervise the toilets.
Where we need outside expertise to ensure money is spent well, we will commission it. As well as audit and IT support, this has recently included advice on fighting the poor East of Otley development, support for our consultation on StreetVision plans and advice on how to tackle biodiversity loss in Otley.
Heritage Property
The Town Council is responsible for key town landmarks: the Jubilee Clock, the Buttercross, and the Navvies’ Memorial. We secure these and other heritage assets by a planned programme of careful conservation. We look after the Gallows Hill Nature Reserve, its footpaths, car park and habitats; we will be adding a new pond and dipping platform this year.
Networks, Business and Community Group Support
The Council recognises that our Businesses keep our town a great place to shop, work and meet. Otley is also blessed with an amazing breadth of community groups. We know that good ideas, expertise, and impact come from across our community. It makes sense to fund the Visit Otley and Buy in Otley websites and the Town Toilets, as well as distributing grants, joining funding bids and facilitating and participating in network meetings – including the Town Community Groups Network, the Welcome Spaces Group, and the Town Coordination Group of Council, Leeds City councillors, BID and Chamber of Trade. The Council endeavours to work closely with Leeds City Councillors and officers, for example in the installation of Speed Indicator Devices, which the Town Council pays for, but which Leeds install. We are partners in the Otley Nature Recovery Plan. We support Otley in Bloom every year.
The Community Fund distributes many grants each year and the Investing in Otley Fund is available for larger projects. Previously significant sums have supported the Chippendale Centre refurbishment, the PHGS 3G pitch, Otley Cricket Club and Otley Common.
Working with and through other groups and organisations is a smart thing to do.
Otley Events
Having a mayor and civic activity celebrates that Otley has a significant history and an important present. It also contributes to local charitable and other events. We are also starting to plan for the Otley 800 celebrations.
The Environment
Improving Otley’s environment whilst tackling the climate and biodiversity emergencies are central to our work as a Council. We have a commitment to plan for carbon emission reduction and increases in biodiversity. That’s why we support tree planting, habitat restoration and active travel.
Future Investment: Our priorities for 2025-26
In 2023 the Council was overwhelmingly re-elected on a 10-point plan which commits us to Fight for Otley and its People, Work for Otley and its People, Invest in Otley. Copies of this plan are also available at the Town Council Offices.
Commenting on the budget process and outcome, Cllr Richard Hughes, Chair of Otley Town Council said, “Budgets must follow promises of action. In Otley, residents should be able to see their contribution to Town Council income spent in the way they voted for and in a way that maximises efficiency and impact. We believe this budget does that.”
NOTES
Otley Town Council has approved a budget of £660,025 for the 2025-2026 financial year of which £502,480 is required to be precept. This represents £98.47 per annum (£1.89 per week) charge for a Band D property.
If you want to know more about the detail of the Council’s budget, please contact Jason Knowles on 01943 466335 or by email at [email protected]
Update from Leeds City Council 18th December 2024
