OTLEY'S new-look Town Council got an early taste of the challenges ahead when it met for the first time this week.

The recently elected 18 Liberal Democrat members had every cause to celebrate at the council's AGM on Monday, May 18 - as the election has left them in full control of the 20-seat body.

Once the ceremonial part of the evening was completed, however, they found several parts of their pre-election manifesto under scrutiny from residents during the Annual Parish Meeting.

The first question put to them at The Bridge Church's hall was about funding support for Behind Closed Doors, a local charity that supports victims of domestic abuse.

Chairman Pat Dixon said the group had enjoyed "phenomenal" support from the previous - Labour controlled - council in the form of a ring-fenced grant.

She asked: "Would the present town council be prepared to consider ring-fencing the contribution to Behind Closed Doors which would enable us to continue the work we're doing for the benefit of the people of Otley and beyond?"

Councillor Colin Campbell (Lib Dem, Prince Henry), fielding the questions, replied: "This is a new council and they will be looking at that but it's fair to say that organisations that are supporting vulnerable people in the community are

a priority for all of us."

Resident John Richardson asked about the "crumbling" Civic Centre - a Listed Building whose future has been the subject of party political fighting for years.

He said: "In your manifesto you said you were going to push for a survey about the future of the Civic Centre.

"Can I ask what the cost involved in that survey will be? Also, it's estimated that it will take £2 million or £3 million to renovate the Civic Centre - how might we step along to find that kind of money?"

Coun Campbell replied: "We have to remember that the town council don't owe the Civic Centre, it's owned by the city council.

"For a variety of reasons it's in an abandoned condition.

"I'm sure the town council wants to do everything it can to make sure the building is brought back into use, if possible with a facility for the community.

"The town council couldn't ask all the taxpayers of Otley to put their hands in their pockets for £3 million.

"But we intend to speak to Leeds as soon as possible to try to get an idea of how we move this forward, because the longer we leave it the greater the costs will be."

A manifesto commitment to 'reducing administration costs' was also questioned, with another audience member asking what its implications would be on council staff and services.

They said: "How will that impact on the people who work in the Core and in our lovely new toilets?"

Coun Campbell responded: "I think there are things we can do better, and more efficiently, for less money."

Other topics that were raised included the growing number of empty and charity shops in the town, the future of the Wharfedale Greenway project, and how tourism might be boosted.