THE running of Skipton market should be better organised, but no changes should be made on the legal and ownership issues surrounding the setts, a Craven District Council sub-group has recommended.

The overview and scrutiny group was challenged with looking at the future management of Skipton High Street, including the market and the cobbles.

It has drawn on the views and expertise of local organisations, stallholders, councillors and many others.

Now members have decided that the operational management of the market should be improved, but the status quo on the ownership of the setts should be retained.

It has drawn up a list of recommendations that will be put before members of the council's community services committee on Wednesday.

The proposals are:

* The council reviews the working of the byelaws and market rules and updates or clarifies them if necessary.

* No changes are required to the appearance or layout of the stalls or to the days and hours of operation of the market.

* The issue of parking of vans on the High Street when market traders are not loading be properly dealt with under the new management arrangements which come into force from April 1 2005.

* North Yorkshire County Council be urged to exercise its powers under Section 230 of the Highways Act 1980 to require frontagers on the High Street to do repairs to any parts of the setts which are in a dangerous condition, where this is appropriate.

* The council should, with North Yorkshire County Council and Skipton Town Council, design overall sympathetic proposals for the street scene which would be both functional and improve the visual appearance of the High Street whilst avoiding regimentation.

* The council considers further the establishment of a markets understanding statement setting out how the day-to-day management and operation of the market would work. This should include the establishment of a setts maintenance fund.

* The council looks to address the issue of parking on the setts outside the times permitted by the traffic regulation order by considering better signage, publicity for the traffic regulation order, discussing enforcement with the police and by the markets officer being on site when the market is being set up and dismantled.

* The council supports the county council's plan in the Skipton traffic management scheme for the introduction of a path for pedestrians between the back of the stalls and the carriageway on the town hall side of the High Street.

* The council should draw to the attention of the county council its concerns about pedestrian safety regarding this path.

* The council does not introduce parking charges on the High Street on non-market days.

* The council investigates the feasibility of introducing a disc parking scheme on non-market days, for example, two hours waiting time.

* The council asks the town council to carry out repairs to the areas around the trees in the setts.

* The council urges North Yorkshire County Council to carry out inspections of reinstatement work on the setts, undertaken by utility companies.