The Council has met regularly throughout the year on a monthly basis, all meetings being held in the Athenaeum. Members of the Public are always welcome, and this year has seen a general increase in the number present at most meetings.

Council business is made public in the form of the Agenda & Minutes being posted on the Notice-board. In addition, Minutes are now also available on the Heversham website at www.heversham.org

The activities of the Council seem to fall naturally into three parts, Highways, the Administration of the Leasgill Quarry Fund and also those items that are more in the nature of on-going projects:

(1) Highways

During the course of the year, as foreshadowed in last year's report, much thought has been given to making local roads safer, and as a consequence parishioners will be aware of the new road markings on

Prince's Way. It was the Council's suggestion to the Highways Authority to construct a traffic island where the A 6 meets Prince's Way at the N end of the village, together with a run-in for traffic coming from the

Kendal direction. Instead, there is no run-in, and also there is totally unnecessary hatching at this junction. If motorists adhere to these road-markings, in the Council's opinion they are putting themselves in danger. The Council are in touch with the Highways Authority as regards the removal of the hatching. The latest on this situation is that they will consider the position in a year's time.

Parishioners will have noticed new signs for Leasgill. These were requested by members of the public. Previously visitors and delivery vans drove to and fro through the village looking for Leasgill, having actually passed right through, without knowing it.

(2) The Leasgill Quarrv Fund

This came into being with the sale of Leasgill Quarry.

The capital sum raised was £91,613.08

Value as at 17/03/'01 £114,615

(This excludes the £4,500 Capital used, with the approval of the Charity Commission, in connection with the Millennium Project, to be repaid at the rate of £500 per annum for the next 9 years)

Grants payable in 2000/0 1 totalled £4,500; and are as follows:

(a) Milnthorpe Community Steel Band £1000 for purchase of instruments

(b) Milnthorpe Parish Council £1,000 for purchase of `Heritage Plaques'

(c) Heversham Children's Playground £2,200 for purchase of new equipment

(d) M & J Sisson £300 for St. Mary's Well

(3) Projects

Millennium Project:

The year saw the completion of Heversham's Project, the Panoramic Indicator on the Head. On the 12th. April, the village schoolchildren were on site to see the burial of the time-capsule, and on Midsummer's Day, June 24th. Mrs. Bagot of Levens Hall, on whose land the monument stands, kindly unveiled it to a large and appreciative audience, not forgetting a herd of cows that quickly gathered for the momentous occasion I Both of these dates were blessed with fine weather.

At this stage I feel it appropriate to thank all those who contributed to the project, whether by financial means or by the giving of their time. As part of Standing Orders that have been drawn up by the Council, it will be inspected on a regular basis, so that the structure will be maintained in good order for generations to come.

As was reported last year, it was agreed that the village playground was showing its age. A playground committee has been formed, and it has already put much thought and effort into considering improvements.

A presentation later in the evening will put everyone in the picture.

Again, I would record the appreciation of the Parish Council to all those willingly giving of their time to this Project.

(4) General

In the last few years the number of Circulars, Briefings and general paperwork landing on the Clerk's desk has increased dramatically. There seems to be an inverse rule, that the glossier the document, the less its importance.

The general drift behind the Local Government Act 2000 and the Rural White Paper seems to be to make Parish Councils more accountable to the General Public, and at the same time looking at ways to involve the local community.

For instance, Heversham Parish Council could possibly have a bigger say in planning decisions, undertake to keep all road signs in a clean condition, organise the cleaning of the roadsides, etc. etc.

The generally increased workload as a result of devolving powers to Parish Councils would mean they would have to demand a larger Precept, thus increasing the Council Tax. This would be completely unacceptable unless there was a corresponding reduction in the tax demanded by South Lakeland District Council.

It will also become increasingly difficult to find individuals willing to serve as Councillors under the present regime, as they are unpaid and cannot claim expenses (apart from the Chairman), except for attending courses held outside the Parish. The `Election' last May did not produce sufficient interest to result in a contest, retiring members being replaced by co-option. Such a situation is not good for democracy.

(5) Council Tax

No doubt you will have received your demand for the next financial year, together with explanatory notes. Your Parish Council have managed to maintain their precept at the same figure as last year, i.e. a zero % increase.

I find the thorny issue of the 50 % Council Tax discount on second homes a continuing irritant. There seem to be vague movements afoot towards its abolition, but it is high time for action. At the moment, the average local resident is subsidising second home owners, in general far better off than themselves. Should the discount be abolished, S.L.D.C. would receive approximately £2,000,000 extra. Taxpayers should then rightly be able to look forward to a reduction next year. Talk of `ring-fencing' for various projects is, in my opinion, unacceptable.

Heversham Parish Council has consistently campaigned for the abolition of the second home discount, and has always been mindful of keeping the demands of the precept to a minimum.

(6) Finally, I must thank my fellow Councillors for all their work put in throughout the year, giving up an increasing amount of their time. Last but not least, I speak for all residents and Councillors when I say that we are lucky to have such a competent and hard-working Clerk in Peter Shaw. On your behalf I wish to thank him for all his efforts on your behalf throughout the year.

F Peter Johnson Chairman, Heversham Parish Council