Heversham Parish Council

Minutes of Meeting of Monday, 26th February 2001 - 7.30 pm at the Athenaeum

 

1.             Present.           P Johnson, R Parker, R Messenger, G Capstick, A Shepherd, A Rimmer,

Councillor Woof, the Clerk and two members of the public.

2.            Apologies for Absence. G Handley

3.         Signing of Minutes of Meeting of 29th January  2001.  Agreed and signed as a true copy.

4.         Matters Arising from the Minutes.

            (a) Consultation on the future of Maternity Services at Helme Chase. The Toddler Group has

produced comments on the suggestions from Morecambe Bay Health Authority. Council thanked the

group for its work.

Action : Chairman to discuss the Toddler Group’s comments with other Councillors.

(b) Athenaeum. A solution to the complaint about noise appears to be possible. A grant has been

obtained to assist with the purchase a “magic orange” The Chairman suspended the meeting while a

further wide-ranging discussion took place about the issues arising from the complaint.

(c) Hatching at junction at north end of village. Cumbria County Council will consider removal of

hatching when the scheme is reviewed after a year.

(d) Community Orchard. There is some confusion about the alternative site suggested.

Action : Clerk to clarify for next meeting.

(e) Walking Leaflets. Appear to have been well received. There are copies in the Tourist Information

Offices at Kendal and Kirby Lonsdale.

5.            Progress Report on Playground.

            (a) The hole left by the roundabout has been partly filled. The topsoil and seed will be added later.

            (b) The working group are holding a car boot sale on 29^th April at Dallam School. G Capstick will

arrange for a float to be available.

(c) Action : Clerk to let group know which Lottery Fund the Millennium Project applied to.

6.            Quarterly Equipment Report. The Chairman and Clerk have carried out an inspection of equipment

            in the Parish using the  insurance schedule as a basis. There appears to be an extra litter bin on the

schedule. Also one of the insured seats in the playground has been removed having deteriorated

through old age.

The following defects were found :-

            (i) Playground - one post supporting somersault bars is rotting at the top and the litter bin

bottom is rotten. These defects will be corrected as part of the playground renovation.

(ii) The concrete litter bin outside Tower House is chipped. No action to be taken.

(iii) The gold on the indicator is slightly worn. No action to be taken.

(iv) A seat by the copse of trees on Heversham Head is not firmly fixed. No action to be

taken immediately, but Council will explore the installation of a new seat when walling and

fencing work round the copse is complete.

            It was also agreed that the number of seats to be insured be reviewed at the policy renewal in June.

            There are three other seats in the Parish - one by the Athenaeum Car Park to mark the Queen’s Silver

Jubilee in 1977, one installed by the WI on Heversham Head, and one by the Athenaeum in memory

of WM and EE Parkinson. The last two are in need of attention.

Action :             Councillor Messenger to speak to WI about the seat on Heversham Head.

                        Clerk to investigate origin of “Parkinson” seat.

7.             Finance.

            (a) Payments.

                        R W Stirzaker                                   £42.30 for hedge cutting.

                        CALC                                      £11.00 for lunches - see item 10.

            A bill has been received for repairing the west wall of Quarry Wood.

            Action : Clerk to check responsibility for wall repairs before replying.

            (b) Quotations for grass cutting etc.

A notice has been posted requesting quotations by 16^th March 2001.

 

 

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8.            Planning.

(a) New Applications : None.

            (b) Applications Considered Previously :

                        (i) Heversham Bowling Club - permission granted to install septic tank.

(ii) Orange - revised application to enhance transmission capability from Heversham Head supported.

9.             Preparation for Parish Meeting - 7.30pm on 26^th March at the Athenaeum.

            It was agreed that the following should be on the agenda :-

                        Chairman’s report, Police, Reports by District and County Councillors, Report by Playground

                        Group, Talk on Renovation of Lancaster to Kendal Canal, Ideas for celebrating the Queen’s

Golden Jubilee, Open Forum.

            Action :             Councillor Parker to produce notices/invitations.

                                    Chairman to secure speaker about the canal.

                                    Clerk to invite other speakers and arrange food/wine etc.

10            Implementation of Rural White Paper.

            The Government is pushing ahead with items which affect Parish Councils and which do not require

legislation. There is to be a conference at Newton Riggs on 7^th April organised by CALC. It was

agreed that the Chairman and Clerk should attend.

Action : Clerk to book places.

11        Local Government Act - Standards of Conduct.

            A consultation document has been received from SLDC regarding the setting up of a Standards

Committee.   Action : Chairman to suggest comments.

12.             Correspondence

            (a) SLDC            Concessionary Travel Scheme 2001/02 - notice on board about collecting passes etc.

                                    Register of Electors - now available - can be on disk.

                                    Modernising Local Government - there are to be three consultation meetings about

the future structure of SLDC Executive. One of these will be held at Kendal

Town Hall at 7pm on Tuesday 3^rd April 2001.

                                    Local Agenda 21 Strategy and History - noted.

            (b) Cumbria CC            Local Transport Plan Settlement - Bids for Bus Stop Improvement. A bid has

been put in for a bus shelter opposite Dallam School. Clerk has written

to the Headmaster seeking his support.

                                                Parish Briefing Feb 2001 - noted.

            (c) Kent Estuary Neighbourhood Forum - meeting on 5^th March at Burton.

            (d) CALC Royal Garden Party - no one’s name will be put forward this year.

“Consultations with Town and Parish Councils” - CALC has produced a set of

suggested standards by which consultation should be carried out with Town and Parish Councils.

Action : Chairman to read and suggest comments.

            (e) The  PCC has asked SLDC if there is any progress on removing the streetlight from the church.

13.       Any Other Business.

            (a) The minutes of Parish Council meetings from April 2000 to November 2000 are now on the

Heversham website. Council confirmed that it wished only approved minutes to appear.

            (b) Roadside litter seems to be increasing. Councillor Woof agreed to investigate possible action.

            (c) The lack of double yellow lines at the foot of Woodhouse Lane is causing difficulty for residents

especially on a Sunday morning. Action : Clerk to contact Cumbria CC.

(d) There seems to be an increase in dog fouling in the village. Council strongly requests that

walkers clean up after their dogs. Action : Clerk to put up notice at Post Office.

            (e) It was reported that long grass at the foot of Mabbin Hall Lane can impede visibility when

coming onto village road. Action : Clerk to find out who is responsible for cutting.

14.       Next Meeting.      Parish Meeting on 26^th March 2001.    Parish Council Meeting on 23^rd April 2001.