Heversham Parish Council

Minutes of Meeting of Monday, 23^rd April 2001 - 7.30 pm at the Athenaeum

 

The meeting noted, with great regret, the death of Brigadier Tryon-Wilson on Wednesday 18^th April 2001, and agreed that Council should be represented at the Memorial Service.

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

Councillor Woof, and the Clerk.

2.            Apologies for Absence. J Bland.

3.         Signing of Minutes of Meeting of 26th February 2001.  Agreed and signed as a true copy.

4.         Matters Arising from the Minutes.

(a) Repairs to Seats: Enquiries have failed to discover any local family connections with the

“Parkinson” seat. No report was available concerning the WI seat on the Head.

Action : Clerk to arrange for repair of the “Parkinson” seat.

(b) Rural White Paper Conference on 7^th April: Cancelled due to the Foot and Mouth outbreak.

(c) Double Yellow Lines at the foot of Woodhouse Lane: The present lines had been painted in

(?1992) after considerable discussion. Cumbria County Council has suggested that it might be

possible to install some sort of “access required” indication.

Action : Clerk to pursue with Cumbria County Council.

(d) Grass cutting at east end of Mabbin Hall Lane: Cumbria County Council confirmed that it is

their responsibility.

(e) Responsibility for West Wall of Quarry Wood: No reply yet from Cumbria County Council.

5.            Progress Report on Playground.

            (a) The hole left by the roundabout has been completely filled and seeded.

            (b) The car boot sale on 29^th April has been cancelled.

(c) A further grant of  £3,000 has been promised.

6.         Matters Raised at Annual Parish Meeting.

(a) The Queen’s Golden Jubilee: Two ideas were  suggested at the meeting (a commemorative

item specific to the Parish, and linking the Playground redevelopment - perhaps via a seat). Council

agreed seek out other ideas over the summer and organise a vote following its August meeting.

(b) Speed Limits: A letter had been received from a resident of Haverflatts following the meeting.

Council agreed that the Chairman should talk to Councillor Bland about the situation and report

back. Action: Chairman to talk to Councillor Bland, Clerk to reply to letter.

(c) Dog Fouling: Some parishioners were reported as saying that the situation has improved since the

meeting. Council agreed that an article for the Parish Magazine might help further, but that in the

absence of an authority to impose fines it was up to dog owners to behave responsibly.

Action : Chairman to produce article for the Parish Magazine.

(d) Community Orchard: A possible site has been identified, and Malcolm Davidson is in discussion

with the owner.

7.             Finance.

            (a) Payments.

            Two cheques had been signed since the last meeting:

Audit Commission                             £212.21 for 2000 audit.

                        P Shaw                                                £800.00 for 2000/01 Honorarium.

            The following were authorised for payment at the meeting:

                        G and WJ Handley                             £411.25 for removing roundabout

                        Athenaeum                                          £  40.00 for use of rooms in February, March and April

                        R A Parker                                      £  20.00 for preparing invitations for Parish Meeting

                        Cumbria Playing Fields Ass                  £  11.85 for 2001/02 subscription

                        Cumbria Assn of Local Councils             £118.50 for 2001/02 subscription.    

           

 

 

 

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(b) Quotations for grass cutting etc.

A quotation had been received from Martin Tyson for £750.00 (unchanged) and it was agreed that

this be accepted. The Clerk has already written to Mr Tyson.

            (c) Accounts for the year ended 31^st March 2001. (A copy of the un-audited accounts is attached.)

The accounts show total payments of £4,528.36 compared with total receipts of £4,526.15.

Maintenance costs have been relatively light in the year, allowing Council to pay for the removal of

the playground roundabout out of its own resources.

The Clerk had investigated changing the Council’s banking to Alliance and Leicester (ie through the

Post Office) but interest would be very low and there would be transaction charges. Council agreed

that accounts with Yorkshire Bank and National Savings should be retained.

(d) Insurance for 2001/02.

The renewal notice has been received and payment is due on 1^st June 2001. The premium quoted is

£243.94 compared with £217.31 in 2000/01. Removal of the Roundabout will reduce the premium

by £23.10. Insuring the eight seats costs only £18.00 and it was agreed to leave them on the schedule.

Action : Clerk to obtain revised renewal schedule.

8.            Planning.

No correspondence about planning applications received since last meeting.

A building in the village, which does not appear to have planning consent, has been reported to

 LDC. The work of SLDC Development Officers is restricted by the Foot and Mouth outbreak.

9.         Foot and Mouth Disease.

G Capstick updated the Council about current developments.

10             Correspondence

(a) CALC  March Newsletter:             Contains information about future Countryside Agency

involvement in the work of Parish Councils, and a list of Powers and Duties of Parish Councils.

            April Newsletter:            Contains an update on the implementation of the Rural White Paper.

            Action : Clerk to distribute copies of the Powers and Duties of Parish Councils with minutes.

                                    Issue 39 of “Countrywide” - noted.

(b) SLDC            Electoral Role at March 2001: Now issued on disk.

                        County Council Elections: Notice of elections removed from notice board following

postponement - new notices awaited.

            Action : Clerk to issue paper copies of electoral role to Councillors.

            (c) Countryside Agency Booklet entitled “New Rights, new responsibilities - noted.

(d) DTI            Letter from Alan Johnson MP about the future of Post Offices - noted.

            (e) Yellow Pages            The 2002 directories will be split, ie “Carlisle and North Cumbria”, and

“Lancaster and South Cumbria”.

(f) Cumbria CC Community Forum  March 2001 Newsletter - noted.

(g) Letter from Mr H J M Stephenson            After detailed discussion it was agreed that this was not

a Council matter but the Chairman should discuss it with Mr Stephenson.

Action: Chairman to discuss with Mr Stephenson.

11.       Any Other Business.

(a) R Parker agreed to carry out the equipment inspection before the May meeting.

            (b) Doubts were expressed by a councillor about the cost of a recent SLDC publication.      

(c) A sign on the shore (warning of quicksand etc) is still missing.

Action: Clerk to discover responsibility for replacing.

(d) It was suggested that rather than remove the street light at the church the time switch should be

changed so that it comes on when the church floodlighting goes off.

12.       Next Meeting.      Annual Meeting on 21st May 2001.