Heversham Parish Council

Minutes of Meeting of Monday, 29^th April 2002 -7.30 pm in the Athenaeum.

 

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

Councillor Bingham, the Clerk.

2.         Apologies for Absence. G Capstick, Councillor Woof.

3.         Signing of Minutes of Meeting of  25th February 2002.   Agreed and signed as a true copy.

4.         Matters Arising from the Minutes.

(i) The Cumbria Contract Services quotation for cutting the grass was higher than Martin Tyson’s

and he has been awarded the contract for 2002.

(ii) The 75^th Anniversary of the opening of Prince’s Way was in July, not August 2002 - see item 8. 

5.         Playground.

            (i) The hedge on the north side of the playground has been layed and fenced.

(ii) Revised layouts based on a price of £11,500 had been received from Playdale and had been

circulated round the members of the working party. They had agreed that the option with the Reggae

and log walks (but no swings) was the best with the money available. Subsequently, Playdale had

agreed to provide an extra £600 worth of equipment free of charge. It was agreed that an order

should be placed on this basis. It was agreed that the Brigadier’s widow be asked to perform the

opening ceremony.

G Handley undertook to do some levelling of the ground where old equipment has been removed. It

may be necessary to organise a stone clearing party.

Action : Clerk to order equipment and establish an installation date with Playdale.

(iii) Council discussed the raising of further funds for the playground and its future management. It

was agreed that the best way forward would be to establish a management committee which would

be chaired by a member of the Council but which would otherwise be made up of interested

members of the community.

Action : Chairman to discuss taking on the chairmanship with a Parish Councillor.

6.         Finance.

            (a) Payments Approved:           CALC (Code of Conduct Advert - see 7 below)            £     9.00

                                                                                R W Stirzaker - hedge cutting                                           £    44.06

                                                                                R A Parker (expenses of Parish Meeting and Jubilee)    £   56.00

                                                                                Cumbria Playing Fields Association subscription           £   12.20

                                                                                CALC annual subscription                                                   £ 121.00

                                                                                M D Hanafin and Sons - fencing (see 5 above)                £ 103.52

                                                                                SLCC Auditing Manual - see 6(c)                                       £     9.95

                                                                                CALC Auditing Seminar - see 6(c)                                      £   10.00

                        The first instalment of the 2002/03 precept has been received.

(b) Accounts for the year ending 31^st March 2002:

A copy of preliminary accounts is attached. The interest on one of the National Savings accounts is

an estimate at present. The accounts show most items close to budget, although slightly more than

expected has been spent on the playground and the auditing bill was paid in the previous year. The

bank accounts held approximately £4,942 raised for the playground at the year end.

(c) The Lighter Touch Audit Regime:

A new audit regime is being introduced from 31^st March 2002. Council will have to produce an

annual report which will contain             A Statement of Accounts

                                                            A Statement of Assurance

                                                            An internal Auditor’s Report and

                                                            An external Auditor’s Report.

A manual is being obtained, and the Chairman and Clerk will attend a seminar run by CALC before

the next meeting.

Action : R A Parker to approach a parishioner with a view to becoming internal auditor.

7.         The Standards Board for England.

The advertisement organised by CALC will appear during May.

 

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8.         The Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

It was agreed that all children in the Parish who have not reached their nineteenth birthday by 31^st

December 2002 should receive a mug. Council will also arrange for the planting of trees on Prince’s

way to commemorate the 75^th anniversary of its opening.

Action : Clerk to order mugs and consult Rob Sim on the type of tree to be planted.

It was noted that the following events are being organised in the village during the year independent

of the Parish Council :- Parish Boundary Walk on 6th  May. 1

                                                Jubilee Dance on 1st June,

                                                Garden Party at the Bluebell on 2nd June,

                                                Bonfire and Fireworks on the Head on 2nd June.

9.         Planning.

(a) New Applications.

           (i) Heversham Hall - application to replace existing livestock cubicle supported.

           (ii) Heversham Primary School - application to extend classroom supported, but

Council would like to see buildings built with a pitched roof rather than flat.

(b) Applications considered previously.  

       (i) Delville, Woodhouse Lane - permission granted to alter, extend and build garage.

10.       Parish Meeting.

Action : Chairman to write and thank Jack Jones for his informative talk.

11.       Leasgill Quarry.

            A letter from Milnthorpe Parish Council requesting that the grant originally agreed to

purchase CCTV in Milnthorpe Square be redirected to refurbishment of Milnthorpe’s

Playground was considered. It was agreed that Milnthorpe should be asked to reapply in

August and that the grant previously agreed should be “put back in the pot”.

Action : Clerk to write to Milnthorpe Clerk.

12        Correspondence

(a) CALC:        March Newsletter - noted. 

                        Parish Plan Workshops - noted, one of these (27^th May) will be at the Athenaeum.

                        Good Council Guide, second draft - noted.

                        NALC Conference in Preston in June - noted. 

(b) Cumbria CC:          Coastal Statement, Project Report - noted.

(c) DEFRA:      Campaign against Illegal Poisoning of Wildlife - noted.

                        Letter from Alun Michael MP, re “Dibley Villages” article in The Times - noted.

(d) Cumbria Broadleaves: Invitation to attend “An Evening with Jon Stokes” on 9^th May - noted.

(e) Morecambe Bay Health Authority: Strategic Development Committee meetings on 15^th May and

12^th June about the future of Emergencies and Minor Accidents Unit - noted.

            (f) SLDC:         Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy - noted.

            (g) News Bulletin about the Cumbria Foot and Mouth Disease Enquiry - noted.

                                    Action : Clerk to post on noticeboard.

13.       Any Other Business.

            (a) The Clerk intimated that he would have completed 5 years service on 31^st March 2003 and

intended to resign at that date.

            (b) It was reported that the Church Clock was not in working order. Council agreed that it was

desirable that it was repaired.   

            (c) Some trees have been removed from the east side of Quarry Wood over the Winter. No more will

be removed over the summer.

            (d) The lifebelts by the shore have still not been replaced. Action : Clerk to remind SLDC.

            (e) Various road defects were reported. Action : Clerk to contact Cumbria CC

14.       Next Meeting.              27^th May 2002.