Heversham Parish Council

Draft Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting, held at the Athenaeum at 7.00pm on 30th June 2003.

Present:  Councillors: P Johnson, G Capstick, R Messenger, A Shepherd, R Bingham, the Clerk and three members of the public.

 

029      Apologies for absence.  Cllrs. T Parker, G Handley, T Rimmer.

 

030      The Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 19th May, 2003, were amended so that Minute number 020 now reads: “The Financial Annual Report, for year ending 31st March 2003, was approved and the current Audit form was taken …….”

 

031            Matters Arising.  None.

 

032            The following payments were authorised:-

External Audit fee - £141.00.

Internal Audit fee - £20.           

            Clerks salary and Expenses - £478.42

 

      New Playground Account. As there were two more invoices to settle, it was decided that the opening of the account would be deferred and the two remaining bills should be paid, namely:-

      Parkin and Jackson Ltd. - £233.52

            The Blue Bell. - £275.10.

 

The following was not authorised:-

North West Army Cadet Appeal (donation request).

 

033      Replacement Mowing Machine.  Discussion deferred until the next meeting.

 

034      Planning Applications and correspondence received by 30/6/03.

a.       High House- SL/2003/1499 B two storey extension.  Clerk to write to state that the Parish Council has no objections.

 

b.  Old School House, Heversham Head – planning permission considered to have been granted contrary to SLDC local plan.

            After consultation and checking of records it was established that permission was given in 1999 and at the time, the Parish Council unanimously voted in favour of it, as otherwise the building was likely to deteriorate into dereliction.

 

            c.  Hillside, Heversham – Ref:APP/m0933/a03/1109336. – The Parish Council notes that the appeal is allowed and outline planning permission granted, subject to certain conditions.

 

d.  Cumbrian and Lake District Joint Structure Plan 2001 to 2016 comments by 12/07/03.

The chairman has studied and has no comments to submit.  Available from the Clerk.

 

 

 

035      Correspondence.

a. Quality Parish Conference on 8/7/03, cost, £25 for first attendee; additional, £20 per head. - No-one wished to attend.

b. The Good Councillors Guide available for 60p each. – The Chairman having read it, stated that he had found it to be disturbing in parts but it has some good points. No additional copies required.

c. Promotion of the Clerks home study course on the Quality Parish, cost, £130. – Not considered necessary to become a ‘Quality Parish’.

d. Playground report, requiring action. - Cllr. Shepherd taken for the Committee.

e. Playground equipment literature.- Cllr. Shepherd taken for the Committee.

f. Code of Conduct letters plus a video and booklet. – available via the Clerk for any Councillor who wishes to study  (Cllr. Shepherd taken)

g. Letter from the Boundary Committee to advise of a two-tier structure plan for local government.  A Guidance and procedural advice booklet is available. Review timetable included.

h. CALC County Circular.- To file.

           

036     Items for information.

The Chairman presented the Clerk with a Certificate to verify that she had attended a  CALC Local Council Clerk’s Induction Course on 8th May 2003.

 

037   The date of the Leasgill Quarry Annual Meeting is on Monday, 22nd September at 7.30.p.m., venue Cllr. Handley’s home.

 

           The next Parish Council meeting is on Monday 18th August 2003.

 

L. Denise Challenor (Mrs)

Clerk to the Council

Tel: 01524 761824

 

 

 

Report on the public Meeting, held by the Parish Council on 30th June, at the Athenaeum, Leasgill, with guest speaker Mr David Sykes the Regeneration Officer for South Lakeland District Council on

‘The Gateway Project’

 

Mr Sykes explained that the Gateway development was intended to be a physical showcase bringing branded farm produce and other rural activities into a unique visitor attraction close to Cumbria’s Southern gateway.

 

At this stage there were no detailed plans.  Currently the concept is being promoted to various organizations and feedback is being encouraged.

 

There were four possible locations the preferred one being near the Westmorland showground and Crooklands Hotel.  This site had not yet been surveyed for archeological remains which Cllr. Bingham thought it might have.

 

Some of the publics comments made were:-

That the site would grow, gradually absorbing more countryside and that it is indeed a site with very strict planning regulations, so how can the concept be acceptable.

Local unemployment is currently so low that staff will have to travel from other localities and public transport is not adequate.

Local traders might suffer.

Although a new site is desperately needed, for the Kendal Auction Mart which is hoping to be relocated to the site, it is not really compatible with the tourist part of the project.  It would also be much more practical to have the Abattoir on the same site as the Auction Mart.

That the financial success of the project could well go the same way as the ‘Rheged Center’ where it appears planning for alternative uses is being sought.

That the idea of having a Marina is appealing.

That it will devalue the homes of the local residents and ruin their peaceful and currently pleasant outlook.

 

Mr Sykes stated that the next stage is to draw up a ‘Master Plan’ which will include a detailed site layout, Planning and Economic Assessments and indeed all the information gathered from the promotional meetings will be considered.  It must be proved to be an exceptional site to justify going against planning regulations and the ‘Secretary of State’ might well be called in to have a Public Enquiry.

By early 2004 they should be ready to present their designs and findings and hopefully submit an Outline Planning Application.

 

The meeting was closed at 9.45.p.m., by the Chairman who gave thanks to Mr David Sykes and Cllr’s Bingham and Woof for attending.