Heversham Parish Council

 

Draft Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held in the Athenaeum, on Monday, 18th August 2003, which commenced at 7.30.p.m.

 

Present.  Councillors: P Johnson, T Parker, R Messenger, G Capstick, G Handley, R Bingham,  B Woof, the Clerk and one member of the public.

 

038     Apologies for absence were received from Cllr. A Shepherd and Cllr. T Rimmer.

 

039            The Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday 30thJune, 2003 were approved and signed as a true record by the Chairman.

 

040            Matters arising from the Minutes.  None.

 

041            The following payment was authorised:

            SLDC (Parish footway lighting) - £41.41

 

Balance of playground funds to the Playground Committee.  New total of £1695.64.  Authorisation to close the National Savings Account and have the funds transferred to Heversham Parish Council current account, in readiness to issue the cheque at the next meeting.

 

042            Equipment Report including the Playground report of 14/7/03.

Cllr. Parker will speak to Mr. Martin Tyson to ask him to quote a price to do any recommended maintenance of the playground equipment; there is currently some work to be done, though it is not thought to be urgent.

 

The purchase of a replacement Mowing Machine.   Deferred until the operator, Mr. Tyson has been consulted about his preferences. 

 

043            Planning Applications and Correspondence

a.       High House- two-storey extension – grant of planning permission received.

b.      Lower Haverflatts, Heversham – two-storey extension – grant of planning permission received, subject to compliance with specified conditions, which were communicated to the Councillors by the Chairman.

c.       Milestone Cottage, Leasgill. SL/2003/1583.  Application to build a domestic garage. -  Council approval submitted, as comments had to be made by 15th July 2003.

d.      Horncop, Heversham. SL/2003/1694.  Application for change of use to day school for forty children with social and emotional difficulties.  Several councillors have received telephone calls and the Clerk correspondence, on the subject.  The comments were submitted to the Planning Department after all Councillors with the exception of the Chairman (who was abroad, at the time) had been consulted, as the deadline was before the next meeting.  The letter expressed concern about the volume of traffic produced; the entrance being located on a dangerous part of the A6; the lack of parking space; the social problems caused; the fear that it would later become residential; and the perceived adequate provision of such schools.  The application has now been withdrawn.  Clerk to write to the correspondents.

e.       Tree Preservation order No. 163 2000: Low Lane - Tree Pruning.  Council approved 15/7/03.

 

044            A Proposal to Amend Standing Orders.  The proposal being, to clarify the procedure when planning applications are received and Councillor’s comments are sought before the next council meeting. It has been suggested that all available Councillors should be circulated with the application and comments recorded. This item stands adjourned until the next Parish Council meeting.

 

045            The Annual Audit’s Statement of Assurance.  The minute number for its approval was established as 020. 

 

046            Correspondence.

a.       Letter from a parishioner requesting a kissing gate and attention to 30 m.p.h. signs in the village. - Cllr. Handley will speak to the relevant people regarding the installation of a kissing gate, however, it is ultimately the decision of the landowner. It is thought the road signs have recently been attended to. Clerk to write to Mr. Semley to inform.

b.      Letter from CALC South Lakeland District Committee requesting two representatives to the committee for the current council year.  The Chairman attended the recent meeting and gave a summary of the discussion topics, adding that he found it very interesting.  There were, however, no Councillors able to commit to being a representative.

c.       Various options to Clerks to train for the AQA Certificate in Local Council Administration.  £55 to mark the examination portfolio. -  It was felt that the expenditure was not necessary. 

d.      A booklet for each Councillor entitled ‘How do I register and declare interests, and register gifts and hospitality?’ was distributed.

e.       The Lost Ways Project. -  Help is requested to obtain historical and Parish information for the benefit of future generations/questionnaire to complete. -  Councillor Bingham, having considerable knowledge of the area, volunteered his imput, particularly with footpaths.  The questionnaire was distributed and completed forms to be returned to the Clerk for forwarding.

f.        Letter from Mr. E Schofield (Internal Auditor) suggesting that we obtain receipts for every cheque issued by the Parish Council in the future. – Duly noted.

g.        Consultation paper on indemnities for relevant authority members and officers.  Booklet supplied and questions and comments are sought before 6/10/03.

h.       Letter to notify the Council that there is a new Planning Services Group to be managed by Mr. Peter Ridgway. – Noted.

i.         A request from SLDC to send a representative to a meeting on the new ‘Household waste scheme on 22/7/03. – No one attended.   Recycling Scheme News - to file.

j.        ‘TurfTrax’ (sports field remediation and construction) information on services - to file.

k.      Information on a minibus sharing scheme for voluntary organisations - to file.

l.         Defra letter to advise us of the recently published ‘Rural services standard 2003’, the aim being to give people living in the countryside a better understanding of the services they can expect. – No action required.

m.     Consultation letter on plans for greater access to information about crop spraying and associated proposals made. -  Clerk to write after consultation with the two Councillors who are farmers, who expressed concerns about the proposals being impractical.

n.       Letter to inform of SLDC’s intention to transfer management of all their housing to a separate organisation, which should result in money becoming available for home improvements.

o.      An order form and advert for the new ‘Parish Councillor’s Guide.  £13.50. – Not required.

p.      Minutes of 116th meeting of CALC South Lakeland District Committee of 15/5/03.

q.      Minutes SLDC Standards Committee of 12/8/03

r.        CALC County Circular.

s.       County planning application bulletin.

t.        A draft of the CALC submission to the Boundary Committee, regarding the Parish Tier in future Local Government. – No action required.

u.       Cumbria County Playing Fields Association. – Annual Report.

v.       Local Transport Plan 2001-06 – Taken for study by Cllr. Parker.

w.     Local council Review – page 20 informs of the new regulations regarding allowances and expenses for Councillors soon to be introduced.

x.       Clerks and Councils Direct.

y.       Charity Commission News. Taken for study by Cllr. Johnson.

 

047            Items for information.

The member of the public present, informed us of two areas of the village where the footpaths needed repair and requested that we press the relevant bodies to attend to the damage, she also mentioned that the path-side hedges needed to be trimmed.  The Clerk was instructed to contact ‘Highways’ about the footpaths, however, the hedges were the responsibility of the individual owners.

 

048            The date of the Leasgill Quarry Annual Meeting is 22/09/03 starting at 7.30.p.m. at Heversham Hall.  Our three representatives will be Cllr’s. Johnson, Parker and Handley.

 

049            The date of the next Parish Council Meeting is Monday, 29th September 2003 at 7.30.p.m.

 

 

L. Denise Challenor (Mrs)

Clerk to the Council

Tel: 01524 761824