Heversham Parish Council

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held in the Athenaeum, on Monday, 28^th June, 2004,which started at 7.30.p.m.

Present: Councillors P Johnson, T Parker, A Lucas, P Shaw, J Pearson-Snape, G Capstick, A Shepherd, District Councillor B Woof, County Councillor R Bingham, the Clerk and two members of the public.

135 Retiring Councillor Peter Johnson opened the meeting and asked for nominations for a new Chairman. Cllr. Capstick proposed Cllr. Parker and Cllr. Shaw seconded and so it was resolved that Tony Parker be the Chairman. Peter Johnson therefore handed the Chair over to Cllr. Parker, who thanked him for his eight years of service as Chairman.

136 Cllr. Parker asked for nominations for a Vice Chairman. Cllr. Shaw proposed Cllr. Capstick and Cllr. Parker seconded and so it was resolved that Gordon Capstick be Vice Chairman.

137 Apologies for absence were received from Cllr. Messenger, who is seriously ill in hospital.

138 Councillors T Parker, P Shaw, J Pearson-Snape and G Capstick have signed the statutory Declarations of Acceptance of Office in front of an acceptable witness and passed them to the Clerk. It is felt that Ronnie Messenger may be well enough in ten days or so to sign his.

139 Adele Shepherd and Andrew Lucas were proposed and co-opted as the additional Councillors required and they signed their Declarations of Acceptance, which were witnessed and received by the Clerk.

140 With only three signatories left on the Council it was considered to be prudent to increase the number. The procedure required by the present bank, will cause inconvenience, so the Clerk is to investigate the possibility of changing the two current accounts to a bank in Milnthorpe.

The Clerk is also to write to the Monitoring Officer at SLDC to request that the Councillors receive a dispensation from the Charity Commission, to enable them to discharge their duties as Trustees of the Leasgill Quarry Trust Fund and Athenaeum.

141 The last sentence of minute 131 which read “this will mean a new member of the Committee will have to be selected” was deleted, before the Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 24th May, 2003 were signed as a true record.

142 Matters arising from the Minutes. The Councillors playground inspection book is now in use; Cllr. Parker being to first to accept the weekly task. It will be passed on to another Councillor at the next meeting.

The swings have now been ordered for the playground at a cost of £3761, which leaves roughly £850 towards the seesaw and roundabouts after refund of VAT, a good start towards the roundabouts and seesaw.

143 The following payment was authorised:

Clerks salary and Expenses - £470.91 – cheque 0555.

Cheque number 0533 has been cancelled as payment will not be required by SLDC until the Annual inspection is due.

144 Planning Applications and correspondence received since the last meeting:

SL/2004/0773/JCH -19 Dugg Hill, Heversham, two storey extension. – The Councillors expressed concerns, as they believe that two of the neighbours will have their view of the estuary compromised, and that the size of the extension makes the house incompatible with others in the neighbourhood, whilst taking up a good proportion of the garden.

SL/2004/0738/JCH – Wheatclose, Leasgill, Milnthorpe, alterations and extension. – Cllr. Shepherd delclared that she is friends with the owners of Wheatclose. The remaining Councillors expressed no concerns about the proposals, only amazement!

SL/2003/2250 – 1 The Croft, Leasgill, amended plans. – No objections.

Notice of intent to erect a T-mast and base station on Lower Heversham Head which was circulated to Councillors during the month, as the closing date was 18^th June. – Most of the Councillors objected to the erection of the mast, because of the visual aspect, it would mar a popular beauty spot. Concerns were also raised about the health issues for the children in the nearby primary school. Whilst acknowledging the fact that there are areas of no reception for mobile phones, which need to be addressed, the Councillors felt more should be done to encourage the sharing of masts by similar companies. The Councillors voted 5 to 1 in favour, of giving the Chairman permission to respond with objections on their behalf, if time dictates, should a planning application arrive.

Croossfield Cottage, Heversham – Planning permission granted.

Land to North of Hillcrest Cottage, Rowell. – Planning permission granted.

145 Correspondence.

Event for new Councillors. There is an informal evening covering ‘Basics for Councillors’, at 7pm, on 6^th September, at Stonecross Manor Hotel, Milnthorpe Road, Kendal. If anyone wishes to go please inform the Clerk, the cost of £10, will be born by the Council.

Kent Estuary Neighourhood Forum meeting is on 21^st September, at Storth Community Centre and Agenda items are invited. The Chairman will attend and the Clerk is to request an Agenda item to discuss the encouraging of Mobile-phone mast sharing and obtain information of planning rules on this matter.

A letter to explain that Charity Commission rules have been relaxed and this should allow the possibility of increasing funds by gifts from individuals, such as bequests.

146 Items for information.

The seat erected by the Women’s Institute, half way up the ‘Head’ is in need of refurbishment or replacement. The WI have enquired whether the Council would be able to fund this. The Clerk has forwarded a ‘Leasgill Quarry Trust Fund’ application form and information about public seats.

A parishioner has reported that the bus stop post opposite the Athenaeum has been knocked down. The Clerk has contacted the bus company who said it was a CCC matter, so it was reported to them also.

147 The date of the Leasgill Quarry claims deadline for awards already granted is 31^st August. New applications must be submitted by September 10^th, in readiness for the Annual Meeting on Monday September 20^th, which will be held at Heversham Cottage, Woodhouse Lane at 7.30 pm. The three Councillors to represent Heversham Parish Council at the meeting will be T Parker, G Capstick and P Shaw.

148 The next Parish Council meeting is on August 23rd.2004 at 7.30pm.

Mrs Denise Challenor

Clerk to the Council - Tel: 01524 761824