Heversham Parish Council

 

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held in the Athenaeum, on Monday, 23rd August, 2004, which started at 7.30.p.m.

 

Present: Councillors T Parker, G Capstick,  A Shepherd, J Pearson-Snape, P Shaw, District Councillor B Woof and the Clerk.

 

The Chairman asked for a few moments silence in memory of Cllr. Ronnie Messenger who died recently.

 

149  Apologies for absence were received from County Councillor Roger Bingham.

 

150    The Draft Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 28th June, 2004 were changed to read:

“140  With only three bank 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 Standards Committee, to enable them to discharge their duties as Trustees of the Leasgill Quarry Trust Fund and Athenaeum.” 

 

151    Matters arising from the Minutes. 

The Clerk has approached the HSBC bank in Milnthorpe with regard to opening two new current accounts.  The Councillors resolved that this would be more convenient than the current ones held and would like to change over as soon as the new accounts can be established.  The Councillors will take the relevant ID into the bank in order to meet with required legislations.

 

152  Following the sad loss of Ronnie Messenger Helen Graham has expressed a wish to be co-opted onto the Council, but was unable to attend the meeting..  The Clerk is to write to invite her to attend the next meeting and send her a copy of Standing Orders.

 

153  Memorial plaque for Councillor Ronnie Messenger.  The Chairman proposed a plaque be placed on the new seat recently provided by Leasgill Quarry Trust Fund, in memory of Ronnie who died on 4th July.  The Coucillors thought it a nice idea as he had served the village as a Councillor for approximately 12 years.  The wording is to read: “In Memory of Ronnie Messenger, 1939 – 2004.  A member of Heversham Parish Council for 12 years.”  All voted in favour.

The death of Cllr. Messenger leaves only one representative of the Council on the Athenaeum Committee; the Clerk will make an Agenda item for next meeting, to address the issue.

 

154  The Annual Audit, has been returned without comment from the External Auditors and displayed as required.

 

155  The following payments were authorised:

SLDC (Parish footway lighting) - £42.00, cheque 0556.

Audit Commission - £141.00, cheque 0557.

 

156  Equipment Report.

The existing Mowing Machine had undergone a repair during in the summer. Colin Wilson will be submitting a bill of £100 plus labour, in due course.  The mower is getting a lot of usage, cutting the playing field and as it is uncertain how much longer it will last, it was resolved that Cllr. Parker will contact Debbie Binch to enquire whether Neighbourhood Forum could be approached for financial help towards a replacement

 

157  Planning Applications and correspondence received:

SL/2004/1043. 4 Eversley House, Leasgill. Single storey extension. – No objections.

SL/2004/0908. Telecommunications Mast – Heversham Head. – Oposition from all but one.

Sl/20040994. The Delves, Princes Way.Rear conservatory. –. No objections

Sl/2004/0972. 1 The Croft, Leasgill.Two storey extension, revised scheme. – No objections (one Councillor declared a none prejudicial interest).

Sl/2004/0935. Horn Cop, Heversham. Kitchen/garage extension with additional bedrooms and new portico entrance. – No objections.

Permits were given by SLDC to:

Wheatclose, Leasgill

Caversfield, Woodhouse Lane

19 Dugg Hill

1 The Croft

 

158  The villages road signs have been replaced, however the rusty posts have not.  It is thought that some of them could be unsafe and may need attention.  The Clerk is to write to Capita and inform them.

 

159  The Athenaeum Financial Report. – Will be presented next meeting.

 

160  The Playground Financial Report. – The Playground Inspection Book is now in use, with weekly inspections being done by the Coucillors. Peter Shaw has accepted the duty for September.  Any problems in need of attention, should be reported to Cllr. Parker. 

The playground fund, including the recent grant from Leasgill Quarry, stands at £3880.70.  Toddler and junior swings have been ordered from ‘Playdale’ and work will commence later this year.  The Committee are doing some of the preparatory work themselves, in order to save money.  The total cost will be £3547.35.

 

161  Remaining Correspondence.

A reply from Dallam School regarding the request to rent some land for a car park, has been received, stating that they cannot satisfy the request at this time.

A letter from Capita advising of temporary road closures locally. - It is not thought likely to cause disruption.

Training topics from CALC - Not of interest.

 

162  Items for information.

The hedge alongside the footpath, beside the A6 from Heversham to Milnthorpe, has become very overgrown in places and Capita needs to be informed, as it is causing some pedestrians to use the road. -  Clerk to write.

The Hedge by Dallam School’s Tennis Court needs cutting on the footpath side. – The Clerk is to write, to request that this be done.

Defra has stated that hedges are now only to be trimmed on one side and only once every three years, to enable wildlife to flourish.  This could actually cause more obstructions for pedestrians, as it is expected that farmers will trim their hedges on the field side, rather than the footpath side.

 

163  The date of the Leasgill Quarry Annual Meeting is 20/09/04 at 7.30.p.m. at Cllr. Parkers home: Heversham Cottage, Woodhouse Lane.

Milnthorpe Parish Council’s representatives will be Cllr. Bingham and Cllr. Neil Dodds.

 

164  The next Parish Council Meeting has been changed to 4th October 2004.

Mrs Denise Challenor - Clerk to the Council.  - Tel: 01524 761824

 

 

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