Heversham Parish Council

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held in the Athenaeum, on Monday, 25th April 2005, which started at 7.30.p.m.

 

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

 

229  Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A Shepherd and T Parker who are both unwell.

 

230  The Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 21st March, 2005 were signed as a true record.

 

231  Matters arising from the Minutes.

The Clerk had contacted Allianz Cornhill to check whether it would be in order to delay the annual Engineers Inspection of the playground, until the swings have been installed.  It would, it seems be alright for a month or so, providing we continue with the Councillor’s weekly inspections. The date of installation therefore, must be established. The Clerk has received information on a new kind of safety surface which might be preferable to bark, which she is to forward to John Cushnie and Cllr. Parker.

 

232  Insurance cover required for the village.  The Clerk is to liaise with the playground Committee, in order to acquire an insurance value for the new swings, this must then be added on to the policy.  Copies of the new policy will be circulated to the Councillors for consideration at the next meeting.

 

233      Financial Matters. 

The Councillors agreement made by email, to appoint Mr E Schofield to be the internal auditor, at a cost of £25 was confirmed.  Mr Schofield has now completed the work, so the Council was able to approve the accounts and complete the ‘Statement of Assurance’ on the Annual Return.  Everything is now ready for public inspection, before going to the external auditor. The Clerk raised the issue of depreciating the Assets on the asset register annually, as Mr Schofield has suggested and no clear conclusion was reached.

The National Saving Account needs new signatories.  These will be T Parker, A Shepherd, P Shaw and J Pearson-Snape, whilst G Capstick, A Lucas and A Hulme signed to confirm the changes.

 

234  The following payments were authorised:

Annual Subscription CALC - £134.50, cheque 100005.

Mr E Schofield -  £25, cheque 100006.

 

235  Planning Applications since the last meeting:

SL/2005/0126 - Part of Field to rear of Leasghyll Barn, Leasgill. Siting of Shed and Realignment of Wall (amended title) Comments by 22nd April, application circulated beforehand – no objections.

Permit received for the siting of static caravans on College Green, Heversham.

 

 

 236  Correspondence received since the last meeting, so far: -

§         A letter from Levens Hall Estate regarding a seat on Heversham Head, proposing an  increase in the rental charge from £10 per annum to £20.  No-one on the Council knows anything about this charge and the Clerk has searched the accounts back as far as 2000 and not found any payments.  Therefore the Clerk is to respond to say that they feel it to be an error.

§         A letter from a parishioner to suggest to the Parish Council, that they purchase part of G. Handley’s Land has been received.  The reason being, to ensure public access to the Millenium Indicator as there is not even a permissive path the whole way. -Councillor Capstick will approach George Handley for an idea of the cost involved and establish the size of land necessary to ensure walkers have access.  Councillor Hulme will investigate the possibility of gaining grants towards the purchase and will become involved in fund raising if necessary. Councillors Hulme and Bingham will attempt to gain some pledges of money from the villagers in readiness for the possible purchase.

§         Application form for ‘ Cumbria in Bloom’ - No-one wished to organise entry into this competition.

§         Voting form for electing a Parish Member for the South Lakeland District Standards Committee. – Completed.

§         The Standards Board has supplied a number of booklets entitled, ‘A code for the future’.  Responses to questions in the booklet are requested by 17th June 2005. – The booklets were distributed amongst the Councillors.

§         A request from Cumbria Constabulary for a donation towards providing a day of free sporting activities for children, the venue is Wings School in Whasset. – This was not perceived to benefit the villagers and therefore it was felt that a contribution could not be made.

§         ‘The lost Ways Project’ - a request for volunteers to survey Heversham’s Ways.  Councillor Bingham who volunteered some time ago, is still willing and waiting to be contacted and Councillor Shaw is willing to help.  The Clerk will contact the organisers.

§         Various booklets and circulars tabled.

 

237  Items for information

§         Inspector Ali Dufty has responded to a question raised at the Parish Assembly.  Replying that, “the ‘Speed Awareness Course’ is not available in Cumbria as yet, however, it is likely to come about in the future.”

§         Councillor Lucas gave feedback from the recent Planning Meeting he attended, to say that he was shocked to discover that Cumbria ’s housing policies are being decided upon by un-elected members of a committee of the North West Regional Assembly, in Oldham , who may not have local knowledge of Cumbria .

§         Councillor Bingham informed the Council that ‘English Heritage’ is to put forward the Cockpit, to be listed as an ancient monument. He has requested that the site be inspected.

§         It was noted that the Reverend Hancock is to retire as Vicar of St Peter’s at the end of July, this will be an Agenda item next time.

 

238  The date of the Annual Parish Council Meeting is 23rd May 2005.

 

Clerk to the Parish Council

Denise Challenor

Tel. 01524 761824