Heversham Parish Council

 

Minutes of the Annual Parish Council Meeting held in the Athenaeum, on Monday, 23rd May 2005, which started at 7.30.p.m

 

Present: Councillors, T Parker, P Shaw, A Hulme, J Pearson-Snape, A Shepherd, A Lucas, District Councillor B Woof, County Councillor R Bingham and the Clerk.

 

239  Councillor Tony Parker was proposed and seconded to become Chairman.  After it being unanimously agreed, he signed his ‘Declaration of Acceptance of Office’.

 

240  G Capstick was proposed and seconded to become Vice Chairman and has, prior to the meeting agreed to do so if elected.  It was unanimously agreed he be Vice Chairman.

 

241  Committee representatives. Councillors A Shepherd and A Hulme will be the Council’s representatives on the Athenaeum Committee.

 

242  Apologies for absence were received from G Capstick.

 

243  The Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 25th April 2005 were approved and signed as a true record.

 

244  Matters arising from the Minutes.

§         The seat on Mr Bagot’s land, has now been identified and the Council have elected to keep it on site and pay the increased rental of £20 to cover the next ten years. The Clerk is to write to request an invoice.

§         The plot of land required for possible purchase on Heversham Head, to maintain public access to the indicator, has been established as 1.34 acres.  Cllr. Hulme will enquire about the cost of an independent valuation, before any approach to the vendor’s agent is made.  Cllr Hulme has the agreement of the Council to go ahead with the valuation if the cost is below £200, as it is important to have the value established by the next meeting.  If the Council decide that they wish to pursue the purchase, then an appeal for public subscriptions will be made.  It may be possible to buy just a two metre strip to run beside the wall, but this possibility will not be pursued at present.

§         The swing installation into the playground has been delayed again, because the cost of spreading the bark was not included in the quote.  As the additional cost is almost £300, the Councillors have decided to ask the villagers for their help to do the work themselves.  The time will be publicised but is expected to be late June.

§         Cllr. Shaw said that he had been contacted by the leader for the ‘Lost Ways’ project, who had explained that the Heversham survey has now been completed and wondered if he would be willing to cover Preston Richard instead: He has agreed.

§         Cllr. Parker read out a letter he has received, which states that the Cockpit is indeed under consideration to be registered as an ancient monument.

 

245  Equipment report.  The playground seat has been damaged and is in need of attention.  Cllr. Hulme will try to arrange for its repair. The inspection book has passed to Cllr. Shaw.

 

246  Playground Financial Report.  The amount held in the account is £3980.77.  The cost of the swings £4240, which leaves a shortfall of £259.23, which the Council have agreed to finance until more money is raised.

 

247  Athenaeum Financial Report.  This will be made an Agenda item next month to give the Councillors more time to study the report received from Mr Smith.  Briefly, it appears that expenditure will exceed income and measures will need to be taken to redress the balance.

 

248  The insurance cover has been amended to include the new playground swings and is considered to be adequate in all other respects.

 

249  The following payments were authorised:

§         Allianz Cornhill, insurance - £601.11, cheque 100007

§         Cumbria Playing Fields Association - £13.30, cheque100008.

§         The Clerk informed the Council that she had received an overdue notice from SLDC in respect of the Playground Inspection, which has been postponed, so that the inspection would include the new swings.  However, since the installation was taking longer than expected.  The Councillors decided that it would be better to pay the invoice and order the inspection to be done.

      South Lakeland District Council - £82.25, cheque 100009.

 

250  The Clerks new Contract of Employment,  is still needing more attention and it is intended that Cllrs Shaw, Lucas and Parker will work on it, in conjunction with the Clerk during the coming month.

 

251  Planning Applications and correspondence received since the last meeting.

Councillor Hulme declared interests in both Annbec House and Laurel Bank and left the room whilst they were discussed.

§         SL/2005/0483/JCH.  Annbec, Heversham.  Single storey rear extension. – No objections voiced.

§         SL/2005/0482/JCH. Laurel Bank, Heversham. To replace existing balcony with a slate canopy. No objections.

§         SL/2005/0450/JCH.  The Old Blue Bell, Heversham. Conversion of a Barn to a dwelling (revised scheme 5/00/2119). – No objections.

§         Draft Notice regarding the proposed 50mph speed limit on the A6, between Milnthorpe and the Blue Bell, Heversham. – Noted with disappointment that the Councils recommendations had not be observed.

§         Part of field OS No 6556 to rear of Leasghyll Barn, Leasgill.  Permit notice for the siting of shed and realignment of wall.

 

252  Remaining Correspondence.

§         Ormondes Invitation to a presentation on the world’s first integrated offshore gas and wind power generation facility on Friday 10th June, at Barrow in Furness, or 13th June at Morecambe was declined by all.

§         Calc ask for Council representation at a special General meeting of the Association to be held on 22nd June in Penrith. This is regarding the new Constitution. – No-one was willing to attend.

§         Debbie Binch from Kent Estuary Neighbourhood Forum has sent a grant application form for the playground. – This was gratefully received and is to be passed to John Cushnie via Cllr. Lucas.

§         Cumbria Mineral and Waste Development Framework Regulation 25, consultation on the preparation of the Statement of Community Involvement.  A request for Councillors to visit the website and give comments. – The Clerk is to request a copy.

§         Brochure on the Trafalgar Weekend (21st – 23rd October 2005) and a suggestion to register and take part in the festivities and possibly light a beacon. – This will be an agenda item next month.

§         Cumbria Constabulary informs of intent to recruit Special Constables for Heversham and asks for help in publicising the need to recruit them.

§         ‘Lost Ways’ team has completed their survey and sent copies of their results. – Cllr. Shaw taken them to study

§         Kerbside recycling information pack.

§         Various circulars and brochures.

 

253  Items for information.

A letter has been received from a parishioner to request that the Council try to stop the dog fouling around St Peter’s School, as it has been causing quite a problem for the children. - The Clerk will write to the Headteacher to enquire whether the children would be willing to design their own posters and place them in strategic places.  We may then try to get publicity from the ‘Westmorland Gazette’.

 

254  The date of the Leasgill Quarry claims deadline is 31st August 2005, the new applications deadline is 9th September and the Annual  Meeting will be on  19th September. The Heversham representatives and venue will be confirmed at next meeting. The Clerk is to speak to Cllr. Capstick.

 

255  The date of the next Parish Council meeting is 27th June.2005.

 

Mrs Denise Challenor

Clerk to the Council  - Tel: 01524 761824