Heversham Parish
Council
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held in the Athenaeum, on
Present: Councillors T Parker, G Capstick, P Shaw, A Hulme, J
Pearson-Snape, A Lucas, A Shepherd, District Councillor B Woof, County
Councillor R Bingham, Police Sergeant Barry Bell, Mr Robin Sisson, Mr Roger
Forrester and the Clerk.
296 Apologies for absence. – None.
297 The Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 26th September 2005 were signed as a true record.
298 Matters arising from the Minutes.
§ The Clerk has amended the Leasgill Quarry entry on the charity website.
§ Mr Robin Sisson was thanked for purchasing some of the land on Heversham Head.
299 Parish Council concerns with regard to Policing.
Sergeant Bell listened to the three instances, where it was felt there were areas for concern.
The first, was a robbery, which took place, despite an informant warning the police in advance. - Sergeant Bell said that suspects were being targeted and arrests were likely.
The second example highlighted how difficult it was to make contact with a specific policeman; in this instance, vital to draw a conclusion to an insurance claim, following a road accident. – The Sergeant said that this shouldn’t have been a problem and apologised for the aggravation it had caused.
Finally, concerns were expressed, over the lack of local knowledge that the telephone operators have, when answering emergency calls, particularly when made from mobile phones. In some cases, help was going to the wrong place entirely and this of course, could have serious consequences. – Sergeant Bell said that the Police had also had difficulties in this direction and that the problems must be addressed. He said that to be sure of an immediate local response one could ring Kendal 722611. The Milnthorpe Police Station isn’t manned, so response may not be forthcoming from there but the phone number is 65876. There are changes planned within the police force but it is as yet unclear how these will affect rural cover. The area is currently quite large to manage and the fears are that cover could be reduced still further. Current response time for serious crime is within twenty minutes.
The Chairman informed those present of a letter recently received, which sought the views of the Councillors, with regard to the plans for restructuring and regionalisation. Although it claims the writer is very interested in receiving feedback, it gives inadequate time to reply in a democratic way. The Councillors suggested that Cllr Parker should complete the questionaire on their behalf.
Thanks were offered to Sergeant Bell for attending and providing the information requested.
300 Athenaeum Committee’s plans for the Servery area.
Mr Robin Sisson and Mr Roger Forrester as Committee members, joined the Council to answer questions with regard to the need to revamp the Athenaeum’s servery. The booking secretary has found that potential customers have declined to book or cancelled bookings made, after realizing that the cooker and workspaces were inadequate. Most weekends, the hall was free and could be used for private parties and fund raising events, if the facilities provided for more possibilities. As it was, they were quite restrictive. Health and hygiene should be improved if food did not have to be made in individual homes, where timing and conditions were unclear and where transporting prepared food could, in itself, cause health risks.
Council was concerned that the changes planned would not produce sufficient increase in revenue to cover the extra outgoings if the present servery was upgraded to a food preparation area. There was general agreement that the servery was in need of some modernisation but that upgrading to a food preparation area, which would have health and safety implications, was not necessary.
Mr Sisson agreed to obtain further quotes for the work proposed, hopefully reducing the expenditure necessary to make the alterations and also to produce figures to show how much could be raised by increased bookings. The Chairman informed them that quotes for services and equipment must be obtained from three different suppliers, to ensure best value is obtained. Once in receipt of all the information, the Council will reconsider the Committee’s proposals and requests. This will be an Agenda item next meeting. Some money has already been raised to meet the necessary costs.
The Athenaeum Committee has given up time and effort to raise money for the improvements, and it was felt by them, that once the improvements were made, the cost of maintaining the standards achieved, should be supplemented from the precept, as it is with the Children’s Playground. The Committee would like the Council to consider adding an amount onto the Budget to help with running costs and the treasurer has supplied information, which as yet needs to be studied to aid their decision.
301 The following payments were authorised:
Poppy Appeal - £25
St Peters Heversham PCC - £500
Mr Martin Tyson - £870.
302 The purchase of a litter bin for the Playground. These were considered to be too expensive and it was agreed that the Chairman should purchase an ordinary dustbin, which the Councillor in charge of checking the playground will empty.
303 The tender submitted for next year Mr Tyson, for village and playground maintenance; a total of £890, was considered to be very reasonable and unanimously accepted.
There is a dangerous muddy area at the entrance to the playground which, it was agreed, Mr Tyson can attend to for a small extra fee.
304 The Budget for next year without the provision of the litter bin, reflects approximately a 5% increase. The Council wishes to take time to study the information provided by the treasurer of the Athenaeum and that promised by Mr Sisson, before deciding upon the Precept required.
305 Planning Applications and correspondence received:
SL/2005/1096/JCH. Waterside Farm, Heversham – Erection of a ‘folly’ to rear of existing garage. – No objections.
SL/2005/1206/JCH. Curlew Cottage, Haverflatts Lane, Milnthorpe – No objections.
4 Church View Cottage, Heversham – Permission granted to change Post Office to domestic accommodation.
306 The condition of the ‘Field of Dreams’.
The field which it is believed, is divided into about 50 plots is infested with injurious weeds. According to the 1959 Injurious Weed Act, remedial action can be requested of the land owners, if the land is within 50 metres of fields containing farm stock, which it is. If the land owners do not respond, they can be fined by DEFRA. The problem is, in identifying and contacting the land owners. It is thought that it might be possible to trace them through ‘Land Registry’. However, it would be simpler if it were acceptable to notify the land owners through the use of a local and national newspaper. This will be an Agenda item in November.
307 The Clerks new contract of employment was signed.
308 Correspondence.
§ Notification of a planning application being submitted, to build a crematorium to serve South Lakes, at Sampool Bridge on the A590. (Cllr. Bingham withdrew from the meeting whilst this item was being discussed.) It was thought to be located alongside a very dangerous stretch of road, where access and flooding could cause hazards. The Councillors felt that there was a need for a Crematorium however and as the location is outside the parish boundary, it was decided that there would be no comments sent from Heversham Parish Council.
§ Notice of the CALC Annual General meeting at Cleator Moor on 12th November and a CALC meeting at Kendal on 24th November 2005, at 6.00pm. CALC Circular.
§ North West Regional Spatial Strategy Consultation: Session 5. An invitation to participate in the next stage of an online consultation. Deadline 25th November 2005.
§ Traffic information and Roadworks.
§ Neighbourhood Forum summary of meeting held on 6th September 2005.
§ Voluntary Action Cumbria – useful contacts and information. It is a registered charity giving advice, information and support services to rural communities.
§ English Nature SSSI awards 2004.
§ Cumbria Rural Infastructure Support Programme. – A grant giving scheme which can provide up to 50% of the project cost of securing or creating services in rural areas.
§ Tim Farron writes to give times of Autumn surgeries and invites the Council to raise any issues of concern. He also offers to attend a Parish Council Meeting if required. Included in his communication were petition forms should the Council wish to make a statement from the village about the proposed changes to provide police coverage. The Councillors will approach their neighbours to give them an opportunity to respond.
§ Provisional Local Transport Plan - April 2006 – March 2011.
309 Items for information.
§ Cllr. Shepherd has resigned from the Athenaeum Committee and the Council will therefore need to appoint another representative. It will be an Agenda item next month.
§ Cllr. Capstick has noticed that there has been fly tipping on Marsh Road. The Clerk is to pass details of who to contact, to Cllr. Capstick, so that he can inform the relevant body of the exact location.
§ There has been another complaint about flooding on the A6. The Councillors agreed that it has been reported more than once and it was felt there was no more that could be done.
§ There is another meeting about the proposed ‘Gateway Project’ at the ‘Cross Keys’ in Milnthorpe, on 17th November at 7.30 p.m., should anyone wish to go.
§ Cllr. Capstick has taken the Playground Inspection book for November.
§ Cllr. Parker will lay the wreath at the War Memorial at 11. a.m. on 11th November and hopes that some people will be able to join him.
310 The date of the next Parish Council Meeting is Monday, November 28th 2005.