Heversham Parish Council

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held in the Athenaeum, on Monday, 26th June 2006, which started at 7.30.p.m.

 

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

 

383  Apologies for absence were received from District Cllr. Brenda Woof.

 

384  The Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 22nd May 2006. 

New wording was agreed for minutes 371, 374 and 378. 

The minutes will be retyped and signed when correct by the Chairman. 

These will be available for inspection on the internet website www.heversham.org 

 

385  Matters arising from the Minutes.

·        Cllr Shaw has checked with CALC the legality of the process followed to elect the new Chairman, as at the last meeting, and has found it to be acceptable.

·        Cllr. Shaw drew attention to the fact that when writing to the planning department the Clerk sometimes used the term, “not approved” and as the Parish Council has no power to approve, the term used should be “no objections”.  The Clerk is to use this phrase when applicable in the future.

·        Cllr. Shaw queried whether the Clerk should be keeping a book for recording when a Councillor declares an interest at a meeting.  The Clerk said she did bring the Councillors “Declaration of Interest” forms to the meetings and she thought that this was all that was necessary, as everything else is recorded in the Minutes.

·        Cllr Shaw queried whether the Gateway vote taken during the Planning agenda item was legal, as they had not been given three clear days warning that they would be required to vote.  Cllr. Hulme said that surely the Councillors would have known that they would be expected to express an opinion as it had been listed as a Planning Application.    The Clerk said she had checked the legality of it and believed that it was in order and that the Council had only been asked for comments as a neighbouring Parish and anyway hadn’t any power to approve or disapprove.   She was asked to check again and put it on the September Agenda if illegal. 

 

386  The “Field of Dreams”. 

There has been no response to the original letter to Mr Cleave of ELS.  The Clerk is to write again with a copy to DEFRA to say that the field is in a terrible state with three out the five noxious weeds growing in it and that they must be dealt with according to the “Weeds Act” of 1959.  There is as yet no evidence of a contractor. 

 

387  The following payments were authorised:

Dallam School - £5, cheque 100030, rental for the playground field for five years 2000-2005.

L D Challenor – Clerks salary and expenses for 3 months, £503.23 cheque 100031.

Not authorised:

Playing Field Association Affiliation fee - £14 – it was decided there was little benefit in continuing membership.

 

388  The Annual Audit has been returned by the External Auditors with no matters to cause concern. They did, however, suggest that the Risk Assesment needs improving.  As the Clerk obtained examples from CALC and followed their guidelines, the Council suggested that she sends  a copy of the finished Risk Assessment to CALC and enquires what improvements could be made.

 

389  There were no Planning Applications, the following  correspondence has been received:

·        1 Eversley Gardens, Leasgill. Porch. – Permit granted.

·        5 Park House Drive, Heversham.  Change garage roof from flat to pitched. Permit granted.

·        Horncop Cottage, Heversham.  Extensiona and alterations.  Permit granted.

·        Rowell Farm, Rowell. Conversion of existing farm building into three holiday cottages. – Permit granted.

·        SL/2006/0357 College Green Farm, Heversham.  Siting on ten caravans and installation of sewage treatment plant. – Application withdrawn.

 

 

390  Flashing warning lights by the school.  The Clerk is to write to the Head Teacher of St Peter’s, to enquire whether there is a need.

 

391    Should the Council formally welcome newcomers to the village.  Councillor Lucas will compose a pamphlet to pass on useful information and email it to fellow Coucillors for perusal.  It is hoped that updating the information will not be too onerous.

 

392  Public participation item at the meetings. Councillor Shaw sent thanks to Peter Challenor for the guidelines provided.  It was thought to be a good idea to have an Agenda item for public participation, so that comments can be minuted.  Standing Orders will need to be changed, Councillor Shaw volunteered to draft out a new set.

 

393  Remaining correspondence received since the last meeting:

·        Letter from Dallam School’s Financial Manager, asking for confirmation that the rent for the Playing Field was due in 2005.  They also want details of planned improvements to the playground, for approval by the trustees, plus a copy of the agreement made between the Council and school. – The Clerk explained that in future, payment should be made annually.  The Clerk is to write to say that if sufficient funds are raised, it is proposed to put a sea-saw and roundabout in the playground and that unfortunately the agreement made with Dallam School, cannot be located.

·        A statement is provided in support of the Sustainable Communities Bill.  The suggestion is to send it to our MP asking him to sign and hand it to the ‘Table Officer.’ – The Clerk was not instructed to do so.

·        St Peter’s CE Primary School writes to ask permission for the school children to use the woodland at the top of School Lane as a study area.  The woodland would need to be assessed and undergo limited clearance for safety.  The school would undertake all the necessary Risk Assessment and would be willing to take Council representatives to the site for further discussion.  Cllr. Shaw volunteered to have an informal chat about it and it will be an Agenda item next meeting.

·        SLDC Agenda or a meeting of the Standards Committee on 3rd July, 2006, Georgian room, 2pm.

·        Neighbourhood forum notice of a special meeting about waste management on 4th July at Dallam School, Community Centre, 7pm. Summary of meeting held on 7th June 2006.

·        Invitation to an event to present the preferred Options for a new plan regarding the Minerals and Waste Development Framework. 21st June at County Offices, Kendal – Details emailed to Councillors, prior to this meeting. Discussion paper received, comments by July 2006.

·        CCC Community Waste Prevention Fund write to invite ideas which could help prevent waste in your community.  Up to 50% of the funding can be provided up to £15,000 to put the idea into action.

·        Traffic Information from  the Highways Agency.

·        North West Best Practice Design Guide, taken by Cllr. Lucas.

·        CALC Circular. June, 2006.

·        The Lake District Nation Park Local Development Framework inform of their report – further information can be obtained on their website. www.lake-district.gov.uk

 

 394  Items for information.

·        Cllr Shaw asked if the Clerk would check on the protocol regarding the participation of the District and County Councillors.  She said she believed they could speak at the invitation of the Chairman but would check.

·        Cllr. Hulme announced that the Barbecue raised £2894.99 and that it was considered to have been very successful by achieved it’s aim of giving parishioners a good family day  at little cost.

·        Comments were made about Sunday car parking on the bend near the playground being dangerous and also about unwelcome noise from the Bikers using Brick Pond field for recreation.

·        Cllr. Parker announced that the playground now has a dustbin in place and that there will be a bill coming in as there has had to be some emergency repairs on the mower.

·        Cllr. Pearson-Snape who has been inspecting the playground this month stated that the seat has been gouged away in part, creating splinters and the bark needs raking under the swings.  It is though that Mr Tyson will attend to the bark as part of his contract.

·        The Clerk informed the Council that a man from Kendal Archives was coming to her home to collect some Arnside information and she wondered if it would be wise to pass on the old records that she was holding about Heversham.  Cllr. Bingham asked if he may take a look at them before this happens, as he would like to write about Heversham’s history.  This was though to be acceptable, so the Clerk and he will arrange a time.  

 

395  The date of the next Parish Council Meeting is 21st August 2006.

 

Clerk: Denise Challenor Tel. 01524 761824