Heversham Parish Council

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held in the Athenaeum, on Monday, 21st August, 2006, which started at 7.30.p.m.

Present: Councillors G Capstick, P Shaw, A Hulme, A Lucas, A Shepherd and J Pearson-Snape District Councillor B Woof, County Councillor R Bingham, the Clerk and 5 members of the public.

396 Apologies for absence were received from Cllr.T Parker.

397 The Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 26^th June, 2006 were signed as a true record.

398 Matters arising from the Minutes.

· Weeds in Field of Dreams. Mr Cleeve from ELS has tried to make contact with the Clerk. She has returned his calls and been in at agreed times, but still not managed to speak with him, therefore she has filled in the DEFRA complaint form and sent it off. – The Council wish the Clerk to ring DEFRA and send Mr Cleeve a copy of the complaint form.

· The Clerk has created a book for the writing of ‘Declaration of Interests’ as specified in the ‘Standing Orders’ but feels it isn’t necessary, as the minutes record the same. In addition there is a file showing copies of the completed ‘Declaration of Interest’ forms that the Councillors have submitted to SLDC and this is brought to each meeting. – The Clerk has been asked to check with CALC about the legal requirements.

· The Clerk has checked with Debbie Storrs office, at SLDC regarding the legality of the Gateway vote, which was made, under the Planning Applications agenda item 378, and also with CALC and both have advised that one can be expected to vote if necessary on a planning item, which has been listed on the Agenda, in order to ascertain the Council’s overall view.

· The Clerk has checked on the protocol that District and County Councillors should follow, regarding speaking at a Parish Council Meeting. They may speak at the invitation of the Chairman.

399 The following payment was authorised:

SLDC - lighting - cheque100034, £42.41.

Dallam School £1 - peppercorn rent for the playground field, 2006/7 - defer payment.

400 The Equipment Report. The mowing machine has undergone emergency repairs and there will be an invoice presented in due course.

401 Planning Applications and correspondence received:

· SL/20060793Halforth Farm, Heversham. Agricultural Livestock building. - No objections.

· SL/2006/0807. Plumtree Hall, Heversham. Alterations to ground floor bedrooms to provide ensuite facilities. - No objections.

· SL/2006/0800. College Green, Heversham. Revised siting of Static caravans. – No objections.

· SL/2006/0876. Rowell Farm, Milnthorpe. Livestock Building. – The Clerk is to write to enquire why it is located so far away from the farm, why it is open sided, are there services, will the effluent be properly dealt with. The Councillors will make a site visit and therefore want a copy of the map provided. The Clerk is to contact Councillors with the reply from planning.

· Land west of Hillside, Woodhouse Lane, Heversham. Two dwellings with amended access. - Permit granted.

· Chestnut House Cottage, Heverham. Installation of French doors to rear - withdrawn.

402 Gateway proposals and implications to Heversham. Following Councillor representation at the recent meeting about Gateway, it was felt important to have a village meeting to explain what it will mean to the village and acquire a feeling of how the residents want the Councillors to respond to the planning application. The Clerk is to try to arrange a meeting in the large hall of the Athenaeum for 19^th September or the 21^st, 22^nd, 23^rd. She is to invite two representatives each to attend from SLOG, L&K, and the Westmorland Showground.

403 Athenaeum Financial Report. The income and expenditure are quite well balanced now, with the rental from the mothers and toddlers group, plus a few children’s parties in the hall. £2859 was raised at the Barbeque and it was such a success that several parishioners have suggested it be an Annual event.

Robin Sisson has applied for a grant from the Rhoda Thompson and Leasgill Quarry Funds. Everyone on the Committee has done something to raise money, so thanks to them all.

404 The Playground Financial Report other playground matters. The Playground fund is currently at zero. However, there is an unclaimed grant of £740.77. The Clerk is to ask Cllr. Parker to request that the money continues to be reserved for the playground equipment. The seat in the playground has not yet been repaired, but the wood has been ordered and so it should be restored shortly. Everything else seemed fine. The inspection book has been passed to Cllr. Shepherd.

405 Quarry Wood. St Peter’s School wishes to use the wood for studies and is prepared to make the woodland safe and cover any risks to the children. The Clerk has checked with the Council’s Insurers and it is the Councils responsibility to ensure the woodland is safe for the purpose, although the school can contribute towards the cost. Risks must be assessed by a competent person. There is information for guidance on the Health and Safety Executive Website.

406 Road Safety Issues. The Head of St Peter’s School has responded to the Councils enquiry, to say that they do feel that there should be some measures taken to reduce risk to the children. 20 mph by the school together with flashing lights are suggested and in addition they have requested that a barrier be placed at the bottom of the steps that lead from the lane to the main road footpath, to stop children running straight out onto the road.

407 Proposed amendments to "Standing Orders". Cllr. Shaw has added in a new public participation item into the Standing Orders. This was thought to be acceptable. He has also incorporated the addendum about planning into the main body. The Clerk suggested some updating on the wording and also asked that the item on Agenda be changed to tie in with the ruling from the “Parish Councillor’s Guide”. Cllr. Shaw asked her to check with CALC that the ruling in the guide was correct, as the original pro-forma Standing Orders had been supplied by them.

408 Correspondence.

• Temporary Road Closure. U5337 Moss Side Road, Heversham. 16th October 2006. -Noted.
• Provision of Recycling Banks in South Lakeland. - Two sites were considered, namely the Blue Bell and Athenaeum car parks, although neither were considered to be perfect. The Clerk will however, write to suggest them.
• Invitation from CALC to join a pilot project with CCC in the maintenance of public rights of way. - Heversham has already participated.
• Draft Cumbria Rights of Way Improvement Plan - Cllr. Shaw took to study.
• SLDC Minutes of 128th Meeting held on 15th June 2006
• Statement of Community Involvement - Lake District National Park.
• Cumbria Highways Magazine.
• Morecambe Bay Acute Medical Services Review - Public Consultation Document.
• Calc Circular and Quality Parish information.

· Clerk and Councils Direct.

· Gambling Act 2005 - Consultation of Draft Statement of Licensing Policy.

· Local Transport Plan 2006 - 2011. - To pass to Cllr. Parker.

409 Items for information.

· There will be a Beach clean at Heversham Marshes. Volunteers appreciated. Further information from Helen Annan on 01539 740430.

· Cllr. Pearson-Snape wondered what the Councillors thought of her idea to get the villagers involved in creating a ‘Community Essence’. It was thought that this might be a fun thing to do, as long as it is not created for material gain.

410 The date of the Leasgill Quarry Annual Meeting is 18/09/05 at 7.30.p.m. at Cllr. Bingham’s home; The Smithy, Ackenthwaite.

The date for the next Parish Council Meeting is 25^th September 2006.

Mrs Denise Challenor.

Clerk to the Council.

Tel: 01524 761824