Heversham Parish Council

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held in the Athenaeum, on Monday, 25^th September 2006, which started at 7.30 pm.

Present: Councillors G Capstick, P Shaw, A Hulme, A Lucas, A Shepherd, T Parker, District Councillor B Woof and the Clerk.

A minutes silence was observed, as a mark of respect for Betty Tyson, who died last night. Her contribution to the smooth running of the village, have been great and much appreciated.

411 Apologies for absence were received from County Councillor R Bingham and Councillor J Pearson-Snape

412 The Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 21st August 2006 were signed as a true record.

413 Matters arising from the Minutes

· The Clerk has checked with CALC and the Agenda need only be displayed three clear days before the meeting, in a conspicuous place within the Parish. The Councillors agree that this should be amended in the “Standing Orders” as it would then allow for the Agenda to be as up to date as possible.

· CALC has confirmed that a separate book for recording the “Declarations of Interests” at a meeting is no longer needed, as they must be recorded in the Minutes. The Clerk should hold copies for reference, at the meetings, of the ‘Declaration of Financial and Other Interest’ forms which were submitted to SLDC’s Monitoring Officer, when each Councillor was appointed.

· The Clerk has written to Mrs Blakely to suggest that Cllr. Shaw meets with a school representative to assess the condition of ‘Quarry Wood’ for use by the school children. She has also informed Mrs Blakely, that the Council and Cllr. Bingham are trying to ensure that a traffic barrier be placed where requested. Councillor Bingham has sent a message to the meeting, to say that there is possible funding for the 20 mph signs if required. This prompted a discussion, and the Clerk was instructed to request they be placed on the short stretch of road outside the school.

· The Clerk has telephoned DEFRA regarding the weeds on the “Field of Dreams” and was informed that there was a backlog of correspondence waiting to be opened and logged. Therefore, there was no record on the system of the Council’s letter having arrived. The member of staff would try and locate it. The problems were prioritized and the first thing that DEFRA would do would be to contact the Mr Cleeve of ELS. The Clerk has already sent a copy of the Councils complaint to Mr Cleeve.

· The Clerk has written to Mr Kitchen of SLDC regarding possible sites for recycling , as requested.

414 ‘Leasgill Quarry’ Grant recommendations.

Grants Paid During 2005/6			Amount
The Athenaum - Leasgill	Decoration of hall, kitchen etc		800.00
Heversham Playground.	Phase 3, cushionfloor, etc		1,100.00
Minthorpe Parish Council	Heritage Plaques		800.00
Milnthorpe Parish Council	Playground improvements		1,000.00
Total			£3,700.00
Grants Still to be Claimed
Heversham Parish Council	Playground improvements/still required		840.77
Interest/dividends available for distribution.
		2005/2006	2006/2007
C/f from last year for admin. costs		£ 10.41	54.17
Bank Account Interest		£ 336.55	324.10
COIF Fixed Interest Fund dividends		£ 1,676.58	1,508.92
COIF Investment Fund dividends		£ 2,480.63	2,681.45
Grants made - no longer required		£ -	0.00
SubTotal		£ 4,504.17	4,568.64
Less Expenses	Honorarium & hire of Meeting place	£ 270.00	£ 250.00
Less Capital Repayment		£ 500.00	£ 500.00
Less Sub Total		£ 770.00	£ 750.00
Total Available for Distribution		£ 3,734.17	£3,818.64
Requests for Funds 2006
		Amount	Amount
Applicant	Purpose	Requested	Recom'ded
The Athenaum - Leasgill	Servery refurbishment	2,600.00	1,900.00
Minthorpe Parish Council	Heritage Plaques	1,200.00	950.00
Minthorpe Cricket Club	Relaying of the cricket pitches	8,000.00	950.00
Total		11,800.00	£3,800.00

All the recommendations were approved by the Council.

The remaining balance of £18.64 will be carried forward.

Cllr. Shaw informed the Council that the COIF investments have gone up by 6.9% over the year.

415 The following payments were approved:

Rental of playground, Dallam School, £1, cheque 100033..

Clerks expenses and salary - £509.82, cheque 100035.

Decoration of the Athenaeum, Allan Hodgson, £878.90, cheque 100036.

416 Gateway. Cllr. Capstick declared that he is Director of the County Show.

Opinions were gathered from the parishioners at the meeting held about the Gateway project, on the 2l/9/06 in the Athenaeum. It was assessed that the majority of the residents who attended the meeting and several that had voiced opinions to Councillors at other times, some by letter, were against the project going ahead. It was therefore decided to put a further objection forward, based on the fact that it contravenes the Local Plan. Cllr. Lucas will draft a letter and circulate it to the Council members for approval, before the Clerk submits it to Planning.

417 The tender submitted by Mr Martin Tyson for the raking of the additional bark round the swings in the children’s playground at £120 for 2006/07, was approved.

418 The Projected Accounts to 31/03/07. The Clerk explained that there would now be £120 extra expenditure due to the raking of the bark around the swings. The lawn mower repair costs were unknown but hopefully it would be within the £200 reserved. There were also the unexpected repairs to the playground seat to pay for. The small amount of interest on the current account had stopped and she had yet to receive a reply to her query about it. Everything else was according to plan.

419 The amount to be added onto the Precept to support the Athenaeum; is to be the amount approved by the parishioners at the Annual Parish Assembly, of £3,500. This will not automatically be an annual request.

420 Planning Applications and correspondence received, so far:

· Rowell Farm. Following the receipt of the answers to the Council’s queries being supplied, no objections were made by the Council. Permit has now been granted.

· SL/2006/0999/JCH. No. 1 Woodhouse, Milnthorpe, single storey extension. – No objections.

· Halforth Farm, Heversham. Permit granted.

421 Plans for Remembrance Day. The Clerk is to order a wreath and the sum of £25 will be donated. Cllr. Parker will lay it with anyone else who can attend, at 11 am. on 11^th November.

422 Correspondence.

· The Parish Remuneration Panel wishes the Council to consider the issue of allowances or expenses for its Members. – The Clerk will write and request that the Councillors wish to be able to claim expenses and that the Chairman be able to take a Chairman’s Allowance of up to £100 for the disbursement of his duties.

· Code of Conduct Training offered to Parish Councils. Members of the Standards board are prepared to visit individual Parishes to provide training for it’s Councillors - is this required? – Yes, the Clerk is to request it and suggest the use of the Athenaeum as a possible venue for training.

· CALC’s notice of 129^th Meeting on 28/9/06 in Kendal Town Hall at 7.15 pm. with Agenda.

· Neighbourhood Forum. Summary of meeting held on 5/9/06.

· Information on ‘Connexions’ fully kitted out mobile bus for future youth projects. Tel Pat Borland, Kendal 792868.

· Overhead Wires Newletter.

· Calc Annual General Meeting, 4/11/06 at Castle Green Hotel, Kendal, 10.30 am. Circular and Training Programme. - No training of interest.

· Delivery Report on Cumbria’s First Local Transport Plan 2000-2005.

· Clerk and Councils Direct magazine.

423 Items for information.

· It is the 60^th Anniversary of the Village Sports Day next year. As it was originally funded by the Parish Council the Clerk is to put it on the Agenda for discussion next month.

The next Parish Council Meeting is to be held on, Monday, October 30^th 2006, in the Athenaeum.

Denise Challenor (Mrs)

Clerk to the Council Tel: 01524 761824