Heversham Parish Council

Minutes of the Annual Parish Council Meeting held in the Athenaeum, on Monday, 12th May, 2008, which started at 7.30.p.m

Present: Gordon Capstick, Peter Shaw, Tom Grindey, Adrian Bland, Ailsa Hulme, Andrew Lucas, District Councillor B Woof, the Clerk and five members of the public.

 

609  The “Acceptance of Office” forms were completed by the elected Councillors and witnessed by the Clerk before the meeting commenced.  The Councillors also completed their “Declaration of Interest” forms.

 

610  Chairman. Cllr. Capstick opened the meeting and asked for nominations for Chairman.  Peter Shaw was proposed, seconded and unanimously voted the new Chairman.   Cllr. Shaw signed his “Acceptance of Office” and took the Chair.

 

611  Cllr. Shaw asked for nominations for Vice Chairman.  Ailsa Hulme was proposed, seconded and accepted the office of Vice Chairman.  At this point she wished to make it known that although her house was up for sale she did intend to continue living in the village.

 

612  Apologies for absence were received from R Bingham and Tony Parker.  The Clerk resolved to take Tony Parker’s “Acceptance of Office” and “Declaration of Interest” forms to his home after the meeting.

 

613  Committee Representatives.

·        Playground matters will be reported by Adrian Bland.

·        Ailsa Hulme and Tom Grindey will report on the Athenaeum meetings. 

 

614  The Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 28th April 2008 were signed as a true record after correcting the spelling of T Grindey in Minutes 606 and 607.

 

615  Matters arising from the Minutes were deferred until the public had been allowed to speak.

 

616  Matters raised by members of the public for future consideration.

Two letters were handed to the Clerk from members of the public attending.  The Clerk was instructed to read the first out to the Councillors. It addressed the problems perceived in the Core Strategy proposals, such as the 79 homes proposed being unsustainable, increasing traffic, frequent flooding on some of the land, radon gas, visual impact, and the proven small need for affordable homes, when in fact 30% of the 79 houses would be classed as affordable, therefore exceeding demand.

The Clerk was asked to send copies of the two letters to each Councillor before the Core Strategy meeting on 23rd May.

 

617  Matters arising from the Minutes

·        Core Strategy. The meeting regarding the Core Strategy had had to be arranged on the 23rd May, though not ideal.  Cllr.’s Hulme, Grindey and Capstick were not able to attend.  Tony Parker, although also not being able to attend, was preparing a presentation for the meeting to illustrate the dangerous access to any houses built off Woodhouse Lane.  Cllr. Hulme had attended the Milnthorpe meeting on the 9th and raised various points there.  There were numerous concerns voiced.  Cllr. Shaw stated that he had prepared a leaflet to be delivered to every home and would email it to Cllr. Hulme for her approval, and would ask Cllr Parker to print and arrange the delivery of it.   The deadline for comments is 30th May, however, one can comment now and again after the meeting if views change. Councillor Lucas will record views expressed at the meeting on a flip chart, after which, Cllr. Shaw and Lucas will form a letter to forward to the planners, to express the general feeling of the village. 

 

·        Housing Survey.  Judith Derbyshire can attend the June meeting to give the final results of the survey.

·        Appraisal of Conservation Area.  Mr Darlington is willing to attend the June meeting and will require about half an hour to speak to the Council and obtain their comments.

·        The VAT refund has now arrived.

·        The repair of the WI seat will shortly be completed.

·        A verbal thank-you was expressed to the Council from the “First Responders” for supporting their request for a parking bay near St Mary’s Well.

·        The road sweeper has not yet been to the village.

·        The Clerk has checked with the Council’s insurance company, regarding whether there is a need to list Quarry Wood as an asset.  There is no need to list land owned by the Parish but all the public spaces need weekly inspections by the Council.     

 

618  Equipment report.  Nothing to report, Cllr. Grindey will inspect the playground until the next meeting.

 

619  Playground Financial report.

Fund raising has not been as strong as hoped. However £3,500 was taken at the event at Ninezergh Farm which will be split between the playground and the Air Ambulance.  Leasgill Quarry will again be approached for a grant.

 

620  Athenaeum Financial report.

A report was circulated to the Councillors prior to the meeting which shows that the finances are quite solvent at the moment.  The cost of power is a concern as it could go up substantially.  There will be not barbeque on 21st June;  it has been changed to a fun night on July 19th.

 

621  Problems with parking in the village.  The main bottle-neck is outside Dallam School at home time, when as many as eight buses have been seen in a row and making overtaking very difficult and hazardous.  Cllr. Shaw will write to the Headmaster and ask what the situation is with regard to the buses.  It was thought that yellow lines could cause more problems.  Parked vehicles in Crow Wood opposite the old Blue Bell, does not cause any great difficulty and it was agreed that no further action should be taken.

 

622  Payments:

·        Allianz insurance cost has been raised by a little over £4 to £658 to cover the new picnic benches in the playground –cheque100068.

·        Athenaeum – vat refund, £1133.34, cheque 100069.

 

623  Planning Applications and correspondence received since the last meeting, so far:

·        SL/2008/0237. Curlew cottage, Haverflatts Lane –Replacement windows –no objections.

·        SL/2008/0407. Cobwebs, Woodhouse Lane – single storey extension, erection of carport & formation of new vehicular entrance – no objections.

           

624  Correspondence.

·        Re: Hincaster Branch Line Multi user Path Proposal. There is a meeting on 22nd May at 8pm in the Athenaeum to forward the idea and form an official support group. – It was thought that some Dugg Hill residents were not comfortable with the idea.  Dallam tower is not keen to allow it to stretch beyond the railway bridge.

·        Capita Symonds write to inform that Heversham’s Public Rights of Way are to be improved.  The work has been identified and the majority of the work will be carried out at no cost to the land owner. – The Clerk is to write to enquire what work is to be done.

·        Cumbria CVS News – April 08.

·        Amey Mouchel advise of the alteration to the lay-by eastbound at Sedgewick railway bridge.

·        CCC inform of the Highway Stewards scheme – Cllr. Shaw will read.

·        CALC’s  guide to planning – Cllr. Shaw and Hulme will read.

 

625  Items for information.

·        PC 1647 John McAnney has been in touch with the Clerk to introduce himself as the new local policeman.  He is currently using radar in the village as he knows speeding is a concern.

·        The road signs on Woodhouse Lane have not been attended to yet.

 

626  The next Parish Council meeting is on 30th June.2008.

 

Clerk to the Council  - Mrs Denise Challenor, Tel: 01524 761824