Heversham Parish Council

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting which was held in the Athenaeum, on Monday, 30th June 2007 and which started at 7.30.p.m

 

Present: Peter Shaw; Tom Grindey; Adrian Bland; Ailsa Hulme; Andrew Lucas; Tony Parker; Guest Speakers Judith Derbyshire, Lucy Reynolds and Mr Graham Darlington; County Councillor Roger Bingham; District Councillor Brenda Woof; the Clerk and fourteen members of the public.

 

627  Apologies for absence - None.

 

628  The minutes of the meeting held on Monday 12th May, 2008 were signed as a true record.

 

629  Matters arising from the Minutes.

·        Dallam School had replied to Cllr. Shaws letter about the traffic problems at school home times.  He states that the bus parking problems will finish when the sixth form moves to Milnthorpe in 2009.

·        Cllr. Grindey has investigated the WI seat which is loose and has discovered that the current seat has never been bolted on.  Cllr. Hulme will raise the issue at the WI meeting.

·        No road sweeper still. – Clerk will chase.

·        The road signs have been painted.

·        No response yet, to the query about which local ‘Rights of Way’, are to be improved. – Clerk to ask again.

 

630  Mr Darlington from SLDC who has come to explain about and obtain information, at the start of the consultation period for his appraisal of the conservation areas in the village.  The purpose of his work is to ensure that the heritage is preserved and re-appraise the village of Heversham’s architecture and open spaces, with his focus being mainly around the church. He wishes to include some new areas and exclude Holly Close, which was previously inside the boundary. The residents who may be affected by boundary changes have been consulted and can write giving their views; as those in the conservation area could be subject to restrictions when applying to do works to their properties. However, the purpose of the restrictions is to raise designs which could also raise property values. Leasgill is not currently being reviewed but could possibly in the future.  It is likely to be three or four months before the changes get to Cabinet.  

 

631  Judith Derbyshire and Lucy Reynolds from ‘Cumbria Rural Housing Trust’ gave the results of the ‘Housing Needs’ survey for Heversham which was undertaken six months ago.  It revealed that five families would be in need of affordable housing in the future. Mrs Derbyshire urged the Council to give consideration as to where the housing could be built, taking into account traffic and sewerage implications and local opinion and suggested that those in need of housing in the future  should go on the housing register as early as possible with SLDC. She gave reassurance that there would be permanent restrictions on the affordable housing built, to keep it an asset for the village and suggested setting up a working party to be pro-active and find suitable sites.  It was considered that too much affordable housing could be provided and perhaps this is an issue for discussion with Mr Whittaker who is in charge. The Clerk will make it an Agenda item next meeting.

 

632  The Core Strategy meeting held on the 23rd May was extremely lively and well attended.  Cllr. Shaw and Lucas composed a letter to be send to SLDC giving the points raised at the meeting and from the letters submitted by residents of Heversham and Leasgill.  Sites will be looked at early next year when there will be further consultations.

 

633  The date of the Leasgill Quarry deadline for claims is 31st August, application for funds deadline is September 5th and the Annual Meeting is 15th September 08. The venue is Cllr. Bingham’s home and Heversham’s Council representatives will be Peter Shaw, Ailsa Hulme and Andrew Lucas. The meeting will start at 7.30 pm.

 

634  The dispensation request to be sent to SLDC’s Debbie Storr regarding the Council’s ability to be Trustees of Leasgill Quarry Trust Fund and Athenaeum was sign by the attending Cllrs.

 

635  The following payments were authorised:

·        Dallam School - £1, rental for the playground 2008-9, cheque 100070.

·        D Challenor – Clerks salary and expenses for 3 months, £605.68 (this includes the two fees of £15 for the new Councillors and new Chairman’s courses), cheque 100071.

·        SLDC Lighting - £66, cheque, 100072.

 

636  Planning Applications and correspondence since the last meeting..

·        SL/2008/0495 Crossfield Cottage, Heversham – Extension to detached garage and replacement of roof. – Circulated by email, no objections received.

·        SL/2008/0612.  Plane Tree Cottage, Leasgill – Conservatory. – No objections.

 

The chairman suggested that the standing orders be changed to accommodate a different way to deal with any planning applications that need a response before the next meeting.  He feels that the current way is not satisfactory.  He and the Clerk will work on the details before the next meeting.

 

637  The Highway Stewards scheme, was given consideration as a way of getting small maintenance jobs done in the village.  County Cllr. Bingham suggested that the Lengthsman’s scheme might also be worth considering as the Parish Council would be able to direct the work required, whereas the Highway Steward would be organized by the County Council.  County Cllr. Bingham said that he would be able to allocated funds for some of the work done by the Lengthsman in Heversham but the remaining funds would have to be raised from the Precept. (Any expenditure approved by Cllr. Bingham should go to Nick Raymond of CCC for payment.)

A contact person for instructing the Highway Steward has yet to be decided. 

 

638  Correspondence received since the last meeting: -

·        The Parish Remuneration panel wishes to know if members would like to continue being able to claim expenses and asks it to reconsider the issues of claiming allowances for its members. – The Clerk will write to request expenses be paid but not allowances.

·        Core Strategy preferred Options Summary May 2008. www.lake.district.gov.uk\ldf

·        Information about the proposal to place up to four turbines at Sillfield.   www.whirlwindrenewables.com – Not thought to be so close as to affect Heversham greatly.

·        Cumbria CVS - Your News.

·        Clerk and Councils Direct

·        Community Speed Watch.  Notes from a telephone conversation with the traffic Management Officer, Roger Mallett, in February 2008.

·        Overview and Scrutiny at SLDC – Annual Report 2007-8.

·        Mental Health Services in Cumbria. A consultation on further improvements to services for Adults.

·        CALC Circular and Minutes of 135th Meeting on 6th March 2008 . – Cllr. Shaw drew attention to the Audit Seminar scheduled for in September.

·        ‘Link up’ Newsletter.

·        Rock Reports –News from Northern Rock foundation.

·        Agenda of the Standards Committee meeting -24/6/08.

 

639    Items for information.

·        Cllr. Shaw reported back from his training course for new Chairmen and said that our Agenda needs updating and that he and the Clerk should do some work on it.

·        Tom Grindey has been on the new Councillors course and found it very helpful.

·        Tom Grindey has been inspecting the playground equipment this month and has found that a bolt on the Bridge needs tightening.  P Shaw will organize.

·         There are moles again on the playground, Adrian Bland will speak to George Handley about it.

·        The land nicknamed “The Field of Dreams” is full on noxious weeds again. – The Clerk to remind Defra.

·        The footpath on the west side of Princes Way is treacherous when it’s been raining.

·        Cllr. Hulme is soon to move to Hincaster.

 

640  The date of the next Parish Council Meeting is the 18th August 2008.

 

The Clerk: Denise Challenor Tel. 01524 761824