Heversham Parish Council

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting which was held in the Athenaeum, on Monday, 26^th January, 2009 at 7.30.p.m.

Present: Councillors: Peter Shaw; Tom Grindey; Ailsa Hulme; Andrew Lucas; Tony Parker, Adrian Bland; the Clerk and no members of the public.

697 Apologies for absence from District Councillor Brenda Woof.

698 The Draft Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 24^th November, 2008 were signed as a true record.

699 Matters raised by members of the public for future consideration. – None.

700 Reports

a) Removal of moles from the playground. (Cllr. Bland) - Hopefully all gone with thanks to Bridget Pickthall. The Zebedee seat and the fixing post for the roundabout have been installed in the playground. Cllr. Grindey will put a warning cone over the roundabout post.

b) Insurance claim for replacement of playground seat. (Clerk) – The insurance company will pay £189 and Councillor Hulme has kindly offered to pay up to £100 towards it. Cllr. Shaw will assess the size required and contact the Clerk regarding the order of the design selected.

c) Attendance at seminar on planning (Cllr Shaw) - Cllr. Shaw attended and distributed information to the Councillors. The Parish Councils’ views are material and there was a plea to make their responses clear and on time with some guidance given as to what considerations should be made.

d) Freedom of Information Act- new legislation. (Clerk) - The council agreed to adopt the new scheme in October and the Clerk has asked John Cushnie to put the list of Information available on the website. It has been displayed in the Athenaeum since 1/1/09 with a notice of explanation on the main notice board. Cllr. Lucas has spoken to John Cushnie about access to the website, he is willing to do any updating. Cllr. Lucas will check that he is still able to spare the time. The Councillors will look at the cuurent website before the next meeting.

e) Neighbourhood Forum at Preston Patrick (Cllr Shaw) – Cllr. Shaw attended and expressed Heversham’s concerns about the developments of the Dallam site. The head teacher will attend the Parish Assembly.

f) Highway Steward (Cllr. Parker) – Cllr. Parker is currently recording work to be done by the Steward in February; there are several pot holes on his list already.

g) Any relevant matters from District Councillor Brenda Woof. – District Councillor Woof was not able to attend but did give the information that SLDC unfortunately have a hole in their Budget due to their investments receiving less interest than forecast and that they are still working on a solution.

h) Any relevant matters from County Councillor Roger Bingham. - Several issues were to be raised, including floods between the Blue Bell and Panorama, Gritting, Grit Bins and Dog Fouling.but most unusually he did not arrive.

701 The Plans for the Parish Assembly.

The Clerk will prepare the Parish Assembly Agenda and send it to Cllr. Parker who will produce the leaflets. The Councillors will then distribute. Mr Holdup will be one ofthe guest speakers to talk about the development of Heversham’s Dallam school site. It is hoped County Councillor Bingham, District Councillor Woof and the police will give their usual reports, as will the Chairman. The Clerk is to invite Bridget Pickthall to speak about Trailway. Cllr. Hulme will ensure that someone gives an Athenaeum Report and there will be an opportunity for the parishioners to give their opinions about the future funding of the Athenaeum: she added that the sound system is now installed, so presenters can use laptops. Cllr. Bland will organize a Playground Report.

702 The public meeting regarding the LDF allocation of land. This will take place at 7 pm on Friday 6^th February. Cllr. Parker gives his apologies in advance. County Councillor Roger Bingham has circulated an information leaflet to every house and a notice for the Parish has been put in the Parish magazine. It seems that SLDC are now having second thoughts about Heversham being a Local Service Centre, so there may not be as many houses built as first thought. District Councillor Woof will be speaking and Cllr. Shaw presenting and inviting comments. Cllr. Lucas will take the Minutes though Cllr. Shaw will provide the flip chart and pens for it. Cllr. Grindey will organize the use of microphones.

703 Is there a need for more grit bins in the village and where they should be sited. - It was decided that they are probably necessary near the Athenaeum; Dugg Hill; the Blue Bell and Holly Close. It is also important to ensure that the main road through the village is gritted, particularly as buses would not use it at times during the recent cold spell. County Cllr. Bingham has been consulted about it by Cllr. Grindey.

704 There were no payments.

705 Whether to replace the notice board with a larger one. The Clerk explained that the current board is too small, hard to stick in and remove pins and it allows rain and moisture to spoil literature. Mr and Mrs Shepherd are willing to have a larger board. The Clerk will select some suitable ones and she and the Chairman will see if any are acceptable to them. Council also discussed alternative sites for a notice board.

706 Correspondence received since the last meeting:

a) St Peter’s Church write to ask the Council’s opinion on the possible use of the Old School building. Cllr. Shaw will reply to say that the Council has no suggestions.

b) Mr Darlington writes to reply to the Council’s request to consider making parts of Leasgill a conservation area, to say that when he has completed his final draft appraisal and boundary review statement, he will again consult with the Council, probably in early February 2009.

c) Invitation to a CALC Conference for South Lakeland parishes. To discuss the proposals for Community Empowerment and Locality Working in S.L. 28/2/09 at the Castle Green Hotel. – Cllr. Shaw hopes to attend.

d) Kent Estuary Neighbourhood Forum, summary of meeting held on 9/12/08.

e) Leaflet entitled “NW Helping you with your journeys.” Dec. to Feb. 09.

f) Cumbria Constabulary write to update on Developing Neighbourhood policing.

g) Waymarker.

h) Overhead Wires Project. Newsletter November 2008.

i) CALC gives details of training courses available.

j) SLDC write to explain the remuneration for Parish Councillors.

k) SLDC , CCC and CALC writes to thank those who attended the Parish Summits between Sept. and Oct. 08.The comments and observations are now available on www.suthlakeland.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=3001 or by telephoning 01539 733333, ext’ 7113.

l) Charity Commission News.

m) Communities in Control. Code of recommended practice on local authority publicity. A consultation ending 12^th March 09. . www.communities.gov.uk

n)Clerk and Councils Direct. January 09.

o) Rock Reports. Winter 08.

p) Cumbria CVS News.

q) Cumbria Highways Publication.

r) Resource Cumbria. Review on recycling.

s) Wickstead Brochure.

t) CCC Local Transport Plan 2006-11. 2008 Progress report.

u) CALC Circular

707 Planning Matters:

a) SL/2008/1195 Wheatclose, Leasgill. Alterations and extension, retrospective – No objections.

b) To note the following Planning decisions notified by SLDC:

· Dallam Barn, High Haverflatts. Installation of storm doors to existing open front porch.

c) To note that the following Planning Applications were dealt with under the provisions of Standing Order 29, and comments made as indicated:

· SL2008/1080 The Stables, High Haverflatts. Conservatory - Retrospective. Comments by 24/12/08. – No objections.

708 Items for information.

· Next Agenda should cover the Parish Assembly again and the notice board.

· The amount of litter and dog dirt left on Woodhouse Lane towards Lower Haverflatts is becoming a big problem. Particulary, bags with dirt, left in hedgerows and dirt deposited at roadsides where walkers go.

709 The date of the next meeting is 23rd February 2009.

Denise Challenor. Tel. 01524 761824