Heversham Parish Council

Draft Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting to be held in the Athenaeum, on Monday, 18th May, 2009 starting at 7.30.p.m.

 

Present: Councillors: Peter Shaw; Tom Grindey; Andrew Lucas; Tony Parker, Adrian Bland; County Councillor Roger Bingham, the Clerk and no members of the public.

 

744  The retiring Chairman Peter Shaw opened the meeting and invited nominations for the office of Chairman. Peter Shaw was proposed by Cllr. Bland and seconded by Cllr. Grindey. He accepted the office and the Clerk witnessed the signing of his Declaration of Acceptance.

 

745  Cllr. Shaw then asked for nominations for Vice-Chairman. Cllr. Hulme although absent had indicated that she was willing to stand. She was proposed by Cllr. Lucas and seconded by Cllr. Parker and elected to receive the position.

 

746  Apologies for absence were received from Gordon Caspstick and Ailsa Hulme.

 

747  There were no declarations of Members’ interests relating to any items appearing on the agenda.

 

748  The Draft Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 27th April, 2009 were signed by the Chairman as a true record.

 

749 Matters raised by members of the public for future consideration.- No members of the public present.

 

750  Representatives for the:

Athenaeum Committee. - Cllr. Hulme and Cllr. Grindey

Leasgill Quarry Committee.- Cllr. Lucas; Cllr. Hulme and Cllr. Shaw.

 

751  Reports

a)      Replacing the current notice board. (Cllr. Shaw) – No progress: the Council is giving time to receive comments from the parishioners in reaction to the notice placed in the current one, expressing the intention to place the new noticeboard on the wall of the Athenauem.

b)      Highway Steward (Cllr. Parker) -Not due to do any work until June.

c)      Website (Cllr. Lucas) – Cllr. Lucas has purchased the domain name www.heversham.org.uk and will shortly invoice the Council for it. He would like comments and guidance to enable him to develop the website as the Council would wish and he is willing to update it when appropriate. He will send the Councillors a “link” to enable them to look at the site. The URL will be registered to Andrew Lucas. When the site is ready to launch a fee of £70-£90 will need to be paid to a hosting company. 

d)      Land Allocations – privately owned important open spaces.  – The response date was before the Council meeting, the Chairman sent a personal reply, stating that both sites should be retained as “privately owned important open spaces”.  The Council agreed with this response.

e)      Playground Report (Cllr. Bland) When the grass has grown over the matting sufficiently the roundabout and ‘Jess the Cat’ will be put in place.  Cllr. Bland has taken the playground inspection book to record the next month’s inspections.

f)        Relevant matters from District Councillor Brenda Woof. – Absent.

g)      Relevant matters from County Councillor Roger Bingham. – Potholes and floods are being attended to and Capita is also doing some road work on Dugg Hill.

 

752 The job specification for the new Clerk has been circulated and found to be acceptable.  The post will be advertised on the notice boards and in the parish magazine and CALC circular.  The closing date for applications made to the Clerk is 15th June, 09. Cllr.’s Shaw and Parker and the Clerk will be on the interview panel. The Clerks email address is heversham@tiscali.co.uk and postal address is: Tanglewood, New Barns Close, Arnside. Te. 01524 761824.

 

753 The quotes for the replacement of the mower obtained by Cllr.s Bland and Grindey have been considered and Cllr. Bland is going to try and arrange a demonstration of the favourite, to ensure that it will perform well.  The cost will be approximately £1500.

 

754  Finance.

a)            Audit.  The accounts for 2008/09 have been circulated to members of the Council and considered.  The internal audit has been carried out and the Auditor considers them to be satisfactory.

b)              Section 1 and 2 of the Audit Commisssions Annual Return were completed and signed by the Chairman and Clerk.

c)            The following payments were authorised:

·        Allianz Insurance plc £741.12, cheque 100091.  This includes the cost of adding the roundabout and ‘Jess the Cat’ springer onto the policy.

 

755  Correspondence received since the last meeting:

a)  Natural England responds to the Council’s letter about the “Field of Dreams” to say that they have contacted the owner and would like the Council to inform them if he takes action to rectify the situation. (Tim Farron’s office has acknowledged receipt of his copy letter.)

b)  CALC Circular and notice of their meeting on 18th June in Kendal Town Hall from 7pm. -Cllr. Shaw cannot go to the meeting but he will ask Cllr. Hulme is she is able.

c)  Information pack “get set for digital”.

d)  Cumbria CVS News.

e)  Clerk & Councils Direct

f)   Information on Public Sector Equality Duties.  Equalityhumanrights.com

g)  ‘Link up’ publication

h)  Komplay brochure showing children’s play equipment.

Mrs Woodend writes from Development at SLDC about privately owned important open spaces. – This has been address in minute 751d)

 

756  Planning Matters:

a) SL2009/0393. The Stable, High Haverflatts, Milnthorpe.  Siting of two garden sheds.  – No objections.

b)      Planning decisions notified by SLDC:

Dallam School, Heversham.Re:  Discharge of conditions.  – Noted.

c)      Planning Applications dealt with under the provisions of Standing Order 29. - None.

 

757  Items for information.

·        There is a dead deer decaying on the roadside near Levens Hall.  The Clerk has made notes of the correct location and will telephone environmental health at SLDC.

·        Nothing has happened yet as regards the sign Low Haverflatts being corrected.

·        The Chairman would like to discuss at the next meeting how to make the Council meetings shorter.

 

758  The date of the next meeting is 29th June 2009.  This will be the present Clerk’s final meeting.

 

Clerk to the Council:

Denise Challenor.  Tel. 01524 761824

 

 

 

HEVERSHAM PARISH COUNCIL

 

Draft Minutes of the  meeting of the Athenaeum Trustees which preceeded the Parish Council Meeting on Monday 18th May 2009, in the Athenaeum, Leasgill.

 

1.  Apologies for absence were received from Councillor’s Hulme and Capstick.

 

The Minutes of the meeting held on 23rd Feruary 2009 were signed as a true record.

 

2.  There were no declarations of Members’ interests relating to any items appearing on the agenda other than that that members have a dispensation for.

 

3.      The Financial report for the next quarter of the financial year, ending 30th April 2009.  This showed that the income from the  hiring of the hall was ahead of budget by £525 but the maintenance costs were above budget by £685. Therefore things seemed satisfactory.  The Council noted that the treasurer was still trying to have the charge for surface water frozen but as yet has not succeeded.

 

Denise Challenor (Mrs)

Clerk to the Trustees