Broughton Town Hall

Duddon Parish Council

Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 24 October 2002 in the Rankin Room, Victory Hall, Broughton-in-Furness

Present Cllr H J Barker (in the chair), Cllr J S Batten, Cllr J W Curwen, Cllr B Hadwin, Cllr A Harrison, Cllr D Hoggarth, Cllr Mrs E Knowles, Cllr Mrs R Read

Apologies Cllr Mrs L Burch, Cllr Mrs V Glessal

RESOLVED that the acting Chairman sign, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 26 September 2002.

Re 67/02 (minutes of August meeting) councillors had inspected the trees in Wilson Park but no decision had been made on action required.

Re 69/02 (i) Cllr Batten reported that he had spoken to John Bath of CAPITA about the repair of the cattle grids and he was to respond. Cllr Batten further reported that he had discussed with Mike Beattie the issue of bracken cutting at the top of the valley. There were no plans to do a first cut until November, which was unacceptable.

Re 78/02, the clerk reported that a further sum of £512.54 was required to pay off the PWLB loan. This had been sent and written confirmation had been received that the loan had now been cleared.

Adjournment of Meeting for Public Discussion

Mrs Morgan had witnessed a near accident caused by a stone being dislodged from the wall near Grizebeck and falling onto the road. She asked who was responsible for maintaining the wall and was informed by Cllr Curwen that it was the Highways Agency’s responsibility. Mrs Morgan noted that buses were causing congestion and diesel pollution in the square and asked if they could be diverted to pick up and drop off along Station Road. Councillors responded that this was not possible as buses were unable to manoeuvre round the corner.

The clerk presented the following correspondence received:

338 CALC SLD Committee minutes - Aug 2002

339 SLDC Ian Elleray Housing Strategy 2002 - 2006

340 LDNPA Phil Clague Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000

341 High Furness N'hood Forum Meeting agenda 10 October

342 CCC Rob Terwey Local Transport Plan 2001/02 progress report

343 Chamber of Trade Mary Jardine 'Signposts in Broughton' meeting summary

344 Roger Rigg Request for information on parish church

345 Joanna Rigg Grievance re Victory Hall - copy of letter to VH Ctee.

346 Tim Collins Highways Agency replies - motorway signs and Foxfield lights

347 SLDC Agenda meeting 15 Oct and previous minutes

348 LDNPA T McMullen Ulpha Water Treatment Works

349 PWLB Terry Field Premature repayment of loan

350 CALC Oct. Circular, Parish Democracy Programme

351 SLDC M Jayne Sandgap Farmhouse - planning application withdrawal

352 LDNPA Grant of planning permission - antenna at High Kiln Bank

353 SLDC Anna Mitchell South Lakeland Local Plan Alteration

354 Countryside Agency Penny Raine Parish Plan

355 PWLB Repayment of loan

356 VH Management Cttee. Keith Nixon Response to Post Office concerns

357 LDNPA Phil Clague Tower Lakes

358 CG Thomson & Wilson J Hardiker Disputed land at Foxfield

359 T Atkinson Complaint about Cllr Hadwin

360 District Audit Natalie Birchall Annual return to 31/02/2002

361 Beswicks Restaurant David Roe Bonfire night

After considering the correspondence, it was decided to take the following action:

Clerk to write acknowledging Ms Rigg’s letter, expressing regret about her grievances.

Clerk to write to Mr Atkinson, noting that issues regarding the PC should be addressed in writing to the clerk, in which case a written response would be sent.

361 Make a £100 donation towards fireworks.

5/02/2299 Meanfield Cottage erection of detached garage (revised) approved

7/2002/5556 Barn at Lind End conversion to two holiday accomm. Units approved

5/02/2789 CGP Ltd (Eccle Riggs) changes to car parking, site roads & entrance approved

7/2002/5566 Low Whineray Ground conversion of barn to dwelling, demolition of approved

outbuildings, erection of new fences and walls

RESOLVED to pay the following from main account:

TXU Energi street lighting invoice for September £31.61

Elaine Essery postage £27.00

Elaine Essery shelving for DPC files £35.00

CG Thomson & Wilson fee re disputed land at Foxfield £188.00

CALC clerk’s training course £28.00

TXU Energi per Victory Hall – electricity £354.70

Stannah Lift Services per Victory Hall – lift servicing £88.13

Contract Joinery Ltd per Victory Hall – lighting canopy £323.12

Play Safe VAT omitted from last month’s payment £22.75

The clerk circulated a spreadsheet with proposed budget figures for 2003/04 and these were discussed. It was RESOLVED not to attempt to recover the Wilson Park spending deficit through the precept. Adequate provision would need to be made for more frequent grass cutting in Wilson Park. It was RESOLVED that Cllr Hadwin would request a quote from Continental Landscapes and the clerk would request a quote from Cutting Edge. Cllr Batten queried whether the provision for the insurance premium was adequate. It was RESOLVED that the clerk would contact the insurance company for advice on this. It was RESOLVED that the clerk would adjust and update the figures and post an amended budget proposal with the papers for the November meeting. Councillors were invited to contact the clerk with any comments or queries in the meantime. Final figures would need to be agreed at the November meeting.

A meeting was to be held the following week and there was nothing to report.

No response had been received to the clerk’s letter. Cllr Barker confirmed that, since he had been personally challenged by Mr Atkinson, he had, as a private individual, drafted a letter to Mr Atkinson which in the absence of further correspondence he would now send.

Cllr Barker reported that the presentation to the judging panel had gone very well. He proposed that the Council should bear the cost of afternoon teas provided for around 30 people by the Old Kings Head at £62.50. It was RESOLVED to pay this out of the main account.

After reports from each Councillor, the following actions were requested:

Clerk to arrange for a piece to be put in the Parish Pump encouraging people to register an interest in broadband. Cllr Batten explained that many people in the Broughton area had already visited the website www.btopenworld.com/broadband to register an interest and if enough did so BT were obliged to take action.

Cllr Curwen to deal with Cllr Harrison’s concerns that parked vehicles and an overgrown hedge at the top of the Broughton Mills road could cause accidents.

Clerk to invite Mr Hunt of United Utilities to attend shortly before the November council meeting to discuss with Cllr Curwen issues which needed attention.

Await report from Chris Greenwood of LDNPA on state of trees in the square before deciding on any action. Mr Greenwood had been contacted after a tree surgeon visitor had reported that trees were dying through lack of water.

Clerk to write to Jack Jones, SLDC Finance Director, thanking him for an interesting and informative talk.

Cllr Curwen to take up the issue of trees blocking light to bungalows in Foxfield Road.