Broughton Town Hall

Duddon Parish Council

Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 25 September 2003 in the Rankin Room, Victory Hall, Broughton-in-Furness

Present Cllr Mrs L Burch (Chairman), Cllr J Batten, Cllr J W Curwen, Cllr Mrs V Glessal, Cllr B Hadwin, Cllr A Harrison, Cllr D Hoggarth, Cllr Mrs J Johnson, Cllr Mrs E Knowles

Apologies Cllr H J Barker

It was RESOLVED that the Chairman sign the minutes as a correct record.

Re 94/03 ii) it was noted that there were now two holes in New Street which needed attention. Cllr Curwen reported that United Utilities were supposed to see to them week commencing 22 September.

Re 94/03 iv), the clerk reported that a new post box was to be installed at Foxfield, next to the telephone box. This was likely to be within six weeks.

Mrs Morgan noted that a tree trunk had been left against a wall at the side of the road near Broom Hill.

Mrs Morgan asked if the Parish Council was still a trustee of the Victory Hall and if it had responsibility for the hall and input into its running. It was explained that the Parish Council owned the hall and that two councillors were members of the Victory Hall Management Committee.

Mrs Morgan requested that a list of planning applications received be displayed on the parish noticeboard. The clerk undertook to do this once she had the information.

Mr W Atkinson said that the Broughton & Kirkby Medical Aids charity had been wound up after 20 years. Broughton First Responders and Kirkby First Responders would each receive £570 from the remaining fund.

PC Howson reported the following crimes: between 22 and 24 August persons entered the barn of a farm at Broughton and removed a chainsaw. Between 8pm on 15 September and 8am on 16 September the rear windscreen of a Nissan Primera car parked in The Square was smashed with a rock. PC Howson said that free Datadot security packs were still available from the mobile police office. 

98/03 Correspondence

The clerk presented the following correspondence received:

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

631 Clerk to write to Mr Pennefeather, concerning the siting of the ice cream van on his land at Ulpha bridge.

634 Clerk to write to Mr Tuer, expressing concern at proposals to teach nursery-age children (from age 3) with reception-age children at Broughton School, and pointing out the additional transport requirements for children from outlying areas attending for half-day sessions.

646 Clerk to write to Mr Parker pointing out the clash of dates with the rally and the traditional hunt.

The following applications were recommended for approval: 

SL/2003/1904 Sandgap Farm, Foxfield Erect detached garage

7/2003/5495 that developers to be made aware of problem of balls from Wilson Park going into the gardens of the proposed properties and provision to be made to reduce this likelihood. 

100/03 Financial Matters

It was RESOLVED to pay the following from the main account:

It was RESOLVED to support the setting up of a Community Speedwatch scheme in Broughton and to fund the purchase of the necessary equipment. It was noted that enough volunteers would need to be recruited who were available to operate the scheme at appropriate times and a scheme co-ordinator would need to be identified. Volunteers would be trained by the police. It was RESOLVED that the clerk would contact PC Howson with a view to arranging a public meeting to help get the scheme off the ground. The Chairman expressed the view that the Rural Safety Group should be tasked with running the scheme.

It was noted with disappointment that there had been no response to the posters which Cllr Batten had produced and displayed shortly after the August meeting asking for volunteers to help maintain and tidy the play area.

It was RESOLVED that Cllr Harrison would approach Mr Fox with a view to repairing the perimeter fencing in the park.

The clerk reported that she had spoken and written to Mr Naylor, head the Parks and Gardens Department at SLDC, about the possibility of SLDC taking over responsibility for Wilson Park. The matter would be put before the committee but it was very unlikely that the district authority would accept this. 

103/03 GP’s Surgery

It was noted that the Council had not been informed of arrangements for the new GP practice in Broughton, including the temporary housing of the surgery in the Victory Hall. Councillors had received a number of queries and complaints from residents but were unable to respond adequately because of lack of information. Correspondence to Morecambe Bay NHS Primary Care Trust of several weeks back remained unanswered. Letters of complaint from Mrs and Mrs Acott and Mrs Hannah were read out and the clerk instructed to reply.

The Victory Hall Management Committee had carried the proposal to all use the Victory Hall by five votes to two, with one abstention. Supporting the decision, Cllrs Glessal and Harrison explained that the hall had been built as a community centre to provide services for the people of Broughton. The rental income from the doctors’ practice would otherwise take five years to generate. The little used Green Room was to be upgraded and all but one user group of the Rankin Room had been accommodated.

It was RESOLVED that the clerk would contact the Kirkby practice urgently to get details of how the surgery would operate. A notice would then be displayed on the noticeboard and an insert produced for the Parish Pump.

Cllr Batten raised the need for a setting-down/picking-up point for rail passengers on the station side at Foxfield, similar to the one on the opposite side of the road. Such a facility would benefit elderly and disabled people, improve safety and assist in promoting an integrated transport system. It was RESOLVED to write to the Highway Agency requesting this. Cllr Curwen would also put the matter to the local MP and discuss it with Mr Sharp.

105/03 Any Other Business

Cllr Batten reported that he had attended the latest Neighbourhood Forum meeting at which verge maintenance and highways issues were discussed. Mr Raymond, the Area Engineer, had instructed the contractor to satisfactorily resurface the new High and Low Pitcher bridges in the Duddon Valley as a condition of final payment. Mr Beattie had assured Cllr Batten that the verges between Seathwaite Bridge and Hinning House would be cut as a matter of urgency – although still no action had been taken a week later.

Cllr Curwen reported that the Neighbourhood Watch meeting in the Victory Hall had been very poorly attended despite notices in the Evening Mail. It was important for people to get involved to clamp down on crime. all

Cllr Curwen further reported that SLDC Housing Officers had visited tenants to explain about proposals for the Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO).

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9.35pm and the next meeting set for Thursday 23 October 2003.