Broughton Town Hall |
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DUDDON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 28th
August 2008 in the
Present Cllr Burch (Chair), Cllr Barker, Cllr Batten, Cllr Curwen, Cllr George, Cllr Glessal, Cllr Munday, Cllr Weeks, Cllr Johnson Apologies Cllr Knowles 82/08 Minutes It was RESOLVED that the Chairman sign the July minutes as a correct record. 83/08 Matters Arising Cllr Weeks expressed further concern at the anomaly regarding the Victory Hall subsidy and the fact that the request for the increased subsidy had not been minuted correctly. Cllr Batten stated that he had no recollection of an amount greater than £1,000 being agreed, as borne out by no increase in the precept amount and the fact that a request for an increased subsidy would surely have been minuted. Cllr Barker expressed his concerns that minutes should be more clear and thorough, and standing orders should be adhered to during debate. Cllr Weeks distributed guidance to both public and councillors regarding the Sustainable Communities Act and why local authorities should opt in to the new process in preparation for Council to declare an interest. He also requested this matter to be placed on the next Agenda. 84/08 Correspondence received and Clerk’s report The Clerk reported that in order to obtain Quality Parish Status the Council must have a qualified Council Clerk. Therefore paperwork had been completed in order to join the Society of Local Council Clerks. Further, she would undertake training to become a qualified Clerk, and had been awarded a bursary which would cover seventy five per cent of the cost. She further advised that councillors may like to think about the possibility of a newsletter as another step to attaining Quality Parish Status. 131 - DPC - Cllr Geoge - Letter re Mr Shipman’s wall - noted 132 - KK & Page - Kirsty Freely - Further request for meeting – actioned 133 - Stagecoach Bus - Andy Hanrahan - Response to bus stop at surgery letter – Cllr Barker to follow up 134 - DPC - Cllr Jeff Barker - Request for invoice - actioned 135 - DPC - John Batten - Letter re bracken cutting - actioned 136 - CALC - Guy Richardson - Answers to Amandas queries - noted 137 - LDNPA - Julian Smith - Coniston to Foxfield cyclepath – Clerk to send letter 138 - Sam Gumbley - Ideas for the Victory Hall – withdrawn 139 - CALC - Guy Richardson - Seminar: Meet the External Auditors - noted 140 - British Rec. Plastic - Jason Elliott - Outdoor furniture manufacturer - noted 141 - Lake District World Heritage Project - Michael Clarke - Request for meeting – Clerk to send letter 142 - CALC - Amanda McCleery - AGM Meeting – 4 Sept 08 - noted 143 - Amey - David Graham - Highway steward announced in two weeks - noted 144 - CALC - Guy Richardson - Change of telephone number – noted 145 - Resource Cumbria - Posters for composting campaign – to be displayed 146 - Stephanie Townsend - Cumbria in Bloom enquiries - noted 147 - Skelton Parish Council - Judith Naylor - Request for Duddon Parish Plan – Copies to be sent 148 - DPC - Graham George - Request for item on agenda - noted 149 - CCC - Peter Stybelski - Managing radioactive waste – Clerk to send letter 150 - Mrs Crayston - Payment of land rent - noted 151 - CALC - The Effective Council training course - noted 152 - Cumbria Highways - Newsletter 153 - Sam Gumbley - Victory Hall queries – since withdrawn 154 - Russell Armer - Andrew Taylor - Response to letter re street light – Cllr Barker in negotiation 155 - Timothy Miller - Signed tenancy agreement and payment - noted 156 - Allianz - John Payne - Safety surfacing not included in insurance - noted 157 - CCC - Mark Hastings - Proposals to replace six care homes - noted 158 - CCC - Lawley - Highway Stewards – A meeting arranged – Cllrs Batten and Burch to attend 159 - United Utilities - Joan Stuart - Response to letter re electricity supply - noted 160 - Sam Gumbley - Victory Hall statement - noted 161 - Alan Walker - Letter from Mr Walker - noted 162 - SLDC - Meeting of the Standards Committee - noted 163 - Mr M Earle - Payment of land rent - noted 164 - The Co-op Bank - Linda Edwards - Change of signatories actioned - noted 165 - SL Strategic Partnership - Mandy Dixon - Parish Summits – Cllr Weeks to attend 166 - CCC - Cheryl Cowperthwaite - Request to book Green Room - actioned 167 - Judy Palmer - Response to bracken cutting letter - noted 168 - SLDC - Peter Clarke - Playarea inspection report - noted 169 - Mr Loftus - Signed tenancy agreement and payment - noted 170 - SLDC - Mark Harris - New grounds maintenance contract (cons) - noted 171 - Capita Symonds - John Bell - Response to A593 accident letter - noted 172 - SLDC - Debbie Storr - Request for report update – Clerk to respond 173 - DPC - Peter Munday - Work on Standing Orders- noted 174 - NALC -Neil Evans - Clerk’s Training bursary approved - noted 175 - Tom Welsh -Letter re elections to NPA’s – Clerk to respond
The following statement was read out by the Chairman Cllr Lynne Burch: As more members of the public are attending our Council meetings, which is something we as a Council welcome, we thought it would be a good time to clarify and vote on our policy with regards to the Public Participation item. The Public Participation item has been present on the Agenda of Duddon Parish Council for a very long time. It is not a legal requirement but held at the Chairman’s discretion and is deemed a valuable item upon the Duddon Parish Council Agenda as it provides the opportunity for Council to hear directly from those whom it serves. The purpose of this item is to allow a member of the public to express a point of view or to bring to the Council’s attention a matter of concern to them. Members of the public should be aware that this item is the only time during the meeting when they are permitted to speak. At all other times they are welcome to sit and listen to the Council conduct its business. I propose that the maximum time any member of the public may speak is three minutes. During this time the Council will listen in silence and the Chairman will then respond with the appropriate action to be taken. Meetings should not be allowed to become unruly, and should this occur the meeting will be immediately adjourned by the Chairman for a cooling off period. The Council can also resolve to request an unruly member of the public to leave a meeting. Cllr Peter Munday PROPOSED that the Chairman’s statement on Public Participation be adopted and this was SECONDED by Cllr Joss Curwen, and voted all in favour. 86/08 Public Participation Mrs Morgan inquired why the Public Participation item had been moved back up the meeting Agenda and was informed the placement of this item is at the discretion of the Chairman. Mrs Rigg inquired whether the speed cushions at Syke House were to be removed. Cllr Curwen said he would be addressing the issue with the Highway Stewards and the cushions may be removed but would be replaced with a further traffic calming measure. It was commented that the road surface at Griffin Street was in a bad state of disrepair, particularly outside Barclays bank. Cllr Curwen said he was attending the area with a county councillor the next day and would draw his attention to it. Ms Stephanie Townsend advised Council that she felt since our road had been detrunked all radioactive material should go on the A66. Ms Townsend further advised that a meeting for all parties interested in the Cumbria in Bloom entry could attend a meeting to be held on September 18 at 7pm at The Square Café in Broughton. Cllr Munday advised he was ordering bulbs should this prove of interest at the meeting. Mr Tom Welsh raised the matter of a consultation paper regarding direct elections to National Park Authorities and the need for a closer relationship between locals and the National Park Authority. He advised Council of several aspects of the Authority, including renumeration and travel and subsistence allowances. Mrs Mary Dixon commented that she had noticed nettles all over the bench on the trial field and Cllr Batten advised he would visit with his strimmer. Mr Tony Spray urged Council regarding radioactive waste to act vigorously in voicing opposition to any nuclear waste siting programme in Cumbria, reminding Council of the after effects of Chernobyl still in evidence today. 87/08 Planning Applications
LDNPA – Mrs J
Acott – Hartley Ground, Broughton Mills – Extension at ground level to provide
disabled shower/wc LDNPA – Mr & Mrs Clifton – The Rookery, Broughton Tower – Replace existing garage with new slate roofed double – no objections LDNPA – Mr L Sykes – Garner House, Church St, BIF – Proposed car park for four cars – no objections LDNPA – United Utilities – Seathwaite Tarn – Extension to existing wave wall – no objections Notification of acceptance LDNPA – Mr N Bradley – Low Rosthwaite, Woodands LDNPA – Mr N Bradley – Rose Cottage, Woodlands LDNPA – Mr & Mrs March – Wood House, BIF LDNPA – Mr J Rees-Smith – High Moss House, Seathwaite 88/08 Financial Matters Councillors were advised that the insurance premium did not include cover for the safety surfacing and it was decided to proceed with the insurance as at present and not to spend additional funds providing insurance cover for the safety surfacing. Transactions (Cheques & Direct Debits) for August: Victory Hall Scottish Power - DD £269.50 Plusnet - DD £15.99 Unicom – DD £19.81 BT – DD £35.25 British Gas – DD £119.96 T Ward & Son – Paint £157.72 CHC Cumbria – Roof repair £177.60 DJ Atkinson – Lock repair £62.94 Westmorland fire – Service alarm £83.78 Viking Direct – Paper £60.14 DPC Eon – street lighting – DD £54.18 SLCC – Subscription £8.00 SLCC – Clerk training £345.00 Victory Hall – Room hire £63.00 Viking Direct – Toner for isensys £49.69 Hawthwaite Garden Services – Wilson Park £200.00 Allianz Insurance – additional premium £124.35 Victory Hall – Subsidy £1,000.00 A cheque was also signed to be given to Tysons in payment for the Charter day flowers in readiness for an invoice being presented. 89/08 Wilson Park Cllr Batten advised that there was no progress with regards to the aerial runway as yet but he was in receipt of an application from WREN as to the possibility of grant funding and two quotations would likely be needed to which he would approach Mr Mullet and Mr Webster for the necessary quotations. Cllr Batten further advised that he had attended a meeting with respect to a survey being conducted on behalf of the Lake District National Park Authority with regards to Open Spaces, Sport and Recreation. Since this meeting he has received paperwork asking him to detail relevant open spaces and land and felt that as the allotments down Foxfield Road are now not available the only relevant piece of land is Wilson Park and he will complete and return the paperwork. 90/08 Victory Hall Cllr Weeks reported that the Library Link was experiencing problems with the computer which were being addressed. Chris Hull has been contacted with regard to roof insulation because draughts were causing serious heat loss. He is also replacing the lead in the gulleys. Cllr Batten inquired as to ownership of the waste lead as it was now commanding a good resale price and was presently lying outside the Victory Hall where it could be at risk. Funding has been located from the Business Development Committee. An amount of £5,000 has been granted for training. A further £3,750 has been awarded from the Venture Capital fund which includes five days work by Chris Simms. This money can be spent on whatever would have the most profitable income. Cllr Weeks stated that if we wish to keep the Victory Hall we need to be able to let it at times when it is not being used. Duddon Parish Council concerns regarding the rates would be taken into account before any decision was made. Cllr Barker inquired whether the upstairs room had been let and was informed that it had not been let, and would not be let prior to the Duddon Parish Council being informed. Cllr Barker further inquired after Julie’s welfare on health and safety grounds, as he had seen her decorating without a mask. Further, he inquired why Duddon Valley Medical Practice were not funding the redecoration and was informed that on departure they had left shelving and screens worth between £450-£500 in lieu of redecoration work. 91/08 Rights of Way – Occupation Road (Lane) Cllr George advised Council of a notice placed by Mr P Willis which suggested he was trying to restrict access to Occupation Road and thereby change the status of the road. Until now, although some residents appear to have found themselves owners of parts of this highway they have acted as custodians of this road and have not attempted to control or deny access to the public. Cllr George PROPOSED: This Council represents to the highways authority that the notices erected in Occupation Road by Mr Paul Willis seeking to change the status of the highway to ‘not designated’ are contested by this council. We ask that the highway authority exercise their duty to preserve the right of access along this highway and take the necessary proceedings to do so. This was SECONDED by Cllr Batten and voted all in favour by Council. Cllr George further PROPOSED: This Council asks the highway authority to take action to stop the encroachment of vegetation which has been planted on the waste either side of Occupation Road (Lane), alongside no. 15 by removing all plants in order to return Occupation Road to its full original width. This was SECONDED by Cllr Batten and voted all in favour by Council. The Clerk was tasked with contacting Cumbria Highways.
Cllr Barker advised that the light was to be attached to Janice Winche’s house and United Utilities were being contacted for a quotation, which would require payment before the work was completed. Cllr Barker further advised he was in negotiation with Russell Armer as regards the cost of refixing this light and it was expected that Duddon Parish Council would need to make a financial contribution. 93/08 Councillors Reports and Any Other Business Cllr Barker stated that as Trustees of the Victory Hall, councillors are jointly responsible for the structure and so should take more responsibility for decisions regarding the structure, such as the recent roof repairs. Meetings of the trustees as have been held in the past should be reinstated. Cllr George requested that The Square be placed on a future Agenda. Cllr Weeks informed Council that he was attending a conference on Affordable Housing and suggested this item be placed on the Agenda for the next Council meeting as an assessment of demand is needed. Cllr Weeks is also attending a Council Finance course on the 15th October and a Community Planning Workshop course. He further advised that the Duddon Parish Plan should be reviewed and revised as it is now six years old and funding would be much easier to obtain with a more updated plan. He requested this item be placed on a future Agenda. Cllr Curwen advised that of the local occupancy housing available at Copper Rigg, all units had been sold. A county councilor was visiting on the 29th August to look at several issues including Occupation Lane. The South Lakeland Scrutiny Committee had recently discussed services provided in rural areas and were going to compile a questionnaire. Environmental health have smoked all drains in Broughton to rid them of vermin. A drain has collapsed on Victoria Road and this will need to be dug up and repaired. Water from the new housing development is flooding into Jean Napton’s home, a camera should hopefully locate the problem shortly. The soakaway at the High Cross pub is being regularly checked. The speed limit through Foxfield and the safety implications will be chased up. The Black Cock Inn and Furness Supply have been broken into over the bank holiday weekend. 94/08 Date of Next Meeting There being no further business the next meeting was set for Thursday 25th September at 1930.
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