Broughton Town Hall |
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DUDDON PARISH COUNCIL Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 24th July 2008 in the Green Room, Victory Hall, Broughton-in-Furness Present Cllr Burch (Chair), Cllr Barker, Cllr Batten, Cllr Curwen, Cllr George, Cllr Glessal, Cllr Munday, Cllr Knowles Apologies Cllr Weeks, Cllr Johnson 69/08 Minutes It was RESOLVED that the Chairman sign the June minutes as a correct record. Cllr Curwen wished the minutes amended to include reference to the legal letter from John Ilett. 70/08 Matters Arising The Clerk reported that the Precept had failed to show any provision for increased funding which the Victory Hall Management Committee had requested in October of 2007. Also the request for increased funding did not appear in the meeting minutes of October 2007. Several councillors had no recollection of a request for increased funding. Therefore Cllr Knowles PROPOSED a subsidy of £1,000, which was SECONDED by Cllr Batten and voted all in favour of by the Council. It was brought to the Council’s attention that members of the public are leaving their vehicles for long periods of time at Foxfield Business Park leading to inconvenience for other users. Cllr Knowles reported that the new doctor’s surgery hours are as follows: 9am – 5pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and 8.30am-1pm on Wednesday. No Saturday opening. Cllr George reported that Mr Guy Woodburn had kindly removed the rubbish from Wilson Park which had negated the need for skip hire thereby saving DPC an amount of money. A thank you letter is to be sent by the Clerk expressing appreciation to Mr Woodburn for his efforts on the Council’s behalf. 71/08 Correspondence 93 SLDC - Debbie Storr - Dispensations granted - noted 94 SLDC - Debbie Storr - Breach of the Code of Conduct regarding Cllr Weeks – Clerk and Chairman to attend a meeting to be arranged with the monitoring officer in August 95 Co-op Bank - Christine Forbes - Change of signatory mandate – actioned by councillors 96 KK & Page - Dolores Hargreaves - Meeting requested re Open space sport & recreation study – Cllr Batten and Cllr Burch to attend the requested meeting in August 97 DPC - John Batten - Tenancy agreement to be organised – Clerk to action 98 Charity Commission - Shiela Birch - Annual Return 2008 for Brown Cow – Clerk to action 99 Charity Commission - Shiela Birch - Annual Return 2008 for Garner Grave – Clerk to action 100 Local Access Forum - Stephanie Conway - Local Access Forum Annual Report - noted 101 CALC - Guy Richardson - Answers to referendum query - noted 102 Cllr George - Request for thank you letter – Clerk to action 103 Cumbria Police Auth. - Stuart Edwards - Recruitment of Ind. Members – Notice to be displayed 104 CCC - Tom Clare - Cumbria in Bloom 2009 entry details - noted 105 SLDC - Debbie Storr – Changes to Member’s Code of Conduct – Notice to be displayed 106 Society of Clerks - Nick Randle - Invitation to join society of clerks – Clerk to action 107 SLDC - Janine Jenkinson - Request for Declaration form – Cllr Curwen to inquire 108 HM Revenue & Customs - Blank vat claim form – vat refund noted 109 Mr Willis - Invitation to view files accepted - noted 110 SLDC - Paul Mountford - Removal of public payphones - noted 111 Jennifer Salder - Response to Amanda’s queries re legal letter and Audit - noted 112 Sarah Boydell-Smith - Letters/Update re bus changes - noted 113 SLDC - Janine Jenkinson - Copy documents of Reg. Fin. Interests - noted 114 SLDC - Peter Clarke - Playarea Inspection Report - noted 115 SLDC - Chris Woods - Meeting summons - noted 116 CCC - Sandra Peacck - Annual Proclamation of Fair – Notice to be displayed 117 SLDC - Peter Ridgeway - Public telephone boxes - noted 118 Ulpha & Seathwaite WI - Chris Parker - Sustainable Communities Act – Clerk to send letter 119 British Red Cross - Linda Lauder - Wainwright Walk, Windermere - Poster to be displayed 120 LDNPA - Clive Wickham - Telephone boxes - noted 121 SLDC - Peter Ridgeway - Managing radioactive waste supply - noted 122 CALC – Guy Richardson - Sustainable Communities Workshops - noted 123 SLDC - Debbie Storr - Extraordinary meeting – 29 July - noted 124 CCC - Joan Clarke - Rural Wheels information – Leaflets to be distributed 125 LDNPA - Nick Thorne - Walna Scar Road as a Restricted Byway - noted 126 CCC - Graham Harrison - Resource Cumbria Newsletter - noted 127 CALC - Contact details update - noted 128 Highways Agency - Craig Hedges - Planning road journeys June-Aug 2008 - noted
129 Allianz - Additional premium
required – Clerk to inquire whether additional premium 130 SLDC - Debbie Storr – Further complaint re Breach of Code of Conduct regarding Cllr Weeks– Clerk and Chairman to attend meeting with monitoring officer in August
LDNPA – Mrs
Parsons – Glebelands, Broughton in Furness – Demolition of attached garage and
utility including SLDC – Mr C Hull – Orchard Barn, Foxfield – Extension – no objections
LDNPA – Mr D
Parker – Church house, Ulpha – Removal and replacement of private pedestrian
footbridge over the River NOTIFICATION OF APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED LDNPA – Mr M Venus – Removal of TV aerial and replaced with satellite dish LDNPA – Openreach Telecommunications development During correspondence reading Mr Walker interrupted the meeting and was advised he was not able to speak.
Councillors completed the relevant paperwork to enable more signatories to be added to the bank account. The Clerk advised Council that the Audit was ready for re-submission. Presently COIF income dividends are being received into the DPC bank account on behalf of the Brown Cow Institute charity. However, COIF investments should only be held by charities in the charity’s own bank account. The auditors, BDO Stoy Hayward, have advised this cannot continue. The Clerk will continue inquiries as to how to rectify this situation. Allianz Insurance have sent a renewed quotation and a request for an additional £124.35 premium. Before this remittance is sent, the Clerk will enquire if this amount also includes safety surface cover. Transactions (Cheques & Direct Debits) for July: Victory Hall Scottish Power - DD £269.50 Plusnet - DD £13.61 Unicom – DD £26.94 Neat Ideas £380.61 DPC Eon – street lighting – DD £54.18 SLDC – election costs £152.00 Amanda Gaston – Clerk wages £579.85 Playsafe – Wilson Park equipment £4465.00
Cllr Batten confirmed that he had spoken with Mr Malyj regarding the recent installation of the park equipment which was now complete and looked superb. There was the remaining matter of the aerial runway, the only piece of equipment that was looking dilapidated and a new modern one was being priced. Also, new fencing was required and it was suggested Roger Webster may be able to advise on how to apply for grant funding for this initiative. Cllr Batten had mowed the grass in Wilson Park that day and only one persistent mole remained. Cllr Barker commented that outside the park area was a dilapidated seat and wondered whether it was DPC’s responsibility. Cllr Batten agreed to investigate further.
As Cllr Weeks was on holiday, Cllr George expressed the disappointment of the Victory Hall Management Committee in failing to obtain an increased subsidy, however accepted it had already been discussed and agreed upon in the meeting. 75/08 Land, Tenants and Invoicing of Rent Due Cllr Barker requested that the following tenants be invoiced for rents owed to the Duddon Parish Council: Mr M Earle of Station House, Foxfield to be invoiced for four years rent up to 1 March 2009 at £30 annually. Mrs Crayston of Brackenburn, Foxfield to be invoiced for four years rent up to 1 May 2009 at £5 annually. Mr S Loftus of Irton House, Skelly Crag, Foxfield to be sent a tenancy agreement and invoiced for £150 rent annually. Mr Miller of Brookside, Woodland, Broughton in Furness, LA20 6DJ to be sent a tenancy agreement and invoiced for £50 rent annually. Cllr Batten further advised that there was a cattle wagon at Woodland which needed to be removed. Cllr Barker requested a copy of the tenancy agreement currently used by the Duddon Parish Council.
Cllr George gave a report on his experiences as a new councillor and how he felt training could be of benefit. Of particular benefit he felt would be Basic Information Packs for new councillors, and also for more experienced councillors to take on mentoring roles. As legislation is constantly changing and needs keeping pace with, and as the Parish Charter requires fifty per cent of its councillors to be trained he advocated that more focus needs to be given to the training of councillors. Cllr George suggested that the vice-chairman should be given responsibility for ascertaining relevant training courses for the councillors according to their areas of expertise. The Clerk was tasked to prepare a list of available training courses and to reply positively to the letter from SLDC with regard to the Code of Conduct training due to take place in Autumn 2008 through to Spring 2009 advising we would be keen to host some of the training sessions.
Cllr Barker advised that the lantern which was removed during construction of the Copper Rigg housing development was now ready to be put back. To this end, the Clerk was to send a letter to Russell Armer stating that if they did not wish it to be replaced on their building then we had agreement that it could be placed at an adjacent house on Cinder Hill and costings from our public lighting contractor and United Utilities are currently being sought.
The Clerk reported on all the many representations she had received from parishioners over the month with regard to the widespread concern caused by the recent cuts to the bus services supplying Broughton and outlying areas. Cheryl Cowperthwaite from Cumbria County Council had been extended an invitation to the meeting but had declined to attend. She had informed the Clerk that due to the extent of public feeling over these latest cuts a meeting was being arranged to which all parishes, local county councilors, health support services and schools etc would be invited. The date of this had not been set but Council would be informed in due course. Ms Cowperthwaite sent through some information on Rural Wheels, a demand responsive service although councilors felt this was not always a reliable service. She also requested representations from a local level which may assist them as they attempt to solve some of the difficulties caused by these latest cutbacks. The Clerk was also instructed to write to Ian Stewart at South Lakeland District Council to further emphasise the upheaval caused by the changes to the bus timetables.
Cllr Barker advised that the one disabled parking space in Broughton Square had received a complaint because the paint had worn away leading to other road users parking in it as it was no longer clear it was a designated disabled space. Cllr Curwen was tasked to organize repainting of the parking space. Cllr Barker also noted that the cutting of grass verges was haphazard. It was noted it had been done between Bush Green and Foxfield. Cllr Curwen was tasked to chase this matter up. Cllr Barker informed of a serious accident at Whetson Croft which had required an air ambulance. He felt better road signs were needed as two left bend signs are displayed whereas a sign to show the steepness of the road would be better advice. The Clerk was tasked to write to the Highways to inquire into this matter, and naming Cllr Curwen as the parish contact. Cllr Batten informed that the bracken cutting in the Duddon Valley is also haphazard and the cutting regime has not been adhered to. The Clerk was tasked to write and enquire as to why the schedule has not been adhered to. Cllr Glessal has noticed a large bulge in the wall passed Broomhill which looks dangerous. Cllr George was tasked with seeking advice from the wall owner as to its condition and safety. Cllr Knowles had received notification of a new Highway Stewards service where our appointed steward will attend to carry out repairs within the area. The Clerk was tasked to write and request a date when we can expect to see our steward in action. Cllr Knowles was to forward this information via email to the Clerk who would forward to all councillors. Cllr Curwen advised that he has requested an Inspector of Highways to attend the area. Further, the junction at Grizebeck is being altered to facilitate the turning round of buses. The new property below the public toilets in Broughton has experienced a water problem and environmental health are involved. The matter of the High Cross and its septic tank which had a tendency to overflow has been solved. The charge for removing fridges by the local council is £22.40. One litter bin is being removed from Broughton Square. The bottle banks are tidy at present. The recent Duddon Estuary Partnership meeting which was held at the Green Room was marred by a lack of access into the building. The Askam/Millom
bridge crossing will be looked at again in 2025. 80/08 Public Participation Mrs Morgan inquired as to why Cllr Weeks was absent. The Clerk advised her he was on planned holiday. Mrs Morgan also advised Council her old microwave was removed free of charge by the council. Mrs Morgan also requested that details of the opening hours of the new surgery should be displayed and that leaflets were needed. The Clerk was tasked to write and advise the surgery manager of these views. Mr Walker spoke to protest regarding comments about Cllr Curwen attributed to him earlier in the meetings correspondence which he denied ever having made. He also accused Cllr’s Barker, Batten and Munday of behaving aggressively towards him. Cllr Batten left the meeting. Other members of the public gallery were in agreement that Mr Walker had made the comments attributed to him. Cllr Curwen spoke to reassert his opinion regarding alleged comments. The Chairman intervened to bring the meeting back to order. Ms Sue Halsey enquired whether Jennifer Salder took thorough notes at the public meeting earlier in the year. Cllr Knowles advised that Mrs Salder had been of the opinion at that time and advised Council that minuting a public meeting was not required. Ms Stephanie Townsend volunteered to be the contact for the entry into Cumbria in Bloom 2009 and this offer was accepted by Council. Mrs Mary Dixon spoke to advise that using the Rural Wheels scheme would cost her £4.80 for a return trip to Ulverston. Cllr Curwen advised that he has requested a member of the county council to attend the next High Forum meeting. Mrs Boydell-Smith spoke to urge Council to sign up to the Sustainable Communities Act when invited to do so in October of this year. Council advised that it would be doing so. 81/08 Date of Next Meeting There being no further business the next meeting was set for Thursday 28th August at 1930.
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