Broughton Town Hall |
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DUDDON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 23rd
October 2008 in the
Present Cllr Burch (Chair), Cllr Barker, Cllr Knowles, Cllr Curwen, Cllr George, Cllr Glessal, Cllr Munday, Cllr Weeks, Cllr Batten Apologies Cllr Johnson, Rural PC, who had been called to attend another meeting. 108/08 Minutes It was RESOLVED that the Chairman sign the September minutes as a correct record. 109/08 Matters Arising Cllr Batten informed Council he had completed the Ipsos Mori survey from 97/08 Item 201. Cllr Barker referred to 98/08 Mrs Hasleys comment regarding the cheque for £9,000 to say he felt it was incorrect. Cllr Batten spoke to confirm that Mrs Hasley was in fact correct. 110/08 Correspondence Received 204 CALC - Guy Richardson - CALC AGM - noted 205 CALC - Georgina Ternent - Reward & Recognition - noted 206 CALC - Guy Richardson - Parish Stewards/Council Trends - noted 207 - Government Office for the North West - Regional Spatial Strategy - noted 208 CALC - Guy Richardson - CALC October circular noted 209 CALC - Amanda McCleery - Parish Councils Meeting 27/11/08 noted 210 CALC - Guy Richardson - Publication Scheme - noted 211 - Tom Welsh - Direct elections to NPAs DPC to make a contribution to the Consultation paper 212 SLDC - Rob Kitchen - Review of Recycling Bank facilities - noted 213 - Dr Geoff Dellow - Dissatisfaction with repairs Clerk to contact and Cllr Curwen to advise of issues 214 LDNPA - Bob Sutcliffe - Planning Training Events - noted 215 NALC - John Findlay - Banking Crisis - noted 216 - Stephanie Townsend - Cumbria in Bloom update noted 217 SLDC - Debbie Storr - Standards Committee Meeting -noted
218 - Sarah Boydell-Smith - Water
drainage and VH alarm Cllr Weeks to attend to matter of 219 - Cumbria NHS Ailsa Benson - Membership of Cumbria PCT - noted
Mrs Morgan spoke to advise that the traffic lights at Duddon bridge seemed un-coordinated in previous days. Cllr Batten confirmed this had been so but they were now functioning correctly. She also enquired whether anyone had noticed a drop off in traffic now that the Sellafield workers had been asked not to use Broughton. No one had and Cllr Curwen was asked to investigate this matter. Mrs Rigg spoke to inform Council that opposite Middlesyke, Ash seedlings were sprouting, and were now some 6-8ft high. The Hotline number had been informed but nothing had thus far happened. Cllr Batten advised he would attend to the matter with the Highway Steward. Also the matter of street sweeping was raised and Cllr Curwen was tasked to organize this. Mr Welsh spoke to congratulate Council on its decision to press forward with a contribution to the DEFRA consultation paper and read seven proposals for Council to consider. Claire Salisbury spoke to introduce herself and explain that county Councillor Oliver Pearson has health difficulties and so would not be attending meetings in the short term. Other county councillors are assisting Cllr Curwen presently. Claire informed Council that the county Council is aware of problematic communication areas and are looking at ways in which to make communications easier. Mrs Boydell Smith spoke to reiterate how loud the Victory Hall alarm sounds to local residents and offered assistance to try and resolve the problem. It was discussed that police should have a list of key holders and perhaps approaching someone residing in close proximity to the Victory Hall to be a key holder would progress the issue. Cllr Weeks was to investigate these possibilities. Regarding the ongoing issue of bus timetable changes, it would seem that an extra bus may be coming back on to the timetable. Cllr Curwen confirmed this was to be the case. Mr Spray spoke about the recent removal of the speed bumps and how traffic was now speeding worse than ever. Council is to write to the Highways Authority advising them of this. Ms Townsend spoke with a Cumbria in Bloom update. A Treasurer has now been appointed and a leaflet distributed. It was agreed that updates on progress would be given at Council meetings. Council were asked if any records of previous entries existed and the Clerk informed that they were not in her possession so would be found in the archive at Barrow. Ideas for where a communal compost heap could be sited were requested. Further Ms Townsend explained that the red telephone box at Foxfield has been without a door for six months. The Clerk was tasked with writing to BT and asking for a replacement door.
LDNPA Mr & Mrs N Temple Hall Dunnerdale, Seathwaite Erection of dwelling for farmworker together with septic tank and alterations to access No objections LDNPA Mr D Bland 1 Griffin Street, Broughton Installation on the existing chimney stack of a small 500 watt rated wind generator Some concerns raised regarding noise and visual impact. The Clerk to advise LDNPA of these. APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED LDNPA Telecommunications development, Bridge End Bridge - Woodland LDNPA Mrs J Acott Hartley Ground, Broughton LDNPA Mr L Sykes Garner House, Broughton LDNPA Mr & Mrs Clifton The Rookery, Broughton LDNPA United Utilities Seathwaite Tarn LDNPA Mr B Stone & Miss R Winder 5 The Square, Broughton
113/08 Financial Matters Transactions (Cheques & Direct Debits) for October: Victory Hall E-on - DD £165.00 Plusnet - DD £15.99 Unicom DD £23.63 T Ward & Son Paint £18.85 Neat Ideas £140.96 G. McWilliam £317.96 DPC Eon street lighting DD £54.18 SLCC Subscription £8.00 Trevor Fireworks £734.38 Ian Tyson Charter Day Flowers £12.00 BDO Audit £370.13 The Annual Return has now been completed by BDO and approved and accepted by Duddon Parish Council. Paperwork was completed in order to facilitate Cllr Johnson being added as the ninth signatory to the Duddon Parish Council bank account. A bill for CHC Cumbria was discussed by Council in the sum of £2006.69 as it had been passed to DPC for payment with no monies first being received from the Victory Hall. The bill was returned to the Victory Hall for them to negotiate the applied credit charge and then to re-submit the bill for payment along with the appropriate funds. It was clarified that in future a special meeting could be called if necessary in order to pass any structural repairs needed to the building, but that the same procedure as previously was still in place as regards payment of Victory Hall invoices. 114/08 Wilson Park Cllr Batten advised that grass cutting would be undertaken when appropriate, but it was very wet at present. Funding was currently still being sought for outstanding issues. 115/08 Victory Hall Cllr Weeks reported that a grant of £1,000 had been promised by Broughton Drama Group for a lighting rig. The decoration of the foyer was still to be completed and metal kick boards were to be fitted to external doors to prevent further deterioration. Grant applications for new and more comfortable chairs had been applied for. An application will also be made to the Neighbourhood Forum. The work on the Business Development Plan is proceeding well. The Specification for Marketing Strategy and Business Development has been drawn up and will be taken forward at the next meeting with Chris Sims (Adventure Capital Fund) on 24th October 2008. One of the aims of the business development strategy is ultimately to be able to offer the use of the Victory Hall free to local user groups such as Mums and Toddlers, Bowling etc. Julie Clucas is drawing up a budget for the coming year based on last years income and expenditure. Grant applications for employing a Business Development Manager have been submitted (Ibrahim Foundation and Paul Hamlyn Foundation). Work to set up a Friends of the Victory Hall group is on-going. The Victory Hall is now on Cumbria County Councils database for preferred venues. 116/08 Precept Cllr Batten spoke to explain the Precept increase and a discussion followed as to how best to keep increases to a minimum whilst providing the best value for residents. Other items were discussed and it was decided that these items qualified for funds from the CGP fund, they were:
It was also noted that the Parish Plan needs updating. Cllr Barker PROPOSED to make the Victory Hall subsidy £1,200 and this was SECONDED by Cllr Munday. This was carried by seven votes IN FAVOUR and two AGAINST. After further discussion a final figure of £11,000 was agreed as the Precept for the 2009/2010 financial year and the paperwork was completed. 117/08 Affordable Housing Cllr Curwen spoke to confirm sites had been identified around the village but it would be Spring 2009 before a report was available for inspection. 118/08 Councillors Reports Cllr Barker spoke to request that with regard to the Victory Hall fire alarm could keyholders telephone numbers be displayed on the front window. Cllr Munday advised this may not be the best idea and reiterated that police should have a list of key holders. On further matters regarding the Victory Hall Cllr Barker advised that the Victory Hall was losing business and that recently the West Lakeland Orchestra had advised him that they would not be returning as a buzzing noise from the gas heaters was distracting. This buzzing noise was also problematic at a recent evening attended by a magician and also a Gilbert and Sullivan evening. He also requested that Robert Rankins portrait be returned to the Rankin Room. Cllr Weeks explained that the heating had been very closely researched and economically the gas heaters could be switched on and off, whereas other forms of heating offered no such benefit and would have to be on permanently even when the building was empty leading to an unacceptable escalation of fuel costs. Cllr Barker advised that the police had been in Broughton issuing public notices to people in the Square not to park on the pavement. Cllr Munday spoke to thank the Clerk for remaining in post. Cllr Weeks spoke to advise that he and Cllr George had attended the most recent Coniston Parish Council meeting and had minutes available for any interested parties. Cllr Knowles inquired whether yellow paint could be applied to the space where the speed bumps used to be for visual purposes to aid drivers negotiating the road. Also the kerb in Braid Street opposite the post office requires attention. Cllr Burch inquired whether councillors and public wished to remain in the Rankin Room. It was decided that they would continue in the Rankin Room. Cllr Curwen advised he was in contact with the railways about better facilities for the level crossing at Foxfield. Regarding flooding from the estuary at Foxfield, there is now an agreement with the Environment Agency to put a new sluice in so the tide will not come up as far. The following two items are Part II items exempt under Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 and therefore Council RESOLVED to discuss both matters in private. 119/08 Complaints received alleging breaches of the Code of Conduct Council considered a report written by the Clerk following on from two complaints against a Duddon Parish Councillor earlier in the year. Council accepted the Report and its recommendations. 120/08 A legal letter requesting a response from Duddon Parish Council Cllr Weeks declared an interest and withdrew from the discussion. Having discussed the letter and its contents it was decided that Duddon Parish Council, not wishing to prejudice the outcome of any potential legal proceedings in any way, would not make any comment at this time.
121/08 Date of Next Meeting There being no further business the next meeting was set for Thursday 27th November at 1930. |
