The following are the minutes of the Annual Colton Parish Council meeting held on in the Monday 14th May 2007 at Bouth Village Hall at 7.30pm.

 

Members Present

Cllr R Mein (Chair)   Cllr T Atkinson  Cllr C Barr   Cllr I Cunliffe   Cllr P Harrington  Cllr P Lovegrove

            Cllr J Watson Cllr C Potts   Mrs J Dove (Clerk)

Also present:  Cllr A Hall (CCC)  Mr R Smith (chair BVGVC) and 2 members of the public.

55.               Election of Chair for 2007/2008

            Cllr Barr was elected chair for 2007/2008.  Cllr Mein, having previously announced that he would retire as a parish councillor at the Annual Parish Council meeting, stepped down.  He welcomed Cllr Barr to the chair, and wished him success in his new role   He said that he had enjoyed his time as chair, and thanked all those at the meeting for their help and support over the past 3 years.  Cllr Barr responded by thanking Mr Mein for all that he had done for the council in steering it to the success which it had achieved.  Mr Mein then left the meeting.

 

56.               Declaration of Acceptance of Office

Cllr Barr signed the declaration of Acceptance of Office.

57.               Election of Vice Chair for 2007/2008

Cllr P Harrington was elected vice-chair for 2007/2008.

58.               Declaration of Acceptance of Office

Cllr Harrington signed the declaration of Acceptance of Office

59.         Apologies

Cllr Baxter.

 

60.               Minutes of last meeting

It was resolved that the Chair be authorised to sign the minutes of the council meeting held on 19th March 2007 as a true record.

 

61.         Declarations of Interest

      There were no declarations of interest by members in respect of items on this agenda.

 

62.               Comments from District and County Councillors

Cllr A Hall (SLDC) updated the meeting with the District Council’s alternative to the Unitary Authority.

63.       Public participation

The chairman adjourned the meeting to allow members of the public the opportunity to ask questions or raise matters of interest.  Mr Smith urged Cllr Hall to keep pressing the Council to increase the council tax on second homes and holiday lets.

64.               Review of Risk Assessment and Level of Insurance Cover

The risk Assessment for 2007/2008 was reviewed and agreed upon.

 

65.               Approval of Annual Accounts and Completion of Annual Return

             The Annual Statement of Accounts was approved and signed by the chairman.  Sections 1 & 2 of annual return were completed and signed as accurate by the chairman.

 

66.               Request for Grant from Bouth Village Green Voluntary Committee

It was resolved to give a grant of £300.00 to BVGVC, which includes an additional £50.00 to cover safety improvements required by the insurers.

67.               Payment of Accounts

a)  It was resolved that the following payments should be authorised

·             Cheque number  00348    -  £423.00  -   Minton Bros – purchase of 2 seats

·             Cheque number  00350   -   £385.00  -   Lengthsman salary March

·             Cheque number  00351   -   £231.00  -   Lengthsman salary April    

·             Cheque number  00352   -    £40.00   -   Cllr P Harrington - travel expenses

·             Cheque number 00354   -   £ 473.81  -   Allienz Cornhill  Parish Council Insurance   

·             Cheque number 00355   -      £10.00  -   Bouth Village Hall Room hire (2 sessions)  

·             Cheque number 00356   -    £300.00   -  Bouth Village Green and Playground Voluntary Committee -  grant

                     b)  Receipt of cheque for £5354.00 from SLDC for the precept for 2007/2008 was noted.

c)    The removal of Ronald Mein from the council signatories was authorised.  Clerk to return form to    bank.

The clerk told the meeting that a new regulation had come into effect which required the council to undertake a review of the effectiveness of the internal audit.  This would be on the next agenda.

68.               Planning

It was resolved that a return of ‘no objection’ be made on the following planning application:

·         7/2007/5212.  Little Barn, Finsthwaite, Ulverston LA12 8BL.  Removal of existing conservatory and replacement with new single storey extension and sitting area with replacement windows.

 

69.               Notice of Vacancy in Central Ward

Notice of Vacancy in Central Ward was issued for posting on notice boards.

70.               Report on Progress on Speed Monitors

The clerk reported that the Mobile Electronic Speed Reduction Device had been set up by Roger Mallet in a farm gateway outside Tottlebank Farm.  It flashes at approaching traffic to draw the attention of drivers to the speed at which they are travelling.  It has been at Tottlebank for a week and it will be moved around the parish on a weekly rota.  Initial reports are that a difference has been made to the speed of some vehicles passing the device.

71.               Appointment of Members on Steering groups and Outside Bodies for 2007/2008 

Amendments were made to the list of appointments.  New lists to be circulated at the next meeting.

 

72.               Bouth Village Green and Playground Voluntary Committee Report

Annual Report was given by R Smith, Chairman BVG&PGC.  Available from clerk on request.

73.               Summer Newsletter

A date was agreed for a meeting of the Newsletter group.  Friday 18th May 2.00pm.

 

74.               Report on Housing Survey

The clerk gave the following update:

450 questionnaires were taken out and 146 forms were returned.  This is a return rate 32% which is above average for CRHT surveys, about average nationally,  but  good considering the number of second homes and holiday lets in Colton parish.  Of those returned forms, 23 had completed Part 2 of the questionnaire, saying that they felt themselves to be in need of housing now, or would be within 5 years.  These 23 are now being computer analysed to see if they match the criteria below.

1. Inadequately housed at present.
2. Unable to afford to rent and/or buy on the open market.
3. Have a need to live in the locality - either live or work in the parish at present.

75.               Lengthsman Report

Cllr Lovegrove reported that she had received favourable comments about the difference the Lengthsman was making in the parish,  but jobs were still not being referred to her by parishioners.  It was resolved that an article should be placed in the next newsletter encouraging people to report things that need attention.

 

76.               Pilot Communities Board

It was resolved that the chairman and the clerk should attend the meeting of the Pilot Community Board on 15th May at Cartmel Village Hall at 10.00am.

 

77.               New Model Code of Conduct  

Members had received a copy of the new Code of Conduct.  This will have to be adopted by 1st October, but CALC will be discussing this new Code and training arrangements with the District Councils’ Monitoring Officers on 8 May.  Further guidance will then be issued in mid May and CALC have advised councils to await this guidance before adopting the new Code.

 

78.               Consultation on Unitary Cumbria Proposal -  CALC submission 

Members had read the document and no issues were raised.  It was resolved that the clerk write to CALC agreeing with their submission.

 

79.               Parish Charter for South Lakeland

It was agreed that the chairman should make a submission on behalf of the council, as the deadline for the return falls before the next council meeting.

 

80.               Vacancy for CALC Parish Representative for South Lakeland District

Nobody from Colton Parish Council wished to be nominated.

 

81.               Meeting with LDNPA Enabler Clive Wickham

Cllr Barr reported that the meeting with Clive Wickham and Tony Hill was useful, and made the council aware of a LDNPA officer who could be another point of contact along with Tony Hill.

 

82.               Cumbria Playing Fields Grant Appeal

It was resolved to make no donation to the above appeal.

 

83.               Payment for British Overseas Parcels  

It was resolved that the clerk write a letter of support to the Secretary of State for Defence in support of the appeal to reintroduce a system of free parcel delivery to our forces overseas.  Cllr Potts said that the council should be aware of setting a precedent in responding to requests by other councils to support their appeals.  The chairman said that the council would monitor this situation.

 

84.               Notice Board at Lakeside

This item was deferred to the next agenda to allow Cllr Harrington time to explore the possibility of a site at the Lakeside Hotel. 

 

85.               Correspondence

            The following correspondence was noted:

1.      Satterthwaite Parish Council Agenda for 26th March & minutes of meeting 22nd January 2007.

2.      SLDC

·             Minutes of Meeting 27th March 2007 6.45pm.

·             Agenda for meeting 25th April 2007.

·             Safety Report on Bouth Playground.  All satisfactory.

·             Recommendations of Parish Remuneration Panel for 2007/2008.

·             Property Renaming.  Fell Foot Annex, High Nibthwaite now called Fell Foot Barn.

3.      Friends of the Lake District Annual Report 2006.

4.      CALC. 

·             Minutes of meeting March 1st 2007 and Summary of Housing Market Assessment.

·             April Circular.

5.       Connexions - Wheels 2 Work.  Information on scooter loan for young people with no other transport – for notice boards.

6.       Environment Agency.  Website to view Decisions on British Energy Generation Limited’s nuclear power stations authorisations.  www.environment-agency.gov.uk/benar

7.       SLDC.  Customer Access Strategy.  Document of improvements in customer services and accessibility at SLDC.

8.       CCC

·             Cumbria Highways Working Together Spring Newsletter.

·             Temporary road closure B5286 Brathay Windermere Marathon 2007.  From junction with A593 to the junction with U5029 from 8 00am Sunday 20th May.

9.       Planning

·             Refusal of Consent  7/2006/5669 Thwaite Head Farm, Rusland.  Conversion of barn to affordable dwelling unit.

    Planning permission granted. 

·             7/2006/5676  West Sinder Hill Finsthwaite.  Extension and relocation of gas tank.

·             7/2007/5095  Thornlea, Colton.  Roof alterations replacement of rear extension.

10.   Voluntary Action Cumbria:  Newsletter.

 

86.       Date of Next Meeting  

     The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 25th June at Finsthwaite Village Hall at 7.30pm.