Members Present

Annual Parish Council Business

59.     Election of Chair for Council Year 2008/2009

Cllr Barr was elected Chair for 2008/2009.

60.     Chairman's Declaration of Acceptance of Office

Cllr Barr signed the declaration of Acceptance of Office of Chair.

61.     Vacancies Left Unfilled Following May Elections

Following the resignations of two Councillors: Cllr Atkinson (West Ward) and Cllr Baxter (East Ward) and no -one standing for election to these positions in May, there were two vacancies unfilled. The following were co-opted onto the Council: Mr Ken Dean for East Ward and Mrs Brenda Fishwick for West Ward.

62.     Arrangements for Receiving Declarations of Acceptance of Office for New Councillors

It was resolved that these would be received at the next Parish Council meeting on 23^rd June.

63.     Election of Vice-Chair

Cllr Harrington stepped down from the position of Vice-Chair. The Chairman thanked him for his hard work. Cllr Potts was elected Vice-Chair for 2008/2009/

64.     Appointment of Representatives to Outside Bodies and Working Groups

A list of representatives to outside bodies, working and advisory groups was agreed (attached to these minutes).

65.     Appointment of Committees and Sub-committees

The Parish Council had no Committees or Sub-committees.

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Ordinary Parish Council Business

66.     Apologies

·      Apologies had been received from Cllr Potts and Cllr Walsh.

·      The Chairman explained that, following boundary changes, the whole of Colton was now in Hawkshead Ward. This meant that Cllr Hall was no longer a District Councillor for Colton. Cllr Jenkinson, formerly District Councillor for Hawkshead Ward, had resigned. It was resolved that the Chairman should write to thank them both. The Chairman welcomed Cllr Davies, now District Councillor for Hawkshead Ward.

ACTION

Cllr Barr

67.     Minutes of Last Meeting

It was resolved that the Chair be authorised to sign the minutes of the council meeting held on 27^th March 2008 as a true record.

68.     Declarations of Interest

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

69.     Update on Issues and Actions from Last Meeting

The following action reports were received and noted:

·     Traffic speeds and Portable Indicator: Mr Mallet (Cumbria Police Traffic Management Officer) had visited the Clerk and explained that there was no suitable place to position the device in Parish villages, as it required a long stretch of straight road. It would seem that little can be done about traffic that travels within the speed limit, unless an accident occurs. PC Forrester had visited the person reported to the police for driving dangerously fast through villages.

·     Sign to Colton Church: The Clerk had reported the poor state of the wooden post to CCC Highways.

·     Heating Oil: The Clerk had contacted heating oil companies. None had a formal policy for discounts. Costs varied depending on timing, quantity and number of households.

·     Post Office Closures: The Chairman had sent a second letter to Post Office Ltd. (viewable on the Colton website) and had also signed a joint letter from local parish councils.

·     Forest Enterprise - Old Hall Wood Management Plan:  The Clerk had spoken to Andy Bennet who was responsible for these woodlands. He was keen to involve the community and would speak to the Parish Council, probably at the July meeting in Bouth.

Clerk

·     Parish Plan Update: The Clerk reported that a Parish Plan update page had now been put on the website showing the summarised responses and issues raised by the questionnaire. The Plan itself was still to be formally updated.

Clerk

·     Affordable Housing: The Clerk would include information about the planned affordable housing at Satterthwaite and Mitre Housing Association  in the forthcoming Newsletter.

Clerk

70.     Public Participation

It was agreed that matters to be raised by members of the public would be taken under Agenda items 15 (Planning) and 18 (Off-road motor Vehicles).

71.   Comments from District and County Councillors

Colin Davies introduced himself as South Lakeland District Councillor for Hawkshead Ward.

72.     Accounts

The balance sheet for 2007/2008 was received and approved.

It was agreed that the following accounts should be paid:

-          Cheque number 000404 - Lengthsman salary (Claim 14, Mar 08) - £308.00

-          Cheque number 000405 - Cllr Harrington travel expenses 07/08 - £14.40

-          Cheque number 000406 - Bouth VGPAG - service of hedge-trimmer - £97.70

-          Cheque number 000407 - Bouth VGPAG - replacement lawn-mower - £520.75

-          Cheque number 000408 - Allianz Insurance Premium - £493.41

Receipt of the following cheques was noted:

-          CALC Lengthsman salary reimbursement (Claim 13, Feb 08): £150.83

-          CCC Lengthsman salary reimbursement (Claim 13, Feb 08): £150.83

-          CCC Lengthsman salary reimbursement (Claim 14, Mar 08): £112.33

-          CALC Lengthsman salary reimbursement (Claim 14, Mar 08): £112.33

-          CCC - Neighbourhood Forum grant for Bouth VGP lawn mower - £500.00

-          SLDC - Colton Parish Council Precept for 08/09 - £5854.00

Bouth Village Green:An estimate for expenses of £200 for 2008/2009 was received and approved.

73.   Planning

The following planning applications were noted:

·       7/2008/5156, 5157, 5158, 5159 - Old Hall Farm, Bouth: Extensions and alterations. No objections.

·       7/2008/5197 - Tarn Edge, Lakeside, Ulverston: Replacement jetty and removal of silt. No objections.

The following grants/consents of planning permission were noted as follows:

·          7/2008/5037 - Aquarium of the Lakes - wall-mounted signs.

·          7/2008/5018 - Green House Farm, Bandrake Head, Ulverston - erection of garage.

·          7/2008/5052 - Landing Close, Lakeside, Ulverston - erection of 2 new properties.

·          7/2007/5729 - Boaters, Lakeside, Newby Bridge - Demolition & replacement of hotel.

The following refusal of planning permission was noted as follows:

·           7/2008/5069 - 4, Cragg Brow, Bouth, Ulverston. New vehicular access and car port.

The following appeal hearing was noted

• Ridding Bay, Lakeside - erection of stone wall

The following barn conversions were noted:

• Thwaite Moss Barn, Rusland, Ulverston.
• The Tetherings & The Fold, Bridgefield, Lowick (conversion of barn to 2 live/work units)

Mr Simon Pardoe asked whether a member of the Council was planning to attend the site visit at Nibthwaite Grange on 14^th May in connection with The Peat House application for building over the beck. The Council had expressed its concerns about potential flooding problems. Cllr Barr would attend.

Cllr Barr

74.     Bouth Village Green and Playground Advisory Committee

·            The Bouth Village Green and Playground Advisory Committee's Annual Report was received. It was noted that the constitution of this Committee had been changed at its Annual General Meeting to became an Advisory Committee to the Parish Council.

·            The Clerk would ensure that the insurance policy included the new lawn mower.

Clerk

75.     Lengthsman Scheme and Highways

·       Cllr Lovegrove reported that: i) the 'arisings' from Lengthsman's work were still not being collected by Amey. The Lengthsman is currently burning these on his own land. It is hoped that this matter will be resolved once the Highway Steward begins work. ii) the Lengthsman had done some digging out at Ickenthwaite, but the problem needed a permanent solution.

·       The Clerk reported that she had written to Cumbria Highways on a range of highway problems in the Parish, including drainage problems at Ickenthwaite and damage to unclassified roads.

·       Cllr Barr reported that i) the Parish Council had been asked to comment on a paper from CALC on 'Employing a Parish Steward' (Lengthsman) and how this person and the new Highway Steward would cooperate; Cllr Barr agreed to respond, and ii) that the County was currently recruiting for Highway Stewards. He reminded the Council of the need to consider how to fund the Lengthsman in future years.

·       Cllr Lovegrove was appointed as Parish Council representative for Highway Steward liaison.

Cllr Barr

76.     Off-Road Motor Vehicles

·       A briefing on the current status of off-road motor vehicle management and the reporting process was received from the Clerk, who had spoken to Tony Hill, LDNPA Ranger.

·       Mr B Dobson, Chair of the Bethecar Moor ESA Association, raised the problem of damage to tracks, moorland and farmland by motor vehicles and mountain bikes. Mr John Milburn who farmed at Nibthwaite explained that the situation on the High Nibthwaite to Parkamoor track was now very serious as farmers could no longer get vehicles up this track to visit stock.

·       It was resolved that i) the Parish Council would write to the relevant authorities, and ii) the Clerk would encourage reporting of incidents via notices and articles in the newsletter.

Cllr Barr

Clerk

77.     Library Service

Cllr Lovegrove reported that the problem with mobile library stops in Bouth had been resolved. Mr Cooper asked whether the local residential homes, for example in Grange, were still being visited by the mobile library. Cllr Lovegrove agreed to investigate.

Cllr Lovegrove

78.     Notice Boards

The Clerk had spoken to Mr Mein to clarify the situation with purchase and maintenance of Notice Boards. The firm responsible for making the four leaking boards had refused to accept responsibility. Mr Mein had offered to do the repairs himself; the Council recorded thanks for this kind offer, but agreed that it would be too much to expect. It was resolved that the Council should seek advice and estimates for repair.

- Cllr Barr agreed to seek advice from the person who had made the superior boards.

- Cllr Cunliffe agreed to talk to Mr John King (who had carried out some repairs at Colton).

Clerk

Cllr Barr

Cllr Cunliffe

79.     Newsletters

Cllr Harrington would arrange a meeting of the Newsletter working Group as soon as possible for the Spring 2008 Newsletter. Cllrs should let the Clerk know of ideas for articles.

Cllr Harrington

80.   Reports of Meetings

·        Grange and Cartmel Community Board (6^th May): Cllr Barr reported on key points:

-         The top three key issues for parishes were Affordable Housing and Emplyment/Facilities andTraffic levels.

-         A presentation was given on the Lake District National Park Local Development Framework. The consultation period was to be 30^th May to the 11^th July. Proposals included for example, relaxation of planning laws for development in some circumstances.

·        Grizedale Consultative Committee (8^th May): Cllr Barr reported:

-         A "community resource centre" called 'The Yan', mainly for educational activities, would be officially opened on 23rd June; Cllr Robinson would attend.

-         3-4 'work-units' were being built to support local employment.

-         There had been 6 bids for running the café; this would open from September 08.

-         Car-parking: the Parish Council had been told that there would be no increase in the number of car-parking spaces. Cllr Robinson would monitor this and also the agreement to encourage visitors to use the minibuses rather than large coaches.

Cllr Robinson

·        CALC Conference (29^th March). Cllr Barr had given a presentation on "The Community Board – a small parish council experience". CALC would be producing a conference report.

81.     Correspondence

The following correspondence was noted: