111.  Apologies

Cllr Lovegrove    Cllr Walsh (CCC)   Cllr Davies (SLDC)

112.  Agenda

It was agreed that the Agenda item on budget-setting under '7. Accounts' should be addressed later in the meeting as a separate item '13. Budget-setting'.

ACTION

113.  Minutes of Last Meeting

      It was resolved that the Chair be authorised to sign the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 28^th July 2008 as a true record.

114.  Declarations of Interest

Cllr Barr declared a personal and prejudicial interest in respect of Agenda item 13: 'Budget-setting', and signed the register.

115.  Update on Issues and Actions from Last Meeting

The following action reports were received and noted:

·      Notice-board repair:  Mr King had made repairs to Colton notice board which was now weather-proof. Mr Helme had provided an estimate for repair of between £95 and £134 per board, depending on condition. It was agreed that, in the first instance, Mr King should be asked to look at the Lakeside board and give a quote for repair.

Clerk

·      Bouth playground inspections: A response from the insurers stated that one annual 'professional' inspection and weekly informal (but recorded) inspections were required. The Bouth Village Green Committee had been asked if they would be willing to carry out weekly voluntary inspections. They would be prepared to carry out monthly inspections, but not weekly ones. It was agreed that the Clerk would write back to the insurers asking whether monthly informal inspections would be sufficient.

Clerk

·       Mental Health consultation: Cllr Robinson had read the report and expressed concern at the  reduction in facilities proposed for south Cumbria. A letter from a parishioner with the same concerns had also been received. It was agreed that the Parish Council would respond with an objection to the proposed changes.

Cllr Robinson

·       Flyer: Tips for Visitors: This was in hand.

Clerk

116.  Public Participation

The Chairman welcomed PC John Baldwin as the new Local Community Officer and recorded thanks to his predecessor, PC Janice Forrester,  for her work with Colton over the past 6 years. PC Baldwin explained that the role had changed; it was now more community-based, working with local councils and agencies directly. He explained that:

·       His area included Broughton, Kirkby, Stavely-in-Cartmel, Crake Valley as well as Colton.

·       He worked standard shifts, with 2 weekends in 5, but could be flexible in responding to problems.

·       He would be the first call for poacher-watch.

·       There had been a recent increase in metal and oil thefts in Cumbria, but theft in general was not as bad as it had been 10 years ago.

117.  Comments from District and County Councillors

None was present at this meeting.

118.  Accounts

·         Successful completion of the Audit for FY 07/08 was noted.

·         Payment of the following accounts was approved:

-         Cheque number 000419: Lengthsman for July and August 08 - £616.00

-         Cheque number 000420: CALC - New Councillor course - £55.00

-         Cheque number 000421: BDO Stoy-Hayward LLP - Audit fee - £141.00

-         Cheque number 000422: Abacus Playground Ltd. - Bouth playground repairs: £452.38

·         The following receipts were noted:

-         NALC - Bursary Fund for Clerk's attendance at CiLCA Course: £52.50

-         Bouth Village Green Committee donation from fund-raising for Playground repair - £150.00

·      It was agreed that a member of the Council would attend the annual remembrance service at Rusland and provide a wreathe at a cost of £15.00. Cllr Watson would attend this year on 2^nd Nov. at 2.45p.m.

Cllr Watson

119.  Planning

·       The following planning applications were noted:

-         7/2008/5384 - Parrocks Busk, Rusland, Ulverston. Creation of 2 ponds. No objections.

-         7/2008/5424 - The Peat House, Nibthwaite: Re-submitted plans for glazed link across the beck. Objections

-         7/2008/5233 - 3, New Hall Cottages, Bouth. New external agricultural storage building. Pending.

·       The following grants of planning permission were noted:

-         7/2008/5139 - Red Deer Lodge, Finsthwaite - installation of flue for multi-fuel stove

-         7/2008/5218 - Barnhurst, Colton - new garage.

·       The following approved 'non-material changes' to plans were noted:

-         7/2003/5229 Chadwicks, Oxen Park - window/door placement

-         7/2007/5460 Pool Foot Farm, Haverthwaite: amendment to design & height of garden wall.

·       The following property namings were noted: Two dwellings: 11&12 Landing Close, Lakeside.

120.  Stribers Wind Farm Proposal
It was agreed that the Council would accept the offer from Mr Rob Ayres of the wind-farm company "Energia in Natura"  to address the meeting of 20^th October for 15mins. It was also agreed that, in the interests of balance, the Clerk should write to the organisation campaigning against the wind-farm inviting them to speak at the following meeting of 1^st Dec.

Clerk

121.  Finsthwaite Clock

In 2005, the Council had donated £100 for refurbishment of the Finsthwaite clock and later that year had agreed to donate £125 annually towards its maintenance with a 5-yearly review. Whilst two maintenance visits had taken place, there had been no claim made to the Council and so no payments had been made. In view of the maintenance carried out in May 2008, it was agreed that the Council should pay £125 this year in response to a claim from the Finsthwaite clock committee. The arrangement would be reviewed in 2010.

Clerk

122.  Road-signs at Spark Bridge

A resident had written to Cumbria Highways asking for signs to be mounted at either end of the road from Spark Bridge to Bridgefield deterring large vehicles and caravans from using the road as directed by SatNav systems. Cumbria Highways had advised him to consult the Parish Council, which he had also done.

It was resolved not to support this request by a vote of 7 to 1. Whilst there had been sympathy with the resident's frustrations, most of the roads in the parish had similar problems and it was felt that approval could lead to a proliferation of signs. The problem needed to be tackled at source with the SatNav companies. The Clerk would respond to the resident and to Mr John Bell of Cumbria Highways/Capita.

Clerk

123.  Highway Stewards and Parish Stewards (Lengthsmen)

·       Cllr Barr reported on the Highway Steward (HS) meeting with Cumbria Highways on 4^th September where he was introduced to the HS for Colton, as follows:

-      The HS for area 23, which included Colton, was Mr Adam Tyson from Millom.

-      He would be working in Colton 4 times per year for a fortnight at a time, starting 20^th Oct.

-      His list of tasks was essentially the same as the Parish Steward (Lengthsman) with the addition of pot-hole repairs.

-      He would need a list of jobs prepared in advance and the Parish will need to be more pro-active in identifying work

·       The Lengthsman was now being referred to as a Parish Steward in order to reflect a possible broader role that included tasks other than road-based work. The Council would consider drawing up a new contract and list of tasks for the Lengthsman/Parish Steward at the next Council meeting on October 20^th.

·       The Clerk reported that she had now received a grant of £1200 from CCC via the Community Board towards the Lengthsman programme for this financial year. Cllr Walsh was following up payment of his additional funding of £800.

Clerk

124.  Budget-Setting for 2009/2010

Cllr Barr and the Clerk left the room for this item as it included discussion of the Clerk's paid hours and Cllr Barr had a personal and prejudicial interest as the Clerk's spouse. Cllr Potts took the Chair.

A working-group had been convened to consider the setting of a budget for the next financial year (2009/2010). The precept needed to be formally approved at the October meeting of the Council. Cllr Dean summarised the draft budget and analysis (papers attached to these minutes) and outlined the recommendations from the working group as follows:

·       That the Clerk's paid hours be increased from 6 hours per week to 10.

·       That the draft budget be approved and the precept increased to balance the accounts.

Both recommendations were carried by unanimous vote of those present.

A final budget and precept would be set at the next Council meeting of 20^th October.

Clerk

125.  Affordable Housing

·       A working -group meeting had been scheduled for 8^th October. Cllr Potts explained that setting up Community Land Trusts would involve a considerable work-load.

·       The source of the Westmorland Gazette article on second homes (in which Colton had been reported as having 31% homes not primary residences) was the SLDC council tax records. The Clerk would ask whether the Council could have access to the property database.

Clerk

126.  Direct Elections to the National Park Authority - Consultation from DEFRA

Cllrs Barr and Fishwick would make a recommendation for the October meeting.

Cllrs Barr &

Fishwick

127.  Radioactive Waste Disposal - Consultation

Cumbria County Council proposed to make a 'without commitment expression of interest' to the Government's White Paper on hosting geological disposal facilities for radio-active waste. Local Councils had been asked whether or not they would support this proposal.  It was resolved not to support the proposal.

Clerk

128.   Reports of Meetings

i) Grange and Cartmel Community Board and 'Parish Summit': Cllr Barr attended.  Local Partnership Areas would form the future groupings for parishes. Colton would have to decide which grouping it felt most comfortable with. The Ulverston and Low Furness Parish Summit would be held on 25^th September; Cllr Fishwick or Cllr Dean would attend.

ii)  CALC South Lakeland Parish Councils: Cllr Harrington attended. Presentations were made on i) Community Land Trusts and ii) Community Speed Watch. On (ii), local councils needed to find £2500 for a speed gun plus funds for reflective jackets and other sundry items. The roadway would need to have a footway and the speed-gun was unable to operate in 20mph limit areas. This initiative was considered not useful for Colton Parish.

Cllr Fishwick

Cllr Dean

129.  Correspondence

The following correspondence was discussed:

·  The Yan Community Event at Grizedale, 14^th November: Cllr Fishwick would attend.

·  Cumbria Police Authority questionnaire: Cllr Lovegrove had responded; the Clerk held a copy.

·  Lake District World Heritage Status presentation: It was not felt to be a priority to attend.

·  BT Adopt a Kiosk scheme: Colton should have been consulted about the removal of its pay-phones, but the letter had been sent to the wrong parish council. An 'adopt a kiosk' scheme had recently been offered whereby the pay-phone would be removed, but the red box retained by the local council for £1 and certain conditions. Nibthwaite might also be included in this; the Clerk would check. A response was required by 1^st October; the Clerk had asked if this could be delayed in view of the lack of consultation.

Cllr Fishwick

Clerk

The following correspondence was noted:

130.  Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting was confirmed as the Monday 20^th October 2008 in Finsthwaite Village Hall at 7.30 p.m..