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New Clerk Wanted
The Chairman writes : "Councillors were sorry to hear that Judith Dove had handed in her resignation as clerk. To be fair to her, she did say some time ago that she would like to retire and has kindly stayed on to complete the business of gaining Quality Parish status and to oversee the recent change of chairman. Judith has been a godsend to the Council accepting a large and increasingly bureaucratic workload efficiently and with good grace (even cheerfully on occasion!). Her organisational abilities and sound common sense will be hard to replace (although we are always hopeful!). We are losing a very valuable friend and colleague and we wish her all the very best for the future."The clerk writes: "Thank-you chairman for those kind words. I came to the job knowing very little about local administration but, with training and with the help and support of all the councillors, I soon learned the procedures. I am sure that the new clerk will be given the same help and support and find it, as I did, an interesting and rewarding job as parish clerk." If you are interested in applying for the job, or would like more information, ring Judith on 01229 885647, or look on the website for a job description and an application form. www.coltonparishcouncil.org.uk
Cumbria County Council Direct Payments Scheme
Direct Payments are cash payments made to individuals who have been assessed as needing services, in lieu of directly provided or care managed social care. Like all social care services they are subject to the council's financial assessment process and a contribution may be assessed. People use Direct Payments in various ways; they may pay a friend or carer to take them to a Social Club instead of attending a day centre, or may arrange to have lunch provided at a pub or cafe instead of having a carer cook for them. Some purchase care from a local agency, employ a personal assistant directly or pay a neighbour or friend. It is possible to have both care from the council and a Direct Payment for some of the things you need. Carers can use them to organise respite care at home or away from home. You can use them for minor adaptations and equipment where the standard issue equipment is not what you want. You can take your Direct Payment on holiday with you and purchase care at your destination.
If you think Direct Payments might be right for you or someone you know, then contact your local Adult Social Care Office or contact the Direct Payment Advice and Support Service by ringing them on 0845 1249303 or emailing them at cumbriadp@aol.com
Lenthsman Scheme Update
Judging by the very
complimentary and supportive letters we've received, the scheme is
going well and people are very pleased with the
After 8 months in operation, it is unfortunate then to hear that the future of the scheme is in doubt due, as ever, to financial problems at higher levels. The Council would like to keep the scheme going for as long as possible and, for this reason, recently agreed to increase our precept (budget request) for next year. It may cost the average household an extra 3 to 5 pence on their council tax for 2008/2009, but we believe it is money well spent.
Meanwhile, if you have any particular job that needs to be done by the lengthsman, please contact Cllr Penny Lovegrove on 01229 861091 - she's waiting to hear from you!
Community Board
The idea of a Cumbria-wide Unitary Authority seems to have been rejected. The way ahead for local 'governance' is unclear but it seems likely that any form of 'local empowerment' (complete with some funding) will take place at a level above that of parish councils. So, if Colton Parish Council is to work with others, the next question is likely to be: where do we sit in terms of regional identity? At present, we are taking part in the Grange and Cartmel Community Board pilot plan, which brings together Town and Parish Councils in that area. We are definitely on the fringes of that grouping - perhaps we should be thinking about the Ulverston area instead, or throwing our lot in with a separate grouping of rural parish councils in High Furness? Although there is no immediate rush to answer this question, if you have any views, you might like to talk to a councillor, or email the clerk coltonpc@tiscali.co.uk
Cumbria Rural Housing Trust (CRHT) Colton Parish Housing Needs Survey Key Findings Of the 450 survey forms delivered last spring, 147 households returned their completed forms. Of the returned forms, 25 said that either the whole household or someone living in the household needs to move, within the parish, in the next 5 years. The report details the information derived from these 25 survey responses. Of the 25 households which indicated a housing need, CRHT considers that 17 are in need of affordable housing within the Colton Parish area.
Current household types of the 17 in need of affordable housing
The Council is to meet on November 12th to decide what action to take in response to the report. Minutes of that meeting will be displayed on the notice boards and on the website, and a report of the proposed actions will be included in the next newsletter. The full survey is available for inspection on application to the clerk. The remaining 8 are considered not fit the criteria of being in affordable housing need in the parish
News in Brief
New seats. Look out for the second of our two new parish seats, made by Minton Bros, which hopefully will be installed by the time you read this. The new seat is by the side of the Oxen Park to Bouth road, looking up the valley. Thanks go to the Dixon and Hool families for giving their permission to site the seats on their land. The repair of two slate seats at Finsthwaite Church has also been completed. Thanks to Cllr Potts for organising this. Bouth Village Green and Playground We have submitted an application for the registration of Bouth Village Green as an official village green. If successful, this will preserve our right to use it as such in perpetuity. Thanks, as ever, go to Roderick Smith and the villagers of Bouth for their work in keeping the village green and playground in such splendid condition. Thanks too to Angus Adams (solicitor) who gave his services for the legal process. Internal Audit The Council now has to produce an annual internal audit plan. Thanks go to Bobbie Dobson who audited our books, and gave us help and advice in formulating the plan. Future Parish Council Meetings All meetings begin at 7.30pm. Minutes of meetings available from the clerk and on the website.
Your Councillors West Ward (Colton, Oxen Park, Spark Bridge N. & Nibthwaite) Mr Colin Barr (Chair) 01229 861408 Mr Tony Atkinson 01229 861164 Mr Ian Cunliffe 01229 861440. Central Ward (Bouth & Rusland) Mrs Anne Robinson 01229 860242 Mrs Penny Lovegrove 01229 861091 Mr John Watson 01229 861450. East Ward (Lakeside & Finsthwaite) Mr Chris Potts 015395 31735 Mr Peter Harrington 015395 30376 Mrs Sally Baxter 015395 31150. Clerk: Mrs J Dove. Fell View Cottage Lowick Green Ulverston LA12 8EA 01229 885647 coltonpc@tiscali.co.uk Cumbria County Councillor (Cartmel Division): Mr Ted Walsh 015395 30272 South Lakeland District Councillors: (Coniston Ward) Mrs Anne Hall 015394 41558 Mr G Jenkinson (Hawkshead Ward) 015395 31394.
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Anne
was born and brought up in the Parish of Colton in the hamlet of
Ickenthwaite, where her maternal family has lived since the 19th
century. She was educated locally and then attended catering
college in Carlisle, worked locally as a cook, and then started her
outside catering business in 1981. She helped to regenerate the
Rusland Young Farmers Club (of which she was at one time Secretary
and then Chair), which gives children in the valley a social
focus through a variety of activities and interaction with other
clubs in the area. She is a trustee of The Rusland Valley Community
Trust, a founder member of the valley's First Responders and
supports other committees including those of the Rusland Show and
Parish Room. She is passionate about the valley, its people and its
future. 
results. Chris
Slater takes lots of credit for his diligent work amongst the verges
and drains of our parish and for responding to emergencies so
promptly. The problem we experienced with 'arisings' (waste cuttings
and trimmings) from the verges has now been solved (with thanks to
Cllr Atkinson).