Colton Parish Council  Chairman’s Report 2006/2007

Activities

The year has been a rewarding and successful year for the council, one that is unlikely ever to be surpassed by Colton PC in the future.  Over the next year or eighteen months the structure of local government is likely to change, and these changes will inevitably affect the council.  Central Government says that it wants parish councils to take on a much bigger role, and take on more responsibility. Cumbria is moving towards becoming a unitary authority which will mean the District Council will no longer exist.

Quality Parish Council Status

Last year I reported that Colton was well on the way to becoming a Quality Parish council and in December we were awarded Quality Parish status by the National Association of Local Councils. At the time of writing, Colton is one of only eight parishes in Cumbria to have been awarded this high status. Cllr Winston Collinge, Chairman of the Cumbria Association of Local Councils presented the award in Finsthwaite Village Hall on the 12^th February. I wish to thank everyone who contributed to our success, including former councillors and those residents who helped prepare the Parish Plan and those who helped set up our website, notably County Councillor Ted Walsh. Others who helped us to win this status are those residents who regularly attend council meetings and make a valuable contribution, raise issues and report defects.  Much of the credit must go to our Parish Clerk, Judith, for her dedication in getting her Parish Clerk Qualification and for her hard work in putting together our portfolio of evidence to submit to the awarding body.

Parish Council Lengthsman Pilot Programme.

Colton was selected together with Hawkshead parish to take part in a one year pilot programme to employ a parish lengthsman to work under the direct control of the two parishes.  The lengthsman is to work one day a week in Colton and one day a week in Hawkshead, doing small jobs that Cumbria County Council or South Lakeland District Council either don’t do or don’t do very well.  Nine people applied for the job and after a series of interviews Mr Christopher Slater was appointed.  In Colton, the lengthsman will be under the direct control of the Administrator, Cllr Penny Lovegrove. Anyone wanting work done must first ask their Ward Councillor who will pass on the request to Penny, and she will decide if the work is practical and possible. The lengthsman has been told that under no circumstances should he do any work requested by councillors or residents that has not been approved by Penny.  

Parish Plan

The Parish Plan has been updated and the council thanks those residents who took the time to reply to our questionnaire and contributed to updating the plan.  I especially thank Bobbie Dobson and David Baxter for their valuable contribution both in time and expertise.  Because the Parish Plan is a working document it needs to be reviewed on a regular basis.

Housing Needs Survey

The council together with Cumbria Rural Housing Trust undertook a housing needs survey in February. Questionnaires were delivered to every household in the parish, together with a letter explaining why this survey was being undertaken.  The returned questionnaires are now being evaluated and I thank all those who completed and returned them.

Planning

This year the council reviewed seventeen planning applications.  We raised concerns about three

and objected to only two.  This year we also introduced new procedures to ensure that those who may be affected by any planning application have the opportunity to comment.

Grizedale Project Consultative Group

At the request of Colton Parish Council, The Grizedale Consultative Group was set up to try to minimise disruption during the development, and to minimise the impact of the increased traffic that the development is likely to generate.  At the moment the group is working to improve (not increase) direction signage, and to identify pinch points that may be improved.  To date I personally have received only one complaint from a resident. 

Meetings

The council held nine scheduled meetings during the year and two extraordinary meetings, to discuss the Lengthsman Pilot Programme and its implications.  Member attendance at meetings averaged almost 80% over the year, and we were well supported by Cumbria County Councillor Ted Walsh and SLDC councillors Anne Hall and Gordon Jenkinson.

Chairman’s Thanks

On behalf of the council I would like to thank Roderick Smith and the members of the Bouth Village Green Voluntary Committee for their dedication and hard work maintaining the green to a very high standard, admired both by residents and visitors alike.  I would also like to thank the members of Colton Parish Council for their help, support, and guidance during the year and also those residents of the parish who have supported the council during the year. I especially thank our Parish Clerk, Judith Dove, for the help, dedication, and support she has given the council during this very demanding but successful year.

Meeting Dates for 2007/2008

The dates and venues for meetings for 2007/2008 are available, and can be viewed on our website and hard copies can be obtained from the parish clerk. They will also be published in the newsletters.  Minutes of meeting can also be obtained from the clerk at a small cost to cover printing and can be read on our website, coltonparishcouncil.org.uk.

Budget

The council keeps costs to the minimum required to operate effectively.  However, this year after public consultation and approval, it was agreed that we increase the parish precept by £1000 to cover the cost to the council of the Lengthsman Pilot Programme.  This amount was a requirement from Cumbria County Council as the parish council’s contribution to the lengthsman’s salary.

The coming year.

Summary of Accounts 2006/2007

Receipts

Payments - summary

Balance

Ron Mein - March 2007