Minutes of the New Hutton Parish Council meeting held on Monday 17th January 2011
110117-1 Present:
Tony Porter (Chairman), Pat Bell, Tony Ellis, Henry Robinson, Peter Thornton (SLDC councillor), 8 members of the public and Arthur Robinson (clerk)
110117-2 Apologies: none
110117-3 Acceptance of the minutes of the last meeting:
The minutes of the council meetings held on 01-11-2010 and 15-11-2010 were signed as a true record.
110117-4 Chairman’s announcements:
a) The Upper Kent LAP (Local Area Partnership of 13 parish councils and parish meetings) has performed quite well over the past year with some significant results due soon (see later in these minutes). Another review is needed in a year’s time. In addition to purchases made through the LAP, SLDC has changed its policy for the allocation of houses to people on the waiting list. Preference will now be given to people in the LAP for houses in Upper Kent.
b) A mobile speed warning device is being bought with LAP money. It will be shared with Burneside and will be used in New Hutton every six months or so.
c) Following representations from the parish council, the CCC Principal Traffic Engineer reported that:
i. No action will be taken to reduce the speed of motor cycles between the A684/Beehive Lane junction and the A684/Greyhound Road junction as the average speed of 21,474 vehicles measured over six days at The Butterbent Lane junction was 44mph and for motor cycles 50mph which are well below the 60mph speed limit. It is also not an accident blackspot.
ii. A request has been made to CCC to install a more emphatic sign on Fairthorns Lane to deter HGV and coach SATNAV drivers.
iii. There have been 14 personal injury accidents between 1st January 2005 and 30th September 2010 along Hayclose Lane, 5 being at the Hayclose Farm bend and 5 at the bend north of the Station Inn. A strong recommendation has been made to CCC to improve warning signs at the former and to provide warning signs for the latter bend as well as to look at the problem of oil, diesel and debris spreading from the layby on to the road and to look at the surface (potholes) and drainage there.
iv. The engineer warned, however, that these recommended works will be subject to funding and priority by CCC.
d) Ann Thompson has resigned from the parish council. The chairman expressed the council’s thanks for all the work she has done for the council and for her unstinting commitment to the parish.
e) Seven tonnes of grit were delivered to the parish and this meant there were many fewer problems on the roads during the heavy snow in November and December compared with the previous winter. Particular thanks were expressed to Len Atkinson, Brian Ellwood and Oliver Hodgson who used snow ploughs to clear long lengths of lanes.
f) Parish council elections will be held on 5th May. Procedures will be published by SLDC in due course.
110117-5 Declaration of interests: none
110117-6 Open session:
a) Most potholes were repaired quickly after the severe 2009/10 winter but many are now just a bad as they were. The chairman urged parishioners to inform the Highways Hotline about potholes as soon as possible. This can be done via www.cumbria.gov.uk
b) Cllr Thornton described some aspects of the Localism Bill:
i. 10% of electors in a parish can call for a referendum which would have to be held within 12 months.
ii. A parish council will be able to bid to carry out any of its own services.
c) A question was raised about whether the enclosed footpath (number 559011) from Lane Cottage extends past the eastern side of St Sunday’s Beck and then goes through Old Croft farmyard to join the bridleway from Billy Wood Barn. [After the meeting CCC confirmed that footpath 559011 from Lane Cottage is a right of way only as far as the parish boundary which is in the middle of the pack horse bridge; the path does not continue through Old Croft farmyard to join the bridleway 560022 from Billy Wood Barn which then continues as a footpath to Middleshaw.]
d) It was noted that the dangerous erosion gully on the north side of Fairthorns Lane has still not been repaired a year after its formation. The parish clerk will make further representations to CCC about this.
110117-7 Planning Applications:
a) It was noted that paper copies of planning applications will not henceforth be sent to parish councils by SLDC; they will have to be viewed electronically.
b) Applications submitted requiring council comments: none
c) The progress of the following applications was noted:
SL/2010/0976 – Borrans House – extension to existing garage – the parish council had no objections to this application
SL/2010/0786 – Big Park Manor House – the application was permitted by SLDC
SL/2010/0822 – land north-east of Millholme Bridge for United Utilities - permission was granted by SLDC for the erection of a building over the aqueduct at Greenriggs South Well.
110117-8 Payment of accounts: none
110117-9 Financial report:
The financial report as at 07-01-2011 was accepted. The community account has a balance of £373.60 following the transference of £550 from the reserve account earlier in the year.
110117-10 Correspondence:
The following items of correspondence received since the last meeting were noted:
01-11-2010 – from CALC – November circular [forwarded to councillors]
12-11-2010 – from SLDC – invitation to parish councillors to attend a workshop on Engaging With Young People [forwarded to councillors]
12-11-2010 – from South Lakeland Community Safety Partnership – consultation about priorities for 2011 – 2012 [forwarded to councillors]
15-11-2010 – from CALC – notice of next South Lakes association meeting on 25-11-2010 [forwarded to councillors]
17-11-2010 – from SLDC – notification that review of polling districts and polling places has been held and there are to be no changes in the Whinfell ward which includes New Hutton
18-11-2010 – from SLDC – notice of meeting about LDF land allocations to 2025 [website forwarded to councillors]
24-11-2010 – from the Secretary of State – note about the queen’s diamond jubilee in 2012 [agenda item 16]
24-11-2010 – from CCC – consultation on the draft budget proposals for 2011/12 [agenda item 18]
29-11-2010 – from New Hutton PCC – about the lych gate [agenda item 15]
30-11-2010 – from CCC – supply of salt to parish councils [e-mail sent to all councillors to try to arrange a salt delivery]
01-12-2010 – from CCC – agenda for Upper Kent Neighbourhood Forum on 15th December [forwarded to councillors]
02-12-2010 – from SLDC – information about the land allocations options consultation [agenda item 12]
04-12-2010 – from SLDC – publication of the 2011 register of electors [notice placed on noticeboard]
04-12-2010 – from Upper Kent LAP – agenda and documents for the meeting on 8th December [forwarded to councillors]
04-12-2010 – from CALC – December/January circular [forwarded to councillors]
08-12-2010 – from CALC – Winter Warmth Fund to help old people in Cumbria in cold periods [forwarded to parishioners]
08-12-2010 – from Tim Farron – request for name of a Broadband Pioneer [consulted Chairman]
13-12-2010 – from SLDC – questionnaire to review effectiveness of LAP [chairman consulted]
13-12-2010 – from Tony Porter – confirmation that New Hutton Parish Council has agreed to have a road gritter bought by the LAP.
14-12-2010 – from CALC – information about the Localism Bill [forwarded to councillors]
15-12-2010 – from Cumbria Police – notification of a Police Community Liaison Forum on 4th January [forwarded to councillors]
15-12-2010 – from CCC – paper copy of “Local News and Views” about news from CCC [e-mailed version forwarded to councillors]
17-12-2010 – from CCC/Capita – information about new signs to improve safety on Hayclose Lane and to deter HGVs from Fairthorns Lane [forwarded to councillors; agenda item 3c ]
21-12-2011 – from LAP – minutes of meeting on 08-12-2010 [forwarded to councillors]
23-12-2010 – from SLDC – notification that the SLDC Local Development Framework Land Allocations - Emerging Options Consultation will have events during 21st January to 25th March and then continue to 15th April
24-12-2010 – from Upper Kent Forum – minutes of meeting on 15-12-2010 [forwarded to councillors]
24-12-2010 – from SLDC – notification that paper copies of planning applications will not now be sent to parish councils; they will have to be viewed electronically
28-12-2010 – from Ann Thompson – resignation from Parish Council
04-01-2011 – from CCC – December Better Highways newsletter [forwarded to councillors]
11-01-2011 – from SLDC – request for comments about the waste collection service [see below]
12-01-2011– from SLDC – SLDC five-year strategy [forwarded to councillors]
The meeting reviewed waste collection in the parish. The results were:
Range of materials collected - the parish would like to have plastic bottles and cardboard collected but not if this would increase costs for SLDC as it was felt that there are facilities at refuse collection centres for the disposal of this waste.
Ease of use of wheelie bins and blue boxes - these were felt to be easy to use
The assisted collection service - no problems were mentioned.
The meeting recorded the parish's thanks for the excellent waste collection service run by SLDC especially during the recent long period of thick snow on our ungritted lanes when no collection was cancelled.
110117-11 Parish plan open meeting:
This meeting was postponed because of snow on 30th November 2010.
It has been re-arranged for Monday 21st February at 7.30pm at the Institute. Its agenda has also been extended to include discussion of the Land Allocation Consultation (see minute 110117-13 below)
110117-12 Parish council vacancy:
It was noted that an election cannot be held to fill the vacant parish council seat caused by the resignation of Mrs Ann Thompson because the vacancy has arisen within six months of scheduled parish council elections on 5th May. In view of the time needed to co-opt someone and the fact that there will be only two more meetings, it was resolved that the seat should be left vacant.
110117-13 SLDC Land Allocation Consultation:
SLDC is preparing a Land Allocations document to allocate sites for housing etc up to 2025. The proposed site in New Hutton is the field between the church and Ashes Farm. The public consultation period will be from Friday 14th January to Friday 25th March with the deadline for comments being Friday 15th April. There will be drop-in consultation days in Kendal as follows:
Westmorland Shopping Centre – Wed 2nd February – 11am to 5pm
Town Hall – Wed 2nd March – 1.30pm to 7.30pm
Plans and other information can be seen at www.southlakeland.gov.uk/landallocations
Cllr Thornton said that SLDC wants 35% of new houses to be affordable; 6000 houses are forecast to be needed. There are currently 3000 people on the waiting list but only 4000 affordable houses available (including housing association houses) in the district.
It was resolved that discussion of whether the field should be in the land allocation document should be included in the parish plan open meeting on 21st February as part of the issue of affordable housing (one of the six issues already identified for discussion).
110117-14 Parish road gritter:
The chairman reported that a gritter is to be bought for the parish by the LAP but, unfortunately, the manufacturer cannot supply it until April. Consequently, it was decided to defer discussion of its storage and use to a later meeting.
110117-15 New arrangements for highways stewards
Highway stewards are now working in pairs and will work in New Hutton on a rotational basis. It was agreed that Cllrs Porter and Bell will be the parish’s contacts for them.
110117-16 New Hutton lych gate
A letter from St. Stephen’s PCC noted that it will arrange for repairs to be made to the lych gate. The parish council resolved that it would support any applications made to charities such as the wind farm fund.
110117-17 The Queen’s diamond jubilee in 2012
This issue was deferred to a later meeting.
110117-18 SLDC budget consultation
Parishioners were urged to contribute to the SLDC budget consultation via the short questionnaire to be found at www.southlakeland.gov.uk or phone 0845 050 4434 for a paper questionnaire. The deadline is 31-01-2011.
The parish council will send comments after further consultation.
110117-19 CCC budget consultation
Parishioners were urged to contribute to the CCC budget consultation to be found at www.cumbria.gov.uk or phone 01228-226308 for a paper copy of the consultation document/questionnaire. The deadline is 31-01-2011.
The parish council will send comments after further consultation.
110117-20 Date of the next meeting
The next two parish council meetings will be on Thursday 10th March and Monday 11th April at 7.30pm at the Institute.
Arthur Robinson, parish clerk, Over Bleaze, Old Hutton, Kendal, LA8 0LU
Telephone – 01539-725955
e-mail – nhpclerk@googlemail.com
110117-1 Present:
Tony Porter (Chairman), Pat Bell, Tony Ellis, Henry Robinson, Peter Thornton (SLDC councillor), 8 members of the public and Arthur Robinson (clerk)
110117-2 Apologies: none
110117-3 Acceptance of the minutes of the last meeting:
The minutes of the council meetings held on 01-11-2010 and 15-11-2010 were signed as a true record.
110117-4 Chairman’s announcements:
a) The Upper Kent LAP (Local Area Partnership of 13 parish councils and parish meetings) has performed quite well over the past year with some significant results due soon (see later in these minutes). Another review is needed in a year’s time. In addition to purchases made through the LAP, SLDC has changed its policy for the allocation of houses to people on the waiting list. Preference will now be given to people in the LAP for houses in Upper Kent.
b) A mobile speed warning device is being bought with LAP money. It will be shared with Burneside and will be used in New Hutton every six months or so.
c) Following representations from the parish council, the CCC Principal Traffic Engineer reported that:
i. No action will be taken to reduce the speed of motor cycles between the A684/Beehive Lane junction and the A684/Greyhound Road junction as the average speed of 21,474 vehicles measured over six days at The Butterbent Lane junction was 44mph and for motor cycles 50mph which are well below the 60mph speed limit. It is also not an accident blackspot.
ii. A request has been made to CCC to install a more emphatic sign on Fairthorns Lane to deter HGV and coach SATNAV drivers.
iii. There have been 14 personal injury accidents between 1st January 2005 and 30th September 2010 along Hayclose Lane, 5 being at the Hayclose Farm bend and 5 at the bend north of the Station Inn. A strong recommendation has been made to CCC to improve warning signs at the former and to provide warning signs for the latter bend as well as to look at the problem of oil, diesel and debris spreading from the layby on to the road and to look at the surface (potholes) and drainage there.
iv. The engineer warned, however, that these recommended works will be subject to funding and priority by CCC.
d) Ann Thompson has resigned from the parish council. The chairman expressed the council’s thanks for all the work she has done for the council and for her unstinting commitment to the parish.
e) Seven tonnes of grit were delivered to the parish and this meant there were many fewer problems on the roads during the heavy snow in November and December compared with the previous winter. Particular thanks were expressed to Len Atkinson, Brian Ellwood and Oliver Hodgson who used snow ploughs to clear long lengths of lanes.
f) Parish council elections will be held on 5th May. Procedures will be published by SLDC in due course.
110117-5 Declaration of interests: none
110117-6 Open session:
a) Most potholes were repaired quickly after the severe 2009/10 winter but many are now just a bad as they were. The chairman urged parishioners to inform the Highways Hotline about potholes as soon as possible. This can be done via www.cumbria.gov.uk
b) Cllr Thornton described some aspects of the Localism Bill:
i. 10% of electors in a parish can call for a referendum which would have to be held within 12 months.
ii. A parish council will be able to bid to carry out any of its own services.
c) A question was raised about whether the enclosed footpath (number 559011) from Lane Cottage extends past the eastern side of St Sunday’s Beck and then goes through Old Croft farmyard to join the bridleway from Billy Wood Barn. [After the meeting CCC confirmed that footpath 559011 from Lane Cottage is a right of way only as far as the parish boundary which is in the middle of the pack horse bridge; the path does not continue through Old Croft farmyard to join the bridleway 560022 from Billy Wood Barn which then continues as a footpath to Middleshaw.]
d) It was noted that the dangerous erosion gully on the north side of Fairthorns Lane has still not been repaired a year after its formation. The parish clerk will make further representations to CCC about this.
110117-7 Planning Applications:
a) It was noted that paper copies of planning applications will not henceforth be sent to parish councils by SLDC; they will have to be viewed electronically.
b) Applications submitted requiring council comments: none
c) The progress of the following applications was noted:
SL/2010/0976 – Borrans House – extension to existing garage – the parish council had no objections to this application
SL/2010/0786 – Big Park Manor House – the application was permitted by SLDC
SL/2010/0822 – land north-east of Millholme Bridge for United Utilities - permission was granted by SLDC for the erection of a building over the aqueduct at Greenriggs South Well.
110117-8 Payment of accounts: none
110117-9 Financial report:
The financial report as at 07-01-2011 was accepted. The community account has a balance of £373.60 following the transference of £550 from the reserve account earlier in the year.
110117-10 Correspondence:
The following items of correspondence received since the last meeting were noted:
01-11-2010 – from CALC – November circular [forwarded to councillors]
12-11-2010 – from SLDC – invitation to parish councillors to attend a workshop on Engaging With Young People [forwarded to councillors]
12-11-2010 – from South Lakeland Community Safety Partnership – consultation about priorities for 2011 – 2012 [forwarded to councillors]
15-11-2010 – from CALC – notice of next South Lakes association meeting on 25-11-2010 [forwarded to councillors]
17-11-2010 – from SLDC – notification that review of polling districts and polling places has been held and there are to be no changes in the Whinfell ward which includes New Hutton
18-11-2010 – from SLDC – notice of meeting about LDF land allocations to 2025 [website forwarded to councillors]
24-11-2010 – from the Secretary of State – note about the queen’s diamond jubilee in 2012 [agenda item 16]
24-11-2010 – from CCC – consultation on the draft budget proposals for 2011/12 [agenda item 18]
29-11-2010 – from New Hutton PCC – about the lych gate [agenda item 15]
30-11-2010 – from CCC – supply of salt to parish councils [e-mail sent to all councillors to try to arrange a salt delivery]
01-12-2010 – from CCC – agenda for Upper Kent Neighbourhood Forum on 15th December [forwarded to councillors]
02-12-2010 – from SLDC – information about the land allocations options consultation [agenda item 12]
04-12-2010 – from SLDC – publication of the 2011 register of electors [notice placed on noticeboard]
04-12-2010 – from Upper Kent LAP – agenda and documents for the meeting on 8th December [forwarded to councillors]
04-12-2010 – from CALC – December/January circular [forwarded to councillors]
08-12-2010 – from CALC – Winter Warmth Fund to help old people in Cumbria in cold periods [forwarded to parishioners]
08-12-2010 – from Tim Farron – request for name of a Broadband Pioneer [consulted Chairman]
13-12-2010 – from SLDC – questionnaire to review effectiveness of LAP [chairman consulted]
13-12-2010 – from Tony Porter – confirmation that New Hutton Parish Council has agreed to have a road gritter bought by the LAP.
14-12-2010 – from CALC – information about the Localism Bill [forwarded to councillors]
15-12-2010 – from Cumbria Police – notification of a Police Community Liaison Forum on 4th January [forwarded to councillors]
15-12-2010 – from CCC – paper copy of “Local News and Views” about news from CCC [e-mailed version forwarded to councillors]
17-12-2010 – from CCC/Capita – information about new signs to improve safety on Hayclose Lane and to deter HGVs from Fairthorns Lane [forwarded to councillors; agenda item 3c ]
21-12-2011 – from LAP – minutes of meeting on 08-12-2010 [forwarded to councillors]
23-12-2010 – from SLDC – notification that the SLDC Local Development Framework Land Allocations - Emerging Options Consultation will have events during 21st January to 25th March and then continue to 15th April
24-12-2010 – from Upper Kent Forum – minutes of meeting on 15-12-2010 [forwarded to councillors]
24-12-2010 – from SLDC – notification that paper copies of planning applications will not now be sent to parish councils; they will have to be viewed electronically
28-12-2010 – from Ann Thompson – resignation from Parish Council
04-01-2011 – from CCC – December Better Highways newsletter [forwarded to councillors]
11-01-2011 – from SLDC – request for comments about the waste collection service [see below]
12-01-2011– from SLDC – SLDC five-year strategy [forwarded to councillors]
The meeting reviewed waste collection in the parish. The results were:
Range of materials collected - the parish would like to have plastic bottles and cardboard collected but not if this would increase costs for SLDC as it was felt that there are facilities at refuse collection centres for the disposal of this waste.
Ease of use of wheelie bins and blue boxes - these were felt to be easy to use
The assisted collection service - no problems were mentioned.
The meeting recorded the parish's thanks for the excellent waste collection service run by SLDC especially during the recent long period of thick snow on our ungritted lanes when no collection was cancelled.
110117-11 Parish plan open meeting:
This meeting was postponed because of snow on 30th November 2010.
It has been re-arranged for Monday 21st February at 7.30pm at the Institute. Its agenda has also been extended to include discussion of the Land Allocation Consultation (see minute 110117-13 below)
110117-12 Parish council vacancy:
It was noted that an election cannot be held to fill the vacant parish council seat caused by the resignation of Mrs Ann Thompson because the vacancy has arisen within six months of scheduled parish council elections on 5th May. In view of the time needed to co-opt someone and the fact that there will be only two more meetings, it was resolved that the seat should be left vacant.
110117-13 SLDC Land Allocation Consultation:
SLDC is preparing a Land Allocations document to allocate sites for housing etc up to 2025. The proposed site in New Hutton is the field between the church and Ashes Farm. The public consultation period will be from Friday 14th January to Friday 25th March with the deadline for comments being Friday 15th April. There will be drop-in consultation days in Kendal as follows:
Westmorland Shopping Centre – Wed 2nd February – 11am to 5pm
Town Hall – Wed 2nd March – 1.30pm to 7.30pm
Plans and other information can be seen at www.southlakeland.gov.uk/landallocations
Cllr Thornton said that SLDC wants 35% of new houses to be affordable; 6000 houses are forecast to be needed. There are currently 3000 people on the waiting list but only 4000 affordable houses available (including housing association houses) in the district.
It was resolved that discussion of whether the field should be in the land allocation document should be included in the parish plan open meeting on 21st February as part of the issue of affordable housing (one of the six issues already identified for discussion).
110117-14 Parish road gritter:
The chairman reported that a gritter is to be bought for the parish by the LAP but, unfortunately, the manufacturer cannot supply it until April. Consequently, it was decided to defer discussion of its storage and use to a later meeting.
110117-15 New arrangements for highways stewards
Highway stewards are now working in pairs and will work in New Hutton on a rotational basis. It was agreed that Cllrs Porter and Bell will be the parish’s contacts for them.
110117-16 New Hutton lych gate
A letter from St. Stephen’s PCC noted that it will arrange for repairs to be made to the lych gate. The parish council resolved that it would support any applications made to charities such as the wind farm fund.
110117-17 The Queen’s diamond jubilee in 2012
This issue was deferred to a later meeting.
110117-18 SLDC budget consultation
Parishioners were urged to contribute to the SLDC budget consultation via the short questionnaire to be found at www.southlakeland.gov.uk or phone 0845 050 4434 for a paper questionnaire. The deadline is 31-01-2011.
The parish council will send comments after further consultation.
110117-19 CCC budget consultation
Parishioners were urged to contribute to the CCC budget consultation to be found at www.cumbria.gov.uk or phone 01228-226308 for a paper copy of the consultation document/questionnaire. The deadline is 31-01-2011.
The parish council will send comments after further consultation.
110117-20 Date of the next meeting
The next two parish council meetings will be on Thursday 10th March and Monday 11th April at 7.30pm at the Institute.
Arthur Robinson, parish clerk, Over Bleaze, Old Hutton, Kendal, LA8 0LU
Telephone – 01539-725955
e-mail – nhpclerk@googlemail.com
