Minutes of the New Hutton Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 4th August, 2009
090804-1 Present:
Pat Bell (Chair), Tony Ellis, Tony Porter, Henry Robinson, Ann Thompson, Arthur Robinson (clerk), Peter Thornton (SLDC councillor)
4 members of the public
090804-2 Apologies: Bob Pearce, Jimmy Clarke
090804-3 Minutes of the previous meetings:
It was resolved that the minutes of the previous parish council meeting held on 01-07-09 be signed by the Chairman as a true record.
090804-4 Chairman’s announcements:
(a) The chairman welcomed Cllr Thompson to her first meeting of the council. She is to serve until the next election in two years’ time. The chairman noted that the council now has its full complement of councillors.(b) The clerk gave a brief account of the items discussed at the Upper Kent Forum held at Burneside on 28-07-2009 and, in particular, the steps taken to compile the Burneside Community Plan; and the extent of crime in the South Lakes and Furness area which can be seen from the police crime website at http://cumbria.crimemapper.co.uk
090804-5 Declarations of interest: Cllr Ellis declared an interest in item 21, the parish field
090804-6 Adjournment of meeting:
(a) Mr Todd welcomed the extended reporting of council business which was begun in the August issue of The Grapevine
(b) Mr Pearce (in a letter) questioned the fact that the meetings held on 02-06-2009 were called the Parish Council AGM and the Parish Open meeting rather than the NHPC AGM and a NHPC meeting. It was noted that there might have been an error in this regard and it was affirmed that meetings and their agendas in 2010 would be advertised well in advance and their titles and nature would be clearly shown.
(c) Mr Pearce (in a letter) raised again his concern about the poor road surface on Hayclose Lane near the crossing point of the recently laid electricity cables. It was resolved that the council would continue to monitor the situation and would write to the Area Engineer and CCC Councillor Stan Collins. It was noted that the surface is likely to deteriorate further in the coming year due to increased traffic caused by work on the bridge at Tebay (item 17)
(d) SLDC Cllr Thornton noted that the Armistead Wind Farm appeal has been granted against the wishes of SLDC. He commented that the company is very reactive and would respond quickly to any concerns raised by parishioners during the construction phase.
090804-7 Planning applications: None
090804-8 Payment of accounts:
Payments of the following amounts were authorised:
Cumberland & Westmorland Herald for printing of Parish Directory £84.00
BDO Stoy Hayward LLP for external audit £51-75
The Wind Farm Community Fund was thanked for funding the printing of the parish directory in a grant made in 2007/8.
090804-9 Financial report:
The Annual Return for 2008-2009 was approved and accepted by the council.
Being early in the financial year, the current financial position was noted.
090804-10 Correspondence:
The following items of correspondence were noted:
06-07-2009 from David Hughes, CCC environmental monitoring – see item 20
09-07-2009 from Partnerships for Renewables (PFR). The proposed wind farm at Killington Reservoir is likely to consist of one turbine north of the lake in New Hutton and one south of it in Old Hutton, with a hydro-electric turbine at the dam. The planning application will not be made until late 2010 at the earliest. The contact at PFR said he would be happy to come to discuss the issue at any time. The council felt that such a meeting would be more appropriate when the application is made and consideration should be given to it being an open one.
10-07-2009 from Cumbria Community Foundation - spring newsletter - copies were available for distribution. It was noted that this could be a source of grant funding.
14-07-2009 from SLDC re Local Area Partnership Strategy - see Item 11.
16-07-2009 from CCC Highways a copy of their departmental magazine. Copies were available for distribution.
21.7.2009 from SLDC planning department re notice boards – see item 14
23.7.2009 from Tim Farron MP, schedule of advice surgeries. It was noted that it would be useful to put these dates in The Grapevine each month.
25.7.2009 from BDO Stoy Hayward LLP – approval of 2008/9 external audit
27-07-2009 from CALC – list of training courses from Sept. 2009 to March 2010. Approval was given for the clerk to attend courses entitled "Clerks Induction" and "Local Council Finance" to be funded by the parish council (£65)
27-07-2009 from CALC – parish councils were being asked whether the local policeman is attending meetings or sending reports to the council. It was noted that there was little need for either but it was agreed that it would be useful to ask the local policeman to attend a future meeting when the agenda is short
27-07-2009 from David Hughes – re Roan Edge landfill – see item 20
03-08-2009 from CALC – agenda for South Lakes AGM at 7pm on 3rd September at Gilpin Bridge Inn. Cllr Porter agreed to attend.
090804-11 Local Area Partnership (LAPS):
Cllr Bell reported that there has been a good response from members of the 13+ local parish councils to the invitation to attend a meeting at New Hutton on Wednesday, 5th August 2009 at 7.30pm. There will be presentations from members of CALC and others about the nature and importance of LAPS, followed by an open discussion.
090804-12 Parish Directory:
It was reported that copies of the directory had been distributed to all homes in the parish. Councillors were thanked for doing this. Some spare copies will be placed in the church for anyone to take, and a note in The Grapevine will invite other people to ask for copies. It was noted that the directory will be available on the parish website when it goes live in September.
090804-13 Spring flowers
Following some queries from parishioners it was confirmed that the daffodils to be planted along roads in the parish would be the native Cumbrian variety and not the Welsh native or cultivated varieties. It was resolved that parishioners should be asked through The Grapevine to send the following information to the clerk by 13th September: their name, address, the number of daffodils and snowdrops they want, where they propose to plant them and whether they wish to buy some themselves. A decision about the quantity to be ordered will be made at the next meeting.
It was resolved that an application should be made to the Wind Farm Community Fund for part-funding of this project.
090804-14 Parish notice boards
It was reported that quotes from A Nelson & Son Ltd ranged from £895 +VAT to £320+VAT depending on the design to be adopted. Planning permission is not required if the board is smaller than 1.55 sq.m. which is much bigger than the area of two A3 sheets. One of the boards should be of this size and should be lockable. It was resolved that decisions about design, number and location would now be deferred until the community plan has been completed and sources of grant funding have been identified.
090804-15 Parish plan
The clerk reported that funding for parish planning ends on 31-12-2009 and that Burneside started work on its plan with a small group of volunteers and the group has subsequently grown. They used a questionnaire, an open meeting and talks with individuals and organisations. Cllr Porter reported that he had investigated plans from other parishes and contacted Cumbria Action (ACT).
It was resolved that Cllr Porter should organise a meeting of the council with Julia Wilson (ACT) in early September to discuss the exact steps to take.
090804-16 Grants policy
It was resolved that the draft grants policy be adopted. (proposed by Cllr Porter, seconded by Cllr Bell). Copies are in the minutes and policy files, and it will be placed on the parish website.
090804-17 Road works at Tebay bridge
It was reported that work on the M6/A685 Lawtland House Bridge on the south side of Tebay will begin on 1st September 2009 and will last for 12 months. For long periods there will be a single lane with traffic lights, and the bridge will be closed for several periods of two to four days. This is likely to increase traffic on the A684 Sedbergh-Kendal road. The council resolved that a letter should be sent to SLDC Cllr Peter Thornton to liaise with the contractors Amey Mouchel about concerns that big lorries using satnavs should be deterred from going along the lanes in the parish and that the road surface on Hayclose Lane should be improved to cope with extra traffic.
090804-18 Setting of the budget and precept for 2010-2011
A preliminary discussion was held about the budget for 2010-2011. Councillors were asked to identify areas for expenditure. The budget will be constructed at the next meeting.
090804-19 Standing orders, financial regulations and publication scheme
It was resolved that the standard standing orders be adopted – proposed by Cllr Ellis, seconded by Cllr Robinson
It was resolved that the standard financial regulations be adopted – proposed by Cllr Ellis, seconded by Cllr Robinson
It was resolved that the standard publication scheme be adopted – proposed by Cllr Ellis, seconded by Cllr Robinson. The council asked the clerk to distribute a copy at the next meeting after various blank spaces in the scheme had been filled in.
Copies are in the minutes and policy files, and they will be placed on the parish website.
090804-20 Roan Edge Landfill Site
Cllr Bell reported that she had contacted the CCC monitoring officer David Hughes about the continued growth of some of the piles of gravel at the site. He assured her that monitoring of the site was continuing and supplied photographs of it in November 2004, October 2007, March 2009, May 2009 and July 2009 [These copies have been placed in the landfill file held by the clerk].
A site meeting has been arranged for Thursday 24th September at 10am for the council, Mr Hughes and Mr Wilson.
090804-21 The parish field
Cllr Bell reported that the parish field tenancy does not expire until March 2010.
The clerk reported that the title deeds for the field have been located at Barclays Bank and arrangements were made to inspect or collect them so that the title deeds can be registered following a change in legislation. Alan Barton (a former clerk who was present at the meeting) was thanked for his detailed minutes of 27-09-1995 and 15-11-1995 which allowed the deeds to be located.
The parish field, known as the Pleasure Ground, is at grid reference 585930 and covers 4.081 acres. It was awarded to New Hutton parish on 3rd February 1848 as an Inclosure Award of a Recreational Allotment consequent upon the Inclosure Act of 1837. It was registered as a village green on 3rd February 1969 under the Commons Registration Act of 1965. Parishioners and neighbouring people have the right, in perpetuity, to walk across the field and to take their perambulators. This status meant that when the Ministry of Transport needed part of the field to re-align the A684 as part of the construction of the M6 in 1966 , it was obliged to Compulsorily Purchase the same area of land (from Mr Armistead) to join to the field. This is why it has only a wire fence on its north-eastern side.
090804-22 Other land belonging to the parish council
Cllr Bell reported that information about three other plots of land is being sent by SLDC to the parish council.
090804-23 Date of the next meeting
The next parish council meeting will be held on Wednesday 16th September 2009
090804-1 Present:
Pat Bell (Chair), Tony Ellis, Tony Porter, Henry Robinson, Ann Thompson, Arthur Robinson (clerk), Peter Thornton (SLDC councillor)
4 members of the public
090804-2 Apologies: Bob Pearce, Jimmy Clarke
090804-3 Minutes of the previous meetings:
It was resolved that the minutes of the previous parish council meeting held on 01-07-09 be signed by the Chairman as a true record.
090804-4 Chairman’s announcements:
(a) The chairman welcomed Cllr Thompson to her first meeting of the council. She is to serve until the next election in two years’ time. The chairman noted that the council now has its full complement of councillors.(b) The clerk gave a brief account of the items discussed at the Upper Kent Forum held at Burneside on 28-07-2009 and, in particular, the steps taken to compile the Burneside Community Plan; and the extent of crime in the South Lakes and Furness area which can be seen from the police crime website at http://cumbria.crimemapper.co.uk
090804-5 Declarations of interest: Cllr Ellis declared an interest in item 21, the parish field
090804-6 Adjournment of meeting:
(a) Mr Todd welcomed the extended reporting of council business which was begun in the August issue of The Grapevine
(b) Mr Pearce (in a letter) questioned the fact that the meetings held on 02-06-2009 were called the Parish Council AGM and the Parish Open meeting rather than the NHPC AGM and a NHPC meeting. It was noted that there might have been an error in this regard and it was affirmed that meetings and their agendas in 2010 would be advertised well in advance and their titles and nature would be clearly shown.
(c) Mr Pearce (in a letter) raised again his concern about the poor road surface on Hayclose Lane near the crossing point of the recently laid electricity cables. It was resolved that the council would continue to monitor the situation and would write to the Area Engineer and CCC Councillor Stan Collins. It was noted that the surface is likely to deteriorate further in the coming year due to increased traffic caused by work on the bridge at Tebay (item 17)
(d) SLDC Cllr Thornton noted that the Armistead Wind Farm appeal has been granted against the wishes of SLDC. He commented that the company is very reactive and would respond quickly to any concerns raised by parishioners during the construction phase.
090804-7 Planning applications: None
090804-8 Payment of accounts:
Payments of the following amounts were authorised:
Cumberland & Westmorland Herald for printing of Parish Directory £84.00
BDO Stoy Hayward LLP for external audit £51-75
The Wind Farm Community Fund was thanked for funding the printing of the parish directory in a grant made in 2007/8.
090804-9 Financial report:
The Annual Return for 2008-2009 was approved and accepted by the council.
Being early in the financial year, the current financial position was noted.
090804-10 Correspondence:
The following items of correspondence were noted:
06-07-2009 from David Hughes, CCC environmental monitoring – see item 20
09-07-2009 from Partnerships for Renewables (PFR). The proposed wind farm at Killington Reservoir is likely to consist of one turbine north of the lake in New Hutton and one south of it in Old Hutton, with a hydro-electric turbine at the dam. The planning application will not be made until late 2010 at the earliest. The contact at PFR said he would be happy to come to discuss the issue at any time. The council felt that such a meeting would be more appropriate when the application is made and consideration should be given to it being an open one.
10-07-2009 from Cumbria Community Foundation - spring newsletter - copies were available for distribution. It was noted that this could be a source of grant funding.
14-07-2009 from SLDC re Local Area Partnership Strategy - see Item 11.
16-07-2009 from CCC Highways a copy of their departmental magazine. Copies were available for distribution.
21.7.2009 from SLDC planning department re notice boards – see item 14
23.7.2009 from Tim Farron MP, schedule of advice surgeries. It was noted that it would be useful to put these dates in The Grapevine each month.
25.7.2009 from BDO Stoy Hayward LLP – approval of 2008/9 external audit
27-07-2009 from CALC – list of training courses from Sept. 2009 to March 2010. Approval was given for the clerk to attend courses entitled "Clerks Induction" and "Local Council Finance" to be funded by the parish council (£65)
27-07-2009 from CALC – parish councils were being asked whether the local policeman is attending meetings or sending reports to the council. It was noted that there was little need for either but it was agreed that it would be useful to ask the local policeman to attend a future meeting when the agenda is short
27-07-2009 from David Hughes – re Roan Edge landfill – see item 20
03-08-2009 from CALC – agenda for South Lakes AGM at 7pm on 3rd September at Gilpin Bridge Inn. Cllr Porter agreed to attend.
090804-11 Local Area Partnership (LAPS):
Cllr Bell reported that there has been a good response from members of the 13+ local parish councils to the invitation to attend a meeting at New Hutton on Wednesday, 5th August 2009 at 7.30pm. There will be presentations from members of CALC and others about the nature and importance of LAPS, followed by an open discussion.
090804-12 Parish Directory:
It was reported that copies of the directory had been distributed to all homes in the parish. Councillors were thanked for doing this. Some spare copies will be placed in the church for anyone to take, and a note in The Grapevine will invite other people to ask for copies. It was noted that the directory will be available on the parish website when it goes live in September.
090804-13 Spring flowers
Following some queries from parishioners it was confirmed that the daffodils to be planted along roads in the parish would be the native Cumbrian variety and not the Welsh native or cultivated varieties. It was resolved that parishioners should be asked through The Grapevine to send the following information to the clerk by 13th September: their name, address, the number of daffodils and snowdrops they want, where they propose to plant them and whether they wish to buy some themselves. A decision about the quantity to be ordered will be made at the next meeting.
It was resolved that an application should be made to the Wind Farm Community Fund for part-funding of this project.
090804-14 Parish notice boards
It was reported that quotes from A Nelson & Son Ltd ranged from £895 +VAT to £320+VAT depending on the design to be adopted. Planning permission is not required if the board is smaller than 1.55 sq.m. which is much bigger than the area of two A3 sheets. One of the boards should be of this size and should be lockable. It was resolved that decisions about design, number and location would now be deferred until the community plan has been completed and sources of grant funding have been identified.
090804-15 Parish plan
The clerk reported that funding for parish planning ends on 31-12-2009 and that Burneside started work on its plan with a small group of volunteers and the group has subsequently grown. They used a questionnaire, an open meeting and talks with individuals and organisations. Cllr Porter reported that he had investigated plans from other parishes and contacted Cumbria Action (ACT).
It was resolved that Cllr Porter should organise a meeting of the council with Julia Wilson (ACT) in early September to discuss the exact steps to take.
090804-16 Grants policy
It was resolved that the draft grants policy be adopted. (proposed by Cllr Porter, seconded by Cllr Bell). Copies are in the minutes and policy files, and it will be placed on the parish website.
090804-17 Road works at Tebay bridge
It was reported that work on the M6/A685 Lawtland House Bridge on the south side of Tebay will begin on 1st September 2009 and will last for 12 months. For long periods there will be a single lane with traffic lights, and the bridge will be closed for several periods of two to four days. This is likely to increase traffic on the A684 Sedbergh-Kendal road. The council resolved that a letter should be sent to SLDC Cllr Peter Thornton to liaise with the contractors Amey Mouchel about concerns that big lorries using satnavs should be deterred from going along the lanes in the parish and that the road surface on Hayclose Lane should be improved to cope with extra traffic.
090804-18 Setting of the budget and precept for 2010-2011
A preliminary discussion was held about the budget for 2010-2011. Councillors were asked to identify areas for expenditure. The budget will be constructed at the next meeting.
090804-19 Standing orders, financial regulations and publication scheme
It was resolved that the standard standing orders be adopted – proposed by Cllr Ellis, seconded by Cllr Robinson
It was resolved that the standard financial regulations be adopted – proposed by Cllr Ellis, seconded by Cllr Robinson
It was resolved that the standard publication scheme be adopted – proposed by Cllr Ellis, seconded by Cllr Robinson. The council asked the clerk to distribute a copy at the next meeting after various blank spaces in the scheme had been filled in.
Copies are in the minutes and policy files, and they will be placed on the parish website.
090804-20 Roan Edge Landfill Site
Cllr Bell reported that she had contacted the CCC monitoring officer David Hughes about the continued growth of some of the piles of gravel at the site. He assured her that monitoring of the site was continuing and supplied photographs of it in November 2004, October 2007, March 2009, May 2009 and July 2009 [These copies have been placed in the landfill file held by the clerk].
A site meeting has been arranged for Thursday 24th September at 10am for the council, Mr Hughes and Mr Wilson.
090804-21 The parish field
Cllr Bell reported that the parish field tenancy does not expire until March 2010.
The clerk reported that the title deeds for the field have been located at Barclays Bank and arrangements were made to inspect or collect them so that the title deeds can be registered following a change in legislation. Alan Barton (a former clerk who was present at the meeting) was thanked for his detailed minutes of 27-09-1995 and 15-11-1995 which allowed the deeds to be located.
The parish field, known as the Pleasure Ground, is at grid reference 585930 and covers 4.081 acres. It was awarded to New Hutton parish on 3rd February 1848 as an Inclosure Award of a Recreational Allotment consequent upon the Inclosure Act of 1837. It was registered as a village green on 3rd February 1969 under the Commons Registration Act of 1965. Parishioners and neighbouring people have the right, in perpetuity, to walk across the field and to take their perambulators. This status meant that when the Ministry of Transport needed part of the field to re-align the A684 as part of the construction of the M6 in 1966 , it was obliged to Compulsorily Purchase the same area of land (from Mr Armistead) to join to the field. This is why it has only a wire fence on its north-eastern side.
090804-22 Other land belonging to the parish council
Cllr Bell reported that information about three other plots of land is being sent by SLDC to the parish council.
090804-23 Date of the next meeting
The next parish council meeting will be held on Wednesday 16th September 2009
