Minutes of the New Hutton Parish Council meeting held on Monday 20 September 2010
100920-1 Present:
Tony Porter (Chairman), Pat Bell, Ann Thompson, Tony Ellis, Henry Robinson
Three members of the public, Arthur Robinson (clerk)
100920-2 Apologies:
Peter Thornton
100920-3 Acceptance of the minutes of the last meeting
The minutes of the council meeting held on 12-07-2010 were signed as a true record.
100920-4 Chairman’s announcements
1 The chairman reported that the council would be making no comments on the consultation from Natural England about new guidance for the designation of national park boundaries [see correspondence below for 25-08-2010]
2 Tony Porter reported on the LAP meeting held on 15-09-2010:
(a) CCC has redesigned its website to show all the proposed road works both as lists and on an interactive map. It works on a common database used also by the hotline. A detailed note on how to use it will be issued shortly to allow parish councils and the public to keep an eye on road works and to allow speedier and more efficient reporting of problems.
(b) The LAP has agreed to fund a consultation into broadband access and, in particular, to identify areas with no access. This is now an active project and the parish council will need to encourage responses to the consultation when it is held. Broadband suppliers such as Kencomp are being involved.
(c) The LAP has agreed to put forward three projects for funding approval by the end of this year :-
i) Two speed-warning signs (they flash your speed) to be shared across the 13 LAP parishes.
ii) Hand powered mobile winter gritters for pavement / road use.
iii) Village Hall eco-projects - some demand for solar etc.
3 The Chairman will attend the Big Society meeting to be held on 9th October.
4 Local council elections will be held on 5th May 2011.
100920-5 Declaration of interests: none
100920-6 Open session
There was further discussion about the First Responders scheme. It was confirmed that it would be discussed at the next parish plan steering group meeting.
100920-7 Planning applications
(a) Applications submitted requiring council comments: none
(b) The progress of the following applications submitted since the last meeting was noted:
SL/2009/0809 – stable at Hayfellside – planning permission was given in February for the stable to be placed west of the hedge as long as it was partly dug into the hillside to obscure it from the nearby houses
SL/2010/0115 – part of Hayclose barn for Mr and Mrs Robinson – planning permission approved
SL/2009/0747 – part of Hayclose Barn for Mr and Mrs Woof – planning application withdrawn
SL/2010/0559 – single storey side extension to Raw Head Cottage – site visit made on 26-08-2010 – no objections were made to the application; planning permission has been granted.
SL/2010/0703 – single storey rear extension to Raw Green Cottage – site visit made on 26-08-2010 – no objections were made to the application
(c) It was confirmed that when the parish council receives complaints from parishioners about possible infringements of conditions attached to planning permissions, it will continue to refer them to SLDC but will take no further action. Parishioners can themselves make complaints directly to SLDC and there is a link on the parish website to the relevant part of the SLDC website so that comments can be sent electronically. Concern was expressed at the meeting about a possible infringement.
100920-8 Payment of accounts: none
100920-9 Financial report
(a) The financial report as at 14-09-2010 was satisfactory.
(b) It was reported that the external audit of the parish council’s accounts for 2009-10 has been successfully completed. No charge was made because income/expenditure was under £1000.
100920-10 Correspondence
The following items of correspondence received since the last meeting were noted:
13-07-2010 from CALC – circular for July and August [forwarded to councillors]
16-07-2010 from CALC – booklet on “Being a good employer” [filed]
16-07-2010 from Upper Kent Neighbourhood Forum – minutes of the meeting held on 07-07-2010 [forwarded to councillors]
19-07-2010 from Tim Farron MP – list of advice surgeries in autumn [poster placed on notice board]
21-07-2010 from CALC – information about the development of playground spaces [filed]
25-07-2010 from Barbara Studholme – suggestion to improve safety on Hayclose Lane [forwarded to CCC area engineer Keith Masser and to CCC councillor Stan Collins]
27-07-2010 from CALC - Conference - 'Churches, Housing, Rural Communities' – in churches and on church-owned land 13th October [forwarded to chairman]
27-07-2010 from BDO – notification of successful audit of 2009-10 parish council accounts
03-08-2010 from CumbriaAction – notice of Broadband Conference at Rheged on 18-09-2010 [forwarded to councillors]
05-08-2010 from CALC – agenda for next meeting and AGM on 02-09-2010 [forwarded to councillors]
10-08-2010 from South Lakeland Strategic Partnership – Partnership Briefing August 2010 [filed]
10-08-2010 from Action for Communities in Cumbria – data about New Hutton [forwarded to all parishioners on database]
10-08-2010 from Fire and Rescue Service in England – short questionnaire about New Hutton’s involvement with the local Fire and Rescue Service [reply sent]
13-08-2010 from NALC – Community Right to Build [forwarded to councillors for information]
16-08-2010 from CALC – notice of next district association meeting on 2nd September [forwarded to chairman]
19-08-2010 from Barclays – notification that the mandate has been changed successfully
19-08-2010 from SLDC – notice of review of polling districts and polling places [notice placed on board]
25-08-2010 from LAP – agenda for the meeting on 15-09-2010 and background information about the LAP broadband survey and improved communication with CCC about highways [forwarded to councillors]
25-08-2010 from CCC – reply from area engineer about road safety issues [forwarded to councillors]
25-08-2010 from CALC – consultation by Natural England about new guidance on assessing land for designation as an area of outstanding natural beauty or a national park [forwarded to chairman]
26-08-2010 from CALC – training course programme for 2010-11 [forwarded to councillors]
26-08-2010 from the War Memorials Trust – e-mail about a report from a parishioner concerning the state of the lych gate war memorial in the churchyard, asking what maintenance plans the council has and offering up to 50% grant aid [see item 12]
31-08-2010 from SLDC – invitation to comment on the revised draft policy on the licensing of alcohol, entertainment and late-night refreshments [filed]
31-08-2010 from CALC – call for nominations to CALC executive committee [forwarded to councillors]
01-09-2010 from CALC – September circular [forwarded to councillors]
01-09-2010 from LAP – confirmation that the broadband survey will go ahead [forwarded to councillors]
07-09-2010 from ACT – autumn newsletter from Action for Communities in Cumbria [forwarded to councillors]
100920-11 Parish Field
(a) It was reported that the application to register the parish field was sent to the agency on 31-08-2010 and arrived on 03-09-2010.
(b) There is a new gap in the wall around the field. It was decided to carry out drainage work in the week beginning 4th October, weather permitting. An appeal for voluntary labour will be made.
100920-12 Footpaths
(a) Extra footpath signs have been erected at Strawberry Bank to clarify the route.
(b) There has been some confusion in the past as to the division of responsibilities about the maintenance of footpaths. The parish council has now been informed that they are as follows:
Up growth from the surface of a public right of way is the responsibility of the Highway Authority, but the boundary hedges are the responsibility of the landowner under S. 154 of the Highways Act 1980 and the landowner is required to cut back the overgrowth. If the parish council know the landowner they may wish to inform the landowner of this obligation or alternatively inform Guy Timperley (guy.timperley@capita.co.uk) [CCC footpaths officer] and he will contact the landowner.
(c) It was noted, following comments from two parishioners, that the overgrown footpath between Hayfellside and The Hollins has been reported to the Highway Authority in the hope that the brambles will be cleared. Comments about other overgrown paths were made and it was felt that the issue should be discussed at the proposed open parish meeting to be held by the parish plan steering group. It was also suggested that it is an issue of wider importance in many parishes and should be discussed at a future LAP meeting.
(d) It was reported that the decayed footbridge over St Sundays Beck on the path through Whitrigg Moss between the B6254 near Middleshaw and New Hutton lane has been replaced by CCC with a new bridge at a higher level.
100920-13 New Hutton lych gate
It was noted that an e-mail had been received from the War Memorials Trust about a report from a member of the public concerning the state of the lych gate war memorial in the churchyard, asking what maintenance plans the council has and offering up to 50% grant aid. The council believes that the lych gate is the property of the PCC and referred the matter to it.
100920-14 Parish plan
It was proposed that the next meeting of the parish plan steering group should be held on Monday 11th October.
100920-15 Date of the next meeting
The next meeting of the parish council will be held on Monday 1st November 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
100920-1 Present:
Tony Porter (Chairman), Pat Bell, Ann Thompson, Tony Ellis, Henry Robinson
Three members of the public, Arthur Robinson (clerk)
100920-2 Apologies:
Peter Thornton
100920-3 Acceptance of the minutes of the last meeting
The minutes of the council meeting held on 12-07-2010 were signed as a true record.
100920-4 Chairman’s announcements
1 The chairman reported that the council would be making no comments on the consultation from Natural England about new guidance for the designation of national park boundaries [see correspondence below for 25-08-2010]
2 Tony Porter reported on the LAP meeting held on 15-09-2010:
(a) CCC has redesigned its website to show all the proposed road works both as lists and on an interactive map. It works on a common database used also by the hotline. A detailed note on how to use it will be issued shortly to allow parish councils and the public to keep an eye on road works and to allow speedier and more efficient reporting of problems.
(b) The LAP has agreed to fund a consultation into broadband access and, in particular, to identify areas with no access. This is now an active project and the parish council will need to encourage responses to the consultation when it is held. Broadband suppliers such as Kencomp are being involved.
(c) The LAP has agreed to put forward three projects for funding approval by the end of this year :-
i) Two speed-warning signs (they flash your speed) to be shared across the 13 LAP parishes.
ii) Hand powered mobile winter gritters for pavement / road use.
iii) Village Hall eco-projects - some demand for solar etc.
3 The Chairman will attend the Big Society meeting to be held on 9th October.
4 Local council elections will be held on 5th May 2011.
100920-5 Declaration of interests: none
100920-6 Open session
There was further discussion about the First Responders scheme. It was confirmed that it would be discussed at the next parish plan steering group meeting.
100920-7 Planning applications
(a) Applications submitted requiring council comments: none
(b) The progress of the following applications submitted since the last meeting was noted:
SL/2009/0809 – stable at Hayfellside – planning permission was given in February for the stable to be placed west of the hedge as long as it was partly dug into the hillside to obscure it from the nearby houses
SL/2010/0115 – part of Hayclose barn for Mr and Mrs Robinson – planning permission approved
SL/2009/0747 – part of Hayclose Barn for Mr and Mrs Woof – planning application withdrawn
SL/2010/0559 – single storey side extension to Raw Head Cottage – site visit made on 26-08-2010 – no objections were made to the application; planning permission has been granted.
SL/2010/0703 – single storey rear extension to Raw Green Cottage – site visit made on 26-08-2010 – no objections were made to the application
(c) It was confirmed that when the parish council receives complaints from parishioners about possible infringements of conditions attached to planning permissions, it will continue to refer them to SLDC but will take no further action. Parishioners can themselves make complaints directly to SLDC and there is a link on the parish website to the relevant part of the SLDC website so that comments can be sent electronically. Concern was expressed at the meeting about a possible infringement.
100920-8 Payment of accounts: none
100920-9 Financial report
(a) The financial report as at 14-09-2010 was satisfactory.
(b) It was reported that the external audit of the parish council’s accounts for 2009-10 has been successfully completed. No charge was made because income/expenditure was under £1000.
100920-10 Correspondence
The following items of correspondence received since the last meeting were noted:
13-07-2010 from CALC – circular for July and August [forwarded to councillors]
16-07-2010 from CALC – booklet on “Being a good employer” [filed]
16-07-2010 from Upper Kent Neighbourhood Forum – minutes of the meeting held on 07-07-2010 [forwarded to councillors]
19-07-2010 from Tim Farron MP – list of advice surgeries in autumn [poster placed on notice board]
21-07-2010 from CALC – information about the development of playground spaces [filed]
25-07-2010 from Barbara Studholme – suggestion to improve safety on Hayclose Lane [forwarded to CCC area engineer Keith Masser and to CCC councillor Stan Collins]
27-07-2010 from CALC - Conference - 'Churches, Housing, Rural Communities' – in churches and on church-owned land 13th October [forwarded to chairman]
27-07-2010 from BDO – notification of successful audit of 2009-10 parish council accounts
03-08-2010 from CumbriaAction – notice of Broadband Conference at Rheged on 18-09-2010 [forwarded to councillors]
05-08-2010 from CALC – agenda for next meeting and AGM on 02-09-2010 [forwarded to councillors]
10-08-2010 from South Lakeland Strategic Partnership – Partnership Briefing August 2010 [filed]
10-08-2010 from Action for Communities in Cumbria – data about New Hutton [forwarded to all parishioners on database]
10-08-2010 from Fire and Rescue Service in England – short questionnaire about New Hutton’s involvement with the local Fire and Rescue Service [reply sent]
13-08-2010 from NALC – Community Right to Build [forwarded to councillors for information]
16-08-2010 from CALC – notice of next district association meeting on 2nd September [forwarded to chairman]
19-08-2010 from Barclays – notification that the mandate has been changed successfully
19-08-2010 from SLDC – notice of review of polling districts and polling places [notice placed on board]
25-08-2010 from LAP – agenda for the meeting on 15-09-2010 and background information about the LAP broadband survey and improved communication with CCC about highways [forwarded to councillors]
25-08-2010 from CCC – reply from area engineer about road safety issues [forwarded to councillors]
25-08-2010 from CALC – consultation by Natural England about new guidance on assessing land for designation as an area of outstanding natural beauty or a national park [forwarded to chairman]
26-08-2010 from CALC – training course programme for 2010-11 [forwarded to councillors]
26-08-2010 from the War Memorials Trust – e-mail about a report from a parishioner concerning the state of the lych gate war memorial in the churchyard, asking what maintenance plans the council has and offering up to 50% grant aid [see item 12]
31-08-2010 from SLDC – invitation to comment on the revised draft policy on the licensing of alcohol, entertainment and late-night refreshments [filed]
31-08-2010 from CALC – call for nominations to CALC executive committee [forwarded to councillors]
01-09-2010 from CALC – September circular [forwarded to councillors]
01-09-2010 from LAP – confirmation that the broadband survey will go ahead [forwarded to councillors]
07-09-2010 from ACT – autumn newsletter from Action for Communities in Cumbria [forwarded to councillors]
100920-11 Parish Field
(a) It was reported that the application to register the parish field was sent to the agency on 31-08-2010 and arrived on 03-09-2010.
(b) There is a new gap in the wall around the field. It was decided to carry out drainage work in the week beginning 4th October, weather permitting. An appeal for voluntary labour will be made.
100920-12 Footpaths
(a) Extra footpath signs have been erected at Strawberry Bank to clarify the route.
(b) There has been some confusion in the past as to the division of responsibilities about the maintenance of footpaths. The parish council has now been informed that they are as follows:
Up growth from the surface of a public right of way is the responsibility of the Highway Authority, but the boundary hedges are the responsibility of the landowner under S. 154 of the Highways Act 1980 and the landowner is required to cut back the overgrowth. If the parish council know the landowner they may wish to inform the landowner of this obligation or alternatively inform Guy Timperley (guy.timperley@capita.co.uk) [CCC footpaths officer] and he will contact the landowner.
(c) It was noted, following comments from two parishioners, that the overgrown footpath between Hayfellside and The Hollins has been reported to the Highway Authority in the hope that the brambles will be cleared. Comments about other overgrown paths were made and it was felt that the issue should be discussed at the proposed open parish meeting to be held by the parish plan steering group. It was also suggested that it is an issue of wider importance in many parishes and should be discussed at a future LAP meeting.
(d) It was reported that the decayed footbridge over St Sundays Beck on the path through Whitrigg Moss between the B6254 near Middleshaw and New Hutton lane has been replaced by CCC with a new bridge at a higher level.
100920-13 New Hutton lych gate
It was noted that an e-mail had been received from the War Memorials Trust about a report from a member of the public concerning the state of the lych gate war memorial in the churchyard, asking what maintenance plans the council has and offering up to 50% grant aid. The council believes that the lych gate is the property of the PCC and referred the matter to it.
100920-14 Parish plan
It was proposed that the next meeting of the parish plan steering group should be held on Monday 11th October.
100920-15 Date of the next meeting
The next meeting of the parish council will be held on Monday 1st November 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
