Minutes of the New Hutton Parish Council meeting on Monday 21st November, 2011
111121-1 Present
Pat Bell, Tony Ellis, Henry Robinson, Martyn Welch, Tony Porter (Chairman), Arthur Robinson (clerk), Michael Burke and two other parishioners
111121-2 Apologies
Sarah Galvani, Dave Bennett, Bob Pearce, Peter Thornton and Stan Collins
111121-3 Connecting Cumbria Broadband Project
Michael Burke, the parish representative, had prepared a report which was distributed before the meeting. This and answers to many questions can be summarised as:
Tenders from major firms to provide superfast broadband in Cumbria should be completed by spring 2012. There will be a variety of ways in which the provision will be met including by wireless and cable. Although Cumbria County Council has received £40 million it will not be enough so it is probable that local people will need to pay for the installation of the last link from a local hub to their home or business. The Upper Kent LAP (Local Area Partnership) will seek information from parishioners about the likely demand for a superfast broadband service later in this winter.
The Parish Council thanked Michael for his continuing work in this project. The Council confirmed that it is keen to help in any way as this is an important item on the parish plan. Information will continue to be disseminated via the minutes, e-mail system, Grapevine and parish website.
111121-4 Acceptance of the minutes of the last meeting
The minutes of the council meeting held on 21-09-2011 were signed as a true record.
111121-5 Chairman’s announcements
(a) Pat Bell was congratulated on being elected to be Vice-president of Cumbria YFC
(b) The Localism Bill is now law. One of its provisions is to devolve some planning functions to neighbourhoods and the Government is consulting on this. The Parish Council is likely to hear much more about it in the future.
(c) SLDC is seeking parishes to join a participatory budget scheme in which parish councils will take over some of the services currently provided by SLDC. New Hutton Parish Council does not wish to participate.
(d) Cumbria Rural Housing Trust (CRHT) will post survey forms to all households in the parish at the start of December. The survey is to assess the general nature of housing in the parish in part 1 of the form, and, in part 2, information about which households think they will move house and which households wish to live in the parish but cannot afford to do so. All households are urged to complete part 1 of the form; part 2 is for those for whom it is appropriate. Spare copies of the forms will be available from the clerk (01539-725955). All forms are to be returned in an envelope provided by CRHT and all information will remain strictly confidential. The deadline for return of forms will be the 21st December.
111121-6 Declaration of interests
Henry Robinson declared an interest in the planning application listed on the agenda.
111121-7 Open session
Five matters were raised by parishioners:
(a) Preparations for snow – The parish gritter is ready for use and grit piles are in place. CCC will deliver more grit at the first sign of harsh weather when voluntary labour will be used to spread it. The Parish Council is trying to get grit bins for The Kinn Road/A684 junction and for Hawkrigg Hill.
(b) Litter – There are some bad spots in the parish. Parishioners are urged to phone SLDC about them. Bob Pearce was thanked for his work to clean up the triangle at the Hayclose/A684 junction.
(c) The “New Hutton” sign south of The Ashes ha been moved to the south of Borrans but the post remains and could be a road hazard. It will be reported to CCC.
(d) The culvert under Hawkrigg Lane at its junction with Long Lane is collapsing. It will be reported to CCC.
(e) Armistead Wind Farm traffic – it was reported that the large lorries will travel from Oxenholme along the B6254 to the site and then return to the A65 via Gatebeck.
111121-8 Planning applications
Applications submitted requiring council comments:
SL/2011/0846 – Erection of a toilet block for use in connection with educational visits at Strickley
SL/2011/0918 – Installation of photovoltaic panels on the roof of 1 Hayclose
Site visits were agreed for Sunday 27th November (11am at Strickley and 11.30am at Hayclose)
The progress of the following applications was noted:
SL/2011/0554 - Construction of a single storey extension at Redwood, 1 Kinn Barns – approved by SLDC on 27-09-2011
SL/2011/0484 – Conversion of Hill Top Barn to two holiday cottages and a granny flat – further modified plans – comments were sent to SLDC before the deadline on 31-10-2011
SL/2011/0614 – Change of use from agricultural to garden at Strawberry Bank - permission granted by SLDC on 25-10-2011
SL/2011/0680 – change of use from agricultural to a site for three static holiday caravans to extend the current site for four caravans at Windy Hill – permission granted by SLDC on 19-10-2011
111121-9 Payment of accounts - none
111121-10 Financial report
The community account has a balance of £631.74 and finance is closely following the budget.
111121-11 Correspondence
The following items of correspondence received since the last meeting were noted:
23-09-2011 – from CALC – consultation about changes to parliamentary constituencies [forwarded to parishioners]
26-09-2011 – from CALC – notice of AGM on 12-11-2011 [forwarded to councillors]
27-09-2011 – from CALC – notice of meeting of Broadband Champions [forwarded to Michael Burke]
29-09-2011 – from Cumbria Constabulary – presentation about Streetsafe [forwarded to councillors]
03-10-2011 – from CALC – October circular [forwarded to councillors]
03-10-2011 – from Alison Mason – consultation about a New Hutton Twitter account
11-10-2011 – from CALC – update on the Localism Bill [forwarded to councillors]
11-10-2011 – from CALC – presentations at a meeting about broadband [forwarded to councillors]
17-10-2011 – from CCC – autumn Local News and Views newsletter [circulated to councillors]
17-10-2011 – from The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Beacons – guide to taking part [circulated to councillors]
18-10-2011 – from CALC – agenda for the next meeting of the South Lakeland District Association on 24-11-2011 [forwarded to councillors]
27-10-2011 – from CCC – extension of Minerals and Waste Development Framework Site Allocations Map consultation to 5-12-2011 due to a legal dispute about a site at Roosecote
31-10-2011 – from CALC – agenda for AGM on 12-11-2011 [forwarded to chairman]
01-11-2011 – from CALC – November circular [forwarded to councillors]
02-11-2011 – from LAP – update on Cumbria broadband initiative [forwarded to councillors]
03-11-2011 – from SLDC – invitation to join a participatory budget pilot [forwarded to chairman]
07-11-2011 – from CALC – government consultation on neighbourhood planning [forwarded to chairman]
09-11-2011 – from Friends of the Lake District [see minute 111121-15]
10-11-2011 – from CCC - decision to relocate the County Fire and Rescue Service Control to Cheshire [forwarded to councillors]
10-11-2011 – from SLDC – notice that SLDC now has one website which includes LAP matters [forwarded to councillors]
14-11-2011 – from CCC District Association – agenda for the next meeting on 24th November [forwarded to chairman]
16-11-2011 – from CALC – web link to the Localism Bill which has now received the Royal Assent [forwarded to councillors]
21-11-2011 – from CALC – notification of the Government’s consultation about technical reforms of council tax.. The parish council decided to submit the following comments:
(a) Giving principal authorities the power to levy full council tax on second homes – strong support
(b) Allowing billing authorities to levy an ‘empty homes premium’ in respect of dwellings which have been left empty for two years or more – the criteria for empty homes need to be clarified; would homes left unoccupied by families working abroad be included?
(c) Allowing council tax to be paid in 12 equal instalments rather than 10 as is the norm at present – strong support
(d) Allowing authorities to publish online the ‘Information to be supplied with demand notices’ which includes information about how councils raise income and how it is spent – the council supported the use of online publishing as long as the information is also distributed in print as many do not have computers.
111121-12 Parish Precept 2012-2013
(a) The Chairman reported that the LAP had unexpectedly granted £500 for the purchase of two small notice boards to replace those at the junctions of New Hutton Lane with the B6254 and the A684. The clerk will seek quotations and report to the next meeting which will set the 2012/13 budget
(b) It was resolved that the precept to be charged for 2012-2013 will remain unchanged (Proposer Tony Ellis, Seconder Henry Robinson)
111121-13 Small highway improvements
CCC has found that its lists for small highway improvements are out of date and contain errors so it has asked parish councils to review the lists and suggest what needs to be done. Suggestions to be submitted are:
(a) New Hutton Lane – two passing places to be made, one on each of the straight sections between the village and the A684
(b) New Hutton Lane – surface existing passing places between the village and the B6254 with gravel as some are soft and muddy
(c) New Hutton Lane – improvement of visibility eastwards at the junction with the A684
(d) Extension of the concrete ditch east of Millholme on Ewebank Lane much farther eastwards to take the large volumes of water running across and down the road especially during heavy rain.
(e) Junction of Hayclose Lane and A684 – replace road signs destroyed by vehicles
(f) Hayclose Lane at Hayclose and north of the Station Inn – install “Dangerous Bend” signs at the corners
(g) Drains to be constructed to prevent water continuously flowing over the roads at:
(i) The lowest point along straight section of Hawkrigg Lane between Hawkrigg Cottage and Hawkrigg
(ii) The eastern end of Strickley Bridge on the B6254
(iii) The eastern side of the Strickley lane/B6254 junction
(iv) New Hutton Lane 50 yards south of its junction with Rainriggs (south of Borrans)
111121-14 Surface dressing of minor roads
In response to a request from CCC about whether any roads need surface dressing, the Parish Council suggested the following:
(a) Hawkrigg Lane from Moss Head to the junction with Long Lane
(b) Hawkrigg Lane from the top of Hawkrigg Hill to Hawkrigg Cottage
(c) Beehive Lane, especially the parts where the surface is cracking or has small potholes
(d) Ewebank Lane from the junction with New Hutton Lane for 50m
(e) New Hutton Lane from its junction with Ewebank Lane to the junction with Rainriggs
111121-15 Friends of the Lake District
In response to a request, the Parish Council decided that the Friends of the Lake District and other organisations should not be allowed to advertise events on the parish website.
Date of the next meeting
The next meeting will be held at 7.30pm on Monday 23rd January at the Institute.
Arthur Robinson, parish clerk
Over Bleaze, Old Hutton, Kendal, LA8 0LU
Telephone – 01539-725955
e-mail – nhpclerk@googlemail.com
111121-1 Present
Pat Bell, Tony Ellis, Henry Robinson, Martyn Welch, Tony Porter (Chairman), Arthur Robinson (clerk), Michael Burke and two other parishioners
111121-2 Apologies
Sarah Galvani, Dave Bennett, Bob Pearce, Peter Thornton and Stan Collins
111121-3 Connecting Cumbria Broadband Project
Michael Burke, the parish representative, had prepared a report which was distributed before the meeting. This and answers to many questions can be summarised as:
Tenders from major firms to provide superfast broadband in Cumbria should be completed by spring 2012. There will be a variety of ways in which the provision will be met including by wireless and cable. Although Cumbria County Council has received £40 million it will not be enough so it is probable that local people will need to pay for the installation of the last link from a local hub to their home or business. The Upper Kent LAP (Local Area Partnership) will seek information from parishioners about the likely demand for a superfast broadband service later in this winter.
The Parish Council thanked Michael for his continuing work in this project. The Council confirmed that it is keen to help in any way as this is an important item on the parish plan. Information will continue to be disseminated via the minutes, e-mail system, Grapevine and parish website.
111121-4 Acceptance of the minutes of the last meeting
The minutes of the council meeting held on 21-09-2011 were signed as a true record.
111121-5 Chairman’s announcements
(a) Pat Bell was congratulated on being elected to be Vice-president of Cumbria YFC
(b) The Localism Bill is now law. One of its provisions is to devolve some planning functions to neighbourhoods and the Government is consulting on this. The Parish Council is likely to hear much more about it in the future.
(c) SLDC is seeking parishes to join a participatory budget scheme in which parish councils will take over some of the services currently provided by SLDC. New Hutton Parish Council does not wish to participate.
(d) Cumbria Rural Housing Trust (CRHT) will post survey forms to all households in the parish at the start of December. The survey is to assess the general nature of housing in the parish in part 1 of the form, and, in part 2, information about which households think they will move house and which households wish to live in the parish but cannot afford to do so. All households are urged to complete part 1 of the form; part 2 is for those for whom it is appropriate. Spare copies of the forms will be available from the clerk (01539-725955). All forms are to be returned in an envelope provided by CRHT and all information will remain strictly confidential. The deadline for return of forms will be the 21st December.
111121-6 Declaration of interests
Henry Robinson declared an interest in the planning application listed on the agenda.
111121-7 Open session
Five matters were raised by parishioners:
(a) Preparations for snow – The parish gritter is ready for use and grit piles are in place. CCC will deliver more grit at the first sign of harsh weather when voluntary labour will be used to spread it. The Parish Council is trying to get grit bins for The Kinn Road/A684 junction and for Hawkrigg Hill.
(b) Litter – There are some bad spots in the parish. Parishioners are urged to phone SLDC about them. Bob Pearce was thanked for his work to clean up the triangle at the Hayclose/A684 junction.
(c) The “New Hutton” sign south of The Ashes ha been moved to the south of Borrans but the post remains and could be a road hazard. It will be reported to CCC.
(d) The culvert under Hawkrigg Lane at its junction with Long Lane is collapsing. It will be reported to CCC.
(e) Armistead Wind Farm traffic – it was reported that the large lorries will travel from Oxenholme along the B6254 to the site and then return to the A65 via Gatebeck.
111121-8 Planning applications
Applications submitted requiring council comments:
SL/2011/0846 – Erection of a toilet block for use in connection with educational visits at Strickley
SL/2011/0918 – Installation of photovoltaic panels on the roof of 1 Hayclose
Site visits were agreed for Sunday 27th November (11am at Strickley and 11.30am at Hayclose)
The progress of the following applications was noted:
SL/2011/0554 - Construction of a single storey extension at Redwood, 1 Kinn Barns – approved by SLDC on 27-09-2011
SL/2011/0484 – Conversion of Hill Top Barn to two holiday cottages and a granny flat – further modified plans – comments were sent to SLDC before the deadline on 31-10-2011
SL/2011/0614 – Change of use from agricultural to garden at Strawberry Bank - permission granted by SLDC on 25-10-2011
SL/2011/0680 – change of use from agricultural to a site for three static holiday caravans to extend the current site for four caravans at Windy Hill – permission granted by SLDC on 19-10-2011
111121-9 Payment of accounts - none
111121-10 Financial report
The community account has a balance of £631.74 and finance is closely following the budget.
111121-11 Correspondence
The following items of correspondence received since the last meeting were noted:
23-09-2011 – from CALC – consultation about changes to parliamentary constituencies [forwarded to parishioners]
26-09-2011 – from CALC – notice of AGM on 12-11-2011 [forwarded to councillors]
27-09-2011 – from CALC – notice of meeting of Broadband Champions [forwarded to Michael Burke]
29-09-2011 – from Cumbria Constabulary – presentation about Streetsafe [forwarded to councillors]
03-10-2011 – from CALC – October circular [forwarded to councillors]
03-10-2011 – from Alison Mason – consultation about a New Hutton Twitter account
11-10-2011 – from CALC – update on the Localism Bill [forwarded to councillors]
11-10-2011 – from CALC – presentations at a meeting about broadband [forwarded to councillors]
17-10-2011 – from CCC – autumn Local News and Views newsletter [circulated to councillors]
17-10-2011 – from The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Beacons – guide to taking part [circulated to councillors]
18-10-2011 – from CALC – agenda for the next meeting of the South Lakeland District Association on 24-11-2011 [forwarded to councillors]
27-10-2011 – from CCC – extension of Minerals and Waste Development Framework Site Allocations Map consultation to 5-12-2011 due to a legal dispute about a site at Roosecote
31-10-2011 – from CALC – agenda for AGM on 12-11-2011 [forwarded to chairman]
01-11-2011 – from CALC – November circular [forwarded to councillors]
02-11-2011 – from LAP – update on Cumbria broadband initiative [forwarded to councillors]
03-11-2011 – from SLDC – invitation to join a participatory budget pilot [forwarded to chairman]
07-11-2011 – from CALC – government consultation on neighbourhood planning [forwarded to chairman]
09-11-2011 – from Friends of the Lake District [see minute 111121-15]
10-11-2011 – from CCC - decision to relocate the County Fire and Rescue Service Control to Cheshire [forwarded to councillors]
10-11-2011 – from SLDC – notice that SLDC now has one website which includes LAP matters [forwarded to councillors]
14-11-2011 – from CCC District Association – agenda for the next meeting on 24th November [forwarded to chairman]
16-11-2011 – from CALC – web link to the Localism Bill which has now received the Royal Assent [forwarded to councillors]
21-11-2011 – from CALC – notification of the Government’s consultation about technical reforms of council tax.. The parish council decided to submit the following comments:
(a) Giving principal authorities the power to levy full council tax on second homes – strong support
(b) Allowing billing authorities to levy an ‘empty homes premium’ in respect of dwellings which have been left empty for two years or more – the criteria for empty homes need to be clarified; would homes left unoccupied by families working abroad be included?
(c) Allowing council tax to be paid in 12 equal instalments rather than 10 as is the norm at present – strong support
(d) Allowing authorities to publish online the ‘Information to be supplied with demand notices’ which includes information about how councils raise income and how it is spent – the council supported the use of online publishing as long as the information is also distributed in print as many do not have computers.
111121-12 Parish Precept 2012-2013
(a) The Chairman reported that the LAP had unexpectedly granted £500 for the purchase of two small notice boards to replace those at the junctions of New Hutton Lane with the B6254 and the A684. The clerk will seek quotations and report to the next meeting which will set the 2012/13 budget
(b) It was resolved that the precept to be charged for 2012-2013 will remain unchanged (Proposer Tony Ellis, Seconder Henry Robinson)
111121-13 Small highway improvements
CCC has found that its lists for small highway improvements are out of date and contain errors so it has asked parish councils to review the lists and suggest what needs to be done. Suggestions to be submitted are:
(a) New Hutton Lane – two passing places to be made, one on each of the straight sections between the village and the A684
(b) New Hutton Lane – surface existing passing places between the village and the B6254 with gravel as some are soft and muddy
(c) New Hutton Lane – improvement of visibility eastwards at the junction with the A684
(d) Extension of the concrete ditch east of Millholme on Ewebank Lane much farther eastwards to take the large volumes of water running across and down the road especially during heavy rain.
(e) Junction of Hayclose Lane and A684 – replace road signs destroyed by vehicles
(f) Hayclose Lane at Hayclose and north of the Station Inn – install “Dangerous Bend” signs at the corners
(g) Drains to be constructed to prevent water continuously flowing over the roads at:
(i) The lowest point along straight section of Hawkrigg Lane between Hawkrigg Cottage and Hawkrigg
(ii) The eastern end of Strickley Bridge on the B6254
(iii) The eastern side of the Strickley lane/B6254 junction
(iv) New Hutton Lane 50 yards south of its junction with Rainriggs (south of Borrans)
111121-14 Surface dressing of minor roads
In response to a request from CCC about whether any roads need surface dressing, the Parish Council suggested the following:
(a) Hawkrigg Lane from Moss Head to the junction with Long Lane
(b) Hawkrigg Lane from the top of Hawkrigg Hill to Hawkrigg Cottage
(c) Beehive Lane, especially the parts where the surface is cracking or has small potholes
(d) Ewebank Lane from the junction with New Hutton Lane for 50m
(e) New Hutton Lane from its junction with Ewebank Lane to the junction with Rainriggs
111121-15 Friends of the Lake District
In response to a request, the Parish Council decided that the Friends of the Lake District and other organisations should not be allowed to advertise events on the parish website.
Date of the next meeting
The next meeting will be held at 7.30pm on Monday 23rd January at the Institute.
Arthur Robinson, parish clerk
Over Bleaze, Old Hutton, Kendal, LA8 0LU
Telephone – 01539-725955
e-mail – nhpclerk@googlemail.com
