Minutes of the Annual Meeting of New Hutton Parish Council held on 2nd June 2009
Present: Pat Bell (Chair), Tony Ellis, Tony Porter, Henry Robinson
1. Apologies: none
2. Minutes of the last Annual Meeting: resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on the 12th May 2008 be signed by the Chairman as a true record.
3. Election of Chairman: Cllr. Bell was nominated by Cllr. Porter and seconded by Cllr. Robinson and elected unopposed.
4. To receive the Chairman’s Declaration of Acceptance of Office: Cllr. Bell declared her acceptance.
5. Chairman’s report: was read out and included in the minute book.
6. Financial Report: The clerk presented the accounts. Council approved the income and expenditure report. It was noted that the income the Council receives does not meet the costs of basic expenditure. It was resolved that the Council will consider steps when setting next year’s precept. The accounts were included in the minute book.
Minutes of New Hutton Parish Council Meeting held on 2nd June 2009
Present: Pat Bell (Chair), Tony Porter, Henry Robinson , Tony Ellis
1. Apologies: None
2. Minutes of last meeting: It was resolved the minutes be signed by the Chairman as a true record.
3. Chairman’s Announcements: Cllr. Umpleby resigned from the council on the 4th April. The required notice of a casual vacancy was displayed but no nominations have been received. The council therefore needs to co-opt a new councillor. Council agreed discussion of possible candidates to be put on agenda of next meeting.
Christine McKinlay, Clerk gave notice of her resignation at the last meeting. Cllr. Bell had checked with district council officials in case there is a conflict of interest as the potential new clerk is related to a councillor. Assurance has been given there is no conflict of interest.
The latest CALC circular has further details relating to the growing pressure on parish councils to cluster together and assume responsibilities that currently lie with the district and/or county councils. A formal request has been made to CALC to facilitate a meeting of all parish councils in the Whinfell ward to look at how these councils might work more closely together.
The council need to act to register the field that is currently rented out. Although there is a simplified procedure the council will need to take steps to establish when the land was given to New Hutton Parish Council.
A parishioner has asked the council to consider funding and taking responsibility for planting bulbs on main verges within the parish. Council will consider this and an application to the Community windfarm trust at the next meeting.
A parishioner had asked the council to look into suspected blasting at the Roan Edge quarry that contravenes restrictions. The enforcement officer was asked to investigate. They have done so and have stated that they may apply an enforcement order if conditions are not met.
4. Declaration of interests: None
5. Adjournment of meeting:
Mr John Todd asked who the council would be appointing to the Windfarm Community Trust to replace Cllr. Umpleby. Cllr. Bell confirmed this would be discussed at the next parish council meeting.
Mr John Todd asked about the print and distribution of the Parish Directory for which the council received a grant in September 07. It was confirmed that the Directory was being printed to include details of the new Clerk and distribution using the electoral roll would follow.
Mr John Todd asked what steps the council intended to take to publicise the Parish Council meetings. He acknowledged there had been some progression with this but feels strongly that further improvement is needed to inform parishioners. Cllr. Bell stated that the council has complied with legal requirements by placing agenda and minutes on the institute notice board and where practicable, given the deadlines for publication of the Grapevine, has given published notice of meetings. In addition, the council are in the process of arranging for dedicated parish council notice boards to be placed in the parish. Members of the public and councillors discussed the potential use of a parish (council) website and where any notice boards bought and installed by the council need to be put. There was surprise and consternation at the costs that might be incurred.
Mrs Bessie Ellis asked what the council is doing to address the disrepair of roads within the parish. Cllr. Bell explained: responsibility for repairs lies with the County Council or the Highways Agency, depending on which road is affected; the introduction of Highway Stewards which enables the parish council via a single point of contact (Cllr. Bell or Cllr. Porter) to identify and ask for minor repairs to be carried out.
Mr Bob Pearse asked what the council had done in relation to concerns raised last year about possible breaches of planning consent conditions by lorries operating for Homescales quarry. Cllr. Bell stated that this had been raised with the planning department who had in turn raised the matter with the quarry owners. The council had been advised that evidence such as registration numbers of offending vehicles and photographs is needed for the planning department to act upon.
Mrs Bessie Ellis asked what the council had done/ would do about winter maintenance of roads, including the provision of salt bins for the parish. Cllr. Bell confirmed the council had made strong representation to the district and county council following complaints from parishioners.
Mr John Todd asked the council to consider writing formally to the Land Registry and urge them to finally resolve the ownership of Miles Tarn. He commented that the cost to the community has been huge. The council agreed this will be done.
Mr Bob Pearse asked if the council had received and acted on complaints made about the growing mountains of stone at Roan Edge quarry and the landfill on Fairthorns Lane. Cllr. Bell confirmed she had spoken with Cumbria County Council on both matters and was waiting for further information resulting for the CCC’s investigation.
6. Planning Applications: none
7. Payment of Accounts: payment was authorised to
a) Allianz Insurance for insurance policy for 2009/10 £260.11
8. Correspondence: The listed correspondence was noted.
9. Appointment of Clerk to the Parish Council: Arthur Robinson has agreed to take up the post as a volunteer. The Council have begun discussion of the proper employment and payment of the Clerk, including working with other parish councils to jointly employ a single clerk and share costs. It was resolved that an open meeting be held, inviting all parishioners, as this would affect future precepts.
10. Date of next meeting: 1st July 2009
Present: Pat Bell (Chair), Tony Ellis, Tony Porter, Henry Robinson
1. Apologies: none
2. Minutes of the last Annual Meeting: resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on the 12th May 2008 be signed by the Chairman as a true record.
3. Election of Chairman: Cllr. Bell was nominated by Cllr. Porter and seconded by Cllr. Robinson and elected unopposed.
4. To receive the Chairman’s Declaration of Acceptance of Office: Cllr. Bell declared her acceptance.
5. Chairman’s report: was read out and included in the minute book.
6. Financial Report: The clerk presented the accounts. Council approved the income and expenditure report. It was noted that the income the Council receives does not meet the costs of basic expenditure. It was resolved that the Council will consider steps when setting next year’s precept. The accounts were included in the minute book.
Minutes of New Hutton Parish Council Meeting held on 2nd June 2009
Present: Pat Bell (Chair), Tony Porter, Henry Robinson , Tony Ellis
1. Apologies: None
2. Minutes of last meeting: It was resolved the minutes be signed by the Chairman as a true record.
3. Chairman’s Announcements: Cllr. Umpleby resigned from the council on the 4th April. The required notice of a casual vacancy was displayed but no nominations have been received. The council therefore needs to co-opt a new councillor. Council agreed discussion of possible candidates to be put on agenda of next meeting.
Christine McKinlay, Clerk gave notice of her resignation at the last meeting. Cllr. Bell had checked with district council officials in case there is a conflict of interest as the potential new clerk is related to a councillor. Assurance has been given there is no conflict of interest.
The latest CALC circular has further details relating to the growing pressure on parish councils to cluster together and assume responsibilities that currently lie with the district and/or county councils. A formal request has been made to CALC to facilitate a meeting of all parish councils in the Whinfell ward to look at how these councils might work more closely together.
The council need to act to register the field that is currently rented out. Although there is a simplified procedure the council will need to take steps to establish when the land was given to New Hutton Parish Council.
A parishioner has asked the council to consider funding and taking responsibility for planting bulbs on main verges within the parish. Council will consider this and an application to the Community windfarm trust at the next meeting.
A parishioner had asked the council to look into suspected blasting at the Roan Edge quarry that contravenes restrictions. The enforcement officer was asked to investigate. They have done so and have stated that they may apply an enforcement order if conditions are not met.
4. Declaration of interests: None
5. Adjournment of meeting:
Mr John Todd asked who the council would be appointing to the Windfarm Community Trust to replace Cllr. Umpleby. Cllr. Bell confirmed this would be discussed at the next parish council meeting.
Mr John Todd asked about the print and distribution of the Parish Directory for which the council received a grant in September 07. It was confirmed that the Directory was being printed to include details of the new Clerk and distribution using the electoral roll would follow.
Mr John Todd asked what steps the council intended to take to publicise the Parish Council meetings. He acknowledged there had been some progression with this but feels strongly that further improvement is needed to inform parishioners. Cllr. Bell stated that the council has complied with legal requirements by placing agenda and minutes on the institute notice board and where practicable, given the deadlines for publication of the Grapevine, has given published notice of meetings. In addition, the council are in the process of arranging for dedicated parish council notice boards to be placed in the parish. Members of the public and councillors discussed the potential use of a parish (council) website and where any notice boards bought and installed by the council need to be put. There was surprise and consternation at the costs that might be incurred.
Mrs Bessie Ellis asked what the council is doing to address the disrepair of roads within the parish. Cllr. Bell explained: responsibility for repairs lies with the County Council or the Highways Agency, depending on which road is affected; the introduction of Highway Stewards which enables the parish council via a single point of contact (Cllr. Bell or Cllr. Porter) to identify and ask for minor repairs to be carried out.
Mr Bob Pearse asked what the council had done in relation to concerns raised last year about possible breaches of planning consent conditions by lorries operating for Homescales quarry. Cllr. Bell stated that this had been raised with the planning department who had in turn raised the matter with the quarry owners. The council had been advised that evidence such as registration numbers of offending vehicles and photographs is needed for the planning department to act upon.
Mrs Bessie Ellis asked what the council had done/ would do about winter maintenance of roads, including the provision of salt bins for the parish. Cllr. Bell confirmed the council had made strong representation to the district and county council following complaints from parishioners.
Mr John Todd asked the council to consider writing formally to the Land Registry and urge them to finally resolve the ownership of Miles Tarn. He commented that the cost to the community has been huge. The council agreed this will be done.
Mr Bob Pearse asked if the council had received and acted on complaints made about the growing mountains of stone at Roan Edge quarry and the landfill on Fairthorns Lane. Cllr. Bell confirmed she had spoken with Cumbria County Council on both matters and was waiting for further information resulting for the CCC’s investigation.
6. Planning Applications: none
7. Payment of Accounts: payment was authorised to
a) Allianz Insurance for insurance policy for 2009/10 £260.11
8. Correspondence: The listed correspondence was noted.
9. Appointment of Clerk to the Parish Council: Arthur Robinson has agreed to take up the post as a volunteer. The Council have begun discussion of the proper employment and payment of the Clerk, including working with other parish councils to jointly employ a single clerk and share costs. It was resolved that an open meeting be held, inviting all parishioners, as this would affect future precepts.
10. Date of next meeting: 1st July 2009