Troutbeck Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Hutton Moor end, Troutbeck, Penrith, CA11 0SX

Tel: 017687 79149

Chair Lesley Smith

Councillors Adam Beeston, Alan Bird, Michael Bohling, David Huxley

Ernie Teasdale, Bob Watt, Ronnie Wilson

Jennifer Stevenson

Andrew Holliday, Cumbria Police

David Huxley raised the question of documenting Matters Arising and the clerk will query it with CALC.

Judith Cooke introduced herself to the Parish as the liaison between the LDNPA and Parish Councils in Eden. She has been in the role for just over 12 months and is also a councillor for Patterdale. Judith is available to offer assistance with any issues raised in relation to the LDNPA such as planning enforcement or affordable housing, and is willing to see planners to raise any concerns. A joint meeting was held in December between the LDNPA and local parish councils and as they are deemed to be successful these meetings will continue to run perhaps once a year.

Roy Fisher from EDC gave an update on the caravan at Eycott Farm which is to be removed by 13^th February if an appeal is not received by 16^th January. Mr Fisher believes the owner intends to appeal before this date. Once an appeal is received the enforcement officer is unable to make any demands for removal until the appeal has been heard, which is likely to be several months from now. By this time lambing will be in progress and the owner could claim the caravan is needed for workers during the lambing season again. Mr Fisher stated that planning permission will not be granted for a dwelling in the location of the caravan and that if such an application were submitted it would have to be for accommodation on the opposite side of the lane near existing buildings.

Bert Richardson from CCC publicly thanked the Highways team for coping so well with the inclement weather experienced by the region over previous weeks. He also announced a motion has been tabled for the next County Council meeting to allow a locally elected person to request gritting in cases of extreme danger on roads which are currently not gritted.

Councillor Richardson also mentioned the success of the Highways steward.

Bob Watt raised the issue of the water across the road at Mungrisdale and David Huxley is going to have a further discussion with Mr Richardson regarding parish highways issues.

The Chairman adjourned the meeting to allow electors present an opportunity to raise issues of concern or interest. The following matters were raised:

1. the clerk read out an e-mail from Andy Holliday of Cumbria Police which reported:
   • the theft of the money box at the car park in Mungrisdale
   • the door-to-door scrap men appear to be genuine but would parishioners still report any such incidents
   • cars parked around Blencathra are still being broken into whilst occupants are walking and can parishioners please report any suspicious vehicles.
2. Roy Fisher asked who is the owner of the fell ponies
3. Parishioner Sally Bohling reported that she has spoken to Adam McNally, the enforcement planner for Eden District Council with regards to the caravan at Eycott Farm and understands that there is little action that can be taken whilst an appeal is progress. She has requested however that the parish council express its dissatisfaction with the handling of the case so far.
4. Parishioner Colin Smith expressed concern at the proposed increase of day care charges by Cumbria County Council from £10 to £20 which would have a significant impact on the elderly. Councillor Richardson replied that the figures being quoted have no substance and that the Council received a considerable government grant negating the case for such an increase.

Alan Bird declared an interest in item 09/008

Ronnie Wilson declared an interest in item 09/013

United Utilities Mungrisdale Garden Ground £14.70

United Utilities Liscow £13.41

SW Titterington for removal of moles at Mungrisdale £82.00

Essentials for Local Councillors course (Bob Watt) £18.00

Village Hall hire £168.00

Clerk wages and expenses Undisclosed to public

Replacement of car park board and box at Bannerdale track:

Colin Smith for post and cement £14.00

Albany Signs Ltd for replacement sign £25.00

Request from St Kentigerns for upkeep of churchyard £300.00

Income received:

Monies received from car parks £100.00

Following the earlier request from a parishioner Michael Bohling proposed that the Parish Council sends a letter to Eden District Council to express annoyance at the lack of action by EDC enforcement. David Huxley seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously.

Two parishioners attended the surgery on 7^th December. Ernie Teasdale proposed the council discontinue with the surgeries on the grounds of little take-up, Michael Bohling seconded and the motion was carried unanimously. Mr Bohling will post the decision on the parish noticeboards and in the magazine.

Michael Bohling detailed a meeting held between himself, Alan Bird and Mr Andrew Dyer from H & H Bowe land agents about the possibility of selling these pockets of land, as the cost of administration involved in claiming the rent exceeds the annual income from them. There is the possibility that existing tenants may wish to have the opportunity to buy this land although as Lesley Smith remarked the council is under no obligation to sell to existing tenants.

Ronnie Wilson questioned whether the land is in fact owned by the Parish Council, explaining that in previous times some land was leased by the parish council at Barrowbeck and when the tenant was approached Mr Wilson believes the tenant agreed to pay 12-15 years’ rent in advance but did not purchase that land. Mike Bohling reaffirmed that the Parish land was still unregistered. Lesley Smith asked that this be made a priority.

Alan Bird proposed that the council in the first instance proves ownership of the land ie registered the land.This was seconded by Bob Watt and the motion was carried unanimously.

Following discussion of the previous item the council will seek to prove ownership of the land before any further action is taken.

Following ongoing discussions between the clerk and BT the missing door will be replaced within the next few months.

The council agreed that Andrew Tiffin could temporarily remove the noticeboard at the village hall for about a week to use it as a template for the new boards.

Full planning permission would be required in order to move the existing noticeboard at the road end. Ernie Teasdale expressed concern at the suggestion of moving it towards the main road. Many years ago permission had been refused for a notice at the road end for The Mill Inn, the consequences of which were extremely sad.

He proposed it be left where it is which was seconded by Ronnie Wilson and was accepted by a council majority, with 3 voting against the proposal.

David Huxley met the Highways steward to discuss the possibility of a cattlegrid at the bottom of the narrows between Bowscale and Mosedale. Such a grid would require planning permission and would cost in the region of £30,000 to install. Lesley Smith conveyed the concern of a parishioner who was very upset at the prospect of a cattlegrid there as it would make moving sheep extremely difficult and would confine the ponies to Mosedale.

National Park ranger Graham Standring has been in discussion with the vet and opinion is that spring would be the best time to carry out castration of the males although by then there is the chance the population will have increased. The veterinary work will be funded partly by the LDNPA and partly by money from a horse charity.

Ernie Teasdale queried the classification of the Mungrisdale road, ie fenced or unfenced, as this has implications on insurance claims.

1. the frequency of visits will not be increased as there is currently no funding available.
2. DH did not think the roadsweeper had been but Adam Beeston has seen it around the parish since the last meeting
3. the gorse bushes at Swineside are still encroaching the road and no response has been received following the council’s letter to Mr McCosh at Dalemain.
4. Sean Mitchell at EDC has agreed to put in a new culvert under the road at the top of ‘the narrows’ at Bowscale but the work cannot be carried out until the next financial year (April).
5. the railings by the village hall are deemed not to be sufficiently in disrepair by Sean Mitchell to necessitate their replacement until the next financial year.
6. the spring on the other side of the road to the railings cannot be attended to until the next financial year.
7. Road surface water outside Brow Top at Hutton Roof requires piping across to the drain on the opposite side. David Huxley has a ticket for this but no date has been given for completion.

DH will be passing these details on to Bert Richardson for investigation.

David Huxley proposed the council writes a letter to Mr Wilson to inform him of his responsibility with regards to the probability of wall debris falling into the road. The proposal was seconded by Michael Bohling and was carried by a majority with 2 abstentions.

The clerk has written to Mr Purdham confirming that this land does not belong to the parish and has so far received no response.

There is the possibility of funding for facilities by Eden Community Recycling but not until next financial year, and unlikely in the current recycling market.

Lesley Smith reported that a large contingent from Matterdale Parish Council including many parishioners attended and gave Richard Leafe, Chief Executive of the LDNPA, some difficult discussion. The general opinion of the meeting was that the LDNPA is too reactive and not sufficiently proactive. Planners are not seen to follow-up applications and there is too much ‘add-on’ planning. Parishes are not informed about amendments to applications. Concerns were also expressed regarding the policies of grazing on fells, that there are not enough land managers anymore. Affordable housing was also discussed.

Mr Leafe assured the meeting that parish council opinions are highly valued and it should not be underestimated how influential they are.

All information regarding the council, councillors and council business and decisions are to be formally available to the public. A table of the whereabouts of this information will be posted on the internet and noticeboards.