Minutes of the meeting of the Mungrisdale Parish Council held on Monday 12th November 2007 in Mungrisdale Village Hall at 7.30pm

 

Present

Councillor         Lesley Smith (Chairman)

Councillors       Michael Bohling, Adam Beeston, Alan Bird, Jennifer Stevenson,

Les Wilson, Ronnie Wilson, David Huxley, Ernie Teasdale,

5 parishioners

Chairman introduced Suzanne Smith as the new Parish Clerk

  1. Apologies for absence

Roy Fisher, Eden District Council.

Resolved that apologies be noted.

  1. Minutes

Resolved by unanimous agreement that the minutes of the meeting held on 10th July 2007 be signed by the Chairman as a true record.

  1. Public Participation

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

                                                               i.            A request for funds was made to support the Berrier Wind Farm opposition group. The Chairman advised the parishioner that the item would be added to the agenda of the next meeting for consideration.

                                                             ii.            A request was made for a copy of the council’s response to West Coast Energy. A copy was made available to the elector at the meeting.

                                                            iii.            Attention required to the road on the Murrah crossroads to Scales road. Ernie Teasdale will take this up with Highways.

                                                           iv.            The gutters between Mungrisdale and Bowscale require cleaning before winter. The Chairman reminded parishioners of the Highways hotline (0845 649 6609) which anyone can ring 24/7 but agreed to take up this particular issue.

                                                             v.            The issue of replacement and new salt bins was raised. The Chairman confirmed that salt bins could be replaced at any point where they had been previously situated. The request for a new salt bin at Swineside has been accepted by Highways. Provision has been made in the new budget for a further salt bin if required.

                                                           vi.            The telephone boxes at Mungrisdale and Mosedale have now been painted following the clerk’s phone call to BT.

                                                          vii.            National Park ranger Graham Standring has informed the Chairman that maintenance work will commence on the footpaths of the parish during the winter months.

There were no other matters and the Chairman reconvened the meeting.

  1. Declarations of Interest

None were declared

  1. Accounts 2007-2008

Resolved that the following accounts be paid:

                                                               i.            Herald advert for vacancy                              £39.66

                                                             ii.            Training Courses for 4 councillors                  £60.00

                                                            iii.            Northern Fells minibus costs              £200.00

                                                           iv.            Parochial Church Council – upkeep of graveyard                                                                                        £300.00

                                                             v.            Society of Local Council Clerks                     £40.00

                                                           vi.            Village Hall Hire for meetings             £48.00

                                                          vii.            Audit Commission                                         £58.75

                                                        viii.            Clerk salary and expenses                  Undisclosed to public

Income received:

                                                         i.            Car Park                                                          £256.88

Resolved that the council authorise the alteration of the bank mandate to include the new clerk.  

  1. Planning Applications Received
    • 7/2007/3125 Mr J Bennett – The Stables, Hutton Moor End - Change of use from loose box cow shed to shed to store caravans.

Resolved there was no opposition to this application.

    • 7/2007/3117 Blake Hills Farm, Troutbeck – Conservatory.

Resolved there was no opposition to this application.

  1. Planning Applications Decisions
    • 7/2007/3059 Mr Bird – Askew Rigg erection of general purpose agricultural building and relocation of caravan site – granted with 4 conditions
    • 7/2007/3076 Mr J Dale – Moor End – Greenhouse – Granted with 2 conditions
    • 7/2007/3061 Mrs S Smith – Troutbeck Camping and Caravanning Club – Permit the use of one static caravan pitch as year round warden accommodation (retrospective) – Granted with 1 condition
  2. CALC Effective Councils Roadshow

Information about the forthcoming CALC Roadshows was read out to councillors.

Resolved by a majority decision that clerk will arrange possible dates for MPC.

  1. Tidy Village Competition

A letter from a resident of Mosedale was introduced to the meeting by councillor Adam Beeston. The resident opposed and was strongly offended by the idea of villagers being encouraged to tidy their homes and gardens. Only one such official objection has been raised so far and the group has been commended on its work in the past. Clarity was called for among councillors to identify the separate objectives of the Tidy Village working party and the annual Boon nights, as it was suggested that much of the work overlaps between events.

Resolved by a majority to organise Boon nights for 2008 in which residents of each village can choose to participate or not. The Tidy Village competition is subject to further discussion.

Resolved the clerk will respond thus to the resident in question.

  1. Natural England

Prior to the meeting councillors had received and reviewed a document from Natural England entitled ‘Woodland and Scrub Project for Mungrisdale Common’ detailing the proposal to fence in a large area of the common in order to protect it from livestock. Several councillors felt unqualified to make a decision without further guidance.

Resolved by a majority decision following further discussion that the council will not support this project. Councillor David Huxley wanted his abstinence recorded.

  1. CALC AGM 10th November 2007

The main speaker Mr Mike Muir from Impact Housing presented on affordable housing in Cumbria and spoke about an innovative project in Thirlmere. Also discussed was the need for Parish Councils to take on greater responsibility from County Councils in order to operate more effectively within their parishes. This is supported by the forthcoming roadshows.

  1. Land adjoining Low Beckside Farm, Mungrisdale (signs)

No response from the Lake District Enforcement Team yet regarding this issue.

  1. Budget for 2008-2009

Adjustment to be made to allow for an increase in next year’s audit fee to £80

It was reported to the meeting that there will be a surplus next year of c.£1,000 but there is an outstanding invoice for around £750 due from Eden District Council to cover the election costs.

Resolved by unanimous decision to accept the budget for 2008-2009.

  1. Precept for 2008-2009

Resolved by unanimous decision to accept the £2,500 precept for 2008-2009.

  1. Adult Social Care Payments

Cumbria County Council has requested an article be included in the parish newsletter about Adult Social Care payments.

Resolved the Chairman will forward the article to Antoinette Ward who is the benefits person at the Northern Fells Group and it will also be posted on the website.

  1. Eden District Council review of polling districts

Following the review by councillors Mosedale Barn was deemed to be missing from the schedule.

Resolved the clerk will inform Eden District Council.

  1. NHS Trust Consultation on plan to become NHS Foundation Trust

A consultation document is available to read.

  1. Lake District National Park meeting 19 November

Resolved councillor Michael Bohling will attend the meeting.

  1. Cumbria Minerals and Waste

Newsletters are available to read.

  1. CALC Newsletter

This will now be sent in electronic format to councillors who have access to e-mail. The remaining members of the council will continue to receive a hard copy.

Resolved clerk will forward e-mail addresses to CALC.

  1. Correspondence
    • CALC Newsletters
    • Integrated Youth support newsletter from Cumbria County Council
    • Cumbria Highways Newsletter
    • Moving on support scheme – recruiting volunteers
    • Ways to tackle climate change booklet from DEFRA
    • Cumbria Highways response teams letter
    • North West Regional Spatial Strategy documentation
  2. Date of Next meeting

The next meeting of the council will be held on Monday 14th January at 7.30pm at Mungrisdale Village Hall.

 

At the end of the meeting the Chairman made a presentation to former clerk Judith Kent to thank her for her services to the council over the past three years.