Mungrisdale Parish Council

Clerk / RFO: Mrs Suzanne Smith

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

Tel: 017687 79149

(Draft) Minutes of the Mungrisdale Parish Council held on Monday 9^th May 2011 in Mungrisdale Village Hall

Present

Chairman                                                   Michael Bohling

Councillors                                                Adam Beeston, Alan Bird, Anne Edwards, Karen Freestone, David Huxley,  Lesley Smith, Jennifer Stevenson 

Eden District Council                             David Huxley

11/046 Apologies for absence

None were received from existing councillors but David Brammer who was co-opted on at the meeting had apologised in advance.

11/047 Minutes

Resolved that the minutes of the meetings held on Monday 14^th March 2011 and Monday 28^th March 2011 be signed by the Chairman as a true record once the following amendment was made to item 11/033 of the meeting of 14^th March:

• Work on the railings by the village hall has finished for the time being.

11/048 Co-option of New Councillors and their Declarations of Acceptance of Office – Following the recent elections the result for Mungrisdale was uncontested with the 6 councillors returning papers remaining in post. The remaining three vacancies were to be filled by co-option. The five nominees left the room during which time councillors voted by a majority to co-opt David Brammer, Anne Edwards and Karen Freestone to the parish council. The nominees returned to the room and Declarations of Acceptance of Office were signed by all six parish councillors present and the clerk. The Chairman invited the new councillors to join the meeting and thanked exiting councillors present – Ernie Teasdale and Bob Watt - for the work they had done during their time in office on behalf of the parish council.

11/049 News from Eden District Council

Roy Fisher stood down in May as Eden District Councillor for our region and parish councillor David Huxley has joined Eden District Council. Mr Huxley would like to encourage feedback from the parish council to the district council on local community issues.

11/050 Public Participation

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

• A parishioner thanked the parish council for donating to the parish two trees to mark the Royal Wedding .

No other issues were raised and the Chairman reconvened the meeting.

11/051 Declarations of interest

Alan Bird declared a personal interest in item 11/053 and Lesley Smith declared a personal interest in item 11/060.

11/052 Accounts

Payments

Resolved unanimousy that the following accounts be paid:

Clerk’s wages and expenses for quarter 01-Jan-11 to 31-Mar-11                (information provided separately to councillors)

Annual subscription to CALC                                                                      £117.00

AON Insurance – annual insurance renewal                                        £382.99

David Brammer – supply of 2 specimen trees for the parish        £tbc (approx. £60)

Monies received

HMRC VAT Reclaim for winter assistance equipment                      £422.67

Mr Richardson – rent for land at Wellfoot                                             £15.00

Messrs Wilson – rent and water charges for Mungrisdale garden              £420.29

Messrs Teasdale – rent and water charges for land at Liscow       £164.83

Messrs Hunter – rent for land at Berrier                                                                £40.00

Car Parks                                                                                                             £267.50

Update on financial position

Parish Council pre-meeting account balances currently stand at £2227.01

11/053 Planning Applications Received

• 7/2011/304​2 Mr A Bird, Askew Rigg, Troutbeck, Penrith, CA11 0SZ – The covering of an existing silage clamp through the erection of a steel frame building for use as manure storage building / livestock housing / general agricultural building. Mr Bird left the room during the discussion and it was pointed out that the proposed application is actually a DEFRA requirement and therefore should not be opposed.
• APP/H0928/A/11/2149904 Mr and Mrs Cartmell, Nobles Farm, Berrier – Proposed kennels. An appeal has been made to the Secretary of State against the decision of Eden District Council to refuse to grant planning permission.

11/054 Planning Decision Notices

• 10/0555 M-Sport – Retrospective application for improvement works to roads in the forest including reconstruction, some new stretches of road and new culverts to facilitate forestry operations and occasional motor sport use. Application granted with no conditions.
• 10/0666 M-Sport – Use of Greystoke Forest for rally testing. Application granted with 9 conditions (copy of decision notice can be obtained from the clerk).
• 11/0068 Mr and Mrs R Wilson, Scales Plantation, Berrier – Variation of condition no. 2 of application 09/0432 relating to changes to the type and location of the ‘huts’. Application granted with 10 conditions (copy of decision notice can be obtained from the clerk).
• 7/2010/3093 Mrs Joanie Howard c/o Agent, Little Bay Barn, Heggle House, Heggle Lane, Hesket Newmarket CA7 8HX – proposed conversion of drying room to grooms accommodation. Application granted with 5 conditions (copy of decision notice can be obtained from the clerk).

11/055 Parish Land Maintenance Budget

The parish land maintenance working party met with John Bennett Groundworks to prepare the programme of maintenance for the next few months. It is similar to that of last year but with the suggested addition of extending the remit to include the clearing of the tops of drains and unblocking gullies which is not considered to be a big job. In addition litter encountered in the area whilst maintenance is in progress will be picked up and taken away. This will reduce the impact left by the removal of the highways steward. Green cutting at Hutton Roof every six weeks was also added to the list of works. The increased workload will cost the parish council an additional £200 which will not be covered in the budget but will have to be drawn from the bank. Resolved unanimously that the parish land maintenance budget be increased by £200 to £1000 for the forthcoming financial year.

11/056 Parish Land at Wellfoot Councillors were invited to discuss the future plans for the parish land at Wellfoot which yields a nominal rent of £15. It was pointed out that none of the parish land is currently correctly registered with the Land Registry. A considerable amount of work was started on this but has ground to a halt. The registering of parish land will be revisited and until such time the letting of Wellfoot will continue unchanged.

11/057 Community Recycling in the Parish

There was some discussion made in the last meeting for recycling to be sited where the garden skip is in Mungrisdale. Eden Community Recycling will supply the bins but will not fund any screening of the area. They will also empty the bins as and when required. The parish council will have to keep the area tidy. Councillors decided not to proceed with the siting of the bins until more information has been obtained and a site plan has been drawn up. There was some debate regarding the requirement of screening for the area as it marks the entrance to the village. Banking and hedging was suggested as a quick and fairly inexpensive way to do this. The item will return to the next meeting following further investigation.

11/058 Community Plan

On initial survey there does not seem to be much of an appetite for a community plan so far. At the recent Village Agents day the following suggestions were put forward:

·         Recycling centre

·         Facilities for small children

·         Organised litter pick

The community plan will be put on hold for the time being

11/059 Rural Broadband

The project is going well with so far 62 out of 129 parish households having registered their interest with the website. A team of four within the parish are currently targeting the remaining households. It is hoped the Northern Fells region will be the pilot adopted by the County Council but there is more work to be done yet.

11/060 Parish Stones Grant Application

The application for the Neighbourhood Forum Grant has not been forwarded to Eden councillors yet due to the recent elections but it is hoped it will be approved in the next few weeks.

11/061 Highways Update

The Highways department is still in disarray and the community is still being urged to phone the Highways Hotline with any issues. Resurfacing of the road from the A66 through Mungrisdale to Stone Ends will commence towards the end of May / beginning of June and will involve some road closures, although these will be kept to a minimum.

11/062 Specimen Trees

The trees have been planted and are doing well. They are being regularly inspected and watered.

11/063 Clerk Annual Review

The clerk’s annual review was recently conducted in accordance with the contract of employment. Councillors resolved unanimously to award the annual salary scale increase in accordance with NALC guidelines.

11/064 Correspondence

·         CALC Circular

·         NALC update on the localism bill

·         LDNPA Distinctive Area Parish Tours – councillors are invited to attend the forthcoming parish tours. The North Distinctive Area Tour will be on 9^th June.

·         CALC advice sessions ‘Tea and CALC’ will be held on 11^th May between 2pm and 4pm at the Inn on the Lake, Glenridding, 17^th May between 2pm and 4pm, and at Lanercost tearoom next to the priory. No need to book.

·         CALC – Essentials for Councillors special session for new councillors, 15^th June

·         Various correspondence from parishioner regarding the boundary of the common land near the Horseshoe Inn pub at Hutton Roof

·         CALC information regarding Accessible Cumbria, the county’s Broadband project

·         Penrith & District Red Squirrel Group Appeal - request for funds to support the red squirrel project in the area

·         Cumbria County Council Newsletter – Local News and Views

·         NALC information regarding revised standing orders

·         Natural England Lakes to Dales Landscape Designation Project further consultation running until 11^th July

·         CALC Election of parish members to the LDNPA – should the parish council wish to nominate a candidate a nomination form must be completed and returned to CALC by 23^rd May

·         Highlights Rural Touring Scheme brochure 2011 – 2012

·         Eden Credit Union Study Group Pledge Form

·         Eden District Council ‘Eye on Eden’ Newsletter

11/065 Date of Next Meeting Monday 11^th July 2011, 7.30pm, Mungrisdale Village Hall