Minutes of the Meeting of Coniston Parish Council held in the Library on Monday 16th February 2009.

Preliminary: Lawrence Conway spoke to the members of the council about the Bridge Conveniences and established the grounds for an on-going dialogue between CPC and SLDC to secure the future of the conveniences.

Acting Chairman: Members were unanimous that Cllr Mrs Hall took the Chair in the absence of Cllrs Coxon and Hill.

Guest Speaker: Richard Leafe, Chief Executive of the LDNPA: Mr Leafe spoke about a prosperous economy, vibrant communities and a world-class visitor experience. He recognized the problems of poor transport, the need for investment, the effects of climate change and a pollution increase leading to poor water quality. He hoped for a low carbon footprint for the Park with renewable energy initiatives, such as hydro and solar schemes, and a move to make the design of buildings traditional, efficient and eco-friendly. He answered questions from councilors and the public on a broad range of topics. The Chairman thanked him.

1. Public welcoming and receipt of matters for debate: Chairman welcomed the public. There were no matters for debate offered.

2. Apologies: Cllrs Coxon (vacation), Ms R Hext (incapacity) and P Hill (professional commitment). PCSO K Largue.

3. Declarations of Interest: of members’ personal and prejudicial interests in respect of items on the Agenda: Cllr Mrs Hall (matters relating to planning); Cllr Mrs Kelly (Letter about Little Moss Close); and, Cllr Tarr (PlanApp 7/2008/5670). All councillors as Trustees of the Coniston Institute and Ruskin Museum. All councilors as supporters of The C&T Housing Group (PlanApp 7/2009/5309).

4. Minutes of the Meeting of 19th January 2009 were approved, and signed by the Chairman.

5. Matters arising from that Meeting with reports of action taken:

5.a. Item 5.c. Twinning with Solto Collina: Mr Adams reported that a successful social evening in the Yewdale raised £235.

5.b. Item 6.c. Surgery: Concern was expressed about issues in Lake Road: misuse of the Playground; lack of gritting facilities even with the presence of John Ruskin School; disturbance from holiday lets. RESOLVED: Clerk to write to appropriate bodies.

5.c. Item 6.d. Beech Boys Atlantic: The clerk had received a letter of thanks from Norman and James Beech. The boat is to be launched at Boating Centre on Saturday 21st March at 3pm.

5.d. Item 6.g. Mothers and Toddlers Group: The clerk had received another letter with the group’s accounts. RESOLVED: to review at the end of the financial year.

5.e. Item 10.h. The Garth parking: RESOLVED: The clerk to contact Home Housing.

5.f. Item 10.h. Primary Care Trust Reported increasing concern about nursing provision in Coniston: the clerk to write to Primary Care Trust.

5.g. Item 10.h. Lane Head RESOLVED: The clerk to contact Janet Prier.

5.h. Item 10.j. Coniston & Crake Valley group to monitor water quality. Cllr Mrs Hall had acquired for the group a CD of talk about water quality of other lakes in the county.

6. Matters arising since that meeting:

6.a. Little Moss Close: A letter from a resident drew attention to over-full wheeley bins causing litter problems, poor state of some gardens and overhanging trees and shrubs causing problems for path-users. RESOLVED: the clerk to write to Home Housing.

6.b. Grass Cutting Contract: RESOILVED: The clerk to advertise.

7. Financial Transactions: RESOLVED:

7.a. To issue cheques: To E.ON for street lighting (December) £80.00

To R J Airey for bus shelter maintenance £36.00

To Information Commissioner for Data Protection £35.00

To C Sargeant for clerk’s salary and expenses £300.00

7.b. To approve accounts for signing by Chairman: Done.

8. Planning:

8.a. Planning Application:7/2008/5670 Townson Ground, LA21 8AA RESOLVED: No objections.

8.b. Planning Application:7/2009/5039 Old Hawkshead Road, LA21 8 RESOLVED: No objections.

9. Correspondence: RESOLVED: to note that since the last meeting the clerk had received and informed councillors of the following (Items marked (**) were taken as read):

Cumbria Cumbria Third Sector Census.

Mrs V. Sandham The Malcolm Wilson Rally 7th March 2009.

LDNPA Notice of closure of public rights of way for Malcolm Wilson Rally 7th March.

CALC Notice of District Association Meeting 5th March 2009, Gilpin Bridge Inn.

CALC Royal Garden Party 2009.

CALC New events on CALC website.

CALC February Circular.

CALC Next Meeting of District Association 5th March.

LDNPA Letter and map: Change of parish areas for LDNP Rangers.

Cumbria Community Foundation Review 2008.

Northwest Regional Strategy Update February 2009.

Rural Services Community Rural News Digest.

LDNPA Letter to confirm Public Path Diversion Order 2009 at Tarns Hows and Rose Castle.

South Lakeland Strategic Partnership Document: Greater Influence for Local People – Locality Working in South Lakeland; and, Map: Local Area Partnerships. Response required by 9 April 2009.

10. Reports:

10.a. Coniston & Torver Housing Group Meeting, 13th February 2009: Alastair Cameron (16 February) submitted the following: Those present: Charlotte Kimber – National Park Authority; Mairi Lock – National Park Authority; Anne Hall – Parish & District Councillor, Coniston; Elizabeth Brown – Coniston (hosting the meeting); Lucy Reynolds – SLDC Affordable Housing Officer; Rev Mark East – Coniston PCC, (on behalf of landowners); Elsa Brailey – Home Housing; Hugh Cameron – Chairman, Torver Parish Council; Lyn Mackenzie – Eden Housing Association; Alastair Cameron – Coniston, (Chairman of the Group); Judith Derbyshire – CRHT; and, Chas Sargeant – Clerk to Coniston Parish Council. Apologies: Lyn Mackenzie – Eden Housing Association; Andy Lloyd – CRHT; and, Tony Whittaker – SLDC. The Chairman explained that Lyn Mackenzie was on leave but she had sent him details of the progress of the two Eden Housing schemes. The Chairman welcomed Lucy Reynolds who will now be attending to represent the Housing Authority. Old Furness Road Scheme: Charlotte Kimber explained the present situation with securing funding for the maintenance of the rock face at the site. An approach had been made through English Partnerships to The Land Restoration Trust. Although the Trust normally dealt with much bigger projects, they might be interested in taking on the maintenance and liability of the face in perpetuity thereby freeing up the land for use as affordable housing. The Land Restoration Trust requests a dowry to be paid by the interested parties. This is held in account to fund on-going maintenance and major works such as renewing the netting on the rock face. Charlotte will be meeting David Beuzeval, the Trust’s Land Projects Director on 6th March and a site meeting is being held on 10th March to review the proposal. It was felt that a figure of approximately £100,000 would be required for the dowry and it was expected that this would be raised from the authorities associated with the scheme. It was pointed out that a sum of £80,000 had already been spent on stabilising the rock face. Volunteer-time in lieu of fund provision was also felt to be an appropriate matching contribution. It was agreed that the volunteer-time involved with the project up to now would be calculated and be available for presentation on 10th March. Elsa Brailey reported that she intended to check the potential small site at the south end of the old station complex. If thought suitable it would be developed as a separate scheme. Charles Sargeant commented that if that area was to be developed for housing, road access from the end of Days Bank would be important. Butcher Moss: Elsa Brailey explained that a bid had been put to the IMS for submission to the Housing Corporation for the Butcher Moss scheme. However the bid is awaiting approval from the Home Housing Board before it can be submitted. If difficulties occur with funding of the scheme Home Housing may look to transfer the project to another funder. Elsa has a meeting planned with the Housing Authority (Tony Whittaker) during week commencing 16th February to discuss this proposal. The Authority is keen to have a decision within the month. Church Fields: The Church Fields project will be re-submitted to the National Park Planning Board at their April meeting. Mairi Lock confirmed that the amended plans had been received and she considered it a much better scheme. The Parish Council will recommend the name Church Field Close for the development. Church Rooms: A notice had been displayed asking for any objections from parishioners to the sale of the Church Rooms for affordable housing. The Parish Council will recommend the name John Hext House for this development. Further Sites: A possible new small site in the Barratt Croft / Little Moss area had been discussed. SLDC owns part of the land and ADC had contacted Tony Whittaker who had explained that there is currently a District-wide review of development opportunities on Council estates ongoing. This should be completed by Sep/Oct 2009. Until this is complete the Council will not be progressing with any new site possibilities on their land. Home Housing also owns part of the site. Elsa Brailey agreed to arrange for a capacity study to be carried out to estimate the number of units that might be developed. Ann Hall commented that extra bungalows for older residents frequently release larger properties for younger families. Anne also suggested that a footpath from the former Church Rooms onto Little Moss Close would have many advantages to the village. Mairi Lock reported that she and a colleague Chris Greenwood will be visiting Coniston on 16th February to re-look at sites which had been reviewed in the past but had not been put onto the list of sites to progress. They will also look at possible new sites. Their intention is to adopt a ‘traffic light’ system (red/amber/green) to categorise possible sites for housing schemes. These categories would only be a suggestion for possible future development rather than a proposal. Self Build: Anne Hall was drawing up a list of families who wished to self-build on family-owned land. The proposal was to arrange an open meeting in the village to allow those who had contacted her, and other village families, to discuss ways of helping them progress with their plans. Mairi Lock recommended that the team wait until the National Park Authority had developed firm policies on this proposal. It is likely that this will be complete by the end of 2009. Discussions will also start during 2009 about changes to settlement boundaries. It is possible that several of Coniston’s exception sites suitable for self-build could then fall within the settlement boundaries. AOB: Financial issues of Section 106: ADC reported that it appeared banks and other financial lenders are reluctant to provide funding in the form of a loan on a new-build which is covered by a Section 106 agreement restricting future sale. This could affect the proposal to encourage private build on family-owned land. There was also an issue of home owners, whose property is covered by a Section 106 agreement, complaining that they can not realise free market value at re-sale. It was generally felt from the meeting that those requiring a loan to cover the development of a property to be covered by a Section 106 agreement should approach either the Cumberland or Furness Building Society both of whom were familiar with Section 106 agreements. There was very strong feeling at the meeting that no relaxing of occupancy agreements should be allowed if owners felt they were unable sell their property at a value they expected. If necessary they should confirm their expectations by using the District Valuer to give his opinion on a realistic value for their property. Empty properties: Chas Sargeant brought up the issue of village homes remaining empty for significant periods of time. A property at the top of Lake Road has been empty for over 2 years. The District Council has powers to take over empty properties and it was suggested that action is taken with this property and the outcome could act as a pilot for other Lakeland villages. Anne Hall offered to take up the issue. Survey of second homes: Judith Derbyshire has recommended that Coniston provide details of the survey and the methods of calculating the level of second homes in the parish. She also felt that Coniston could team up with other parishes active in this area such as Borrowdale and the Lakes Parish Council. There was a general agreement and the team will await further contact from Judith. Chas Sargeant also confirmed that he felt the Parish Council would be pleased to be part of such a group. Lakeland Housing Trust scheme at Torver: Anne Hall mentioned the proposals by the Lakeland Housing Trust to develop two houses on the Kitchen Syke plot at Torver. She wondered whether the Team would support the application. There was general approval of the scheme amongst those present. Mairi confirmed she has responded asking for further information from the Lakeland Housing Trust as to from where future tenants would be drawn. Next Meeting: The date of the next meeting was scheduled for Friday 15th May.

10.b. Playground Report: Cllr Tarr outlined stages of refurbishment: front fence; rocking horse; junior section; toddler section. The junior swings have been removed for safety reasons.

10.c. Police Report: Nothing.

10.d. Highways Report: Cllr Mrs Kelly monitoring on-going issues.

10.e. Cllr Stoddart: Expressed disappointment that white lines at junction of B5285 with A593 had not been repainted. Cllr Mrs Kelly said it was a matter of financial availability. Expressed concern about misuse of notice board. RESOLVED: Cllr Stoddart to monitor and take appropriate action.

10.f. Cllr Tarr: Raised the issue of parking in The Garth. RESOLVED: the clerk to write to Home Housing.

10.g. Cllr Mrs Hall: Reported (a) poor state of foot bridge near Pudding Stone. The clerk referred to email (22 January 2009) from Tony Hill, Park Ranger: “This bridge has been reported on numerous occasions by our own patrols and the public. It is not actually on a public right of way. However, and for some unknown reason, we wrongly installed this bridge and another in the area, many years ago, no doubt to help with access. The landowner is Rydal Estates and as their land at this point is CROW open access land, I am negotiating with their agent to replace both bridges with standard rights of way bridges. This would be under what we refer to as a CROW Act Section 35 agreement, whereby we install, maintain and accept liability for the item for evermore. But, in this case this will only be a device where we eventually hope to create new public rights of way in the area, incorporating these bridges, linking with other rights of way. I hope that the landowner responds quickly and I will keep you up to date with progress. I did inspect the bridge over Christmas and it is getting worse.” (b) poor state of gates on bridleway on which the Matthews live. RESOLVED: the clerk to report. (c) presence of notice outside St Andrew’s about change of use of Church Rooms. (d) lack of information about the accounts of the Rawdon-Smith Trust. RESOLVED: the clerk to investigate.

11. Public questions and comments: Nothing.

12. Date of next Meeting: RESOLVED: to be held on Monday 16th March 2009, 7.00pm in the Library.

Meeting closed at 10.00pm.

Signed: David Coxon, Chairman Date: 16th March 2009