CONISTON PARISH COUNCIL
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CONISTON PARISH COUNCIL: Minutes of the Meeting of 18th February 2008. PRESENT: Councillors – P Hill (Chairman), D Coxon (to 9pm), Mrs A Hall, Mrs E Kelly, H Lakin, J Stoddart and L Tarr; the Clerk; and, 7 members of public (D Adams, B Bateman, Mrs E Brown, A Cameron, D Johnson, Mrs J Jones and Mrs J Myers). 1. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: 1.a. St Andrew’s Church: Mr Johnson expressed concern that there wasn’t sufficient publicity given to the proposals to revamp the main part of the church. He acknowledged that plans had been posted in the church and that paper and pens had been provided for people to post their responses but he requested that the parish council lead a protest against the proposals in order to keep the layout of the church as it is. He was supported by Mrs Myers who felt that non-members of the church would not be listened to without the support of the parish council. RESOLVED: to Minute the concern; to write to Rev Mark East requesting he broaden the consultation through the Newsletter; and, to encourage people to visit the church to look at the proposals and record their responses. 1.b. Fluoridation: Mr Bateman asked if the council could affirm or deny that it was the intention to introduce fluoride to the Coniston water supply during the alterations to the Paddy End works. Cllr Mrs Kelly said that United Utilities website was specific in its statement that there must be consultation before such a change. RESOLVED: the clerk to seek clarification from United Utilities. 2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: None. 3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Cllr Hill (all matters relating to E.ON), Cllr Coxon (all matters relating to LDNPA and Cumbria Landscaping) and Cllr Hall (Plan. App. No.7/2008/5043) 4. MINUTES OF LAST MEETINGS: The Chairman was authorised to sign, as correct records, the minutes of the Meeting of 21st January 2008 and the Extra-ordinary Meetings of 27th January and 10th February 2008. 5. MATTERS ARISING from those Meetings: 5.a. Dow How: i.As recorded in Minutes of 10th February, much of the work has been completed. RESOLVED: the clerk to write to thank Alan and Brian Wilson for their support. ii.Cllr Stoddart drew attention to the need for the oak tree over hanging the path to be cut back. RESOLVED: the clerk to contact the National Trust. iii.Cllr Stoddart said the litterbin on Dow How seems to have been struck by a vehicle and needs repair or replacement. RESOLVED: the clerk to contact SLDC. iv.Offers of assistance to complete work have been received from Bill Bateman, Nigel Coe and Janet Pawsey. 5.b. Policing in Coniston: i.An email (11 Feb) from Inspector Tudor Griffiths clarified the situation: I fully share your and your councils concerns about the visible presence of police personnel within the Coniston area. The removal of Jo Dyson and Malcolm MacLennan have been forced upon us due to competing demands .Christyne as you are aware has sought a career change with the appointment to the regular Police service. I am working to redress the balance and have acquired a new sergeant who has responsibility for community staffing and the needs of local communities such as Coniston. In addition as of today I have a new PCSO who will after her initial training be given geographic responsibility for Coniston and other rural locations within our area. I myself have been seconded onto other duties and I’m unlikely to return to oversee the management of the Lakes local Policing team until April. In the meantime Ian McClymont is undertaking this role and any further issues you wish to raise should be directed to him at Windermere on 0845 3300 247 ext 4200,alternatively Sergeant Davidson who is the sergeant referred to above, also contactable at Windermere station especially with regard to specific updates/attendance for Council meetings. Please be assured that if incidents occur within the Coniston area staff will respond and can be supplemented by additional specialist personnel as required. ii.Pc Jo Dyson visited the clerk on 12 Feb to say a new PCSO would soon be allocated to Coniston. 5.c. Playground: Nothing to report. 5.d. Highways: i.Cllr Mrs Kelly has submitted list to Highways Response Team for 21-26 Feb. ii.She has been told that repairs to the A593 through Park Coppice could not be completed because of lack of funds. 5.e. Signs on Church Beck Bridge: An email (18 Feb) received from John Bell, Principal Traffic Engineer: I am looking at signing for the Ruskin Museum and one sign has been requested opposite the B5285 at Church Bridge. There is an existing finger post sign here which is in poor condition and needs replacing. Would the Parish Council prefer a traditional finger post replacement or would you accept a standard new post? A single black post could be circular or rectangular and we could use the existing signs and add the Ruskin Museum sign. The tourist information sign would be renewed also. RESOLVED: to register a preference for a traditional finger post replacement at Church Bridge and to remind Mr Bell that, some months ago, CPC approved the replacement of the sign at the top of Lake Road at its junction with the A593. 5.f. Coppermines Valley Office: The problem has been eased and thanks to Mr Johnston for his co-operation. 5.g. Twinning: Cllr Mrs Hall said 5 people had agreed to further a relationship with Solto Collina. 5.h. Library: Cllr Mrs Hall said the Library would stay as it is for the time being and if the village can demonstrate increased usage the grant to maintain it could increase to £1,500 over a two-year period. A swipe-card system is to be introduced so the Library can function unmanned throughout the week. Barbara Hill, CCDC, and Geoff Dowker, TIC, are to develop training for users to access the on-line library service. It is an essential requirement that disabled is improved. There will be a regular delivery and change of books and a qualified librarian will make a monthly visit. 5.i. Bus Shelters and Playground Maintenance: Advertisement for Newsletter for tenders for both bus shelter and playground maintenance for the year 2008-2009. Deadline for receipt of tenders: 17 March. 5.j. Quality Parish Status: i.Chris Bagshaw, CALC, came to Coniston on 7 Feb for a meeting with Cllr Mrs Hall and the clerk; left materials and offer of further assistance to assist the acquisition of QPS. ii.He later forwarded am email from David Mahon, NALC: Please find below an update on the review of QPS. Following the receipt of feedback in November and December (many thanks for your help on this) changes have largely been agreed based on the feedback but further clarification on a couple of points is still required. An update will be forwarded asap. Although the National Stakeholders noted that feedback had shown a small majority in favour of an 80% electoral mandate test, compared to 67%, they felt that it was important that the test mirror that of the Well Being power. Therefore it was agreed that the electoral mandate test should reflect the test for Well Being so it is likely that it will be 67% although we are awaiting clarification from DCLG on this and I’ll confirm shortly. This will be for both accreditation and re-accreditation. It was agreed that councils should be required to show evidence that they are working proactively to support democracy and citizenship in the local area. This covers more than just election time and could include any initiatives that help to promote democracy or citizenship. This could include pieces in newspapers, media work, posters at election time, encouraging registration, talks at the local schools, youth engagement in decision making, informing hard to reach groups etc. It won’t be a complicated test and we’ll be providing guidance as to the kinds of activities that would be appropriate but we’d like to keep this test fairly broad to encourage many different kinds of activity. It was agreed that councils should have both an email address and website. Again, we’ll be providing further advice. It was also agreed that as these would be moving from the discretionary section two new discretionary options should be added to compensate. One of these is likely to be a community engagement strategy, the other an online blog or forum. It was agreed that section 12(2) of the Code of Conduct should be included in the Code of Conduct test. It was agreed that councils should be required to have adopted the National Framework on terms and conditions for clerks and deputy clerks. It was also agreed that councils should be required to provide a statement that they have provided all staff with written contracts of employment. It was agreed that councils should be required to provide a statement of intent on training. It was felt that a strategy may be too onerous for some councils, however, councils will be required to show that they have acted on their statement at re-accreditation. It was agreed that there should be greater flexibility on how councils get newsletter information out to local people. Therefore it was agreed that community newsletters would be appropriate if all the relevant information is included. Further guidance on this will be provided. The tests are also being streamlined where appropriate. Councils will no longer be required to provide the register of attendance recording apologies. Councils will also be required to ensure draft minutes of their meetings are available for inspection within two months of the meeting taking place. This was in order that minutes could be agreed at the following meeting where necessary. I am also awaiting some advice on the Accountability section to ensure it is fully up-to-date. With regard to re-accreditation, councils due to reaccredit before 1 July will have until October 1 to submit their portfolios. The July 1 date takes into account the three months grace period (purple guide p21). It is currently proposed that first time accreditations will be on the new criteria which will apply to portfolios submitted from 1 April, however, following some discussion I am hoping to arrange a period of grace for councils currently pursuing first accreditation to allow portfolios to be submitted by 30 June at the latest on the old criteria and in order that Accreditation Panels receive sufficient briefing on any new tests. I will contact you asap when this is or is not agreed. 5.k. Bench Repairs: Done. 5.l. CPC Quarterly Update: Copy of February publication included in Minutes Book. 5.m. Rawdon Smith Trust: i.As instructed, the clerk wrote to the Secretary: At its last meeting the attention of the parish council was drawn to a survey conducted by the Rawdon Smith Trust among its moorings holders about Speed Records Week on Coniston Water. Councillors felt that such an exercise might lead to conflict in the community when a unified approach from Coniston would be more appropriate and effective when dealing with the Lake District National Park. The origins of the Trust and its past close association with Coniston Parish Council were considered; it was proposed that a closer working relationship between the present parish council and the Rawdon Smith Trust be established; and, it was resolved that I should write to you to request this. ii.No response has been received. 5.n. CPC Surgery: The first of the year surgeries was held on 16 Feb in the Library with Cllrs Mrs Hall and Mrs Kelly on duty: 2 members of the public attended. 6. MATTERS ARISING Since that Meeting: 6.a. Low Field House: i.Email (14 Feb) from Alastair Cameron: Have spoken to Eleanor Kingston about the historic points of this site. In hindsight probably no one’s fault but an interesting point all the same. The site is not listed and most of the remains were covered over when the ground level was raised in the 60’s. There is nothing to indicate that it is historic, and no one checking would have been aware when they looked at the application. If anything, it is my fault for not routinely checking on the applications when they are placed on the web site. The mill was well established by 1650 and had probably been in use for some time before. It operated until 1874. As I think you know we have a picture of the mill in‘The Story of Coniston’. I also have an old rough site plan so I will see how much the planned extension of the Mill House will have on the remains. ii.Email (14 Feb) from Alastair Cameron: Just to complete this, I have heard from the planning officer who Ms Kingston had spoken to about the problem. He is planning to insist that an historic survey is carried out as building continues and Ms Kingston and/or John Hodgson will be present as footings are dug. They will contact either myself or Mrs Brown as well to be present. From my point of view (historic considerations) this should now be OK. I am pleased that concern about historic structures is obviously now high on the LDNPA’s agenda. We noted that Lowfield House is not the correct name (although called this on present day maps). It seems that in Mr Bernie O’Marra’s day the name changed from Haws Bank Mill to this, although the actual Low Field is on the other side of the beck. 6.b. Parish Council Election: RESOLVED: to ask candidates to provide a profile of themselves for publication prior to 1st May Election Day. 7. FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS: RESOLVED: 7.a. To issue cheques: 101388 To Information Commissioner for Data Protection £35.00 101389 To The Ship Inn for Refreshments for Dow How Working Party £53.00 101390 To E.ON for street lighting (Jan) £80.00 101391 To CALC for Annual subs 08-09 £178.50 101392 To CALC for Local Council Review sub £13.50 101393 To R J Airey for bus shelter maintenance £22.00 100001 Elaine Kelly for ChessBaron refund £54.90 100002 Blencathra Stonecraft for goods £352.50 7.b. To approve statement of accounts for signing by the Chairman. 8. PLANNING ISSUES: 8.a. Planning Applications: 8.a.i. Planning Application: 7/2007/5043 Location: Fairfield House, Coniston LA21 8ED Observations: It was resolved to submit no observations and to offer no objections to this application N.B. Cllr Mrs Hall was not present for the consideration of this application. 8.a.ii. Planning Application: 7/2007/5059 Location: The Sun Hotel, Coniston LA21 8HQ Observations: It was resolved to submit no observations and to offer no objections to this application 8.b. Planning Decisions: 8.b.i. Notice of withdrawal: Planning Application: 7/2007/5719 Location: Field near Lane Head, Coniston LA21 8AA 8.c. Letter to LDNPA: RESOLVED: Clerk to write: Since the Park Authority has recently demonstrated such a blatant disregard for the observations submitted by this council; since the Park Authority is showing such a creative rather than a disciplined approach to the Joint Structure Plan; and, until the Park Authority re-establishes a set of objective criteria to which all interested parties are unquestionably working; this parish council has decided that there is little point in expending time and energy visiting sites and analysing applications: it therefore responds to the current plans with the neutral “no objections” and requests clarification of its role in the planning process. 9. CORRESPONDENCE: (other than that referred to elsewhere in the Minutes) 80123 SLDC District Council Elections – 1 May letter 80124 Alastair Cameron Old Furness Road development email 80124 Amanda Cleery Overview & Scrutiny Consultation 2008-09 email 80124 Cllr Mrs Hall Little Moss Bench email 80124 Jane Sutherland Solto Collina twinning email 80124 NS&I Investment Account Transfer letter 80125 Alastair Cameron Sense of Place leaflet email 80125 Cllr Mrs Kelly Little Moss Bench email 80125 Cumbria CC Cumbria Care Homes Consultation letter & document 80128 Audit Commission Appointment of External Auditor information 80130 Andy Lloyd / CHRT Visit to CPC 17 Mar 80130 LDNPA PlanApp 7/2008/5043 80131 British Flora Letter & card 80202 Cancer Care Star Walk 2008 information 80204 Amanda Cleery LDFramework - Affordable Housing Sites email 80204 Cllr Mrs Kelly Highways Report email 80204 E.ON Street Lighting Invoice (Jan) £80.00 80204 South Lakeland Assoctn Notice of Meeting - 6 Mar 80205 HM Revenue & Customs Claim form 80206 Cassie Nelson Friends of the Lake District e-newsletter 80206 Information Commissioner Data Control renewal £35.00 80207 Chris Bagshaw Quality Parish Status email 80207 Cumbria CC Procurement News Issue Five Spring 08 80207 HF Neighbourhood Forum Notice of Meeting - 20 Feb Hawkshead 80207 SLDC South Lakeland News Issue 7 - Feb 08 80208 HM Revenue & Customs BACS Remittance Advice £957.18 80208 LDNPA Malcolm Wilson Rally - 1 Mar information 80208 SLDC Standards Committee Agenda - 19 Feb 80209 SLDC Affordable Housing Update Jan 08 document 80210 Cllr Mrs Hall Coniston Plans email 80211 Cumbria CVS Local Forum notices 80211 Cumbria CVS Newsletter Feb 08 80211 Inspector Tudor Griffiths Policing in Coniston email 80211 LDNPA PlanApp 7/2007/5719 Notice of Withdrawal 80211 LDNPA PlanApp 7/2008/5059 80211 North West Plan Partial Review letter 80212 CALC Annual Subscription 2008-09 £178.50 80212 CALC Local Council Activity & Practice Survey 80212 Guy Richardson / CALC Highway Response Teams email 80212 Local Council Review Order Form 2008-09 £13.50 80212 SLDC Contact Details for Parish Councils letter 80212 The Local Channel Information document 80213 Alastair Cameron Notes on Housing email 80213 Cllr Mrs Kelly Highways Coniston emails 80213 Cllr Mrs Kelly "Visitor" email 80213 Hazel Todd / SLDC Parish Charter Launch 3 Mar email 80213 Tim Farron MP Post Office Closures email 80214 Alastair Cameron Lowfield House emails 80214 Clerk Submission to Community Circular email 80214 CPC Letter to R Hext/RST 80215 SLDC Standards Committee Agenda - 19 Feb letter 80218 Harold Ogden Email notice of Dow How picture on LakelandCam 80218 Jonathan Longstaffe Email response to CPC 80218 Ton Class Association Ton Talk Magazine Feb 08 10. PUBLIC QUESTIONS: None. 11. REPORTS: 11.a. Police Report: None. 11.b. Housing Report: 11.b.i. Email correspondence Alastair Cameron (13 Feb 2008): 11.c. CLLR LAKIN: Presented a TIC update: Business in the new year has been slow but takings are up; accommodation and attractions report similar trend; after Easter the Beatrix Potter display will be replaced; staffing at a good level; there is a vacancy for a director following Mr Gordon Hall’s sale of Coniston Launches though he will stay to negotiate new long-term lease (10-15yrs) of TIC from LDNPA; Coniston is assisting other TICs to follow its operating example. 11.d. CLLR MRS KELLY: Asked, when parking is at a premium in the Summer, if there were any laws governing the long-term presence of large objects on the highway. RESOLVED: the clerk to investigate. 11.e. CLLR HALL: (i) Expressed concern about the build up of garden waste and litter at the Head of the Lake. RESOLVED: the clerk to talk to National Trust. (ii) Expressed concern about the camber on the Hawkshead Road (B5285) where it narrows above the old quarry; asked if road widening was possible. RESOLVED: Cllr Mrs Kelly to investigate. 11.f. CLLR STODDART: (i) Expressed concern that the dead tree on the B5285 between Yewdale Bridge and the Waterhead Hotel had not been removed as promised. RESOLVED: the clerk to contact the National Trust. (ii) Reported more damage to the toilets on Ruskin Avenue. Cllr Mrs Hall said talks between LDNPA and SLDC were on going about sites owned by the PA on which the DC had toilets, i.e., those on Ruskin Avenue, for the PA to assume responsibility for the toilets. She posed the question: could CPC take them on if closure was threatened? (iii) Reported a slate still missing from the roof of the Ruskin Avenue bus shelter. RESOLVED: the clerk to seek repair. 12. DATE OF NEXT MEETING: RESOLVED: to confirm that the next Meeting will be held on Monday 17th March 2008 at 7pm in the Library. Meeting closed at 9.45pm. SIGNED: Peter Hill, Chairman DATE: 17th March 2008 |