Minutes of the Meeting of Coniston Parish Council held in the Library on Monday 19th January 2009.

PRESENT: D Coxon (Chairman), Mrs A Hall, Mrs E Kelly, J Stoddart and L Tarr; the Clerk, C Sargeant; PCSO K Largue; and, 2 members of the public (D Adams and Mrs J Jones).

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

In Memoriam: A minute’s silence was observed in memory of Major John W B Hext, MBE, 1916-2009.

2. Apologies: Cllrs Ms R Hext (bereavement) and P Hill (professional development).

3. Declarations of Interest: of members’ personal and prejudicial interests in respect of items on the Agenda: Cllr Coxon (matters relating to LDNPA), Cllr Mrs Hall (matters relating to planning) and Cll Tarr (PlanApp 7/2008/5670). All councillors as Trustees of the Coniston Institute and Ruskin Museum.

4. Minutes of the Meeting of 15th December 2008 were approved, and signed by the Chairman.

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

5.a. Item 5.k. Neighbouring Parishes: The clerk had received positive responses from the parish councils of Blawith & Subberthwaite, Colton, Egton, Hawkshead, Lakes and Satterthwaite and there will be an exchange of Agendas and Minutes. Coniston’s representation at the CALC Conference to be held on 28th February will be determined at its next meeting. Cllr Hall reported on the discussions between SLDC and Guy Richardson and Tony Rothwell, and said a questionnaire is being prepared.

5.b. Item 6.a. Bridge Public Conveniences: RESOLVED: to hold the meeting with Lawrence Conway in camera; to seriously explore acquiring the toilets from SLDC; and, to write again to Hills of Corby following their failure to acknowledge or respond to the previous letter, and to draw that failure to the attention of BP and Spar. - Action: - The clerk.

5.c. Item 10.d. Twinning with Solto Collina: Mr Adams provided the council with an update: 10 people from Soloto Collina will be in Coniston from 12th to 14th March. Sue Todd will collect the party from Manchester Airport. A programme of events is being arranged and will be published soon.

6. Matters arising since that meeting:

6.a. Shepherds Bridge Lane: Today, the clerk had received an email from Ken Hindle, Principal Building Control Surveyor, SLDC: “We have received replies from the addresses stating that they have no objections in principal. They are concerned that there is already a property named Shepherds Bridge and that it may cause confusion. We have replied that the occupant has no objections. Immediately we get their reply we will send out all the 28 letters to various bodies.”

6.b. Litter bin emptying: Following an exchange of communications with SLDC: RESOLVED to request a continuation of the current arrangement, accepting change in costs. - Action: - The clerk.

6.c. Surgery: Councillors debated the success of the Surgeries held on 6 Saturdays through 2008 and RESOLVED: to improve the service by requesting a council presence at key events in the village’s calendar; the clerk to seek an event in February. Cllr Hall proposed a scheme to target specific areas of the village to give residents direct access to councillors to discuss identified problems.

6.d. Beech Boys Atlantic: Councillors acknowledge the magnitude of the challenge to be undertaken by Norman and James Beech: RESOLVED: to support them with a donation of £50. - Action: - The clerk.

6.e. National Trust: The clerk had produced two letters of support for the continuation of local projects which the Chairman signed. Councillors linked the projects to work being proposed by Grizedale Arts. The clerk to look for common ground. - Action: - The clerk.

6.f. Hoathwaite Farm: A number of communications had been received but councillors RESOLVED: to maintain the previous position: as Hoathwaite Farm is in the parish of Torver, CPC will not involve itself in the issues surrounding the farm unless specifically requested to do so by Torver PC.

6.g. Mothers and Toddlers Group: The clerk had received a letter which was read to the Meeting. The letter raised a number of issues that the clerk is to investigate before responding to the Group.

6.h. New Addresses: Councillors proposed that the Church Rooms after redevelopment should be “John Hext House” and the Old Hawkshead Road development on completion should be “Church Field Close”. There will be full consultation before a final decision.

7. Financial Transactions: RESOLVED:

7.a. To issue cheques: To P&L Lighting Ltd for removal of Christmas lights £632.50

To Coniston Christmas Lights for VAT repayment £82.50

To E.ON for street lighting (December) £80.00

To R J Airey for bus shelter maintenance £42.00

To Coniston Institute for room hire £80.00

To C Sargeant for clerk’s salary and expenses (including retro increase) £540.00

To Flower Basket for memorial flowers £40.00

To Beech Boys Atlantic for venture £50.00

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

8. Planning:

8.a. Planning Application:7/2008/5670 Townson Ground, LA21 8AA RESOLVED: to register no objections. Councillors decided that the only way that the pc could maintain its integrity was to make no observations.

8.b. Notices of Grant of Planning Permission 7/2008/5583 Rowan Beck - conservatory 7/2008/5637 Hollin Bank - garage

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):

1 Communities and Local Government Communities in control: Real people, real power: Code of recommended practice on local authority publicity – A consultation - Action: - ** Folder

2 NW Air Ambulance Request for financial support RESOLVED: To defer to end of financial year when it would be determined whether a contribution could be made.

3 Cumbria Highways Working together Issue Twelve Winter 2008 - Action: - ** Folder

4 Resource Cumbria Review Issue 11 December 2008 - Action: - ** Folder

5 Strategic Partnership Parish Summits 2008 - Action: - Emailed to members Considered at Agenda Item 5.a.

6 SLDC Re: South Lakeland Local Development Framework – Allocations of Land DPD - Action: - ** Folder

7 CALC Training & Development Programme January – June 2009 - Action: - Emailed to members

8 Tim Farron Surgery Dates - Action: - ** Folder

9 ICO The new model publication scheme – what you need to do - Action: - ** Folder

10 SLDC Agenda for Meeting 11th December 2008 - Action: - For information only ** Folder

11 High Furness Neighbourhood Forum Agenda for Meeting in Hawkshead 28 January - Action: - Emailed to members

12 Cumbria Constabulary Developing Neighbourhood Policing – The Policing Pledge - Action: - ** Folder

13 LCR Magazine January 2009 - Action: - ** Folder

14 LDNPA Notices of Grant of Planning Permission 7/2008/5583 & 7/2008/5637 - Action: - Emailed to members

15 North West Ambulance Service Point Taken - Action: - ** Folder

16 CALC Charity Bank information - Action: - Emailed to members

17 The Clerk Magazine January 2009 - Action: - ** Folder

18 SLCC 2009 Conference Programme & Booking Form - Action: - ** Folder

19 Calor Village of the Year Rewarding Communities - Action: - ** Folder

20 Clerks and Councils Direct Magazine January 2009 - Action: - ** Folder

21 Clerks and Councils Direct Councils Suppliers Guide & Yearbook 2009 - Action: - ** Folder

22 SMP Playgrounds Publicity – Welcome to the wonderful world of play - Action: - ** Folder

23 Amethyst Horticulture Publicity – Growing bigger …… - Action: - ** Folder

24 Fitzpatrick Woolmer Publicity – creative signs solutions - Action: - ** Folder

25 NS&I Amenities Fund Investment Interest Statement - Action: - ** Folder

26 Cumbria CC 2008 Progress Report – 2nd Local Transport Plan - Action: - ** Folder

27 Lakes PC Minutes 7 January 2009 - Action: - ** Folder

28 Digital Uk Switchover Help Scheme - Action: - ** Folder

29 Mencap Donation request - Action: - Clerk to acknowledge letter, negatively.

30 National Trust Hoathwaite Farmhouse Stakeholder Consultation - Action: - Clerk to reiterate CPC’s stated position.

31 Cumbria CVS Your News January/February 2009 - Action: - ** Folder

32 Cumbria CVS Trustee Conference Booking Form - Action: - ** Folder

33 CALC Advance Notice of a Special CALC Conference for South Lakeland Parishes - Action: - Emailed to members

34 Mothers and Toddlers Group Letter - Action: - Considered at Agenda Item 6.g.

10. Reports:

10.a. Coniston & Torver Housing Group: Alastair Cameron (18 January) submitted a brief note on the progress with the Housing Projects: Old Furness Road: Elsa Brailey, the Home Housing project manager for Old Furness Road and I are due to meet Martin Curry, LDNPA, to try to set a timetable for completion for the release of the land. At the moment we don’t anticipate any more problems with this project. We took the opportunity to thank Tim Farron MP for his efforts behind the scenes to sort out the rock face problem, which, it appears, was quite considerable. Church Field: This project is still moving forward steadily. The Eden Housing project manager, Lyn Mackenzie, informs me that some slight changes have been made to the building design to allow them to conform to Category 3 environmental standard rather than Category 2. This will mean that they will be some of the most environmentally advanced in the district. Mairi Lock is in the process of approving these changes. It is hoped that a meeting can be planned for the end of the month to iron out any final issues. As you know Lyn has asked for names from the Parish Council for the development. We have temporarily been calling it Church Fields, only because it sounded better than ‘Cemetery Overspill Site’. Church Fields is only an interim name and not a final proposal. I understand that the Post Office will also have to approve any suggestions. Church Rooms: Still progressing well. Private build: We are making some progress (but still have some way to go!) on getting a safe system set up to allow private build on family owned land. However Anne is collecting a list of families who would be interested in doing this and as many names as possible will help to progress the project. ‘Key Partners’: I mentioned the idea of having key people (Key Partners) looking after specific projects. This is beginning to work well. It means that projects can make good progress between our quarterly project meetings. Just to remind you, those concerned are: Church Rooms – Mark East Church Fields – Alastair Cameron Old Furness Road – Alastair Cameron Butcher Moss scheme (Torver) – Hugh Cameron Families interested in private build – Anne Hall We need to up-date the village (via Parish Newsletter) on progress. Next Meeting: date of next meeting was set for Friday 13th February at 10am.

10.b. Notes on Parish Plan Meeting: Alastair Cameron (18 January) submitted a brief note : Parish Plan: We intend to hold the next meeting of the Parish Plan Team as soon as a date for the Parish Council open meeting (proposed by Anne and Chas) is known. - Action: - Cllr Mrs Hall

10.c. Twinning with Solto Collina: Rosemary Park and Derek Adams gave a report on the visit to Solto Collina last month. Mr & Mrs Adams, Mr & Mrs Stoddart and Mrs Park were warmly received and excellently treated. They sought the Council's blessing on the proposed twinning with Solto Collina and on proposals for the fund raising and return match. The Italians have suggested they will send a small delegation in February/March. RESOLVED: to support.

10.d. Police Report: PCSO Largue distributed an information sheet to draw attention to a new website facility that provides the latest figures on Coniston’s crime levels with accompanying statistics provided by Cumbria Constabulary: http://cumbria.crimemapper.co.uk/mao/?q=Coniston&url=1713%7C54.3691%2C-3.07435 Recently, there has been an increase in property thefts in the area. Anyone wishing to be advised about their own security should contact Terry Belshaw, Community Safety Officer, on 0845 33 00 247 ext 8787. The parish council is hopeful of increasing interest in Neighbourhood Watch. Currently Cllr Hall is the central contact for the village. - Action: - Cllr Mrs Hall

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

10.f. 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.

10.g. Cllr Tarr: Reported that the refurbishment of the Playground will done in stages. Said WI had agreed to restore its benches. Handed the clerk £79 from raffle run by Lian Dixon for cake she baked: the clerk to write in appreciation. - Action: - The clerk.

10.h. Cllr Mrs Hall: Reported increasing concern about nursing provision in Coniston: the clerk to write to Primary Care Trust. Drew attention to complaints received about overspill parking on road outside Lane Head: the clerk to contact Janet Prier - Action: - The clerk.

10.i. Cllr Mrs Kelly: Drew attention to increase of dog fouling on pavements through Collingwood Close and Little Moss: the clerk to write warning in Newsletter. - Action: - The clerk.

10.j. Cllr Coxon: Provided information about Green Boat Gathering (2-4 May) and Water Festival (3-4 July). Reminded the clerk to advertise grass cutting contract. Reported creation (May 2009) of a new Coniston & Crake Valley group to monitor water quality. Said he had received a request from LDNPA for officers to come to March parish council meeting to talk about application for ‘Bluebird’ to run on Coniston Water: this is part of the consultation process (Feb & March) that will lead into a Committee decision in April.

11. Public questions and comments:

11.a. Mr D Adams: Requested the removal of the safety barriers from the wall on Devonshire Terrace now repairs have been completed. Drew attention to work being done on road to Thurston Bank. Reported lamps not working on Bank Terrace. - Action: - Cllr Hill

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

Meeting closed at 9.45pm.

Signed: Peter Hill, Chairman Date: 16th February 2009