CONISTON PARISH COUNCIL
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Minutes of the Meeting of 16th July 2007 PRESENT: Councillors – Mr P Hill (Chairman), Mrs A Hall (from 8.25pm), Mr H Lakin and Mr J Stoddart; Clerk – Mr C Sargeant; and, 15 members of the public (E Barrow, B Bateman, T Coward, G Cross, Mrs P Cross, N Dixon, D Adams, Ms J Fahy, Mrs J Johnson, J Loxham & Z Myers). 1. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: The Chairman welcomed the public and received no issues for debate beyond the Agenda: 2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Cllr D Coxon (business), Cllr Mrs E Kelly (bereavement) & Cllr L Tarr (vacation). 3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: None. 4. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING: The Chairman was authorised to sign, as a correct record, the minutes of the Meeting of 18th June 2007. 5. MATTERS ARISING from that Meeting: 5.a. MUSIC WITH A VIEW: Following the Meeting of 18th June 2007, the clerk emailed Kate Blundell: the parish council were of the opinion that an event of this size needed to be away from the residential heart of the village and that it was prepared to work with her to find a more suitable site for an event that had contributed generously to village in the past. The clerk received (20th June) an email from Kate Blundell expressing her disappointment.The clerk responded (20th June) with an email emphasising that it was not the event that the council was against but the choice of venue and that the council had offered its co-operation to find a more suitable site.No further correspondence has been received from the organisers. 5.b. PLAYGROUND: Fund-raising on-going. 5.c. LITTER BINS: On going teething problems that will be monitored over the coming weeks. 5.d. TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE: Cllr Lakin reported that while taking in the shop were up bookings were down 36%. A lot of compliments had been received from the public for the TIC. There had been a recent visit from the new Head of the National Park. Cllr Stoddart drew attention to a blocked drain. 5.e. GRIZEDALE PROJECT: The meeting of Thursday 12th July 2pm at Forestry Commission offices, Grizedale, was postponed. 5.f. HOUSING: Alastair Cameron of the Housing Group submitted a written statement: There is little to report this month that was not covered last month. As we mentioned in the last report, the project to develop affordable housing progressed well at the last Project Team meeting on 7th June. Progress is now out of our hands for a few weeks while the Housing Authority and Planners try to complete all necessary formalities for the Church Fields, Parish Rooms and Old Furness Road sites before the next ‘bidding round’ for Government funding which will take place in September.The Church Fields site is being reduced in size to make sure there is sufficient grave space in the cemetery for the next 100 years. It is now becoming clear that, to retain Coniston as a viable village in the future, the present development boundaries are too restrictive and need to move out by a small amount to allow the village to expand during the next 50 years. We plan to discuss this with one of the planning team (Mairi Lock) in the next few weeks. We also want to find out from her what we need to do to allow private development on family-owned land to take place. We know that the planners have been reviewing this recently. We understand that much of the concern has been over making sure that permanent occupancy can be guaranteed for ever.The work we are doing in Coniston is being watched closely by other communities throughout Cumbria and further afield. I have been asked to talk to a number of groups and I know Anne has as well. The present percent of village homes lost to weekend home ownership is being re-calculated by the Village Plan Team. The last time this was done was in 2004 and the figure was 42%. We believe that the figure will be higher this time. This information will form part of the data put forward at the review afternoon being held in the Library on Friday 27th July. We will also be showing plans for the three village housing projects.It is five years since we started to work on the first Parish Plan project. The Parish Plan Team (Brian Birtwistle, Elizabeth Brown, Alastair Cameron, Malcolm Grindrod, Anne Hall and Gill Irwin) met up recently to start making plans for a second Parish Plan exercise. Some points of concern to the village have already been noted by the team. We hope to receive more at the meeting on Friday 27th July. 5.g. ‘BLUEBIRD’: Efforts to secure grants was continuing. 5.i. HIGHWAYS: The clerk reported that there had been no further developments re-i. signpost at the top of Lake Roadii. sign for the Ruskin Museumiii. installation of base for commemorative bench in lay-by near Cragg Cottagearrangements for disabled access to house on The Garth 6. MATTERS ARISING Since that Meeting: 6.a. FAIRTRADE: The council had received a letter from Mr Butterfield, as requested at the Meeting of 29th May, raising issues of concern about the use of the Old Churchyard and the frequency of Fairtrade activities in St Andrew’s. The council viewed Mr Butterfield’s comments with sympathy. The clerk said there had been an apologetic acknowledgement from the vicar and the churchwardens that activities over graves was not appropriate. RESOLVED: the clerk to write to Fairtrade organisers about the concerns of small businesses in the village. 6.b. MINUTES: The clerk had received a request that the Minutes of 29th May be tempered: "3.Anti-social Behaviour:Concern was expressed about the drink-related anti-social behaviour that has disrupted the village for the past twelve months." Should be amended to: "3.Anti-social Behaviour: Concern was expressed about drink-related and anti-social behaviour over the past twelve months."RESOLVED: to accept the amendment. 6.c. ELECTORAL LIST: The clerk had been notified of 3 additions to the List from 2nd July. 6.d. CONISTON MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM: The council had received an invitation from the Coniston Mountain Rescue Team to attend its 60th Anniversary celebrations on Friday 6th July with the official launch of the commemorative Ale "Broken Leg Bitter", specially created by the Coniston Brewing Company, with a donation from each pint sold to go towards Team funds. 6.e. BENCH REPAIRS: The clerk had received a report of damage to the Raymond Rowe commemorative bench to the left of the entrance to the Units on Lake Road. Peter Dixon has inspected the damage and is to undertake the repairs.Benches on Dow How and in Little Moss still in need of repair. 6.f. RECORDS OFFICE: RESOLVED: to deposit Minute Books in Records Office as soon as possible. 6.g. SPORTS & SOCIAL CENTRE: The council has received an invitation to Family Fun Day on 11th August. 6.h. HAWS BANK: The clerk reported that the lamp (no.5) outside Ash Lea had seemingly been struck by a vehicle and twisted so that the control box lid no longer fitted. Cllr Lakin said the matter had been reported to Amey. 7. FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS: RESOLVED: 7.a. To issue cheques: 101348 SLDC for public conveniences (1st quarter) £664.72p 101349 Coniston Institute for room hire £24.00p 101350 E.ON Energy for street lighting (June) £80.00p 101351 R J Airey for bus shelter maintenance £24.00p 101352 CALC for public advert of New Model Code of Conduct £15.00p 7.b. To approve statement of accounts for signing by the Chairman. 8. PLANNING ISSUES: 8.a. PLANNING APPLICATION: 7/2007/5226 Location: Tarn Hows Car ParkRESOLVED: to support the application: CPC accepts that the work is essential and integral to the development of the Tarn Hows Car Park and is satisfied that the National Trust is mindful of its obligations to the environment. 8.b. Notice of Grant of Planning Permission: 7/2007/5160Location: Rockleigh, Devonshire Terrace. 8.c. Notice of Grant of Planning Permission: 7/2007/5263Location: Paddy End WTW. 8.d. Notice of Grant of Planning Permission: 7/2007/5277Location: High Man radio site, Grizedale. 9. CORRESPONDENCE: Associated Surfaces & Materials - Publicity 10. PUBLIC QUESTIONS: Mr Bateman asked if the council were able to say who would occupy proposed new housing. Cllr Hall said it would be those already on housing lists. Mrs Johnson asked about the frequency of skip emptying at the Lake Road recycling site: the success of its use is leading to overspill and the need, especially during the summer months, is for more frequent emptying. Mr Loxham said the Monk Coniston walled garden would be officially opened during the week beginning Monday 24th September and expressed concern about vehicles, too large for the roads around the area and too dependent on satellite navigation, that were damaging walls and verges. Mr Adams expressed concern about the state of the wall below Banks Ghyll: Mr Johnston to be approached. 11. REPORTS: 11.a. POLICE REPORT: None. 11.b. CLLR HALL: Reported that she had been approached (i) to remind residents of their riparian ownership/responsibilities (ii) to register concern about hedge cuttings blowing about on the Waterhead footpath (iii) to urge the cutting back of greenery on the road by Silverbank. She reported that the Parish Plan team’s housing survey of fully and partially occupied dwellings was near completion. She reminded the Meeting of the exhibition in the Library on 27th July to show village what is happening with affordable housing development. 11.c. CLLR STODDART: Identified need (i) for “No Smoking” signs in bus shelters and (ii) repairs to post box in Cragg Cottage lay-by. 12. DATE OF NEXT MEETING: RESOLVED: to confirm that the next Meeting will be held on Monday 20th August 2007 at 7pm in the Library. Meeting closed at 9pm. SIGNED: Chas Sargeant, Clerk DATE: 20th August 2007 |