Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting of Coniston Parish Council held in the Library on Monday 18th May 2009 at 7.00pm

Guest Speaker: Bill Smith on “’Bluebird’ – The Story So Far”. Mr Smith gave an illustrated talk that was both entertaining and informative. He explained how the salvaged boat had been meticulously restored using as much of the original structure and components as possible. Mr Smith responded to a number of questions. The Chairman thanked Mr Smith.

PRESENT: D Coxon (Chairman), Mrs A Hall, Ms R Hext, P Hill, Mrs E Kelly, J Stoddart & L Tarr; the Clerk, C Sargeant; and 18 members of the public (including E. Abbott, D Adams, B Bateman, B, Birtwistle, A Cox, Mrs B Cox, D Holland, Mrs J Holland, D Johnson, Mrs J Johnson, P Johnston, Mrs J Jones, J Loxham, Ms V Slowe, R Thompson, P Way, and Mrs S Way).

1. Public welcoming and receipt of matters for debate: No matters for debate.

2. Minutes of the Meeting of 12th May 2008: Were approved, and signed by the Chairman.

3. Matters arising from that Meeting: None.

4. Chairman’s Annual Report 2007-08: The Chairman presented his report that was approved by the council and signed as an accurate account. 650 copies of the report will be circulated to homes in the parish through the Newsletter. Copies of the report will be sent to Cumbria CC and SLDC.

Meeting closed: The Annual Meeting followed immediately.

Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Coniston Parish Council held in the Library on Monday 18th May 2009 following APM.

PRESENT: D Coxon (Chairman), Mrs A Hall, Ms R Hext, P Hill, Mrs E Kelly, J Stoddart & L Tarr; the Clerk, C Sargeant; and members of the public.

1. Re-Appointment of Officers for 2009-10: RESOLVED: that D Coxon and P Hill should continue as Chairman and Deputy respectively.

2. Re-Appointment of other functionaries:
a. Cllrs Coxon, Hext and Kelly - Signatories to bank accounts;
b. Cllr Mrs Kelly - Highways;
c. Cllr Hill – Street Lighting;
d. Cllr Tarr – Playground;
e. Cllr Ms Hext – Housing;
f. Cllr Stoddart – Village Maintenance;
g. Cllr Coxon – Bus Shelters; and,
h. Cllr Mrs Hall – District and Parish Council Liaison.

3. Re-Appointment of signatories to bank accounts:
a. Barclays - Cllrs Coxon, Ms Hext and Mrs Kelly; and,
b. NS&I – all councillors.

4. Re-appointment of representatives to other bodies:
a. The Parish Council, i.e. the corporate body, is the Custodian Trustee of the Institute and Museum;
b. All councillors are Managing Trustees of the Institute and Museum if they become members of the Institute and Museum Committee. Cllrs Mrs Hall, Ms Hext & Mrs Kelly will serve on the Institute and Museum Committee;
c. Crake website: Cllr P Hill;
d. Coniston Water Association: Cllr D Coxon;
e. Bonfire and Fireworks Committee: Cllrs Coxon, Hill & Tarr;
f. Playground Fund and Amenities Account: Cllr Tarr;
g. Coniston and Torver Housing Group: Cllrs Coxon, Mrs Hall and Ms Hext, and the clerk;
h. The Association: Cllrs Mrs Hall;
i. Coniston TIC: Cllr Stoddart;
j. Coniston Schools: Cllr Mrs Kelly;
k. Parish Plan team: Cllrs Mrs Hall and Hill, and the clerk; and,
l. As a general principle, the council will be represented at other meetings (LDNPA, SLDC, CALC et al), events and occasions by a councillor, councillors or the proper officer according to availability and convenience.

Meeting closed: An ordinary meeting followed immediately.

Minutes of the Meeting of Coniston Parish Council held in the Library on Monday 18th May 2007 following AM.

PRESENT: D Coxon (Chairman), Mrs A Hall, Ms R Hext, P Hill, Mrs E Kelly, J Stoddart & L Tarr; the Clerk, C Sargeant; and members of the public.

1. Public welcoming and receipt of matters for debate: No matters for debate.

2. Apologies: None.

3. Declarations of Interest: Cllr Coxon (all matters relating to LDNPA), Cllr Hill (all matters relating to E.ON) and Cllr Mrs Hall (LDNPA).

4. Minutes of the Meeting of 20th April 2009 were approved, and signed by the Chairman.

5. Matters arising from that Meeting:

5.a. Campbell House entrance protection: On 29 April, John Bell, Principal Traffic Engineer, emailed: I have noted this request but have not yet had a chance to inspect it. I will do so the next time I am in the area.

5.b. Council tour of inspection: decision as to locality and date deferred to next meeting.

5.c. Locality Working: waiting for CCC, SLDC and CALC to indicate next stage of initiative.

5.d. White lining on A593: done as promised within set deadline; the clerk has conveyed CPC’s appreciation to Highways officers.

5.e. Coniston Market: RESOLVED: to invite Philip Dowling of Cowran Estate to the next Meeting (8 June).

5.f. Insurance renewal: after discussion RESOLVED: to renew the premium with Allianz Insurance plc but to review again later in the year.

5.g. High Cross: Nigel Williams, Beat Forester, Grizedale, had contacted the clerk to say that he is aware of the problem of the unevenness of the road surface at the entrance to the Forest but repair is not a priority.

5.h. Commemorative blocks: money for updating the blocks has been promised: RESOLVED: to instruct Coniston Stonecraft to go ahead with the work.

6. Matters arising since that meeting:

6.a. National Trust invitation to Monk Coniston 17 June: Cllrs Coxon and Stoddart to attend.

6.b. Bus parking at Crag Cottage lay-by: following contact by Mr Walker of Crag Cottage about the problem it seems that the good offices of Mr Longstaffe, Head of John Ruskin School, have lead to a compromise solution.

6.c. Playground Fund/Amenities Fund: RESOLVED: to leave the present arrangements in place.

6.d. John Ruskin School’s Ofsted achievement: councillors acknowledged that this was an outstanding achievement.

6.e. Lake District Parish Councils Meeting, Keswick, 27 April: the clerk represented CPC at this meeting and gave a summary of its business.

6.f. Grizedale Arts invitation to Lawson Park 25 June: RESOLVED: Cllrs Mrs Hall, Ms Hext and Mrs Kelly to attend.

6.g. CALC District Association meeting is in Kendal 18 June: RESOLVED: the clerk to send apologies as no one is available to attend.

6.h. Public Path Diversion Order 2009 at Tarn Hows: this was duly noted.

6.i. Letter from Local History Group to Institute Committee: the parish council appreciated a copy of the letter but stands by its resolution of 20 April (Item 5.h. RESOLVED: to reiterate the Parish Council’s role as Custodian Trustee; to leave the Management Committee to make the decisions about the nature of the development...).

7. Financial Transactions: RESOLVED:

7.a. To issue cheques:
Allianz for insurance premium £1,183.19
E.ON for Street Lighting (Jan-Mar) £239.97
St Andrew’s for Printing and distribution £160.00
Cumbria CC for Annual Report printing £129.95
C Sargeant for Clerk salary & expenses £300.00
R J Airey for Bus shelters £39.00
Amey LG Ltd for parish lighting maintenance £1,047.81
Cumbria Playing Fields Association enrolment fee £15.50

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

7.c. To approve Audit for signing by Chairman: Done.

8. Planning:

8.a. Planning Application: 7/2009/5147

Location: Monk Coniston Hall, Coniston LA21 8AQ

Observations: RESOLVED: to support the application.
Councillors acknowledged that the design and access statement addressed the concerns that they had and noted the care with which the needs of the environment, the locality and the broad range of users had been considered.

8.b. Planning Application: 7/200/5179

Location: Coniston Lodge Hotel, Station Road, Coniston LA21 8HH

Observations: RESOLVED: to support the application.
[Cllr Anne Hall declared an interest and did not participate: she considered that if at a later date she was in a position (as a District Councillor on a LDNPA committee) to express an opinion it would be better done in that context.]
Councillors considered that the conversion was essentially internal with no likely visual impact on the environment; they judged the conversion to be a positive compromise in terms of the owners remaining in the building and being able to manage it, and that would benefit not only the family and its business but also the community in which the family has been and continues to be so important.

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 Skelwith Agenda for 11th May Emailed to members **

2 Satterthwaite Agenda for 18th May Emailed to members **

3 Beech Boys Atlantic Updates Emailed to members **

4 Shepherds Bridge Lane closure 10th May Emailed to members **

5 High Cross Correspondence with Nigel Williams Emailed to members **

6 Housing Group Summary Emailed to members **

7 Cemetery Lych-gate Complaint Emailed to members **

8 LAP timetables Various correspondence Emailed to members **

9 Rural News Focus Weekly News Digest Emailed to members **

10 National Trust Invitation 17th June Emailed to members **

11 Coniston / Grizedale Triathlon 12th July Emailed to members **

12 Underground electricity lines Little Arrow Emailed to members **

13 High Furness Neighbourh’d Forum Lowick, 8th July, 7pm Emailed to members **

14 Lake District Rowing Tour 3 – 6 September Emailed to members **

15 Arnold-Baker ‘Local Council Administration’ Folder **

16 Shepherds Bridge Lane lining Not a priority Emailed to members **

17 CIEP Survey Consultation document Folder **

18 Great North Swim Letter of response Emailed to members **

19 North west Regional Strategy Consultation document Folder **

20 Empty Homes Latest information Emailed to members **

21 Investing in Communities Application papers Emailed to members **

22 HMS Coniston visit Whitsun visit Emailed to members **

23 English Heritage Conservation Areas At Risk Emailed to members **

24 CALC Community Land Trusts newsletter Emailed to members **

25 Digital UK Switchover 24 June & 22 July Emailed to members **

26 Cumbria CC CYSS Newsletter March 2009 Emailed to members **

27 Lakes Leisure Rural Fun Sports for Children Emailed to members **

28 Commission for Rural Communities The voices of region’s upland communities Survey Emailed to members **

29 NWDA Regional Newsletter April 09 Folder **

30 SLDC Standards Committee Agenda Folder **

31 CALC Parish Path Initiative Emailed to members **

32 SLDC Notices of Election On notice boards

33 Equality & Human Rights Commission Letter and Document ‘Public Sector Equality Duties’ Folder **

34 Cumbria CVS Your News April/May 2009 Emailed to members **

35 Cumbria CC The Cumbria & Lakes Rider Folder **

36 Pauline Richardson Coniston Water Lake Users next meeting cancelled Emailed to members **

37 CALC Circular May 2009 Emailed to members **

38 Cumbria CC Resource Cumbria Review May 2009 Folder **

39 Friends of the Lake District Annual Report 2008 Folder **

40 Clerks & Councils Direct Magazine May 2009 Folder **

10. Reports:

10.a. Police Report: None.

10.b. Housing Report: Alastair Cameron submitted a brief note for the Parish Council on the progress with the housing projects at Coniston:
Eden Housing Projects
John Hext House: This project is, effectively, complete and ready to go. It is expected that the first stage, which is necessary work on the existing roof, will start within the next few weeks.
Church Fields: From the Housing Team’s point of view, this project is also complete and ready to go. One or two aspects still need to be tidied up but these are not expected to hold up a start on this site in the summer.
At the Housing Project Team meeting on Friday 15th May it was decided to give the community some details of the very advanced specification that these houses will be built to. Something on this will be drafted for the newsletter.
There have been discussions about a possible small ‘event’ to celebrate the success of the Housing Team.
This has been a major project. The parish council is well aware of how much work Alastair Cameron has given to the project and thanks him for the determination and dedication that he has shown over the last five years. The parish council hopes the community will agree that it has certainly been worth it.
Home Housing
Old Furness Road site: There is still some way to go and a meeting has been organised between the Land Restoration Trust and National Park to kick things forward faster.
Private Build
Still under consideration.

10.c. Cllr Mrs Hall:
i. said the Business Survey was going well but more returns were still hoped for;
ii. expressed continuing concern about the wall above High Hollin Bank and the need for it to be taken back;
iii. drew attention to the need for Housing Association homes in The Garth to be painted;
iv. spoke about 3-monthly meeting with Jonathan Longstaffe, Head of John Ruskin School, and the need for a council representative at ‘Better Ways’ meetings - RESOLVED: Cllr Mrs Kelly to represent CPC;
v. thanked the National Trust for clearing the shore line – clerk to convey CPC’s thanks to Mr Loxham;
vi. asked if the Coniston involvement with the Crake Valley website could be upgraded – Cllr Hill will amend if contacted;
vii. was pleased with the article about Coniston in the Lancashire Life magazine;
viii. has been invited to speak on “How to motivate a community” at the Manchester City stadium on 11 June;
ix. said the arrangements were well in hand for the visit of the people from Illiers-Combray was well in hand.

10.d. Cllr Tarr:
reported that the safety blocks from beneath the swings needed to be removed and if anybody interested to make arrangements for collecting and taking away.

10.e. Cllr Mrs Kelly:
i. drew attention to the frequency of dog-fouling in Little Moss and Collingwood Close – RESOLVED: the clerk to put notice in Newsletter;
ii. drew attention to the frequency of a dog being let loose to roam in Collingwood Close;
iii. requested jobs for the Highway Steward who will be in Coniston for two extra days;
iv. expressed concern about the amount of litter being blown across the road from a village centre hotel: RESOLVED: the clerk to seek advice from SLDC.

11. Public questions and comments:
a. Mrs Jones expressed concern about difficulty in getting insurance in the wake of the Environment Agency declaring Coniston to be in a flood-risk area: RESOLVED: the clerk to write to the EA to seek a more specific rather than a blanket declaration.
b. Mr Bateman drew attention to the dip in the road that collects water outside the Institute: Cllr Mrs Kelly said it had been reported to Highways.
c. Mr Adams drew attention to dog-fouling on the Banks roads and said he was aware of a warning leaflet for distribution: Cllr Mrs Kelly to investigate.

12. Date of next Meeting: RESOLVED: to forward meeting to Monday 8th June 2009 at 7.00pm in the Library and to invite guest speakers: Philip Dowling (Cowran Estate) and Jim Loxham (National Trust).

Meeting closed at 9.50pm.

Signed: David Coxon, Chairman Date:8th June 2009