5944 Minutes: of a meeting of the Arnside Parish Council held in the Parish Council Office, Church Hill, Arnside, on Monday 9th June 2003.

5945 Present: Chairman - Councillor D.M. (David) Willacy, Councillors P.E.(Ted) Casey, J.M. (Jean) Colwell, J.P. (John) Gallagher, J.A. ( Jocelyn) Innes, T.(Terry) Keefe, the Clerk - P.G.(Peter) Challenor, the Treasurer - A.(Tony) Cookson, County Councillor I.(Ian) Stewart, District Councillor R. (Richard) Rollins, PC John Brooks, and five members of the public.
5946 Apologies for Absence: Councillors K. (Ken) Hargreaves, R.J. (Ros) Hunt and C.J. (Chris) Murphy.

5947 Police COPS Team

PC John Brooks addressed the Council, explaining the work of the COPS Team (Community Orientated Problem Solving). The main focus of attention is towards recurring problems with young people, such as under-age drinking and public annoyance through skateboarding in an anti-social manner. The Chairman drew attention to other problems such as litter and vandalism, which would be contained in his report on the Foreshore, later in the meeting. The Team has already set up an ‘off licence watch’ and it was suggested that Friday evenings might be the best time to continue this effort. PC Brooks indicated that he had received a favourable reaction from both off-licences in the village.

County Councillor Stewart suggested that it might be beneficial to park the Mobile Police Station in the vicinity of the Lower Promenade, from time to time.

PC Brooks asked about the possibility of having regular ’surgeries’ in the village and there will be further liaison on this matter.

5948 Report from County and District Councillor I. Stewart

(a) The Police Authority has approved a four-year programme to increase numbers of Police Officers by a total of 300. Arnside is designated as a priority area for increased Police presence. Crime statistics have dropped significantly, and over 95% of all 999 telephone calls are answered within 10 seconds. 90% of rural incidents are attended within 20 minutes.

(b) The District Council is considering the production of a twice-yearly ‘residents newsletter’ and this brought a favourable response from Members. Councillor Stewart also discussed the 3-tier operation of the District Council, the reported need for a mirror on Briery Bank opposite to Stonycroft Drive, and the report of street lights being permanently illuminated along Briery Bank. Members were able to explain the history of how the latter situation has arisen.

(c) Councillor Stewart reported that the County Council had a bus service to and from Kendal on Fridays and Saturday evenings, for the benefit of young people, but Members pointed-out that there had been no publicity and there was doubt as to whether it had actually operated.

Councillor Stewart gave details of the Beach Care Project being introduced by Morecambe Bay Partnership, and the Clerk will make further enquiries.

5949 Report from District Councillor Richard Rollins

Councillor Rollins expressed his concern about the expenditure incurred by the District Council in publicity and presentations, relating to the forthcoming inspection by the external auditors. Members concurred with this concern, making the point that the auditors should be able to ‘just call in’. Members also requested that a copy of the auditor’s report be made available to parish councils. Councillor Rollins has received queries about storage of pipes at Sandside, and overgrowth on the footpath from Silverdale Road to Queens Drive.

5950 Matters raised by Members of the Public for consideration.

A member of the public expressed concern that elderly persons are not able to obtain suitable housing in the area. He made reference to the Cumbria & Lake District Joint Structure Plan, the overdue consultation about the SLDC Local Plan, and the AONB Management Plan, all of which he considers relevant to the future provision of suitable accommodation. He asked that the Council pay particular attention to these documents and make appropriate representations.

5951 Arnside Bike and Skate Group

There being no representative present this item was deferred to a future meeting.

5952 Finance

(a) The Financial Summary for May 2003 was received and approved.

(b) RESOLVED that Councillors Gallagher and Innes be appointed as signatories for the Council’s bank accounts and that the names of former Councillors Crossman, Howell and Mycock be removed.

5953 Committee Reports:

a. Foreshore

There have been bonfires on the foreshore, with litter being picked-up by volunteers, including caravan occupiers from New Barns.

The Lower Promenade has suffered considerable damage from vandalism and graffiti, with copious litter, and is in a disgusting state. The cost of rectifying the damage is likely to be in the region of £2000, which will have to be paid for out of the Council Tax. In the meantime it was AGREED that the Chairman would arrange for the graffiti to be removed, subject to the cost not exceeding £100. Members expressed a desire for residents to monitor the situation, in the hope that vandals could be identified, with substantive evidence, and brought to account.

b. Highways

The Chairman is hoping to arrange for a representative of Capita dbs to visit the village, with a programme of items for the highways.

It was recently reported that a local bus had struck two cars whilst manouvering between parked cars and oncoming vehicles, along Station Road. This has further highlighted the desirability of having a white line painted on the roadway, adjacent to the bus stop.

c. Playing Field Advisory Committee

The Committee had asked that the Clerk should write again to SLDC, requesting permission to connect the field drainage system into the main sewer. The Clerk reiterated that the response to the original request was to the effect that such a connection could not be permitted under any circumstances. After discussion, it was agreed that a further letter would be inappropriate and the matter would therefore be referred back to the Committee.

d. Cemetery

Councillor Casey advised that the painting contractor has not yet rectified the defects in the paintwork recently undertaken at the Cemetery Chapel. The Norwegian Maple, which was previously thought to have died and become dangerous, has made a remarkable recovery and will not therefore be felled at this time.

e. Allotments

Nothing to report

f. Vital Villages - Parish Plan

Councillor Keefe advised that the final public meeting will be held on 21st June and will be in the format of a ‘drop in’ session. The Steering Group will provide information about the items they hope to include in the Plan and this will be a last opportunity for public comment. Completion of the Plan is expected to be at the end of July.

The action group dealing with the Cemetery Chapel has suggested an Open Day, at the Chapel, to develop an interim strategy.

The preliminary report on the Parish Plan is now accessible on the Web Site.

AONB Joint Parish Councils Committee
Councillor Keefe gave a report on a recent meeting, which he had attended, the main item being a debate about the future of the JPC. Discussion of this report was deferred for consideration under item 10 of the agenda.

AONB / JPC Special Meeting
Councillor Keefe had recently attended this meeting, which had been arranged to compare Parish Plans projects and the AONB Management Plan.

AONB Executive Committee
Councillor Keefe reported on a recent meeting, at which there had been elections / re-elections, in addition to the elections of several Arnside residents. There will be many opportunities to make comments on the draft AONB Management Plan. Points of interest include a ‘middle of the road’ approach to a Visitor Policy, Carnforth is likely to be identified as a collection / connection point for the AONB, and there will not be any recommendations for new car parks except at Arnside and Silverdale. It was noted that there have been many policy statements about housing, but it is currently envisaged that there will severe reductions on housing developments, other than Affordable Housing.

5954 Future of the AONB Joint Parish Councils Committee

Having received a document explaining the history of the Committee, and having received further explanations from Councillor Keefe, it was unanimously AGREED that this Council wishes the Committee to continue.

5955 Correspondence:

a. 19 items of correspondence, received since the last meeting, were tabled for information.

b. Action was agreed on the following items:

(1) A donation will be made to the Morecambe Bay Partnership, to assist with the cost of re-printing the Cross-Bay Walks leaflet, but, as this will come under Section 137 of LGA, it will need to be formally listed as an agenda item at the next meeting.

(2) Approval be given to the request from Arnside Knott W.I. that they be permitted to stage a ‘mile of 10ps’ fund raising event on the pier (Councillors Colwell and Innes declared a non-prejudicial interest and abstained from voting on this item).

(3) A request from Arnside Cricket & Football Clubs for permission to hold another Car Boot Sale, on the Playing Field, on August 25th, was granted, subject to the requirement that all litter and other waste material be removed from site, immediately after the event.

(4) The Clerk was authorised to attend the SLCC Regional Conference (at Lancaster) on “Quality Councils”, at a cost of £25.00, and to purchase the “Working with your Council” study course at £80 (to delegates), both costs to be shared with Silverdale Parish Council.

5956 Parish Council Vacancies

Three applications have been received, but it will not be possible to fill one of the vacancies until late June.

5957 Planning Matters:

a. The following applications were considered:

5/03/1284 - 5 Parkside Drive - conservatory: NO OBJECTIONS

5/03/1369 - Uplands Drive - dwelling: amendments to Planning Approval 5/99/1695:

NO OBJECTIONS

5/03/1400 - Saltcotes Hall - L.B. Consent application for extension of cottage and two dwellings: NO OBJECTIONS.

b. The following decision of the District Council was noted:

5/03/0911 - 17 Church Hill - Conservatory and garage: GRANTED.

5958 Station Gardens

It was noted that Mr L. Lewis has undertaken the work for 2003, at a fee of £460, as per a previous agreement and Members considered this to be satisfactory.

5959 Sale of Kabota Tractor

As this tractor has been found to be unsuitable for Parish Council work, it was advertised for sale during 2002, but no offers were forthcoming. A recent offer of £300 has been made. RESOLVED that the tractor be sold to the person making the offer.

5960 Parish Council Noticeboard

The noticeboard on The Promenade is now beyond repair and in need of replacement. It was agreed that three competitive tenders should be invited.

5961 Review of Street Lighting

The alternative quotation is still awaited from Capita dbs. A further alternative quotation has been invited from a firm specialising in solar-powered street lighting.

5962 Programme for replacement of the Pier Railings

In view of the very high costs of replacing the railings, it was RESOLVED that the existing railings be repaired. Members of the Finance Committee will consider the possibility of building up funds, over the next few years, to meet the costs of eventual replacement.

5963 Police Community Speed Watch Scheme

RESOLVED that this Council will not participate in the scheme.

5964 Matters arising from the Minutes of previous meetings.

5927 Election of Committees and Representatives: Councillor Keefe reported that he had been informed by the Treasurer of the Educational Institute Committee, that the Parish Council does not have a representative on the Committee. The Clerk had questioned this, quoting Minute 5324 of 24th January 2000, but Mr Platts insisted that there must have been a misunderstanding and that the current Constitution does not permit such a representative.

5965 Adjournment of Meeting

As there were several agenda items outstanding at 9.55pm, the Chairman adjourned the meeting and it was agreed that the meeting should be re-convened on Monday 23rd June, at 7.15pm. It was also agreed that the re-convened meeting should be immediately followed by a Special Meeting to discuss the Cumbria & Lake District Joint Structure Plan 2001-2016, in conjunction with the SLDC Local Plan and the proposed AONB Management Plan.

The meeting was adjourned at 9.55pm

Peter G. Challenor

Clerk to the Council