Arnside Parish Council

5984 Minutes: of a meeting of the Arnside Parish Council held in the Parish Council Office, Church Hill, Arnside, on Monday 14th July 2003.

5985 Present: Chairman - Councillor D.M. (David) Willacy, Councillors J.G. (Jack) Baker, J.M. (Jean) Colwell, K. (Ken) Hargreaves, T.(Terry) Keefe, P.A. (Peter) McSweeney, C.J. (Chris) Murphy, M.P. (Pat) Pierce, the Clerk - P.G.(Peter) Challenor, the Treasurer - A.(Tony) Cookson, County Councillor I.(Ian) Stewart, District Councillor R. (Richard) Rollins, PC Ray Noble, and four members of the public.

5986 Apologies for Absence: Councillors P.E.(Ted) Casey, J.P. (John) Gallagher and R.J. (Ros) Hunt.

5987 Co-option of new Councillors

RESOLVED that Mr J.G. (Jack) Baker, Mrs M.P. (Pat) Pierce, and Mr P.A. (Peter) McSweeney, be co-opted as Members of Arnside Parish Council, with immediate effect. The Clerk informed the meeting that he had received the signed statutory Declarations of Acceptance of Office, from all three persons.

5988 Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 9th June 2003, the re-convened meeting held on 23rd June 2003, and the Special Meeting also held on 23rd June 2003, were approved and then signed by the Chairman.

5989 Police Report

PC Noble’s report related to (a) a boat being loosed from its moorings and being retrieved by the Coastguard, (b) theft of a mobile phone and a hand-held computer, and (c) parties on the beach, near to the Sailing Club, including damage to Club equipment. The Chairman was able to supply additional information about the beach parties and similar activities on the Playing Field.

5990 Report from County and District Councillor I. Stewart

Cllr Stewart has been out on site inspections with the Rapid Response Team (now re-named) for Highways and is continuing discussions to streamline their activities.

Cllr Stewart registered his disappointment at the lack of progress in attempting to resolve the problems regarding parking at Arnside Station, but assured Members that he is still trying to get something done.

Reference was made to the dispute about who should pay for the replacement of the street light which has recently been removed from Black Dyke Road. The Clerk responded by asserting that the District Council is responsible for maintaining this light and it is therefore SLDC who should pay for the replacement, not the Parish Council.

United Utilities are still failing to respond to enquiries about the proposed Waste Water Transfer Scheme, despite efforts from many angles.

The Chairman drew Cllr Stewart’s attention to a recent incident in which it appeared that the Air Ambulance had been called out simply to assist a regular ambulance crew in carrying a stretcher. This seemed to be an extravagant use of manpower when competent persons could be called upon from other local services.

5991 Report from District Councillor Richard Rollins

Cllr Rollins made reference to the representations from the Village Society regarding the Planning Application for the land at the rear of Wood Close.

It has been noted that the new Structure Plan for South Lakeland will permit the construction of 196 houses, but these will be restricted to the five key service centre areas. Cllr Rollins considers that this may be a case of ‘over-kill’, which could cause a further inflation of house prices in areas such as Arnside.

Reference was made to a meeting at Stricklandgate House on Tuesday July 22nd, at 3.00pm, concerning the new Kerbside Re-Cycling scheme, to which parish council representatives have supposedly been invited. As there has not been a notification to Arnside, Cllr Rollins, urged Members to attend, on the basis of the details which he supplied.

The maintenance of minor roads, byways and footpaths, is currently undertaken by SLDC, acting on delegated powers from the County Council. As the finance provided is deemed to be inadequate, SLDC consider it appropriate to hand back this task, although other options are being considered.

The District Council has recently been exploring the possibility of using the Parish Transport Grant as a means of funding the provision of Travel Tokens, rather than Bus Passes, but this could not proceed as the Grant scheme has been suspended.

The SLDC Comprehensive Performance Assessment for 2003 has been completed and a copy was handed to the Clerk for the benefit of Members.

There is a possibility of the road safety mirror for Stonycroft Drive being sited within the car parking area of the ‘affordable housing’ in Briery Bank.

The Treasurer made reference to the item on the possibility of providing Travel Tokens for residents over the age of 60, and the suggestion that there should be some contribution from the Parish Council. He therefore asked Cllr Rollins to give him some idea of the number of persons likely to be involved, so that he could consider the implications for the Precept. Cllr Rollins was unable to provide the information and it was noted that the Census figures are not yet available for parish areas.

5992 Matters raised by Members of the Public for consideration.

A member of the public referred to his expression of concern (at the previous meeting) that elderly persons are not able to obtain suitable housing in the area. He had noted that the review of the Cumbria & Lake District Joint Structure Plan has indicated that consideration is being given to the removal of village development boundaries. He felt that this could lead to the possibility of building on existing open spaces, such as Briery Bank.

5993 Arnside Bike and Skate Group

There was no representative present, but Cllr Colwell understands that there is to be a public meeting on July 17th and that residents living near to the proposed site have been invited to attend.

5994 Finance

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

(b) The Treasurer reported that notification has been received that the insurance renewal premium has risen to almost £1600 and he has therefore raised a few queries.

(c) The Treasurer gave advance notice that he is calling a meeting of the Finance Committee for Friday 10th October, or, if this is not convenient, for Saturday 11th October.

(d) The Clerk indicated that he had finally been able to determine the intentions for internal audit, under the Accounts & Audit Regulations 2003. It is now necessary for Members to arrange for their own internal audit, in addition to the requirement for an audit by an Independent Internal Auditor (not connected with the Council). As these requirements are additional to the External Audit (by the Audit Commission), members felt that the situation has become ridiculous. Whilst recognising that the additional burden does indeed make a mockery of the “New Lighter Touch Audit Regime”, the Clerk indicated that the simplest way of addressing the problem would be for the Internal Audit Committee to meet mid-year and to undertake some simple audit trails.

5995 Committee Reports:

a. Foreshore

There has been further felling of trees in Grubbins Wood, and it looks as though the intention is to block certain paths. The Clerk will write to Cumbria Wildlife Trust in order to establish whether or not they have authorised the work.

b. Highways

1. There was recently an instance when a ‘traffic warden’ was considering booking the owner of a car, for parking on the foreshore slipway. The Chairman had intervened because the slipway is not part of the highway. The Clerk has written to the head of the parking enforcement department of SLDC.

2. The Chairman is hoping to arrange a meeting with Capita dbs in order to review the highways work which has not been completed in the past five years.

3. It was noted that the traffic survey, promised for 2002, was deferred until this year, but there is no evidence of it having been conducted. The Clerk will write to enquire just when it will be done.

c. Playing Field Advisory Committee

Nothing to report

d. Cemetery

There will be an ‘Open Day’ at the Chapel on August 16th. It is hoped that there will be a performance of classical music and an exhibition of local history.

e. Allotments

Nothing to report

f. Vital Villages - Parish Plan

Since the last ordinary meeting of the Council, the Steering Group held a ‘drop in’ meeting, which was attended by approximately 130 people, many of whom left comments for consideration. The Action Plan is now complete, and members are working on the final version of the Plan. Completion of the project is expected in September, when the Steering Group will be disbanded. There is however a pressing need to form a group which will take matters forward, beyond completion of the Plan, and it is therefore suggested that a Parish Plan Management Group be formed.

5996 Correspondence:

a. 27 items of correspondence, received since the last meeting, were tabled for information.

b. Action was agreed on the following item:

A letter has been received from Cumbria CC, in reply to our letter re parking of cars on Station Road, requesting dates for a meeting. Members were alarmed to note the following comment:

“As you will be aware, the County Council has previously attempted to progress the provision of a station car park….. Unfortunately, for reasons outside the County Council’s control, this now seems unlikely to materialise.”

Several Members will attend the meeting suggested for sometime during the next four weeks, but consider it essential that there should also be representative of Network Rail in attendance.

5997 Planning Matters:

a. It was noted that the following applications were dealt with, as indicated, on 23rd June 2003, under the provisions of Standing Order 34:

SL/2003/1538 - land adjacent to Wood Close - dwelling: NO OBJECTIONS, however Members are concerned about the welfare of trees on this site and the fact that the line of the driveway within the site is not shown. It is also noted that it is proposed to dispose of foul sewage by mains drainage, but the line of the sewage pipe is not indicated and there is therefore further concern for the welfare of the trees.

SL/2003/1570 - 8 Plantation Grove - extensions and alterations: NO OBJECTIONS.

SL/2003/1590 - Gallery H - replacement windows: NO OBJECTIONS

SL/2003/1593 - Gallery H - external lighting: NO OBJECTIONS.

SL/2003/1609 - 2 Kingswood, Redhills Road - garage with decking above:

NO OBJECTIONS

b. The following applications were considered, and comments made as indicated:

SL/2003/1640 - 14a Plantation Avenue - single storey extension and conservatory:

NO OBJECTIONS.

SL/2003/1679 - Mitjorn, Beachwood, off Redhills Road - extension and alterations to existing

dwelling: NO OBJECTIONS

c. The following decisions of the District Council were noted:

5/03/1172 - 10 Far Close Drive - garage extension / studio at first floor, to existing

bungalow: GRANTED.

5/03/1284 - 5 Parkside Drive - conservatory: GRANTED

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

GRANTED

5/03/1400 - Saltcotes Hall - L.B. Consent application for extension of cottage and

two dwellings: GRANTED.

5998 “Quality Parish” status

(a) RESOLVED that this Council will work towards the award of “Quality Parish” status.

(b) It was noted that the SLCC have classified both Arnside and Silverdale Parish Councils as being above their threshold for “small councils” and that the discounted cost of the “Working with your Council” course is £110, rather than £80 as recorded in Minute 5955b(4). RESOLVED to authorise payment of half of this fee (the other half being payable by Silverdale Parish Council).

5999 Members Allowances

Members noted the implications of the Local Authorities (Members Allowances)(England) Regulations 2003 (outline details having been circulated to Councillors with the agenda). RESOLVED by a majority vote of seven in favour and one against, that this Council should apply to the Independent Parish Remuneration Panel for assessment of the maximum level of allowances permissible for Members of this Council. Councillor Hargreaves asked that it be recorded that he had voted against the motion. Members emphasised that this assessment would set the maximum level of permissible allowances and that they retained the right to set lower levels. It was thought that this assessment would perhaps be appropriate to the work of future councils, as a consequence of re-structuring, following the establishment of Regional Assemblies, rather than to the work of the present Council. It was noted that individual members have the right to decline to accept part, or all, of the allowances.

6000 Amendment of Standing Orders

A proposal to amend Standing Orders, as follows was received and then adjourned, without discussion, for consideration at the next Ordinary Meeting, in accordance with Standing Order 32:

(a) Standing Order 21 shall be amended by the addition of the sentence “This Order shall be disapplied where, by Resolution, the Council considers that it would be impractical, or inappropriate, to invite the required number of quotes.”, and

(b) Standing Order 30 be deleted, and

(c) Standing Order 34 be amended by (1) deletion of the word “Planning” from the first sentence, and (2) by deletion of the of the whole of the second sentence.

(d) The whole of Standing Orders should be re-written and re-numbered, taking into account the foregoing amendments.

6001 Cross-Bay Walk leaflets

A request has been received from the Morecambe Bay Partnership for a contribution towards the cost of re-printing the Cross-Bay Walk leaflets. RESOLVED that a donation of £200 be made under the provisions of Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972.

6002 Refuse Collection / Kerbside Re-Cycling

A request has been received from SLDC for permission to use a small area of the Playing Field, for one day during the week commencing Monday 11th August (possibly also the week commencing 18th August), and for permission to erect a stall (10ft x 6ft), to use for a ‘road show’, in connection with the new refuse collection system. RESOLVED that permission be granted for use of the area just inside, and to the left of, the main entrance, and that no items shall be left in place overnight.

6003 Maintenance of Public Footpaths

Members noted that there is the possibility of SLDC returning to Cumbria County Council the duty of maintaining public footpaths. As there is some doubt about the standard of service which will result it was RESOLVED that this Council should open negotiations with SLDC for the possible delegation of these duties to Parish level, subject to adequate funding being provided by Cumbria County Council and/or SLDC.

6004 Street Lighting

(a) It was noted that Sepco plc have withdrawn the solar lighting unit which they were going to suggest for the additional unit intended for Black Dyke Road. The Clerk is pursuing other possibilities.

(b) The Chairman stated that there are 13 existing lights located on wooden poles. The Clerk will write to Mr Jack Jones indicating that the Parish Council is not permitted to pay for their replacement, as this would constitute expenditure by the Parish on work which falls to the duty of the District Council, and would result in ‘double taxation’.

6005 Affordable Housing

It was noted that a request has been received from the SLDC Principal Housing Strategy Officer that this Council should identify possible sites for the provision of additional Affordable Housing units. Although this Council is in favour of the provision of additional Affordable Housing Units, for young people who have been brought up in the village, it was felt that it would be inappropriate to recommend any particular sites. Suggestions which might be forthcoming from the community would therefore be passed-on, without specific recommendations, so as to avoid prejudicing the Council’s position when relevant Planning Applications might be considered.

6006 United Utilities - Proposed Wastewater Transfer Scheme

It was noted that the current Project Manager for United Utilities has failed to respond to this Council’s request for updated information about the required sewerage upgrade, and has also failed to respond to the request that he should attend a meeting with Members of this Council. As the failure to determine whether or not U.U. wish to utilise ground at Ashmeadow, is holding-up negotiations with the Abbeyfield (Arnside) Society, Members felt that this could have a seriously detrimental effect on the value of the property, and the benefit to the community. The Clerk was asked to make one more attempt to open discussions. If nothing positive has materialised within seven days, contact will be made with the press and Mr Tim Collins MP, in the hope of obtaining maximum publicity.

6007 Matters Arising from Minutes of Previous Meetings

1. The Chairman asked for information about the bus service for young people. Cllr Colwell stated that it had been suspended because of lack of use.

2. The Treasurer enquired about the Beach Care scheme referred to in Minute 5971. The Clerk stated that he had received a letter from Morecambe Bay Partnership agreeing to our request for cleaning of the foreshore. It is believed that an item will be included in The Broadsheet.

3. The Treasurer asked that the appointment of Councillor Hunt as member of the Finance Committee and bank signatory, in place of former Councillor Innes, be confirmed in the Minutes of the next Ordinary Meeting.

4. The Treasurer enquired about the need to spend all, or any part, of the £600 budgeted for felling of the Maple tree (no long necessary) and wall repairs at the cemetery. Councillor Casey will be asked to review the situation.

6008 Date of next Ordinary Meeting

The next Ordinary Meeting will be held on Monday September 8th 2003, at 7.15pm. In the event that there is a need to deal with matters requiring the approval of Members, in the meantime, a Special Meeting will be called.

The meeting closed at 9.55pm
Peter G. Challenor

Clerk to the Council