8127 Minutes: of the re-convened Ordinary Meeting of the Arnside Parish Council, held in the Parish Council Office, Church Hill, Arnside, on Monday 20th September 2004.

8128 Present: Chairman - Councillor D.M.(David) Willacy, Councillors J.G.(Jack) Baker, P.E.(Ted) Casey, J.M.(Jean) Colwell, K.(Ken) Hargreaves, R.J.(Ros) Lishman, P.A.(Pete) McSweeney, M.P.(Pat) Pierce, the Clerk - P.G.(Peter) Challenor, the Treasurer - A.(Tony) Cookson, and one member of the public.

8129 Apologies for Absence:. Councillors J.P.(John) Gallagher and T.(Terry) Keefe,.

8130 Retention of Planning Applications.

The Clerk had recently received legal advice, which indicated that copyright could be infringed if the Council were to retain copies of Planning Applications, and accompanying plans, beyond the relevant consultation periods. It was explained that the District Council keeps plans for five years, and then commits their reproduction to microfiche. The Planning Officer has given an assurance that the Parish Council will be able to inspect these records, should any query arise. Members requested that this undertaking be received in writing.

RESOLVED that, subject to a written undertaking that the District Council will permit access to past Planning records, plans will be destroyed once the Parish Council receives notification that Planning Permission has been granted. In the event that Permission is refused, plans will be retained for six months following the date of refusal. Where there is no appeal against refusal, they will then be destroyed. In a case where an appeal is lodged, plans will be retained until the Parish Council receives notification of determination of the appeal.

8131 Job Specification for the Parish Contractor.

A job specification had been compiled by the working party, established in accordance with Minute 8070, and was received by Council. Following a few amendments the specification was approved.

RESOLVED that tenders be invited for the Contract for 2005-2006, and that this invitation should be advertised in the Arnside Broadsheet, the Westmorland Gazette and the Lancaster Guardian. The current contractor should be invited to tender. Notices should also be displayed on the noticeboards, and on the Parish Council web site.

8132 Election of a second representative to the Joint Parish Committee.

RESOLVED that Councillor Pierce be elected.

8133 Donation request from the Arnside Parish Plan Trust.

The Trust had requested £150 towards the cost of production of a Tourist Information Leaflet, and had submitted a draft, copies of which had been distributed to Members, with the agenda. There were various adverse comments about the misleading pictorial representation of the village, and distinct factual errors. There was also grave concern that certain businesses had been selected for promotion, to the exclusion of others, and it was deemed that this Council could not be seen to favour those mentioned, nor would it wish to do so. RESOLVED that the request be refused

8134 Update on the proposed Waste Water Transfer Scheme.

An update was received from United Utilities, and copies had been distributed with the agenda. The Chairman queried the statement that there had been a leaflet drop to residents of the western section of The Promenade, and he would be looking further into the matter. It was noted that the contractors hope to work from Ashmeadow to the Albion during October and November, and then from the Albion to Black Dyke Road during January to March.

The Chairman had received further information, via his role with the Abbeyfield Society, and he reminded Members of his previously-declared non-prejudicial interest. It seems that United Utilities now wish to incorporate the northerly boundary wall into the end wall of the Control Building. As a consequence, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency will need a new gate in the wall, on the section between Ashmeadow House and the Control Building. Members expressed concern about the visual impact of both items. The Chairman will attempt to obtain further information, or, if he is unable to do so, the Clerk will make formal representations to Cumbria County Council.

8135 Foreshore Car Parking area.

Since the decision recorded at Minute 8048, it has become apparent that the suggestion of raising the level of the foreshore parking area would be far more complicated and expensive than had been thought. RESOLVED to offer the land to Cumbria County Council, or South Lakeland District Council, on a long lease, at a nominal annual rent. The lease would not be assignable, and it would be a condition of the lease the use of the land be restricted to that of a public car park

8136 Update on Access to Arnside Station for the Disabled.

The Clerk has entered into considerable correspondence on the matter of access to Arnside Station for people who are unable to use the footbridge. It has emerged that the Rail Passengers Council, thinks that it might be acceptable for a disabled person, who wishes to travel southwards, to have to journey to Grange, and then cross via the subway, before catching a southbound train, rather than board the same train at Arnside. They also indicated that such a person travelling from the north, should continue through to Carnforth, cross the line by the subway and then catch a train back to Arnside. The Disability Rights Commission has declined to comment on this suggestion, and the Clerk has therefore referred the matter to Tim Collins MP, and to Scope. Tim Collins has replied indicating that he considers the situation to be “ludicrous”, and stated that he will take it up with the appropriate Minister.

8137 Update on maintenance of Public Footpaths by Cumbria County Council.

Despite adverse press publicity, and the forwarding of quite a number of complaints about hazardous conditions, there does not appear to have been any maintenance work, by Capita, within the Parish area.

8138 Committee Reports:

a. Foreshore

The Chairman reported that he is continuing to liaise with United Utilities about their workings on the foreshore.

b. Highways

The Chairman submitted a written report, copies of which had been distributed with the agenda. He drew particular attention to the dangerous manhole cover, outside the front of Holly Bank. On first inspection, the representative of Capita had told the owners of Holly Bank that they were responsible. After strong representations, the gentleman made a second visit, and then confirmed it to be an “illegal cover”, over the main sewer, and he would report it to United Utilities.

c. Playing Field Advisory Committee

This report was taken at the first part of the meeting, on 13th September.

d. Cemetery

Nothing to report.

e. Cemetery Chapel Development Committee.

A report was received, which contained recommendations dealt with under Minute 8123. It was also noted that the Cemetery Chapel Development Fund now stands at £22,631.

f. Allotments

Nothing to report.

h. Beetham Exhibition Trust

A written report, from Councillor Hunt, had been distributed with the agenda. It was noted that 20 families had been awarded £40 each, and twelve of these were from Arnside.

i. Arnside Youth Project.

Councillor Colwell had distributed a report during the first part of the meeting, on 13th September.

j. AONB Executive Committee.

The Clerk read out the notes for the report which Councillor Keefe had intended to deliver verbally, had the scheduled Ordinary Meeting not been adjourned.
8139 Items for Information.

(1) It was noted that the Carnforth Connect will run a Sunday bus service this autumn/winter including Arnside on its route.

(2) One Member expressed concern that it had been necessary to adjourn a meeting after over two hours, and that the re-convened meeting had lasted two hours. There is to be a proposal, at the next meeting, that Standing Orders be amended, so as to include an Ordinary Meeting in August.

(3) The Clerk reported that the 2001 Census figures for Arnside have now been published, and will be displayed on the noticeboard, outside the E.I., as soon as the statutory Audit notice has been displayed for 21 days.

8140 Date of next Ordinary Meeting

The next Ordinary Meeting will be held on Monday 11th October 2004, at 7.15pm. Items for the agenda to reach the Clerk by no later than Friday 1st October, and copies of reports to reach the Clerk by no later than Monday 4th October.

Peter G. Challenor

Clerk to the Council