8th May 2006 
8637 Minutes: of the Annual Meeting of Arnside Parish Council, held in the Parish Council Office, Church Hill, Arnside on Monday 8th May 2006. 

8638 Present: Chairman - Councillor D M (David) Willacy, Councillors J (Jack) Baker, P E (Ted) Casey, S V (Sue) Gibson, K (Ken) Hargreaves, S R (Sue) Hewett, R G (Glyn) Jones, P A (Pete) McSweeney, the Clerk - P G (Peter) Challenor, the Deputy Clerk - J M (Jayne) Beaumont, District Councillor R (Richard) Rollins. PC Louise Wilcock and 3 members of the public.

8639 Cllr Casey proposed that Cllr Dave Willacy remain as Chairman; this was seconded by Cllr McSweeney.  This was then voted unanimously and the Chairman’s Declaration of Acceptance of Office was received.

8640 Cllr Hargreaves proposed that Cllr Casey remain as Vice-Chairman; this was seconded by Cllr Baker.  This was then voted unanimously.

8641 The Chairman proposed that item 11 (report from Police Representative) on the agenda be received.  It was RESOLVED that this proposal be accepted.

8642 Police Report:

A written report was circulated to Members.  The report referred to (1) damage to cash box at telephone kiosk on Arnside Promenade, (2) damage to rear windscreen of a car parked on the Promenade, (3) disturbance at disused cottage behind Ashmeadow, (4) damage to a rowing boat and it’s contents, (5) search made for possible drunk driver, (6) fail to stop road accident on the Promenade, (7) attendance to vehicle with firearm in back seat, (8) local children skateboarding in grounds of Arnside National School, (9) motorcyclists on Playing Field, (10) sudden death of lady in Westmorland Court, (11) distressed lady in Millom Court who couldn’t raise warden, (12) man found asleep in Briery Bank, (13) intruders in grounds of Ashmeadow, (14) two drunken males removed from the Fighting Cocks and escorted to the station, (15) neighbourly dispute in Red Hills Road, (16) youths throwing beer cans onto beach near disabled toilets, (17) youths causing disturbance at Fire Station, (18) dog in distress in hot parked car, (19) speed awareness device will be deployed and extra attention to the area will be given.  The Chairman further reported that there had been disturbances on the Playing Field on Saturday 6th May but witnesses did not contact the police.

8643 Apologies for Absence:

Written apologies were received from Councillors T (Terry) Keefe and R J (Ros) Lishman (holiday).  Verbal apologies were received from Councillor J P (John) Gallagher (work commitment).

8644 Receipt of Declaration of Members’ Interests relating to any items appearing on the Agenda: 

There were no declarations of Members’ interests relating to any items appearing on the Agenda.

8645 Minutes of the Previous Meeting:

Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on Monday 10th April were approved and subsequently signed by the Chairman.

8646 Matters arising from the Minutes of previous meetings:

It was NOTED that there were no matters arising.

8647 Appointment of Committee Members:

The Clerk suggested that the bank signatories plus two other members should form the Finance Committee and all other Members should form the Internal Audit Committee.
Finance Committee - Cllrs Jones and Gibson.
Secretary Playing Field Committee - Cllr Gibson.
Secretary Cemetery and Cemetery Advisory Committee - Cllr McSweeney.
Cemetery Custodian - Cllr Hewitt.
The Chairman proposed that these proposals be accepted on block.  It was RESOLVED that this be agreed.

8648 Confirmation of Standing Orders:

It was confirmed that the Standing Orders as re-printed in April 2006 are correct and appropriate.

8649 Confirmation of Financial Standing Orders:

It was confirmed that the Financial Regulations as re-printed in April 2006 are correct and appropriate.

8650 Matters raised by members of the Public for future consideration:

There were no matters raised by the public.

8651 Report from County Councillor Ian Stewart:

Cllr Stewart did not attend the meeting therefore there was no report.

8652 Report from District Councillor Richard Rollins:

Cllr Rollins report covered the following:- (1) the Liberal Democrats now have a number of seats on the District Council, following the local elections, and could take over the whole of the cabinet, (2) the tide siren is now operational and there are concerns about losing this service in the future - negotiations are currently under way for the siren to be taken over by the environmental agency.

8653 Finance:

(1) The Financial Summary for April was received and approved.
(2)(a) The Statement of Accounts to be submitted on the Audit Return for the year 2005/06 was approved.
       31.03.2005   31.03.2006
Balances Brought Fwd     £26,136   £64,324
(+) Annual Precept     £24,621   £27,328
(+)Total other Receipts     £43,082   £26,183
(-) Staff costs      £7,075    £10,314
(-) Loan interest/capital repayments   NIL    NIL
(-) Total other Payments    £22,440   £65,310
(=) Balances carried Forward    £64,324   £42,211
Total cash and investments    £64,594   £39,411
Total fixed assets and long term assets   £419,000   £493,775
Total borrowings     NIL    NIL

(b) The answer ‘yes’ to all questions in the Statement of Assurance was authorised and the Chairman and Clerk were also authorised to sign the Statement on behalf of the Council.
(3) It was NOTED that the balance of the current account and the deposit account for the Parish Council was £31,718.35 at the close of the last financial year and that all that sum automatically becomes dedicated as Reserves.  The Part 2 Budget, which shows a breakdown of the dedication of the Reserves was confirmed as follows:
Carried Forward
 Current Account   £435.56
 Deposit Account  £31,282.79
 TOTAL      £31,718.35
Part 2 Budget for 2006/07
Cemetery      £1,000.00
Cemetery Chapel     £5,000.00
Allotments      £500.00
Playing Field      £2,000.00
Children’s Corner     £5,000.00
Foreshore Car Parking Area    £5,000.00
Pier and Railings     £3,000.00
Clerk’s Retirement Gratuity <2006   £590.14
Clerk’s Retirement Gratuity 2006/07   £231.12
Deputy Clerk’s Retirement Gratuity 2005/06  £27.78
Deputy Clerk’s Retirement Gratuity 2006/07  £151.31
General Contingency     £8,218.00

(4) It was NOTED that the 2006 Risk Assessment is to be deferred for a few months as the Clerk is currently negotiating certain extensions of insurance cover and the outcome may well affect the assessments of levels of risks.
(5) It was NOTED that the Account Holders for the Alliance and Leicester Current Account will be Mr Peter Challenor and Mrs Jayne Beaumont (but they shall not be authorised to sign cheques).  The signatories (for signing cheques) will be Cllrs Willacy, Casey, Keefe and McSweeney.  Cllrs Lishman, Hargreaves and Gallagher shall cease to be signatories.  Cheques will normally only be signed at meetings of the Parish Council and then by any two of the four authorised signatories.  This change to come into effect as soon as the Deputy Clerk is able to make satisfactory arrangements with the bank.
(6) The following cheques were authorised and signed:
Mr P Challenor - wages for March (STD failed)      £483.60   (659)
CALC subs         £14.00   (660)
G Bland and Sons - tractor fuel       £125.00  (661)
Powergen - electricity for store)       £14.33   (662)
Furniture at Work - Cemetery Chapel furniture      £628.16   (663)
Stone Computers - computer and printer     £689.74   (664)
Westmorland Tree Care Ltd - trees at Cemetery     £446.50   (665)
Formula Leys - weed killer       £17.63   (666)
Primal Printing - newsletters       £103.64   (667)
Mrs S Horncastle - office cleaning      £10.00  (668)
CALC - training for Cllr Gibson      £10.00  (669)
P Challenor - expenses (original cheque no 653 lost in post)   £144.22  (670)
APC - transfer from reserves to new deposit account    £5,000.00 (013)

8654 Correspondence:

Receipt of the following items were noted and action determined, by resolution, as indicated:
1.  Land Registry - acknowledgement of receipt of Deeds.
2.  Mrs Selina Horncastle - letter declining job of cleaner at the Cemetery Chapel.
3.  Job Centre Plus - letter declining Access to Work grant.
4. SLDC - Interim Planning Approach to Housing Development.
5.  Tim Farron MP - letter of support re barrow crossings.
6. Mr Colin Jex - further letter re barriers on slipway.
7.  DEFRA - explanatory letter re Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act.
8.  SLDC - Standards Board advice re Code of Conduct.
9.  Friends of Ashmeadow - Notice of AGM and winding-up.
10. CALC - update re Quality Development Programme.
11. CALC - Circular, April.
12. AONB - “Waymarker”, April.
13. English Nature - “Cumbrian nature”, Spring.
14. English Nature - “Sitelines”, Spring.
15. Allotments Regenerative Initiative - newsletter.
16. CALC - survey of local council functions in Cumbria.

8655 Planning Matters:

a). It was NOTED that no applications have been dealt with under the provisions of Standing Order 25 since the last meeting.
b). It was NOTED that NO COMMENT was offered for the following applications:
SL/2006/0327 - 10 Stewart Close, two storey side extension.
SL/2006/0236 - Eversley, Hollins Lane single storey extension to include granny flat.
SL/2006/0218 - 47 Church Hill - alternations to form garage.
c).It was NOTED that there were no applications to be considered at this meeting.
d). It was NOTED that the following decisions have been taken by the District Council since the last meeting:
SL/2006/0218 - 47 Church Hill - alterations to form garage: GRANTED.

8656 Action taken in accordance with Standing Order 25 (other than Planning):

It was NOTED that:
(1) hanging baskets at £359.55 + VAT have been ordered, and
(2) Stephensons authorised to proceed with the following work:
(a) the disabled persons toilet, at a maximum cost of £1,900 to be paid by APC
NB: APC is to pay for the toilet as it primarily provided for the welfare of employees of the Council
(b) and the kitchen, at a maximum cost of £1,000 to be paid by CCDF, using a loan from APC.

8657 Comments arising from the Annual Parish Meeting (Parish Assembly):

It was RESOLVED that members of the public wishing to speak should only be permitted to do so for three minutes at a time.  It was also RESOLVED that information regarding the purpose of the Parish Assembly, which the Clerk has drawn up, should be distributed with the Newsletters prior to the Meeting.

8658 Cleaner for Cemetery Chapel:

It was RESOLVED that the Clerk engage a cleaner for the Cemetery Chapel for a maximum of 2 hours per week.  The maximum wage for this work is to be £7.00 per hour and the person engaged shall be self-employed and shall initially be subject to a period of three month probationary work, before being offered a longer contract.

8659 Matters raised by Mr Colin Jex regarding the Slipways giving access to the Foreshore:

The barriers were installed to prevent motor vehicles from going onto the foreshore without permission from the Council; they were not installed to stop legitimate members of Arnside Sailing Club, the Hagland Vehicle and casual visitors from gaining access to the shore.  It was RESOLVED that the Clerk would write a reply to Mr Jex and refer him to the bye-laws.

8660 Reports from the following committees and/or meetings:

a).  Foreshore
The Chairman reported that (1) United Utilities still have not finished their work on the shore, (2) there is a large amount of debris at the emergency gate of the foreshore car parking area - the Clerk to contact Network Rail regarding this.

b).  Highways
The Chairman reported that (1) further to the Duchess of Gloucester’s impending visit to Arnside on 24th May 2006, the contractor is tidying the village up as appropriate, (2) Network Rail have been spoken to regarding sycamore trees by Ashleigh Court which are damaging cars, (3) there are a number of potholes at the bottom of Hollins Lane and one outside the Post Office, (4) a tree fell down in the recent high winds by station bridge which is the responsibility of Network Rail.

c).  Playground Working Group
Cllr Gibson reported that (1) an informal meeting has been arranged for 12th May at 9.30am in the Parish Council Office, for which agendas will be sent out and a report written afterwards.

d).  Playing Field Advisory Committee
Cllr Baker reported that (1) the next meeting has been re-scheduled to Wednesday 17th May at 7pm in the Parish Council Office (2) the state of the toilets on the Playing Field is appalling and several complaints have been received, (3) the Chairman has spoken to the police about the amount of rubbish being left on the field.

e).  Cemetery
Cllr Casey reported that things were very quiet.  Cllr McSweeney asked if somebody had been digging up the plot of land where the orchids grow.

f).  Cemetery Chapel Development Committee
Cllr McSweeney reported that (1) the Opening Ceremony will take place on Saturday 10th June at 12.15pm with MP Tim Farron performing the opening, (2) the remainder of the money in order to construct the car parking area needs to be raised within the next few months, (3) building inspector has visited who advised that fire doors should have been put in, however, the Stephensons have persuaded him that smoke screens would be sufficient, (4) four fire extinguishers are required in the building - the building officer needs to sign off the Chapel before the Council can move into it and hold meetings there, (5) advice needs to be sought from the Planning Officer with regards to the external lighting and the need for planning permission.

g).  Allotments
Cllr McSweeney reported that a branch has come down off a tree and needs removing.

h).  Any other committee
Cllr Casey asked if anybody could attend the Burton Educational Foundation Meeting on 11th May on his behalf as he is away.

8661 To receive items for information:

(1) Cllr McSweeney has received an invitation from APPT to attend their AGM and will report back once he has attended this.
(2) The Chairman reported that TransPennine have placed some planted up tubs on the station which are to be maintained by a local firm.  The contractor will therefore remove our planters.
(3) The Chairman is investigating as to why a bus comes to Arnside each morning at 9.50am and causes chaos at the station - this bus is not required as the train service to Grange from Arnside is still operational.

8662 Date of the next Meeting:

It was NOTED  that the next Ordinary Meeting will be held on Monday 12th June 2006 at 7.15pm   Items for the agenda and reports to reach the Clerk before Friday 2nd June 2006 and reports to reach the Clerk before Monday 5th June 2006.  THIS MEETING TO BE HELD AT THE CEMETERY CHAPEL IN THE GROUNDS OF ARNSIDE CEMETERY, SILVERDALE ROAD, ARNSIDE.

 

 
Jayne M Beaumont
Deputy Clerk to the Council