10th July 2006 
8689 Minutes: of the Ordinary Meeting of Arnside Parish Council, held in the Cemetery Chapel, Silverdale Road, Arnside on Monday 10th July 2006. 

8690 Present: Chairman - Councillor D M (David) Willacy, P E (Ted) Casey, S R (Sue) Hewett, R G (Glyn) Jones, T (Terry) Keefe, P A (Pete) McSweeney, the Clerk - P G (Peter) Challenor, the Deputy Clerk - J M (Jayne) Beaumont, County Councillor I (Ian) Stewart, District Councillor R (Richard) Rollins and 4 members of the public.

8691 Apologies for Absence:  

Written apologies were received from Councillor S V (Sue) Gibson (work commitments) and R J (Ros) Lishman (work commitments) and verbal apologies were received from K (Ken) Hargreaves (family commitments).  Councillor J (Jack) Baker did not attend the meeting.

8692 Resignation of Councillor John Gallagher

It was NOTED that Councillor John Gallagher resigned with effect from 12th June 2006.

8693 Receipt of Declaration of Members’ Interests relating to any items appearing on the Agenda:

Cllr McSweeney declared that he had an interest in item 11 b) SL/2006/0728 - Westmorland Court, High Knott Road - extension to provide additional accommodation, due to the fact that his wife works at Westmorland Court.

8694 Minutes of the Previous Meeting:

The minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 12th June were amended as follows. The duplicated item 8686 is amended to 8687 and subsequently item 8687 is amended to 8688.  Minute number 8686 f) (6) is amended to read that Cllr McSweeney reported that approximately £11,000 is needed for the completion of the Cemetery Chapel development with approximately £5,500 required for the car parking area to be completed.  The minutes were subsequently approved and signed by the Chairman.

8695 Matters arising from the Minutes of previous meetings:

It was NOTED that there were no matters arising.

8696 Matters raised by members of the Public for future consideration:

One member of the public wished to make the council aware of his unhappiness regarding the proposed planning application number SL/2006/0728 - Westmorland Court, High Knott Road - proposed extension to provide additional accommodation, as he felt the proposed large development would overlook his property and garden; and of his intention to object on the grounds of the obtrusive nature of the large scale proposal in a residential area; the original application number T/APP/M0933/A91/181734PZ was rejected on appeal in August 1991.  Other members of the public raised the following issues:- (1) the Station Road hedge has still not been cut, (2) nothing has yet been done about the stone wall in disrepair near the bus stop, (3) the telephone box adjacent to the railway station has now sunk into the hedge and would be impossible to use, (4) as the tide siren is not sounded all year round, it was asked why the SLDC signs on the foreshore advising of the tide siren did not reflect this, (5) thanks were given to persons responsible for tidying up Station Gardens.

8697 Police Report:

A written report was circulated to Members.  The report referred to: (1) thefts from the Youth Hostel, (2) an assault in the Fighting Cocks, (3) items stolen from unattended motor vehicle at Ashleigh Court, (4) sat nav unit stolen from car on the Promenade, (5) the window of VW van smashed, (6) a pair of Nike trainers stolen from a doorstep, (7) a domestic disturbance in Queens Drive, (8) alarm sounded at the chemists but all was found to be in order, (9) report of drunk persons on the railway station, (10) two males acting suspiciously on the Knott car park, (11) a suspicious youth seen in Ashmeadow Road, (12) mini moto motorcycle reported being ridden on the sands at White Creek, (13) a man arrested on the Promenade under the Mental Health Act after threatening to jump in the tide, (14) a report of four women releasing nine dogs to rampage amongst families on the beach, (15) a racing cycle was found in the bushes between Arnside and Silverdale, (16)a suspicious couple in a parked car outside the Albion, (17) a disturbance on the Promenade, (18) a youth seen looking into the windows of the WI Hall, (19) voices and footsteps heard in the area of the fire station, (20) evidence that persons had been camping in the cemetery.

8698 Report from County Councillor Ian Stewart:

Cllr Stewart’s report covered the following:- (1) Station Road hedge has been reported and Cllr Stewart will follow up to see if there has been any response from the owner of the field, (2) Railtrack’s Helpline number will be forwarded to the Clerk, (3) SIDs (Speed Identification Devices) will be implemented, (4) there are very few potential sites in the area for the facility of Mineral and Waste Development, (5) Cllr Casey enquired as to why no diversion signs had been implemented during recent road resurfacing works which caused major hold ups within the village - the Clerk will formally complain to Cllr Stewart who will forward this to Amey, (6) the Chairman requested that the many potholes on Silverdale Road will now be repaired as it is now  the season for tar and chipping work, (7) the Chairman also required that the matter of a barrow crossing at the station be taken up with Tim Farron MP, (8) Cllr McSweeney pointed out that the double yellow lines outside the allotments have now disappeared due to previous tar and chipping work and there is a need for notices on walls regarding double yellow lines.

8699 Report from District Councillor Richard Rollins:

Cllr Rollins’ report covered the following:- (1) SLDC now has a website where the public can comment on consultation documents, (2) the fact that the tide siren failed to be sounded one weekend recently is being investigated and additional volunteers have now been recruited, (3) the tide siren signs on the foreshore are covered during the winter months when the siren is not sounded, (4) the need for a foreshore car park is being pursued with Trans Pennine , (5) a further survey has been carried out with regard to affordable housing and there is a need for 3,425 houses across the district within the next few years, (6) the Chairman expressed his concern regarding the fact that nobody from SLDC has yet been to see the additional volunteers with job descriptions and also messages received from SLDC requesting that people refrain from using the foreshore.

8700 Correspondence:

Receipt of the following items were noted and action determined, by resolution, as indicated:
1.  Arnside Youth Project - Minutes of meeting 15th March.
2.  Arnside Youth Project - Minutes of meeting 17th May.
3.  Cumbria CC - Community Waste Prevention Fund.
4. NHS - Acute Medical Services Review, Public Consultation Document.
5.  Landscape Trust - “Keer to Kent”, summer.
6. SLDC - Gambling Act, consultation.
7.  North West Regional Assembly - Best Practice Design Guide.
8.  CALC - “Circular”, June.
9.  NALC - £1,000 for sharing your experiences.
10. Marine Conservation Society - Beach watch 2006
11. NALC - “Local Council Review”, July.

8701 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 RESOLVED that the following comments were offered for the following applications:
SL/2006/0688- 121 Silverdale Road - detached garage/shed - NO OBJECTION.
SL/2006/0708 -16 Swinnate Road - two storey extension - NO OBJECTION.
SL/2006/0709 -17 Swinnate Road - two storey rear extension - NO OBJECTION.
SL/2006/0728 - Westmorland Court, High Knott Road - extension to provide sixteen additional bedrooms, residents’ dayroom and staff accommodation - OBJECTION on the grounds that the proposed development is over-large for the site and in addition APC opposes the development on the grounds of the following:-
(a) the obtrusive nature of the large scale proposal in a residential area;
(b) the rearward development of this site could encourage, and make more difficult to resist, further proposals for building of dwellings, holiday flats or private hotel accommodation on other backland plots to the south.  Such developments would then encroach on visually attractive areas adjoining Red Hills National Trust land and in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty;
(c) a development of this size and character would add further to the infra-structure problems of Arnside and the Red Hills area;
(d) it would further exacerbate the traffic dangers on Red Hills Road with construction traffic and later with the additional traffic of staff, visitors, ambulances, doctors and possibly delivery vehicles;
(e) the Parish Council questions the capacity of the sewerage system considering the multiplicity of approved development on Red Hills Road during the last two years and elsewhere in the village;
(f) an increase in the elderly sector of the village population must put a further strain on emergency medical services in a remote area of the health region;
(g) the proposed development would considerably intrude rearwards and have a possible detrimental effect on wildlife in the area adjoining the site.
c). It was NOTED that the following decisions have been taken by the District Council since the last meeting:
SL/2006/0566 -61 Plantation Avenue - front porch: GRANTED.

8702 Action taken in accordance with Standing Order 25 (other than Planning):

It was NOTED that:
(1) authority has been given for the electrician to install the basic lighting required for meetings at the Chapel whilst he has his scaffolding on site;
(2) Mr John Mansfield has been authorised to spend a further £100 (maximum) in order to bring the Station Gardens into acceptable order (note that the Community Fund at the Albion public house will also donate £100 - this brings the maximum total for the work to £300);
(3) the Clerk has been authorised to order carpet tiles and adhesive from Screwfix Direct at a total cost of £250.61;
(4) the Clerk has been authorised to order noticeboards from Viking Direct to the total value not exceeding £90.00 + VAT.

8703 Orchids in the Cemetery Chapel

It was RESOLVED that permission is granted for Mrs Ann Kitchen to rescue the remains of the rare orchids in the Cemetery and to transplant them in an unspecified area subject to compliance with guidance from Mr Tony Riden of the AONB and Cllr McSweeney, who knows of the whereabouts of the trench-arch sewerage system.  It was suggested that the trench-arch system area be marked in some way in order to prevent heavy machinery damaging it.

8704 APC response to the APPT document “Review of the Activities for the year 2005/06 and against Arnside Parish Plan”
Cllr Keefe has drafted an appropriate response to the APPT document “Review of the Activities for the year 2005/06 and against Arnside Parish Plan”and it was RESOLVED that the Clerk should formally forward this response to APPT on behalf of APC.

8705 Confirmation of appointment of Mr G R Fell as Cleaner for the Cemetery Chapel

The appointment of Mr G R Fell as Cleaner for the Cemetery Chapel was confirmed as from 1st July 2006 and his Contract of Employment was subsequently signed by the Chairman. 

8706 Election of Deputy Custodian for the Allotments and Deputy Representative to the Beetham Exhibition Trust

It was RESOLVED that Cllr Jones be elected as Deputy Custodian for the Allotments and Cllr Keefe be elected as Deputy Representative to the Beetham Exhibition Trust.

8707 Confirmation of standing arrangements for Assembly Points for the Cross Bay Walks

The Chairman reported that there had been congestion on the Promenade at two recent Cross Bay Walks when walkers assembled at the fountain when they should be assembling at the SLDC toilets.  It was RESOLVED that the Chairman should contact the organiser who should be advised where the Cross Bay Walks should be assembling and to ensure that this is enforced.

8708 Authorisation of purchase of Fireworks

It was RESOLVED that the purchase of fireworks, using the balance of funds dedicated to this purpose, being £1,000, plus a donation from the Albion Community Fund, be authorised.

8709 Lodgement with County Archives at Kendal of confirmed Minutes prior to 2005 and Deeds for Council owned land

It was NOTED that all confirmed Minutes prior to 2005 and all Deeds for Council owned land have been lodged with County Archives at Kendal.  It was further NOTED that the following plots of land have now been registered with the Land Registry:-
Arnside Pier
Big King Field (War Memorial)
Arnside Foreshore
Lawrence Drive (2 separate plots)
Arnside Cemetery
Beechwood Nature Reserve
Arnside Allotments
Lower Promenade

8710 Finance:

(1) The Financial Summary for June was received and approved.
(2) The following cheques were authorised and signed:
K Hargreaves - reimbursement for letter plate     £19.00   (682)
Nationwide Fire Training Ltd - 4 x fire extinguishers    £311.38  (683)
Network Rail - rent for land adjacent to embankment    £112.44  (684)
S Hewett - sundry expenses/cleaning materials     £32.35   (685)
Trevor J Warner - making and fixing cupboard for electrics   £80.00  (686)
Fireworks International - fireworks for display 2006    £1265.50 (687)
Viking Direct - cleaning items inc vacuum cleaner    £135.12  (688)
G R Taylor & Sons - reimbursement for public liability insurance  £77.83   (689)
D Willacy - Chairmans’s allowance for 2006/07     £155.00  (690)
J Beaumont - honorarium        £100.00  (691)
J Beaumont - expenses for quarter ended 30th June 2006    £112.82  (692)
P Challenor - expenses for quarter ended 30th June 2006    £393.49  (693)
Viking Direct - noticeboards       £90.98  (694)
Mr J Schofield          £125.00  (695)
United Utilities - water for Chapel      £10.46  (696)

8711 Reports from the following committees and/or meetings:

a).  Allotments
There was nothing to report.
b).  Beetham Exhibition Trust
In her absence, Cllr Lishman had previously provided a written report on the Annual Meeting of the Beetham Exhibition Trust which was held on 29th June 2006.  Cllr Lishman reported that (1) the Trust annually awards funds for families in the local parishes where there are children moving from primary to secondary school, (2) 23 families had requested assistance from the fund and it was agreed at the Annual Meeting of the Trustees that each child would be awarded £45.00, (3) following the resignation of the Reverend Ian Davis of Beetham there is a need for an additional Co-optative Trustee - Cllr Lishman had suggested that the Clerk contact Reverend David Cooper from Arnside, (4) the next Annual Meeting is scheduled for 27th June 2007.

c).  Cemetery
There was nothing to report.

d).  Cemetery and Cemetery Chapel Advisory Committee
Cllr Hewett report that(1) the meeting held on 29th June 2006 was attended mainly by Parish Councillors and a permanent non-councillor is needed on the committee, (2) it was generally felt that the open day had been a success with attendance by approximately 60 people and letters of thanks have been sent to the Hendersons for their music and to Tim Farron, (3) the Clerk was asked to send an official letter to the supplier of black out curtains to go ahead with work to make the curtains, (4) Cllr Hewett will take over the fund raising role previously employed by Cllr Keefe, (5) funds may be available through the Big Lottery Fund which is due to be launched shortly, (7) it is essential that the car parking area is completed by the end of September as is the installation of external lighting and bollards at the top of the bank, (8) the committee agreed to recommend to APC that separate charges for hourly use, session use and daily use should be made and should be in line with charges made by the EI and WI Hall Committee and that only the John Barnes Trust should be allowed to use the Chapel facilities free of charge, (9) meetings of the committee were agreed as being every 2 months, (10) it was agreed that it should be recommended to APC that the next edition of the newsletter should contain information about the project and how it has been funded together with hire charge details, (11) the date of the next meeting is Thursday 24th August 2006.

e).  Foreshore
The Chairman reported that (1) the padlock has been taken off the slipway chain by the fountain and a new one will be obtained by those persons who removed it, (2) a seat has been ripped out of its fittings on the pier, (3) several estate agents’ ‘for sale’ signs have been removed and placed at other properties, (4) confirmation has not yet been received that United Utilities have completed their work on the foreshore.

f).  Highways
The Chairman reported that (1) the tar and chipping work required on Silverdale Road was discussed previously in the meeting, (2) the problem with double yellow lines was also discussed previously, (3) a list of potholes around the village will be made by the Chairman.

g).  Playing Field Advisory Committee
The Chairman reported that (1) Bowling Club members are unhappy that members of the Tennis Club are using the Bowling Club’s toilet facilities.

h).  Playground Working Committee
There was nothing to report.

I). Any other Committee
Cllr Keefe reported on the sub committee meeting of the AONB executive and informed the meeting that a tourism leaflet is still in the process of being prepared and will be brought before APC for their comments prior to publication.  Cllr Hewett will attend the next AONB executive committee meeting on Wednesday 26th July 2006 as Cllr Keefe is unable to attend.

8712 To receive items for information:

The Chairman informed the meeting that in November 2004 the contractor had been involved in a collision with a car whilst driving the APC tractor and, after signing statements and appearing in court, this matter is now being dealt with by the Council’s insurance company.

8713 Date of the next Meeting:

It was NOTED  that the next Ordinary Meeting will be held on Monday 14th August 2006 at 7.15pm   Items for the agenda and reports to reach the Clerk before Friday 4th August 2006 and reports to reach the Clerk before Monday 7th August 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