Minutes of a Meeting held on Thursday 11th January 2007 in Newbiggin-on-Lune Public Hall at 7.30 pm
Present
Councillor John Bull (Chairman)
Councillors Caroline Morris, Ernest Leach,
Fanny Jackson and Janet Brownrigg.
District Councillor Michael Metcalfe-Gibson.
Clerk, Chris Elphick.
Community Police Officer Roly Earl.
8 members of the public.
Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs. Hilary Mirrey and Paul Capstick
Declarations of Interest
Cllr Morris declared an interest in the planning item 06/0947 on the grounds that she is resident in a neighbouring property.
Minutes of the Meeting held on Thursday 9th November 2006 had been circulated and were signed by the Chairman as a correct record.
Appleby New Fair
PC Roly Earl, Community Police Officer for Ravenstonedale, discussed problems which arise each year with the arrival of large numbers of “Travellers” in the area, particularly on Cote Moor, on their way to the Appleby Horse Fair. There are complaints each year of damage to property in the immediate vicinity of Cote Moor but 2006 had suffered the greatest amount of property damage known for many years, amounting to several thousands of pounds. There were also reports of theft and intimidation of local residents.
PC Earl advised that the police policy for 2007 would be to present a high visibility presence and, hopefully, provide a mobile police station on the Moor for the period of the Fair.
Particular problems are the number of vehicles arriving early, before the permitted camping period and use of the main road as a race track for the horses. Alcohol related offences, including underage drinking, are also a problem
Children’s Playgrounds
Clerk reported that progress was being made on both playground sites.
At Newbiggin-on-Lune instructions have been given to fence off the area. This will take place as soon as the weather improves. With the amount of money currently available it may be feasible to install a proportion of the proposed equipment, leaving the remainder to “phase II”. This will be discussed by the playground committee. A further grant application to the National Lottery “Awards for All” is being prepared. If this bid for £10,000 is successful it would be possible to complete the project.
At Ravenstonedale a plan for proposed landscaping and enhancement of the nature area has been submitted with a bid to the BBC’s “Breathing Places”, for funding up to £10,000. A decision is due in May 2007. This scheme incorporates a new pedestrian bridge across Scandal Beck from the area opposite the school.
A further bid for funding is being made to Awards for All. Discussions are also taking place with an independent installer of play equipment to get the major item of play equipment, which has been in store for many months, installed on the former Bowling Green.
Eden District Council is preparing a major bid for £200,000 of lottery money for playgrounds. The Clerk has been invited to sit on the Eden District Play Partnership Committee to help develop a strategy for distribution of funds.
Finance
Accounts paid prior to meeting
N-o-L Playground – Landlord’s Solicitor £587.50 (inc vat)
N-o-L Playground – Landlord’s Agent £616.88 (inc vat)
N-o-L Playground – Rent 1st year £100.00
Viking Direct (Printer ink) £26.87
Accounts for payment
Clerk’s Admin. Expenses to 31/12/06 £80.09
Ravenstonedale High Chapel
A public meeting had been held in November to establish whether there was the will locally to acquire the redundant High Chapel at Ravenstonedale for community use.
Approximately fifty residents had attended the meeting. Opinions were fairly evenly divided on the proposal.
At the end of the meeting more than twenty people left their names indicating their desire to carry the proposal forward. Two subsequent meetings of this group resulted in a request that the Parish Council should try to obtain a lease on the property from the North West Synod of the United Reformed Church.
Resolved that an Advisory Committee should be set up to undertake a feasibility study into the practicality of acquiring the High Chapel premises for community use.
Parish Council Precept for 2007-2008
The Clerk and Chairman had prepared a provisional Budget for the year 2007-2008. The individual items were discussed and no alterations proposed.
Resolved that the Precept for 2007-2008 be set at £10,615.
Upper Eden Community Plan
It was reported that the analysis of the Parish Survey is not yet available.
Planning Applications
It was reported that Eden District Council; has provided information on how to apply or comment on applications online
No. 05/0543/4 Amended Plans showing
1. Blocking up external door at head of external door
2. Insertion of additional window to north elevation
3. Provision of additional soil pipe to north elevation
Type - Full application & Listed Building approval
Location - Lytheside,
(Notification for information only)
Request for Speed Limit signs at N-o-L
It was noted that vehicles had been speeding into Newbiggin-on-Lune from the A685.
The proposal for 30mph signs to be taken up with County Highways.
Lotteries Act Licence renewal
Resolved that the council’s Lottery Licence be renewed at a cost of £17.50.
Local Government White Paper
An initial summary of the proposals in the latest White Paper on Local Government had been received from CALC. Further information on the reorganisation proposals for Cumbria will be reported at the next meeting following a presentation organised by CALC at Newton Rigg. Chairman and Clerk will attend.
A685 Highway Safety
Chairman is to meet the Chairs of Orton and Tebay Parish Councils and District Councillor Margaret Wilcox to discuss a joint representation to the County Council, Highways and the Police regarding safety issues on the A685 from Kirkby Stephen to Tebay.
Public Participation
Contributions from members of the public had been dealt with during the presentation from PC Earl and the High Chapel.
Correspondence received
CALC – County Circular December/January 2007
NALC – Shaping Communities Event – London, £129.25 inc. vat!
CALC - The Good Council Guide (New Edition) Free Copies available from clerk
CALC - The Good Councillor’s Guide (Reprint) Free Copies available from clerk
CALC - Your Parish Council – A Guide Free Copies available from clerk
CALC - Becoming a Town or Parish Councillor Free Copies available from clerk
CALC – Annual Report
Open Spaces Society – Registering New Greens
CCC – Cumbria Highways “Working Together”
Eden Area Police Liaison Forum Meeting 10th January 2007
Resource Cumbria – Recycling Poster
Eden Local Strategic Partnership AGM & Community Strategy Action Planning Workshop
Local Council Review
Clerks & Councils Direct
The foregoing items of correspondence were noted or circulated as appropriate
Date of next meeting: Thursday 8th February 2007
Signed Chairman Date 8th February 2007