RAVENSTONEDALE PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a Meeting held on Thursday13th September 2007 in Ravenstonedale High Chapel Room

Present
Councillor John Bull (Chairman) Councillors Paul Capstick, Caroline Morris, Alison Morriss, Ernest Leach and James Richardson.
Clerk, Chris Elphick. 
Two members of the public

Declarations of Interest
There were no declarations of personal or prejudicial interest in any item on this agenda.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Hilary Mirrey, County Councillor Tim Stoddard and District Councillor George Boustead

Minutes of the Meeting held on Wednesday 11th July 2007 had been circulated and were signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Councillor Hilary Mirrey has married and is now Councillor Hilary Law. The Monitoring Officer for Eden District Council has been notified of the change.

Minutes of the Meeting held on Wednesday 11th July 2007 had been circulated and were signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Children’s Playgrounds
Work has started on the Scandal Beck site rebuilding the beckside wall. 
Application has been made to Eden District Council for inclusion in its bid to the Big Lottery Fund for funding of playgrounds in Eden.  The parish council’s application for £15,000 towards the Newbiggin-on-Lune play area has been accepted by EDC. If successful this will enable the N-o-L playground to be completed in early 2008.
A donation of £175. towards the playground fund has been received from Marion Law.

Child Protection policy
A draft Child Protection Policy had been circulated to all councillors.  It was resolved that the draft policy be adopted as the Parish Council’s policy without amendment. Cllr Alison Morriss was nominated in the policy as the council’s Responsible Officer. The policy to be revised and updated after a period of two years.

CALC Road Show
It was agreed that the Roadshow would take place on Wednesday 24th October at 7.00pm in Newbiggin-on-Lune Public Hall.  Refreshments, paid for by CALC, would           be provided by R-dale PTA. Alison Morris will co-ordinate.
           
Ravenstonedale High Chapel
A Draft lease has been requested from the North-West Synod but not yet received

Standards Board Code of Conduct
A training event will be held at Appleby Public Hall on Tues 18th September at 6.30pm. Clerk will attend.

Bus Service 564 – Brough, Ravenstonedale, Kendal
New timetables have been received.  It was reported that the timetable case opposite the school had been vandalised. Clerk to report to CCC. A new Community Minibus hire scheme was announced. Notices are displayed on public notice boards.

Upper Eden Community Plan
The previous two meetings of the UECP group had coincided with meetings so no representative was available to attend. Cllr Mirrey reported that Ravenstonedale School had been asked to have some input to the plan. A grant of £100 would be paid to the school for a report.

Millennium Field
The Clerk now has a copy of the lease which had been missing from the PC records. The original is held by Kilvington & Co, Solicitors, Kirkby Stephen.
A letter had been received from David Maclean MP, on behalf of Mr Gary Kirby, licensee of the Kings Head, re: drainage and flooding at the Kings Head during a recent exceptional rainstorm. It was agreed that the flooding was not caused by any action of the Parish Council and that, since it would be impossible to guard against such an exceptional deluge, no action be taken.

Finance
Sum received
United Utilities – Wayleave                                         £  12.95
Accounts paid prior to meeting
A Kirby (Grasscutting)                                                 £634.50
Audit Commission                                                       £158.63

Accounts for Payment
Viking Direct   - Copy Paper                                      £  50.97
Clerk’s admin expenses                                           £197.46
Resolved that the foregoing items be approved for payment.

Highway Matters
A blockage in a culvert at Garshill had caused flooding during recent rainy weather. It had been reported to Highways 25th July and was cleared before 28th August.
A reported leak in the roadway opposite High Chapel had been inspected but was still pending on 28th August

Planning Applications
No. 07/0458/9    NEW EXTENSION AND INTERNAL ALTERATIONS
Type                 Full Application
Location           The Manse, Ravenstonedale
Applicant          Mr J De Jong
Parish Council   No objections                                                   GRANTED

No. 07/0551      ERECTION OF 12m WINDPUMP TOWER AND CREATION OF                                                     UNDERGROUND WATER TANK AND DISTRIBUTION PIPEWORK
Type                 Full Application
Location           Weasdale Nurseries, Newbiggin-on-Lune
Applicant          A Forsyth
Parish Council   No objections                                                   GRANTED

The Parish Council had sent a letter of support for the proposed change of use of Holiday Accommodation to Residential Letting at Ashfell Farm in accordance with         previously stated policies.

A query had been received regarding stone walling at the front of Mid Town Cottages.
EDC Planning Dept had been consulted and it was established that the work did not require planning permission.

Parish Paths Initiative
CCC has a fund  for footpath improvements within the parish.  It is believed that £1,000 per year could be allocated to Ravenstonedale. Clerk is to attend a meeting to obtain details of the scheme.

Public Participation
There was a complaint that the roadside bushes near Row Foot were overgrown and causing poor vision for drivers. Clerk to report to highways.
Parking on the corner outside the Black Swan had caused problems. No practical solution was forthcoming. 

Cumbrian Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment – EDC
A survey had been received from EDC to assess the availability of Traveller Sites in the parish.

Upper Eden Extended Services Parents’ Survey
Cllr Morriss is to complete and return the survey on behalf of the council.

Correspondence received
CALC – County Circular July 2007
Cumbria Funding Links – September 2007
Clerks & Councils Direct
Clerk Magazine
Local Council Review
VAC – Managing a change or loss of a Rural Service
Eden LSP – Climate Change conference. CREA Centre 10th Sept
Lake District Landscape – Survey
CPFA – Annual Report
Workshop for green space managers – Rural Greens Outreach (FoLD)
Cumbria Police Authority – Annual Report
EDC - Benefit Fraud poster
The foregoing items of correspondence were circulated or noted as appropriate.

Date of next meeting:  Thursday 11th October 2007

Signed                                                  Chairman                  Date 11th October 2007