Skelsmergh and Parish Council Clerk to the Council: Karen Little, Nether Bower, Longsleddale, LA8 9BB

21 October 2015

To Members of Skelsmergh and Scalthwaiterigg Parish Council

You are duly summoned/required to attend the next meeting of the Parish Council to be held at 7.30pm on Wednesday 4 November 2015 at Skelsmergh Community Hall. Refreshments available from 7.00pm.

Agenda

1. Apologies: To receive apologies and to note the reasons for absence. 2. Declarations of Interest: a. Register of Interests: Councillors are reminded of the need to update their register of interests. b. To declare any personal interests in items on the agenda and their nature. c. To declare any prejudicial interests in items on the agenda and their nature (Councillors with prejudicial interests must leave the room for the relevant items). 3. Minutes: To consider the approval of the minutes of the last meeting of the Council on 14 September 2015, attached. 4. Open Forum: Residents are invited to give their views and question the Parish Council on issues on this agenda, or raise issues for future consideration at the discretion of the Chairman. 5. Matters Arising from the Minutes. 6. Formal Announcements by the Chair: a. Expression of Interest - Parish Councillor, Scalthwaiterigg ward. 7. Finance: a. To consider payments to be made as per Clerk’s report, attached. b. To receive the current bank reconciliation and consider the budget build for 2015-2016, attached. c. Recommendations for the Parish Council NS&I Investment Account. d. Audit process for 2015-2016. 8. Update on the Community Plan 2015: To receive the draft Community Action Plan from the Steering Group, plan to follow. 9. Community Action Plan: To receive update reports from the following groups/ lead person on the: a. Environment and Community Woodlands 1) Meeting of the Environment Group, 15.09.2015, attached. 2) Countryside Access Team, Scalthwaiterigg Parish Programme 3) Stile repair at Holme House, Skelsmergh 4) Complaint to Openreach, damage to Parish woodland 5) Electricity Wayleave Agreements, Skelsmergh, attached b. Highways and Transport c. Community d. Communications Broadband developments, to consider an update from HM, JC & MC.

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Page 1 of 16 10. Upper Kent Local Area Partnership (LAP): To receive an overview summary of the meeting on 28.09.2015, attached. 11. Skelsmergh Community Hall Annual General Meeting: To receive an overview summary of the meeting on 15.09.2015. 12. Planning Applications: a. SL/2015/0688 Laneside Farm, Skelsmergh, , LA9 6NX, one new dwelling (single level) on the site of the existing garage. Comments by 27 August 2015. PC has no objections. Refused: not infilling or rounding off. b. SL/2015/0614 Land north west of Skelsmergh Hall, Skelsmergh, Kendal, CumbriaLA9 6NU, demolition of storage barn and erection of two dwellings. (Full planning application.) PC has no objections. Refused: not infilling or rounding off. c. SL/2015/0825 Goldmire Cottage, Scalthwaiterigg, Kendal, CumbriaLA9 6PL Proposed two storey extension to side elevation. PC has no objections. 13. Correspondence: To consider correspondence highlighted by the Clerk. 14. Dates for next meetings (venue: Skelsmergh Community Hall, commencing 7.30pm):  Wednesday 13 January 2016  Wednesday 9 March 2016

Signed:

Karen Little Clerk to Skelsmergh and Scalthwaiterigg Parish Council 21 October 2015

Please note that the minutes of the previous meeting (15.07.2015) can be inspected on the Parish Council website: http://www.skelscalpc.org.uk/, or by application to the Clerk.

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Page 2 of 16 Skelsmergh and Scalthwaiterigg Parish Council

Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 14 September 2015 at 7.30pm in Skelsmergh Community Hall

Present: Councillor John Chapman (JC) – Chair

Parish Councillors: Hermann Moisl (HM), Mary Chapman (MC), Tim Maggs (TM)

Local Resident: Liz Robson

Clerk: Karen Little (KL) 40/15 Apologies for Absence Councillor Phil Rigby (PR) – accepted. Action: The Clerk is to set convenient Council meeting dates for 2016-17 asap. KL 41/15 Declaration of Interests Councillor John Chapman declared an interest in item 47/15 1. 42/15 Minutes of the Previous Meeting RESOLVED - the minutes of Parish meeting on 15 July 2015 were confirmed as a true and complete record, and the documents were signed by the Chair. 43/15 Open Forum Discussion points: 1. Entrance to the Mealbank Trading Estate Green hoarding has been placed in front of the boundary wall at the entrance to the Mealbank trading estate, put there it was thought to act as a barrier if the wall collapses. This causes a lot of concern, as the hoarding will not be effective to hold back the debris if the wall was to collapse. As well as the potential danger this would be to pedestrians, it would also block access to homeowners and the trading estate.

The County Council and SLDC have been made aware of the potential threat to public safety; it is not clear who owns or is responsible for the upkeep of the wall. Cllr Moisl confirmed that Mr Lucien Procter had erected the barriers (as the landowner of the Trading Estate), and suggested that an urgent meeting of the Parish Council Chair and Vice-Chair with Mr Procter would be useful in deciding the best way to resolve the situation. Action: The Clerk to facilitate a meeting. KL 2. Appleby Road to Laverock Bridge A fence has fallen down on the highway from the Appleby Road to Laverock Bridge, and although a barrier remains, there is now open access down to the river. It is not clear who is responsible for the repair, either Highways or the landowner. Action: To send formal notification to the Highways team of the danger. JC 44/15 Formal announcements by the Chair 1. Local Area Partnership (LAP) meeting on 28.09.2015. The Chair asked if there were any issues to raise on behalf of residents at the next LAP meeting. The topic for discussion is rights of way and matters arising from the rural economy meeting. The importance of building up local community cohesion to support the economy, develop assets and maintain residents’ wellbeing was noted. Councillors

Signed: ………………………………………. Date…………………………..… 13

Page 3 of 16 considered that the updated Community Plan will identify any areas for possible collaborative working. Councillor Mary Chapman will keep the Council informed of the outcomes of the LAP meeting.

2. Cenacolo occupancy criteria. Councillors had been provided with the conditions on which the planning permission had been granted; it was noted that the age requirements are for residents to be over 18, but there is no upper age limit and no restrictions on the area of origin. The Chair suggested that the complaint may have referenced the guidance (the addendum statements) provided during the planning application. As the information from the guidance relating to an age limit for the residents and their area of origin was not written into the occupancy criteria of the planning permission, they do not apply. It was noted that SLDC do not have any issues of non-compliance with the planning conditions. RESOLVED: That the Chair would write a formal letter to the complainant (Mr Kell) on behalf of the Council to explain that the Council’s view is that the Cenacolo occupancy complies with the required planning conditions and the appropriate response if a local resident holds a different view, would be for them to complete/submit a SLDC planning enforcement form. Action: The Chair to send a formal letter explaining the Council’s view as described above. JC 3. Expressions of interest in the vacant Scalthwaiterigg Councillor position. Councillor Moisl was encouraged to invite a prospective Councillor to attend a forthcoming parish event (e.g the litter pick) to enable the individual to get to know the Councillors and the job remit, and help them to decide whether they want to take on the role. 45/15 Council Finances RESOLVED: a. To make the following payments: Payee Expenses/Services Amount (£) Karen Little Clerk’s salary 01.08.2015 to 281.75 30.09.2015 CVS Payroll - Clerk’s wages 21.00 Skelsmergh Community Hall Community Hall hire, venue for 6 144.00 Management Group meetings/year Mary Chapman, Environment Group. Grant to support annual litter picking 90.00 Minute number: 29/15a events Parochial Church Council of St John Grant to help with the up-keep of 100.00 the Baptist, Skelsmergh. Minute the Church grave yard number: 29/15b TOTAL £636.75 a. b. To note the current bank reconciliation statement and the predicted end of year position (with money accounted for small concessionary grants) is a carry forward credit of just under £1k. A cost of £30 was incurred in the external audit process; this is included in the budget statement. The Clerk will update the Council on the audit arrangements or 2015- 2016 at the next meeting.

c. Update on signatories for the council’s accounts. Action:

Signed: ………………………………………. Date…………………………..… 14

Page 4 of 16  Councillors Hermann Moisl and Tim Maggs to submit their completed bank forms with HM their ID to Barclays Bank, Kendal – to be authorised as bank signatories for the Parish & TM Council current account.  The Clerk to recommend the process/actions at the next meeting to close the NS&I. KL (Minute 15.15i) 46/15 Update on Community Plan The Working Group met last Tuesday (attendance: Tony Cousins and Councillors John Chapman, Mary Chapman and Hermann Moisl), Councillor Mary Chapman reported that:  The total responses received has now increased to 72 (40% response rate).  A draft Community Action Plan, formulated from the responses, will be presented at the November Parish council meeting for amendments and final sign off.  The plan will be divided into work areas with a lead Councillor, e.g. Highways, affordable homes, communications, environment, etc.  Once agreed, the plan will be printed, and distribution is scheduled for January 2016 to all households in the Parish, with a proposed free copy/free delivery of the Parish Newsletter.  Volunteers will be sought for the distribution to homes that don’t subscribe to the Parish Newsletter.  Councillors are keen to introduce a ‘Welcome Pack’ of useful information for new Parishioners, and to have a representative in each area to meet and greet people new into the area.  Individual replies will be sent to everyone who sent personal letters with their views as part of the survey.  Recognition and thanks were given to Jenny Farmer (editor of the Parish Newsletter) for her offer to support the distribution of the Community Plan with the newsletter. RESOLVED: To allocate £60 to £90 grant of Council money towards the cost of a free newsletter and delivery to every residential house in the Parish, with a copy of the Community Plan. 47/15 Progress with the Community Action Plan a. Environment and Community Woodlands Outcome of sealed bids for wood: One sealed bid was received; the offer from Councillor John Chapman was approved. RESOLVED: For the future disposal of wood from coppicing - sealed bids will be replaced with a price per tree system, and interested parties will remove the wood themselves for the fixed price.

b. Highways and Transport Update on meeting with Highways Steward: The Chair reported on the successful outcome of his recent meeting with Glyn Wharton, Highways Area Steward. Two areas with significant pothole problems (Garth Row Lane and Doddington Green) will be made safe in the near future and a programme to repair other identified issues will be developed. Councillors and residents are encouraged to continue to use the hotline to report new or deteriorating road surfaces. Action: Clerk to advise residents to do this in the parish newsletter. KL

c. Community The Skelsmergh Community Hall Management Committee meeting is on the following night, Councillor Chapman will attend as the Parish Council representative.

d. Communications

Signed: ………………………………………. Date…………………………..… 15

Page 5 of 16 Councillor Moisl reported on the local availability of superfast Broadband services. Although the Kendal and Selside (A6) cabinets are activated, the facility doesn’t reach Mealbank and Burneside. Further work to develop the technical specifications to deliver fibre optics to ‘hard to reach’ rural communities is needed, and from a commercial viewpoint, it was suggested that additional funding (e.g. from private/local residents) would be required to support this to happen. The cost to residents was expected to reflect the additional cost of installing a spur from the nearest cabinet, not the costs from ‘scratch’. This may be something that a working group could undertake, if identified as a priority action area from the residents’ survey. Garsdale was identified as an example of an community project actively improving broadband facilities for local residents. Councillor Maggs identified the local gas pipeline as a potential channel to route the fibre optics through. Actions:  Councillor Moisl to discuss potential opportunities to develop local superfast Broadband facilities with Mr John Farmer, LAP representative from Longsleddale. With a further HM intention to formally contact and Involve SLDC for their support if the Parish Council initiates a working group to develop this matter.  To invite Open Reach to present their development plans for the parish at the next Council meeting. HM/  To investigate if there is any potential to use the gas pipeline to host the fibre optics for KL nearby residents to access. HM 48/15 Planning Applications a. BE/2015/0012 Goody Nook, Garth Row Kendal LA8 9AT, single storey rear extension to extend 4.5 metres beyond the rear wall of original dwelling with a maximum height of 4 metres measured from natural ground level and height at the eaves of 2.3 metres measured from natural ground level. Confirmed: Prior approval is not required. b. SL/2015/0574 Fox Covert, Laverock Hill, Mealbank, Cumbria LA8 9EP, subdivision of dwelling to form two dwellings. Granted with three conditions, 13.08.2015. c. SL/2015/0688 Laneside Farm, Skelsmergh, Kendal, LA9 6NX, one new dwelling (single level) on the site of the existing garage. Comments by 27 August 2015, PC has no objections. d. TR/2015/0092 Fox Covert, Laverock Hill, Skelsmergh, Kendal, LA8 9EP, Tree 1 Sycamore – Fell and Tree 2 Sycamore – Pollard. (Tree preservation order.) PC has no objections. Consent given for the work to be carried out, subject to two conditions. e. SL/2015/0614 Land north west of Skelsmergh Hall, Skelsmergh, Kendal, CumbriaLA9 6NU, demolition of storage barn and erection of two dwellings. (Full planning application.) PC has no objections. 49/15 Correspondence Councillors noted from the Kendal Police Community engagement report for the period July to September 2015 that there had not been any crimes in the Parish; there had been highway disruption due to sheep on the road though. 50/15 Dates for future meetings RESOLVED – To note the dates are as follows (venue: Skelsmergh Community Hall, commencing 7.30pm):  Wednesday 13 January 2016  Wednesday 9 March 2016 51/15 The Chair closed the meeting at 21.40 pm and thanked Councillors for their time and contributions to the meeting.

Signed: ………………………………………. Date…………………………..… 16

Page 6 of 16 Skelsmergh and Scalthwaiterigg Parish Council

Ordinary Parish Council Meeting Date: 04.11.2015

Agenda Item: 7a Financial Officer’s Report - Accounts for Payment

I present for approval the following accounts for payment:

Invoice Payee Cheque Number Expenses/Services Amount (£) Numbe r 14 Karen Little 100139 Clerk’s salary 01.10.2015 to 30.11.2015 281.75 15 CVS 100140 Payroll - Clerk’s wages 21.00 TOTAL 302.75

Karen Little Clerk to Skelsmergh & Scalthwaiterigg Parish Council

Approved – Minute number: Cheque signatories:

Date:

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Page 7 of 16 Skelsmergh Scalthwaiterigg Parish Council Accounts Statement and Budget Plan - November 2015 2014/15 2015/16 £ Actual Predicted Bank Statement at 02/04/2015 6,822.29 4,346.55 4,346.55 National Savings & Investment Account at 31/03/2015 829.83 836.05 836.05 Cheques not presented at 31/03/2015 382.92 - 132.17 - 132.17 Brought forward 8,035.04 5,050.43 5,050.43

Receipts: Precept 3,462.24 3,741.92 3,741.92 grant (Council Tax) 92.18 104.65 104.65 Interest on deposit a/c 6.22 Reclaimed VAT 110.00 SLDC Grant A6 Footpath, Kilncroft: Grant expired, project aborted - 500.00 Woodland Income 50.00 39.00 39.00 Sealed bids - coppicing, minute 47/15a 40.00 40.00 Cheque no 91, dated 10.09.2013, expired, not cashed, Kearon McNicol 117.08 Honey & Paradise 78.00 Credit from HMRC, over payment 2011-12 100.28 100.28 100.28 Sub total 53.76 183.65 183.65 Total income 3,516.00 3,925.57 3,925.57

Payments: Clerk's wages (net) - DC 2013-14 669.89 - - Employers NIC Cont. - DC 2013-14 24.48 - - PAYE, DC 173.40 - - Clerk's wages (gross) - KL 1,903.79 845.25 1,690.50 PAYE, KL 100.10 - - Total staff costs 2,871.66 845.25 1,690.50

Business Expenses: 1 Admin & clerk's expenses - KL 530.08 54.51 140.00 2 Admin & clerk's expenses - DC 100.00 - - 3 Cumbria CVS - payroll fees DC 2013-14 67.00 - - 4 Cumbria CVS - payroll fees KL 2014-15 69.00 63.00 126.00 5 Training and travel expenses (plus to meetings - Council business) 138.00 200.00 6 CALC membership 61.00 93.00 93.00 7 CiLCA Registration 250.00 - - 8 Parish Walks Leaflets 420.00 - - 9 Community Hall Grant - web site, min 59/14 750.00 - - 10 Community Hall Grant - maintenance costs, min 58/14 250.00 11 Skelsmergh Sports Grant, min 58/14 100.00 12 WW1 Memorials - St John's Church, Skelsmergh, min 54/14 200.00 - - 13 Stile repair (Coppice Howe - Gurnal Bridge), min 109/14a4 100.00 - - 14 Website, siteground 69.95 15 Skelsmergh Hall - hire meetings 2013-14 & 2014-15; 2015-16 294.50 144.00 144.00 16 Insurance 159.00 159.00 17 Street lighting 70.42 73.45 73.45 18 External Audit 30.00 19 Street lighting overpayment, one-off 2015 - 279.68 279.68 20 Oakbank memorial plaque & seat repair, min 109/14c1 & 93/14c1 116.00 116.00 21 Grant 1: Environment, min 29/15a - 90.00 90.00 22 Grant 2: Burial ground maintenance, min 29/15b - 100.00 100.00 23 Grant 3: Mealbank road improvements, min 29/15c - 1,500.00 24 Parish Sign, northern boundary, min 93/14b4 750.00 25 Parish Plan, expenses for the consultation, min 28/15c 500.00 26 Small concessionary grants, e.g.replacement of noticeboards , etc - 2,000.00 Sub total 3,628.95 1,013.64 6,301.13 Total expenditure 6,500.61 1,858.89 7,991.63 income less expenditure - 2,984.61 2,066.68 - 4,066.06 c/f to following year 5,050.43 7,117.11 984.37

Page 1 of 2 Page 8 of 16 Skelsmergh Scalthwaiterigg Parish Council Accounts Statement and Budget Plan - November 2015

Bank reconciliation £ Barclay's account at 05/10/2015 6,250.73 NS&I Account (last update Jan 2014) 836.05 Sub Total 7,086.78 Cheques / income yet to be presented (from below) 30.33 Total 7,117.11

Cheques not yet presented & Income not yet on statement £ Cheque No HM Website, Siteground - 69.95 100122 Credit from HMRC, not a payment 100.28 Total 30.33

Fixed and long term assets £ Grit bins 288.00 Notice Boards 500.00 Woodland shed 480.00 Litter pickers 111.00 Community Woodland - notional figure 1.00 Burial Ground - notional figure 1.00 Total 1,381.00

Page 2 of 2 Page 9 of 16 Parish Environment Group Meeting notes Tuesday 15th September 2015

Present: Jane Venet, John and Mary Chapman, Tony Cousins, Julie Waddington Apologies: Frances and Graham White have resigned, but will continue to help with litter clearance and footpaths.

1. Litter Clean Up Action MC, notify SLDC, announcement in Community News and on website, print new poster, cook soup, provide cheeses, liaison with Cenacolo Community TC prepare bacon butties JW distribute posters and provide bread Please keep receipts, we have a grant from PC for expenses.

2. Parish Survey Environment Results Multiple problems were reported for Mealbank. The wall needs urgent attention, a meeting is being arranged with Lucien Procter. Noise at the Industrial estate and litter need to be discussed with owner too.

3. Dog fouling Action MC purchase chalk spray paint, contact SLDC for advice about a warning notice on the A6. We decided against installing a dog poo bin.

4. Rights of Way We shall do a full survey of ROWs in the spring 2016. The last one was done in 2010. We plan to do minor maintenance in July, responding to reports. We shall publicise an Adopt a Footpath system for residents to keep an eye on and report problems on specified ROws. Notice in Community News, website and in Community Plan.

5. Bird Survey. Mary will put a reminder about returns into the October Community News. Tony will do the report on results.

6. Access to Benson Knott. We discussed this complex aspirational project to open up access to the Knott from Paddy Lane. Tony will contact Ramblers to find out if they are interested in opening negotiations.

7. Invasive Species The Sprint is clear of Himalayan Balsam. A few specimens were removed from Holme House, Sprint /Kent confluence and Catholm. No sightings on the Mint, next year we shall survey both for strays. There is Japanese Knotweed at Ghyllthwaiterigg Farm and Rock Cottage. Mary will check and notify Environment Agency.

8. Parish Visit or Evening Lecture Mary will contact United Utilities about a second trip to Watchgate Water Treatment Works in the late spring 2016. Tony will find out about the good United Utilities speaker on the aqueducts under our parish, for a winter talk at the Community Hall.

9. Mammals We discussed having a survey of mammals seen in the parish, dead or alive, with a focus on red and grey squirrels and deer. 2016, Community News and website.

MORE PUBLICITY ABOUT JOINING THE ENVIRONMENT GROUP ! Thank you all for your attendance, ideas and enthusiasms.

Next Meeting Thursday 11th February 2016 venue to be confirmed. Keep in touch. Page 10 of 16 Page 11 of 16 Meeting

28 September 2015

Skelsmergh Community Hall

Present: Brenda Grey (CCC Kendal South), Stan Collins (CCC Upper Kent), Peter Lansberry (Kentmere), John Heap (Old Hutton and Holmescales), Mary Chapman (Skelsmergh and Scalthwaiterigg), Norman Winter (), John Farmer (Longsleddale), Ian Johnston (Kentmere), John Stott (Stainton), Peter Thornton (SLDC ), Stan Collins (CCC Upper Kent)

Officers: Simon Blyth, SLDC. David Gibson (CCC), Cherrie Trelogan (CCC)

In attendance: David Gibson (CCC)

ITEM Key Points/ Actions

1. Welcome, Apologies Introduction and There were no members of the public present. apologies Robert Courtier, John Chapman, Arthur Capstick, Julie Knowles, Steve Capstick, Ruth Rigg, 2. Notes of Wednesday 17 June: meeting held on: Disclosures of No interest AOB No Matters arising SC: Burneside may like to join the LAP. ACTION: SC to put Burneside in touch with SB. PL: BT telephone in Kentmere is limited to emergency calls and reverse charges, and houses a defibrillator. 1 Page 12 of 16 ITEM Key Points/ Actions

MC: Received verge cutting response from David Huck, Cumbria County Council: Cumbria County Council operate an environmental verge maintenance policy. The policy was formulated by the County Ecologist & is aimed at achieving an acceptable balance between bio-diversity & road safety. All the highway verges in the area were surveyed by botanists to establish the flora & fauna they contained. From the results of the survey, the County Councils Ecologist formulated an environmental grass cutting policy aimed at promoting the continued welfare of these wildflower & wildlife habitats. The grass cutting regime was timed to allow the flora in the verges to flower & set before being cut. As this occurs at different times depending upon the species involved, the Ecologist specified various Management Cuts based on the relevant calendar period & we strive to ensure that all roads detailed on our plans are cut in accordance with those schedules. This means the verges are cut at differing times between May – Oct each year, indeed within individual road lengths, some section have different cutting regimes. Across the Upper Kent LAP you will more or less have the whole range of management cuts on one road or another. Subject to available funds, a second cut of the early Type A Management cuts is undertaken during September – October. Unfortunately the austerity measures imposed by the government mean that we can now no longer afford to undertake any of the full width cutting. The work is carried out using a tractor mounted flail mower. Where the verge width allows, we cut a safety swathe of 1.2m which represents the width of the flail head. Where the verges narrow right down & are backed by walls or fence lines, it is accepted that the verge can only be chamfered back as far as is practically possible. Landowners are very quick to contact us regarding any damage that our grass cutting operations may have caused to their walls. With approximately 2200 kilometers of road in the South Lakes area, the regime represents a practical & cost effective means of delivering the required balance between road safety & the environment. Please be aware that hedge maintenance is the responsibility of the adjacent landowner. PL: Verge cutting is not happening in practice. SC: If so go through the County Councillor. PT: Can communities cut their own verges, with funds from CCC? SC: This has been agreed in principle however taking work out of the existing contract is proving difficult. PL: Parishes need to know when the cutting will start in the area. SC: CCC provide a full cut every 3 or 4 years to destroy saplings.

Actions • LAP to send a letter of thanks to David Huck and a request for permission for interested parishes to take ownership of verge cutting, using current CCC funds for that parish. 3. Rights of Way Key Points in Upper Kent Countryside Access (See also slides below): LAP: David • CCC manage 3800 PR0W’s (Public Rights of Way) outside the national parks. 2 Page 13 of 16 ITEM Key Points/ Actions

Gibson, CCC • Initial mapping of County paths/ bridleways (with parishes) was done in 1949 – 53. • The map is a legal document and CCC have a legal duty to maintain it. • Currently in process of revising and digitalising the map (current map is from 1976) as paths change and are diverted etc (eg by households building extensions). • District Council has to approve the planning issues and CCC have to consult on change of path. CCC committee then must approve. • About 6-9 months to approve a change of footpath (can be up to 14 years). Tests have to be passed • Highways Authority responsible for path signage. • Public footpath destination on footpath signs only if parish requests and contributes to costs. • Gates and stiles: The landowner’s responsibility (enforceable by the Highway Authority). CCC contribute 25% or in kind: ie the gate or stile • CCC only work with permitted paths on Council owned land. • Landowners liability if there is a dangerous stile across a path. • Planning Authority can put a barrier across public right of way (ie allow a barn extension). So CCC now work on improving communications with planning authorities/ tenants. • Parishes are contacted by letter to the parish clerk when CCC survey paths (6 year rolling cycle). • Results of path survey: If improvement planned parishes will be involved, otherwise will just be done. • Improvement Programme: work with community groups and parish councils. Often drainage work. • CCC work with partners to attract funding grants – very successfully last year with 115% match funding gained. • Coast Path is a new big work load for 2015/16 • Standard of footpaths is about liability and risk. For example urban paths are managed by Highways as hard surface. An access path to school would be looked at as an improvement. • Livestock: Can’t keep a diary bull on a public right of way, although a beef bull OK. • Surfaces: CCC only get involved if affects people or horses. • CCC can do a hard copy of the parish footpath map, contact David Gibson ([email protected] ) or use this link. 4. LAP follow up Key points discussion on Broadband: JF: 73% in Cumbria have no SFBB connections. Connecting Cumbria is confident they can reach 93% by the rural end of year. No consolation to those who won’t get a connection. The very rural areas need money put in. 2nd phase of economy CC will provide 95% with a a SFBB connection (2017/18). JH: Preston Patrick and the Huttons are working with B4RN. Forecast connection by 2017. B4RN will be at junction 36 by Christmas.

3 Page 14 of 16 ITEM Key Points/ Actions

PT: Joined Board of Connecting Cumbria. Aim of 2mb for all properties has been shelved and replaced with a subsidized satellite system. Cost = £100 (equipment) then £25 per month. Will have a data cap on usage. PT pushing for 100% SFBB everywhere however needs pressure before the next election to force Government’s hand. Kencomp/ B4RN are options along with satellite. BT promised to talk to Kentmere and Longsleddale about options. PL: Personally uses a satellite. However there is lack of functioning at times (including every Sunday) and often times out. Satellite is not a solution, also more like £40 per month. JF: Radio solution may be better but is not supported.

SC: Problem in local rural areas is low pay. People have 2 or 3 jobs to make ends meet. The area needs better paid work. If people learn skills or gain academic qualifications they usually have to move away to work. Parish Council could better support the local economy eg Staveley connections. However in Staveley there is no formal business network, even though pooling ideas is a good idea. Public transport very important. Danger that rural communities will miss out. PT: No funding for public transport. Key is to find a way for people to connect with each other for lifts. IJ: Kentmere bus wasn’t well used. PT: Eden plus bus: intelligently designed but wasn’t used to make it pay. BG: People who can’t drive? Need once a week service at least. Should be part of the Cumbria devolution deal. JH: Need community spirit to help out. See ACT’s Good Neighbours Scheme. PT: We have a high proportion of retired residents in UKLAP. Is it beneficial to encourage new affordable housing to be built in the LAP? A subject for a future meeting? BG: Not economically viable to build one affordable house in a small settlement. SC: Highways: A684: trench across the road near New Hutton jnc near bus shelter. It’s a National Grid trench: but after a year no progress or action. 3rd time they have caused issues in Upper Kent. Lack of communications with Cumbria Highways. Very resistant to doing the works they should be doing and Cumbria Highways is unfairly getting the blame. Any other issues like this please let SC know. PT: Highways Hotline is very easy to use now and mapping very good. Pothole work was done within 24 hours. LDNP: Land sales not going very well, few offers. World Heritage Bid progressing. Potential NP extension – LDNP have heard nothing so looking unlikely. JF: Kendal Court may close. The consultation, which lasts until 8th October 2015, can be found at: https://consult.justice.gov.uk Actions • LAP to write to Connecting Cumbria: expressing concern on progress in very rural areas. If they are prepared to subsidise satellite request funds be used instead for Kencomp , B4RN (and halve the cost) for piping along roads. SB/PL/ JF/ JH/ MC. 5. Updates Key points 4 Page 15 of 16 ITEM Key Points/ Actions

2016 LAP meeting programme: SB LAP agreed to go to 3 meeting per annum. Actions • Invite Burneside PC to next mtg and a slot on the agenda to bring the LAP up to date with issues and developments in the Parish. 10. Items for • Affordable Housing future meetings • Stavely housing community survey • Burneside vision. • Farming in UK

11. Date and Weds Feb 10th or 17th – TBC venue for next Skelsmergh Community Hall meeting

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