MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 23rd NOVEMBER 2015 AT 7.30pm RE-SCHEDULED FROM 16th NOVEMBER 2015

PRESENT; Mr A Marr (Chairman), Mr W Douglas, Mr W Bradley, Mr R Hart, Mr A Jones, Mrs P Jones, Mr J Kendall APOLOGIES: P.C.S.O. Peter Crome ALSO PRESENT; Mr G Proud, Mr L Parker, Mrs E Parker, Councillor A J Markley

REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATION; None. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS; None.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION; Mr G Proud raised the question re. grass cutting at the south end of the village; when it is cut could it be picked up? It was felt that as there are Natterjack Toads in the area this may not be possible.

Mr J Kendall said can Chairman ensure matters are strictly enforced unlike the last meeting.

At this point Mr & Mrs Parker entered the meeting. Mrs Parker said the Friends of Green are putting in for a grant for new picnic tables and seats and they want Parish Council to find out what would be in order. These would become the property of the Parish Council she said. It was felt they should be made of re-cycled plastic. The AONB and A.B.C. to be asked what would be in order. Mrs Parker said they also want a couple of seats by the toilets.

MINUTES; Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 19th October and special meeting on 27th October2015 were agreed and signed as a true record.

MATTERS ARISING;

Toilets at West End – A meeting with Mr D Bryden, A.B.C. had taken place and Mr Bryden had said Mr D Twentyman and Mr P Blake may be interested in taking them over. If so, there would be no charge and we should arrange a meeting with them. Mr Marr is to speak to Mr Twentyman and Mr Blake. Money would be transferred to the toilets at the Play Area.

Parish Council Website – Mr T Cooper has said he cannot set this up. It was agreed to ask Wendy Jamieson if she could do it and what the cost would be.

POLICE REPORT; The Report was received giving an overview of one incident that has occurred since our last meeting.

GRASS CUTTING; Mr Douglas said he and Mr Bradley had a meeting with Mr A Sim re. cutting Westwinds Green, Greens at the south end and end. Mr Sim thinks he can do it for £400 per cut. Regarding Mr Proud’s point with all the molehills etc it would be impossible to bale it. Mr Douglas said 5 cuts could be done for£2000 though he did not say 5; just what we ask for. He is to do a cut at the seaward side of the cycle way to tidy it up for next year. We would pay per cut.

Mrs Jones asked if Dr Irving was okay with this? She said she would meet with the Parks Manager if we wish. Mr Marr felt we should ask Dr Irving as Manager of the Banks.

It was agreed to get quotes from ISS, Countrywide Grounds Maintenance and Town Council. Mrs E Parker said can the Probation Service arrange for strimming? Mr Jones felt it was worth considering.

Mr Douglas asked if everyone was agreeable to Mr Sim cutting the grass and it was agreed he should do it. It is Playground strimming, South View Green, West Green, Playground and football pitch and exterior in front of Seychelles up to the fence, in front of Village Hall and the area opposite and beck edges.

PROGRESS OF HANDYMAN; Mr Marr said Mr Craig Ireland has done repairs to Play Area gates. Mr Douglas and Mr Bradley said he has not as they had inspected them. Mr Douglas said on the one by the Gents toilets he has put springs on but used screws that are too short. The double gates need strengtheners. The Spica has been taken out but the base is still there. We need a post in at the toilet block. Mr Sim has said he would put one in. Mr Kendall said before Mr Ireland comes someone should show him what needs to be done. Mr Douglas said a meeting has been arranged with him. It was confirmed Mr Ireland has been given a key to the Shelter Store.

COUNTY COUNCIL HIGHWAYS CONSULTATION; Mr Hart said whilst he was at a Rural Partnership meeting a map was provided to mark on where there is a problem with gulleys. Wigton Road floods and there is no gulley. Mr Bradley said when asked about this they said they would not put a gulley in. Mr Bradley agreed to try and mark the relevant sites and return the map to Mr Hart.

ALLONBY GREENS – COMMUNITY ASSESS; Mr Hart said he has done a report on what a Community Asset is and at some stage we should consider registering as a Community Asset. If we want to it must be done through the Local Authority – to be put on next Agenda. Mr Marr said he is not sure about this; it needs careful consideration.

CORRESPONDENCE; The following items were received and noted:-

1. C.A.L.C. 2015 Annual Report. 2. E-mail from A.B.C. re. Playground Inspections – reply to be sent that we do want the Inspection carried out. 3. C.A.L.C. Circular – passed to Mr Marr. 4. E-mail from C.C.C. re. Consultation on New Council Plan, Budget Savings and new ways of working – passed to Mr Marr. 5. E-mail from NW Ambulance Service asking if we wish to work with them to place a defibrillator in the telephone box. Reply to be sent we would be interested dependent on cost. 6. ‘Tidelines’ magazines passed to Mr Marr, Mr Douglas and Mr Hart. 7. Letter from A.B.C. advising precept to be levied by 22nd January 2016 – to be put on next agenda. 8. Letter from Triple TTT Ltd, Handyman Service – to be filed. 9. From A.B.C. Budget 2016/17 Consultation – passed to Mr Hart. 10. E-mail re. National Plant Monitoring Scheme – passed to Mr Jones. 11. Letters were received from Mrs E Parker and Mr J Hanley re. co-option onto Parish Council and information obtained from A.B.C. Mrs Parker subsequently withdrew her application. Co-option of a new Councillor to be put on next agenda and Mr Hanley to be asked to come along. At this point Councillor Markley entered the meeting. 12. E-mail from C.A.L.C. re. Audit Procurement Changes – we need to have a formal meeting about this. 13. Letter from Great North Air Ambulance requesting a grant. 14. Letter from Sue Hayman MP re. letters from Lord Egremont claiming mineral rights on properties. Reply to be sent we have no knowledge of any such letters. 15. E-mail from Toni Magean re. Workshop on 23rd November re. Area Community Team – Strategic Workshop.

REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES; Mr Hart said an application has been put in by Community Forum to Tesco for a Sports Wall on the football pitch. Councillor Markley advised Mr Hart of another grant available.

PLANNING; Application for Disabled Level Access Provision – The Corner Café, Main Street, Allonby has been approved by A.B.C.

At this point Mr Kendall left the meeting.

FINANCE; An e-mail was received from C.A.L.C. re. Audit Procurement Changes. It was agreed to ask Wendy Jamieson about this.

Account was received from Mr Craig Ireland - £78.00 passed for payment.

Account was received from Farmers for materials used by Handyman - £114.56 passed for payment.

Clerk’s salary and expenses were agreed as follows:-

Pay period 19th October to 15th November 2015

13 hours at £8.428 per hour = £109.56 Less Income Tax of £21.80 = £87.76

Reimbursement of expenses –

Photocopying - £5.60 Postage- £1.69 Broadband - £11.99 Heating of Hall - £2.00 Total = £19.59

Amount payable = £87.76 + £19.59 = £107.35.

ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA; The Playground. The state of the flagpole. Situation re. toilets. Update on potholes. ‘Fly a Flag for Commonwealth Day?

Councillor Markley asked if we had had any complaints re. the Road Closure sign for Dubmill. It had been faulty and they had had to get a contractor to fix it.

Mr Douglas asked can we ask NORWEB why the supply keeps going off and can they fetch the supply in from the other end. It was agreed a letter be sent.

Councillor Markley said he had been informed that there was a £50,000 Zoe Pluckrose Fund through A.B.C.

DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING; Monday 21st December 2015 at 7.30pm. Meeting closed at 8.55pm.