Preston Patrick Annual Parish Meeting

You are invited to

PRESTON PATRICK ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

Held in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government Act 1972 for all Electors

Monday 18 May 2015 at 7.00 pm

Preston Patrick Memorial Hall

[Chairman: Cllr Tony Mason, Preston Patrick Parish Council Chairman]

Do come along to hear what’s happening in your community and have your say

A G E N D A

1. Welcome by Chairman

2. To receive Apologies for Absence

3. To approve the Minutes of the 2014 Annual Parish Meeting

4. To receive Annual Reports from :  Preston Patrick Parish Council Chairman  Preston Patrick Community Led Plan Steering Group  Local Policing Team  Cumbria County and South Lakeland District Council (Councillor Roger Bingham)  Burton Educational Foundation (Mrs O Clarke)  Lancaster Canal Trust (F Sanderson)  Preston Patrick Memorial Hall Committee (K Richardson)  Preston Patrick & Preston Richard WI (Mrs S Sanderson)  St Patrick’s District Church Council (A Mason)

5. Open Forum: an opportunity for electors and members of the public to raise any matters relevant to the parish

Mrs LS Winter Clerk

MINUTES OF THE PRESTON PATRICK ANNUAL PARISH MEETING HELD IN THE MEMORIAL HALL, MONDAY 28 APRIL 2014 AT 7.00pm

Present: Cllrs A Mason (Chairman of the Parish Council in the Chair), Mrs O Clarke, Mrs C Davenport, PJ Foster, P Gott, P Winter and the Clerk, Mrs L Winter, together with County Cllr R Bingham and District Cllr B Cooper, Mrs S Sanderson (Preston Patrick & Preston Richard WI), F Sanderson (Lancaster Canal Trust), Insp. J Stephens (Police), and 9 members of the public.

AP14.1 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced the Members of the Parish Council and the Clerk.

AP14.2 APOLOGIES An apology for absence was received from Cllr K Richardson. It was noted that Cllr Bingham and Insp. Stephens would be late arriving after attending the Preston Richard Parish Meeting, and the meeting agreed that the order of reports on the agenda be rearranged accordingly.

AP14.3 MINUTES OF LAST ANNUAL PARISH MEETING Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on 13 May 2013 were signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

AP14.4 ANNUAL REPORT OF PRESTON PATRICK PARISH COUNCIL The Chairman thanked fellow councillors and the Clerk for their support and effort on behalf of the parish over the past year. He also thanked the local County and District Councillors for their contributions to the six scheduled and two additional meetings held during the year. He referred to parishioners’ involvement - attending meetings, putting their views in writing and speaking to Councillors, which helped the decision-making process.

The Council had commented on 15 planning applications, including a number that were agriculture-related, a micro hydro-electric generation project at Gatebeck and a welcome ATM at Crooklands. Only one decision was contrary to the Council’s recommendations, and one application refused by South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) had gone to appeal. The Chairman updated the meeting regarding land allocations in the area (none of which was in Preston Patrick, but those in Preston Richard parish could impact on our parish). SLDC’s Local Plan had now been adopted. Also representations had been made to SLDC to ensure that any increase in heavy goods vehicles from the proposed development at Mainline Business Estate, Milnthorpe, would not impact on the A65 and Crooklands Canal Bridge.

He was pleased that the much-needed resurfacing of Gatebeck Lane had finally been undertaken by the County Council, as had parking restriction marking at Seven Milestone Bridge Layby and highway improvement work at the A6070/A65 roundabout. Reinstatement of the SLOW markings on the C5077 Gatebeck-School Houses road had been requested, with other remedial works and this would be monitored. Other matters brought to the Council’s attention had been overgrown hedges near Millness and traffic speed on the A65 (held in abeyance until results of the delayed deployment of the Speed Indicator Device are known and whether or not it is identified as an issue following analysis of the Community Led Plan Questionnaire). Improved working arrangements were anticipated with the CCC’s Better Highways South Lakeland since their reorganisation and the mild winter conditions had not necessitated any Parish Gritting. The Chairman reminded the

meeting that the Clerk is the parish Nominated Highways Representative and it helps if she is kept informed to coordinate reports to the Highways Hotline (tel: 0845 609 6609) and to liaise with the Area Steward. He referred to action taken by County Highways as a result of reports of unauthorised brown signs on the A65/A6070 Crooklands roundabout, and action being taken by SLDC against two unauthorised planning developments in Gatebeck.

The public and all stakeholders had again been asked for their views on the CCC and SLDC draft budgets and plans and other consultations. The Chairman expressed the Council’s gratitude for the grant from District Cllr Bingham’s budget towards a plaque for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Trees planted last year and the proposed project to mark the start of the First World War in August 2014 by acknowledging those persons from the parish listed on the War Memorial.

The Parish Council works with, and is represented on, a number of outside bodies and liaises with authorities and agencies whose activities affect the parish. They include: Cumbria Association of Local Councils (CALC), local Broadband Champion, SLDC’s South Westmorland Local Area Partnership (LAP), CCC’s South Westmorland Neighbourhood Forum, Burton Educational Foundation, Lancaster Canal Trust, Armistead Wind Farm Community Fund and Holmescales Quarry Liaison Committee. A representative of the local Rural Policing Team attends Council meetings, provides update reports on activity in the area and invites feedback to minimise crime, and this year our Council representative has monitored the public footpaths and bridleways, which were included in CCC’s Annual Rights of Way Maintenance Programme. Electricity NW’s policy decision relating to street lights on its poles led to the Council agreeing to the removal of a 30 year old light in Gatebeck (at no cost to the Council), and the National Grid West Coast Connections Project consultation has been delayed until later in 2014.

The Chairman mentioned that, after a year of joint working towards a Two Parish Community Led Plan (CLP) Preston Richard had withdrawn, preferring to prepare its own Plan more suited to its future needs. He left it to Cllr Mrs Davenport, the CLP Chairman, to report further and launch the Preston Patrick CLP Questionnaire later in the meeting when everyone would have the opportunity to speak and have their questions answered.

Regarding the Council’s finances, he reported receipts for the year totalled £3737 and payments £2699, resulting in a balance carried forward at 31 March of £4038 (which included £1363 earmarked funds held for the LAP’s Faster Broadband meetings, the Community Led Plan and commemorative projects). Grants were made to the Memorial Hall towards new doors, St Patrick’s Church towards repair of the perimeter wall and access road, and the Great North Air Ambulance. In November the Council set its budget to meet 2014-15 projected expenditure, resulting in a standstill precept of £3395, inclusive of the Government grant.

AP14.5 ANNUAL REPORT ON SOUTH LAKELAND DISTRICT COUNCIL (SLDC) District Cllr Cooper reported on the imminent introduction of additional kerbside recycling trials of cardboard and plastics. He gave a brief resume of the situation regarding the adoption of SLDC’s Local Plan after a prolonged process, certain Land Allocations having attracted controversy, and referred to SLDC’s aim for 1000 new jobs and 1000 new homes in the next 10 years.

AP14.6 ANNUAL PRESTON PATRICK MEMORIAL HALL REPORT In the absence of the Management Committee’s Chairman, Keith Richardson, the Clerk read his report on the past year’s activities. The Hall had been well used and income from lettings was up which was encouraging. Externally, the ‘Preston Patrick’ sign funded last year had been fitted and the Hall fascia re-painted. The interior had been repainted by the Community Payback Scheme and new curtains made and fitted by the Committee and friends with material purchased from a Banks’ Community Fund grant. The Committee thanked the Parish Council for the £225 contribution towards the cost of three new double doors and a £2,500 grant from Banks’ had been approved allowing the work to be carried out during the last week. The Hall would now be warmer and more secure. Thanks were extended to all who had given time, money and effort this year.

AP14.7 ANNUAL REPORT ON BURTON EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION Mrs Olive Clarke, the Council’s representative, outlined the background of the Foundation, it having been set up after the sale of a small farm in County Durham under which coal had been found, and listed the beneficiary parishes. She explained its aims and encouraged applications: University students and pupils in their last two years at school can obtain grants of £45 and £25 respectively. Mrs Clarke was pleased to state that Preston Patrick’s uptake had increased and it was gratifying when letters of thanks are received.

AP14.8 ANNUAL PRESTON PATRICK & PRESTON RICHARD WOMEN’S INSTITUTE (WI) REPORT Sue Sanderson reported that the local WI, which was formed in September 1921, now has 34 members (from those in their first year to others with over 65 years’ service) and meets in the Memorial Hall on the first Wednesday of each month. It belongs to the Cumbria Westmorland Federation and the Helm Group of WIs and is ‘twinned’ with Ashley WI in Staffordshire, the first twinning of its kind. Meetings have varied programmes and combine business, social time and speakers, of which she gave some interesting examples. They also have fund raising activities and outings, support worthwhile causes and are regularly represented at the Westmorland County Show. She spoke of the National Federation’s lobbying role, this year’s having related to organ donation. Mrs Sanderson referred to the centenary of the WI in England and Wales in 2015 and their own in seven years’ time. New members would be warmly welcomed.

AP14.9 ANNUAL POLICE REPORT Sgt John Stephens introduced himself as the Community Sergeant for the Kendal Rural Area, the best performing Area Neighbourhood Policing Team for the past year, having benefited from a 12% drop in reported crime and 14% drop in anti- social behaviour overall. Preston Patrick (and Preston Richard) is in the Z10 Beat Area covering from Selside and Grayrigg in the north down to Junction 36 where reported incidents of youth anti-social behaviour had decreased from 17 to 9. Statistics show anti-social behaviour incidents as: Gatebeck (2), Crooklands (7), Endmoor (10), and road traffic collisions: Gatebeck (4), Crooklands (10), Endmoor (4). There had been no house burglaries or reported assaults but acquisitive crime involving thefts of metal, tools, quad bikes, trailers and livestock from sheds, garages, outbuildings, and lying around was of concern. Everyone was reminded to look after their property and to report anything suspicious. Cross border operations were being run with neighbouring forces to tackle travelling criminals and Horse Watch had recently been launched. Sgt Stephens advised that details of this and other initiatives, including Community Speed Watch, were available on the Police website via Cumbria Community Messaging. He responded to a number of questions

about the new Police & Crime Commissioner’s initiatives, scams and cash machine skimming devices.

AP14.10 ANNUAL REPORT ON CUMBRIA COUNTY COUNCIL (CCC) County Cllr Bingham referred to the difficult County Council, Police & Crime Commissioner and District budget processes which had taken place this year. The County’s budget will save £24.4m in 2014-15 and a further £88m needs to be saved by 2017. There had been staff reductions through voluntary redundancies and County Archives will close for a day. Contentious issues included removal of travel subsidies which could lead to cuts in rural buses and a change to students’ and senior citizens’ travel grants, which would disadvantage rural communities. All would be affected by proposed on-street parking charges in towns. The threatened fire service and Home Accident Reduction Team (HART) cuts were not made and some business relief is to be given. Highways concerns were as usual ongoing, but road casualties had dropped. Although not a County Council responsibility and located in Preston Richard, he referred to the repeated damage to the Crooklands Canal Bridge and stated that no development would take place at Mainline Industrial Estate until proper provision was made to deal with increased traffic, considering that interim measures delay permanent solutions.

AP14.11 ANNUAL REPORT ON DISTRICT CHURCH COUNCIL Tony Mason, the Church Warden, referred to the support of the hard-working District Church Council and the local community. Attendance remained buoyant and a series of initiatives encourage outreach to the wider community – ‘Open the Book’ at the local school, St Patricks @ events and ‘Chill Out Tuesdays’. Expensive repair and renovation work included repointing and replacing lead on the tower and roof valley, replacing slates ripped off in a storm, renovating windows and internal steps, providing a safety gate at the foot of the tower room staircase and installing a new and improved sound system. Maintenance of the fabric of the building and the community burial ground is helped through Boon Days. He thanked the Parish Council for its grant.

AP14.12 ANNUAL REPORT ON LANCASTER CANAL TRUST Frank Sanderson, Public Relations Officer for the Trust, spoke about the Canal which was built as a navigation link between Kendal and the towns and parishes along its 57 mile length. The Millness Depot, where the trip boat ‘Waterwitch’ is overwintered, is steadily being enhanced and trips operate each Sunday and Bank Holiday from Easter to October. Swans, wildlife, flora and fauna all abound on and around the Canal. Monthly work parties look after the canal and canoe parties use it. The Inland Waterways Association Trail Boat Festival in 2015 will also launch from Crooklands. He welcomed the Parish Council’s affiliate membership of the Trust and referred to a recent Canal & River Trust promotion inviting all parishes to adopt a section of canal as this unique wildlife corridor is an environmental and social asset of benefit to all.

AP14.13 OPEN FORUM The Chairman invited comments and questions from those present relating to any parish matters. Concern was expressed about the speed of traffic on the A65 at Crooklands, in particular the Millness junction, and reference was made to the Community Speed Watch Scheme. It was explained that deployment of a Speed Indicator Device (SID) planned in this area for two weeks in March had been delayed but would take place as soon as the device was back in service and the results would be analysed. Also, traffic speed was a topic covered in the Community Led Plan

Questionnaire and until it was known whether it is shown to be an issue when responses are analysed, the Council had agreed that no action would be taken. This was accepted by the meeting. Reference was also made to advisory 20 mph restrictions in certain villages in the county.

AP14.14 PRESTON PATRICK COMMUNITY LED PLAN (CLP) Cllr Mrs Davenport, Chairman of the CLP Steering Group, explained the background to Community Led Plans which enable local people and businesses to have their say in the future of their areas. The Parish Council proposed to prepare a Preston Patrick Plan, but was approached by Preston Richard Parish Council to work jointly on the preparation of a Two Parish Plan. Having done so for a year, Preston Richard then decided in January that it needed its own specific plan. From an initial 2013 survey that highlighted key issues identified as important to the local community, the Preston Patrick CLP Questionnaire has now been devised with the assistance of Action for Communities in Cumbria (ACT) and South Lakeland District Council to explore these issues in more detail. From analysis of the information obtained from the Questionnaire, a plan will be developed identifying what the community can do and what additional help may be needed, culminating in an Action Plan of what will be done, by whom and when. This will inform the Parish, District and County Councils and the Local Area Partnership and other agencies, and may be used to obtain help and funding. Some actions may be delivered by community volunteers (eg a Parish Litter Pick - a suggestion arising from the survey - was organised recently), some by the Parish Council, and others could be more major and longer term. Not all will be feasible. The community has been kept informed of progress throughout the process and further public meetings will be held.

Mrs Davenport hoped that those present had taken the opportunity to look at the display mounted by the Steering Group, which included the Questionnaire, and to speak informally with members prior to the meeting. She formally launched the Questionnaire and encouraged everyone to complete as a household or individual, either the paper copy, which was shortly to be delivered to every household and business in the parish with a sae for return, or the online version by the closing date of 9 June. Questions for businesses were included in the Questionnaire.

Mrs Davenport then responded to questions raised on:  Questionnaire format – based on tried and tested examples but tailored to the parish and issues raised in the flash surveys  Difference between a Neighbourhood Plan and a Community Led Plan  Example topics covered, eg Broadband, traffic, amenities, and further issues that may result, eg an Emergency Plan  Monitoring – regular. Review – usually every 3-5 years  Children as the future of the community to be encouraged to take part.

The Chairman thanked all the contributors for their reports and comments and Mrs Allen, a Church representative, for providing the refreshments, before formally closing the meeting at 9.00 pm.

Chairman ……………………………………..

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