<p> CALDBECK PARISH COUNCIL</p><p>Minutes of the ordinary meeting held at Caldbeck Parish Hall on Monday 15th September 2014. </p><p>PRESENT Norman Atkinson, Chairman Ann Armstrong Anne Cartmell Angela Glendinning Colin Smithson Alan Armstrong</p><p>Antoinette Ward (Clerk) Duncan Fairbairn (District and County Councillor), Kerry Harris (PCSO, Cumbria Police) and five residents.</p><p>15/09-41 APOLOGIES Apologies for absence were received from Roy Knowles (holiday), Alan Tyson (holiday), William Cowx (work), Audrey Noble (holiday), Pete Barron (LDNP Ranger), Paul Doherty (Northern Fells Broadband Group) who emailed a report.</p><p>15/09-42 MINUTES The minutes of the ordinary meeting held on 4th August 2014 were agreed and signed as a correct record.</p><p>15/09-43 DECLARATION OF INTEREST The Clerk declared a personal interest in Item 5, Planning Applications; 7/2014/2228, Mardale, Upton. </p><p>15/09-44 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 1. Duncan Fairbairn, District and County Councillor reported that a) he had attended an EE meeting about mobile signals and mobile broadband but he had found it very technical. No doubt EE would be able to explain the detail to residents if they wanted specific information; b) despite the problems caused by Hesket Bridge being closed for repairs Hesket Newmarket Agricultural Show had been a great success. Cumbria Highways and the Hesket Show Committee had combined to put up excellent notices to guide drivers via diversion routes. 2. Kerry Harris (PCSO) reported that no incidents had been reported from the parish since the last meeting. The Speed Camera had been used in Caldbeck, first by the PCSO and then by Police. 3. Resident David Ward spoke to explain the new local occupancy clause that had been applied to the planning permission for the proposed southern dwelling at Mardale and to ask for the Council’s support for the application to include all Caldbeck’s adjoining parishes in the locality for the local occupancy clause. 4. Residents Diane Rushworth and Maureen Allen spoke regarding the 73/73A Stagecoach Bus service, the immediate threat to its continuation because the County Council is stopping its subsidy, its value to both the local community and to visitors, and their efforts to publicise the bus more widely, efforts which have already resulted in an increase in numbers of passengers. The Chairman commended them for their work on behalf of the community, thanked them for the information they provided and said the 73/73A service would be discussed further as an agenda item – see minute 47 below. 5. Paul Doherty, Parish Broadband Representative, sent a report that the Broadband Group had met with both EE and BT recently. The meeting with EE was to discuss the current state of play and present any issues arising from users etc. They are awaiting feedback from this meeting. Paul advised that the Sandale mast finally went live about four weeks ago giving a much greater 4G coverage in our area. He also wrote: ‘The BT meeting was for us, as a community group, to be given a postcode level idea of high speed broadband coverage. It's a mixed bag of good and bad news but it's constantly changing as the rollout continues. We will have a much better idea after our next meeting in October. I can however advise that the original low percentage coverage for Caldbeck parish should increase including hopefully some good news for Hesket Newmarket. Here's the projected high speed broadband coverage figures resulting from the BT meeting. The percentage refers to premises/lines, not area or population, and it should be borne in mind that some premises may have two or more lines, a business for example. Boltons 22.6%, Caldbeck 6.2% although this is expected to rise, Castle Sowerby 9.1%, Ireby 62.5%, Mungrisedale 1.3%, Sebergham & Welton 0.0%, Rosley & Westward 0.7%. We will have a much better idea after our next meeting with BT in October. Expect some of the above figures to change’. 6. The Clerk reported that the Environment Agency had sent a message that they are organising an Open Meeting from 4pm to 7pm on 21st October in the Parish Hall for residents to consult them on any aspect of flash flooding.</p><p>15/09-45 PLANNING DECISIONS AND APPLICATIONS a) Decisions: /2014/2159 Mardale, Upton, Caldbeck, CA7 8EU. Extensions to existing dwellinghouse and division into two dwellinghouses. Approved with conditions, including local occupancy clause on southern dwelling. 7/2014/2136: Greenside House, Caldbeck, CA7 8EE. Create access from the B5299 to the garden for car parking space. Build a storage shed. Approved with conditions. 7/2014/2129: Highway verge at the Village Green, Hesket Newmarket. Install cycle parking facilities. Approved. 7/2014/2127: Grassed area adjacent to Old Smithy Tearooms, Caldbeck. Install cycle parking facilities. Approved. 7/2014/2188 Beck Grange Farm, Caldbeck, CA7 8HH. Erection of agricultural workers dwelling. Approved with conditions, including agricultural worker’s condition. 7/2014/2134 Land to the East of the childrens playground, Hesket Newmarket. Erection of dwelling house (resubmission). Refusal. Allerdale, Snowhill Quarry, Snowhill Farm: Section 73 application to planning permission 2/07/9006 to amend conditions 6, 7, and 14. Approved with conditions. b) Applications: 7/2014/3112 Millhouse, Hesket Newmarket, Diversion of overhead line. Agreed to support. 7/2014/2228 Mardale, Upton, Caldbeck, CA7 8EU. Variation of Condition Number 4 of Planning Approval 7/2014/2159 – local occupancy. Agreed to support this application for a variation of the locality for local occupancy to include all the adjoining parishes to Caldbeck parish whether within or outside the National Park because these adjoining parishes have close economic and social ties with Caldbeck parish. T/2014/0131 Sun House, Hesket Newmarket, CA7 8JG. Fell 3 Silver Birch. Agreed to support. T/2014/0126 Bridge End House, Caldbeck, Wigton, CA7 8EW, Silver birch - reduce by 25% and remove lower limb; cherry - cut overhanging branch across river; mountain ash - remove lower limb; alder - reduce height by 25%; cherry - fell; coppice mixed broadleaves. Devolved decision by Clerk following consultation with Councillors: support application because trees were getting overgrown and needed attention. Allerdale, 2/2013/0808. Field 8049 east of Mill View, Friar Row, Caldbeck. Change of use of land from agricultural to camping site, construction of shower and toilet block and creation of turning and dropping off area. Amendment to application: Change of description of development only. Agreed – no objections. c) The Clerk was directed to write to the Director of Planning at the LDNPA and request that letters of support or objection from Highways, other statutory bodies and from members of the public be uploaded to the planning website and added to the forms and reports for the relevant planning application. Allerdale Borough Council’s planning website was cited as an example where such letters area available to read online attached to each planning application. She was asked to request this idea be an agenda item for the LDNP Parish Forum meeting on 20th October. d) The changes to Caldbeck parish’s Locality for Local Occupancy conditions, as designated in the latest LDNP Housing Provision Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) approved in March 2014, were discussed. The Clerk was directed to write to the Director of Planning at the LDNPA and request that Caldbeck’s adjoining parishes, whether inside or outside the National Park, should be added to the Locality for local occupancy conditions because these parishes have close economic and social ties with Caldbeck parish. The Clerk was also directed to request that the new Locality be an agenda item at the LDNP Parish Forum meeting on 20th October, and at the CALC Allerdale three tier meeting on 25th September so that the Chairman can explain to the meetings how changes in Locality for Caldbeck parish’s local occupancy conditions can affect our neighbouring parishes, especially those outside the National Park.</p><p>15/09-46 PROPOSED FOOT AND CYCLE PATH ALONG HESKET LONNING The Clerk reported that the first meeting of the Working Group (Chairman Norman Atkinson, Councillors Alan Tyson, Colin Smithson, LDNP Rangers Pete Barron and Cath Johnson, and resident Tim Cartmell) was booked for 29th September. The Clerk to prepare a paper with preliminary information ready for that meeting.</p><p>15/09-47 BUS SERVICES a) The Clerk reported on the Bus Survey results (full report available from the Clerk). She concluded that it was very clear that people look to different towns as their main destination and this was not surprising as we live in the middle of the circle of towns and different people have connections and preferences for shopping, appointments, visiting family or onward travel in different towns. It was also clear that a bus is vital to residents. But if we had to choose a town for a community bus in the event of losing all our buses it looked as though, taking both first and second preferences into account, Carlisle would be the overall preferred destination. b) The Clerk reported that official notification had been received from CCC that the subsidy for the 73 service finishes on 11th Oct, and on Fri 12th Sept she had received an email from Rory Stewart with the response he had received from Stagecoach, saying that they plan to stop the 73 Saturday Rambler service after the final November 1st service. The following week the winter timetable would normally have come into play. A number of respondents to the Bus Survey emphasised the value of the Saturday Keswick service – for shopping (Booths at the bus station so no distance to carry shopping), for onward travel to Penrith, Kendal (and Cockermouth, Workington, from Castle Inn), for walking: Borrowdale/Buttermere/ Grasmere, for volunteering at Keswick Oxfam shop, for social visits and generally getting out and about to enjoy the wonderful scenery. The situation was discussed by Councillors and it was agreed that the Clerk should 1. write to the other affected parishes to ask what action could be taken and to ask them to publicise the service while it is still running, 2. Write to Stagecoach and ask if the bus could be kept running until Christmas so as to see if more people could be alerted to its usefulness and the bus might become commercially viable, 3. Write to Cumbria County Council and ask if they might continue a temporary subsidy until Christmas, again to see if with increased publicity the number of passengers might increase, 4. To liaise with Diane Rushworth and Maureen Allen and others who are trying to publicise the bus and increase its number of passengers, 5. To write to Rory Stewart MP, explain the current situation, thank him for his support and ask for his help with publicity when the time is judged right. </p><p>15/09-48 GRASS CUTTING ON CALDBECK GREEN a) The Clerk reported that there had been five further comments from residents, and one from a former resident, following her article in the September Parish Magazine – these were additional to the original emails from R Bailey and P Bolson requesting later cutting of the Green to encourage wild flowers. Some of the responses were quite detailed but views varied from those who would like to see the Green drained, the ditches filled in and the grass cut regularly to those who would like the Green cut later in the summer to encourage more wild flowers and those who would like it to be an actual wild life meadow. Councillors reported that in addition to the written comments received by the Clerk they had discussed the Green management with a number of residents and again received varied views. The points were made that the later the cut the more difficult for the contractor as very long grass is difficult to cut on such uneven terrain with ditches, that if left uncut the sieves would also seed and spread, and that removing cut grass would be very expensive. b) Following the above reports Councillors discussed the annual grasscutting arrangements for Caldbeck Green. It was proposed (Colin Smithson) that the first cut of the year be flexible, depending on grass growth, and the second cut to be in August. This was seconded by Alan Armstrong and agreed unanimously.</p><p>15/09-49 PROTECTION OF COMMUNITY ASSETS The Clerk reported that she had written to the two Post Offices, the two Pubs, the Parish Hall Committee, the School Governors re the School Green, Isel Estates re the Allotment field, and the Play Area Association, to ask for their views on the proposal to recommend their premises as Community Assets under the Localism Act 2011. Correspondence had been received from Kirkland Store and Hesket Newmarket Village Shop proprietors explaining that designation under the Act might complicate any future sale of these premises as village shops and post offices rather than helping a sale. Following discussion it was agreed that the two village shop/post offices and the two village pubs should be taken off the list of proposed community assets. No other communications had been received from the other premises so it was agreed to leave further consideration of the scheme until the next meeting.</p><p>15/09-50 INEQUITY OF FUNDING LETTER The Clerk reported that she had recently written to Allerdale BC to follow up her original letter but had not yet received a reply.</p><p>15/09-51 PARISH MAINTENANCE a) Drainage problems School Hill to Commercial Row. The Clerk reported that she had spoken to the Highways Engineer who had tried to contact the Nobles and the Lears when he was in Caldbeck recently but unfortunately they had both been out at the time. The Clerk said she would see if she could get the residents’ mobile phone numbers so that the Engineer might be able to contact them more easily at the next opportunity. b) The culvert and new under road drain near Green Close, Caldbeck. The Clerk reported that the Highways Engineer is going to look at the culvert behind Green Close, where the Chairman explained there is no grid, and see if it would be a good idea to install a grid. c) Consideration of suggestion that grasscrete might be a solution to erosion of edge of Green in Hesekt Newmarket. It was agreed that the Clerk should write to the LDNPA Ranger to ask whether grasscrete might be a solution to the erosion of Hesket Newmarket Green beside the slip road leading to the Chapel opposite Denton House. d) Tenters car park, Caldbeck – grasscutting. The Clerk was asked to find out if the LDNPA has agreed to reimburse the petrol costs of the volunteer who has cut the grass in the car park regularly this summer. e) Other Parish maintenance: 1. Overgrown ivy in the ginnel beside Oakview Cottage. The Clerk reported that the owner of Oakview Cottage had offered to cut back the ivy during September and she would follow this up with him. 2. Alick Grieve had contacted the Clerk to say there could be an opportunity for more Vodaphone Open Sure Signals which would increase the current Vodaphone coverage. The Clerk was asked to thank Mr Grieve for his help in writing an application and she confirmed she would liaise with him over application details. 3. Tim Shield, the Highways Engineer sent messages that a) he will follow up the plan to paint a white line beside 1, Beech Cottage on Woodhall Lane as had been agreed last year, because despite it being advised in the Highway Code not to park within 10 metres of a junction cars still sometimes park there and cause problems for wagons negotiating the junction, and b) the new culvert and drain on the Long Lea road at Parkend has been ticketed so is now in the pipeline. 4. The Clerk to report blocked drain at bridge between Scalerigg and Lonning Foot. 5. Clerk to report Upton Road once again to Highways – it remains badly degraded.</p><p>15/09-52 MONTHLY ACCOUNTS AND ANNUAL AUDIT a) The Clerk reported that the only issues arising were that she had entered the early receipt of the parish Precept for 2015/16 in the wrong box on the form, and the Internal Auditor had replied ‘no’ to a question when he should have replied ‘not covered’. The Audit documents say that these are minor errors which don’t affect the actual audit of the accounts. The Council’s action is just to ensure that these errors don’t occur again next year. It was resolved to approve and accept the Annual Report following the completion of the external audit. b) The budget was reviewed and it was agreed that receipts and spending were within expectations. c) The Council received updated information re amount remaining of Eva Geddling and Kathleen Rigg bequests. d) It was resolved to approve the monthly expenditure and record of income: Receipts: Allerdale Borough Council, Precept, second half: £4808.77 Allerdale Borough Council, Council Tax Reduction Scheme grant, second half: £141.23 R Dickinson, Allotment Fee: £12; T Ryan, Allotment Fee: £2; K Linfoot-Smith, Allotment Fee: £2 H Horne, Allotment Fee: £4; A Johnston, Allotment Fee: £12; M Powell, Allotment Fee: £2; E Woodham, Allotment Fee: £2; J Bush, Allotment Fee: £4; D Lear, Allotment Fee: £4; S Braithwaite, Allotment Fee: £14 K Dickson, Parking Licence: £5; W L Turner, Parking Licence: £5 Fair World Shop, John Peel Shelter, Rent: £100 Payments: Andrew Ward, Hosting of Caldbeck website and domain names; £88.00 (paid 2.9.14) Mark Binney, grasscutting, paths on Caldbeck Green and Cornhill, August 2014: £295.01 RG Bell and Sons, pond work completed 2014: £3,461.06 (inc VAT OF £576.84) Antoinette Ward, Clerk’s Salary, July, Aug, Sept: £718.11, and Expenses, June, July, August: £63.84 HMRC, PAYE July, August, Sept: £179.40 BDO LLP, External Auditor: £120.00 The Council was notified of the current financial position; HSBC Current A/C 8th August 2014: £3,047.74; 8th Sept 2014: £6,389.99 HSBC Deposit A/C 8th August 2014: £10,602.31; 8th Sept 2014: 10,602.94 Interest 8th August 2014: £0.63p; 8th Sept 2014: 0.63p</p><p>15/09-53 STANDING ORDERS The Clerk reported that she had intended to present a draft of amended standing orders regarding the new regulations allowing filming and recording of Parish Council meetings. However, the protocol document is rather longer than needed for Standing Orders so the Clerk had emailed CALC to ask if they have a précised version that we can add to Standing Orders. The Protocol document will be displayed at all Council meetings.</p><p>15/09-54 COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE The Clerk has emailed CALC to ask if a template for a simple complaints procedure is available as the NALC version is very complex and more suited to District Councils.</p><p>15/09-55 CORRESPONDENCE 1. Christopher Murray: request to plant tree on the Green at Caldbeck. Email to Councillors 8.9.14. The Clerk was asked to write to Mr Murray and explain that there are already a number of trees on the Green but it might be worth him contacting the LDNPA about planting a tree on the Common near Ratten Row. 2. Ewan Macfadzean: email re Caldbeck Green. See item 48 above. 3. Henry and Margaret Hellon: letter re Caldbeck Green. See item 48 above. 4. Diane Rushworth: email re 73/73A bus service. See item 47 above. 5. Cheryl Cowperthwaite, CCC. Notice of withdrawal of subsidy for 73/73A bus service from 11th Oct. See item 47 above. 6. Andy and Liz Bothamley: re Assets of Community Value. See item 49 above. 7. David Bryden, Allerdale BC, email re Public Toilet provision Caldbeck: emailed to Councillors 8.9.14. Noted. 8. North West Connections Project (National Grid), Information meeting, Wigton, 8th Sept. The Clerk reported that she had checked the map of the proposed routes, both of which were west of the A595. 9. CALC Allerdale Three Tier meeting and AGM, Thursday 25th Sept, 7pm, Allerdale House. The Chairman plans to attend this meeting. 10. Lake District Parish Forum, Monday 20th Oct, venue to be confirmed. The Clerk plans to attend this meeting. 11. Northern Fells Group AGM, 10th Sept, Caldbeck Village Hall, 7.30pm. Emailed to Councillors 7th Sept. Councillor Roy Knowles, Caldbeck Parish Representative David Ward and the Clerk attended the AGM. 12. CALC Circular Sept 2014. Emailed to Councillors 2nd Sept. Noted. 13. Geoffrey Davies, Allerdale Parishes member of LDNPA: Report August 2014. Emailed to Councillors 28 Aug. Noted with thanks. 14. Northern Fells Group. Thanking Parish Council for annual grant to minibus service and requesting Council for confirmation that David Ward remains the parish representative on the Northern Fells Group Trustees. The Clerk confirmed David Ward as Parish Representative. 15. St Kentigerns Church PCC. Thanking Parish Council for annual grant towards maintenance of churchyard. 16. Caldbeck Area First Responders. Thanking Parish Council for annual grant. 17. Great North Air Ambulance. Thanking Parish Council for annual grant to Pride of Cumbria helicopter. 18. Nigel Utting. Thanking Parish Council for mention of his mother’s book on parish website. 19. Clerks and Councils Direct. Newsletter Sept 2014. Noted.</p><p>15/09-56 NEXT MEETING The date of the next meeting is Monday 27th October 2014, 7.30pm in the Parish Hall. The meeting closed at 9.24pm.</p>