ABOVE DERWENT PARISH COUNCIL Minute s of the Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday, 2 March 2011 at 7.00pm for 7.15.p.m. in the Village Hall, Portinscale. PRESENT Councillor J. W. Bennett – Chairman Councillors G. Davidson Mrs. H.L.Davies G. L. Davies J.R Downie (a) K.D. Hodgson R. Kealey Mrs. J.M Shaw Mrs. P. Soulsby Mrs. A Thoburn (a) Absent Also in attendance:- Val Edmondson, Lake District National Park Ranger and Cumbria County Councillor Elizabeth Barraclough 162/11-APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE RESOLVED that apologies for absence submitted from Allerdale Borough Councillor, Tim Heslop, be received and that apologies for absence submitted, with reasons, from Councillor J. R. Downie be received and noted. 163/11-DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL OR PREJUDICIAL INTEREST There were no declarations. 164/11 – MINUTES OF MEETINGS OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON 19 JANUARY 2011 AND 14 FEBRUARY 2011 RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Above Derwent Parish Council held in the Victory Memorial, Braithwaite on 19 January 2011 (pages 38-46), be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman, Councillor Bennett. And RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Above Derwent Parish Council held in Braithwaite Church Hall on 14 February 2011 (pages 48-50), be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the meeting Chairman, Councillor Kealey. 165/11-PUBLIC PARTICIPATION No members of the public were present. 166/11-POLICE ATTENDANCE PCO Peter Moon arrived at the start of the meeting and provided the Clerk with a written report and dates of Police ‘drop-in’ surgeries. The Chairman thanked PCO Moon for this information and agreed that the Clerk would read out the information as PCO Moon had to leave for other duties. RESOLVED that the following information supplied by PCO Peter Moon be noted. 14/02/11 Report of a vehicle apparently abandoned. Officer attended, vehicle was not taxed and a seven day order was placed on the vehicle to have it removed. 23/02/11 Report of a deer being struck by a vehicle. Patrol attended – no trace Other business – Issue raised at Police neighbourhood drop-in surgery by several Portinscale residents is the parking of vehicles adjacent to the Farmers Arms pub , causing problems for vehicles attempting to turn in and out of the junction first left after the pub (when coming from the A66) 51 Police Surgeries: Booths Supermarket, Keswick: 10am-11am on 23 March, 6 April, 19 April Drop-In Centre, Heads Road, Keswick:10.30am-11.30am on 15 March, 30 March, 12 April, 27 April ________________________________ In respect to the parking in Portinscale mentioned above, Councillor Elizabeth Barraclough advised that the Traffic Regulation Order was not yet fully implemented, i.e. that the schedule of painting yellow lines was not yet completed. 167/11 – NATIONAL PARK REPRESENTATIVE REPORT RESOLVED that the following requests to and information from National Park representative, Val Edmondson, be received and noted:- 1. Work is in progress on the stone pack horse bridge at Low House Farm, Newlands and also at the washed out bridleway between Hallgarth Farm and the Whinlatter road. 2. The footpath at Little Braithwaite is now repaired and the work has been paid for mainly with monies from DEFRA. It is now meant to be ‘future proof’. A consultant is considering the best action to take in respect of the bank with regards to the path; the result should be known by 1 April 2011. 3. The paths by the bridge below Low House are due to be repaired. 4. Tracks at High Snab and Keskerdale Farm are being upgraded. 5. The Chairman brought forward item 9 for discussion, regarding the placing of a plaque on the new bridge at Little Braithwaite. Val Edmondson said there would be no objection to the plaque. The Clerk was asked to find out who deals with listed buildings at the Planning department of the LDNPA and to establish if there would be any problem in erecting a plaque on the new bridge as the old bridge was ‘listed’. The Chairman thanked Val Edmondson for her report. The Ranger then left the meeting. The Chairman relayed a conversation with David Bell in respect of a plaque and conveyed the contents of an email which was making enquiries about being able to place a plaque. 168/11– NATIONAL TRUST REPORT There was no National Trust representation at this meeting. 169/11– WARD REPRESENTATIVE – COUNTY COUNCILLOR RESOLVED that the following requests and information from County Councillor Elizabeth Barraclough, be received and noted:- 1. Cumbria County Council is making big cuts in services, especially in Children’s Services, the provision of public toilets and the operation of safety cameras on the roads. It is thought that many jobs will cease. 2. Cumbria Highways is to receive slightly more money for operations; however, this is expected to be absorbed in the costs of filling pot holes around the county. People may wish to note that Andrew Butler, Highways Engineer, is retiring in March 2011. 3. There is less money to be paid to the bus company, Stagecoach, as the amount the County Council receives from Government for bus passes does not cover the cost of their use. 4. Neighbourhood Forums will still give grants, but there will be less money available. 52 5. There will not be charges for on-street parking. 6. Police for the area will be based at and deployed from Cockermouth. 7. Cumbria County Council has brought the services undertaken externally by CAPITA to being ‘in-house’ services. 8. Councillor Elizabeth Barraclough informed Above Derwent Parish Council that this would be her last meeting attendance in this Parish as she is retiring in March 2011 from her County Councillor role. The Chairman of Above Derwent Parish Council thanked Councillor Barraclough for her valued support and all that she has done for the community. 170/11 – WARD REPRESENTATIVE – BOROUGH COUNCILLOR Councillor Tim Heslop was not able to be present but had asked the Chairman to relay some information at this meeting. RESOLVED that the following information from Borough Councillor, Tim Heslop, be received and noted:- 1. Councillor Heslop advised that there is to be no increase on this year’s Borough Council Precept. The Government had notified Borough Councils that, if they don’t raise the Precept, then the Government would give them an additional 2.5% payment. 2. Councillor Heslop had mentioned that Allerdale Borough Council wished to encourage interested persons to go forward for election to Allerdale Borough Council. 171/11 - FINANCIAL MATTERS a) – BANK BALANCES RESOLVED that the following balances at the bank as at 23 February be noted:- Business Money Manager Account: £8260.19 Community Account: £ 339.50 b)– SCHEDULE OF CHEQUES FOR PAYMENT RESOLVED that the following accounts be approved for payment:- To whom V.N. No. Cheque No. Budget Head Amount payable Thornthwaite- P 040 100895 Room Hire (for 31 January 2011) £10.00 cum-Braithwaite VM Glasdon Mfg Ltd P041 100896 Capital item – Grit Bin for Portinscale £200.64 McKanes Printers P042 100897 Stationery, Postage stamps, £50.33 Photocopying and advertising Veronica Wood P043 100894 Clerk’s travel expenses £40.95 TOTAL £301.92 53 VILLAGE MATTERS COMBINED CONSIDERATIONS 172/11 – UPDATE FROM FLOOD GROUP RESOLVED that the following information be received and noted:- 1. Councillor Soulsby advised that the Flood Group has funds with which to pay for advice from a freelance consultant. Consideration will be given to where Coledale Beck joins Newlands Beck. There will be markers for flood waters and for gravel. Work will be undertaken on the upstream side of Low Bridge. 2. The next meeting of the Flood Group will take place on 7 March 2011. INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATIONS 173/11 – BRAITHWAITE RESOLVED that the following information be received and noted: 1. TREES OUTSIDE BRAITHWAITE SCHOOL Councillor Soulsby advised that efforts were being made to establish the owners of the trees located outside of Braithwaite School, as a resident had expressed concerns about the current condition of the trees, which appear to need attention. Councillor Barraclough expressed the view that they may be the responsibility of Cumbria County Council. Councillors Davidson and Shaw provided their knowledge of past ownership. The Clerk was asked to write to David Bell to convey the local concern and to ask if he could arrange and inspection of the trees. 2. PLAQUE ON THE NEW BRIDGE AT LITTLE BRAITHWAITE This matter was discussed at item 6 (5). 3. DERWENT 7 TRANSPORT GROUP The Chairman permitted this item to be brought to the meeting as an email had been received by the Clerk, from Derwent 7, after the meeting papers had been circulated. It was noted that the bus company intends to remove the bus service from the side of Bassenthwaite opposite the A66 on the grounds that it is not cost effective, and to provide an additional service through Thornthwaite and Braithwaite. Councillor Elizabeth Barraclough advised that, in the wintertime, the bus company receives subsidies from the County Council which, in the future, may not be forthcoming. Councillor Barraclough will be making representations to ensure that there is some bus service available on the other side of the lake. Whilst supporting this action, Councillor Anne Thoburn added that it is good that an extra bus is now being scheduled through Thornthwaite and Braithwaite as people were being left at bus stops because buses were full at busy times. 174/11 – PORTINSCALE RESOLVED that the following information be received and noted and the following actions will be taken: 1. GRIT BIN Councillor Davidson advised that Doug Lowther will dig out the bank in the Dorothy Well Road area, to position the newly received Grit Bin.