FORUM: No concerns were raised by members of the public present.

Mr. M. Rogers (Chairman), Mr. B. Butterfield, Mrs. N.M. Cowsill, Mr. H. Gardner, Mr. G.M. James, Mrs. M.M. Stainton, Mr. D.J. Stubbs

In attendance: Dist.Cllr. David Foot, Mr. M. Stables (Tarn Assoc.) and PCSO Helen Madden and Sgt. Rob Lampart (Police)

APOLOGIES: Apologies were received from Dist.Cllr. Marshall

Messrs. James, Gardner and Stubbs declared a personal interest in Urswick Tarn, and Mrs. Cowsill a personal interest in Stainton Green.

Mr. Brian Abbott, one of two applicants, the other having withdrawn, was installed as councillor for Bardsea Ward and he signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office form and gave a resume of his career.

All councillors who had not so far submitted their Register of Interest forms to the Clerk were asked to do so as soon as possible.

The Minutes of the previous meetings on 17^th May, 2007, copies of which had previously been issued to members were accepted as a true record. Proposed by Mrs. Stainton, seconded by Mr. Gardner and carried. However, Dist.Cllr. Marshall had notified the Clerk she had pointed out that the Byelaw Signs under Bardsea Matters were in place.

Speedwatch: As it had not been possible to recruit a second volunteer for Urswick and none at all for Bardsea, it was proposed by Mr. Stubbs, seconded by Mrs. Cowsill and carried that this item be removed from future agendas. However, the Chairman would continue to periodically borrow the portable Speed Indicator Device from Mr. Roger Mallett, Local Traffic Control Officer, for use in our parish.

Copies of the new Code of Conduct had been received and copies of the Guide for Members May 2007 and the Pock Guide were presented to each councillor.

However, there was a 6 months period of grace before we had to sign up for this and it was agreed to await CALC’s advice before we went ahead. It was hoped that the new Councillors would have been able to obtain some training meanwhile.

Mr. Graham Darlington, SLDC Conservation Officer, had agreed to attend our meeting in July to bring us up-to-date with, and discuss, the survey work he has completed in connection with Great Urswick village conservation.

POLICE:

Police Community Support Officer Helen Madden introduced herself and said she would be looking after Urswick, although Stainton did not come within her area. It was pointed out that our main concern was the problem of dog fouling and she was prepared to speak to dog owners. There is a £75 fine which she can impose on any owner who’s dog fouls and it is not cleaned up.

Parking at Sunny Bank: The situation to be monitored after letters sent out to residents of Sunny Bank. PCSO Helen Madden was asked if she could help if problem persists.

The Clerk confirmed that the annual accounts, which had been passed by our Internal Auditor, had now been sent to our External Auditors: the Audit Commission at Bolton, and she produced a current financial statement.

The Clerk asked for authorisation to pass through the following cheques:-

Bardsea Schoolroom Rental 7.6.07 £ 15.00

Mr. M. Rogers T/Exs. – Meeting at Kendal £ 24.00

Clerk’s Salary (1/4 to 30.6.2007 –

increased to £3640/ann. from 1.5.2007) £823.32

Clerk’s T/Exs. (1/4 to 30.6.2007) £18.75

Proposed by Mrs. Cowsill, seconded by Mr. James and carried that the above were in order.

The Clerk was asked to leave the room whilst this matter was discussed. It was then agreed, on the proposal of Mr. Butterfield, seconded by Mrs. Cowsill, that her salary be increased from £2,600 to £3,640, to bring her in line with the salary of other Clerks.

Stagger Inn: The Chairman confirmed he had attended the Planning meeting at Kendal on 29^th May, being prepared to put forward the Parish Council case against the proposed alterations. However, the Planning Committee Chairman and another Planning Officer had declared an interest and both left the room; it was then announced that the application could not be discussed at that time and that the Planning Committee were to hold a site meeting, the reason given being that the Stagger Inn management had not had enough time to look at the Highways response. The Planning Committee are due to visit the site on 20^th June, after which a full Planning Committee will take place on 3^rd July next. It was proposed by Mr. James, seconded by Mrs. Cowsill and carried that the Chairman also attend this meeting to put forward to the Committee this Parish Council’s objections.

The Chairman had checked with a previous licensee that the only time an application to extend into the barn area had previously been made was in May 1997, but this had been withdrawn due to what, he said, were parking issues.

Proposed by Mrs. Cowsill, seconded by Mr. James and carried that photographs be obtained showing the parking problem. Mrs. Cowsill will contact previous Stainton councillor, Mr. R.L.M. Foote, who is believed to hold such photographs.

Ex Inspector Spedding of SLDC Licensing has suggested to the Chairman that the Parish Council might liaise with Stagger Inn management regarding the parking.

The sub-committee of Messrs. Butterfield, James and Stubbs had produced a report to identify possible locations for new housing and employment development in which the following four areas were mentioned as warranting consideration for future development: (a) Mid Town Farm, Little Urswick; (b) Huntide Farm, Little Urswick; (c) Land between the Primary School and the Recreation Hall, Great Urswick; and (d) land to rear of Kirk Flatt. Great Urswick. It was agreed that this report be forwarded to Elizabeth Scott-Clarke, SLDC Development Plans Team, who had suggested we may wish to give input re. potential for growth/expansion of Great Urswick.

Mrs. Cowsill was concerned that building did not take place in the spaces in between villages, thus merging villages together.

VITAL VILLAGES:

The Chairman suggested that each member considers the Parish Plan and takes one item to research and follow up. This matter to be further discussed at the next meeting.

The Chairman would like a meeting of the Committee to be arranged as soon as possible.

Cocklers: Dist.Cllr. Foot reported there was no real change as yet, the main concern had been ensuring the byelaws are in place before the large batch of new cockles deposited mature. There is some talk that the Overview & Scrutiny Committee are considering trying get the cocklers to agree to a voluntary code of behaviour, but Mr. Foot will look into this.

Public Convenience: It appears that the Cabinet is prepared to continue keeping the toilets open for this year. The Scrutiny Committee will meet on Tuesday, but Dist.Cllr. Foot will attend and make representations on our behalf. It is hoped they will recommend the funding required for the rest of this year and put in a supplementary request for additional funding, but it is not certain yet. Looking to the future, other parish councils have to contribute 50% and unfortunately there is not enough money left ‘in the pot’ for Bardsea to be open all the time, although it has always been an exception, but there are now new people on the committee who may not be as sympathetic. Dist.Cllr. Foot suggested a letter be sent from the Parish Council to the Chairperson of the Community Overview & Scrutiny Committee pointing our the reasons why Bardsea should be open all the time, that it has always been an exception and that it should be fully funded. Their views will then be sent to the Cabinet for a final decision.

Byelaw Signs:

Dist.Cllr. Foot confirmed the signs had been in place for some weeks.

Parking: Further to the complaint of Mrs. Johnson regarding the problems of vehicles blocking access to her disabled mother’s house, letters had been sent to all the occupiers of Sunny Bank requesting that they give consideration to their neighbours when parking their cars.

Footpath: The Chairman had contacted Mr. Nick Raymond, Area Engineer for South Lakeland, and asked the financial position vis-à-vis creating a footpath across both Stainton and Adgarley village greens. However, Mr. Raymond had replied that the members had not approved funding for this scheme and now this still sits on the longer list of bids until the land issues can be resolved. He further suggested that we contact our County Councillor, John Hemingway, if we wish to push the scheme further.

Stainton Green: The Clerk had contacted the solicitor, Mrs. Sharon Clark, to obtain an update on the application to register the Green. It appears that there are two small strips of land that have been registered to other owners, and Mrs. Clark informs us that a letter containing the map showing these areas is in the post to ask how we wish to proceed.

However, as she points out this is merely a formality, it was proposed by Mr. Gardner, seconded by Mr. Stubbs and carried that a small committee consisting of the Chairman and Mrs. Cowsill examine the map and, if satisfied that no action were possible, then Mrs. Clark be informed to go ahead and accept the position.

Bonfire Rubbish: The invoice for clearing this is awaited from South Lakeland D.C.

Tarn: Mr. Martin Stables reported that the Tarn Association A.G.M. had been held on 22^nd May. There was a new addition to the Committee, viz: Mrs. Fran Milby, and two Parish Councillors had been present. The next meeting is to be held on 19th June at the General Burgoyne.

Mr. Stables had at last managed to obtain a draft report from Cumbria Wildlife volunteers who had carried out work on the Tarn some time ago. There is a revised plan, but not a lot has changed from the previous one. However, this was very much slanted towards the environment and not to the needs of individuals and this report would be discussed at the next meeting of the Tarn Association.

Mr. Stables reported that the general work of strimming, etc., was continuing, and that excellent fishing had also been reported.

Mr. Stables queried the outcome of his enquiry some time ago regarding a jetty being installed and the conditions applied by the Planning Department in agreeing to this, as he believes reeds have been cut down in contravention of the conditions provided.

This matter would be followed up.

Priapus Stone: The Chairman had spoken to the farmer to check if he had any objection to the stone being removed from the wall. Although the farmer had no objection, he did not wish to be involved in any costs; nor did he want the stone to be located in his field behind the wall as this could lead to people clambering over the wall.

After some discussion it was proposed by Mr. Gardner, seconded by Mr. James and carried that the wall over the stone be removed so that the condition of the stone could be better assessed: if it were likely to disintegrate on removal it could be left and the wall rebuilt but, otherwise, as suggested by Mr. Rogers, perhaps a corner of the Recreation Hall car park could provide a suitable site. (Mr. Rogers to check with Recreation Hall Cttee.)

Grass Cutting: Cumbria C.C. had recently cut the verges, soon after this had been done by our volunteers. Mr. Rogers suggested another cut be arranged for the end of June.

Welcome Signs: Replacement for missing sign at Great Urswick still awaited.

Dist.Cllr. Foot listed the local councils he represents on the M.T.I. for the sake of the new councillors. He highlighted that £1-1/2 million had been granted to M.T.I for the first three years, to be spent on Ulverston and surrounding parishes, part being available for businesses to apply for grants. They had also just heard that £1/2 million is to be made available for a further two years through N.W. Development Agency from European grants. Their next step is to decide where to go thereafter.

Dist.Cllr. Foot reported the District Councillors’ position with the District Councils alternative. They were still against County’s proposal; however, in the end it is up to the Government to make the decision.

The Chairman referred to the report by Steve Leach, Professor of Local Government in the Local Governance Research Unit at De Montfort University, Leicester, in which he points out that so far the government’s policy initiative has not received the attention it merits and that it is an inconsistent, undemocratic and profoundly unsatisfactory way of carrying out a reorganisation. He questions, amongst other matters, why there has been no public consultation and why no comparison with arguments about improved 2-Tier working in areas where unitary options are being considered.

The Chairman reported that Mr. Ray Wilson had offered to produce a website at nominal cost, but some members were concerned that it should be produced from the perspective of the Parish Council rather than that of a non-member. Therefore Mr. James asked for a format he had produced to be circulated to the councillors for their comments, etc.

We had submitted a group of Trees at Skells Lodge for conservation status, as a test case, and these had been assessed by Mr. Rob Sim, SLDC Arboriculturist. He points out, however, that to merit Tree Preservation Order status this hinges on any threat to the trees. He had checked that there was no proposed development around this area and as there were no indications that other trees were being removed, it was felt that these particular trees did not meet the necessary criteria, particularly as serving a TPO is time consuming and the Council has finite resources for dealing with trees in the Planning environment.

Some members were interested in the Parish Council providing allotments, and Mr. Butterworth had 6 names of possible applicants, but the Chairman pointed out that though we must give consideration to requests for allotments it was not mandatory that we provide these. There was also the problem of shortage of suitable locations in the parish, and it was left that members consider suitable sites for discussion at the next meeting.

          1. CALC Circular, May 2007 & June 2007 & Notice of Meeting on 7.6.2007

          2. CALC Election of Parish Representatives for S.L. Standards Committee and S.L. Local Committee

11. Letter from SLDC asking for support for Tewksbury B.C. motion that parcels free of charge for troops in war zones and families be reinstated.

Some time ago the Chairman had contacted Rights of Way Dept. regarding problems with a kissing gate to the rear of Urswick Recreation Hall and had been told that work would be carried out on this the following month. As there had been no apparent progress he had contacted David Clare, Rights of Way Officer, who had passed his enquiry on to James Daplyn for his attention. The Chairman is pleased to confirm that the gate is now usable.

The next meeting will take place on Thursday, 5^th July, 2007 at Urswick Parish Hall.

Members were reminded that this will start at the earlier time of 7.00 p.m. to accommodate a presentation by Mr. Graham Darlington, SLDC Conservation Officer.

NB. Presentation later delayed until meeting on 2^nd August, 2007.

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