HELD ON WEDNESDAY 5th MAY 2021
COMMENCING 07.00 PM IN SILECROFT VILLAGE HALL
PRESENT: Mr A Fell (Chair), Mrs S Wilson, Mrs M Cumming, Ms S Millar, Mr P Rand,
Mrs R Jopson
APOLOGIES: Mrs C Lowery, Mr M Sharp, Cty Councillor K Hitchen
PM1/21: ELECTION OF CLERK
It was RESOLVED that Mrs Lesley Cooper, Low Marshside, Underhill nr
Millom Cumbria be elected as clerk for the forthcoming year
PM2/21: MINUTES
It was RESOLVED that the minutes from the Annual Parish Meeting held
on 25 April 2019 be signed as a true and correct record.
PM3/21: CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
The Chairman presented an oral report of the work of the Parish Council
over the past 12 months. Despite it being a strange past 12 months,
progress is moving slowly on the new café. I would like to thank the
prisoners from Haverigg Prison for their work in creating the footpath
along the shore front at Silecroft. Progress is being made in making a
footpath from Southfield road end down to the caravan site. During the
year we had an exceptional number of visitors to the beach which
created a challenge. The new costal path has been opened from
Whitehaven down to Silecroft.
Finally I would like to thank the Clerk and the Councillors for all their hard
work and Mr and Mrs Rand for their litter picking endeavours on the
beach car park over the last few weeks.
PM4/21: ACCOUNTS
The Clerk presented on oral report of the Accounts of the Parish Council
for 2020/21. The surplus had been greater than expected, with
expenditure less than expected due to Covid-19 and increased revenue
from donation boxes on the beach and at Whicham school car park. Half
of the Whicham school car park donations were returned to the church
to help with the maintenance of the churchyard. The Council currently
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has a reserve of £33000 which can be spent on projects to benefit the
community.
It was felt that more could be done to encourage donations on the
Silecroft beach car park, especially for those visitors staying for the day.
PM5/21: COMMUNITY PLAN
Ms Cumming and Millar gave a brief summary of the statistics from the
Community Plan questionnaire that had been distributed.
Questionnaires had been distributed to 245 households in the Parish
with 61 returns (approx. return rate of 25%) which was considered a fair
return in the circumstances that due to Covid-19 restrictions there had
been no opportunities for public meetings. The return rate at the last
survey had been 30%. The Council would like to thank the members of
the public who did respond.
Question: What do you like about living in the Parish, the top 4 responses
were views/landscape, friendly people, peace/quiet and the beach.
Question: What would you like to see happen, the top answers was a
footpath from Silecroft down to the beach, a safe walking/cycling route,
speed limits. These projects need to be moved forward.
On the question what don’t you want the top 4 were major housing
developments, holiday lets, 2nd homes and pylons/nuclear power waste.
It was agreed though that there was some need for some sustainable
affordable housing within the parish.
It is hoped that the final plan will be published in July.
The Chair thanked Ms Cumming and Millar for their report
PM6/21: DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next Annual Parish meeting will be held 2022
Meeting closed at 1937
Signed……………………………………………………. Dated………………………………………
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