Minutes 4/10/23
13
WHICHAM PARISH COUNCIL
DRAFT MINUTES OF THE GENERAL MEETING OF THE PARISH
COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY 4 OCTOBER 2023 AT
SILECROFT VILLAGE HALL COMMENCING AT 07.30PM
PRESENT: Cllr A Fell (Chair,) Cllr M Cumming, Cllr S Wilson, Cllr M Sharp, Cllr N Tyson,
Cllr R Jopson,
Lesley Cooper Clerk
6 Members of the public
69/23 Apologies for Absence
Cllr C Lowery (family), Cllr S Millar (holiday). Cty Cllr Pratt (Cumberland Council)
70/23 Councilor email addresses
The contractor gave an overview of how the email addresses would be set up.
Agreed that councillors could bring their own devices to the November meeting to
allow the contractor to set them up if required. All councillors to contact contractor
with personal passwords for system to be set up.
71/23 Exclusions of Press and Public
None
72/23 Declarations of Interest
None
73/23 To approve the Minutes of the meetings 6 September 2023 and 11 September
73/23.1 6 September 2023 The Chair was authorized to sign the minutes as a true
record of the meeting.
73/23.2 Extra-ordinary meeting 11 September 2023. The Chair was authorized to
sign the minutes as a true record of the meeting
74/23 Police Liaison Report
Previously circulated
Clerk concerned at attempts on donation box by toilets and increased vandalism in
toilets. Police to be informed.
75/23 Progress Reports
Clerks report
1. None to report
76/23 Public Participation
A representative of the boat club sought permission to extend the existing notice by
12 inches to enable to add on additional sponsors.
Members of the public raised concerns re the planning application to extend the car
park and make provision for motorhomes. The consensus of opinion was that the
location for the proposed new motorhome site needed to be reconsidered and placed
further down the car park.
77/23 Report from Unitary Authority Councillor
Cllr Pratt had sent a written report which was accepted.
31 October 2023 South Cumberland Community Panel, Kirksanton Village Hall
Single use plastics banned from 1 October 2023
78/23 Applications for Development
78/23.1 To examine applications for development and submit observations to
the Planning Authority
7/2023/4069 Silecroft Beach Car Park, Silecroft
Extension of existing car park to provide additional 4 parking spaces, 3 of which
would provide EV charging. Install 3 EV charge points for use by visitors to the
beach. To provide maximum of 5 overnight parking spaces for
motorhome/campervans including electric hook-up points, short stay only
No comment
7/2023/4084 Village Hall, Silecroft
Minutes 4/10/23
14
Form toilet extension and make internal alterations
Supported
78/23.2 To ratify the observations submitted by the Clerk under devolved
powers
None
78/23.3 To note the decisions of the statutory planning authority with regards
to recent applications:
7/2022/4105 Woodhouse, Silecroft,
Proposal: Change of use and conversion of an existing agricultural barn to form a
single holiday let
Granted
79/23 Financial Records
79/23.1 Payment of invoices
The following invoices were approved for payment:
J Hillier Cleaning September & repairs £ 417.91
Dream landscapes Grass cutting Silecroft & Kirksanton £1440.00
Thomas Graham Ltd Toilet supplies £ 37.58
Whamos Ltd Web site annual fee £ 180.00
Paul Wilson Ltd replace park gate Silecroft £ 260.00
Cumberland Council Waste collection charges – Silecroft £ 74.75
WHamos Ltd Domain transfer fee £ 12 .00
The following invoices were paid under Financial Standing Orders
Fox Architects Plans for Silecroft development £ 532.00
Payments were approved
79/23.2 Receipts
Beach car park £ 334.76
Church car park £ 195.96
79/23.3 To receive and note the bank reconciliation statement 31 August 2023
Noted
79/23.4 To consider the Budget Comparison Report as at 30 September 2023 and
determine action need to address deviations from the budget.
None required
79/23.5 Draft Budget for financial year 2024/25. Discussion took place, a final
budget and recommendation for precept to be presented at the November meeting
once a definitive answer has been received from Cumberland Council re land license
agreement.
80/23 Village Matters
80/23.1 Silecroft beach car park, and toilets
Car park – potholes need filling. Clerk to contact the prison
Contractor to be contacted to replace gent’s toilet door.
80/23.2 Silecroft beach proposed new café
Councillors raised concerns re lack of progress in ensuring that the exterior is
watertight. A request has been made by Cumberland to extend the current license
until 31 March 2024.
Resolved The current license will be extended to 29 February 2024 only. No further
extensions will be granted after that date.
80/23.3 Play inspection report
Awaiting Play Inspection report
80/23.4 Parish Council land
Investigating
80/23.5 Noticeboards
Resolved to accept the quotation to repair the noticeboard at Silecroft Village Hall.
Resolved to accept the proposed extension of 12 inches to the noticeboard at
Silecroft beach by the Fishermen.
Cllr Wilson left the meeting
Minutes 4/10/23
15
80/23.6 Grass Cutting Silecroft
Resolved to plant the banking with wildflowers ie yellow rattle, poppies and native
daffodils. A budget of £600 was approved.
80/23.7 GDF
Cllr Cumming gave a report. An open meeting was held 20 September 2023 in
Millom. Independent impact assessment to be commissioned to focus on the
negative impact of the project.
80/23.8 Zero Carbon actions
Deferred
80/23.9 Phone box – Silecroft – repairs
Repairs being undertaken.
Cllr Jopson left the meeting
80/23.10 Council Email addresses
See 70/23 above
80/23.11 D Day celebrations
Agreed to have a beacon
81/23.12 Clerks appraisal
Date to be fixed
82/23 To receive reports from representatives on outside bodies
None
83/23 CORRESPONDENCE:
To discuss any correspondence received for open discussion:
All other correspondence to be circulated in the normal manner for Council’s perusal
84/23. Councillor Matters
An opportunity for Councillors to raise minor matters, not on this agenda, on behalf of
residents
(Note. No discussion or decisions can be made on these matters but the Clerk may
make investigations and/or they may be placed on a future agenda of the Council
85/23. DATE OF NEXT MEETING:
The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on Wednesday 1 November 2023 at
Kirksanton Village Hall commencing at 7.30pm
There being no further business the meeting closed at 2140hrs.
Signed………………………………………………… Dated………………………………………