Minutes
Ordinary
1st July 2015

WHICHAM PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 1 JULY 2015 IN SILECROFT VILLAGE HALL COMMENCING AT 07.30PM

PRESENT: Cllr S Wilson, Cllr V Bradley, Cllr P Rand, Cllr M. Cumming

21/15: APOLOGIES: Cllr S Capstick, Cllr A Fell
In the absence of the Chairman, Cllr M Cumming (Vice Chair) took the meeting

22/15: MINUTES
It was resolved that the minutes of the parish council meeting held on 3rd June 2015 be signed as a true and correct record.
The Clerk was asked to write to the Lake District National Park Authority regarding the Council not being informed of changes to planning applications after they have been considered by the Council.

23/15: DECLARATION OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest

24/15: PLANNING ISSUES – the following planning applications were considered:
4/15/2247 Extension to existing leisure complex to form new Jacuzzi area, Brockwood Hall, Wicham
No objections made
4/15/2234 Extension and change of existing maintenance building to Reception, Shop and Games Room, Brockwood Hall, Wicham
No objections made.
4/15/2220 Erection of 3 bay, open frontage agricultural lambing shed in field at Bank springs, Kirkstanton
No objections made
7/2015/4040 Demolition of exisiting garage and flat and replacement with 10 new dwellings (resubmission), Valley End Service Station, Silecroft
The Council agreed in principle to the development of this site, but had a number of concerns which they required clarification on from Lake District National Park Planning Authority. The Clerk to write and seek clarification on access/egress safety, whether the development fits into the local community plan of identified housing requirements and the number of proposed dwellings on the site.

Notification had been received that the following planning application had been approved
7/2015/4006 Siting of storage container in field adjacent to 1 Fox and Goose Cottage, Wicham. It had been noted that a storage container had been placed adjacent to the buildings. The clerk to contact Lake District National Park to ascertain if permission had been granted.The Clerk had contacted the authority and ascertained that permission had been granted to the change of location.
The Clerk was instructed to remind the LDNP planning authority to inform the council of any changes to planning applications after they had been considered by the council.

It was agreed at future meetings that all planning applications would be considered by a planning group 15 minutes before the commencement of the meeting.

25/15: ACCOUNTS
Council approved the following payments of
Cancelling of previously issued cheque no 759 and re-issuing of a cheque for Payment for maintenance of website to P Wrigley
£112.67
Payment to Copeland Borough Council – election costs £ 80.00
Payment to L Whittle for plants for planters at Silecroft £ 52.82

26/15 PARISH MATTERS
The following matters were discussed:

• To receive updates from any representatives on outside bodies committees:
  Cllr Rand reported that he had attended the recent 3 tier meeting where there had been discussion and presentations on the proposed route of the new Pylons and also the issues of Footway Lighting.
  National Grid Pylons – the off shore proposed route would not be going ahead because of logistical issues. Virtual reality models of the proposed pylons would be available from about October there will be 3 per kilometre.
  2016 detailed proposals
  2017 application to Government
  2019 proposing to start work
  2024 Moorside comes on line
• Police Liaison Report
  A report had been received from PCSO Booth which had shown a slight increase in reported incidents, but this was because of multiple reports of same incident. He had still not heard from the Highways Authority regarding the junction at the King William Pub, Suilecroft.
• Play Areas
  The play areas had been inspected by the clerk and a risk assessment completed on both areas and a schedule of inspection produced. The condition of some of the equipment at Silecroft was cause for concern and it was decided to remove the equipment within the week.
  Views are to be sought from local users within Silecroft as to what the play equipment should be replaced with.
  Replacement netting for the climbing frame at the Kirkstanton play area is to be sourced and the welding that has been identified to be undertaken.
  Weekly inspections of the play areas to be undertaken.
• Silecroft handrail
  This was deferred to next meeting.
• Footway lighting
  Cllr Rand to meet with a representative of Copeland Borough Council on 9 July to discuss the replacement of the light at the junction of Silecroft/A5093 and replacement of lights at Kirkstanton
• Bridge at Po House
  It was reported in October 2014 minutes that bridge repairs were scheduled between June and September 2015
• Risk Assessment and Inspection Plans.
  It was identified that there was no reliable backup system for the Councils records. The Clerk was instructed to purchase a hard drive to back all work onto.
• Concern was expressed with the siting of the scrap metal and recycling area on the A5093. It was becoming a visual eyesore, bins were close to the road and cars had been spotted stopping and dumping. Clerk to write to Millom Town Council to clarify the status of this site.

27/15. CORRESPONDENCE All correspondence had been circulated to councilors and there were no items for discussion.

28/15 DATE OF NEXT MEETING – to confirm the next meeting will be Wednesday 2nd September 2015 at 7.30pm in Silecroft Village Hall

Signed………………………………………………… Dated………………………………………