PRESENT: Cllr A Fell(Chair), Cllr M Curnming, Cllr S Millar, Cllr M Sharp, ,
Lesley Cooper Clerk
Cllr A Pratt – Cumberland Council
12 members of public
129/24 Apologies for Absence
Cllr N Tyson(ill); Cllrs S Williamson(personal) Cllr Jepson (working) accepted
130/24 Exclusions of Press and Public
Press and Public were excluded from Agenda item 16 Closed Session
131/24 Declarations of Interest
None
132/24 To approve the Minutes of the meetings 8 January 2025
The Chair was authorised to sign the minutes as a true record of the meeting.
133/24 Police Liaison Report
Circulated
134/24 Clerks report
None
135/24 Public Participation
A member of the public gave an update as to the plans for the Black Combe fell race
to be held on 8 March 2025. A plan had been produced with clear safe meeting place.
The Chair thank him for his report.
Members of the public expressed concerns re the recent announcement from NWS
re the location of potential sites for the land works for the proposed GDF. Questions
were asked about withdrawing consent, impact on house prices, impact in the
community. A request was made for a public meeting on the issue. Cllr Cummings –
Council representative and Chair of Community Partnership.
136/24 Report of Planning Authority Consulted
None
Tree application
136/24.1 2 Ghyll Bank Silecroft
The applicant has felled 5 trees and now exhausted.
The Clerk reported on the work still to be undertaken on Whicham Valley road during school
holidays and the work scheduled at Corney Fell road during February half term.
The Clerk reported on a meeting held on Monday 3 February with Janet Sherlock,
CC South Copeland re Service Level agreements and ward budgets.
137/24 To consider the budget for disabled facilities in people’s homes in the community and
possible limits
Cllr Cummings gave details of proposed changes in the budget for facilities for
disabled people and to prepare for future with regard to the more elderly, and
work with 3rd sector.
137/24 Report on Councillors’ issues and work on servicerole and community
Cllr Cummings provided an update on the following:
Do Good Scheme
Support for the community
Town and Parish Councils to identify projects that Cumberland could work with
parish councils to achieve aims
Climate change
Survey on area plan
137/24.3 To note the decisions of the statutory planning authority with regards
to recent applications.
7/2024/4048 Woodhouse Farm, Silecroft
Change of use and conversion of an existing agricultural barn to form a simple holiday
let variation of condition 2 (plans) of planning permission 7/2022/4005 to change
internal layout resulting in new external window & door profiles.
138/24 Financial Records
The following invoices were approved for payment:-
| J Hellier | Toilet cleaning January | £ | 403.00 |
| A Bowden | Toilet cleaning Changing Places | £ | 50.00 |
| L Cooper | Clerks Salary & expenses | £ | 824.39 |
| HMRC | PAYE | £ | 24.40 |
| Community Heartbeat | replacement pads | £ | 76.74 |
| Waterplus | Direct Debit | £ | 53.73 |
| Playsafe | play equipment Silecroft | £ | 2,837.30 |
| Arbotech | phase 2 botany survey | £ | 1785.80 |
| ThomasGraham | Cleaning materials | £ | 96.31 |
| Clear Councils | Insurance renewal | £ | 922.78 |
The following invoice approved at the January meeting was cancelled
Playsafe play equipment £21291.18
| Beach car park | £ | 129.70 |
| Church car park | £ | 76.28 |
| VAT claim | £ | 6,505.16 |
| RWM donation to play area | £ | 10000.00 |
138/24.3 To receive and note the bank reconciliation statement dated 31 December
2024.
Once signed as a correct record by Cllr Millar.
138/24.4 To consider the Budget Comparison Report as at 31 January 2025 and
identified any necessary virements of reserves within the budget.
The Clerk explained that adjustments had been made on the budget to
consolidate some codes for clarity
Invoices for future year already paid added to budget.
It was noted that there was no budget line for the Church car park.
139/24 To consider the following updates on assets and provision of services
139/24.1 Silecroft beach car park
The Clerk reported that the Phase 2 botany Survey had been booked for 2 June
2025. Costs are paid and close to the café where there are car park arrows.
139/24.2 Cafe
Clerk reported that there had been no response from Cumberlandoffailing to request
for urgent meeting. It was noted that a workman was on site dealing with some of
the drainage issues, but there was still no kitchen.
139/24.3 Toilets
Cllr Fell to sort out outside tap.
139/24.4 Play Inspection Report
Clerk reported that Silecroft now complete but Kirkstanton still not completed. Cllr
Sharp to measure the fencing at Silecroft for clerk to obtain quotes for replacement
fencing
139/24.5 Environmental issues
Cllr Millar requested that the bank at the s end of Silecroft be scraped off so that
planting could take place.
139/24.6 GDF
Cllr Cummings reported that still awaiting the review of the partnership to be
published. Resolved to hold a public meeting for residents on siting of GDF access
tunnel and to invite MP, Cumberland Chief Executive, Chair of Community
Partnership and Cllr B Kelly, Cumberland representative to the meeting to answer
questions
139/24.7 Fencing around Septic tank – Whicham School car park
Clerk to contact owner re proof of responsibility
139/24.8 131/4 Donations
Resolved to donate £250 to each Village Hall
Resolved to donate £600 to Whicham Church for the upkeep of the church yard
139/24.9 War memorial
Cllr Millar to take some photographs of the lettering requiring renovation
139/24.10 Change of meeting venue
Resolved to hold March meeting from Silecroft to Kirkstanton.
139/24.11 Newsletter
Resolved to provide 2 winter meetings at Kirkstanton and summer at Silecroft.
139/24.10 Policies
The following policies were reviewed and approved:
Complaints
Complaints Procedure
Data Protection Policy
Grievance Policy
Disciplinary Policy
Subject Access Request Policy
It was noted that the following policies had been reviewed and no changes required
Standing Orders
Health and Safety Policy
Freedom of Information Policy
Equal Opportunities Policy
Protocol on the recording and filming of Council and Committee meetings
140/24 To receive reports on representatives on outside bodies
Cllr Sharp reported that he attended the Millom Silecroft cycle route meeting
for which there is no funding
141/24 CORRESPONDENCE:
To discuss any correspondence received for open discussion:
All other correspondence to be circulated in the normal manner for Council’s perusal
• Cumbria Constabulary Neighbourhood Policing pledge
142/24 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
143/24 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING:
The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on 12 March 2025 at Kirkstanton Village Hall
commencing at 7.30p
There being no further business the meeting closed at 2145hrs.
Signed ……………………………………………………… [handwritten, see original document] Dated ……..[handwritten, see original document]….