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PRESENT: Cllr Fell (Chair) Cllr S Millar, Cllr C Lowery, Cllr M Cumming, Cllr N Tyson, Cllr M Sharp
Cllr A Pratt – Cumberland Council
Lesley Cooper Clerk
74/25 Apologies for Absence
Cllr L Thomson (ill) Cllr S Wilson (working) Cllr R Jopson (working)
75/25 Exclusions of Press and Public
Agenda item 17 Close Session
76/25 Declarations of Interest
None
77/25 To approve the Minutes of the meetings 3 September 2025
The Chair was authorized to sign the minutes as a true record of the meetings.
78/25 Police Liaison Report
Police continue to attend at Silecroft to deter speeding. Clerk to request data from recent speed monitoring strips.
79/25 Clerks report
The Clerk reported that the Japanese Knotweed had been reported and this has now been sprayed.
80/25 Public Participation
None
81/25 Report from Unitary Authority Councillor
Cllr Pratt gave the following report:
Corney Bridge due to open 2 October 2025
South Copeland Community Panel met on 30 September and are planning drop in sessions
CALC AGM is on 4 October speakers are Police and Crime Commissioner and North Yorkshire Mayor
Cumberland Council are meeting w/c 6 October to agree to elect a mayor with Westmorland and Furness
National Lottery have Environmental grants available of £300 – £300k must benefit community/environment, submit before December
GDF drop in session at Kirksanton, some funding still available, new funding year commences December.
The Chair thanked Cllr Pratt for his report
82/25 Applications for Development
82/25.1 To examine applications for development and submit observations to the Planning Authority
7/2025/4075 Parsonage Farm, Silecroft,
Non-material amendment to application 7/2025/4011 (Slurry Tower) to confirm exact size and colour
For information only
82/25.2 To ratify the observations submitted by the Clerk under devolved powers
None
82/25.3 To note the decisions of the statutory planning authority with regards to recent applications:
None
83/25 Financial Records
83/25.1 Payment of invoices
Minutes 1/10/2025
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Waterplus direct Debit £ 34.76
J Hillier Toilet Cleaning September £ 390.00
A Bowden Toilet cleaning Changin places Sept £ 390.00
L Cooper Clerks salary & expenses £ 300.00
HMRC PAYE £ 66.40
CALC GDPR course £ 20.00
Dream Landscapes Grass cutting £1560.00
Whamos Ltd Website Annual support £ 220.00
83/25.2 Receipts
Beach car park £ 470.07
Church car park £ 178.53
83/25.3 To receive and note the bank reconciliation statement dated 31 August 2025
Checked and verified by Cllr Millar
83/25.4 To consider the Budget Comparison Report as at 30 September 2025 and determine action need to address deviations from the budget.
The Clerk reported that finances were tight but should remain within the overall budget for the year.
Current A/c £21099.82, Deposit A/c £11174.16
83/25.5 To discuss the draft budget for financial year 2026/27.
The Clerk presented a draft budget and report to the council. If Cumberland still refused to pay £12k a year Licence fee for the café, then the precept would need to be raised by a minimum of 31% to balance the books. Council resolved to delay the acceptance of the budget until further negotiations have been undertaken with Cumberland Council.
83/25.6 To approve the rebuild of the website at a cost of £2000 to comply with assertion 10 of the AGAR. Decision deferred, cost to be included in 26/27 budget.
84/25 Village Matters
84/25.1 Silecroft car park
Clerk reported that the LDNP had now accepted all documentation for the planning application and would inform of a decision by 5 November 2025. Clerk reported that car park was badly breaking up by café. Cllr Fell to investigate. Clerk requested that donation boxes were repainted as they were going rusty.
84/25.2 Toilets
No issues
84/25.3 Café
Resolved to stop paying for the cleaner for the changing places facility from 31 October 2025.
84/25.4 Play inspection reports and actions
Clerk presented a list of concerns from the reports. Clerk to purchase 2 new “no dogs allowed” signs and to contact Playdale re cost of inspection/repairs to swings
84/25.5 Defib – Silecroft
No response from BT re electrical supply
84/25.6 Environmental issues
Cllr Millar requested that the banking to the entrance of Silecroft be scraped.
84/25.7 Date for Clerk’s Appraisal
Thursday 9 October 11am
85/25 To receive reports from representatives on outside bodies
• None
86/25 CORRESPONDENCE:
To discuss any correspondence received for open discussion:
All other correspondence to be circulated in the normal manner for Council’s perusal
• Quotation received to replace gabion baskets at steps – Clerk to respond
87/25 Councillor Matters
An opportunity for Councillors to raise minor matters, not on this agenda, on behalf of residents
Minutes 1/10/2025
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(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
• Cllr Millar had queried the BNG report with the contractor and they have agreed to amend the report and re-issue. There still would be a requirement to buy BNG units.
88/25 Cllr Millar gave her apologies and left the meeting at 2045hrs to attend to a personal matter.
89/25 DATE OF NEXT MEETING:
The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on 5 November 2025 at Kirksanton Village Hall commencing at 7.30p
90/25 Closed Session
a) Clerk’s overtime payment from April to September approved
b) Minor changes made to Land Licence – Clerk to make changes and submit to Cumberland Council
c) Resolved to invoice Cumberland Council for café location. Clerk to submit an invoice
There be no further business the meeting closed at 2100 hours
Signed………………………………………………… Dated………………………………………