Minutes
Ordinary
1st April 2026
WHICHAM PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY 1 APRIL 2026 AT KIRKSANTON VILLAGE HALL COMMENCING AT 7.30 PM
Present: Cllr Fell (Chair), Cllr S Millar, Cllr M Sharp, Cllr N Tyson, Cllr L Thomson, Cllr A Pratt – Cumberland Council, Lesley Cooper Clerk, 1 member of public
156/25 Apologies for Absence
Cllr M Cumming (personal), Cllr S Wilson (working), Cllr R Jopson (working)
157/25 Exclusions of Press and Public
None
158/25 Declarations of Interest
None
159/25 To approve the Minutes of the meetings 4 March 2026
The Chair was authorized to sign the minutes as a true record of the meetings.
160/25 Police Liaison Report
Previously circulated – no comments
161/25 Clerks report
Clean up after your dogs’ signs been placed on fell path to Black Combe.
Reported Po House Road damage to Highways.
Received notification from Pensions Regulator and completed actions for re-declaration.
Received notification that the precept will be paid 1 April.
Clerk reported that she had worked 18.98 hours overtime from 1 October 2025 to 31 March 2026
162/25 Public Participation
A member of the public requested permission to hold yoga classes on Kirksanton Village Green. To be discussed at the May meeting
163/25 Report from Unitary Authority Councillor
Cllr Pratt gave the following report:
- Consultation on yellow lines and 4 hour parking restrictions on all laybys
- Fibrus has been turning up without permission to undertake works, please report if there is no signage showing permission.
- Please report all potholes on HiMs system and copy them in Andy Pratt.
164/25 Applications for Development
164/25.1 To examine applications for development and submit observations to the Planning Authority
None
164/25.2 To ratify the observations submitted by the Clerk under devolved powers.
None
164/25.3 To note the decisions of the statutory planning authority with regard to recent applications:
None.
165/25 Financial Records
165/25.1 Payment of invoices
| Description | Amount |
|---|---|
| J Hillier Toilet Cleaning February | £403.00 |
| L Cooper Clerks salary & expenses | £302.00 |
| HMRC PAYE | £66.40 |
| Thomas Graham & Sons Cleaning supplies | £31.83 |
| Scribe Monthly charge – Direct Debit | £33.00 |
| CALC Annual Subscription | £214.97 |
| A Fell Emptying septic tank | £160.00 |
165/25.2 Receipts
| Description | Amount |
|---|---|
| Beach car park | £345.19 Total for yr £4338.09 |
| Church car park | £103.14 Total for yr £1544.45 |
| Stripe – Motorhome overnight fees | £345.79 Total for yr £565.72 |
165/25.3 To receive and note the bank reconciliation statement dated 28 February 2026
Checked and verified by Cllr Millar
165/25.4 To consider the Budget Comparison Report as at 31 March 2026 and determine action need to address deviations from the budget.
Current A/c £28360.46 Deposit A/c £11229.97 Committed reserves £11154.60 General Reserves £28360.46
Resolved: to transfer £20000 from current account to deposit account.
Projects requiring funding installation of EV charge points, electric hook up for motorhome parking and electricity supply to toilets (£10000 of reserves to be allocated).
Underspend of £2832.74 on budget to be allocated to general reserve.
165/25.5 To receive and accept the Risk Register and Risk Assessment for 2026
Resolved to accept.
165/25.6 To receive and approve the Asset Register as at 31 March 2026
Resolved to accept and submit.
166/25 Village Matters
166/25.1 Silecroft car park
Works still requiring completion – elsan point and levelling of banking for bays 1 and 2.
Motorhome bookings – booked out for Good Friday and Easter Saturday
Verbal proposal received for the installation of EV charge points on car park. Agreed in principle, awaiting formal agreement.
166/25.2 Toilets
Contract could be a job share as it is constraining for 1 person. To advertise for relief cleaner. To order a cupboard for the storing of cleaning materials to be placed in Ladies toilet.
166/25.3 CafÈ
Details sent to solicitor. No response from John Hall. To Contact Michael Barry
166/25.4 Proposed artwork location by Cumberland Council
Cllrs Miller and Cumming attended online meeting and raised objections and concerns re proposed installation. Stressed no appetite for this project. CafÈ shutters cost £35k
166/25.5 Play inspection reports and actions
Clerk to obtain quotes for the resurfacing of the tennis court at Silecroft
166/25.6 Defib – Silecroft
Clerk to order a thermal bag
166/25.7 Environmental issues
Still awaiting banking scraping. Cllr Millar to attend Climate Action course looking at zero carbon awareness. Details of a possible village heat share to be investigated. Possible speaker for Annual Parish Meeting on Heat pumps.
166/25.8 Fallen Soldier statue
Received and to be installed around war memorial
166/25.9 Date for Annual Parish Meeting
14 May 2026 7pm, Speaker David Savage on Millom Town Deal
Light refreshments
166/25.10 Potholes Kirksanton
To be filled.
167/25 To receive reports from representatives on outside bodies.
- None
168/25 Correspondence
To discuss any correspondence received for open discussion:
All other correspondence to be circulated in the normal manner for Council’s perusal.
- Letter received re support to control number of 2nd homes in LDNP.
- Consultation for the limiting of parking in lay byes to 4 hours – council to support
169/25 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.
- None
170/25 Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on 6 May 2026 at Silecroft Village Hall commencing at 7.30p
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 2135 hours.
Signed………………………………………………… Dated………………………………………