Minutes
Ordinary
3rd June 2026

Whicham Parish Council

Minutes

Date of meeting: 03-06-2026

WHICHAM PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY 3 JUNE 2026 AT SILECROFT VILLAGE HALL COMMENCING AT 7.30 PM

PRESENT: Cllr Fell (Chair) Cllr S Millar, Cllr M Sharp, Cllr N Tyson, Cllr M Cumming, Cllr R Jopson
Cllr A Pratt – Cumberland Council
Lesley Cooper Clerk

21/26 Apologies for Absence

Cllr L Thomson (working), Cllr S Wilson

22/26 Exclusions of Press and Public

None

23/26 Declarations of Interest

None

24/26 To approve the Minutes of the meetings 6 May 2026

The Chair was authorized to sign the minutes as a true record of the meetings.

25/26 Police Liaison Report

Not received

26/26 Clerks report

AGAR submitted to external auditors who had queried staff costs. VAT return submitted. Contract signed for installation of electricity meter.

27/26 Public Participation

None

28/26 Report from Unitary Authority Councillor

Cllr Pratt gave the following report:
16 June South Cumberland Meeting 10.30am Network Centre – re flood scheme for Millom & Haverigg
Derek Walace new contact for Highways issues.
Unknown when Whicham Road will be resurfaced.
8 June – Thwaites Village Hall 6pm – results of Vantage bird surveys,
Main Street Silecroft road closure 15/16 June – Cllr Pratt to investigate.
The chair thanked Cllr Pratt for his report.

29/26 Applications for Development

29/26.1 To examine applications for development and submit observations to the Planning Authority

None

29/26.2 To ratify the observations submitted by the Clerk under devolved powers.

None

29/26.3 To note the decisions of the statutory planning authority with regard to recent applications:

None.

30/26 Financial Records

30/26.1 Payment of invoices

The following payments are presented for payment.
Waterplus direct Debit £ 39.96
L Cooper Clerks salary & expenses £ 320.00
HMRC PAYE £ 66.40
Thomas Graham Cleaning supplies £ 42.22
J Hillier Toilet Cleaning April £ 405.89
Scribe monthly fee Direct Debit £ 39.60
Black Combe PCC Replacement chq £ 700.00
A & B Fell Works for car parking £1128.00

30/26.2 Receipts

Beach car park £ 621.68
Church car park £ 146.22
Stripe – Motorhome overnight fees £ 953.49

30/26.3 To receive and note the bank reconciliation statement dated 30 April 2026

Checked and verified by Cllr Millar

30/26.4 To consider the Budget Comparison Report as at 31 May 2026 and determine action need to address deviations from the budget.

Current A/c £29600.83 Deposit A/c £32418.71 Committed reserves £21138

31/26 Village Matters

31/26.1 Silecroft car park

Works to be completed – review website re information re booking
Signage above bays Booked Motorhomes Only
Barriers to prevent parking
Cllr Tyson reported that a German couple misunderstood the procedure for booking and had paid for motorhome via car parking and were requesting a refund. Clerk to undertake a refund.
Clerk to investigate cost of CCTV to prevent unauthorised parking.
Levelling of space by toilets for Fishermen’s tractor parking.

Electricity meter to be installed after 24 June 2026
Motorhome bookings – Clerk reported that in May, occupancy rate was 45% compared to 35% in April.
A request had been received for handrails on steps down to beach – these belong to Cumberland Council – Cllr Pratt to raise.

31/26.2 Toilets

Ladies’ toilets require anchoring down. Paper towel dispenser in Gents off wall.
Clerk to contact cleaner re holidays.

31/26.3 Café

No response from Michael Barry.

31/26.4 Play inspection reports and actions

Clerk to obtain quotes for the resurfacing of the tennis court at Silecroft. Cllr Sharp to repair spring on gate at Kirksanton. To replace large access gate with a field gate. Clerk received notification that slide at Kirksanton will be repaired on 13 July

31/26.5 Defib – Silecroft

Thermal bag received – defib to be fitted.

31/25.6 Environmental issues

Banking scraping delayed to October

31/26.7 Feedback from Annual Parish Meeting

None received

31/26.8 Potholes Kirksanton

Cllr Cumming had spoken with residents. Potholes to be filled.

32/26 To receive reports from representatives on outside bodies.

None

33/26 CORRESPONDENCE:

To discuss any correspondence received for open discussion:
All other correspondence to be circulated in the normal manner for Council’s perusal.
2 separate requests received for commemorative plaques to be placed on seats at Silecroft beach.
Clerk to respond.

34/26 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.
Cllr Fell reported that he had been approached about the PC contributing to the cost of grass cutting at Whitbeck Church. Advised that a formal application for financial help must be received by the Clerk for it be considered. Cllr Fell to feedback information.

35/26 DATE OF NEXT MEETING:

The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on 1 July 2026 at Silecroft Village Hall commencing at 7.30p
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 2114 hours.

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