Minutes
Ordinary
1st July 2026

Whicham Parish Council

Minutes

MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY 1 JULY 2026 AT SILECROFT VILLAGE HALL COMMENCING AT 7.30 PM

PRESENT: Cllr Fell (Chair), Cllr S Millar, Cllr M Sharp, Cllr N Tyson, Cllr L Thomson, Cllr S Wilson
Lesley Cooper Clerk

35/26 Apologies for Absence

Cllr M Cumming (personal), Cllr R Jopson (personal)

36/26 Exclusions of Press and Public

None

37/26 Declarations of Interest

None

38/26 To approve the Minutes of the meetings 3 June 2026

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

39/26 Police Liaison Report

Previously circulated

40/26 Clerks report

None

41/26 Public Participation

None

42/26 Report from Unitary Authority Councillor

None

43/26 Applications for Development

43/26.1 To examine applications for development and submit observations to the Planning Authority

None

43/26.2 To ratify the observations submitted by the Clerk under devolved powers.

None

43/26.3 To note the decisions of the statutory planning authority with regard to recent applications:

None.

44/26 Financial Records

44/26.1 Payment of invoices

The following payments are presented for payment:

Waterplus direct Debit £ 40.21
L Cooper Clerks salary & expenses £ 301.80

HMRC PAYE £ 66.60
Thomas Graham Cleaning supplies £ 39.88
J Hillier Toilet Cleaning June £ 377.00
Scribe monthly fee Direct Debit £ 39.60
S Wilson Catering APM £ 45.00

44/26.2 Receipts

Beach car park £ 723.82
Church car park £ 161.91
Stripe – Motorhome overnight fees £ 830.45
South Cumberland Sea Sports donation £ 100.00

44/26.3 To receive and note the bank reconciliation statement dated 31 May 2026

Checked and verified by Cllr Millar

44/26.4 To consider the Budget Comparison Report as at 30 June 2026 and determine action need to address deviations from the budget.

No actions required
Current A/c £28409.25 Deposit A/c £31262.14 Committed reserves £21138

45/26 Village Matters

45/26.1 Silecroft car park

Works to be completed – review website re information re booking
Signage above bays Booked Motorhomes Only
Barriers to prevent parking
Clerk to investigate cost of CCTV to prevent unauthorised parking.
Levelling of space by toilets for Fishermen’s tractor parking.
Electricity meter now installed awaiting date for installation of EV charge points.
Motorhome bookings – Clerk reported that in June, occupancy rate was 40% compared to 45% in May.

45/26.2 Toilets

Contractor appointed to undertake repairs to toilets.

45/26.3 Café

Thomas Lydiatt has contacted for an update on progress. Concerns raised that the treatment plant was leaking into a neighbouring field. This to be raised with Cumberland.

45/26.4 Play inspection reports and actions

Clerk had received one quotation to resurface the tennis courts, to obtain 2 more.
Cllr Sharp stated that he had replaced 2 broken rails and repaired the small gate. Clerk to purchase posts and farm gate to replace field gate.

Notification received that play area inspection will be undertaken in August.

45/26.5 Defib – Silecroft

Contractor cannot open box – no code, Clerk to try and source.

45/25.6 Environmental issues

Cllr Millar had attended a Zero-carbon parish course and Local Nature Recovery strategy for councils.

45/26.7 Grass Cutting Whitbeck Church

No formal request received.

45/26.8 Potholes Kirksanton

No update

46/26 To receive reports from representatives on outside bodies.

None

47/26 CORRESPONDENCE:

To discuss any correspondence received for open discussion:
All other correspondence to be circulated in the normal manner for Council’s perusal.
CALC requesting short articles for Annual Report
Email from Fisherman – points noted
Consultation proposed changes to bus routes.
Email from resident with suggested changes to management of car park – Clerk to respond

48/26 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 a parishioner had offered to buy a new seat for the war memorial.
Cllr Tyson reported that the footpath down to the beach is being encroached by brambles and vegetation making it difficult for people to walk on. To report via Hims system.
Cllr Thomson sought reassurance that the PC’s insurers were aware of the motorhome parking and that there would be no financial drain on the community. The Clerk confirmed both.

49/26 DATE OF NEXT MEETING:

The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on 2 September 2026 at Silecroft Village Hall commencing at 7.30p

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 2120 hours.

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