Minutes 5/11/2025

20

WHICHAM PARISH COUNCIL

DRAFT MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY 5 NOVEMBER 2025 AT KIRKSANTON VILLAGE HALL COMMENCING AT 7.30 PM

PRESENT: Cllr Fell (Chair) Cllr S Millar, Cllr M Cumming, Cllr S Wilson, Cllr M Sharp, Cllr L Thomson arrived at 7.45pm
Cllr A Pratt – Cumberland Council
Lesley Cooper Clerk

100/25 Apologies for Absence
Cllr N Tyson, (personal) Cllr R Jopson (family)

101/25 Exclusions of Press and Public
Agenda item 17 Close Session

102/25 Declarations of Interest
None

103/25 To approve the Minutes of the meetings 1 October 2025 and the extra-ordinary meeting 15 October 2025/
Cllr Millar’s name was removed from the minutes of 15 October 2025
The Chair was authorized to sign the minutes as a true record of the meetings.

104/25 Police Liaison Report
Previously circulated. Cllr Tyson to attend the Community Police meeting on 11 December 2025 to raise continued problems of speeding through Silecroft and cars/lorries doing donuts on the beach car park.

105/25 Clerks report
None.

106/25 Public Participation
None

107/25 Report from Unitary Authority Councillor
Cllr Pratt gave the following report:
CALC AGM now 15 November 2025 via Teams
South Copeland meeting at Seascale 9 November 2025
New bus service from Whitehaven to Barrow return 4 times a day commencing 1 December 2025
Request for locations of inappropriate parking by Sellafield employees when car sharing
GDF meeting 5 November cancelled due to weather next meeting 2 December a recent survey shows +4% in favor. Millom Town Council rejoined partnership. Currently monitoring mammal and bird movements along coast. 1st borehole approx. 2030, permissions to be sought end of financial year.
13 November public meeting re future of Alexander House, Bootle
The Chair thanked Cllr Pratt for his report

108/25 Applications for Development

108/25.1 To examine applications for development and submit observations to the Planning Authority
None

108/25.2 To ratify the observations submitted by the Clerk under devolved powers
None

108/25.3 To note the decisions of the statutory planning authority with regards to recent applications:
7/2025/4061 Beckside, Silecroft,
Erection of a steel frame portal building
Prior Approval Not Required, Notice of Intention (Agricultural Q6g)

109/25 Financial Records

Minutes 5/11/2025
21

109/25.1 Payment of invoices

Waterplus direct Debit £    59.25
J Hillier Toilet Cleaning October £  403.00
A Bowden Toilet cleaning Changin places Oct £  403.00
L Cooper Clerks salary & expenses £  998.62
HMRC PAYE £  240.00
AC Developments Gabion replacement £  800.00
Community Heartbeat Replacement pads £    89.94
Cumberland Council waste removal £    84.50
Whamos Ltd Set up new laptop £  210.00
Prolectric repairs to light £  834.00
Whamos Ltd Deposit to rebuild website £1000.00
Whamos Ltd Final payment for website £1000.00
Playdale Ltd Repairs to play equipment £1198.16

109/25.2 Receipts

Beach car park £ 305.89
Church car park £ 141.64
Cumberland Council reimburse repairs £ 570.00

109/25.3 To receive and note the bank reconciliation statement dated 30 September 2025
Checked and verified by Cllr Millar

109/25.4 To consider the Budget Comparison Report as at 31 October 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 £18600.92, Deposit A/c £11174.16

109/25.5 To discuss the draft budget for financial year 2026/27.
After discussion resolved to defer to January meeting

109/25.6 To determine the Precept for the financial year 2026/27
Deferred to January meeting

110/25 Village Matters

110/25.1 Silecroft car park
Clerk reported that an email had been received requiring additional information and a new plan. Cllr Millar to draw up a new plan. A resident has volunteered to repaint the donation boxes. The potholes near to the café are getting bigger, need for it to be dry to attend to.
Resolved to accept the estimate and replace instruction boards with aluminium and change wording at entrance.

110/25.2 Toilets
Concerns that the changing places facility will no longer be maintained. Clerk to write to Cumberland.

110/25.3 Café
New Licence agreement signed.

110/25.4 Play inspection reports and actions
Quotation received and approved. Clerk to book repairs.

110/25.5 Defib – Silecroft
Cllr Sharpe to contact Open Reach. Cllr Sharp to give model details to Clerk to pursue other options.

110/25.6 Environmental issues
War memorial, blue slate chippings to surround, white lettering.

110/25.7 Date for Clerk’s Appraisal
To be rearranged.

110/25.8 2026 Meeting Dates
Approved.

Minutes 5/11/2025
22

110/25.9 CALC director nominations
No nominations put forward

111/25 To receive reports from representatives on outside bodies
• None

112/25 CORRESPONDENCE:
To discuss any correspondence received for open discussion:
All other correspondence to be circulated in the normal manner for Council’s perusal
• Notification of work to be carried out on a resident’s septic tank which requires access from the beach.
• Request for Esk to Barrow group for a letter of support

113/25 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
• Cllr Millar had received positive remarks re the newly installed gabion baskets.
• Cllr Millar raised the issue of paying for plants for the planters. The Clerk explained the process.
• Cllr Millar raised the issue of a wall falling down onto the pavement across from the Village Hall, Cllr Fell responded that plans are in place to make repairs.

114/25 DATE OF NEXT MEETING:
The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on 7 January 2026 at Kirksanton Village Hall commencing at 7.30p
There being no further business the meeting closed at 2149 hours

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

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