LEVENS PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held in the Methodist Meeting Room
on Tuesday 11 January 2011 at 7:30pm
Present: R Mason (Chairman), J Watson (Vice Chairman), C Hammond, S Bagot, D Martin, H Burrow, R Atfield, J Watson, County Cllr J Bland and A Kerr (Clerk) 6 members of the public
01/11 To receive apologies for absence
None
Resolved that the apologies be noted.
02/11 To authorise minutes of meeting held on 1 December 2010
Resolved that the Chairman sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 1 December 2010 as a true record.
03/11 To receive any declarations of interest in items on the Agenda
Cllr Bagot declared a personal interest in item 08/11 planning app SL/2010/1010
The following councilors declared a prejudicial interest in:-
Item 11/11 i
a) Cllrs Bagot & Mason
b) Cllrs Hammond & Burrow
c) Cllrs Hammond & Thacker
04/11 Adjournment of meeting to receive any matters from the public
Several members of the public spoke with their concerns about planning app SL/2010/1010 Greengate House. Issues raised were:
a) Safety of children at the school during construction
b) Parking – lack of allocated parking and problems already with parking in the area
c) Enforcing a “time delivery” to avoid school times
Members of the public also discussed item 11/11
They advised that similar problems during construction would be even worse with more housing been built in the village.
Cllr Burrow advised that Allan Steward had contacted her to advise that he is speaking with United Utilities about water pressure problems in the Greengate area.
05/11 To receive any police matters
No crime report has been given by the Police this month. The clerk will chase.
06/11 To consider correspondence received
The following items were discussed:
- Citizens Advice Bureau – asking for donation – resolved to donate £100
- Tim Farron MP – High speed broadband – contacts required – no action
- SLDC – Your Council, Your Say – Online budget simulator – consultation ends 31/1/11
- Cumbria County Council – budgets – have your say – consultation ends 31/1/11
- SLDC – Electronic consultation with Parish Councils, meeting 18/1/11
Update on correspondence items from the last meeting:
- Allotments – Reply received from Mrs Armstrong asking that the Parish Council pay for the cost of removing items from the pathway. The clerk will advise Mrs Armstrong that the Parish Council will not be paying for this.
- Mr Johnson – The clerk has written to the Environment Agency at their Bridgend Depot to ask that the banking be re-instated, after speaking with Naomi Fell at Hayton & Winkley
Email correspondence
- Paul Crook– Sizergh Quarry, the clerk will thank Mr Crook for bringing this to the attention of the Parish Council
07/11 To receive County/District matters
County Cllr Bland explained about the possibility of a local company being set up to provide a snow clearing and gritting to the Lyth Valley. Cllr Mason advised that the Parish Council have set up a winter snow plan which worked very well this year. It was resolved that the Parish Council would continue with their own plans.
08/11 To consider planning applications
a) To consider the following planning applications:
SL/2010/1010: School House, Levens - two storey extension and single storey extension – no objections
SL/2010/1094 – Greengate House & Garden : Conversion and extension of Greengate House into 2 dwellings and the erection of 5 dwellings and the formation of new vehicular access – the clerk will send in objections to the following:-
1) Parking - only 1 allocated per dwelling, which is not enough
2) Changed entrance – opposite the school entrance
3) During construction all deliveries to site must not take place at school start and finish times
4) Severe traffic congestion will become a problem especially at school times.
b) To be informed of the following granted planning application:
SL/2010/0787 – Part of OS field 3481, Old Road , Levens: erection of livestock building
09/11 Levens Brownies celebrating 80 years
Cllr Mason attended the ceremony to plant the time capsule. It was suggested that the Brownies might like to have a competition to draw a map of the area to show where the time capsule has been placed so that this can be recorded for future generation. The clerk will contact Brownies.
10/11 Registering Parish Land
a) Sizergh Quarry - ongoing
b) Other quarries within the parish - Cllr Mason has spoken to Hayton and Winkley who have advised that no letter from SLDC is required so have now sent off the registration documents without it.
11/11 Local Development Framework
i) To discuss the Allocation of Land document and the meeting that took place on 14/12/10
Cllr Burrow and Hammond met with Alistair Mcneil and Dan Hudson who advised that this is a consultation period where they are listening to people’s views. They are still looking for plots of land.
Allocations of Land map:-
Housing Development sites:-
a) R51M – Land off Greengate Crescent
b) R682LVM – Land off Brigsteer Road
c) R71M – Land off Hutton Lane
Employment Land:-
d) RN121M
The Parish Council did not discuss the individual sites. The number of houses allocated by SLDC in the allocations of land document was discussed.
ii) Public consultation from 21/1/11 – 15/4/11
It was resolved to advertise the open day with SLDC being held in the Levens Institute on 28/2/10 in the Parish Council newsletter. It is hoped information about the proposals will reach all households within the parish. Further opinions from the parish can be gained at the open meeting.
iii) Any further developments
Extra information from SLDC explaining why they have chosen the sites they have was due to be published to Parish Council on 15/1/11, this is now delayed.
12/11 Parish Council Notice Board
It was resolved to ask Mr Medcalf to replace both noticeboards at a cost of £705
13/11 Parish Council Seats in the village
Cllr Mason advised that the blacksmith Peter Pickett has provided a quote for the repair of the metal benches.£270 +VAT. It was resolved to go ahead with this
The clerk is awaiting further contact from the community service about the possibility of them re-staining the wooden seats at Nelson Square.
14/11 Request for two new bus shelters at Heaves
The clerk has obtained the grant application form and spoken with Enterprise Mouchel about the type of bus shelter that could be used. Cllr Mason will meet with Enterprise Mouchel to agree about the size and site of any bus shelter.
15/11 Maintenance Work
A sub group has met to discuss maintenance areas. Cllr Burrow has provided a written report. The winter snow/gritting system has been working well
16/11 Charity applications
Applications have been received from the following:-
1. Levens Local History Group - £160 requested – It was resolved to donate £160 towards the preservation of the Levens Roll of Honour from the Great War.
2. Levens fine art & craft exhibition 2011 - £400 requested – It was resolved to give £250 towards the cost of this event. The clerk will contact the group to discuss payment details.
17/11 Remuneration for Parish Councillors
It was resolved set limits at levels agreed by SLDC.
18/11 Levens Post Office Closure
The Post Office Service are still in discussions with retailers in the village. The presentation for Edna and Ken Ashcroft will take place on Thursday 20 January at 10:30 in the institute, the village has raised £1000 which will be presented in a cheque from the Parish Council.
19/11 Parish Council Newsletter
The Autumn newsletter has now been delivered. The next newsletter will be produced in time for February 2011. Items that may be included would be the Local Development Framework, winter maintenance, presentation to Edna and Ken. Cllr Bagot will confirm delivery dates with the clerk
20/11 Highway Matters
a) Better Highways – new system to replace the Highway Steward. No dates are known yet.
b) The clerk advised that Cumbria Highways will meet with Cllr Mason on site to discuss line painting around the playing fields
c) Main Street – potholes, the clerk will report
d) A request for a crash barrier to be installed at the bottom of Dukes Hill will be made, county Cllr Bland will look into.
22/11 Review of Clerks Contract & Salary Review
To be discussed at the next meeting.
23/11 Finance
a) Resolved that the following accounts be approved:
A Kerr – Charity salary £ 125.00
A Kerr – Purchase of Local Council Clerk’s Guide &
Local Council Administration 8th Edition – ½ cost £ 38.97
A Kerr – petty cash £ 25.00
R Mason – Poppy Wreath £ 25.00
M Knipe – Grass cutting £145.00
b)The council were informed of the current bank balances.
24/11 Matters of information and agenda items for the next meeting
a) The following items will be put on the next agenda:
b) The following matters of information were reported:
None
25/11 Date of next meeting
The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 8 February 2011 at 7:30pm in the Methodist Meeting Room.
The meeting closed at 10:05pm.
Signed……………………………………………………….Date…………………
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