Minutes from "Feb Parish Council Meeting" on 13 Feb 2007 - 7:15pm

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF CATON-WITH-LITTLEDALE PARISH COUNCIL HELD AT THE VICTORIA INSTITUTE ON TUESDAY 13 February 2007

PRESENT:

Councillors I Maxwell, R Gibbons, PM Quinton, R Elvis, Dr DB Coltman and S Langhorn.

07/017        APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:

Councillor J Pritchard, CEC Kynch, KA Quinn, DM Mason, V Williams and M Williams and PC Ian Johnson sent their apologies.

07/018        OPEN SESSION

Ian Kennon addressed the meeting and put forward a case for proceeding with the Twinning arrangement with Socx, in northern France. He had visited the village, which had many similarities with Caton & Brookhouse, and felt such an arrangement would be of benefit to both communities.

07/019        MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING HELD ON 9th January 2007

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 9th January were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

07/020        MATTERS ARISING

The Clerk reported the following :-

• 07/008 - Bollards between Hall Drive & the Croft will be inspected and removed as requested.
• 07/012 - The submission for the car park land around the Library has been forwarded to Lancashire County Council.
  LCC have also submitted an application to fund a community library scheme for Caton, which the Parish Council supports. A decision is awaited.
• 06/112 - The Website has gone live ! Steve Smithson is training people to upload their content.
  The Parish Council will upload minutes and a list of Councillors and their telephone numbers.
• 07/008 - Gresgarth Lodge. County Highways have issued instructions for the ‘lay by’ to be removed and the land returned to its former condition. The plan from the Land Registry is not detailed enough to ascertain ownership of the area.
• 06/158 - Update on Poor’s Land Land Registration. The Angling Associated has registered a claim and the Poor’s Land Trustees have submitted an objection. There is some confusion over Manorial and rights, however it is in the hands of our Solicitor.
• 07/004 - The Government Consultation on the future of the Post Office Network closes on 8th March. Cllr P Quinton is formulating a response which will be submitted once approval has been received from the Chairman.
  It is understood that Lancashire County Council and Community Futures will be making submissions.
• 07/007 - It has been confirmed that the City Council’s element of the Council Tax will be limited to a 3.9% rise for the next financial year.

07/021        POLICE AND COMMUNITY TOGETHER (PACT).

There had been an incidence of criminal damage to two cars on Brookhouse Road and two offenders had been dealt with (fined).

The Crime Prevention Officer will be visiting the Victoria Institute to offer advice.

07/022        PLANNING

The Following Applications had been received:-

• 06/01581/FUL - Single storey rear sun lounge extension
  Mr & Mrs Maher, 1 Kirkbeck Close, Brookhouse
• 07/00026/UL - Erection of detached garage
  C& C Jackson, Forgelands, Caton
• 07/00038/FUL - Erection of extensions to side and rear
  Mr & Mrs Brennan, 9 Moorside Road, Brookhouse
• 07/00071/FUL - Erection of replacement shed to rear
  Mr & Mrs KR Burge, 4 Kingfisher Court, Caton
• 07/00141/FUL - 15 m high Telegraph pole and cabinets
  O2 UK, Caton Pumping Station

The Following Applications have been granted :-

• 06/01444/FUL - Erection of open fronted store and garage
  Mr Sumner, Berry Cottage, Lancaster Road, Caton
• 06/01519/LB - Listed Building Application for various alterations
  Dr Miles Ruckledge, Old Hall Farm, Brookhouse
• Tree Preservation Order 246; 8 Kingfisher Court, Caton
  Removal of one large limb and one small.
• Tree Preservation Order 400 (2007) ; Moor Platt, Caton
  Covering a number of trees within the site

St. Paul’s Church and graveyard. LCC do not intend to place a Tree Preservation Order on an Oak Tree

07/023        COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLORS REPORTS

The City Council Budget increase was confirmed at 3.9% and ‘Special Expenses’ were declared.

The City Council have submitted their bid for Unitary Authority Status for the Lancaster District.

Planning – Guideline will shortly be issued for solar panels and domestic wind turbines

Lancashire Locals – Consideration is being given to the scoring system for 20 mph zones and traffic calming. Priority will be given to areas next to schools.

Consideration is being given to the changes in School bus fares.

The City Council has objected to changes to the Railways affecting main line services and a report on Youth Workers in the area will be presented to the Lancashire Locals.

07/024        LENGTHSMAN, HIGHWAYS & FOOTPATHS

It was agreed that we organise an event to mark the planting of the sapling in the bowl of the old oak tree. Contact will be made with the High Sheriff of Lancashire and the Mayor of Lancaster.

One of the planters outside the Chip Shop on Sycamore Road has been damaged – we will look at getting it repaired.

There had been reports of dog fouling on Broadacre and this will be reported to the Dog Wardens and notice drawn to the fact in the Link & web-site.

A request had been made for a salt bin on Artlebeck Road.

There is continuing erosion to the river bank along the foot path to the Pipe track bridge. The Countryside Service would be informed.

07/025        FINANCE

IR Tax refund of £ 250 for on-line filing has been received and Banked

It was resolved that we close the Parish Plan bank a/c and transfer the balance to the Parish Council’s main a/c. The balance in the bank and petty cash is £ 82.37.

Proposed Cllr P Quinton, seconded Cllr R Gibbons and resolved that the following payments be made:-

07/026        FELL VIEW

It was agreed to ask Ground Works to proceed with the Project and work towards submission of a Funding Application at no risk to the Parish Council.

The Parish Council would finalise a scheme and liase with residents. To date there had been one response to our letter and that was favourable.

Lancaster City Council Property Group would be contacted to obtain their views on the proposals. Fell View is on a lease from the City Council until December 2015.

07/027        TWINNING

Cllr. Langhorn and the Clerk reported on an informal meeting held with two representatives from Socx, over here for a social event. They agreed to provide more details of what they (Socx) would like to get out of a ‘Twinning’. In general they think it is a good idea to involve the schools and are very keen.

The Parish Council agreed to proceed and to get it off the ground. We would investigate the formalities involved in a Twinning and write to the schools informing them.

07/028        BEST KEPT VILLAGE

It was agreed to only enter the Best Kept Village Competition this year. An article would be prepared for the Link.

07/029        NEW COUNCILLORS

In a bid to attract people to put themselves up for election as Parish Councillors in was agreed that we produce a poster for display in the Village. We would also put items in the Link referring to the NALC web site and place leaflets in the Post Office and VI.

07/030        REPORTS OF MEMBERS ON OUTSIDE BODIES

There were no reports

07/031        LAPTC AND CORRESPONDANCE

The following documents and notices had been received :-

• Community Safety Partnership – improved lighting bids
• LCC Overview & Scrutiny Review of Bus Shelters
• LCC Local Transport Plan 2006-2010
• LCC Consultation on engaging with neighbourhoods in Lancashire
• Door to Door, Community Transport in Lancashire
• STYLE Newsletter
• LAPTC Briefings
• Review of Quality Town & Parish Council Scheme
• Consultation on amendments to Model Code of Conduct
• Lancaster City Council – Unitary Authority Bid
• Social Enterprise Event

07/032        PARISH MEETING

The Parish Meeting will be held on Thursday 26th April at St Paul’s School’ Brookhouse.

Possible items will be Fell View Play Area and the Twinning with Socx.

07/033        PHOTOGRAPHS & CHAIRMAN’S BOARD

Should It was agreed that we have a photograph of the current Council taken . This will be on Thursday 26th April prior to the Parish Meeting.

It was agreed that we write formally to the Victoria Institute and request that the Chairman’s Board, photographs and Certificates be displayed as previously. It was agreed that a couple of Councillors would be nominated to liase with the Victoria institute regarding positions etc.

07/034        ITEMS / DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Tuesday 13th March 2007. Agenda closes 8th March.

Agenda Item – The Glen – Public open space

The meeting closed at 9.25 pm.