Minutes
Ordinary
12th November 2019

Eskdale Parish Council

Meeting Minutes

Meeting 12 November 2019

Reference: EPC/MINUTES/12/11/2019

Page 16

DRAFT MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2019 IN THE VILLAGE HALL, ESKDALE GREEN COMMENCING AT 7.30PM

Present: Cllr M Shaftesley (Chair), Cllr R Brown, Cllr I Kirby, Cllr A Vicars, and Cllr L Hunt

3 member of public

69/19 Apologies: Cllr M Watson, Cllr C Ashall, Borough Councillor G McGrath

70/19 Exclusion of Press and Public
Agenda item 11.7 Clerk’s salary to be moved to the end of business

71/19 Declarations of Interest
None

72/19 To Approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 10 September 2019
The minutes of the meeting held on 10 September 2019 were approved and signed by the Chair.

73/19 To approve the Minutes of the extra-ordinary meeting held on 31 October 2019
The minutes of the meeting held on 31st October 2019 were approved and signed by the Chair.

74/19 Police Liaison Report
The Clerk was requested to circulate all the Police Liaison reports

75/19 Progress Reports
None

76/19 Public Participation
The members of public present were interested in the council’s response to a planning application

77/19 County Councillor/District Councillor reports
The Clerk was instructed to send the dates of 2020 meetings to both councillors and also request a report.

78/19 Applications for Development

78/19.1 To examine applications for development and submit observations to the Planning Authority

7/2019/4105 Fairfield, Randlehow, Holmrook, Eskdale
Construction of garage on side of existing dwelling incorporating workshop and lobby access to dwelling

The council expressed concerns regarding the size of the development in relation to the existing footprint of the property. The proposed development extends beyond the building line of the existing and surrounding properties. The location of the sewage pipe from New Close to the sewage works located behind the property. The lack of distinction between garage and workshop. Currently vehicle access is directly from a private road Randle How, the location of the build would create a new access route through the owners land.

The Council to request that a condition be placed on the development that it must remain as a garage/workshop.

78/19.2 To ratify the observations submitted by the Clerk under devolved powers since last meeting.

61/19.3 To note the decisions of the statutory planning authority with regards to recent applications:

/2019/4069 Longrigg Green, Eskdale Green, Holmrook
Variation of condition 2 (plans) on planning application 7/2019/4011 – Alterations and extensions to a 2 storey dwelling
Approved with Conditions

7/2019/4094 Mountain View, Eskdale, Holmrook
New single storey part rear and part side extension to existing two storey house
Approved with Conditions

7/2018/4128 The Cottage, Boot,
Replacement of the windows with new double glazed wooden windows. The new window
Listed Building Consent application Withdrawn

79/19 FINANCIAL RECORDS

79/19.1 To approve the following payments:
CALC Good Councillor course £ 170.00
PKF Littlejohn External Auditors fees 2018/19 audit £ 240.00

79/19.2 To note the receipt of payments
VAT refund for 2016/19 £526.90

79/19.3 To receive and note the bank reconciliation statements 4 October 2019
The Clerk presented reconciled accounts and these were checked and verified by Cllr Kirby

79/19.4 To consider the Budget Comparison Report as at 31 August 2019 and determine action need to address deviations from the budget
The Clerk predicted that the total budget spend for the year would not be exceeded.

79/19.5 To determine and approve a budget for the financial year 2020/2021
The clerk had previously circulated a draft budget to all councillors prior to the meeting. Subject to the approval of the clerk’s salary, it was resolved that the budget would be approved with a planned expenditure for 2020/21 of £6672.
Proposed by Cllr Shaftesley, seconded by Cllr Hunt,

79/19.6 To determine and approve the precept for the financial year 2020/2021

Reference: EPC/MINUTES/12/11/2019
Page 18

The clerk advised that the council’s reserves were dangerously low and required building up to a minimum of the annual precept. It was resolved that the annual precept for 20/21 be £7500
Proposed by Cllr Vicars, seconded by Cllr Brown

An explanation of the reasoning behind the increase to be published in the February newsletter and also to be placed on the council’s website.

80/19 Parish Matters

80/19.1 Training for Councillors
4 councillors had attended the good councillor course. Cllr Ashall to attend in the new financial year.

80/19.2 Japanese Garden – Forestry Commission
A response had been received from the Forestry Commission and a meeting to be arranged in the new year. The Clerk to send the dates of the meetings. Some works had been carried out on the gardens.

80/19.3 Devoke Water Boathouse
A meeting was unable to be arranged. This item to be removed from the agenda.

81/19.4 Verge Cutting Specification and review of previous works
Cllr Shaftesley presented a draft outline specification to the meeting. After discussion it was agreed that modifications were required and to be redistributed for discussion at the January meeting

81/19.5 Parish Plan
Cllr Vicars reported that he had met with Cllrs Brown and Hunt to discuss a community plan that would require inclusion of members of the community in implementing it. It was proposed to have a public meeting in March 2020 to discuss and encourage the community to get involved. Cllr Hunt had listed all businesses in the parish

Next steps : plan communications with the community including using the website and start up a group including members of the community to take this forward..

81/19.6 Councillor vacancies
It was noted that there are currently 3 vacancies and in 2020 advertising would take place to try and encourage people to come forward.

81/19.7 Parish Clerk
To be deferred to the end of the meeting

81/19.8 VE day 8th May 2020
To be deferred to the January meeting.
It was agreed to donate a small contribution to a school event. Cllr Kirby to ascertain if the school will be having an event.

81/19.9 Recycling Bins, Eskdale
The Council are disappointed that Copeland BC failed to consult with the community with regards to the removal of the recycling bins. It was noted that visitors to the area use these bins. The Clerk to write to Copeland BC expressing disappointment.

82/19 To receive reports from representatives on outside bodies
None

Members of public left the meeting

83/19 Correspondence
To discuss any correspondence received for open discussion:

Reference: EPC/MINUTES/12/11/2019
Page 19

• The Clerk reported that a letter had been received from the Criminal Justice System confirming the result of the court case against the previous clerk. An article had appeared in the local newspaper reporting on the case

A statement was agreed and it was resolved that Cllr Shaftesley would speak on behalf of the council if required.

84/19 Parish Clerk
Cllr Shaftesley proposed to extend the Interim Clerk’s contract until March 2020 with the agreement of the current Clerk. The Clerk’s salary to increase to £11.22ph.
Proposed by Cllr Hunt, Seconded by Cllr Kirby

85/19 Councillor Matters

• None

86/19 Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Parish Council to be held on14 January 2020 at Eskdale Green Village Hall commencing at 7.30pm.

There being no other business the meeting closed at 9.45pm