Minutes
Ordinary
9th March 2021

Eskdale Parish Council

Draft Minutes

Meeting held via virtual conference call on Tuesday 9 March 2021 commencing at 7.30pm

EPC/MINUTES/9/3/2021
22

Present: Cllr M Shaftesley (Chair), Cllr A Vicars, Cllr I Kirby, Cllr L Hunt, Cllr C Carlin, Cllr D Porter, Cllr R Brown and Cllr T Postlethwaite

108/20 Apologies: B.Cllr G McGrath

109/20 Exclusion of Press and Public
None

110/20 Declarations of Interest
None

111/20 To Approve the Minutes of the meetings held on 12 January 2021, 26 January 2021 and 9 February 2021

It was noted that the minutes of 26 January 2021 had not been received by councillors. The Clerk to re-distribute them for approval at the next meeting.

The minutes of the 12 January and 9 February meetings were approved and will be signed by the Chair at the next appropriate meeting. Proposed by Cllr Carlin and Seconded by Cllr Vicars.

112/20 Police Liaison Report
These had been previously circulated by the Clerk.

Mr Olly Fielden, Forestry England joined the meeting at 1945 hrs.

113/20 Progress Reports

113/20.1 Giggle Alley

Mr Fielden reported that civil works had been undertaken and he had spoken to local residents re the problems of water down Smithy Brow Lane, this had been improved with drainage into the woods. Phase 1 of the plan had been completed with the creation of a log stacking area, a welfare area and the removal of some dangerous trees.

Phase 2 was with consultation with ENW the safe removal of trees which encroached onto power lines. Awaiting a date to commence this work, but the plan was to ensure the security of the electricity supply to the village.

An archaeologist has been involved in identifying things of interest including a standing circle and these finds will be put up on the Giggle Alley Facebook page.

Works are expected to be completed by the end of September 2021.

The Chair thanked Mr Fielden for his report.

Mr Fielden left the meeting at 1953hrs.

113/20.2 Hard Knott Telephone Box

Cllr Hunt reported that she had located the owners of the box, but they no longer wished to retain ownership of it. Cllr Hunt to contact LDNP listed buildings dept to report the current condition of the box. The Clerk to contact BT/Openreach to establish actual ownership.

The meeting was joined by Fran Richards, ACT at 1955 hrs.

It was resolved that Agenda item 11.1 Community Plan/Housing Needs be brought forward for discussion.

114/20 Community Plan/Housing Needs

Ms Richardson gave a presentation on how to conduct a Housing Needs Survey, a Housing Needs Assessment, a Community Plan and a Neighbourhood Plan and the processes involved once these assessments had been undertaken. There would be some charges from ACT for some of the work especially around a Neighbourhood Plan which could become expensive. ACT would support the council during the process.

Cllrs Shaftesley, Carlin and Hunt to form a sub group to identify what actions the council needs to take and report back to the next meeting.

Cllr Postlethwaite joined the meeting 2010 hrs.

The Chair thanked Ms Richardson for her presentation.

Ms Richardson left the meeting at 2022hrs.

The Chair resumed the meeting at Agenda item 6.3 Suggested locations for the installation of a Defibrillator.

115/20.3 Location for Defibrillator

A suggest location was West Lakes Adventure. Cllr Vicars to speak to the owners. Once this has been confirmed the Fred Whitton Challenge to be contacted.

116/20 Public Participation
None present

117/20 County Councillor and Borough Councillor Reports

B. Cllr McGrath had submitted a report stating that Copeland BC had now set its budget which included an increase of 1.95% as per previous years.

118/20 Applications for Development

118/20.1 To examine applications for development and submit observations to the Planning Authority

7/2021/4018 Green Lodge, Eskdale, Holmrook
Erection of new single storey side extension to provide porch and wc

The council resolved to support this application.

118/20.2 To ratify the observations submitted by the Clerk under devolved powers since last meeting.
None

118/20.3 To note the decisions of the statutory planning authority with regards to recent applications:
None

119/20 Financial Records

119/20.1 To approve the following payments:

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• L Cooper Clerks salary & expenses £276.70
• HMRC PAYE £69.20
• Copeland BC Light maintenance £175.20
• CALC Course fees £40.00

Proposed by Cllr Hunt, Seconded by Cllr Brown it was Resolved to pay invoices.

119/20.2 To note the receipt of payments
None

119/20.3 To receive and note the bank reconciliation statements dated 31 January 2021
This had been checked and verified by Cllr Kirby.

119/20.4 To consider the Budget Comparison Report as at 28 February 2020 and determine action need to address deviations from the budget.

The Clerk reported that there would be an expected underspend on budget of approximately £4000 which would be placed into reserves.

120/20 Parish Matters

120/20.1 Housing Survey/Community Plan
See 114/20 above.

120/20.2 Emergency Plan
Cllrs Shaftesley and Kirkby to forward emergency contact details for the village hall and school respectively to the Clerk.

120/20.3 United Utilities
The Clerk to contact United Utilities to confirm a date for the meeting re the Waste Water Treatment Plant.

120/20.4 Website
Website to contain details of Community Plan and housing survey.

120/20.5 Traffic Speed Restrictions and gritting

A request for speed monitoring to be undertaken during busy summer periods to be made to Cumbria Highways. The Clerk to also pursue the issue of lack of gritting of roads.

120/20.6 Eskdale Open
This to remain an agenda item as the Community Plan develops.

120/20.7 EV Charge Points locations
The Clerk to pursue Copeland BC re ownership of car park.

120/20.8 Fred Whitton challenge

This has been now rescheduled to 19 September 2021. After discussion it was resolved to invite representatives of the Fred Whitton challenge to the July meeting for an update.

120/20.9 Local Government Reorganisation

Councillors to attend CALC meeting on 18 March 2021 when presentations will be made. Decision to be made by 19 April as to the preferred option.

120/20.10 EPC21 Model Design Code
No response to be made.

120/20.11 Annual Parish Meeting
It was resolved to hold the Annual Parish Meeting on 11 May 2021 commencing at 7pm.

120/20.12 Return to Face-to-face meetings

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A plan of action to be put in place at an April meeting.

120/20.13 Eskfest

Scheduled to go ahead on 31 July 2021. Cllr Brown to contact organiser and invite to April meeting.

120/20.14 LDNP Visitor Management Plan

Concerns were expressed on the impact of moving large numbers of people around the Lake District and the impact on smaller communities and the resources required to manage these people.

121/20 To receive reports from representatives on outside bodies
None

122/20 Correspondence
To discuss any correspondence received for open discussion:

• An email had been received from Mr Taylor – the Clerk to respond

123/20 Councillor Matters

• Cllr Harrington reported that limbs of trees were hanging dangerously over School road end. The clerk to report.

124/20 Date of Next Meeting

The next full meeting of the Parish Council to be held virtually on 13 April 2021 commencing at 7.30pm.

There being no other business the meeting closed at 21.16.