Minutes
Ordinary
9th September 2025

Eskdale Parish Council

Minutes

Ordinary Meeting of the Parish Council held on Tuesday 9 September 2025 at St Bega’s Village Hall, Eskdale Green commencing at 7.30pm

Reference: EPC/MINUTES/9/9/25

Original pagination reference: 7

Present: Cllr R Brown (Chair), Cllr M Shaftesley, Cllr L Hunt, Cllr A Rutherford, Cllr J Harrington

Also present: Cllr Pratt – Cumberland Council; Mrs L Cooper – Clerk

35/25 APOLOGIES

Cllr I Kirby (personal), Cllr D Porter (family), Cllr T Postlethwaite (working), Cllr A Pratt – Cumberland Council were accepted.

36/25 Exclusion of Press and Public

None

37/25 Declarations of Interest

There were no Declarations of Interest

38/25 To Approve the Minutes of the meetings held on 8 July 2025

The Minutes of the meeting of the meeting held on 8 July 2025 were approved and signed by the Chair

39/25 Police Liaison Report

A report had been previously circulated by the Clerk

40/25 Progress Reports

40/25.1 Clerk’s Report

The Clerk had contacted the police re the theft and vandalism at Boot Church, the police were aware of the issues.

41/25 Public Participation

None

42/25 Cumberland Councillor’s Report

Cllr Pratt had submitted a report (Attached to these minutes) which had been accepted

43/25 Applications for Development

43/25.1 To examine applications for development and submit observations to the Planning Authority

None

43/25.2 To ratify the observations submitted by the Clerk under devolved powers since last meeting.

7/2025/4024 at Moor Close, Eskdale
Installation of solar panels to roof, installation of air source heat pump, insertion of two first floor side windows and alteration of fenestration to ground floor. Internal alterations
Supported

7/2025/4059 Muncaster Head Farm, Eskdale
Erection of sheep penning and roof over midden
Supported

43/25.3 To note the decisions of the statutory planning authority with regards to recent applications

7/2025/4024 Moor Close, Eskdale
Installation of solar panels to roof, installation of air source heat pump, insertion of two first floor side windows and alteration of fenestration to ground floor. Internal alterations
Granted

T/2025/0104 Fisherground Campsite, Eskdale,
Re-pollard 2 ash trees
Granted

44/25 FINANCIAL RECORDS

44/25.1 To approve the following payments

Reference: EPC/MINUTES/9/9/25 (pagination 8)

44/25.2 To note the receipt of payments

VAT Return £44.84

44/24.3 To receive and note the bank reconciliation statements dated 31 July 2025

Checked by Cllr Harrington

44/24.4 To consider the Budget Comparison Report as at 31 August 2025 and determine action need to address deviations from the budget

None required. C/Act £13618.77, D/act £6534.00

44/24.5 To approve the Clerk’s hourly rate increase of £0.51p per hour as per the National pay award

(Recorded item – no additional narrative in minutes)

44/25.6 Proposed S137 donation to 1st Responders

Deferred to November meeting

45/25 Parish Matters

45/25.1 Hard Knott Telephone Box

Windows have been smashed again and leaflets thrown around. To put an article of Facebook.

45/25.2 Community Plan

19 responses received. Reminder to be placed on Facebook to complete. To attend Eskdale show with forms to encourage more people to complete.

45/25.3 Environment

One of the young oak trees has died.

45/25.4 Japanese Garden

To invite representative to November meeting. Cllr Harrington to take up to date photos of the poor state of the garden

45/25.5 War Memorial benches

These have gone missing. Resolved to purchase 2 replacement benches at a cost of £1057.20 plus vat.

45/25.6 Request for letter of support – “The Nature Rich Mitterdale Project”

Resolved Clerk to write a positive response

45/25.7 Assertion 10 compliance – Data Protection

Clerk reminded councillors re email addresses. Website needs updating to comply with latest accessibility software at accost of approx. £2k

46/25 To receive reports from representatives on outside bodies

Village Hall – Meeting week commencing 15 September

47/25 Correspondence

To discuss any correspondence received for open discussion

• Request for data relating to assessment of Visitor accommodation on communities and landscapes – clerk to respond

48/25 Councillor Matters

• Cllr Hunt reported that she attended the Mill Open Day and they were pleased to see a council representative.
• Cllr Brown raised the danger of fallen stones from walls on road. To send details to clerk to report

49/25 Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Parish Council 11 November 2025 at St Bega’s Village Hall, Eskdale Green commencing at 7.30pm

There being no other business the meeting closed at 2032 hours.

50/25 Closed Session – Clerk’s Appraisal

No issues raised. The Clerk was thanked for her hard work.