Minutes
Ordinary
13th January 2026

Eskdale Parish Council

DRAFT Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Parish Council held on Tuesday 13 January 2026 at St Bega’s Village Hall, Eskdale Green, commencing at 7.30pm.

Present

Cllr R Brown (Chair), Cllr M Shaftesley, Cllr J Harrington, Cllr A Rutherford, Cllr I Kirby, Cllr D Porter.
Mrs L Cooper – Clerk.

66/25 Apologies

Cllr L Hunt (personal) – accepted.

67/25 Exclusion of Press and Public

None.

68/25 Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest.

69/25 Minutes of the Meeting Held on 11 November 2025

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 November 2025 were approved and signed by the Chair.

70/25 Police Liaison Report

A report had been previously circulated by the Clerk. No issues.

71/25 Progress Reports

71/25.1 Clerk’s Report

The Clerk reported the blocked footpath and the lack of signage as requested at the last meeting.

72/25 Public Participation

None.

73/25 Cumberland Councillor’s Report

Cllr Pratt had submitted a report (attached to these minutes), which was accepted.

74/25 Applications for Development

74/25.1 New Applications

7/2025/4104 – Forge Farm, Eskdale
Approval of details reserved by condition 4 (paint colour) of planning permission 7/2025/4068 – Four work packages:
a) Internal kitchen floor removal and relaying.
b) Removal of flaking paint from window surrounds and porch.
c) Removal of interior porch.
d) Like-for-like replacement of windows.
Status: For notification only.

74/25.2 Ratification of Observations

7/2025/4103 – Eskdale Mill, Boot
Refurbishment of the bakehouse (part of the listed building): replacement of a rotten oak roof support beam; replacement of two deteriorated oak lintels (one over the door and one over the window); replacement of the fixed window with a bottom-hung inward-opening hopper window.
Status: Supported.

74/25.3 Decisions of the Planning Authority

7/2025/4082 – Low Birker Farm, Boot
Barn for the storage of agricultural and forestry machinery and vehicles.
Decision: Refused under NOI Procedure (Notice of Intention – Agricultural, Q6g).

75/25 Financial Records

75/25.1 Payments Approved

• L Cooper – Clerk’s salary & expenses: £338.40
• HMRC – PAYE: £65.40
• HMRC – Reissue of payment for September: £36.80
• SLCC – Membership renewal: £32.23

75/25.2 Receipts

None.

75/25.3 Bank Reconciliation

Statements dated 31 December 2025 received and checked by Cllr Kirby.

75/25.4 Budget Comparison Report

Report as at 31 December 2025 considered. No action required.
Current Account: £5,341.67
Deposit Account: £6,565.51

75/25.5 Precept Application

For information only: the precept application has been submitted.

76/25 Parish Matters

76/25.1 Hard Knott Telephone Box

No issues. The school is to be approached to display children’s artwork.

76/25.2 Community Plan

The Clerk presented the results of the Community Plan. Discussion took place on how to take the results forward. A copy of the Village Hall results is to be sent to Cllr Shaftesley for presentation at their AGM in February. The Clerk will write up a plan.

76/25.3 Environment

The Clerk is to obtain costs for three planters for the village entrance and brown signs reading “Welcome to Eskdale, please drive slowly.”

76/25.4 Japanese Garden

Suggested meeting dates to discuss the garden: 20 February, 28 February and 6 March.

76/25.5 Village Hall

Community Plan results to be sent to the Village Hall Committee for information. There is still no progress regarding ownership.

77/25 Reports from Representatives on Outside Bodies

None.

78/25 Correspondence

None.

79/25 Councillor Matters

• Cllr Brown raised concerns about the lack of gritting within the valley. The gritter is currently turning around at the school and not gritting through the village. The Clerk is to contact Highways.

80/25 Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on 10 March 2026 at St Bega’s Village Hall, Eskdale Green, commencing at 7.30pm.

Meeting Close

There being no other business, the meeting closed at 20:30.