Draft Minutes
Ordinary
10th November 2026

ESKDALE PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2026 AT St BEGA’S VILLAGE HALL, ESKDALE GREEN COMMENCING AT 7.30PM

Present: Cllr R Brown(Chair), Cllr M Shaftesley, Cllr L Hunt, Cllr A Rutherford, Cllr I Kirby, Cllr T Postlethwaite, Cllr D Porter
Mrs L Cooper – Clerk
3 members of the public

50/26 APOLOGIES : Cllr J Harrington (personal), Apologies were accepted.

51/26 Exclusion of Press and Public
None present.

52/26 Declarations of Interest
There were no Declarations of Interest

53/26 To Approve the Minutes of the meetings held on 18 September 2026.
Approved and signed by the Chair.

54/26 Police Liaison Report
A report had been previously circulated by the Clerk. No issues.

55/26 Progress Reports

55/26.1 Clerks Report
The Lengthsman was liaising with the owners of the bench for its replacement.

56/26 Public Participation

A member of the public enquired if there was any progress re extending the 30mph throughout the village. The Clerk explained that a request had been made to Cumberland Highways and they would be considering it, including reducing the current 30mph down to 20mph following the Community Plan questionnaire.

A member of the public requested that Boot School should be recorded as a Community asset, It is currently used as a Bunk House for local groups.

Clerk to place on January agenda for discussion and investigate further.

57/26 Cumberland Councillor’s Report
The Clerk gave a report on behalf of Cllr Pratt

Cumberland would have a new CEO from January 2027.

The Director of Children’s Services had resigned.

The External auditor had been called in with regards to Cumberland’s finances and going forward.

The boundary changes mainly around Carlisle had been approved and there would now be 63 councillors.

Awaiting dates for further works on A595, but Waberthwaite stretch may commence c.15 January 2027 with overnight closures.

GDF – awaiting Secretary of State’s decision as to next stage.

57/26 Applications for Development

57/26.1 To examine applications for development and submit observations to the Planning Authority
None

57/26.2 To ratify the observations submitted by the Clerk under devolved powers since last meeting.

7/2026/4056 Land to rear of Fairfield, Randlehow, Eskdale Green
Erection of 2 local occupancy dwellings
Not supported

5726.3 To note the decisions of the statutory planning authority with regards to recent applications

7/2026/4046 Fell View Garage, Eskdale
Dwelling – variation of conditions 1 (plans) on planning permission 7/2025/4030 to change the design of the dwelling.
Granted

7/2026/4057 Long Yocking Cottage, Eskdale
Proposed stand alone garage.
Granted

58/26 FINANCIAL RECORDS

58/26.1 To approve the following payments:

58/26.2 To note the receipt of payments:
None

58/26.3 To receive and note the bank reconciliation statements dated 30 September 2026.
Checked by Cllr Kirby

58/26.4 To consider the Budget Comparison Report as at 31 October 2026 and determine action need to address deviations from the budget.
None required. C/Act £6961.15, D/act £6604.57. Total spend to 31/10/26 £6936.88.

58/26.5 To discuss and approve the budget spend for the Financial Year 2027/28
RESOLVED that the budget spend would be £12148.44.

58/26.6 To discuss and approve the precept for the Financial Year 2027/28
RESOLVED that the precept remain at £9500.

59/26 Parish Matters

45/26.1 Hard Knott Telephone Box
No issues.

59/26.2 The Clerk has received a positive response from Cumberland Highways re extending the 30mph to Boot, to reduce the 30mph to 20mph within Eskdale village and to extend the gritting to Boot. This will be reviewed over the next few months,

59/26.3 Environment
Planters have been received. Cllr Brown to give W3W locations for Clerk to notify Highways re positioning. Lengthsman to maintain and plant.

59/26.4 Japanese Garden
Clerk to chase for update.

59/26.5 Village Hall
CIC now in place. Committee have written to original owner of the hall to seek transfer of title and awaiting legal advice.

59/26.6 Meeting Dates 2027
Clerk reported that village hall had been booked and the dates will be displayed on the website.

60/26 To receive reports from representatives on outside bodies.
None

60/26 Correspondence
To discuss any correspondence received for open discussion.

• None

61/26 Councillor Matters

• None

62/26 The next meeting of the Parish Council 12 January 2027 at St Bega’s Village Hall, Eskdale Green commencing at 7.30pm

63/26 Closed Session

A letter of complaint had been received from a resident about the council’s response to planning application 7/2026/4056 Land to rear of Fairfield, Randlehow, Eskdale Green, stating that incorrect information had been included in the council’s submission.

The council considered the complaint and acknowledged that the last paragraph of the submission was not appropriate to the planning application.

Resolved to resubmit a response to LDNP planning dept correcting this and removing the final paragraph.

Clerk to produce a draft response to complainant and circulate to all councillors for approval before responding to complainant.

There being no other business the meeting closed at 2043 hours.