Minutes
Ordinary
12th May 2026

Eskdale Parish Council

Minutes

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON
TUESDAY 12 MAY 2026 AT St BEGA’S VILLAGE HALL, ESKDALE GREEN
COMMENCING AT 7.30PM

Present: Cllr R Brown(Chair), Cllr L Hunt, Cllr J Harrington, Cllr A Rutherford, Cllr T Postlethwaite, Cllr D Porter
Mrs L Cooper – Clerk
4 Member of Public

1/26 ELECTION OF CHAIR

Cllr R Brown was elected as chair and signed the acceptance form Proposed by Cllr Porter and Seconded by Cllr Hunt

2/26 Election of Vice Chair

Cllr M Shaftesley was elected in his absence and will sign his acceptance at the next meeting.

3/26 APOLOGIES

Cllr M Shaftesley (private), were accepted.

4/26 Appointments to Outside Bodies

Village Hall Committee – Cllr Shaftesley

5/26 Localism Act 2011

It was reaffirmed that the council fulfilled all the criteria required to act under the General Power of Competency

There being no further business the ordinary meeting commenced.

The Chair resolved that agenda item 15.4 Japanese Garden be brought forward so that the representative from Forestry England could give their report.

6/26 Japanese Garden

The Statutory Health Plant Notice on the Larch trees was still being undertaken. Planned on 27 August 2026 the power line would be cut off to allow the trees under the power line to be felled. Also need to manage the tree behind properties. Because of the difficulty of getting the trees out, they will be left where they are felled.

Estimated that it will cost c.£230k to restore the gardens to their former glory. The Historic Landscapes Officer within Forestry England is applying for funding. Three phases, short term, medium- and long-term projects. All the bridges have been taken out and will be repaired and then reinstalled.

Looking for volunteer input, will receive training and equipment. To contact Nathan.Fox@forestryengland.uk if interested in volunteering.

Forestry England looking for a close working relationship with the Parish Council.

The Chair thanked Mr Fox for his report.

Mr Fox then left the meeting.

7/26 Exclusion of Press and Public

None

8/26 Declarations of Interest

There were no Declarations of Interest

9/26 To Approve the Minutes of the meetings held on 10 March 2026

The Minutes of the meeting of the meeting held on 10 March 2026 were approved and signed by the Chair.

10/26 Police Liaison Report

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

11/26 Progress Reports

11/26.1 Clerks Report

none.

12/26 Public Participation

A member of the public showed proposals intending to submit to LDNP re a change to domestic curtilage for their property and what improvements they wished to make to land owned by them.

A member of the public asked if a scavenging licence could be obtained for the felled trees and the wood used by the community for log burners.

A member of the public stated that there were plans for a heritage/visitor centre/café for the village hall but there were still issues over ownership.

13/26 Cumberland Councillor’s Report

none

14/26 Applications for Development

14/26.1 To examine applications for development and submit observations to the Planning Authority

None

14/26.2 To ratify the observations submitted by the Clerk under devolved powers since last meeting.

7/2026/4012 St. Bega’s C Of E Primary School, Eskdale,
The proposed works are to replace the existing oil tank and install air source heat pump, as part of a new renewable heating system.
Supported

14/26.3 To note the decisions of the statutory planning authority with regards to recent applications

7/2025/4103 Eskdale Mill, Boot
Refurbish the bakehouse which forms part of the listed building. It consists of replacement of a rotten oak roof support beam, replacement of two deteriorated oak lintels, one over door and the other over the window and replacement of the fixed window with a bottom hung inward opening hopper opening window.
Granted

7/2026/4005 1 Orange Hill Cottages, Boot
Replacement greenhouse and shed, replace log stack with wooden log shelter and new shepherd’s hut.
Granted

T/2026/0035 The Outward Bound Trust, Eskdale Green
Fell T30 Sycamore, Fell T28 Ash, Fell T27 Ash, Fell T31 Ash, Fell T41 Beech, Fell T40.2 Ash and Fell T40.3 Ash.
Granted

15/26 FINANCIAL RECORDS

15/26.1 To approve the following payments:

L Cooper Clerks Salary & Expenses £328.00
HMRC PAYE £ 65.40
CALC Annual Subscription £168.52
Zurich Insurance renewal £327.00
V Falconer Internal Audit fee £ 45.00
Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Grant towards new Defib £250.00

15/26.2 To note the receipt of payments:

Precept £9500

15/26.3 To receive and note the bank reconciliation statements dated 30 April 2026

Not received

15/26.4 To consider the Budget Comparison Report as at 30 April 2026 and determine action need to address deviations from the budget.

None required. C/Act £12290.42, D/act £6581.09

15/26.5 To approve the Risk Assessment as at 1 April 2026

Approved

15/26.6 To approve the Asset Register as at 31 March 2026

Accepted and approved.

15/26.7 To approve the Internal Audit Report for the financial year 2025/26.

Accepted and noted the recommendations.

15/26.8 To approve the Annual Governance Statement for the financial year 2025/26.

Each statement was read out by the Clerk and the Council resolved that they met all appropriate criteria.

15/26.9 To approve the Financial Statement for the financial year 2025/26.

Noted and approved.

15/26.10 To determine that the Parish Council has met all requirements to submit a Certificate of Exemption for the Financial Year 2025/26

The council resolved that they met all the criteria and would submit a Certificate of Exemption.

16/26 Parish Matters

16/26.1 Hard Knott Telephone Box

No issues.

16/26.2 Community Plan

Resolved to accept the Community Plan as presented by the Clerk and to work towards it.

16/26.3 Environment

Deferred to July meeting

16/26.4 Japanese Garden

See 6/26 above.

16/26.5 Village Hall

Representatives of Village Hall committee to be invited to next meeting to discuss way forward.

16/26.6 Grant Application – Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway – new defib at Dalegarth Station

An application had been received for a grant of £250 towards the cost of replacing the defib at Dalegarth Station. RESOLVED to award the grant.

17/26 To receive reports from representatives on outside bodies.

None

18/26 Correspondence

To discuss any correspondence received for open discussion.
Email received that temporary camping pods would be located at Low Birker Farm Boot

18/26 Councillor Matters

Cllr Brown raised the matter of replacing batteries and pads for the defibs donated by Fred Whitton Challenge. Clerk to contact organisers for funding.

Cllr Hunt reported that the bin at St Bega’s Church had not been emptied since Christmas. Clerk to report.

19/26 The next meeting of the Parish Council 14 July 2026 at St Bega’s Village Hall, Eskdale Green commencing at 7.30pm

There being no other business the meeting closed at 2053 hours.

The following amendment was made to the Minutes of the meeting of 12 May

Addition to Minute no 14/26.2 APP/Q9495/C/26/3378033 Eskdale Vicarage, Boot
The Council supported the LDNP decision to deny retrospective planning for the property to be used as a holiday let. The community consider there are sufficient holiday lets within the parish and request that the current housing stock be retained as homes.

The amendment was approved by Council at its meeting of 14 July 2026 minute no 23/26 and the minutes altered. The amendment was signed by the Chair R Brown who then signed the amended minutes as a true record of the meeting.