Minutes
Ordinary
19th October 2021

MINUTES OF THE 337 TH MEETING OF ASKAM AND IRELETH PARISH
COUNCIL, HELD TUESDAY 19 OCTOBER 2021 AT 7.15 PM IN THE RANKIN
HALL, ASKAM IN FURNESS

Present : Members of the Parish Council Bill Wilson, Vice Chairman, Alan Mason, Susan
Orrell, Sandra Hadwick, Mike Cumming, Trevor Hughes, and Steven Smalley; Clerk Mrs
Janice Cumming; Borough Councillor Daniel Edwards and 1 member of the public.

1/10/21: DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST
None

2/10/21: APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Written apology received from Cllr Harry Barker; this was accepted. Apology from Cllr
Ben Shirley.

3/10/21: PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

3/10/21/1: Vehicles Parking on Pavements. A resident contacted the parish council
regarding vehicles parking
on pavements in the village and leaving little room for pedestrians to walk on the
pavement, particularly
wheelchairs and pushchairs. In some cases, pedestrians are having to walk on the road
to get passed. This is a
police matter as it is obstruction, and any incidents should be reported to 101 or
101emails@cumbria.police.uk.
The parish council ask that people are aware of this situation and park safely without
causing an obstruction.

3/10/21/2: Over-hanging trees and hedges. An older resident contacted the parish
council with concerns when
she is walking in the village, but particularly on Saves Lane. The parish council will
speak to our County
Councillor regarding this, as the County Council can enforce people to cut back their
hedges and trees if they are
over-hanging pavements or the highways. The parish council ask residents to check
their properties to see if their
hedges or trees are causing a problem to pedestrians etc.
Action Clerk

3/10/21/3: Footpath at James Street. A footpath at James Street has been left
inaccessible to pedestrian with
detritus. The parish council will visit area as it is unsure who this footpath belongs to.
Action Parish Council

4/10/21: APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 28 SEPTEMBER 2021
These were approved and agreed as a true and accurate record and will be signed and
dated by the Chairman.
Proposed Cllr Mike Cumming Seconded Cllr Alan Mason
Agreed

5/10/21: PROGRESS AND UPDATES FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES

5/10/21/1: Wrecked Boats on Askam Beach. Cllr Trevor Hughes and his son had
removed these boats from the beach, and they are now near Duddon Road Car Park
awaiting collection by the Borough Council. The parish council thanked Cllr Hughes and
his son for their help and expertise in what was not an easy job. They also thanked Cllr
Ben Shirley for arranging them to removed by the Borough Council. This work had been
done at no cost to the parish council.

5/10/21/2: Public Toilets. Cllr Mike Cumming had met with Mr Gavin Southward of
Southward’s Farm Foods, Station Yard, Askam regarding residents using the toilet being
build by Southward’s Farm Foods for their customers. An agreement had been reached
that resident of Askam and Ireleth could use the toilet, during opening hours, when
completed. The parish council agreed to help with funding for this toilet. The parish
council expressed their sincere thanks to Southward’s farm shop for providing this much
needed facility in the village.

5/10/21/3: Weekly Market in Askam. A full planning application is required for this,
Councillor Mike Cumming will look at what is needed to complete this form.

5/10/21/4: Memorial Plaque. The Clerk contacted the Barnes family, and they will be
arranging for a plaque to be fitted on the bench.

5/10/21/5: Service of Remembrance. Arrangements have been made for the service,
meet at the Rankin Hall at 2pm on Sunday 14 November 2021.

5/10/21/5: Open Evening Ireleth House. The Clerk and Cllr Cumming attending the
open evening and were very impressed with the work that had been carried out. hey are
still awaiting written confirmation from Ofsted before they can welcome their first
children to the home.

6/10/21: REPORT FROM POLICE AND ROAD TRAFFIC MATTERS
From 28 – 30 September only. 2 criminal damage – 2 separate incidents relating to
damage to a motor vehicle. 1 assault, actual bodily harm, domestic related.

7/10/21 TO REPORT ON AND DISCUSS ANY PLANNING ISSUES – CLLR SUSAN
ORRELL
There were no new applications.

8/10/21 PARKING ON DOUBLE YELLOW LINES
Cllr Trevor Hughes expressed concerns regarding vehicles parking on the double yellow
lines and blocking people’s driveways on Duke Street opposite the take-away outlets.
Cllr Susan Orrell said it was also a problem on the junction of Duke Street and Duddon,
where parking on the double yellow lines caused visibility issues for drivers. Cllr Ben
Shirley said he would ask the Parking Enforcement Officers to attend. This was
appreciated, but the incidents at the take-away outlets were mostly in the evenings and
the parish council were not sure if Parking Enforcement Officers worked into the
evenings. It was suggested that a meeting with Cllr Shirley would be advantageous. The
Clerk will contact Cllr Shirley. Action Clerk

9/10/21: UNITARY GOVERNMENT
Cllr Cumming reported on the changes that will happen in 2022/23 describing potential
scenarios that may happen during the transfer to a new unitary authority e.g., transfer of
Barrow Borough Council assets to the Parish Council. Cumbria County Council has
started a legal challenge to the proposed changes.

10/10/21: UNSOLITICED LETTERS FROM NEXTDOOR.COM
Cllr Alan Mason brought to the attention of the parish council letters which had been
delivered to homes in Estuary Park. The Clerk contact Trading Statements and the
following response was that this is an American app that you can download onto your
phone. The reviews show that you can be plagued by constant e mails every time that
somebody posts something on the app. It could also be another way of getting personal
details. Although it is up to the individual, it is not something the parish council would
recommend.

11/10/21: LGA CODE OF CONDUCT REVISION, BARROW BOROUGH COUNCIL
The parish council agreed with the revision and its’ contents, and the Clerk was asked to
respond. Action Clerk

12/10/21: SPEED GUN USAGE
Cllr Smalley to contact the Police Officer responsible for training seeking his advice on
some further training.

13/10/21: REPORT FROM BOROUGH AND COUNTY COUNCILLOR
Cllr Ben Shirley sent in a written report. Patching work has been completed on
Alexander Place, a section of Duke Street, and on James Street. Further works are
planned throughout the year to improve the state of the roads in Askam and Ireleth, with
further focus on High Duddon Close, Beach Street, and Duke Street. I am urging
people to use the online reporting system wherever possible (HIAMS), and I will
happily chase anything up as always. Ireleth St Peters / Ireleth Road: Simon Fell MP
has sent out letters to residents of Ireleth Road and the surrounding area. I am working
together with Simon on this campaign. We are joining forces with the school to have the
warning signs repositioned, and I understand from Karl Melville at CCC that this will
done soon.

14/10/21: REPORT FROM CLERK INCLUDING FINANCES
The monthly expenditure sheet was made available to the parish councillors. These were
accepted.
Proposed Cllr Bill Wilson Seconded Cllr Sandra Hadwick
Agreed

15/10/21: CORRESPONDENCE
All correspondence sent to the councillors by email prior to the meeting. There were no
comments.

16/10/21: SANCTIONS FOR PAYMENT
Aqua ProJet monthly landscaping August £685.00, Crosses and wreaths for Service of
Remembrance £50.00.
Proposed Cllr Bill Wilson Seconded Cllr Steven Smalley
Agreed

17/10/21: DATE, TIME, AND PLACE OF NEXT MEETING
Tuesday 16th November 2021 at 7.15pm in the Rankin Hall, Duke Street, Askam

Signed ……………………………………………………………. Dated ………………………………