Present : Members of the Parish Council Councillor Harry Barker, Chairman, Bill Wilson, Vice Chairman, Councillor Alan Mason, Sandra Hadwick, Mike Cumming, Susan Orrell, Trevor Hughes and Rebecca Knagg; Clerk Mrs Janice Cumming; Westmorland & Furness Councillor Daniel Edwards and 11 members of the public.
1/04/23: DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST
Cllr Harry Barker. Cllr Barker will leave the room when this item is being discussed.
2/04/23: APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Westmorland and Furness Councillor Ben Shirley.
3/04/23: PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Members of the public were present to discuss items on the main agenda.
4/04/23: APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 21 MARCH 2023
These were approved and agreed as a true and accurate record and were signed by the Chairman.
Proposed Cllr Bill Wilson Seconded Cllr Mike Cumming
Agreed
5/04/23: PROGRESS REPORTS AND UPDATES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING
5/04/23/1: Quiet Lanes. Claire Gould reported that there had been a meeting with Cllr Ben Shirley.
5/04/23/2: Memorial Garden Commemorative Statue. Cllr Ben Shirley has written a letter to Sam Plum, Chief Executive of Westmorland and Furness to ask for her support and approval for the parish council to go ahead with this project.
Ongoing
5/04/23/3: CCTV and Police POD. Cllr Cumming reported that the POD had been condemned and that he was initiating a cost for a Project to remove the POD. The CCTV at the Coop had been accessed, the area where it is sited has been designated unsafe, so Cllr Cumming is initiating a Project to relocate the CCTV.
Ongoing
6/04/23: REPORT FROM COMMUNITY POLICE TEAM
2 reports of an abandoned 999 call, a historic sexual offence, 2 reports of highway disruption, an attempt to blackmail and 1 sudden death. 2 vehicles were taken on 19 March, as well as an attempt to take another on the same night. This occurred in the John Street/Beach Street/Headlands area of Askam. A police Officer will be in attendance at Askam library on a Wednesday each month, details are on the library door. Members of the public are welcome to go and talk to the officer in confidence. Cllr Rebecca Knagg and the Clerk met with PC Holly Horrocks and PC Reiss Ford to discuss antisocial behaviour and motorbikes unlawfully using the beach and SSSI areas in Askam and Roanhead. This was a productive meeting, and the Officers will make recommendations to their superiors regarding extra patrols in the early evenings and visits to schools, as well as targeting hot-spot areas. The Officers will also look at carrying out Street Safe visits to homes in Askam.
7/04/23: TO REPORT AND DISCUSS PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Reference Number : B21/2023/0208 Location : 55 Duddon Road Askam-in-Furness.
Proposal : Demolition of existing garage; construction of two storey rear extension and replacement front porch. There were no comments or objections.
Reference Number : B21/2023/0214 Location : 1 Sun Street Ireleth Askam-in-Furness
Proposal : Extension to an existing outbuilding (retrospective planning)and new off-road parking space/EV charge point. Concerns were raised regarding this being a conservation area.
Reference Number : B18/2023/0209 Location : Land rear of Chamley, Beach Street Askam-in-Furness Proposal : Erection of a detached garage. Concerns and objections were raised.
Reference Number : B13/2023/0215 Location : Land adjacent to 107 Beach Street Askam-in-Furness Proposal : Proposed dwelling. Concerns and objections were raised both by members of the public present and members of the parish council.
Reference Number : B21/2023/0240 Location : 22 The Headlands Askam-in-Furness
Proposal : Proposed alterations to existing property including removal of existing conservatory, the addition of single storey rear extensions, new front porch and increased window sizes to front elevation. There were no objections or comments.
The Clerk was asked to respond to Planning. Action Clerk
8/04/23: REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ‘SAVE ROANHEAD FROM DEVELOPERS’ GROUP
Firstly, the group explained that this was not just about saving Roanhead from Developments, but also involved areas around Askam beach which would affect Askam and Ireleth. There are two potential developers looking at building lodges on land within the parish of Askam and Ireleth both extremely close to Roanhead and Askam beach. It was intimated that the first planning application for Roanhead farm would be lodged with the planning authority within the next few weeks. The group have been active in raising awareness in regard to these developments and the impact it will have on the ecology and eco-system of the whole area. Roanhead and parts of Askam beach are SSSI, the Duddon Estuary also being a RAMSAR site. Roanhead is of international importance because of the rare breeds including natterjack toads, rare beetles, flora and fauna and is a unique place. The number of visitors to these sites could be in up to 1200 every week with a development of lodges almost the size of Askam. So far, the group has 3,000 members and a petition signed by 4,000 people against this development. Although the developer would like people to believe there will be a massive boost to the economy of the area, the group have looked at this in detail and they see no reason to believe this will be the case. Employment will be minimal and most of the facilities will be on-site i.e., restaurant, leisure centre and a farm shop. The group are also looking at the infrastructure particularly access and the impact on the A590, A595, Lots Road and Hawthwaite Lane because of the extra traffic from these developments. The group are hoping to carry out drop-in events.
9/04/23: PARISH LENGTHSMAN
The Clerk asked if the parish council would like to continue with the parish Lengthsman Archie Workman does in the village. It was agreed that Archie should continue his work for the year 2023/24. The Clerk will provide Archie with a list of work.
10/04/23: TOWN AND PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS 2023
For Askam and Ireleth the election was uncontested, and 6 councillors are duly elected. Co-option for 2 councillors will take place at the meeting in May.
11/04/23: UPDATE FROM WESTMORLAND AND FURNESS COUNCILLORS
Daniel Edwards reported that the Street Cleaner is in attendance weekly. He also reported that the new Authority were still trying to finalise all the roles.
12/04/23: REPORT FROM CLERK (INCLUDING MONTHLY FINANCES)
The monthly expenditure spreadsheet was made available to the parish councillors. These were accepted.
End of year accounts are in the process of being completed. The Internal Auditor Roger Brailsford will review these in the coming weeks.
Proposed Cllr Alan Mason Seconded Cllr Mike Cumming
Agreed
13/04/23: CORRESPONDENCE All correspondence sent to the parish councillors prior to the meeting.
Correspondence from CALC setting out the membership fees for 2023/24 at £510.41 was agreed.
Proposed Cllr Alan Mason Seconded Cllr Mike Cumming
Agreed
Action Clerk
14/04/23: SANCTIONS FOR PAYMENT
Aqua Projet Monthly Landscaping and maintenance £685.00. Grant donations to 1st Ireleth with Askam Brownies
and Rainbows. Youth Action Group, Drop Zone, Scouts and & Cubs £100.00 each.
Proposed Cllr Mike Cumming Seconded Cllr Sandra Hadwick
Agreed
15/04/23: DATE, TIME, AND PLACE OF NEXT MEETING
Tuesday 16 May 2023 at 7.15pm in the Rankin Hall, Duke Street, Askam.
Signed ……………………………………………………………. Dated ……………………………..
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