Present : Members of the Parish Council Councillors Harry Barker, Chairman, Bill Wilson, Vice Chairman, Alan Mason, Mike Cumming, Sandra Hadwick, Rebecca Knagg, Susan Orrell, Elisabeth Donachie. Clerk Mrs Janice Cumming, W&F Councillor Daniel Edwards, PCSO Kirkham and 1 member of the public.
1/04/24: DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST None
2/04/24: APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE None
The parish council have received complaints regarding the litter bin near the Duddon
Inshore Rescue Boathouse. W&F Councillor Daniel Edwards has contacted Jill Burrows,
W&F Waste Improvement Officer regarding a replacement litter bin.
These were approved and agreed as a true and accurate record and were signed by the
Chairman.
Proposed Cllr Mike Cumming Seconded Cllr Susan Orrell
Agreed
6/03/24/1: Statue for Memorial Garden. The statue for the memorial has been
placed on order by BAE Systems and will be manufactured by Furness Fluid Power. No
further updates have been received.
PCSO Kirkham gave an update. There had been 5 crimes since the last meeting of the
parish council. Including complaints received regarding parking on Abbey Heights and a
break-in and vandalism at the Urofoam factory. There had been no road traffic incidents.
Reference Number : B26/2024/0186 Location : Land adjacent to 107 Beach Street
Askam-in-Furness Cumbria Proposal : Application for a Certificate of Lawfulness for an
Existing Use or Development (CLEUD) to establish the defined plot of land has
historically been used as a private domestic garden.
The applicant was present at the meeting and explained the basis of this application.
The Chairman acknowledged his statement and said the parish council would defer the
decision to the planning officer.
Westmorland and Furness Council have been awarded a £1.7 million from the
government to improve and extend bus services across the County. On Monday
15 April Councillors Alan Mason, Elisabeth Donachie, Mike Cumming, and the
Clerk joined a TEAMS session with Mark Hodgkiss and Mike Miller from W&F
Sustainable Transport & Highways Team and Rachael Kelly from CALC. They
gave a presentation regarding Bus Service Improvement Plan plus funding. The
presentation included a list of potential improved bus routes, none of which
included bus routes through Askam and Ireleth. When asked about this Mark
Hodgkiss replied, ‘just because something is not on the list does not mean it cannot be
added, and just because something is there, does not mean it will be progressed’. The list
was always intended to get people thinking, rather than be a definitive list of options, as
if it had been there would have been little point in the extensive consultation currently
taking place. Most of the suggestions on the “Barrow” list were urban ones as most of
the current services are in the urban area – and many of the ideas were supported when
we ran a Locality Board briefing with Members few weeks ago. There was then a
discussion about a College / BAE bus which is certainly worth investigating, but peak
buses are expensive to provide, and it is the question of “what happens when the funding
runs out” or more likely “funding reduces”, when only the strongest services will survive
– which is why we were looking more at the more populated areas, but that does not
means the Council cannot support something for the Askam/Kirkby in Furness or any
rural area. The parish council asked about a feeder bus to Dalton. Mark’s response -
I have been about long enough to remember a previous campaign for a bus from Askam
to Dalton, and that when it was put on it was very poorly used and did not last long.
Blueworks also tried it and quickly abandoned. A direct bus to Barrow is much more
likely to be successful, although with Aldi / M&S and Booths in Ulverston, a service in
that direction may have appeal, especially as it is a more difficult rail link. There is also
the Ulverston Rural Mobility Digital Demand Responsive Transport scheme coming soon
to the area which will offer on demand travel seven days a week, which may fit local
needs better than a traditional bus service.
On Friday 26 April 2024 there will be a Drop-in session regarding the online
consultation between 10am and 2pm at the Forum and the parish council advise
anyone interesting in an improved bus service for our village to attend.
The workshop was to try and mobilise community strengths and enhancing community
collaboration. Representatives from all Town and Parish Councils attended the workshop
to discuss working alongside communities to address local priorities, and explore how
the Community Power Programme should evolve, and consider any steps and
opportunities which could be taken to advance community powered ways of working.
Councillor Alan Mason attended this workshop on behalf of the parish council.
Councillor Mason was the only representative from the Furness area. Councillor Mason
said that what came across from several parish and town councillors was a feeling that
the officers at W&F council regard them as a nuisance and something to be ignored if
possible. Many saying they do not get replies to emails and others saying they do not
have a clue who to contact. CALC said they would feed this back to W&F.
The annual renewal had been received with a breakdown of what benefits the parish
council receive from membership of CALC. A sum of £551.35 for this year was agreed.
Proposed Cllr Bill Wilson Seconded Cllr Alan Mason
Agreed
This is the 3rd year of the fixed term contract for public liability insurance for the parish
council at a cost of £1547.05 due on 1 June 2024. This was agreed.
Proposed Cllr Bill Wilson Seconded Cllr Harry Barker
Agreed
Councillor Daniel Edwards reported that he had contacted Chris Jones at W&F council
regarding the coastal erosion of the sand dunes to the east side of Askam pier during the
high tides. He has asked Chris to inspect the area. Councillor Edwards was still waiting
for W&F to give a timescale as to when the A590 and A595 will be cleared of litter. Cllr
Barker said he believed a lot of the litter was from skips which were not covered
properly and were being allowed to spill rubbish onto the roads. Councillor Edward has
been approached regarding the traffic lights on the A595, which is due to work being
carried out by Cadent. Councillor Edwards will contact Highways. Councillor Edwards
said he would contact Mark Hodgkiss of W&F Sustainable Transport Team regarding the
bus service improvements consultation on behalf of the parish council.
The monthly expenditure spread sheet was made available to the councillors. This was
agreed and accepted.
Proposed Cllr Rebecca Knagg Seconded Cllr Susan Orrell
Agreed
All correspondence sent to the parish councillors
prior to the meeting.
Letters of thanks received for grant money from Scouts and Cubs, Brownies and
Rainbows and Askam Youth
Action Group.
Monthly landscape and maintenance £866.15
Tuesday 14 May 2024 at 7.30pm in the Community Centre, Duke Street, Askam.
Signed ……………………………………………………………. Dated ……………………………..
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