Present: Members of the Parish Council Councillors Harry Barker, Chairman, Bill Wilson, Vice Chairman, Alan Mason, Mike Cumming, Rebecca Knagg, Elisabeth Donachie. Clerk Mrs Janice Cumming, W&F Councillor Daniel Edwards and Councillor Ben Shirley, 2 PCSOs neighbourhood police team.
1/09/24: DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST None
2/09/24: APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Cllr Susan Orrell.
3/09/24: PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
3/09/24/1: Pathway, Sandy Lane. A member of the public spoke to Councillor Bill Wilson regarding the poor condition of the surface of the path at the top of Sandy Lane. This was discussed in detail, the problem being it is not certain who is responsible for this pathway which connects to Marsh Lane. It does not belong to the parish council. Councillor Daniel Edwards will contact W&F council to see if anything can be done with this pathway.
Action Cllr Edwards
4/09/24: APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 16 JULY 2024
These were approved and agreed as a true and accurate record and were duly signed by the Chairman.
Proposed Cllr Mike Cumming Seconded Cllr Bill Wilson Agreed
5/09/24: PROGRESS REPORTS AND UPDATES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING
5/09/24/1: Memorial Garden Statue. A 7-year lease for the land in the memorial garden on which the statue stands was signed by the Chairman and the Clerk will return to W&F solicitor. Action Clerk
5/09/24/2: Drop Kerbs in the village. Cllr Ben Shirley is arranging a walk around with a resident to look at the issues of drop kerbs. Cllr Shirley said it is regrettable that although there are drop kerbs people park over them which prevents them being used for their purpose.
5/09/24/3: Grass Cutting in the village. Since the last meeting W&F have carried out grass cutting in the village. A programme of weed spraying is being carried out, Councillor Edwards has asked if Askam and Ireleth are included in this programme. As yet he has not received a response.
6/09/24: REPORT FROM BARROW NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE TEAM
PCSO Kirkham gave an update. Since the last meeting there has been 1 report of shoplifting at Askam co-op, 1 theft, 4 criminal damage, 2 assault without injury and 1 malicious communication.
7/09/24: TO REPORT AND DISCUSS PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Reference Number : B18/2024/0209 Location : Field to the east of existing telecoms tower, Askam Road, Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria. Proposal : Erection of Wind Turbine: 77m tip height and 50m hub height (including removal of existing wind turbine). There had been concerns from residents regarding this application. The parish council will respond.
Reference Number : B13/2024/0375 Location : 51 (Plot 1) Duddon Road Askam-In-Furness Cumbria LA16 7FD. Proposal : Application for Variation of a Condition no. 2 (Approved Drawings) and Condition no.9 (Drainage Strategy) following Grant of Planning Permission B13/2021/0932 (Construction of 1.5 storey 4 bedroom detached dwelling; alterations/improvements to existing highway access to 55 Duddon Road to provide access to new dwelling; demolition of existing garage to 55 Duddon Road and construction of replacement garage in revised location (Amended layout) to allow for Change to dwelling, garage and site design and for the site to be drained on a separate system with foul water draining to the public sewer and surface water draining in accordance with the details in Drainage Strategy CN 221275 v2. There were no objections.
Reference Number : B23/2024/0409 Location : Askam Railway Station Duddon Road Askam-In-Furness Cumbria LA16 7AL Proposal : Listed Building Consent for proposed repairs to the station buildings, to include re-roofing, timber repairs, chimneys to be rebuilt, repairs to the rainwater goods and general building repairs. This application was welcomed by the parish council and they fully support the application.
8/09/24: REPORT FROM WESTMORLAND AND FURNESS CABINET MEETING
Cllr Alan Mason attended the cabinet meeting which had been held in Dalton on 10th September. Cllr Mason gave a full report on the meeting which included decisions on the future of Ulverston Kings Road Library and the Coronation Hall. There were complaints about the poor state of street cleaning and overflowing bins, there were promises of improvement from Councillor Giles Archibald, Chairman.
9/09/24: REPORT FROM ELECTORAL REVIEW
Cllr Rebecca Knagg gave a report on the electoral review meeting she attended. The review will look at number of councillors, ward boundaries, names of the ward and number of councillors in each ward.
The first consultation runs from 27/8-4/11 they will then come back with a draft proposal for us to comment on. When deciding the wards, they are looking at electoral equality, approx. 2845 population per ward, community identity and local amenities. When considering future housing developments and population increases in an area they will project estimated figure for the next 5 years. What they really want to know from the consultation is our identity and where we feel we fit as a ward:
Such as, which other towns and villages do we naturally align ourselves with, where do we go shopping, where do we tend to travel, which other parishes link well etc and they are grateful for our local knowledge.
10/09/24: GRIZEBECK A595 SOD CUTTING AND SITE VISIT
Cllr Elisabeth Donachie represented the parish council at this event today at Grizebeck. She said that one of the most important statements, for her, was that the finance was in place for the whole scheme. Cllr Alan Mason said that he had read through the documentation for this work, and he was impressed with the detail and professional approach within the documentation.
11/09/24: BLEA BECK SOLAR FARM PUBLIC CONSULTATION
Cllr Mike Cumming, Cllr Alan Mason and the Clerk attended the presentation held at Dalton Community Hall. They were asked to send in feedback from the consultation, a response was being formulated, which would including comments from residents.
12/09/24: COMPLETION OF ANNUAL AUDIT
Cllr Cumming reported that the parish council annual audit had been completed by the external auditor.
13/09/24: APPOINTMENT OF DATA PROTECTION OFFICER
Cllr Mike Cumming had been carrying out this role and was prepared to continue in the role, if the parish council agreed. This was agreed.
Proposed Cllr Rebecca Knagg Seconded Cllr Bill Wilson Agreed
14/09/24: UPDATE FROM WESTMORLAND AND FURNESS COUNCILLORS
Cllr Edwards reported that the vegetation had been removed from the bus shelter at Greenhaume, still waiting repairs. He had responded to the planning for Askam station and asked if the clock could be repaired and that CCTV was fitted. He had asked that white lines were refreshed at the railway crossing. Cllr Shirley reported that he had received a response from the Assistant Director for Waste Services & Environment at W&F regarding disruption of waste service in Askam and Ireleth. Failures were due to staff shortages and vehicles faults. Recruitment of staff was in progress and after training the new staff would join the waste teams. There would be a review of waste services imminently. There will be a motion to W&F cabinet regarding the removal of the winter fuel bill by the government, which will impact on older members of our communities. Cllr Shirley said that there was a motion within W&F to scrap the red tape around the organising of Service of Remembrance and any financial implications for the parish council. Cllr Shirley and Cllr Edwards would be meeting our MP Michelle Scrogham for a walk around the village. Cllr Wilson asked about the recent email regarding a TEAMS meeting with Highways regarding parish council’s taking on duties currently carried out by Highways. The parish council were deeply concerned about this and felt that these were not duties of a parish councillor, who had no training or expertise in Highways roles and responsibilities.
15/09/24: CORRESPONDENCE All correspondence sent to the parish councillors prior to the meeting. Thankyou card received from Mrs Sandra Hadwick.
16/09/24: SANCTIONS FOR PAYMENT
Moore Audit Services £262.00, South Lakes Tree Fellers £312.00, Printer Cartridges £183.10, Aqua
Projet Monthly Landscape and Maintenance August £866.15, September £866.15, Drawing Pins
£9.39, Laminating Pouches £9.99, Copier Paper £4.20, Union Jack Flag £85.95.
Proposed Cllr Elisabeth Donachie Seconded Cllr Bill Wilson Agreed
15/07/24: DATE, TIME, AND PLACE OF NEXT MEETING
Tuesday 15th October 2024 at 7.30pm in the Community Centre, Duke Street, Askam.
Signed ……………………………………………………………. Dated ……………………………..
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