Minutes
Annual Assembly
14th May 2024

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL ASSEMBLY OF ASKAM AND IRELETH PARISH COUNCIL, HELD
TUESDAY 14 MAY 2024 IN THE COMMUNITY CENTRE, DUKE STREET, ASKAM

Present: Parish Councillor Bill Wilson, Alan Mason, Mike Cumming, Rebecca Knagg, Susan Orrell,
Elisabeth Donachie and Sandra Hadwick; Clerk Mrs Janice Cumming; Westmorland and Furness Councillor
Daniel Edwards, PCSO Kirkham

ITEM 1: DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST
None

ITEM 2: APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Cllr Harry Barker

ITEM 3: CHAIRMAN’S REPORT FOR YEAR 2023/2024

This year the parish council said goodbye to Councillor Trevor Hughes, who stood down due to work
commitments having played an active role in the parish council. We welcomed Elisabeth Donachie to the
parish council and hope Elisabeth will get involved and enjoy her role as a parish councillor.

It has been the second year of Askam and Ireleth being part of Westmorland and Furness, which has had its
ups and downs. One of the downs is that Westmorland and Furness will no longer be funding the Christmas
tree and Lights for the village and the parish council will fund this in future years. There were also issues with
organising the Service of Remembrance with the new council which was frustrating including having to
produce a risk assessment for the public attending as we were deemed to be the organisers of the event.
The parish council have again been supported by our Westmorland and Furness Councillors Daniel Edwards
and Ben Shirley. Askam and Ireleth still have a dedicated street cleaner provided by Westmorland and
Furness Council who comes once a fortnight and this does help keep the village tidy.

The parish council have been awarded a grant from BAE systems to fund a statue for the memorial garden.
This statue is being manufactured by Furness Fluid Power and it is hoped to have the statue in place in the
near future. Councillor Hughes mentioned earlier played a massive role in this project liaising with both BAE
and Furness Fluid Power.
q

This year the parish councillors, in particularly Councillor Bill Wilson spent a lot of time responding to the
Roanhead Farm Development on behalf of the parish council with a meaningful response to the proposed
development. In fact, we have submitted two responses, one in July 2023 to the original proposal and then a
second in February of this year to the amended proposals. We have also prepared a statement in readiness for
the planning committee.

The Service of Remembrance did go ahead, and as always it was well supported by the community, even
though the weather was not kind. The parade was led by Kirkby British Legion and Askam Town Silver Band
provided the music and band member Robert Tyson played the last post and reveille. Many local groups
supported the event. Thanks to Duddon Inshore Rescue for providing first aid cover and the Scouts and
Beavers for their help. Thanks also to the neighbourhood police team who supported the event.

This year saw the police pod being removed from the Community Field. Unfortunately, the pod was beyond
economical repair and no longer being used by the neighbourhood police team. The pod has served the
community well over the years.

The parish council continue to support youth groups in the village and donations were given to Scouts, Cubs
and Beavers, Brownies and Rainbows and Askam Youth Action. The parish council have also supported the
Friends of X112 Bus Service who run a bus service to Barrow on Fridays.

The parish council have continued to fund the landscaping maintenance contract in the village. Keeping areas
within the village looking tidy. Thanks to Wayne Smith and his team at Aqua ProJet. Further work was
carried out at Steel Street/Sharp Street Park area by South Lakes Tree Surgeons with trees being removed and
new trees planted. The fencing in the park was repaired and parts of the missing privet hedge planted with
saplings. More work will be done to the trees in the autumn.

ITEM 4: ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD TUESDAY 16 MAY 2023
These were agreed as a true and accurate record and duly signed and dated.
Proposed Cllr Mike Cumming Seconded Cllr Susan Orrell Agreed

ITEM 5: ACCEPT AND ADOPT UPDATED MODEL STANDING ORDERS AND REVIEWED
FINANCIAL REGULATIONS FOR 2024
These were previously circulated, and it was proposed and accepted that they be adopted for the coming year.
Proposed Cllr Bill Wilson Seconded Cllr Rebecca Knagg Agreed

ITEM 6: CONFIRMATION OF PARISH COUNCIL INSURANCE
Zurich Insurance Policy was confirmed and accepted.
Proposed Cllr Alan Mason Seconded Cllr Mike Cumming Agreed

ITEM 7: APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN & ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE
Councillor Harry Barker was proposed and seconded.
Proposed Cllr Bill Wilson Seconded Cllr Mike Cumming Agreed

ITEM 8: APPOINTMENT OF VICE CHAIRMAN & ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE
Councillor Bill Wilson was proposed and seconded. Councillor Wilson made and signed his declaration of
office and agreed to comply with the code of conduct.
Proposed Cllr Rebecca Knagg Seconded Cllr Alan Mason Agreed

ITEM 9: DECLARATIONS OF ALL PARISH COUNCILLORS
All the parish councillors then made and signed their declaration of acceptance and office and agreement to
comply with the code of conduct.

ITEM 10: APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Planning Councillor Alan Mason
Responsible Finance Officer Clerk Mrs Janice Cumming
Proposed Cllr Bill Wilson Seconded Cllr Sandra Hadwick Agreed

ITEM 11: DATE AND TIME OF 2024 ANNUAL ASSEMBLY
It was agreed that the date and time of the 2025 annual assembly would be on Tuesday 20 May 2025 at 7.30
pm in the Community Centre, Duke Street, Askam in Furness.

Signed …………………………………………………………….. Date ……………………………….