Documents
Drigg & Carleton Community > Documents > Minutes > Drigg & Carleton Parish Council – Minutes – March 2024

Drigg & Carleton Parish Council – Minutes – March 2024

Minutes Uploaded on March 21, 2024
Download

MINUTES OF THE MARCH 2024 ORDINARY MEETING OF THE

DRIGG & CARLETON PARISH COUNCIL

Held in Drigg Village Hall on 12th March 2024 at 6.30 pm

 

Attended:          John Jennings                                 JJ            (Chair)

Andy Pratt                                       AP          (Vice-Chair)

Sadie Clarke                                    SC

Jimmy Naylor                                 JN

Suey Browne                                  SB

Keith Murray                                  KM

Martin Clayton                               MC

Karen Warmoth                             (Clerk / RFO)

 

Apologies:          Chris Gigg                                        CG

 

  • Co-option of a new Parish Councillor
    1. Martin Clayton was elected and co-opted onto the Parish Council and duly signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office witnessed by the Clerk
  • Resignation
    1. Cllr Suey Browne tendered her resignation with three months’ notice. Her last meeting as a councillor will be May 2024, after which the resulting casual vacancy will be advertised

 

  • Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 13th February 2024
    1. Resolution to approve the minutes of the meeting on 13th February 2024 as a true and accurate record proposed by KM and seconded by SC with all in favour; minutes signed by the Chair

 

  • Apologies for absence: Chris Gigg

 

  • Declarations of interest relating to this agenda: none

 

  • Financial matters
    1. Finance report
      1. Balance: the balance of the Parish Council account is £3,229.18
        • HMRC are owed £128.80 in tax, as yet unclaimed
        • HMRC owe DCPC £200 after a successful appeal against a fine
      2. Consideration of payments
        1. McAfee Anti-Virus software: subscription renewed by SB at a cost of £129.99; payment approved by AP and seconded by KM with all in favour
          • Subscription due for renewal on 25th March 2025
        2. Battery for Defibrillator at Saltcoats: payment to Barney’s Support Services Ltd for £225 + VAT total £270, invoice SI-182, approved by SB and seconded by SC, with all in favour
  • Actions and matters arising
    1. Action 2/1: Clerk to ask Highways to extend the 40 mph speed limit from Stubble Green to Seascale – Highways agreed to implement a traffic survey – action completed
    2. Action 2/2: Clerk to send materials to a parishioner re eligibility to become a Parish Councillor – action completed
    3. Action 2/3: CG to establish if the Eaglesfield loft ladder example might meet our requirements and then liaise with the contractors re physical requirements at Drigg with a view to obtaining a quote – action completed
    4. Action 2/4: AP to follow up with LDNP to establish whether and when plans for Greengarth are likely to progress – no submission to LDNP yet – action closed
      1. AP to follow up on the unsightly rusting metal sign at Greengarth being removed
    5. Action 2/5: AP to liaise with NDA about removing and /or replacing beach benches – covered in the NWS-DCPC Liaison meeting – action closed

 

  • Cumberland Council
    1. Report
      1. Rise in Council Tax:99%, of which 2.99% for Social Care and 2% for Council services
    2. Highways
      1. Speed bumps: white lines painted round the speed bumps to make them stand out
      2. Resurfacing: Highways confirm that the road from Holmrook to Stubble Green will be resurfaced in the 2024-25 financial year
  • Resurfacing: Whicham Valley to Holmrook to be resurfaced, work being done at night
    • Not proposing full closure
    • Likely to be light and noise disturbance in Holmrook overnight
  1. Corney Fell: unsafe bridge to be removed in March and new bridge installed in summer
  2. Calderbridge: large sign on the corner to be removed and placed at Boonwood
  3. Drains: AP logged problem with blocked drain at Stubble Green
  • Street lights: AP reported streetlights which are out of order
  • Muncaster Bridge: closed overnight for the next two weekends – signposted at Holmrook
  1. Road closures: two road closures at Saltcoats. Clerk to add details to the website

 

  • Public Participation
    1. No members of the public came forward with questions
    2. Two parishioners attended the meeting but left early

 

  • Main Business
    1. Hall Loft project:
      1. Loft Ladder: CG sent his report on the loft ladder at Eaglesfield Village Hall
        • Two models shown on video; Fontwell non-folding ladder preferred
        • Estimated cost of £16,500 for non-folding ladder including installation
        • Possible need for a structural engineer to oversee installation
        • JJ to search for drawings of the Village Hall
        • JJ to confirm no underfloor / ceiling pipes or cables would be affected
        • JJ and CG to review whether feasible to engage structural engineer
      2. Newsletter:
        1. Summer issue: due 1st May 2024, before the Annual Parish meeting (due 16th May 2024)
        2. Copy deadline: articles to be submitted by 7th April 2024 for inclusion
      3. Beach benches
        1. Beach benches: both benches are a hazard with rotten boards and poor foundations
        2. Benches are on NDA land and are not a Parish asset
  • NDA boarded up the WWII gun emplacements after a risk assessment deemed them unsafe; the benches are even more unsafe and should be removed and ideally replaced
  1. Both issues raised in the DCPC-NWS Liaison meeting
  2. NWS to raise both matters with the NDA
  1. Traffic Survey: Old Shore Road traffic begins with a vehicle speeding at 4 am; cars arriving between 5 am and 6 am (site opening time is given as 7 am)
    1. Traffic Sub-cttee: to be set up to review the raw data produced by the traffic survey, covering speed, time of day, type of vehicle, etc to analyse patterns. Any Cllr may join
    2. Log: NWS no longer give a detailed breakdown of how many and what type of vehicles access the site any more
  • NWS have changed working hours by default, claiming Rural Development Work allows 30 people to enter the site at 6 am
    • DCPC need a copy of the Planning Consent to verify this claim
  1. Pelham House: office space lease due to expire in 2026
    • Gun Club being evicted to move people off the NWS site
    • Why then move office workers from Pelham House to Drigg, increasing traffic in the village and travelling time for all?
    • Why not use half empty Herdus House? Reduce traffic in Drigg
  2. Warm Hub
    1. Social Prescribing to attend on 22nd March 2024 to give advice, help and support
    2. Poster to be added to the website
  3. D-DAY80: special flag for D-Day80 is available, cost £24 (to be flown from 9 am on 6th June 2024 for one week)
    1. Remembrance Day flag: Clerk to research availability and cost of Remembrance Day flags which could be used every year
  4. Wheelchair access to Drigg Village Hall: request from parishioners to add cross-hatch markings to the car park to mark a clear path for those using wheelchairs, mobility scooters, prams etc to be able to access the ramp easily; all in favour
    1. SC to research the type of paint needed and the cost
    2. AP to ask Drigg Young farmers to help with the painting
  5. Annual Parish meeting: date set for 16th May 2024
    1. Speaker: CG’s suggestion of David Simpson giving a presentation on Mary Fair’s photos in the Drigg & Carleton area accepted; CG to book speaker for 7 pm
  6. Portrait of King Charles III: free portrait of HM King Charles III offered by the Government to all Parish Councils; to be sent to the Village Hall in April
  7. Any other Parish matters
    1. Saltcoats defibrillator: the battery has expired; proposed by SB and seconded by SC that this should be replaced as soon as possible. Clerk to request Barney’s Support Services to order and install a new battery

 

Action 3/1: JJ and CG to review whether feasible to engage a structural engineer

Action 3/2: JJ to check if original drawings of the Village Hall are still available

Action 3/3: AP to report back from NWS about beach benches after next Liaison meeting

Action 3/4: Traffic sub-cttee meeting to be arranged by AP

Action 3/5: Clerk to review the cost and availability of appropriate flags

Action 3/6: SC to research type / cost of paint needed for marking the Village Hall car park

Action 3/7: AP to ask Drigg Young Farmers to do the painting

Action 3/8: CG to book the speaker for the Annual Parish meeting 2024

Action 3/9: Clerk to arrange for new Defibrillator battery to be installed

  • Received communications
    1. Letter from Ponsonby Clerk: summary of the meeting held with representatives of five local parishes, including Drigg & Carleton, regarding the NDA buying properties for demolition
      1. No response from NDA as yet to the letter
      2. New House Farm: NDA claim they plan to rebuild but no concrete details given
    2. Copeland Borough Council Local Plan 2021-2038 Main Modifications Consultation:
      1. https://www.copeland.gov.uk/content/main-modifications-consultation
      2. Runs until 5 pm on Thursday 28th March 2024
  • Planning Applications
    1. Lake District National Park Authority
      1. 7/2024/4008: 2 Carleton Cottages, Holmrook. Remove existing single storey extension and erect two storeys. Reply by 26th March 2024. No objection to this development
    2. Cumberland Council
      1. 4/24/2076/0F1: Hill Farm, Holmrook. Change of use of existing general purpose agricultural building to house cattle (retrospective)
        • Feedback from residents: concern about the strong smell, about the size and density of the operation and about animal welfare
        • Environmental Health Dept have reviewed the smell and considered the welfare of the cattle
        • Housing the cattle under a roof is liable to add to the smell
        • Removing the roof would be compliant but might compromise animal welfare
        • Cumberland Council failed to take action to enforce the previous planning permission; by inviting a retrospective application, they are likely to pass it (unless a very strong and sustainable objection is made)
        • DCPC is unable to support the application due to the negative impact on local residents but can find no legal or material objection, therefore neutral response
        • Residents may and are encouraged to pass on their concerns to the Planning Dept
  • Cumbria Association of Local Councils
    1. Next meeting at the end of March
    2. Vacancy: only one applicant applied for the Treasurer vacancy, Ged McGrath
    3. Sub-group: set up to examine the benefits of joining CALC, what CALC can offer PCs

 

  • Reports from Representatives
    1. GDF Mid Copeland Community Partnership
      1. Briefing notes: the briefing notes of the March meeting are available on the Mid Copeland CP website: https://midcopeland.workinginpartnership.org.uk/resources/
      2. South Holderness: a new Community Partnership was formed but rapidly withdrawn
  • Mid Copeland Rep: the Mid Copeland Community Partnership Chair has written to the DCPC Chair to confirm that the Drigg & Carleton Rep on the Community Partnership shall be allowed to continue as a non-voting member to provide continuity with the parish; to be reviewed in one year, on or around 1st April 2025
  1. Withdrawal sub-group
    • A policy document has been written on how a decision to withdraw might be taken and implemented (the Mid Copeland Community Partnership has no power to withdraw; only the developer, NWS, and the Relevant Principal Local Authority, Cumberland Council, have this power)
  2. Next meeting: to take place on 22nd April 2024 at Beckermet Reading Rooms at 3 pm
  1. GDF South Copeland Community Partnership
    1. Yonder survey: three surveys to be carried out in 2024
      • Identical questions will be used to try to identify trends over time
      • Some demographics are deemed Seldom Heard, eg working age women
    2. Chairs: meeting of all Chairs on 11th April 2024
  • Funding: possibility of members sitting in on Funding meetings to appreciate the process
  1. Small awards: funding team looking at easier ways to award very small grants
  2. Community Impact Report: discussion of commissioning research on how the GDF will impact the local community. Original deadline of early 2024 now missed
  3. Minutes: https://southcopeland.workinginpartnership.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Draft-Minutes-of-the-22.02.24-CP-meeting.pdf
  • Next South Copeland meeting: to take place on 17th April 2024 at the Lighthouse Centre, Haverigg at 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm

 

  1. NWS / DCPC Liaison
    1. Memorandum of Understanding: NWS provided a MoU relating to the payments to Drigg and Seascale for the siting of the Low Level Waste Repository
      • Socio-Impact Strategy focus is now wider than just Drigg and Seascale
    2. Traffic: survey to be done by NWS
      • Cars seem to be single occupancy
      • Green travel to work plan including cycling, walking etc is unrealistic
      • Trains to be used for stockpiling aggregates, 2 per week, early mornings, 11 months per annum (will reduce HGVs through the village)
  • Site visit: AP to book MC onto the next LLWR site tour
  1. Next NWS / DCPC Liaison meeting: to take place on Tuesday 26th March 2024 at 4.30 pm at Pelham House
  • Agenda for next meeting
    1. AGM: review all documents
    2. APM: traffic surveys, Community Led Plan
    3. AGAR: prepare for the end of the financial year

 

  • Date of next meeting
    1. Close: meeting closed 8.25 pm
    2. Next meeting: to be held on 9th April 2024 at Drigg Village Hall at 6.30 pm

 

 

Karen Warmoth
Parish Clerk
Drigg & Carleton Parish Council
19th March 2024

 

 

 

Summary of Actions

 

 

Action 3/1: JJ and CG to review whether feasible to engage a structural engineer for the loft ladder

Action 3/2: JJ to check if original drawings of the Village Hall are still available

Action 3/3: AP to report back from NWS about beach benches after the next Liaison meeting

Action 3/4: Traffic sub-cttee meeting to be arranged by AP to review survey data

Action 3/5: Clerk to review the cost and availability of appropriate flags

Action 3/6: SC to research type / cost of paint needed for marking the Village Hall car park

Action 3/7: AP to request Drigg Young Farmers to do the painting

Action 3/8: CG to book the speaker for the Annual Parish meeting 2024

Action 3/9: Clerk to arrange for new Defibrillator battery to be installed

 

 

Previous Actions

 

Action 2/4: AP to follow up on the unsightly rusting metal sign at Greengarth being removed