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Drigg & Carleton Parish Council – Minutes – March 2025

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MINUTES OF THE MARCH 2025 ORDINARY MEETING OF THE

DRIGG & CARLETON PARISH COUNCIL

Held in Drigg Village Hall on 11th March 2025 at 6.35 pm



Attended:          Chris Gigg                                        CG         (Chair)

John Jennings                                 JJ            (Vice-Chair)

Andy Pratt                                       AP          (Ward Councillor)

Jimmy Naylor                                 JN

Andy McMillan                              AMcM

Martin Clayton                               MC

Sadie Clarke                                    SC

Fiona Roberts                                 FR          (PAYE Clerk)

Karen Warmoth                             (Clerk / RFO)

 

Apologies:          Keith Murray                                  KM

  • Presentation on the Muncaster Microbus
    1. A short summary of the work of the Community Minibus was given by Dave Marsden
    2. Resolved to add this summary to the next Newsletter and the website
  • Minutes of the previous Ordinary Meeting
    1. Resolution to approve the minutes of the meeting on 11th February 2025
      1. Approval as a true and accurate record proposed by CG and seconded by AP with all in favour; minutes signed by the Chair

 

  • Apologies for absence: Keith Murray – notice given of 5 months’ likely absence due to ill health
  • Declarations of interest relating to this agenda: none
  • Financial matters
    1. Finance report
      1. Balance: the balance of the DCPC account is £306.73 (accounting for the £48.58 as yet unclaimed by HMRC)
      2. HMRC Report: FR reported that the Annual Statement from HMRC showed £48.58 in credit for month 10 (6th Jan to 5th Feb) of 2024-25. No payment made during month 11
    2. Outstanding payments
      1. PAYE work: invoice for £90 submitted by FR for PAYE work for 2024-25; payment proposed by AP and seconded by CG, with all in favour
      2. CALC training: invoice for £30 submitted by CALC for Chairperson Training on 24th March 2025; payment proposed by JN and seconded by SC, with all in favour

[FR left]

  • Actions and matters arising: none
  • Cumberland Council
    1. Report
      1. Budget: full budget approved; £23 million borrowed from Central Government
      2. Devolution: Mayor for Cumbria intended to drive investment (see Feb 2025 minutes)
    2. Highways
      1. Resurfacing of B5344: spray tar dressing and chipping not suitable for this road due to the current poor state of repair and the needs of the LLWR (regular heavy vehicles)
        • Email from the local MP stating that LLWR had been consulted by Cumberland Highways about the road repair; LLWR confirmed no meeting had taken place
      2. Proposed by AMcM and seconded by MC that a letter shall be sent to Darren Crossley and Karl Melville of Cumberland Highways to make clear the need for a plane and resurface of this road to the same standard as the recent A595 upgrade
  • Pavement cleaning: work was begun but Cumberland yet to return to complete it

 

Action 3/1: CG to draft a letter to Cumberland Highways Dept requesting a full resurface of B5344

  • Public Participation
    1. A parishioner reported speeding cars along Shore Road, which is regularly used by pedestrians but has no pavement; request to reduce the speed limit on this stretch of road and / or provide a pavement for pedestrian safety
    2. Resolved to request a speed reduction to 30mph or a pavement to be installed by Highways

Action 3/2: AP to liaise with the Highways Board re the speed limit / pavement on Shore Road

Action 3/3: CG to contact Natural England re Coastal Path connectivity for support for a pavement

  • Main Business
    1. Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Policy 2025
      1. All Councillors present signed an undertaking that they had read and understood this policy and agreed to be bound by it
    2. Climate Change Policy: resolved to request a template from CALC
    3. HyperfastGB: fibre optic cable being installed which will mean all landline phone calls will be by VOIP rather than by wires, with implications for vulnerable adults during power outages
      1. Analogue lines will be switched off by the end of January 2027
      2. NHS alarm systems stop working when the power is off; vulnerable adults unsupported
  • BT recommending use of mobile phones (but what if masts are down in a storm?)
  1. BT are offering a Hybrid phone with a battery back-up of eight hours and enabling calls over the mobile network in the event of a power outage
  2. Resolved to raise the issue with parishioners via the Newsletter – direct people to Fibrus for information on supporting vulnerable people or those in isolated homes
  1. Hall fence and gate: repair cost unknown
    1. Do we need to repair or replace? Would a security light be preferable?
    2. Fence and gate to be stored behind the hall; possibly donated to bonfire / VE80 beacon
  • The adjacent dead tree should be removed; bank could be replanted with flowers
  1. Fence, gate and tree removal proposed by SC, seconded by CG, with all in favour
  1. Community Led Plan: a live document under regular review
    1. Actions 1-7 reviewed in January 2025 – see Minutes
    2. Actions 4-12 reviewed in February 2025 – see Minutes
  • Action 7: CG has a new contact for rights of way and cyclepaths
    • CG liaising with Natural England about connectivity similar Seascale’s Viking Way
  1. Action 10: offer support for the Muncaster Microbus (via Newsletter and website)
    • Cumberland tendering for a bus service from Whitehaven to Gosforth / Seascale
    • Voluntary Car Service: useful for those without transport (invite to Warm Hub?)
  2. Action 11: parking already discussed; no land for a car park
  3. Action 12: speeding traffic data – ask LLWR for data from their surveys
    • AP to ask Highways for all traffic data
  • Action 14: broadband currently being upgraded in the village
  • Action 19: community events organised by Drigg Events, supported by DCPC
  1. Update: ask parishioners at the APM if they have any other actions / suggestions
  1. Beach and Hall information boards: funding
    1. Info Board: CG and SC successfully applied to LLWR for funding for the Hall board
      • Next step to produce a draft of the text on the board for comments
    2. Beach Board: SC liaised with Debbie Pearson of NDA Properties
      • Quote expected from ForePoint for new system; NDA agreed to install the board
    3. Village Hall Energy Efficiency Project
      1. Project is complete; final £20k from the Lottery fund now paid, total received is £25k
      2. Wiring test to be done and repeated every five years; may need new consumer unit
  • Tradesmen very happy with their Newsletter acknowledgment
  1. Compliance check of governance documents to be competed
  2. A parishioner wrote to the Hall Cttee to thank them for the improved disabled access
  1. Hall Loft project
    1. MC and JJ spoke to two builders; one suggested there isn’t enough space
    2. Suggestion of sliding doors rather than swing door (sliding doors can be fire doors)
  • JJ referred to Stairbox website as a way to draw up formal plans
    • Only £1,400 for bespoke staircase
  1. A flat landing would be preferable for carrying heavy items up to the loft
  2. Next step is to draw up plans
  3. Possible help from NWS or Grahams? Both have social value obligations
    • CG to enquire informally, suggest a “no liability” approach
  4. Cine Equipment in the Village Hall
    1. The Working Group met on 24th February 2025
      • TW to get a quote for the FILMBANK licence and film costs: ongoing
      • SC to get quote for curtains: completed. Estimate £1.5k to £5k depending on size
      • FR to submit a Charity application for funding 10 films over 12 months: ongoing
      • CG to send TW the user manual .pdf for the main screen showing the various connection points for integration of the sound system with the screen: completed
    2. Group waiting for the cinema equipment quotes before making a funding application
  5. Newsletter: May 2025
    1. Dates: copy date 25th April 2025; publication by 30th April 2025; distribution during the first week of May 2025
    2. Expanded number of pages: continue booklet format with 8 pages of A5
  • Suggested material: Hall battery power during electricity outages, Muncaster minibus, Voluntary Car Service, cine project, PRoW volunteers, DCPC Cloudbase photo, HyperfastGB, planters, Licence to Grow project
  1. Any other Parish matters: none

Action 3/4: CG to ask NWS / Grahams for help in drawing up plans for staircase

  • Received communications
    1. Lake District National Park Authority: letter detailing Programme of Engagement with Parish Councils and Timetable of events in 2025
      1. To be circulated again to all Councillors
    2. Contacts: poster detailing contact details of staff and other information (on Drigg website)
  1. Mayoral Combined Authority Consultation: to seek views on a proposal to form a Mayoral Combined Authority for the local government areas of Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness. https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/cumbria-devolution. Ends on 13th April 2025 at 11.59 am
    1. No formal DCPC reply; Councillors and parishioners encouraged to respond individually
  • Planning Applications
    1. Cumberland Council
      1. Statement of Community Involvement: adopted SCI, consultation statement and adoption statement are available to view on the Council’s website https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-policy/statement-community-involvement-sci
        • Copeland Local Plan now passed; work to begin on the Cumberland Plan
      2. 4/25/9004: Change of use for part of the site (hardstanding area) to be used as part of Cumberland Council’s “Licence to Grow” and grow vegetables in raised beds. This application is for “temporary planning permission” for change of use for a period of 5 years: Drigg closed landfill site, Shore Road, Drigg. Respond by 14th March 2025
        • Strongly in favour
      3. Cumberland Council: Minerals & Waste Planning Team
        1. 4/25/9001: Lateral extension to Peel Place Quarry, Holmrook. Respond by 20th March 2025
          • No objection
        2. 4/25/9002: Section 73 Variation of Condition 1 (time limit), 2 (approved documents), 38 and 39 (Restoration and Aftercare) of Planning Permission 4/14/9015 to extend the timescale for operating and restoring the Quarry. Planning permission 4/14/9015 was ‘Variation of Condition 2 of Planning Permission 4/06/9017 to extend the timescale for operating and restoring the Quarry’. Peel Place Quarry, Holmrook. Respond by 20th March 2025
          • No objection
        3. Lake District National Park Authority
          1. Enforcement Appeal: Material change of use deemed a breach of planning control. Land opposite Orchard View, Saltcoats, Holmrook. Respond by 25th March 2025
            • Appeal Noted
  • Cumbria Association of Local Councils
    1. Community Health & Wellbeing Conference: was held in Westlakes Science Park on Tuesday 11th March 2025 from 9.30 am to 2 pm. Councillors were invited to meet representatives from local agencies supporting Health & Wellbeing, including Cumberland Council Leader Cllr Mark Fryer. Topics covered social prescribing, Rosehill Arts Trust and examples of how a local council can contribute to health and wellbeing
  • Reports from Representatives
    1. GDF Mid Copeland Community Partnership
      1. Report on feedback after Areas of Focus announcement; NWS considered it favourable
      2. One CP member reported his parish was opposed to the chosen greenfield sites
  • Five new CIF awards this year; £772,627 left with four more CIF Panels scheduled
  1. GDF South Copeland Community Partnership
    1. Partnership status: currently still suspended pending the report to NWS
    2. Meeting: suggested by a CP member, to take place on 18th March 2025 at Kirksanton
  • Election of new Chair due in April 2025; CIF Panel continuing
  1. NWS / DCPC Liaison meeting
    1. Non-controversial; discussed wildfowlers, gun club, Licence to Grow, HGV movements
    2. New CEO to be announced shortly; present incumbent leaves on 27th March 2025
  • Trains arriving promptly; lorry movements 4 per day, coming offsite on Wednesdays
  1. Next meeting: Tuesday 25th March 2025 at Drigg Village Hall
  • Matters to be considered at the next Ordinary Meeting of the Parish Council
    1. Annual Parish Meeting: set for 20th May 2025 at 7 pm at Drigg Village Hall
    2. Speaker: Steph Loew of RSPB to be invited to give 20 mins presentation
  • Date of next meeting
    1. Close: meeting closed 8.45 pm
    2. Next meeting: to be held on 8th April 2025 at Drigg Village Hall at 6.30 pm

Karen Warmoth
Parish Clerk
Drigg & Carleton Parish Council
15th March 2025

 

Summary of Actions

Action 3/1: CG to draft a letter to Cumberland Highways Dept requesting a full resurface of B5344

Action 3/2: AP to liaise with the Highways Board re the speed limit on Shore Road

Action 3/3: CG to contact Natural England re Coastal Path connectivity for support for a pavement

Action 3/4: CG to ask NWS / Grahams for help in drawing up plans for staircase