May Meeting 2023

Meeting Minutes

CALDBECK PARISH COUNCIL

 Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Parish Council held in the Parish Hall on Tuesday 9^th May at 7:35pm.

 Councillors present: Tim Cartmell (Chairman), Norman Atkinson, Paul Doherty, Angela Glendinning, Sue Robson, David Sutherland, Mark Telford, Alan Tyson

Also Present: Karen Atkinson, Anne Cartmell, Jenae Dalton, Gareth Wilding, Paul Graham, Alistair MacFadzean, Doreen MacFadzean, Mike Johnson (Cumberland Councillor) and David McGuffie (Clerk)

1. Apologies

Mike Warren (Health) and Alison Young (Family) were absent and the Council accepted their apologies.

2. Minutes

The Chairman was authorised to sign the minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Parish Council held on 27^th March 2023 as a true record.

3. Declaration of Interest

Norman declared an interest in the planning application for the Bungalow, Friar Row.

4. Public Participation

Reports – none

5. Coronation – The badges purchased for the Coronation have been distributed and the coins will be shortly.
6. Minibus – The Council agreed that until further notice the community minibus can park free of charge in a reserved space in the Caldbeck car park.
7. Abandoned car – An abandoned car has been dragged down from the fell and left near the Whelpo road. Clerk to contact Cumberland Council to get it removed.

5. Hesket Lonning Footpath

Tim went through the results from the consultation questionnaires.

 

Footpath Consultation		Questionnaires	Caldbeck	Hesket Newmarket
		165	118	47
	% returned	28.8%	30.0%	26.3%
Questions
	Hesket Lonning	Matthew Rudding	Do Nothing
1st choice	68	33	62
2nd choice	26	66	47
3rd choice	50	42	44
No option selected	2	2	2
	Never	1-5x/yr	6-20x/yr	20+x/yr
2 – Use Hesket Lonning	60	34	36	35
3 – Use Matthew Rudding	74	61	20	10
4 – Use now	118	28	11	8

The Council agreed that based on the Consultation and Questionaire results it would not pursue a

footpath creation order along Hesket Lonning, nor would it seek to upgrade the Matthew Rudding

footpath. It would see what warning signs were available to warn tourists about the dangers of walking

the Hesket Lonning road. Action: Clerk.

The Parish Council will offer to return the donation provided for the Hesket Lonning footpath project to

the donor. Action: Clerk.

6. Caldbeck Public Toilets

The refurbishment of the existing toilets has begun. Tim explained that land to the south of the car park

across the river had been offered as a possible site to build a new toilet block. A Commons Act 2006      section 38 approval would be needed for a footing if a bridge between the car park and the suggested    new toilet site was to be built. It was suggested the cost of a bridge may be prohibitive. The locations of  the nearest electrical and sewerage services would also need to be obtained. The offered site was on a public footpath.  The Council agreed to look into the suggestion further Action: Clerk

7. Street Lighting

The streetlight (13) located on the first house (1 Beech Cottage) on the corner of The Street and the road leading to Wood Hall was made safe. Mike Johnson has spoken to Dave Bryden about what could be done to disconnect the light and remove the cable/fitting and he is waiting for a response from ENWL. Sue agreed to ask the Warren’s what they want done.

8. Caldbeck Green and other conservation issues

a) Caldbeck Green – nothing beyond routine grass cutting.

b) Stadledykes – No progress.

c) Hesket Green – tree work had started.  Other work deferred to end of nesting season.  Clerkto ask

CC for an extension for grant spend.

Millennium plot tree work – no progress reported

9. Property Matters

a) Update on car parks

Cumbria Surfacing Ltd will begin car park entrance repair at Hesket week beginning 15/5/23. Sue           agreed to warn Denton House and the Brewery.

QR codes for electronic car park donations :  Paul explained that there was no monthly fee but there

were commission charges for the use of QR codes. It would be a potential additional source of revenue

for the Council.  Agreed to add QR codes on donation boxes. Action Paul

b) Property Working Group.

BT have responded to the Hesket Newmarket wayleave payment request asking about highways and

land maintenance. Tim will respond explaining that most of the land where the equipment is sited is

owned and maintained by the Council and not Highways. Hopefully the Hesket Newmarket wayleave

will be resolved shortly. Action Tim 

c) Solar Bollard

The bollard has been stabilised with postcrete. The Council thanked Paul and Mark.

d) Fellside car park

H&H have been asked to prepare a specification and it is still awaited.

e) Land at Hesket Newmarket – The Council discussed three purchase offers and agreed that the terms of the offers should be standardised if possible. Action: Tim.The Council agreed that following discussions with the brewery and the car park neighbours to check whether the land near the brewery might be deregistered. Action: Tim.

10. Speeding Traffic in Hesket Newmarket and Caldbeck

Mike Johnson to follow up about the Police speed enforcement actions undertaken in January. Mike has the follow up meeting on 10^th May.The Council agreed to await the outcome of the actions.

11. Parish Maintenance

EI/18856 – Upton potholes/resurfacing. Requested: 9/10/21, Last followed up: 17/1/22. Progress reported: Complete 19/1/23.

EI/18937 – Historic sign post Hesket Bridge Requested: 10/10/21, Last followed up: 2/11/22. Progress reported: 2/11/22 Sign installed but not firmly fixed in place

EI/21838– Sign on road near Park End. Requested: 26/10/21, Last followed up: 23/1/23. Progress reported: 23/1/23 New sign installed – Keswick finger to fix

EI/40652 – Beckstones/Stadledykes. Requested: 17/1/22, Last followed up: 2/3/23. Progress reported: 2/3/23 Road closed for investigation.

 EI/43092 – Pothole – East of Hesket Newmarket. Requested: Last followed up: 17/1/22. Progress reported: Complete 17/1/23.

EI/43366 – Pothole The Street. Requested: 28/1/22, : Last followed up: 17/1/22. Progress reported: Complete 17/1/23.

EI/49466 – Pothole opposite Old Rectory. Requested: 21/2/22, Last followed up: 28/3/22. Progress reported: 28/3/22 Already aware task assigned.

EI/55483 – Blocked drain B5299 Requested: 15/3/22, Last followed up: 28/3/22. Progress reported: 28/3/22 Already aware task assigned – Same as 40652?

EI/57769 – Damage to wall nr Hesket Bridge. Requested: 27/3/22, Last followed up: 8/3/22. Progress reported: Complete.

EI/83028 – Blocked gully on The Street, Watery Lonning, Nether Row crossroads. Requested: 26/8/22, Last followed up: 26/8/22.

EI/88867 – Broken bus stop sign. Requested: 5/10/22

EI/94247 – Blocked Drain on road near Green Close. Requested: 3/11/22 Last followed up 8/3/23: Progress reported – Report received awaiting further assessment.

EI/109297 – Blue Gates – Broken Glass. Requested: 9/1/23 Last followed up: 10/2/23. Progress reported: Complete.

EI/112314 – Pasture Lane – Pothole Requested:15/1/23 , Last followed up: 8/3/22. Progress reported: Complete.

EI/114334 – Upton – Blocked Gully Requested: 17/1/23 , Last followed up: 8/3/22. Progress reported: Complete.

EI/114817 – The Street – Blocked Gully Requested: 19/1/23 , Last followed up: 8/3/22. Progress reported: Complete.

EI/116154 – Park End sign – broken Requested: 20/1/23 – Added into 21838

EI/118664 – Speed sign – broken – Requested: 27/1/23 Progress reported: Complete 2/2/23

EI/118666 – Street light 30 not working Requested: 27/1/23, Last followed up: 8/3/23. Progress reported: Complete.

EI/123239 – B5299 between Park End and Snow Hill – Road surface Requested 10/2/23. Closed see 127095

EI/127095 – Fell Road road edge disintegration – Requested 21/2/23, Last followed up: 8/3/23 Assigned.

EI/128642 – Potholes at Calebreck – Requested 26/2/23, Last followed up: 8/3/23 Assigned.

EI/132671 – Broken sign, nr Muddy Duck. Requested 13/3/23

Notice boards – Paul updated the Council. The notice boards should arrive by 19^th May and Mike Pattinson has agreed to install them.

New items – Alan will forward photos of new potholes to be passed to Highways. Action:Alan/Clerk. 

Contact Carl Bradford of LDNPA about a broken sign post to Upton bridge on the Matthew Rudding

footpath.  Action Clerk.

12. Planning applications and decisions

a) Applications

i) T/2023/0051 Denton House, Hesket Newmarket, Wigton CA7 8JG – No objection submitted.

ii) HOU/2023/0042 The Bungalow, Friar Row, Caldbeck, Wigton, CA7 8DS – Revised plans.

The Council began by hearing the resident’s thoughts about the revised plans. They were concerned about

• The size of the development which still approximately doubles the footprint.
• That the extension is out of keeping with the other properties running the entire length of the gardens ~20m.
• It has more apertures (doors and windows) than the original proposal and therefore impacts the neighbours amenity more.
• That the flood risk was under represented as it is being constructed on land that has flooded and it reduces the land area able to absorb water.
• The impact on the drainage system as currently during/after heavy rainfall toilets won’t flush due to the amount of water in the sewer.
• That both the proposed building will impinging on Friar Row and the moving of the entrance will make access and parking on Friar Row more difficult. It shows a bin store on the verge which would restrict highway width.
• Why does the Design and Access statement refer to the original plan when it was added 24^th April and why is it dated 23^rd February on the planning website which makes it look like it has been available for much longer. The Clerk responded that the Design and Access statement was most likely submitted to planning with the rest of the original documents in February but the box marking it for public viewing was probably only checked in April.
• It was questioned whether the development met the local plan (Cumberland County Plan).

The Council then discussed other issues associated with the application such as the preplanning advice which is referenced in the application. The Council had requested it both from the planning dept and through a freedom of information request but this has been denied on the grounds of confidentiality. This appeared to be contrary to their stated policy regarding preplanning advice.The amended application still has the original date but now has all the boxes unticked.

Under nutrient neutrality it gives the Derwent catchment and says it isn’t an issue. However, it should be referring to the Eden catchment where nutrient neutrality is an issue.

The Council agreed to object to the application and Norman was asked to draft a response.

Mike Johnson agreed to ask about pre planning advice and request the application be taken to the

Planning Committee.  The Parish Council would defer a decision on whether to apply to the

Information Commissioner for disclosure of the pre planning advice, a lengthy process.

b) Decisions notified

T/2023/0014 Trees near and around pond, Hesket Newmarket, Cumbria, CA7 8JG – granted

T/2023/0030 Ratten Row Gate, Caldbeck, Cumbria, CA7 8EE- granted

7/2023/2010 Whelpo Farm, Whelpo, Caldbeck, Wigton, CA7 8HQ – granted with conditions

7/2023/2038 Woodlea, Hesket Newmarket, Wigton CA7 8HR- granted

c) Caldbeck surgery

The application for the heat pumps has been granted and the Council agreed it was not going to take the decision to judicial review. It has contacted Cumberland planning as it believes that the decision was based upon a misunderstanding about how the system works. The response from Cumberland planning didn’t address a number of the points that the Parish Council raised so the Council has Norman to draft a response for the Clerk to forward. Post Meeting Note:Complete

13. Lengthmans Activities

Norman updated the Council about activities on Mark’s worklist. The allotment fence has been

repaired. Mike Bell had agreed to provide Mark with a digger and he will repair the Caldbeck car park

edging starting 5^th June.

14. Monthly Accounts 2021-22

a) The Council approved the receipts and payments since the last meeting, noted bank balances and reviewed the budget monitoring report.

Receipts

25 March 2023 – Wayleave £68.39

27 March 2023 – Car Park £52.02

31 March 2023 – Allerdale £1427.03

31 March 2023 – Car Park £99.59

31 March 2023 – Interest £127.01

6 April 2023 – Precept £9165.00

8 April 2023 – Interest £122.22

13 April 2023 – Spare Mugs £63.00

14 April 2023 – Car Park £130.42

27 April 2023 – Allotment rent £4.00

27 April 2023 – Allotment rent £4.00

27 April 2023 – Allotment rent £6.00

28 April 2023 – Car Park £108.16

29 April 2023 – Allotment rent £2.00

29 April 2023 – Allotment rent £6.00

1 May 2023 – Allotment rent £2.00

5 May 2023 – VAT refund £754.22

Payments

5 April 2023 – Parish Hall £140

5 April 2023 – CALC £225.28

5 April 2023 – Coronation £207.00

5 April 2023 – Coronation £342.90

5 April 2023 – Lengthsman £377.00

13 April 2023 – Toilets £185.70

14 April – Insurance £467.46

29 April – HSBC £5.40

2 May – Clerk salary – £606.85

5 May 2023 – Hesket Pond Trees £1,062

b) Internal Audit – The Clerk confirmed that the Internal Audit had been completed and the Internal Auditor had signed the AGAR. Internal audit report to be circulated. Action:Clerk.

c) AGAR section 1 – agreed that the governance processes had been followed as indicated and that Chairman could sign the approval.

d) Final budget outturn, accounting statement and variances –https://www.caldbeck.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/05/22-23-Accounts.pdf– These were noted.

e) AGAR section 2 RFO certification – The Council noted the accounts presented.

f) AGAR section 2 Consideration and Approval – The Council approved the accounting statement.

g) Exercise of public rights will be from 5^th June to 14^th July 2023.

Bank Balances as at 5/5/23

Current Account £38,192.03

Deposit account £109,137.57 including £98,627.80 for Hesket Lonning footpath.

The receipts and payment account is here: https://www.caldbeck.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/05/RP-May-23.pdf

The budget monitoring report is here: https://www.caldbeck.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/05/Bud-May-23.pdf

15. Correspondence

To note items of correspondence received since the last meeting:

Cumbria Constabulary reports.

CALC: newsletters, updates.

Lake District National Park: Geoff Davies monthly report. Election of Geoff’s replacement will start shortly.

16. Allotments

Alan agreed to help Alison with the allotment inspections. These will be undertaken end May/ early June depending upon the weather.

17. Meeting Dates

Upcoming meeting dates – 31^st July, 11^th September, 23^rd October, 4^th December.

18. Date of Next Meeting

19^th June 2023 in Caldbeck Parish Hall

The meeting ended at 9:30pm