SHAP PARISH COUNCIL 

Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting

Monday 1^st June 2009 at 7.30 pm

Venue: Market Cross

Attendance:

Chairman: Mrs J Jackson

Councillors: Mrs A Bindloss, Mr E Hodgson, Mr D Mallinson,

Mr A Sowerby, Mr G Stainton, Mr W Warburg,

Mr M Weightman.

District Councillor: none

PCSOs: none 

Clerk: Mrs S Apps

Public: none

Public participation:

1.  Apologies for absence
2. The Minutes of the Annual Council Meeting and the Ordinary Meeting of 5^th May 2009 were signed as a true and accurate record. 
3.  Declarations of interest . Cllr Mallinson Agenda item 5:1
4. Finance
5. Council resolved to approve the statement of accounts to 31st May 2009. Proposed Cllr. Weightman, seconded Cllr. Warburg.

Council Resolved to authorise payment of the following accounts.

Payments made between meetings:

 Wages - 8^th May to 29^th May 2009 [Litter Act 1983, s5; Public Health Act 1987, s144] £405.72

Total £405.72

Payments for approval this meeting:

Chairs Allowance [LGA 1972, s15 (5)] £300.00

Shap Local History Society-Rent of Market Cross [LGA 1972, s111 &s133 & 144] £600.00

Shap CDC - Sponsorship of Shap Today [LGA 1972, s142] £175.00

Clerk's salary - May 2009 [LGA 1972, s112] £185.59

Total £1260.59

 Proposed Cllr. Bindloss, seconded Cllr. Sowerby.

1.  Planning applications
   1. 09/0349, Former Methodist Chapel, Main Street, Shap - Removal of condition 3 of planning permission 08/0209.
   Council RESOLVED to object on the grounds that the original planning application was approved for local occupancy and cannot see any reason for this to be changed. Proposed Cllr. Jackson, Seconded Cllr. Hodgson.
   2. Planning request for amendment 08/0869, Land adjacent to Peggy Nut Croft, Shap - Proposed Geothermal Store adjacent to proposed Doctors' Surgery. No objections.  
   3. 09/0304, Full application for the erection of four dwellings - Site adjacent to New Surgery, Peggy Nut Croft, Shap.
   Council RESOLVED to object on the following grounds: - insufficient detail given on levels of bungalows, insufficient detail given regarding drainage and sewerage - concerns on the impact on adjoining fields of surface water drainage, concerns that the area is not going to be adopted and will fall on the occupiers to maintain, also local occupancy - what is the councils position in respect of this development. Proposed Cllr.Jackson, Seconded Cllr. Warburg.  
   4. Request for Scoping Opinion in Respect of Proposed Wind Farm Cluster at Mid Town Farm, Reagill 
   - Council received results of meeting held by sub committee and details of reply submitted to EDC.No objections. 
2. Cumbria Playing Fields Association - annual appeal for Funds and Affiliation fees for 2009/10 of £210.00. Council resolved to look in more detail at this and a reply to be made at the next meeting.  
3. Rosgill Lighting - Further correspondence from Neil Buck at EDC, giving various options and wanting to know how Shap Parish Council wish to proceed. The contents of Neil Bucks correspondence was read out at the meeting including detail that the light at Hall Garth will be modified, and Council RESOLVED to advise EDC that we do not wish to proceed any further with this issue at present.  
4. Housing Needs Survey - Council were advised that following discussion with Cumbria Rural Housing Trust, an article has been placed in the June/July 09 issue of Shap Today advising residents that a new survey is to be carried out. It has been agreed that the questionnaires will be sent out in August 2009. Concern was expressed that the previous survey undertaken did not give the Parish the feeling of ownership of the results and it was hoped that this new survey will provide a better picture. 
5. Lake District National Park - Local Development Framework. Consultation on draft Core Strategy Policies - 8 May to 5 June 2009. Shap Parish Council provided their response last year. It is specifically about planning/development in the LDNP and the proposed extension of LDNP to join with the Yorkshire Dales National Park, but this may still exclude Shap as the boundaries have yet to be agreed.
6. Bus Shelter - 6^th July 2009. Council agreed to the investigate the possibility of siting a bus shelter in the Memorial Hall Car Park and the Clerk will write to the Memorial Hall Committee to obtain their reaction/views on this suggestion. Also work to be done regarding investigating what Grants are available.

Correspondence 

1. Council acknowledged receipt of a further response from Cumbria County Council regarding the Concrete Road between Burnbanks and Shap, confirming that they cannot adopt the road in its present state. On this subject it has been found that United Utilities are to begin harvesting the trees around Haweswater and will be using the Concrete Road for the Logging Lorries. They are felling and then replacing with native trees. The Clerk to write to Paul Clavey at United Utilities regarding this operation which is within Shap Rural Parish.
2. Council acknowledged notification that a Vat repayment of £365.40 had been received from HMRC following the VAT reclaim made as at 31^st March 2009.
3. Council acknowledged receipt of the Minutes from the Meeting of Lake District Parish Councils held on 27 April 2009 and noted the date of the next meeting on 17 September 2009 at Brockhole at 7.30 p.m.
4. Council acknowledged receipt of correspondence from Cumbria Improvement and Efficiency Partnership advising that they have commissioned CN Research to ask elected councillors about their knowledge/perception/awareness of current work on community engagement and locality working in Cumbria and to advise that we MAY be contacted.
5. Council acknowledged receipt of notice that Eden District Council have submitted the Core Strategy Development Plan Document to the Secretary of State.
6. Council acknowledged receipt of a response from John Banks, Cumbria County Council regarding clarification of work being carried out on Pow Lane Shap to Bampton. The clerk to contact John Banks to enquire about a date for the road closure.
7. Council acknowledged receipt of updates on various Highways issues reported at the last meeting. The gullies on the A6 are all being emptied currently; this will include the drain by Simpson's Garage. There is still a problem at Hillcrest and John Banks, Cumbria County Council advised that this is now being dealt with by the Environment Agency as foul sewer is entering the drain. Cllr Mallinson reported that he had been in contact with United Utilities who were also aware of the problem and were investigating.The flooding at the junction of Gayle Avenue by the bungalows cul-de-sac is to be resolved by adding an additional gully, but the work will not be carried out until the end of the Summer.Kirkbank Bridge flooding is being caused by a blockage/collapse in the field on the North side and John Banks to contact the owner for permission to access and excavate.John Banks has also looked at the problem of the cemetery car park being washed away by water from a field above the cemetery on the North side of the road. He will contact the owner to investigate the pipe end, which sheds water directly on to the public highway.
8. Council acknowledged receipt of a communication from Citizens Advice Bureau regarding extended opening hours and a poster for the recruitment of volunteers.
9. Council acknowledged receipt of correspondence from Lakes Training Services a new company in Kendal who offer various training courses for Maintenance Staff on Health & Safety, Ground Care Awareness and Equipment Usage.
10. Council acknowledged receipt of Cumbria Recycling 'Review' Newsletter for May 09.
11. Council acknowledged receipt of a letter from EDC regarding the 'Playbuilder Programme' and that they have been awarded a grant to provide a minimum of one play space particularly aimed at the 8 - 13 age group and in an area of identified need. The Chairman and Clerk to look at the questionnaire in more detail.
12. Council acknowledged receipt of email from CALC advising of a conference to be held entitled ' New Media for Youth Engagement'
13. Council acknowledged receipt of a letter from Cumbria County Council regarding Cumbria Landscape Character Guidance & Toolkit Workshops - the meeting on 7 July 2009 at Penrith is for this area.
14. Council acknowledged receipt of the Thomas Armstrong progress report for Shap Health Centre for 8 May 2009 and noted that they were 2 weeks behind schedule due to additional steelwork for the roof. It was also reported that there has been an issue with vehicles using the back lane between the works at Wasdale and the new Health Centre.
15. Council acknowledged receipt of an anonymous letter from a concerned resident regarding parking south of Station Road by a large van which obscures vision and is not parked within the marked area of the lay-by. Also in relation to a vehicle being parked dangerously at West Lane near the junction with the A6. It was decided to write to the police and enclose a copy of this letter requesting them to investigate.

 Matters for report

16. Cllr. Stainton advised that the road sign for 'Moss Grove leading to Wandsworth Gardens' had been uprooted and needed resiting. Clerk to write a letter to ask for the repair to be done.

 Cllr Sowerby advised that he has been approached regarding the gate at the bottom of Sandy Lane, which has disappeared. He has been asked if Shap Parish Council funded the gate and the answer is that Shap Parish Council did not purchase the gate. The Clerk to write to Network Rail regarding the gate. Also advised that walkers have been stopped from walking on Sandy Lane although it is the 'Coast to Coast' footpath.

 Cllr. Hodgson advised that residents of Brackenber have complained about the rubbish outside the Tranfield factory from the workers who eat their lunch etc outside. There are no parking signs but cars are being parked in breach of these. Clerk to write a letter to the factory regarding rubbish and parking issues. He also reported that the new grasscutters are doing a good job.

 Cllr. Bindloss reported that the Shap sign on Pow Lane is missing. Clerk to write to get it replaced.

 Cllr. Weightman reported that the entrance to Pow Lane is often congested by parked cars outside Mere Syke. Clerk to write to Sonia Allen-Wall advising of Council concerns outside her house due to cars parking on the junction.

 Cllr. Mallinson has raised the issue of whether we could write to United Utilities regarding the extension of the public sewer up past Hillcrest and why this has not been connected to the main sewer previously. Clerk to write to United Utilities.  

Date of next meeting 6th July 2009

 The meeting closed at 9.20 pm.