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SHAP WITH SHAP RURAL PARISH COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT 2008

Sports facilities improvements
In the financial year 2007/8 the Parish Council contributed funding to several local sports projects as follows:

Cricket Pavilion refurbishment;
Replacement football stand/sports shelter;
Bowling Club extension;
Tennis courts repairs.
In the case of the football stand, which had been condemned because of its asbestos roof and cracked stanchions, the Parish Council received grant funding of £5,485 from Cumbria Waste Management Environment Trust (CALSF), £800 from Eden Area Committee and £200 from Cumbria Playing Fields Association towards the costs.

In the case of the tennis court repairs most of the money used to pay for these had been lodged with the Parish Council when the Tennis Club folded so the Council's contribution was just £46.12.

In relation to the Memorial Park and the infestation of rabbits, the Parish Council was able to persuade Network Rail to install rabbit netting at their cost along the eastern boundary. It is hoped that this action will prevent rabbit holes destroying the playing surface and spoiling users' enjoyment of the area.

Environmental improvements, repairs and maintenance

In the 2007/8 the Council employed a street cleaner for 21 hours per week and contracted the grasscutting schedule so that all verges, the play area and the Memorial Park perimeter were maintained regularly from April to October. In addition, the Council provided replacement litter bins and litter bin liners and a new pinboard for the notice board. As well, the Council paid for the removal of two poplar trees in the children's play area.

Repairs to the public seats, the repainting of railings at the Shepherd's Rae drinking fountain and repairs to the street cleaner's trolley were carried out free by local volunteers and thus saved on expenditure. Special thanks to Mr Cowin, Mr Allen and the garage staff for their help with these items. Special thanks also to Cllr Sowerby for his work on the seating and to Cllr Mallinson for building the stone litter bin surround at Low Well - both these jobs were carried out free of charge.

Public Toilets refurbishment
The latest news is that Eden District Council has requested tenders for the refurbishment work and it is hoped to start the project in the near future.

Recycling
The Parish Council is very grateful to all those people who take the trouble to recycle their waste paper, cans, bottles and plastic. Unfortunately, whilst the majority take great care to keep the site tidy a few irresponsible people tip rubbish and non-recyclable items which means extra journeys for TfE and extra costs for the tax payer plus a messy village car park.

The Parish Council has met with representatives of Eden District Council to seek an improvement to this situation and it is anticipated that the District Council will provide a fenced screen to hide the skips and stop waste being dispersed across the car park and into the drains. The only answer to flytipping is the deterrent of huge fines and the District Council is determined to prosecute where evidence is found or provided.

Highways
Members of the Council have had several meetings with representatives of Cumbria Highways in an effort to improve parking in Shap and to reduce the number of speeding vehicles. A scheme for such improvements has been submitted to Cumbria County Council but its ranking in the priority list has meant that the scheme did not succeed in getting into the 2008/9 budget.

The Parish Council is trying to keep this matter to the forefront at the Highways department and further meetings to discuss implementation of smaller parts of the whole scheme are taking place.

The Parish Council is in touch with all the quarries and large hauliers in relation to speeding vehicles and we have assurances of their compliance with speeding restrictions through the village.

Please be aware that Cumbria County Council are in the process of implementing a Highways Steward scheme which will mean that we have a dedicated, named person to contact for minor highways repairs.

Wet Sleddale footpath and Shap Abbey bridge repairs
The Council worked with the Lake District National Park Authority to gain grant funding for these two projects from Cumbria Waste Management Environment Trust (CALSF Fund). The work is almost completed.

Affordable Housing and Planning
Representatives of the Parish Council were invited to take part, along with four other parish councils, in the Rural Excellence Programme facilitated by Eden District Council and principally concerned with examining affordable housing issues in the District. The Chairman and Clerk attended sessions and were able to contribute from Shap's perspective.

Principal authorities are now redefining the planning framework, strategies and core policies which will be used to guide and determine planning applications for the next 10-12 years. The documents produced are the subject of consultation and the Parish Council has been active in providing a response to these provisional documents which in the case of Shap with its adjacent quarries has included the relevant Minerals and Waste Development Framework documents.

During the past year the Parish Council has dealt with twenty-three planning applications, supporting seventeen and raising objections to six, one of which was ultimately withdrawn. Six applications are still awaiting a planning decision, three of which relate to the quarries.

New Model Code of Conduct
On 6 August 2007 the Parish Council adopted a new Model Code of Conduct for Town and Parish Councils. This code provides statutory guidance on the conduct of councillors, most notably, in relation to the declaration of interests, both personal and prejudicial, and the Registration of Members' Interests.

As a result of the adoption of this new code an adapted Public Participation Policy was drawn up and is now implemented.

Just to remind you: members of the public have the right to attend all meetings of the Council and may participate at suitable points in the meeting at the discretion of the Chair. There are occasions when members of the public can be excluded from meetings when certain exempt matters are under discussion but these are generally few in number.

Police matters

The Council was pleased to welcome PC Nick Hodgkinson as Shap's Community Police Officer and Stuart Brownrigg as Police Community Support Officer. Both have already been very visible in the area and are actively dealing with local complaints and incidents.

Local Council elections

The year 2007 was the year of local council elections and the following Councillors were elected unopposed:

Councillor

Address

Telephone

Mrs Jean Jackson (Chair)

The Hermitage, Shap, CA10 3LX

01931 716671

Mrs Adele Bindloss

Shap Abbey, Shap, CA10 3NB

01931 716203

Mrs Pauline Watson

Bridge End Paddock, Shap, CA10 3LZ

01931 716245

Mr Henry Harrison

Thorney Bank, Wet Sleddale, Shap, CA10 3NE

Mr Edward Hodgson

5 Oak Tree Close, Shap, CA10 3PR

01931 716619

Mr David Mallinson

Derwent House, Shap, CA10 3LX

01931 716518

Mr Alan Sowerby

9 Croft Avenue, Shap, CA10 3NR

01931 716574

Mr George Stainton

18 Gayle Avenue, Shap, CA10 3NS

Mr Will Warburg (Vice Chair)

Toathmain Garth, Bampton, Shap, CA10 2QZ

01931 713317

Mr Maurice Weightman

Rosgill Hall, Rosgill, Penrith, CA10 2QX

01931 716248

Clerk

Address

Telephone/email

Mrs Dorothy Waterworth

Hill Top, Roman Road, Appleby-in-Westmorland,

CA16 6JH

017683 52787

d.waterworth@virgin.net

SHAP WITH SHAP RURAL PARISH COUNCIL Financial statement 31 March 2008






31-Mar-07


31-Mar-08






32,439.97

National Savings Deposit a/c
21,890.89

3,217.82

Nat West Current a/c
5,073.21



Unreceived Income


- 822.07

Unbanked Expenditure
- 271.20

34,835.72


26,692.90








Income


1,288.14

Bank Interest
1,450.92

1,726.77

Recycling Credits
1,284.84

983.88

Rents Received
811.32

2,020.00

Street Cleaning Grant (EDC)
2,020.00



Environment grant - litter bin
300.00



Training bursary
90.00

8.29

Wayleave
8.59

194.49

Customs & Revenue (VAT reclaimed)
1,615.90

14,422.00

EDC Precept
14,658.00

20,643.57


22,239.57








Expenditure


1,505.54

Administrative Expenses
935.79

141.00

Audit Fees
158.63

544.45

Insurance
595.48

220.00

Subscriptions CALC, C&CD, CPA etc
260.00

650.00

Publications (Shap Today and website)
300.00



Elections
140.00

30.00

Rent
1,222.50

768.47

Rates
791.29

1,430.90

Premises Utilities
424.65

2,422.49

Grasscutting
3,353.23

1602.14

Environment/Gardening
1,015.84

848.61

Repairs & Maintenance
4,845.81

700.00

Sports Facilities
6,466.27

75.00

Training Costs
70.00

7,100.23

Wages & Salaries
8,736.40

200.00

Chairman's Allowance
300.00

418.00

Section 137/community support grants
766.50

18,656.83


30,382.39








Reconciliation


32,848.98

Opening balance
34,835.72

20,643.57

Add Income
22,239.57

53,492.55


57,075.29

- 18,656.83

Less Expenditure
- 30,382.39

34,835.72

Closing Balance
26,692.90

Note that not all wage costs for 2007/8 are included as payments to HMRC occurred after year end, also football stand invoices and grants were not paid or banked until after year end.

Dorothy Waterworth (Parish Clerk)

May 2008