Silverdale Parish Council

SILVERDALE PARISH COUNCIL

Councillors are hereby summoned, and members of the public are invited, to attend a Parish Council Meeting on Monday 6th March 2017 at 7.30pm, in the Silverdale Institute, Spring Bank, Silverdale, for the purposes detailed in the following Agenda:

1. To receive apologies for absence.

2. To receive declarations of Members’ interests relating to any items appearing on the agenda.

3. To approve the Minutes of an Ordinary Council Meeting held on Monday 6th February 2017.

4. To receive information about matters arising from the Minutes of previous meetings, not covered by the Agenda.

5. To hear matters raised by Members of the Public for future consideration. Note: Members of the Council are not permitted to respond, except to ask questions for the purposes of clarification only.

6. To receive a report of any relevant matters by City Councillor Nigel Goodrich.

7. To receive verbal reports from any meetings attended by Members, or the Clerk (verbal reports are only acceptable where no decision, or action, is required).

8. To consider the following items of correspondence received since the last meeting and to determine what, if any, action should be taken:
AONB supplies a copy of their reply to the City Council regarding planning proposal 17/00009/FUL Far Waterslack: For change of use from agricultural land to a private sand paddock. (Emailed to Cllrs. 3/2/17)
Mr Tim Murrell responds to the Council’s communication regarding a facility at the Fire Station to call 999 and agrees to put the it on the list of works programme once their new contract is in place. (Emailed to Cllrs. 6/2/17)
A response to the letter sent regarding the felling of trees at Woodwell. (Emailed to Cllrs. 6/2/17)
The Rotary Club thank the Council for their help with their ‘Purple for Polio’ campaign. (Emailed to Cllrs. 8/2/17)
A resident informs the council that she has ordered a picnic table for the playground.
John Reynolds City Council Member for Carnforth and Millhead, and Prospective Labour Party candidate for the Lancashire Rural North Division in the election taking place this May offers to attend a meeting to introduce himself. (Emailed to Cllrs. 9/2/17)
Lune Valley informs of their Special General Meeting on 2/3/217. (Emailed to Cllr.s 9/2/17)
Tony Bunting prospective Liberal Candidate offers to meet the Council. (Emailed 11/2/17)
Jenny Wain of Morecambe Bay Partnership invites the councillors to future meetings (Emailed to Cllrs. 20/2/17)
S Laws tenders his resignation 17th February 2017 as contractor for Silverdale.
Minutes of the Library meeting on 13/2/17. (Emailed to Cllrs. 20/2/17)
County Council inform the public about the Park and Ride scheme by J34 of the M6. (Emailed to Cllrs. 20/2/17)
National Plant monitoring scheme looks for volunteers. (Emailed to Cllrs 25/2/17)

9. (a) To note that the following Planning Applications were dealt with under the provisions of Standing Order 25a, and comments made as indicated:
17/00122/FUL 45A Stankelt Road. Creation of a new vehicular access. (Emailed to Cllrs. 10/2/17)
(b) To consider the following Planning Applications:
17/00135/FUL 1 St John’s Grove. Erection of side conservatory. (Emailed to Cllrs. 20/2/17)

(c) To consider whether the Parish Council wishes to comment on the proposed amendments to Lancaster City Council’s Planning Application Validation Guide (PAVG). (Details emailed on 2/2/217)

10. To receive the Clerk’s report of any action (other than consideration of Planning Applications) taken under the provisions of Standing Order 25:
25a) Parish Council Property and Functions
25b) Non-Parish Council Property and Functions

11. Toilets
a) To consider the Tenders submitted for the cleaning of the public toilets. (emailed to Cllrs)
b) To discuss what further measures can be taken to reduce the continuing vandalism.

12. Parish Contractor
a) To consider the Parish Contractors resignation and what action to take.
b) To review the Tender document for the contractor work due for renewal 18th May 2017 and authorise the advertising of it (Emailed 2/3/16).

13. To finalise arrangements for the Annual Assembly.

14. Finance
a) To conduct the monthly check of all money received by the Council (bank statements to be inspected by a Member who is not a Bank Signatory, or more than one such Member). – None.
b) To authorise payment and sign cheques for the following accounts:
United Utilities Water Ltd., toilets, £50.14, Bacs.
S Laws, contractor £196.25 +£35.04 hire charge = £231.29, cheque 1246.
LALC, subscription, £246.54, cheque 1247.
Gaskell Memorial Hall, library meeting, £24, cheque 1248.
Paul Williams, toilets, £225.83 cheque 1249.
c) Audit Matters
To confirm the internal audit arrangements.

15. To consider inviting Mr Steve Lamb to continue maintaining the Website for a further year to June 2018 – when the Tender should be re-advertised.

16. To receive a library update.

17. To consider the External works progress.

18. To agree a price for a contractor to be on call if, and when, necessary for Highway verge maintenance.

19. To note any “Items for Information” (no decisions or action permitted)

20. To receive items for consideration for a future agenda.

21. To note that the date of the next meeting is Monday 3rd April 2017. Items for the agenda and copies of reports, to reach the Clerk before 28th March.
Signed:

Denise Challenor,
Clerk to the Council, 01524 761824

6th March 2017
11505 Un-confirmed Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Silverdale Parish Council held in the Silverdale Institute on Monday, 6th March 2017.
11506 Present: Chairman – T.G. (Terry) Bond, Councillors J. (John) Bennett, A.J. (Tony) Houghton, S.L. (Shirley) Mason, K. (Keith) Palmer, N. (Nigel) Ribbons, D. (David) Sandiford and P.N. (Paul) Williams, the Clerk – L.D. (Denise) Challenor, the Deputy Clerk – S.D. (Sue) Hayward, PC 2675 Andrew Massingham, City Councillor N. (Nigel) Goodrich and 2 members of the public.
11507 Apologies for Absence: None.
11508 Receipt of Declarations of Members’ Interests Relating to any Items Appearing on the Agenda
Councillor Williams expressed an interest in agenda item 11 in that he has submitted a tender for the cleaning of the toilets (as a member of the public).
11509 Minutes of the Previous Meeting
The minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on Monday, 6th February were approved then signed by the Chairman.
11510 Receipt of Information about Matters Arising from the Minutes of Previous Meetings, not Covered by the Agenda
11486 – Councillor Bennett reported that, although the indications are that the bus service will continue into 2017/18, it appears that services across the county are being cut area by area and it is, therefore, likely that the Silverdale service will be cut back too.
11488 – Councillor Bond advised that he will approach the Bowling Club about the possibility of a Community Public Access Defibrillator (CPAD) being stored there (with access to their electricity supply). RESOLVED that Members look for a possible location around Lindeth Close. Further RESOLVED that the Clerk contact British Telecommunications (BT) to ask if they have a date for removing the phone kiosk at Elmslack Lane (in case it is decided to use the kiosk to house a CPAD). It was noted that Mr Justin Johnston, Deputy Chief Fire Officer for Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service, has advised that they are seeking to roll out a Co-Responders Scheme across the county pending national negotiations.
11495 – Councillor Bennett reported that 3 benches are with Lune Valley engineering – they have been shot blasted and will be painted this week, one of them (from the War Memorial) has been fitted with a metal plate at the bottom so that it can be bolted down.
11511 Matters Raised by Members of the Public for Future Consideration
Matters raised were as follows:
1. several youths have been gathering in the playground lately and have been causing a nuisance. The resident asked if the playground could be patrolled by the police;
2. a resident suggested that a CPAD be located by the Wolf House gallery.
11512 Report from PC Massingham
PC Massingham introduced himself and described the area he covers, he asked that any issues be reported to the police and emphasised the importance of incidents being recorded – 101 should be used for non-emergency calls and 999 for emergencies. Messages sent to PC Massingham from residents in Silverdale via the ‘contact an officer’ part of the Lancashire Constabulary website will reach him although it may not be possible for him to reply straightaway. The police will always attend if they are phoned whilst an incidence of criminal damage is occurring. The following incidents were recorded in the area during the previous month: nuisance involving some youths at Elmslack Court; fridges dumped at the entrance to the Leighton Moss’ Eric Morecambe hide; 2 break-ins at ‘Kayes’ garden centre; a theft at the Golf Club; 3 cars broken into on The Row (nothing was taken) and a quad bike stolen from a property on The Row. He offered to produce and email a monthly crime report for the North Lune Valley area (which includes Silverdale) – this was welcomed by Members.
PC Massingham has looked at the CCTV footage from the Co-operative store in connection with the fire in the pubic toilets, but whilst the footage shows the purchasing of combustible materials, there is nothing to link the purchase with that fire.
Members asked if the crime rate for the area has increased – PC Massingham didn’t have any figures to hand, but believes that the rate of crime is the same as for this time last year.
The Clerk asked if the police would be able to attend the Annual Parish Meeting. PC Massingham advised that he will try and attend and, if unable to, will ask another Officer to do so.
Regarding the request from a resident that regular patrols of the playground be made (11511 above) Members alerted PC Massingham to the signage in the playground which specifies that the equipment is for the use of under 14-year olds only and that the playground should not be used outside daylight hours.
Members raised the issue of road safety at the junction of Nineteen Acre Lane and the A6 and PC Massingham agreed to discuss this with a colleague in Road Safety.
11513 Report from City Councillor Nigel Goodrich
Councillor Williams asked Councillor Goodrich about rubbish collection from litter bins which appears to be irregular at the moment and Councillor Bennett requested a schedule of all street cleaning and related activities (such as the cutting back of vegetation and clearing of gullies). Councillor Goodrich will ask for a copy of the Lancaster City Council (Lancaster CC) and Lancashire County Council (Lancs. CC) schedules.
11514 Reports on any Meetings Attended by Members or the Clerk
Silverdale United Charities
Councillor Mason reported that one request for assistance has been made and the Charity was able to help.
Silverdale Station
Councillor Williams advised that he met the new Station Manager for Silverdale and there are plans to supply 2 more benches and some new-style destination boards.
11515 Correspondence
Receipt of the following items of correspondence was noted and circulated:
a) AONB supply a copy of their reply to Lancaster CC regarding planning proposal 17/00009/FUL Far Waterslack for change of use from agricultural land to a private sand paddock;
b) Mr Tim Murrell, Group Manager – Northern Area Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service, responds to the Council’s communication regarding a facility at the Fire Station to call 999 and agrees to put it on the list of works programme once their new contract is in place;
c) a response to the letter sent regarding the felling of trees at Woodwell;
d) the Rotary Club thank the Council for their help with their ‘Purple for Polio’ campaign;
e) a resident informs the Council that she has ordered a picnic table for the playground;
f) Mr John Reynolds Lancaster CC Member for Carnforth and Millhead and prospective Labour Party candidate for the Lancashire Rural North Division offers to attend a meeting to introduce himself;
g) Lune Valley Rural Housing Association inform of their Special General Meeting on 2/3/17;
h) Mr Anthony Bunting, Liberal Democrat Lancs. CC candidate, offers to meet the Council;
i) Ms Jenny Wain, Fundraising and Development Officer for the Morecambe Bay Partnership, writes about the Morecambe Bay Coastal Community Team – events and call for information;
j) Mr Stefan Laws resigns as contractor for Silverdale (17th February 2017);
k) minutes of the Silverdale Community Library and Village Information Hub Project meeting held on 13/2/17;
l) Lancs. CC inform about the Park and Ride scheme by J34 of the M6;
m) the National Plant Monitoring Scheme write to ask for volunteers (to sign up visit www.npms.org.uk or for further information email support@npms.org.uk or phone 01722 342743).
11516 Planning
(1) It was noted that the following planning applications were dealt with under the provisions of Standing Order 25a:
17/00122/FUL 45A Stankelt Road. Creation of a new vehicular access. NO PLANNING OBJECTIONS subject to being acceptable by Highways.
(2) The following planning application was considered and comments made as indicated:
17/00135/FUL 1 St John’s Grove. Erection of side conservatory. NO PLANNING OBJECTIONS.
(3) It was noted that this Council have no comments to make on the proposed amendments to Lancaster CC’s Planning Application Validation Guide.
11517 Urgent Action Taken under the Provisions of Standing Order 25 (other than Planning)
25(a) Parish Council Property and Functions
None.
25b) Non-Parish Council Property and Functions
It was noted that the Clerk has been sent a Wayleave agreement by BT in connection with a BT cabinet at the rear of Trinity Methodist Church, RESOLVED not to sign the agreement until the locations of the cabinets in the village have been agreed.
11518 Public Toilets
Councillor Williams left the room whilst agenda item 11 a) was discussed.
a) It was noted that one tender had been submitted for cleaning the public toilets (with effect from 1st April 2017 (until 31st March 2018)) and that this was from Mr Paul Williams for £2,760. RESOLVED to accept Mr Williams’ tender.
b) Measures to deter acts of vandalism to the toilets were discussed. It was noted that the toilets are locked at night. RESOLVED that Councillor Bennett check out the cost of fitting timed locks. It was noted that the light inside the ladies’ toilet and the light outside the gents’ toilet are on all the time, RESOLVED that Councillor Bennett look into the cost of fitting LED Passive Infra-Red lights.
11518 Parish Contractor
a) It was noted that Mr Stefan Laws resigned as the Parish Contractor in February. RESOLVED that: 1. the Clerk check if Mr Laws has also resigned from carrying out the grass cutting contract at St. John’s Avenue and Woodwell; 2. Mr Tim Lambert carry out the Parish Contractor role at the same rate as Mr Law until 18th May 2017; 3. Check that Mr Lambert has full insurance. It was noted that Mr Lambert will carry out an inspection of the playground with Councillor Bennett this week and Councillor Bennett will arrange to check Mr Lambert’s insurance documents then.
b) Members reviewed the tender for the Parish Contractor and RESOLVED to amend it as follows: 1. specify 15 hours a month as being the approximate/ average amount of time per month needed to carry out the work; 2. delete carrying out minor repairs etc. around the village bus stops (other than the bus shelter on Park Road which is listed as a separate duty); 3. delete “rake the bark underneath the zip-wire…”; 4. add the carrying out of a quarterly check of all SPC sites (the playground which will remain as a weekly check); 5. add a clause stating that “this contract can be terminated by either the Contractor or the Council with a period of two months’ notice”.
11519 Annual Parish Meeting (Annual Assembly)
It was noted that the Clerk has circulated the agenda for the Annual Parish Meeting (15th March) to Members. RESOLVED that Councillor Bennett report on the library and the playground.
11520 Finance
a) It was noted that no money had been received by the Council.
b) RESOLVED to authorise payment and sign cheques for the following accounts:
United Utilities Water Ltd. (toilets) £50.14 (BACS)
Mr Stefan Laws (contractor (£196.25 +£35.04 hire charge)) £231.29 (1246)
LALC (subscription) £246.54 (1247)
Gaskell Memorial Hall (library meeting) £24.00 (1248)
Mr Paul Williams (toilet cleaning) £225.83 (1249)
c) It was noted that Mr Malcom Richardson has agreed to carry out the internal auditing of the accounts.

11521 Website
RESOLVED to invite Mr Steve Lamb to continue maintaining the website for a further year – to June 2018 when the Tender should be re-advertised.
11522 Library and Information Hub
Councillor Bennett reported on a meeting for potential volunteers which was held on 8th February. To date 46 people have volunteered to help – either at the meeting or since. Ten sub groups have been set up to deal with various aspects of the library. Silverdale School has formed a Children’s Library Committee and the children are drawing up lists of their favourite books and authors. The Library Working group has liaised with more independent libraries – Bottesford library (Leicestershire) have been very helpful. The Group have suggested that the library open 2 mornings, 2 afternoons and one late evening a week in addition to the ‘old’ opening times. Opening on a Wednesday morning to coincide with the fish van, and a Saturday morning to coincide with the Gaskell Hall coffee mornings has been proposed. Lancs. CC are expected to confirm that the library can go ahead this week and it is hoped that the library can open between the end of May and the end of June.
RESOLVED: 1. to consider opening at times when other local libraries are closed; 2. to authorise up to £1,500 to cover legal fees for scrutinising Lancs. CC’s lease when available; 3. that Councillor Bennett circulate 3 quotations from firms of solicitors by email for Members to consider between meetings.
11523 External Services Report

It was noted that this had been circulated with the agenda. The report was updated to clarify that sewerage is overflowing from the outflow onto the shore and that the responsible authority is Lancs. CC. It was noted that Councillor Bennett will notify the Clerk of the reference numbers for the problems with flooding on the road he has raised recently with Highways.
11524 Roadside Verge Maintenance
It was noted that Mr Arthur Graves has quoted £25 an hour for cutting back roadside vegetation and that if there are safety issues the rules about not cutting hedges during the rearing and breeding season do not apply. RESOLVED to ask Mr Graves to cutback vegetation if critical areas have been reported to Highways and they have not taken any action.
11525 Items for Information
None.
11526 Suggestions for Future Agenda Items
None.
11527 Date of Next Meeting
It was noted that the date of the next meeting is Monday, 3rd April 2017. Items for the agenda and copies of reports, to reach the Clerk before 28th March.

Sue D. Hayward, Deputy Clerk to the Council