Silverdale Parish Council

1st July 2013
10392 Un-confirmed Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Silverdale Parish Council held in the Silverdale Institute on Monday, 1st July 2013.
10393 Present: Chairman – Councillor T.G. (Terry) Bond, Councillors H.M.E. (Harriet) Bradfield, A.J. (Tony) Houghton, S.L. (Shirley) Mason, K. (Keith) Palmer, P.N. (Paul) Williams and A. (Angela) Woods, the Clerk L.D. (Denise) Challenor, the Deputy Clerk – S.D. (Sue) Hayward and 4 members of the public.
10394 Apologies for Absence: Councillor N. (Nigel) Ribbons and PC 2866 Tony Marsh.
10395 Receipt of Declarations of Members’ Interests Relating to any Items Appearing on the Agenda
Councillor Williams expressed an interest in agenda item 19 in that he is employed (as a member of the public) to clean the toilets.
10396 Minutes of the Previous Meeting
The Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on Monday, 3rd June were approved then signed by the Chairman.
10397 Receipt of Information about Matters Arising from the Minutes of Previous Meetings, not Covered by the Agenda
Councillor Williams referred to item 10361, regarding PHS, and advised that the sanitary bins are still awaiting collection following the termination of their contract. It was noted that the Clerk has contacted PHS giving them a deadline of 30 days from 4th June to remove the bins due to lack of space.
Members referred to: (1) item 10377, regarding the temporary Speed Indicator Display Sign (SPiD), and noted that this has now been removed; (2) item 10381, regarding the planning application for The Royal, and noted that they are still unable to access the plans on-line.
The Clerk referred to: (1) item 10378, regarding superfast broadband, and reported that Lancashire County Council (Lancs. CC) have not replied directly to her query about the delay but have referred her to the website https://www.superfastlancashire.com/home for information; (2) item 10382, regarding the notice board, which will be put up week commencing 8th July.
The Chairman referred to: (1) item 10384, regarding Silverdale Institute’s consultation exercise (survey), and reported that this Council has sent a response to the Institute and the results of the survey are on display at the Institute; more responses have, however, been submitted since and it is hoped that a new analysis will be done; (2) item 10388, regarding the leak to the public toilet, and reported that a new pipe has been laid. Councillor Houghton attended the site when the works were being carried out and considers it likely that the old pipes had been damaged by the roots of the trees which were removed in 2012.
10398 Matters Raised by Members of the Public for Future Consideration
Members of the public raised the following matters:
1. there are still some deep potholes in the village e.g. on Bottoms Lane. Members were asked if these could be raised again with Lancs. CC;
2. The black and white direction post at the top of Bottoms Lane [on Stankelt Road] is in need of re-painting. The resident has offered to paint the post if it can be taken down by Lancs. CC.;
3. A representative from Silverdale Youth Group commented that he felt that the Silverdale Institute consultation exercise was inadequate; Silverdale Youth Group have also carried out some consultation and found there to be a demand for tennis courts and an all-weather pitch/ junior pitch with goal posts; the Youth Group will continue to lobby for a skate park and would like the Parish Council’s support with the promotion of these facilities;
4. A member of the Silverdale Institute Committee advised that the survey had been sent to every household in the village and the results (to date) have been published; he asked the Council to continue to pursue all possible sites for a skate park, noting that the site at Lindeth Road (opposite Rock Villas) should be investigated further being a brownfield site.
10399 Update from the Community Police Officer
A written report from PC Marsh was read by the Chairman: (1) 42 incidents have been reported, of these one has been recorded as crime – a non-dwelling burglary on Moss Lane. The prompt action of the aggrieved led to the arrest of a suspect for the offence; (2) in relation to the PACT priorities the police have continued to monitor the parking situation in the village and have patrolled the village concerning anti-social behaviour; no incidents have been reported from the playground.
Members noted their disappointment regarding a joint / ‘PACT’ (Police and Communities Together) approach to priorities given the lack of police attendance at meetings.
10400 Report from County Councillor Alycia James
Councillor James was not present at the meeting and her report was not available.
Members asked that the Clerk raise the following with Lancs. CC:
1. the potholes and direction post mentioned under 10398 above; in addition it was noted that there are some very bad potholes in Warton which affect drivers coming into Silverdale;
2. the delay in implementing superfast broadband to the area (replying to the question posed rather than a referral to the website).
10401 Report from City Councillor Kath Graham
Councillor Graham advised that she had nothing to report.
10402 Reports on any Meetings Attended by Members or the Clerk
Councillor Houghton advised that he met with Mr Stefan Laws (Parish Contractor) on site to discuss the standard of repairs carried out to a bench on The Shore; Mr Laws has carried out further repairs since and the bench is now awaiting re-painting.
10403 Planning
(1) It was noted that the following planning application had been dealt with under the provisions of Standing Order 25a:
13/0067/TPO Birchwood Cottage, 22 Wallings Lane. Felling of two oak trees. NO PLANNING OBJECTIONS.
(2) The following planning application was considered and comments made as indicated: 13/00552/FUL 31 The Row. Erection of a single storey rear extension to replace the existing conservatory. NO PLANNING OBJECTIONS.
(3) It was noted that no decisions had been advised by Lancaster City Council.
10404 Urgent Action Taken in Accordance with Standing Order 25 (other than Planning)
25 (a) Parish Council Property and Functions
It was noted that the Clerk had asked Mr Laws to repair the seat on the shore and to strim around the benches, either side of the footpaths along the back of Lindeth Rd, next to Levensfield, the path in front of the houses on Church Row and the bottom end of Spring Bank from the smithy to the fire station; Mr Laws thinks that he can fit the strimming into his schedule.
25 (b) Non-Parish Council Property and Functions
None.
10405 Information and Computer Technology (ICT) Library Service
The Chairman reported on a proposal for a group of volunteers to provide workshops/ support to ICT users one evening a week in the Green Room of the Gaskell Hall (the library’s wi fi can be accessed here). It is thought that the room hire cost will be £10 a week. RESOLVED to pay for the hall hire over a 3 month pilot period (likely to start September/ October).
10406 Playground
Members discussed the purchase of hardwood chips for the aerial slide under section 19. The Clerk reported that the firm, Jenkinson’s, can supply hardwood chips for £16.80 a cubic metre – 15 cubic metres would cost £322 + VAT (including delivery). It was noted that Holgates have agreed that the hardwood chips can be delivered there (due to site access problems at the playground). RESOLVED that the Clerk: 1. check how much material was delivered when the bark was replenished last; 2. seek permission from Lancs. CC to order hardwood chips under the Local Members’ Grant Scheme; 3. liaise with Councillor Ribbons regarding a delivery date.
10407 Finance
(a) It was noted that no money had been received by the Council since the last meeting.
(b) RESOLVED to authorise payment and sign cheques for the following accounts:
Mr Paul Williams (toilet cleaning) £222.65 (835)
Mrs S. Hayward (salary and expenses) £395.87 (836)
Npower (toilet electricity) £119.84 (839)
Envirocare Maintenance Solutions Ltd. (contractor) £618.41 (840)
Mr Stefan Laws (Parish Contractor) £166.25 (841)
Hygiene Cleaning Supplies Ltd. (toilets) £95.58 (842)
Mrs D. Challenor (salary and expenses) £938.29 (843)
Post Office Ltd (tax for employees) £307.20 (844)
10408 Notice Board
It was noted that the new notice board (to be fitted in the playground) will be part lockable and part open. RESOLVED that the notice board be used to display the minutes of Silverdale Childrens’ Playground Charity meetings and ‘overflow’ documents (when there is insufficient space to display them on the Gaskell Hall notice board) and that keys should be held by the Clerk/ Deputy Clerk and the Chairman. It was noted that members of the public will be able to use the open part of the notice board to display community (non-commercial) notices.
10409 Exhibition of Photographs
RESOLVED to contribute up to £200 towards the cost of putting on an exhibition of photographs of the AONB area in the Gaskell Hall on the weekend of 19th/ 20th October (to coincide with the AONB/ Landscape Trust coffee morning). RESOLVED that the Chairman discuss the idea further with Ms Lucy Barron, AONB Manager (Arnside and Silverdale); it is hoped that the AONB might also contribute towards the costs involved.
10410 Seats
It was noted that Mr Laws has surveyed the seats in Silverdale – he found 42, 2 of which are in need re-painting, 2 need staining and one needs new slats and re-painting (Red Bridge Lane).
10411 Dog Waste Dispenser
RESOLVED that the Chairman make a dispenser to be fitted to the finger post on Emesgate Lane (by the footpath leading to Cove Road); Councillor Williams will keep the dispenser supplied with bags.
10412 Public Toilets
RESOLVED to authorise expenditure on 6 blue tiles and tile adhesive to make good the tiling to the public toilets; it was noted that 2-3 white tiles also need replacing and these will be supplied by Members. RESOLVED that Councillor Williams carry out the work.
10413 Correspondence
Receipt of the following items of correspondence was noted and any action determined as indicated:
a) LALC invitation to the Annual General Meeting at Preston at 1.45pm; notice of Employment Workshop and Community Engagement Workshop; newsletter June 2013;
b) invitation to Lune Valley Housing Association Annual General Meeting at Caton on 29/7/13;
c) a resident writes to complain about a neighbour having a bonfire and wonders if a suitable bylaw could be passed to restrict bonfires to after 6pm. RESOLVED not to pursue the introduction of a bylaw;
d) Mr Ben Hargreaves writes about surveying Bankwell and Woodwell for species of flowering plants. RESOLVED that this can go ahead;
e) AONB write to invite comments on their Review of the Management Plan – this will be available in local libraries;
f) Parish and Community News;
g) Local Government Boundary Commission provide plans of new area proposals. RESOLVED to make no comments;
h) LCR publication;
i) the Institute write to ask for financial help to buy 2 goal posts for the field at circa £500. RESOLVED that, subject to the Institute’s approval, this Council buy 2 junior sized, movable goal posts costing up to £150 on behalf of the Institute (this way the VAT can be claimed back);
j) documents sent to the Chairman regarding Facebook sites about “Keep the Royal” and “Get Silverdale a skate park” and his response;
k) copy of a letter from this Council’s Chairman (Councillor Bond) to the Institute Trustees regarding use of the Institute Field, the need for keeping the village involved and suggestion that this Council may be willing to assist;
l) response from the Institute Committee to Councillor Bond pointing out their concerns about the suggested formation of a youth group on their premises and the Institute’s financial restraint. A further emailed response from Councillor Bond;
m) results of the Institute’s village survey for field development.
10414 Items for Information
1. Councillor Houghton reported that: a) the Westmorland Gazette has commented on the signage warning of quicksand etc in the area and has launched a ‘Safety on the Sands’ campaign; b) the railings at the junction of Hollins lane and Slackwood are now completely covered with signs and the vegetation inside the railings is very overgrown and there is no sightline.
2. Councillor Mason advised that: a) there is vegetation growing out of the wall on Gaskell Close [belonging to The Royal] which is causing an obstruction; b) the grass on British Telecom’s land is very long.
3. The Chairman advised that if anyone would like to see a wider selection of books available in the library they should write to Library Services (the Librarian has no control over the selection available).
10415 Suggestions for Future Agenda Items
1. The new fence by the track to the RSPB hide at Quicksand Pool Bridge which restricts access for visitors with larger vehicles. (Councillor Houghton)
2. Parking problems during the Arnside and Silverdale Art Trail weekend/ introduction of a ‘park and ride’ scheme? (All)
3. The provision of a new notice board (with doors – due to notices being blown off) on the butcher’s wall. (Councillor Williams)
10416 Date of the Next Meeting
It was noted that the date of the next meeting is Monday, August 5th 2013. Items for the agenda, to reach the Clerk before Friday, 26th July and copies of reports to reach the Clerk before Monday, 29th July.
Sue D. Hayward, Deputy Clerk to the Council