Silverdale Parish Council

5th January 2015
10852 Un-confirmed Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Silverdale Parish Council held in the Silverdale Institute on Monday, 5th January 2015.
10853 Present: Chairman – T.G. (Terry) Bond, Councillors H.M.E. (Harriet) Bradfield, A.J. (Tony) Houghton, S.L. (Shirley) Mason, K. (Keith) Palmer, N. (Nigel) Ribbons and A. (Angela) Woods, the Clerk – L.D. (Denise) Challenor, the Deputy Clerk – S.D. (Sue) Hayward and 6 members of the public.
10854 Apologies for Absence: Councillor P.N. (Paul) Williams and City Councillor Kath Graham.
10855 Receipt of Declarations of Members’ Interests Relating to any Items Appearing on the Agenda
None.
10856 Minutes of the Previous Meeting
The minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on Monday, 1st December were approved then signed by the Chairman.
10857 Receipt of Information about Matters Arising from the Minutes of Previous Meetings, not Covered by the Agenda
Members referred to: (1) item 10798, regarding graffiti at the railway station and advised that the graffiti is on the signs (there is no signal box); (2) item 10834, regarding community assets, and noted that the matter is still with Lancaster City Council (Lancaster CC).
The Chairman referred to item 10843, regarding the Christmas tree in the playing field, and asked the Clerk to write to Mr and Mrs Wright thanking them for providing the electricity for the lights.
10858 Matters Raised by Members of the Public for Future Consideration
1. Agenda item 11 (a) (planning) does not list any comments although it states: “comments made as indicated”.
2. The closure of Stankelt Road for one day before Christmas which affected the bus route.
3. Flooding on the pavement on Cove Road due to a blocked drain on New Year’s Day.
4. A request that the parish council contact Lancaster CC regarding the lack of progress on The Royal.
5. The ceramic panel is now in place on the Gaskell Hall (an information board is also to be installed); the parish council were thanked for their help with this.
6. A hump in the road on Bottoms Lane (probably due to tree roots) which is worsening and causing an obstruction has been reported to Highways.
10859 Update from the Community Police Officer
There was no police representative and their report was not available.
10860 Report from County Councillor Alycia James
Councillor James was not present at the meeting and her report was not available.
10861 Report from City Councillor Kath Graham
Councillor Graham was not present at the meeting and her report was not available.

10862 Reports on any Meetings Attended by Members or the Clerk
The Chairman and Councillor Houghton reported on a meeting held on 8th December regarding trespassing in the grounds of Cove House and Leeds Children’s Holiday Centre. Representatives from Cove House, Leeds Holiday Centre and the National Trust attended. Holgates have since been contacted and will include information in their brochure about the difficulties of walking on the shore close to the caravan park. The Chairman and Councillor Houghton are looking at signage in the area and how danger might be conveyed.
10863 Correspondence
Receipt of the following items of correspondence was noted and any action determined as indicated:
a) Harlequin invite comments on the proposed installation of a 20m High Lattice Tower Mobile Phone Base at Hagg Wood, Peasland, Bottoms Lane. It was noted that Councillor Houghton has spoken with Harlequin who now agree that the location is not appropriate; he suggested a number of other possible locations and structures (as an alternative to a ‘lattice tower’). Harlequin will re-visit the area to find an alternative site and update Councillor Houghton;
b) SLCC advise of National Salary Awards 2014-16;
c) LALC invite Councils to nominate the Chairman to go into a draw to be invited to Buckingham Palace in 2015. It was noted that the Chairman’s name will be put forward;
d) South Lakeland Development Strategy and Housing Manager calls for development site suggestions including sites within Lancaster district. RESOLVED that the suggestions sent previously be re-submitted;
e) Three Tier Forum – Information about speed restrictions and other highway matters.
f) the Very Revd. Christopher Armstrong invites the Chairperson and spouse to Blackburn Cathedral on 1/2/15 at 6.30pm for a Carol service. It was noted that the Chairman will not be attending;
g) a resident writes about the northern border of the playing field being infested with self-seeded Sycamores. RESOLVED that the Chairman inspect the area;
h) FLAG publication;
i) LCR publication;
j) Air Ambulance bulletin;
k) LALC notify of a training workshop on Chairmanship and send their Annual Report;
l) Lancaster CC write to inform that they have adopted the Development Management Plan Document and Morecambe Area Action Plan;
m) an invitation to the AONB conference on 28/1/15. Booking necessary. It was noted that Councillor Palmer has offered to help with parking before the conference, but is unable to attend the conference itself;
n) an invitation to hear the Budget Proposals for 2015/16 at Morecambe Town Hall on 27th January at 6pm. It was noted that no one will be attending.
10864 Planning
(1) It was noted that the following planning applications had been dealt with under the provisions of Standing Order 25a and comments made as indicated:
14/00875/FUL Myers Farm, Storrs Lane. Extension to a bund around field edge by 500m and existing 950m bund to be raised by 0.5m with earth to be sourced from borrow ditch adjacent to bund. NO PLANNING OBJECTIONS;
14/01296/FUL 12 Cove Drive. Erection of a single storey extension to the side. NO PLANNING OBJECTIONS;
14/01269/LB 17 The Row. Listed building application for the replacement of a door with a window to the rear elevation and one replacement window. NO PLANNING OBJECTIONS;
14/00815/FUL The Royal Hotel. Change of use of hotel (C1) to 2 dwelling houses (C3) and mixed use public house/cafe (A3/A4) with associated landscaping, parking and new access. The Council noted that: it is pleased to see provision for disabled access made more prominent; the outside seating area will have a low wall to delineate boundary and, given that the building is a heritage asset, the impact of this needs to be looked at very carefully; the comments made at the initial stage still stand.
(2) It was noted that the following decisions had been advised by Lancaster CC:
Tree Preservation Order No 534 (2014) – confirmed.
10865 Urgent Action Taken in accordance with Standing order 25 (other than Planning)
25(a) Parish Council Property and Functions
1. It was noted that the rotten seat on the shore was beyond repair and has been removed by Mr Stefan Laws. Members asked that the commemorative plaque be kept in case the family who donated the bench request it.
25(b) Non-Parish Council Property and Functions
2. It was noted that Mr Laws has cleared the overgrowth at Stankelt Road within his normal workload and that it may be possible to recover the cost of the time spent doing this from Highways.
10866 Public Toilets
a) It was noted that no one has tendered for the painting and repair of the toilets. RESOLVED to re-advertise on the 2 parish council notice boards and website and to submit a piece to the parish magazine and Silverdale e-newsletter.
b) RESOLVED to advertise the tender document for the toilet cleaner’s post.
10867 Kermesse Cycle Race
Mr Graham Orr and Mr Tim Stothert, Silverdale residents, spoke about the proposed Kermesse Cycle race. They suggest a full road closure and explained that there are very few closed road races in Britain – a Kermesse is seen as an exciting opportunity for Silverdale. It is proposed that the race takes place on 26th July from 1-3pm (being a time when there is no shuttle bus) to coincide with the last day of the Tour de France. The route (4.6km) would have to be vetted by British Cycling, but it is proposed that it would start and finish by the Gaskell Hall taking the form of 15 laps along Emesgate Lane, Stankelt Road, Slackwood Lane, Red Bridge Lane and Park Lane. The organizers would look into hiring minibuses to ferry visitors to and from the station and at ways of involving villagers in a cycle event on the same day. A budget of around £4,500 is thought to be necessary to run the event including the employment of a National Escort Group (motor bike outriders); sponsorship is one way of raising funds.
Mr Orr explained that when an application to Lancashire County Council for road closure is made, provision for emergencies is a part of the application process.
Members pointed out that many caravans are on the road on Sunday afternoons in the summer and that the organizers will need to liaise with Holgates.
Mr Stothert promised to circulate a video to Members to give more insight as to what would be involved.
Members RESOLVED to support Mr Orr and Mr Stothert looking further into the possibility of a Kermesse.
10868 Annual Parish Meeting (Annual Assembly)
RESOLVED to invite County Councillor James, City Councillor Graham, Library Services, the police and fire services to give a report at the Annual Assembly. It was noted that Councillor Houghton will give the Clerk the contact details for Fire Services.
10869 Procedure for Emergencies
The Clerk read out Standing Order 25 which covers the procedures for dealing with urgent matters between ordinary meetings of the Council. Members noted that it would be useful to have barrier tape on hand in the event of needing to cordon off unsafe Council property pending repairs being carried out. RESOLVED that: (1) tape be purchased and stored in a cupboard in the public toilets to which Councillor Williams and the butcher have a key; (2) to have 2 more keys cut to be kept with the Clerk and the Chairman.
10870 Benches
It was noted that Members were pleased to receive Mr Law’s report on the condition of the Council’s benches. RESOLVED to remind Mr Law that all benches must be kept in a safe condition; those in poor condition should be dealt with urgently and attention should be given to the other benches as soon as possible. If there is not time to do additional work as requested by the Clerk he should say so.
10871 Finance
(a) Councillor Woods conducted the monthly check of all money received by the Council and found the records to be satisfactory. It was noted that there had been the following receipt: £94.96 – Wayleaves (Electricity North West (rent for having electricity pylons on Council land)).
(b) RESOLVED to authorize payment and sign cheques for the following accounts:
Mr P. Williams (toilet cleaning, sundries and payment) £243.32 (1019)
Mrs L.D. Challenor (salary, expenses and bonus) £1083.04 (1020)
Mrs S. Hayward (salary, expenses and bonus) £363.12 (1021)
Mr Stefan Laws (contractor) £166.25 (1022)
Post Office (PAYE (Mrs Challenor) £236.66 (1023)
Lancaster CC (AONB clearance Bank Well and Woodwell) £312.00 (1024)
Envirocare (contractor) £312.00 (1025)
(c) RESOLVED that the Chairman signed the precept request of £22,298.00 for 2015/16.

10872 Items for Information
1. Councillor Ribbons advised that Broadband for Yealand, Silverdale and Storth (BAYS) are holding a meeting in Borwick Village Hall on 18th January at 2pm at which samples of the broadband equipment will be exhibited. Digging, in readiness for the laying of the high-speed fibre optic, will commence in the next week or so.
2. Councillor Houghton referred to the closure of Stankelt Road by United Utilities due to a burst water main and pointed out that residents should be given warning before cutting off their water supply.
10873 Suggestions for Future Agenda Items
1. A review of the Christmas trees and lights on Emesgate Lane. (All)
10874 Date of Next Meeting
It was noted that the date of the next meeting is Monday, 2nd February 2015. Items for the agenda to reach the Clerk before Friday, 23rd January and copies of reports to reach the Clerk before Monday, 26th January.
Sue D. Hayward, Deputy Clerk to the Council