WINSCALES PARISH COUNCIL CLERK: Mrs H Blacklock, 2 Hall Garth, Gt Clifton, Workington, Cumbria CA14 1UN Notice is hereby given of the ORDINARY MEETING of Winscales Parish Council, to be held on Monday, 6 July 2015. The meeting will be held at Hunday Farm, Hunday at 5.00pm. AGENDA 1. Notice Convening the Meeting: To accept the Notice dated 25 June 2015 is taken as read 2. Minutes of Last Meeting: To accept/sign these as an accurate record All All 3. Tidal Lagoon West Cumbria: Presentation from Magnus Henderson, Senior Developer 4. Matters Arising from the Minutes: a. Co-option of Parish Councillor: Discuss current vacancy. All b. Your Energy/Cumbria Community Foundation: Update re footpath application. A Bode/Clerk c. Land Registry: Discuss progress. All d. Local Development Framework: Discuss any updates. All e. Lillyhall Landfill Site: Discuss any updates. All f. Lillyhall-Parton Bypass: Discuss any developments. All g. Flooding: Discuss any developments. All h. Bus Shelter, Branthwaite Road: Update re proposal. JBowe/Clerk i. Footpath, Branthwaite Road: Update re proposal. Clerk j. Local Audit, Accountability Framework,Transparency Code: Update re requirements. Clerk 5. Public Participation Session: Reserved for any members of the public attending, and who wish to address the meeting 6. Planning Notifications: Update of applications/decisions since last meeting All 7. Correspondence: Received/actioned since last meeting All 8. Financial Review/Accounts: Income/expenditure/payments to be authorised/ current balances/annual audit/hmrc All Hazel Blacklock (Clerk) 25 June 2015 Page 1 of 6
WINSCALES PARISH COUNCIL The ORDINARY MEETING of Winscales Parish Council was held at Hunday Farm, Hunday on Monday, 6 July 2015 commencing at 5.00pm. PRESENT: Messrs P Gilmore, J Palmer, Mrs A Renney, M Twiss and H Blacklock (Clerk) APOLOGIES: Messrs A Bode (Chairman) and J Bowe (Vice-Chairman) 1. NOTICE CONVENING THE MEETING Notice dated 25 June 2015, convening the meeting, was taken as read. 2. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING Minutes of the last meeting held on 17 May 2015 were approved as correct by all members present and were duly signed by Mr Gilmore. 3. TIDAL LAGOON WEST CUMBRIA Informative presentation from Magnus Henderson, Senior Developer who spoke of a 650m development pending in Swansea which will generate electricity for 100,000 homes, and of plans for a potential tidal lagoon in the West Cumbria Solway Firth, north of Workington. The scheme is far from the planning application stage, prior to which there will be full public consultation. Planning process explained in detail. An impact assessment would consider the use of roads to transport the required rock; it is highly likely this would be brought in by sea. There is currently a study being undertaken on birdlife, which will take two years to complete. A video demonstrated the design of the Swansea lagoon, and how it would operate in order to produce electricity from the tides. Such a development would bring economic, social and community benefits to the area, plus help prevent coastal erosion. The design life would be 120 years, take three years to construct, and the six potential lagoons would produce 8% of the UK s electricity; equivalent to ten nuclear reactors or 4500 wind turbines. Two-thirds of power is still generated by coal and gas with 17% nuclear. Questions asked throughout were adequately answered by Mr Henderson, who was sincerely thanked for his time by all those present. Clerk will also forward a thank you by e-mail. 4. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES: a. Co-option of Parish Councillor: One vacancy remains. b. Your Energy/Cumbria Community Foundation: 22 May: E-mail confirmation from Rob Muscat re submission of application. 26 May: E-mail request from CCF for sight of the accounting information for the last financial year. After communication with Annalee Holliday, Grants and Donor Services and Communications Officer, she has confirmed that sight of income and expenditure is requested for all grant applications. 30 May: Accounting information submitted to CCF via e-mail. 19 June: E-mail confirmation of the grant being approved and 12500 will be awarded shortly. 23 June: Further confirmation that funds will not be released until the final tender document is received which Rob Muscat is aware of. 24 June: Clerk queried this with Rob Muscat; A Bode will also liaise with CCF and Rob regarding the remainder of the funds. 25 June: Confirmation from Rob that the work is to be put out to tender and a legal order to close the path arranged during the works. These can take up to six weeks to process. c. Land Registry: Ongoing. d. Local Development Framework: No further updates. e. Lillyhall Landfill Site: No further updates. f. Lillyhall-Parton Bypass: No further updates. Page 2 of 6
g. Flooding: 15 June: Clerk spoke to staff member Lesley on the Highways Hotline (0845 609 6609) who stated she will look into this matter and update the Clerk via e-mail. 20 June: No response; Clerk has e-mailed Better Highways with the initial reference number from March 2014. 22 June: E-mail response; the person dealing with this is on leave for one week, upon his return a discussion will be held and an update forwarded. Action: Clerk to once again follow this up and contact Highways. h. Bus Shelter, Branthwaite Road: 23 May: E-mail to Lynn Singleton, Cumbria County Council, to inform her that an update on the potential usage of a bus shelter will be forwarded as soon as possible. Mr Bowe is liaising with the manager of the care home in this regard. i. Footpath, Branthwaite Road: 23 May: E-mail to Lynn Singleton requesting update on the possibility of the provision of a footpath along this entire stretch of road. 20 June: Request sent again. 2 July: Confirmation that Lynn has liaised with Highways and this has been marked as a potential future scheme; currently no identified funding and will be reviewed intermittently. Lynn will inform the local County Councillor of this issue. She leaves Cumbria CC soon new contact Hayley Bishop. Action: Proposed Mr Gilmore, seconded Mr Palmer that this item be removed from the agenda. j. Local Audit, Accountability Framework and Transparency Code: 17 June: Response to query of 2 April finally received from Allerdale BC directing the Clerk back to CALC to discuss publishing the required information via their website at a cost. 20 June: Clerk has forwarded the response to CALC and requested an update on the current position re publishing through them and the cost. 23 June: Confirmation from CALC that documents can be published for 1.50 each, billed annually. The agenda, minutes and reports can be combined into one document. Action: Proposed J Palmer, seconded P Gilmore that the Clerk proceed to publish the information via CALC. Clerk to forward the May and July meeting documentation for publication. 5. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION No members of the general public attended the meeting. 6. PLANNING NOTIFICATIONS Received/Actioned prior to Meeting 2/15/0296: Single wind turbine, maximum height to tip 45m Ken Wilson, Moorhouse Farm Access Road, to Moorhouse Farm, Winscales Refused: After circulation to members the consensus is that a refusal be lodged due to the fact that the area is becoming saturated with turbines (dated/rec d 19 May 2015 / replied 23 May 2015) Reconsultation: Amended rescheduled amenity assessment, photo montages, viewpoint maps Refused: After circulation to members the consensus is that a refusal again be lodged due to the fact that the area is becoming saturated with turbines (dated 19 June 2015 /rec d 23 June 2015 / replied 25 June 2015) Planning Decisions made at Meeting: None Decisions by Allerdale Borough Council 2/15/0266: Three illuminated signs and one direction sign, Lakes College approved 17 June despite parish council objections to one of the signs. Decisions by Cumbria County Council: None Development Panel: None Page 3 of 6
Miscellaneous Earthmill Ltd: Notification of a proposed wind turbine within the Distington parish boundary, an agricultural scale farm wind turbine, maximum height 36.6m, for a period of no more than 25 years after which it will be decommissioned and removed (land south of Gilgarran Road). Comments requested. Action: Proposed M Twiss, seconded A Renney that the Clerk submit objections due to the number of turbines already in the area. 7. CORRESPONDENCE ALLERDALE BOROUGH COUNCIL 27 May: Incoming e-mail confirming receipt of expenses and pecuniary interest forms. Canvassing Vacancies: Paid canvassers sought to chase up unreturned Register of Electors forms. Public Transport Cuts: Request for feedback on any recent bus service cuts impacting on people being able to get to Allerdale s town centres; in addition any areas where the cuts have been felt strongly and no viable alternative, such as community transport schemes, have been put in place. Action: Clerk to forward comments regarding recent bus cuts in Gt Clifton and the detrimental impact this is having on local residents travelling to Workington. CUMBRIA ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS Annual Subscription: Incoming e-mail dated 27 May 2015, confirming receipt of cheque for 106 regarding the annual subscription. Highways: Notification of a temporary road closure from 07.07.15 for two days U2185 Hunday Farm, to allow for electrical works. Local Government (Religious etc Observances) Act 2015: NALC briefing re this Act which came into force on 26 May 2015. The Act follows the highly publicised legal challenge to the saying of prayers as part of a formal council meeting. National Grid: Request for confirmation of interest in attending a briefing over summer regarding the North West Coast Connections project. Action: Clerk to confirm interest and to request details of the briefing once a date and venue known which will then be circulated to members. Warpit: A facility to claim or give away surplus resources (Waste Action Reuse Portal). Action: Clerk to look into this further and present at next meeting. Circular: June 2015 Co-option of New Councillors: Parishes not having the full number of councillors following the elections should inform the community of any vacancies and look to co-opt. Applications must be sent in writing to the Clerk and receive an absolute majority vote. Circular: July/August 2015 Action with Communities in Cumbria (ACT): New project to support those wishing to set up a Good Neighbour s Scheme Allerdale Meeting: 24 September 2015 at 7pm venue to be arranged CALC Website: Clerk requested details to enable access to the members section received. Chief Officer: David Claxton retires at the end of July; replacement Samantha Bagshaw. Clerk has thanked David for his assistance over the years and wished him all the best in his retirement. Cumbria Together: Website for those affected by crime. Green Grants: Up to 2500 available for tree planting, habitat restoration, wildlife protection etc. Neighbourhood Plans: Must be based on evidence and an understanding of the place they relate to. Page 4 of 6
Onshore Wind Turbines: New Government planning rules state that turbines can only be approved if clearly backed by local people in a Local or Neighbourhood Plan. Councils should only grant permission if the turbine is on a site deemed suitable for wind energy as part of a Local or National Plan, and, following consultation the planning impacts identified by affected local communities have been fully addressed and has their backing. Tidal Energy: North West Energy Squared Ltd (NWE); a tidal agency proposing tidal gateways across the six main estuaries in the north west, to include Solway Firth, Duddon Estuary and Morecambe Bay. These are hydro-electric power stations which would use the tides to produce electricity, to include roadways, protection against flooding and generate employment. Government bound by EU mandate to reduce greenhouse gases by 40% by 2030 and increase renewable energy by 27%, and this would contribute to achieving this. The company is offering to attend a future meeting. Mr Henderson has confirmed this is an entirely different scheme to that on which he presented. Action: Proposed M Twiss, seconded P Gilmore an invitation is extended to a future meeting. Transparency Code: The publication arrangement can be temporary until a website is established or long-term. A project manager has been appointed regarding the first tranche of Government funding. CUMBRIA COUNTY COUNCIL No correspondence. MISCELLANEOUS AON Insurance: 26 May: Reminder received for the renewal of the parish council insurance due on 1 June 2015 at a cost of 247.19. 27 May: Clerk contacted AON as initial renewal information not received. To prevent the policy lapsing Mrs Blacklock personally settled the amount of 247.19. Upon receipt of an e-mailed copy of the renewal it was noted that the insurance has now reverted back to single year cover following the end of the fixed term agreement. There is an option to renew again until 2018, and the Clerk has queried if the cost would be 247.19pa until that date. 9 June: Confirmation received that the premium will remain the same for three years unless there is a change to the policy which would result in an increased fee. Action: Proposed P Gilmore, seconded M Twiss that the policy be renewed for three years. Cheque number 000238 written to reimburse the 247.19 premium amount to the Clerk. Clerks and Councils Direct: July 2015 newsletter. Cumberland Building Society: Letter advising the building society is a member of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, and as such deposits of up to 85,000 can be reclaimed should it be unable to meet its financial obligations. Great North Air Ambulance: Letter expressing thanks for the 15 donation. Pensions Regulator: Request for contact for correspondence to be sent in order for the parish council to comply with the workplace pension scheme due to commence 1 May 2017. 23 May: Clerk submitted her contact details prior to 30 June 2015 deadline. E-mail of the same date to the Pensions Regulator queries the requirements to join a pension via the parish council. 15 June: Reply received to confirm that workers aged 22 to state pension age receiving over 833 per month ( 192 per week) must be automatically enrolled into a pension scheme; they can, however, opt out once enrolled. Anyone not meeting these criteria will not be automatically enrolled but will have the choice to become a member of a pension scheme if they wish. If no pension scheme is joined there is no legal requirement for the employer or individual to make contributions to a workplace pension scheme. All the above correspondence duly noted, the exception being where a specific action is stated. Page 5 of 6
8. FINANCIAL REVIEW/ACCOUNTS Transactions since the last meeting Income: None Expenditure: 01.06.15: Chq No 000237: CALC (Annual Subscription) 106.00 05.06.15: Chq No 000236: Great North Air Ambulance (Donation) 15.00 Cheques Written at Meeting: Chq No 000238: Mrs H Blacklock (Reimbursement of AON Insurance Premium) 247.19 Current Balances: Lloyds TSB Current Account 818.50 Cumberland Building Society Savings Account 3060.39 Total: 3878.89 Annual Return: Completed by internal auditor and submitted within the required timescale of 29 June 2015. HMRC: Real Time reporting continues to be processed by the Clerk in line with requirements. Cheque Signatories: To be actioned by A Bode and M Twiss. The meeting ended at 7.30pm Next meeting: September 2015 SIGNED:... DATED:... Page 6 of 6