Present:- Cllrs. G. Wilkinson, A.J. Markley, R.W. Allison, C. Baty, I. Baty, A. Emmerson, S. Hart, W. Jefferson, M. Snaith & A. Weightman. Also present Wendy Jameson & PC Yvonne Benson.

763 Apologies:- Cllr. E. Wannop & Ken Wannop.

Cllr. R.W. Allison re: Allison Designs.

Cllr. A.J. Markley re: County Council etc.

It was agreed to exclude the Press & Public whilst items 24 & 25 are discussed.

The Chairman had attended the following:-

6 September - Welcomed everyone to the 2007 Music & Beer Festival.

7 September - Judged the Garden competition on the residential sites at the Solway Holiday Village.

8 September - Welcomed everyone to the 2007 Pensioners Tea Party at the Music and Beer Festival.

14 September - Attended the AGM on the Solway Coast AONB at the Golf Hotel.

15 September - Attended the Brownies Litter Pick on West Beach.

27 September - Attended the Open Door Groups outing to Windermere.

29 September - Presented Medals and Trophies to the children taking part in It’s a Knockout.

30 September - Attended the Civic Service for the Mayor of Allerdale, Cllr. Ron Munby.

Minutes of the meeting held on 3 September 2007 were approved by the Town Council and signed as a true record.

Anne Nicholson had been invited to the meeting to talk to the Council about the new Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act 2005 but was unable to attend.

MOBEX were supposed to get in touch with Cllr. Hart but haven’t. Cllr. Hart has spoken to Pat Ackred about the Youth Club and has been approached by a couple of people interested in running it on a musical theme, with professional tutors providing supervision. It was asked whether the Town Council could provide somewhere for them to practice. No-one is keen to run the Youth Club now. Initial funding would be needed for equipment and tutors. County Council and Music Links are interested and keen to get involved. It was suggested that Cllr. Hart find out what it would cost and do a feasibility on what is needed. It was questioned whether the school would be a better place for it as they already have the facilities and equipment etc. The Youth Club building is not sound proofed etc. The school would be interested in extra curricula activities which would bring the school into the community. Aspatria youth club has a musical theme and has been particularly successful. Concert will be held at Solway Community school on 12 December with a Panto also coming up. It was questioned who owns the youth club building which is sited on Town Council land. Julia Cooper to ask youngsters what they would like to see the building used as and ask them to come up with ideas. Cllr. Hart to liase with Julia and the school to push the music idea forward.

A report was produced by PC Andy Robertson providing details of incidents of crime since the last meeting. PC Yvonne Benson attended the meeting. Police will be doing speed checks in the Crofts. The problem is more with motorists not being aware of children playing on the estate. There have been complaints about car parking around Winters and the Spar corners etc which is an accident waiting to happen. Also parking next to dropped kerbs. Police have been asked to educate motorists, rather than coming down too heavily.

There had been no requests from members of the public to raise any matters in the meeting.

a) Cumbria Police Authority - Annual Report 2007.

b) Cumbria County Playing Fields Association - Annual Report 2006-2007.

c) Local Council Review - September 2007.

d) Clerks & Councils Direct - September 2007.

e) CALC Circular - September 2007.

f) CALC - Training & Development - Events Programme Autumn ‘07 - Summer ‘08.

g) Highways Agency - Roadworks and journey planner leaflet for the Northwest of England.

h) Solway Coast AONB - Annual Review 2006-2007.

i) VAC - New guidance for Communities and Service Providers in managing a change or a loss of a Rural Service.

j) University of Manchester - Survey of Stakeholder involvement in the North West Regional Spatial Strategy.

k) Cumbria Police Authority - Information and poster about the Independent Custody Visiting Scheme.

l) Cumbria County Council - Information and poster about Community Minibus Brokerages.

m) Allerdale Borough Council - Allerdale can arrange for an independent annual inspection of our playground at a cost of £56. Reply sent to request that an inspection be carried out.

n) Sports Development Week - 25-27 September 2007 NEC Birmingham. Information about the workshops etc.

o) Allerdale Borough Council - re: Adopted Statement of Community Involvement (SCI). Copy of the SCI which was formally adopted by Allerdale on 15 August 2007.

p) Silloth Festivals Ltd - Request for permission to hold the ‘It’s a Knockout Competition’ on the Green on 29/30 September 2007. Permission granted but letter sent asking that more notice be given in the future and asking for a copy of the Public Liability insurance prior to the event.

q) Allerdale Borough Council - re: Repair to Sea Gate Latches. Copy of the reply from Allerdale to Skinburness Residents Assoc to say that any necessary maintenance and remedial work will be carried out by Allerdale Borough Council.

r) CALC - Allerdale District. Agenda for meeting to be held on 27 September 2007 at Allerdale House, Workington at 7.00pm and copy of minutes from meeting held on 21 June 2007.

s) Email from Campbell Fulton of Cumbrian Co-op. Grass will be cut at the side of the Co- op every fortnight during the growing season, with litter to be collected on a daily basis.

t) Allerdale Borough Council - re: Licensing Act 2003 - Review of Statement of Licensing Policy. Responses to be made by 10 October 2007. Cllr. Snaith has been Chairing a subgroup of Scrutiny who have been looking at the Review of Statement of Licensing Policy. Trying to make it so that staff have some responsibility as far as licensing is concerned rather than it being solely the responsibility of the licensee. The report was noted by the Town Council.

u) Allerdale Borough Council - re: Cumbrian Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment. Information requested on any reports of caravans and sites etc. Gypsies annually visit the surrounding area at Mawbray banks. Allerdale have a policy on gypsies but there are no gypsy sites. There is a system in place whereby they can be moved on and notice given etc. Reply to be sent.

v) Causewayhead WI - re: Litter bins. Letter asking why there are no litter bins in the vicinity of the school and the Discovery Centre. It was agreed that there is a need for additional litter bins. Clerk to look at cost of providing 2 bins up to a cost of £500.

w) Solway Community Technology College - re: Prize Day - 8 November 2007 at 7.00pm. Invitation to the Annual Prize Day and continued support. It was asked whether the Town Council would be willing to continue to support the citizenship prize. This year will be a team prize on an environmental theme. Julia Cooper to speak to Cllr. Snaith with more details. It was agreed to provide a donation of £25 (as in previous years) towards the Prize Day. Cllrs. Wilkinson and Markley will be attending.

x) Royal Air Force Presentation Team - Invitation to a presentation on the Royal Air Force of today at Hunday Manor Country House Hotel, Hunday, Workington on 14 November or Low Wood Hotel, Windermere on 15 November. Cllr. Wilkinson will attend the presentation on behalf of the Town Council.

y) North Allerdale SIDS Partnership - SIDS Review form for completion. The scheme is doing very well and there has been a lot of positive comments. The device is usually in the town approx. every 10 weeks. Form to be completed and returned.

z) Allerdale Borough Council - re: Recycling Centre and Public conveniences. Reply from Mr Ernie Davidson following complaints received. Site meeting still to be arranged with Mr Davidson.

Allerdale Borough Council have approved the following:-

* Ref No: 2/2007/0705 Proposal: Single storey extension Location: 10 Esk Street, Silloth Applicant: Mr I. Jackson.

* Ref No: 2/2007/0685 Proposal: Reserved matters application to 2/2005/0343 for erection of 2 dwellings Location: Land adjacent to Blitterlees Farm, Blitterlees, Silloth Applicant: Mr J. Mason.

* Ref No: 2/2007/0701 Proposal: Detached dwelling (resubmission to 2/2006/0989) Location: Land adjacent to 55 Moricambe Park, Skinburness Applicant: Mr K. Warwick, Cavalcade Developments.

* Ref No: 2/2007/0759 Proposal: Replace existing timber extension with block built extension and reroof part of existing building (resubmission to 2/2007/0476) Location: Moordale Caravan Park, Blitterlees, Silloth Applicant: Malcolm Ruckledge.

None

a) Play Equipment Committee meeting held on 28 September 2007. The Town Council agreed to the various recommendations made by the play equipment committee which included the following:-

* Wooden latts to be put on the inside of the sandpit, to prevent there being a finger trap hazard.

* Price to be obtained from Jimmy Johnstone for a new metal gate to replace the broken one at the bottom.

* Prices had been obtained from Jimmy Johnstone for a Viking ship and a train with a view to replacing the fort which was going to be costly to repair and refurbish. Comparable prices had been obtained from two additional suppliers of play equipment. Prices ranged from £3270 up to £13868. It was agreed that Jimmy Johnstone should be asked to supply a train at a cost of £4200 to replace the rocking horse and climbing frame and also a Viking ship at a cost of £5490 to replace the fort. The prices from Jimmy Johnstone were the best in terms of value for money and he is also a local tradesman.

* Price to be obtained to replace the chains on the swings with tempered steel bars and stoppers to prevent kids from knotting them up.

b) Dates for the following meetings:-

i) Sports Clubs - prior to next Town Council meeting.

ii) Allotment committee - following week.

Primary School Tarmacing has been done and building of the childcare centre is underway. Junior school had a team in the ‘It’s a Knockout’.

Joint Advisory Committee AGM at the Golf Hotel has received a lot of favourable comments. The Annual Review is worth reading. A lot of good work is being done for Silloth by the Solway Coast AONB.

Silloth Tourist Action Group Final draft of brochure now been done which should be out in January with a print run of 50,000 which will be distributed around TIC’s, motorway services etc. The website will feature businesses etc. Letter to be sent to STAG from the Town Council and to Silloth Festivals Ltd to praise the work that has been done this year by both organisations.

Silloth Regeneration Partnership Grant has been confirmed for the consultants work for £50K + £20K from NWDA. Consultants will be preparing plans for the Green to take it to stage 1 for the big bid. Only 6 months to produce what is needed for the bid. Monday 5 November, Liz Carlisle will be coming to speak to District and County Councillors and will also attend the Town Council meeting in the evening to explain the process to the Town Council. The grant is a good indication that the bid will be looked on favourably. Agenda for next meeting to be kept short. Land to the south of the Lifeboat station - £40K was put in by NAP and match funded by ABC. Draft plan put together to improve the road, remove some of the bushes, provide picnic benches and drainage etc. When the costs come in it come to less than £80K but the work didn’t include the area of land used by Raynor Fletcher. Looking to speak to ABP to replace the fence at the entrance to the Dock. Christmas Lights - price to come in from United Utilities. Cllr. Allison has spoken to David English who worked for united Utilities. The feeder pillars can be sited off the lamp posts rather than next to residential properties. Town Council would buy the feeder pillars and would need an electrician to fit them. They can run on 240 volts. Volunteers would be needed to put the lights up before Christmas.

North Allerdale Partnership No report.

Sea Dyke Charity No report.

Silloth Health Matters Health Matters group were happy to pay the £500 from the SOS Charity shop to Silloth Festivals Ltd for the pensioners tea party. Not spending anything at the moment but will be looking at projects to do with health.

Longcake Education Trust Jim Snaith will be attending the next meeting.

Solway Community Technology College No report.

Allerdale - Cllr. Snaith is no longer on the Alliance and not on any committees. There is an uneasy feeling at Allerdale. No-one is listening. Democracy at Allerdale is dead.

County Council - Executive cabinet has been reduced from 10 to 8 members. Cllr. Markley has been appointed as Head of Economic Regeneration for Cumbria. Appointed with Jim Buchanon. Local voice will be heard although things will take time to happen.

No report.

Nothing to report.

The Town Council approved the list of cheque payments to 1 October 2007.

A request has been received for a memorial seat to be sited next to the tennis courts on Skinburness Road, Silloth. This was agreed by the Town Council. The seat has been bought by the family, with Ken to make a concrete base and fix the seat in place.

The flail and trailer are now surplus to requirements and it was proposed that these be traded in for a cutter bar to cut hedges. Alternatively, to look at obtaining an additional container to store the equipment. Also looking to buy a fertiliser spinner. Figures etc to be obtained for consideration at the next meeting.

The Clerk had produced an up-to-date financial report for the period 1 April 2007 to 30 September 2007 which was accepted by the Town Council.

The Town Council considered the request for a contribution of approx. £7,000 towards the cost of signage which will bring tourists and visitors from the M6 corridor to Silloth and the AONB via Carlisle and Wigton. Feasibility study = £15,000 100% from NWDA/NAP. Implementation = £27,000. NWDA/NAP contribution of £15,000, Solway Coast AONB contribution £5000 & £7000 from Silloth Town Council. The Town Council agreed in principle to provide support, with provision to be made in the 2008/09 Budget.

Provision of Brown signs.

Town Council needs to be looking to put money in the budget over a 3 year period towards the Green Project. Liz Carlisle will be able to give us an idea of the amount of money needed.

Youth provision.

In view of the nature of the business to be transacted it is advisable in the public interest that the public be temporarily excluded and they are instructed to withdraw.

Local Government pay negotiations have still not been finalised. Once details have been settled the Town Council will review it’s staff salaries. The grounds maintenance trainee has been working with the Council since July 2006 and has successfully completed his first year at Newton Rigg. It was agreed to increase his hourly rate to £6 per hour to acknowledge this.

787 Amounts owing to the Town Council.

Nothing of any concern.