Present:- Cllrs. G. Wilkinson, R.W. Allison, C. Baty, S. Burns, S. Hart, W. Jefferson, A.J. Markley, M. Snaith & E. Wannop. Also Ken Wannop, Wendy Jameson & PC Andy Robertson.

461 Apologies:- Cllrs. A. Proud & I. Baty

Cllr. Allison re: Allison Designs.

Cllr. Wannop re: Ken’s salary.

It was agreed to discuss items 26, 27 & 28 at the end of the meeting after the Press & Public have been excluded.

Mrs Sharla Burns wrote to the Council expressing an interest in the current vacancy. The vacancy had been advertised a few months ago but there had been no other interest. Sharla was welcomed on to the Council and signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

The Chairman had attended the following during July, August & September.

13 July - Carnival Committee meeting

15 July - Church service for the new team Rector Reverend Sharon Swain

19 July - The Launch of the Hadrian’s Cycleway

6 August - The Town Civic Service

6 August - Solway Food & Drink Festival in the Heritage Centre

17 August - Carnival Committee Meeting

28 August - Silloth Carnival Parade

3 September - Presentation of prizes at the Community Craft Show in the Social Club

7 September - Opened Age Concern Health and Wellbeing Day in the Community Hall

7 September - Official opening of the 2006 “Music and Beer Festival”

9 September - Official welcome to the pensioners of Silloth to the Pensioners Tea Party

16 September - WI & Brownies West Beach Litter Picking

18 September - Mrs Edith Pattinson’s 100^th Birthday Party in the Good Companions

18 September - New Sport’s Hall prospective users meeting in the Sport’s Hall

19 September - Public meeting with the Police in the Social Club

19 September - R.N.L.I. Launch of the training appeal “Train One Save Many”

29 September - Mrs Mary Shackley’s 100^th Birthday Party in the Good Companions.

The minutes of the meetings held on 3 July 2006 and 4 September 2006 were approved by the Town Council and signed by the Chairman as a true record.

PC Robertson provided a report on incidents of crime since the last meeting. Police Access Centre being held up by County Council with negotiations re: cost for Police to use the Fire Station. Police patrols have been stepped up for speeding etc. SID Scheme - volunteer needed to put the equipment out each day. Looking to join up with other local parishes. PC Robertson has made various enquiries into Mr Cooper’s complaints about his neighbours. The situation is being closely monitored by the Police. Appeal from Police HQ - neighbourhood Police project. Questionnaire to be completed by everyone present and returned by next meeting.

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

a) CALC - Events & Training Programme - Autumn - Winter 2006/07.

b) CALC Circular - September 2006.

c) Clerks & Councils Direct - September 2006.

d) Local Council Review - September 2006.

e) Childline North West - Update Autumn 2006.

f) Wigton News & Views - Issue 5 September.

g) CALC - AGM is on Saturday 4 November 2006 at 10.30 at the Castle Green Hotel, Kendal.

h) Cumbria Business Education Consortium - Questionnaire for completion.

i) Cumbria County Council - Delivery Report on Cumbria’s First Local Transport Plan 2000-2005.

j) Letter from Lieutenant JCR Rider introducing himself as the new Officer in Charge of Manchester & Salford Universities Royal Naval Unit and Commanding Officer of HMS Biter. Intend to bring some members of the unit up for the Remembrance Parade.

k) Allerdale Borough Council - re: Annual Playground Inspection. Letter asking if the Council wish to have the playground inspected and assessed by an independent inspector at a cost of £55 plus VAT per site. Clerk confirmed that an inspection would be required as a response was required by 30 September.

l) Email from Inspector Barr re: Mr Cooper of The Crofts. PC Robertson has been asked to re-examine the history to see if there is some substance to the complaints which can be brought to the attention of the “social landlord” who have an obligation to control their tenants and also if there is any substantive offences which the Police can pursue.

m) Solway Coast Neighbourhood Forum - next meeting to be held on 26 September 2006 at Holme St Cuthbert Village Hall at 6.45pm.

n) Letter of thanks from Silloth 8-14 Youth Club for the donation of £750 from the Council.

o) Silloth Carnival Committee - Letter of thanks for the Council’s help in making this years Carnival a great success.

p) Zurich Municipal - re: Claim by Mrs S. Mills. Case has been closed with no payments having been made. They consider that in light of the evidence available at the time of file closure no liability would attach.

q) Letter of thanks from Winifred Allan on behalf of the Edith Pattinson & family for the bouquet of flowers presented by the Mayor and Mayoress.

r) Solway Coast AONB - Letter of thanks for the breakfasts donated to the cyclists taking part in the launch of Hadrian’s Cycleway which took place from the Discovery Centre on July 19^th and also to the Mayor for cutting the tape.

s) Card of thanks from Mrs Graham, Longcummercattiff after she attended the pensioners tea at the Beer Festival.

t) Wigton Swimming Pool - Letter of thanks for the donation of £100.

u) Allerdale Borough Council - re: Boundary Wall next to Eden Street allotments, Silloth. Reply following correspondence sent to Mr Harker and then to Allerdale Borough Council. Many years ago there were plans for an amusement/leisure type park on Harvest Industrial Estate. It was questioned whether there were any plans for Housing on the site. There are concerns about the property on Waver Street. A letter has gone from the Social Club re: concerns by insurance company about debris standing up against the walls of the Social Club. There was a fire a couple of months ago.

v) Letter from Isobel Alderson asking what the Council are doing about the deliberate nuisance, harassment and damage on the Drying Green behind Roddan Terrace and Beaconsfield Terrace. Letter to be sent to Isobel Alderson informing her that this is a civil matter, as the land in question is private property and any complaints should be made to the Police.

w) Letter from Isobel Alderson asking for an explanation of Mrs Snaith’s comments made 4 years ago. Cllr. Snaith never made these remarks to her. The matter was fully investigated by Allerdale Borough Council and they found there was no foundation to the remarks. Letter to be sent to Isobel Alderson.

x) Environment Agency - The Derwent, West Cumbria and Duddon Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy (CAMS) - Consultation Document. Feedback to be received by 15 November 2006. Circulated round the Council for comment at the next meeting.

y) Allerdale Borough Council - re: Allerdale Local Development Framework: Core Strategy: Issues & Options Consultations. Responses required by Friday 27 October 2006. Individual responses to be sent in by Cllrs.

z) Cumbria Highways - re: Overnight HGV Parking on Lawn Terrace. Signs to prevent overnight parking by HGV’s require a Traffic Regulation Order. The Traffic Regulation Order for Wigton/Silloth/Aspatria area will be reviewed at the end of the current financial year and will include the request within that review. Any proposals for changes will be subject to public consultation and formal advertisement. Copy of Highways letter to be sent to resident of Lawn Terrace who raised the concern.

aa) Letter from Cllr. Proud raising various questions re: Citizenship Prize and donations given by the Council. The Council had initially agreed to a donation of £400 for the Citizenship Prize but retrospective permission was given for the £600 at the last meeting. The matter was democratically voted on at the last meeting. Letter to be sent to Cllr. Proud. The matters were dealt with by the Council at meetings that Cllr. Proud attended and were agreed by the majority.

470 Planning Applications

The Town Council have approved the following:-

* Change of use from fishmongers to a sandwich/ice cream shop at 4 Wampool Street, Silloth

* Single storey extension to 31 Waver Street, Silloth

Allerdale Borough Council have refused the following:-

* Listed building consent for installation of mock sash timber window frames to front elevation of 4 Marine Terrace, Criffel Street, Silloth

None

None

Primary School No meeting. Building work is ongoing in the middle of the school.

Joint Advisory Committee A good meeting had taken place last week. Building transfer was almost through. Nic Ashby has left and they are recruiting a replacement. Brian Irving is not doing 20% time with ABC but managing the AONB full time now. Graham to be a fully paid up member of Allerdale. Bill and JAC were congratulated for bringing things to pass and for AONB to be under local control.

Silloth Tourist Action Group Things are ongoing. Meeting taken place with Lancashire University re: brochure which should be out next March. Signed up with a contract with them. Website is being developed alongside Cumbria Tourist Board. Need a new Secretary. Morwen is filling in part time.

Silloth Regeneration Partnership Meeting took place but things are still in limbo. Victoria Nixon is leaving NAP. Need to spend £20K before March - maybe look to spend it on projects on the Green. Bill to speak with Liz Carlisle. Various questions were raised about projects at Aspatria at NAP meeting.

North Allerdale Partnership Victoria will be a sad loss. Margaret is joint Chair of Corporate Scrutiny. Waiting for evidence from Keswick and Aspatria partnerships. Scrutiny are investigating the matter. The view is that Allerdale have handled things badly. Cumbria County Council are taking over as accountable body status.

Silloth Health Matters Meeting on Friday. No issues outstanding. Received £2500 from the Allerdale Community Fund.

Sea Dyke Charity No meeting.

Longcake Education Trust Continue to meet and give out grants to local schools.

Allerdale - Fit for purpose is still ongoing. Questions are being asked by Corporate Scrutiny about how much is being spent on consultancies at Allerdale.

County Council - Neighbourhood Forum meeting took place at the Roukes. There have been complaints about a Hangar at Causewayhead being used to store plaster board. The Hangar has been used for industrial purposes for many years. B5301 consultation re: traffic impact assessment on traffic from the quarry. The road needs upgrading before the quarry comes into operation. There are up to 80 wagons on some days using the Aspatria road. Cllr. Markley declared an interest because he is on the DCR for Cumbria County Council. An application is in to move the quarry. There are concerns that the application would go ahead without upgrading the road structure. When the matter comes to the DCR it will be looked at.

General maintenance work has been done and grass cutting. Ken asked the Council for permission to trim back the Holly bushes on the Green which are overhanging. The Council agreed and left the matter for Ken to deal with. Will Stephenson, our new trainee is a good lad and has started attending Newton Rigg college.

Nothing to report.

The Town Council approved the list of cheque payments to 2 October 2006.

There have been comments from people asking why Silloth doesn’t get any money. It was suggested that the Council make representations to NWDA/Allerdale Regeneration following the report of a further £14 million for Workington/Maryport. The main reason is that Silloth is not in the right place on the map. There are some areas in Workington which are “real” areas of deprivation which is dependent on housing, unemployment, infant mortality etc. Could facilitate the regeneration of Silloth with pots of money that we are eligible for but money is not handled properly.

It was agreed that enquiries be made of Cumbria Highways/CAPITA into the possibility of obtaining a copy of the map showing the adopted highways and back lanes within the town, together with those of Home Housing and Derwent & Solway.

The Town Council considered whether to charge a bond to the organisers of events on the Green, to cover the cost of any damage caused, as a result of the event. It was suggested that some organisations may not be able to pay a bond and my not go ahead with an event as a result. There has been no real damage caused to the Green over the last few years. The item was withdrawn and no vote taken.

The Clerk had prepared an up-to-date financial report for the period 1 April 2006 to 30 September 2006 which was accepted by the Council.

The Town council considered requests for financial assistance received from the following:-

a) Citizens Advice Allerdale - The Community Law Bus visits Silloth on a regular basis which provides an adequate service for the town. It was agreed that no donation be given.

b) North West Air Ambulance - The Town Council already supports the local air ambulance and it was agreed that no donation be given.

It was agreed to wait to see the bigger picture regarding the regeneration for the Green, before considering replacing the fence around the Putting Green. There has been damage to the Putting Green which would also need to be rectified.

Ideas for items to be included in the Budget for 2007/08 to be given to the Clerk before the next meeting.

The Town Council considered the comments raised by the Auditor Commission following completion of the external audit for the year ended 31^st March 2006. Whilst a risk assessment has been produced this is not considered comprehensive and should be reviewed. Clerk has spoken to the Audit Commission and they have recommended Local Council Risk System (LCRS) Software by DMH Solutions Ltd. The Council agreed to purchase the software at a cost of £91.87 (incl VAT).

Allonby are in the middle of drawing up a plan for their grounds maintenance and will forward it to us when they’ve decided what they want done etc. There is also the possibility of looking for contracts at Mawbray and Abbeytown.

487 Review Clerk’s wages for 2006/07

There was insufficient time to deal with the matter and therefore an item to be put at the start of next month’s Agenda. Cllrs. Wilkinson and Jefferson to report back to the Council with a recommendation.

The Clerk had prepared a list of amounts outstanding. Nothing of any concern. Various bills for Grounds Maintenance work had been sent out on 30 September.