Present:- Cllrs. G. Wilkinson, A.J. Markley, R.W. Allison, C. Baty, A. Emmerson, W. Jefferson & D. Wilson. Also present Wendy Jameson (Town Clerk), Ken Wannop & PC Andy Robertson.

886 Apologies:- Cllr. I. Baty, M. Snaith, I. Baty, S. Hart & E. Wannop.

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

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

It was agreed to exclude the Press & Public whilst item 19 is discussed.

The Chairman attended the Allerdale civic dinner.

HMS Biter will be visiting Silloth on 15 March and open to the public on 16 March.

Minutes of the meeting held on 4 February 2008 were approved by the Town Council and signed by the Chairman as a true record.

PC Andy Robertson provided a report of incidents of crime since the last meeting. He apologised for not being able to attend the last couple of meetings. There has been criminal damage to the bus shelter on Petteril Street in the form of graffiti. The problem with the travellers at Beckfoot is in hand. The area is going to be fenced off and no caravans will be allowed in the future.

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

a) Watchtree News - January 2008.

b) Cumbria County Council - Procurement news - Issue five - Spring 2008.

c) Enjoy England - Celebrate St George’s Day - 23 April 2008.

d) Dearham Parish Council - Letter asking for support in opposing the Fleeter Wood wind farm development between Tallentire and Dearham.

e) Associated British Ports - re: Marshall Dock fencing and West Beach access. Copies of previous correspondence between ABP and Allerdale Borough Council. Unable to find a copy of any formal ‘Agreement’ regarding the matter.

f) Audit Commission - re: appointment of external auditor. BDO Stoy Hayward has been appointed as auditor to Silloth Town Council for a 5 year period, commencing with the 2007/08 accounts.

g) Cumbria County Council - re: Salt request. Email from John Robinson to say that Peter Marr will be arranging for a load of road salt to be delivered to the yard.

h) Cumbria County Council - re: Salt request. John Robinson, Highway Network Manager has been in touch and arranged for the salt to be delivered.

i) Cumbria Highways - re: Sunken Manhole Cover. Highway Inspector will investigate the situation on Skinburness Road and if found to be 4-6 inches low will be quickly repaired.

j) Allerdale Borough Council - Email from Ernie Davidson. Windblown litter will be removed from the area to the rear of the recycling centre as soon as possible. Any items dumped at the recycling centre will be removed as efficiently as possible.

k) The North West Plan - Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS). Final version of the plan is expected in July 2008. Some key issues were identified as needing further attention and a Partial Review will be taking place.

l) Allerdale Borough Council - re: Cumbria Wind Energy Supplementary Planning Document. The document was adopted by Allerdale on 23 January 2008 and can be found on their website www.allerdale.gov.uk

m) Allerdale Borough Council - re: Overnight Parking. Increased patrols in the area to dissuade vehicles which park in contravention of an applicable order. With regard to overnight parking in the Car Parks, Allerdale are presently updating the Car Park Order and will reassess any requirements they has to enable greater enforcement of these areas. Car park signage will be updated to take account of any changes.

n) Allerdale Borough Council - Agenda for Joint Meeting with Borough Council to be held on 26 February 2008 in Allerdale House, Workington at 7.00pm.

o) Solway Coast Neighbourhood Forum - Meeting on 10 March 2008 at Solway Community College at 7.00pm.

p) Cumbria County Council - re: Playing Fields, Silloth - Proposed purchase. Any transfer of assets will be subject to Cabinet/County Council approval. Ordinarily obliged to secure best consideration for the sale of land and property. Need to commission CAPITA to liase with us. Seek confirmation that the Council are prepared to bear the County’s reasonable costs should the transaction not be completed. The Town Council need to look at the terms of the existing lease and will then get back in touch with the County Council. Item to be included on the next agenda.

q) Silloth AFC - Letter regarding the state of disrepair of the fencing around the senior pitch and the dangerous state of the dug outs. Also request for financial assistance. The football club put the fencing up and also built the dug outs and they are therefore the clubs responsibility. Awaiting further information before the application for financial assistance can be considered.

r) Silloth Vintage Rally Ltd - Letter expressing concern about the out of use toilet block on the Happy Valley car park in the Pines. Cllr. Allison declared an interest. Cllr. Wilson has spoken to John Graham. Roots have been coming through the drains etc which has caused a problem. Allerdale are researching the costs and will come back to us in weeks.

s) Allerdale Borough Council - re: Consultation on the draft public art in major new developments supplementary planning document. Comments to be submitted by 7 April 2008. Noted by the Council.

The Town Council have approved the following:-

Ref No: 2/2007/0831 Applicant: Mr L. Gibson D & D Premier Homes Ltd Proposal: Revised application to ref: 2/2007/0621 for erection of a terrace of 5 x 3 bed roomed houses Location: Land to rear of 72 Skinburness Road, Silloth.

Ref No: 2/2007/0055 Applicant: Mr I Gosling Proposal: Erection of 6 dwelling houses Location: West Silloth Chippy, Greenrow, Silloth.

Ref No: 2/2008/0125 Applicant: Mr K Kilmour Proposal: Conversion of existing public house to 2 flats Location: The Huntsman Inn, Eden Street, Silloth

Ref No: 2/2008/0129 Applicant: Mr & Mrs Cavaghan Proposal: Erection of conservatory Location: 231 Skinburness Road, Skinburness

Ref No: 2/2008/0133 Applicant: Mr & Mrs Tremble Proposal: Demolition of existing garage and single storey outhouses and the erection of a two storey extension and detached garage (resubmission to 2/2007/1135) Location: 122 Skinburness Road, Silloth

Ref No: 2/2008/0114 Applicant: Mr S Gray Proposal: Demolition of existing dwelling and erection of new dwelling and detached garage Location: The Lees, Blitterlees, Silloth

Allerdale Borough Council have approved the following:-

Ref No: 2/2007/1219 Applicant: Mr & Mrs Tunstall Proposal: Proposed conservatory to rear Location: Moonstone House, Blitterlees, Silloth.

Ref No: 2/2007/1288 Applicant: Allerdale Borough Council Proposal: Extend existing car parking area by 11 parking bays, erect bollards and access gate to fair ground Location: Car park at The Promenade, Lawn Terrace, Silloth

Ref No: 2/2007/0831 Applicant: Mr L Gibson D & D Premier Homes Ltd Proposal: Revised application to ref 2/2007/0621 for erection of a terrace of 5 x 3 bed roomed houses Location: Land to the rear of 72 Skinburness Road, Silloth

Allerdale Borough Council have refused the following:-

Ref No: 2/2007/1261 Applicant: Mr John Maxwell Proposal: Construction of a domestic garage Location: 100 The Crofts, Silloth

None.

None

Primary School Everything up and running. Choir singing at the Sunset on 12/13 March at 6.00pm. Various schools will be attending, with Jonathan conducting the performance.

Joint Advisory Committee A meeting took place on Friday. Brian has been off sick but has come back 3 weeks early. Refurbishment going on in the Discovery Centre which is costing approx £80K. Entrance has been altered to provide improved access for the disabled. AONB is funded 75% from Natural England and other bodies. Allerdale asked for 10% i.e. £16,000 paid for the service of being the accountable body. The forms etc are now completed by the AONB and only need inked in at Allerdale but they are running 6 weeks behind. There are problems at Allerdale at the moment in relation to finance.

Silloth Tourist Action Group Cllr. Hart sent his apologies but provided a report for the meeting. Website and leaflets will be out at Easter. Permission requested for the Kite Festival in July 08 which was agreed by the Council. Gala, sports & music day for kids and adults planned for August Bank Holiday Sunday.

Silloth Regeneration Partnership Report later when Liz Carlisle joins the meeting.

North Allerdale Partnership Report later.

Sea Dyke Charity No meeting.

Silloth Health Matters No report.

Longcake Education Trust No report.

Solway Community Technology College No report.

Allerdale - Causewayhead Cemetery - looking to repair the bridge and create a car park at the back of the cemetery.

County Council - Road at Calvo is being refurbished in the Spring. Also various potholes being repaired around the County. Asked for illuminated signs at Netherhall corner and Silloth to warn motorists when Dubmill is closed. Mobex have got a girls group going in Silloth. The Regeneration Partnership are hoping that the County Council will be the accountable body for the Green project. Zebra crossing at the Crofts will be put in at end of March/April 2008.

Nothing to report. Two trees have fallen down.

Annual town meeting will be taking place in May and therefore reports will be required for the Town Report.

The Town Council approved the list of cheque payments to 3 March 2008.

The Town Council agreed to support Cllr. Wannop’s proposal for the top of Esk Street to be made one way to traffic. Letter to be sent to Claire Bradshaw for the attention of the Allerdale Local Committee and also to Andrew Butler at Cumbria Highways.

The Town Council considered the request by Raynor Fletcher to temporarily site the fair on the Green whilst the landscaping scheme is being carried out on his present site and on the land between the Lifeboat Station and the Harbour, so as to allow the work to be carried out without hindrance and to allow it to settle. Work it to commence on the site tomorrow and work will not be finished until mid April. The car parks were considered as an alternative site. It was suggested that part of the car park at North View could be used with some of the rides etc put on part of the Green. Allerdale would need to be approached to ask whether they have a problem with it and then produce a drawing of where it is proposed to site the funfair. Council need to agree as to whether they agree in principle to fair using part of North View car park. Cllr. Allison to find out whether it will be possible to use any of the land down by the Lifeboat Station/Docks and whether permission can be granted to use the car parks. Cllr. Allison to get in touch with Tom Timney and John Windsor at Allerdale and get them down there on site to discuss the options. A special meeting of the Council will be held if necessary.

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.

Amount still outstanding from Allerdale Borough Council for the first 6 months grounds maintenance of the Green.

Cllr. Allison is concerned that the plan will be put together but that the people of Silloth will not have seen the plans. Normally get 12-18 months after the PPG to get a plan together. End of March and end of September are the deadlines for the Parks for People submissions. NAP needs money spent by end of March. Consultants have been working like mad to get things done by the end of March. The lottery want to see a quality bid. It would be better if consultation were done on the full plan. It would be better to allow an extra 6 months and put a quality bid in. The general public need to be more aware and involved in the whole plan. May be able to link in and get money from SUSTRANS etc for cycleways. One concern is what capacity the Town Council has for running a project of this size. County Council have been approached to act as the Accountable body with support from the North Allerdale Development trust. A project manager will be employed by the Town Council to oversee the project. Town Council will be the lead body. Standard fee is normally about 5% to buy in the accountable body service.