Present:- Cllrs. G. Wilkinson, R.W. Allison, C. Baty, I. Baty, W. Jefferson, A.J. Markley, A. Proud, E. Wannop & A. Weightman. Also Ken Wannop, Wendy Jameson-Brown & WPC Yvonne Benson.

409 Apologies:- Cllrs. S. Hart & M. Snaith. Also PC Andy Robertson.

Cllr. Allison re: Allison Designs.

Cllr. Wannop re: Ken’s wages.

It was agreed to discuss items 21, 22, 23 & 24 at the end of the meeting after the Press & Public have been excluded.

The Chairman had attended the following:-

4^th Workington Mayor’s Civic Service

11^th Maryport Mayor’s Civic Service

18^th Cockermouth Mayor’s Civic Service

27^th Welcomed the crew of the Grand Turk to Silloth

Silloth’s Civic service is to be held at Christ Church at 10am on Sunday 6 August.

Following advice received from CALC, the role of Chairman/Mayor are one and the same, and cannot be separated. The Clerk confirmed this to be correct. All Council’s need to appoint a Chairman but for a Town Council, the Chairman can take on the title of Town Mayor. Cllr. Jefferson questioned this and wished to get a second opinion. Matter to be deferred until the next meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 5 June 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. The meeting was attended by the new Liaison Officer, Yvonne Benson. The Town Council are grateful for the monthly report received from Andy. A letter has been received from Allerdale seeking the Council’s comments on the effectiveness of the street drinking ban. The Clerk asked for comments from the Police. The ban is effective but the Police need help from the public to report any problems. Silloth needs a Police presence and it was suggested that the Community Hall could be used in the meantime, until the Fire Station is sorted out. Yvonne is to find out about the Police base in Silloth and put the suggestion to the Inspector.

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

a) Warm seal - News from the Commercial Division. Issue 4 - June 2006. Put on circulation.

b) Flora of the Fells Festival 2006 - April - September 2006. Put on circulation.

c) Highways Agency - helping you plan your journeys around North West England - June to September 2006. Put on circulation.

d) CALC Circular - June 2006. Put on circulation.

e) Tidelines - Newsletter of the Solway Firth Partnership - May 2006. Put on circulation.

f) Allerdale Borough Council - PARCS Scheme 2006. Draft copy of the programme confirming dates, venues and times.

g) Letter from a visitor to the town concerned about the condition of the bus shelters and seats in the town.

h) Cumbria County Council - Information re: The Community Waste Prevention Fund. The CWPF will become available to support local and community led waste prevention projects within Cumbria.

i) Letter from a visitor to the town concerned about the condition of the bus shelters, seats on the Green and the lack of a Police presence.

j) Minutes of the North Allerdale Partnership Executive meeting held on Thursday 25 May 2006 at the Albion Inn, Silloth.

k) Environment Agency - Final document of ‘The Eden & Esk Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy (CAMS)’.

l) Cumbria County Council - County Council’s Allerdale Local Committee resolved on 9 May to vary the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order for width restrictions on rural roads around Wigton, to allow exemption for locally based slow moving agricultural vehicles.

m) Commutaports - Information about the bus shelters they supply.

n) North West Regional Assembly - North West Best Practice Design Guide.

o) Cumbria Constabulary - re: Police presence in Silloth. Letter has been forwarded to Chief Superintendent Ian Cardwell who will respond direct.

p) Allerdale Association of Local Councils - next meeting will be on 22 June 2006 at Civic Hall, Maryport at 7.00pm.

q) Workington Town Council - Details on how the roles of Mayor/Chairman operate at Workington Town Council. Recommend that CALC be contacted.

r) Age Partnership Group - From October it will become unlawful to discriminate against an employee or job applicant on the grounds of age. Information on the legislation.

s) Cumbria Police Authority - Workington Police Area Community Liaison Forum - meeting to be held on 5 July 2006 at St. Michael’s Church, Workington.

t) Airfields of Britain - New Airfield Charity successfully launched. Press release.

u) Allerdale Borough Council - Plastic Recycling Centre. Skip was placed at recycling centre on 9 June 2006.

v) Allerdale Borough Council - re: Consultation with parish councils on site visit procedures. Unanimous response from Parish Council’s that they did benefit from being able to attend site visits. Current site visit format is to be retained ad a procedure will be drawn up into Allerdale’s constitution.

w) Cumbria County Council - Cumbria Minerals and Waste Development Framework. Comments requested before the end of July. (Please view the document via the County Council’s website, as it is 145 pages long. If you wish to borrow the Town Council’s copy, please speak to the Clerk.). Document to be circulated and any comments to be given to the Clerk.

x) Allerdale Borough Council - Email from Peter Daley asking for the Council’s comments on an additional policy for Silloth for granting street trading consents. The Town Council’s policy is that we do not wish to allow traders from outside the Town because we have enough traders in the town selling ice cream and local traders struggle enough as it is. The Town Council did not see any reason to change it’s policy.

y) Email from Eddie Woodthorpe re: Silloth Sunday Street Market asking for the Council to reconsider it’s previous decision and allow up to 5 stalls on the edge of the Green - deferred from last meeting. At the meeting held on 4/7/2005, following complaints about the street closure on a Sunday, it was agreed that a letter be sent to Allerdale asking that the matter be reviewed. Following the meeting on 5/9/2005 a letter was sent to say the Council do not support the use of the Green for the Sunday market. A letter was then received from Allerdale to say that the intention is to attempt to reintroduce both the Thursday and Sunday markets hopefully by Easter 2006. The Town Council discussed the matter and do not want a Sunday market or for stalls to be sited on the Green.

The Town Council approved the following:-

* Erection of dormer bungalow at Plot 14 Acre Bank Close, Silloth ( resubmission)

* Erection of dormer bungalow at Plot 17 Acre Bank Close, Silloth (resubmission)

* 5 type A and 4 type B dormer bungalows at Plots 7,8,9,10,11,15,16,18 & 19 Acre Bank Close

* Proposed garage at The Bungalow, Blitterlees, Silloth

* Extension to dwelling at Carabella, Blitterlees, Silloth

* Extension to join existing garage to house for kitchen alterations and erection of new detached garage (Resubmission 2/2006/0326) at Acredayles, Blitterlees, Silloth

* Change of use of land for permanent stationing of refrigeration unit (retrospective) and temp (3years) stationing of portacabin for use as fishmongers shop at Unit 3d Station Road Ind Estate, Silloth

* Advertising signage at 9 Station Road, Silloth

* 34 bedroom extension at Chichester Hall, Skinburness (Resubmission 2/2005/0860)

Allerdale Borough Council approved the following:-

* Proposed rear elevation door and ramp at 21 Station Road, Silloth

* Conversion of existing garage to study and shower room and erection of replacement garage at Lismore, Blitterlees, Silloth

* Conversion of house to three maisonettes at 25 Eden Street, Silloth

Allerdale Borough Council refused the following:-

* Listed building consent for UPVC window and double doors (retrospective) at East Cote Cottage, Skinburness, Silloth

None

None

Primary School New windows have been fitted. OFSTED inspection was quite good. Kids are preparing for end of term concerts.

Joint Advisory Committee Natural England have got involved which could be a good source of funding. Sir Martin Doughty, the future chair of Natural England recently attended a meeting and is a good contact for the AONB. There are a good bunch of people working for the AONB which has been set up properly and is against outside interference.

Silloth Tourist Action Group No report.

Silloth Regeneration Partnership No meeting last month. Next meeting is on 17 July. Application submitted to Awards for All for funding to put together the projects. 1^st stage application has been made to Heritage Lottery for funding. Breathing Space grant applied for. Need the okay from the Heritage Lottery, then get interested parties together to put a plan together.

North Allerdale Partnership Meeting last Thursday. Consultancy firm attended trying to sell their services. Seems to be a grey area re: accountable body.

Sea Dyke Charity Cllr. Markley has not yet attended his first meeting - sent his apologies to the last meeting. A number of cows were lost on the Marsh.

Silloth Health Matters No report.

Longcake Education Trust No report.

Allerdale - There is a lot of misinformation going around. It has been widely reported that Bill Jefferson was sacked. Not reached a stage yet that the Labour leader can sack an elected member. Bill was asked to stand down because he was highly critical of Allerdale and the Chief Executive on how they had handled the negotiations re: market town initiative. 4 out of 5 of the Allerdale Market towns felt unable to work with Allerdale. NAP are now in negotiation with the County Council. Matter has been called into Scrutiny, who have agreed to investigate it. Bill Allison offered his support and that of the Town Council for what Bill was doing. NWDA who are providing funding are happy to work with the Market towns. Cllr. Markley declared an interest being part of Scrutiny.

County Council - Local committees and areas have got their monies back to give out at forums. Roads are marked out and work is in hand although they are working to a diminishing budget.

Busy cutting grass. Ken suggested that the Council consider buying a garden dumper which would be a useful piece of equipment and provide transport for the new apprentice. There is one available for £600-700 which will be fully serviced and repainted. The Council agreed to the purchase of the dumper.

100 cyclists are coming into Silloth from all over the North. Setting off from Silloth on 19 July at 10.00am and will be accommodated overnight at the Rugby Club. SUSTRANS have published a cyclist strategy for Cumbria. Will encourage local businesses to consider how they can diversify. Discovery Centre are putting on an exhibition of cycling memorabilia, with documents from the Archives and items from Tullie House. The Town Council agreed to cover the cost of providing breakfast for the cyclists which will not be in excess of £500.

Internal audit of the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2006 has been completed with no problems. The Annual Return has now been sent to the Audit Commission.

Letter has been received from an Assistant Solicitor at Allerdale regarding the vacancy on the Town Council, who has discussed the matter with the Monitoring Officer. The matter should be reviewed after the elections in 2007.

The Town Council approved the list of cheque payments to 3 July 2006.

There are now 10 Speed Indication Devices being used in the County. Cost £2000-3000 to buy. They act as a good deterrent. Cllr. Markley suggested that the Town Council work with Holme Low and Holme Abbey Parish Council’s. The Police have just bought one and are piloting the scheme. The Town Council would like to see how the pilot works and want more feedback. Yvonne Benson to report back to the Council.

Cumbria County Council allow area committees to devolve monies to certain areas. Need to look and see what s needed in a town/parish. Hopefully all wards will get done over a period of time. Aspatria has been done and proved to be successful. Need to get together to see what the town needs. Cllr. Markley has put Silloth forward to work with the County Council on this.

The Clerk had produced an up-to-date financial report of the first 3 months of the year and a Balance Sheet showing the bank balances at 03/07/06. The Town Council is looking after its assets and spending its money well.

An estimate was received from William Scott & Sons for £490 to repair damage to the Pagoda following the fire. This was submitted to the insurance company, who agreed for the work to be done. An further estimate has now been received from William Scott & Sons for extra work to the Pagoda, for replacing damaged timber amounting to £850. In the meantime the work has actually been done on the authorisation of Cllr. Jefferson. It was agreed that a letter be sent to the insurance company informing them that further work was necessary, due to health and safety reasons.

Six candidates were interviewed. Two people were invited back for a second interview. Candidate A replied to the invitation and attended the interview. Candidate B did not reply or attend the 2^nd interview but send a message tonight via a 3^rd party to say he was sick. Candidate A is more than capable of doing the job and meets all the criteria. The Parks Committee asked that the Council decide who to appoint or whether to invite Candidate B back for a 2^nd interview on an alternative date. Course fees are paid by the Government if student is under 19 at the time of enrolment which amount to £725 pa for the National Certificate in Horticulture.

After some discussion, the Town Council agreed that William Stephenson be offered the position of Trainee/Apprentice Groundsman.

The following Terms of employment were agreed by the Town Council:-

Rate of pay - £4.50 per hour which will rise to £5 per hour after 6 months. Hours - 39 per week on a flexible basis. Payable - weekly. No overtime will be paid. Any extra time worked will be taken as time off in lieu. Holidays - in addition to bank holidays - 20 days holiday per year. During 1^st year - entitled to annual leave proportionate to number of completed months of service. Employment is on a 6 months trial basis which will be reviewed with a view to making the employee permanent. Pension scheme - option to join after the 6 months trial period. College - to be released from work to attend Newton Rigg college one day per week for a period of 2 years towards the National Certificate in Horticulture.

Cllr. Wannop and the Clerk left the meeting.

The following wage increases were agreed by the Town Council which are backdated to 1 April 2006:-

Ken £10 per hour

Joe £7.68 per hour

Susan £5.83 per hour

It was proposed to increase the Clerk’s salary to SCP 35 spread over 2 years. Chairman to write to CALC to obtain clarification on the recommendations by NALC & SLCC.

433 Amounts owing to the Town Council

There is £5766 outstanding which relates to the Grounds Maintenance contract at Solway Community Technology College.