Present:- Cllrs. G. Wilkinson, R.W. Allison , E. Baty, S. Hart, W. Jefferson,

W. Johnston, A.J. Markley, A. Proud, M. Snaith & E. Wannop. Also Ken Wannop, Wendy Jameson-Brown and PC Fox.

163 Apologies:- Cllrs. A. Weightman & J. Snaith. Also PC Robertson.

Cllr. Wannop - re: Salaries

Cllr. Johnston - re: Solway Mexico Link

Cllr. Allison - re: Allison Designs

No

The Chairman had attended the following:-

Opening of the Beer Festival

Pensioners Tea Party

Neighbourhood Forum meeting

CALC meeting

Minutes of the meeting held on 5 September 2005 were approved by the Town Council and signed by the Chairman as a true record.

PC Fox from Wigton attended the meeting. Police are looking to open a local police post at the Fire Station and are currently looking for funding. It would have cost a substantial amount to build at the school and there is adequate facilities at the Fire Station. There would have been benefits with it being sited at the school, with close links between the school and the Police and it is hoped these links will be continued. The Old Police Station is still ongoing and this needs to be kept a priority. It was

questioned whether the response times to incidents will improve with a local team. It was questioned whether there will be a team based in Silloth or is the idea of a community policeman just something to keep the public happy. PC Andy Robertson had sent a printed report on incidents of crime over the last month which had been circulated with the agenda. The Council found this helpful.

There have been a number of changes to the plans for the Housing Development at Fell View, Silloth. There have been issues re: Planning and re: Environment Agency in relation to the level of the flood plain. Extensive appraisals of the site have been done. The housing market has changed. Allerdale have done a balanced housing study and have determined that needs have changed. There is now a need for a mixed housing provision, not just rented. The new application is based on what is needed. 11 x 3 bed roomed houses on shared ownership and 10 x 2 bed roomed bungalows (½ shared ownership and ½ rented). The need for shared ownership bungalows was questioned, especially when these tend to be wanted by the older end of the population who tend to want maintenance free living i.e. rented properties. Allerdale have done the research by looking at information from Estate agents and housing association waiting lists etc to determine the need. It was felt the main need in Silloth is for affordable housing for younger people and Allerdale’s finding were questioned. It is an ever-changing market and the information needs to be up to date. Need to ensure it meets local needs. The initial plans were for rented properties. It was questioned what would happen if the properties don’t sell or are not wanted by locals, will they be made available to people outside the town. Derwent & Solway Housing Association are not a business enterprise and are very much governed by the local authority, who determine the needs. Due to Silloth being a rural area and having a population under 3000, new tenants do not have the right to buy. Some present tenants in existing properties who have been there for a historical time, may have the right to buy option. Right to buy removes properties from the rental market but this would not affect the Fell View development. With shared ownership, people will need to meet a certain set of circumstances. Links Close was shared ownership and it was questioned whether any of those are still shared ownership. Mr Porter agreed to make enquiries. Right to buy properties are not as appealing now due to the increase in house prices. Discount is now capped at £26K and not the previous 60% discount. It was questioned whether half of the houses could be rented rather than all shared ownership. The split will be up to Allerdale but the accuracy of the information needs to be questioned due to the changing market and needs. The building work will hopefully be staring in March 06. There needs to be an in depth appraisal to see the needs for rented housing. Need to question the balance and mix and affordability of the housing. Mr Porter agreed to make enquiries and report back to the next meeting.

170 Adjournment of Meeting

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

a) CALC circular - September 2005.

b) CALC - Training Programme - Autumn 2005 - Spring 2006.

c) Local Council Review - September 2005.

d) Solway Coast AONB - Solway Coaster - Summer 2005.

e) Solway Coast AONB - Sustainable Development Fund.

f) Cumbria Ambulance Service NHS Trust - Summary Business Plan 2005/06.

g) Cumbria Ambulance Service NHS Trust - Annual Report 2004/05.

h) Voluntary Action Cumbria - The Gazette: Community & Parish Plans Newsletter.

i) Allerdale Association of Local Councils - AGM to be held on 3 October 2005 at Castle Inn Hotel, Bassenthwaite.

j) Anonymous letter from a visitor to the town complaining about the condition of the bus shelters, the lack of shops and café facilities.

k) Solway Coast Neighbourhood Forum - Meeting will be on 13 September 2005 in Silloth Community Hall.

l) Eaton Ryan & Taylor - Letter asking for info on the nature of the relationship between the Town Council and the Beer Festival. Correspondence passed to the insurance company for their attention.

m) Letter of thanks from the Rugga Club for the recent donation of £500 by the Town Council.

n) Copy of a letter sent to the Planning Department by Mrs B. Henderson of Beaconsfield Terrace in relation to the plans for houses on land at the rear of Beaconsfield Terrace.

o) Allerdale Borough Council - re: Litter Bins. Letter about bins not being emptied has been passed to the FOCSA Services Street Cleansing Manager.

p) Highways Agency - North West Roadworks & Traffic Information Leaflet (September to November) 2005.

q) Cumbria Highways - re: Dropped Kerbs. List of proposed dropped kerbs are to be included on the current list for Allerdale. There should be funding available for two crossings in this financial year.

r) Allerdale Borough Council - Interim Housing Policy was adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document on 27 July 2005.

s) Zurich Municipal - Confirmation that correspondence has been received. They will be writing to Leith UK. A local claims inspector has been instructed.

t) Cumbria County Council - re: Wigton Swimming Pool. Receipt for the donation of £100.00.

u) Allerdale Borough Council - re: Silloth Markets. Mr Woodthorpe has written to the Market Operating Company to ask for their considered opinion in respect of both the Sunday & Thursday street market and will be in touch when a reply is received. The current contract is due to expire on 4 November 2007, when the operating company would then have the option of an extension for a further 7 years.

v) Allerdale Borough Council - re: Crime and Disorder Reduction and Community Safety. Draft copy of the section 17 Implementation strategy.

w) Silloth Community Craft Show - Letter of thanks for the donation of £25 and request that the date of the craft show be publicised in any advertising features.

x) Letter of thanks from Mrs Jean Graham for the delightful afternoon of entertainment, tea and company during the Beer Festival Weekend.

y) Millennium Quest Design Consultants - re: Christmas Lights. Brochure and information about the service they can provide.

z) United Utilities - Currently investigating the sewage discharge and missing meter cover and will reply within 10 working days.

aa) Allerdale Borough Council - Letter from Gillian Bishop asking for copies of correspondence referred to in the letter of 9 September, to enable an investigation to take place re: Eddie Woodthorpe.

bb) CALC - AGM to be held on Sat 12 November 2005 at 10.30 at Cleator Moor Civic Hall.

cc) Allerdale Borough Council - re: Former Garage & Workshop site, Waver Street. Update following a visit by Mr Dawson to the site which is currently being used to store building materials and as a site compound for the housing development opposite. The owner has ideas for potential development of the site and a meeting with the Planning Officer has been suggested.

dd) Letter from Mr Thomas of Ryehills Road questioning the source of pollution etc which has resulted in Silloth not getting a flag this year. It was agreed that letters be sent to United Utilities and the Environment Agency to find out why Silloth did not meet the necessary standard in relation to water quality. Allonby and Silloth achieved the standard for clean beaches but only Allonby got the flag for the clean water.

ee) Cumbria Constabulary - update re: Silloth Police Station.

ff) Environment Agency - The Eden & Esk Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy (CAMS) - Consultation Document. Closing date for feedback 25 November 2005. No action to be taken.

gg) Cumbria Constabulary - re: Police Access Centre. Recommendations are to be made to the Police Authority for the installation of a ‘Local Policing Team’ base within Silloth Fire Station.

hh) The Lost Ways Project - Urgent request for someone to carry out a survey of Public rights of way in Silloth. It was agreed that the information be forwarded to the Solway Coast AONB as they may have volunteers willing to carry out the survey.

ii) Cumbria County Council - B5302 West Street and B5304 High Street, Wigton - Experimental daytime 2.01 metre/6’6” width restriction and prohibition of waiting order 2004. Summary of objections received and further proposals to be put forward. Comments to be sent by 28 October 2005. Cllr. Markley declared an interest. There are plans to extend the restrictions further which will incur extra costs in signage etc but will not solve the real problem. Reply to be sent with Council’s observations and urging for a link road.

jj) Allerdale Borough Council - re: Cemetery Causewayhead. It would be difficult to transfer the maintenance of the Cemetery to the Town Council for operational reasons but suggest that a meeting be held with Allerdale’s Bereavement Services Team and Mitchell & Struthers to discuss complaints about the condition of the cemetery. Cemetery seems to be in good condition and visitors have commented on how tidy it is, therefore there is no longer a need for a meeting. Closed churchyard is not as well maintained but it is the same all over the district. Some headstones are down but this is probably due to Health & Safety requirements.

kk) Letter from residents of North House about the problems with parking and litter etc around the area of the tennis courts. The road in question is a private road and it is therefore a police matter and not the responsibility of the Council. It was questioned who is responsible for enforcing the byelaws and it was believed this is the responsibility of the Police. The comments were noted by the Council.

ll) HMS Biter - re: Affiliation with Silloth. Information and proposal that HMS Biter be affiliated to Silloth. The Town Council welcomed the suggestion of an affiliation between HMS Biter and Silloth. Reply to be sent.

Cllr. Wannop left the meeting.

The Town Council have approved the following:-

* Erection of conservatory at 29 Meadow View Park, Solway Holiday Village, Silloth

* Demolition of existing garage and security fencing and erection of 11 flats - one unit of 4 and one unit of 7 on Land at Beaconsfield Terrace, Silloth. The Town Council’s comments were passed to Allerdale Borough Council but the plans have since been withdrawn.

* Alteration to raise height of wall from 1 metre to 2 metre at 9 Prospect Place, Silloth

* Replacement of existing conservatory with larger conservatory and erection of hand railing to create balcony on existing flat roof at 219 Skinburness Road, Silloth

* Replacement of existing windows at Flat 16, Criffel Street, Silloth

Allerdale Borough Council refused the following:-

* Proposed re-roofing of the mill building at Solway Mill, Lawn Terrace, Wigton

Allerdale Borough Council have approved the following:-

* Alterations to provide 2 flats at the Huntsman Inn, Eden Street, Silloth

* Proposed additional DAP and ambulant disabled and visitor parking at Silloth Golf Club, Station Road, Silloth

Cumbria County Council have approved the following:-

* Extension to provide music room, two practice rooms and store at Solway Community School, Liddell Street, Silloth

173 Licences

Allerdale Borough Council - currently reviewing the designation of Consent Streets in the Borough and are seeking the views of the Town Council. There are no changes to the current consent and prohibited streets and this was noted by the Town Council.

None

Primary School Susan Draude has been appointed as the new Chairperson. School is working through the problems with finance.

Joint Advisory Committee No meeting. Next meeting on Friday. Sustainable development fund is now in place. Money is available and looking for requests for funding.

Silloth Tourist Action Group No meeting.

Silloth Regeneration Partnership Still looking at the paddling pool and Eden St playing field schemes. Looking to get funding for a feasibility study. There has been confusion about the criteria to be met but this is not a problem now, with the application being submitted.

North Allerdale Partnership Cllr. Baty attended the appraisal meeting. Money is now in place for various projects in Wigton, Silloth & Aspatria. Silloth have to get their act together.

Sea Dyke Charity No meeting.

Longcake Educational Trust No report.

Silloth Health Matters Funding was provided for the Pensioner’s tea party which went very well. SOSCS provided financial support.

Allerdale - Cllr. Jefferson and Snaith are very involved in keeping an eye on the Housing report for Silloth. Derwent & Solway are keen to sell some of the properties. The Director of personnel at Allerdale will be leaving. The new Chief Executive seems to be stirring things up at Allerdale. Her logo is “turning vision into reality”. Tourism is likely to loom large in the new 5 year plan, with Cllr. Thomas being the portfolio holder for Tourism.

County Council - Two dropped kerbs are to be done in Silloth this year at Winters across to the chip shop. Cllr. Markley attended the Solway Firth Partnership meeting at Dumfries which had been informative. Finance is still a worry at the County Council with council taxes likely to go up again.

177 Handyman's Report

Ken gave a report on work done since the last meeting which has included lowering the bushes at the toilet block on Criffel Street. The old tennis shed needs work doing to it either re-cladding or removed. Ken obtained a price for repairing the seats on the seafront from the Lifeboat Station to the Dock entrance. It will cost £320 for steel which will be cheaper and stronger than replacing the seats with wood. This was agreed by the Council. Complaints had been received about the trees getting too high on Skinburness Road. Ken has looked at the trees and bushes but the are too well established now.

Nothing to report

The Town Council approved the list of payments to 3 October 2005.

The Clerk had prepared an up-to-date financial report for the period 1 April 2005 to 30 September 2005. It was agreed to consider the figures at the special finance meeting which will be held in November. There is currently £25,857 in the bank, with an additional £36000 which just come in from the Precept.

Suggestions are requested from Cllrs. for items to be included in the 2006/07 Budget. Finance meeting to be held in the middle of November.

A request has been received from the Solway Mexico Link for financial assistance which was considered by the Town Council. An excellent presentation was given at the last meeting. There has been a lot of benefit gained by the school from the Link which is continuing to grow each year. The link has established close links between the two communities. It was agreed that funding of £1000 be provided by the Town Council.

The Christmas Lights are to be switched on at the end on November. Clerk has tried to contact Mr Turnbull of Amey Contracting by email and by telephone. Various things need to be sorted out including:- road closure order, organisation of the evening activities, involvement of the choir, sources of electricity etc. It was suggested that a committee is needed to organise things. Funding may be available from Silloth Regeneration and STAG. Town Council need to look at some way of doing the Christmas Lights. It was questioned whether the Regeneration Partnership or STAG could actually do the organisation. A meeting is to be organised of those interested. Clerk to push for prices from Amey and a local contractor.

Following enquiries from several Councillors and members of the public, it was suggested that the Council consider having past mayors names engraved on the Mayoral chain dependant on cost. Cllr. Wilkinson had made enquiries and it was going to cost £4 per name. A vote was taken on whether to have the names engraved - 3 for, 4 against, 1 abstention.

It was proposed that the Council request the Police, to monitor carefully the speed of traffic at West Silloth, in particular over the bridge. Vehicles are going too fast and there had been an accident recently, with a car having demolished part of a brick wall. Police to be asked to take enforcement action with the use of speed guns. Vehicles are parking on pavements in the town and in some instances causing an obstruction. It was agreed that the Police be asked to monitor the situation and take action if vehicles are causing an obstruction.

It was agreed that a letter be sent to Allerdale Borough Council asking for the missing street name plates to be replaced within the town. Cllr. Wilkinson has put together a list of the missing ones.

It was agreed that the Council send a letter of thanks to Silloth Rugby Club for their efforts in cleaning and clearing around directional signs etc in and around Silloth.

188 Parking & Litter re: Tennis Courts

Dealt with earlier in the meeting - see item kk) under correspondence.

It was agreed that the Town Council should express concern at the proposed amalgamation of Cumbria Police force with another force. The proposed amalgamation is likely to cause a loss of resources in Cumbria. Letters to be sent to Cumbria Constabulary and the Home Office.

It was suggested that a sign be fixed to the railings at the front of the Community Centre stating that parking in front of the building is for users of the centre only and that a bay be delegated for use by the Clerk only. The land in front of the Community Hall belongs to the Heritage Centre, therefore no action can be taken.

191 Citizenship Prize at Solway Community Technology College Deferred until the next meeting.

Deferred until the next meeting