Present:- Cllrs. G. Wilkinson, A.J. Markley, A. Emmerson, W. Jefferson & E. Wannop. Also present Wendy Jameson (Town Clerk) & Ken Wannop.

802 Apologies:- Cllrs. R.W. Allison, M. Snaith & C. Baty. Also PC Andy Robertson & PC Yvonne Benson.

Cllr. Emmerson - re: Silloth First Responders

Cllr. Wannop - re: Ken Wannop

Cllr. Markley - re: County Council

804 Exclusion of Press and Public

It was agreed to exclude the Press & Public whilst items 26, 27 & 28 are discussed.

The Chairman had attended the following:-

6 November - SID’s meeting at Wigton.

8 November - Silloth Community Technology College Prize evening.

11 November - Remembrance Day Service along with the crew of HMS Biter.

14 November - RAF Presentation at Hunday Manor.

15 November - Soldiers in Silloth meeting.

23 November - Light up the Green presentation.

24 November - Pensioners Christmas Party at Stanwix.

Minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2007 were approved and signed by the Chairman as a true record.

807 Police Report

PC Andy Robertson & PC Yvonne Benson were unable to attend the meeting but had sent a report giving details of incidents of crime since the last meeting. There is a problem with litter (i.e. pizza boxes etc) being left on the car park outside the community hall every evening by vehicles parked there. It was agreed that a letter be sent to the Environmental Warden to ask that some action be taken i.e. fixed penalties.

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

Cllr. Jefferson had visited the footpath with Mr Littleton and also the Grune. He had walked the entire track which does not appear to exist. It never was a footpath and is actually a hedge. The line on the definitive map represented a line of chicken sheds. It was agreed that a letter be sent to the County Council to inform them that we do not believe there has ever been a footpath. Copy of information provided by Mr Littleton to be sent to the County Council and a copy of our letter to be sent to Mr Littleton.

810 Correspondence

a) Local Council Review - November 2007.

b) Clerks & Councils Direct - November 2007.

c) CALC Circular - November 2007.

d) Cumbria County Council - “The Cumbria Rider” Passenger Transport Guide.

e) Outstanding - The Magazine for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty - Autumn/Winter 2007.

f) Allerdale Borough Council - Playground inspection and risk assessment report.

g) Cumbria County Council - re: Transforming Passenger Transport. Details of the current position regarding scheduled bus services which are supported by the County Council. No changes have been made and will not be made until April 2008. Detailed research is being undertaken to properly evaluate any changes and assess alternatives.

h) Solway Community Technology College - Letter of thanks for support for the annual Prize Giving evening.

i) Cumbria Highways - re: Footpath at Barracks Bridge, Silloth. Funding will not allow them to help on this occasion but will see if they can bid for funding in the next financial year. If not, it will be added to the list for future improvements.

j) North Allerdale Partnership - Letter of thanks for the contribution of £500 towards the North Allerdale Partnership for the current financial year. Also appreciated that Town Council will be making provision for the 2008-09 financial year.

k) FELLS (Friends of Eden, Lakeland & Lunesdale Scenery) - Copy of Windfarm Status map for Cumbria.

l) Cumbria NHS Primary Care Trust - Closer to Home - An NHS Consultation on providing more healthcare in the community in North Cumbria. The Council agreed with the recommendations. No comments to make.

m) Fletchers Funfairs - Request to use the putting green and Bouncy Castle in 2008. It was agreed that a notice be put on the Town Council advertising the facilities for tender and the matter to be reviewed at the next meeting.

n) Cumbria County Council - Cumbria Minerals and Waste Development Framework - Regulation 26 Pre-submission consultation on changes to the preferred options core strategy. Comments to be received by 14 December 2007. Chairman to look through it.

o) Letter from Mr Stephen Wright with the suggestion for setting up a maritime heritage centre in Silloth. The idea is good but it would need money etc to set it up. Sustainability is a problem. Could the incorporated into the Discovery Centre. Having a museum on its own would be difficult to run. Letter to be sent to Rob Rimmer at West Lakes Renaissance. Reply also to be sent to Mr Wright.

p) Allerdale Borough Council - re: Corporate Improvement Plan 2008-13 (draft). Responses required by 14 December 2007. The Town Council noted the contents of the report.

q) Citizens Advice Allerdale - Request for financial support. It was agreed that a donation of £100 be sent and a letter asking how many people from Silloth use the facility.

r) Silloth First Response Team - Letter asking for continued support from the Town Council towards the rental of the pagers amounting to £950.40. It was agreed that a contribution of £950.40 be made, as in previous years. This has been the busiest year for the First Response team with 104 call outs so far this year. There is a presentation tomorrow at the Fire Station at 7.15 pm.

s) Allerdale Borough Council - re: Local Authorities (Model Code of Conduct) Order 2007. Letter to ascertain the Council’s training requirements in respect of the above code. No training is required by the Town Council. A number of Cllrs. have already done it.

a) The Town Council have approved the following:-

Ref No: 2/2007/0984 Applicant: Mrs Judith E Jameson Proposal: Change of use of hairdressing salon into living accommodation as part of residential home Location: 4 Station Road, Silloth.

Ref No: 2/2007/1002 Applicant: David English Proposal: Replacement lounge windows and door from wood to UPVC Location: Silloth Social Club, Waver Street, Silloth

Ref No: CAT 07/27 Proposal: Consultation on an application to carry out works to trees in Silloth Conservation Area Location: Land at Criffel Street, Silloth

Ref No: 2/2007/1115 Applicant: Hopes Estate Agents Proposal: Alterations to windows Location: 8 Station Road, Silloth

Ref No: 2/2007/1113 Applicant: Mrs R. Bell Proposal: Extension to form internal bathroom Location: 5 Waver Street, Silloth

Ref No: 2/2007/1146 Applicant: Hopes Estate Agents Proposal: Advertisement consent for fascia signage to replace existing Location: 8 Station Road, Silloth

Ref No: 2/2007/1135 Applicant: Mr & Mrs S. Tremble Proposal: Demolition of existing garage and single storey outhouses for the erection of a new storey gable extension to the house, a single storey rear kitchen extension and a detached garage Location: 122 Skinburness Road, Silloth

Ref No: 2/2007/1132 Applicant: Mrs Valerie Boynton Proposal: Erection of conservatory (retrospective) Location: 22 Grune Point Close, Silloth

The To wn Council have refused the following:-

Ref No: 2/2007/1067 Applicant: Hagan Leisure (UK) Ltd Proposal: Use of the land for the siting of two residential caravans Location: Land at Silloth Lido, Skinburness, Silloth

b) Allerdale Borough Council have approved the following:-

Ref No: 2/2007/0937 Applicant: Ms T Clarke Proposal: Proposed alterations to provide seating area, relocation of toilets, canopy and serving hatch Location: Blue Dolphin Café, Wampool Street, Silloth

Ref No: 2/2007/0949 Applicant: The Golf Hotel Proposal: Listed building consent for general refurbishment and upgrade of hotel facilities Location: The Golf Hotel, Criffel Street, Silloth

Ref No: 2/2007/0971 Applicant: Mr K. Scott Proposal: Proposed porch Location: 104 Skinburness Road, Silloth

Ref No: 2/2007/0984 Applicant: Mrs Judith E Jameson Proposal: Change of use of hairdressing salon into living accommodation as part of residential home Location: 4 Station Road, Silloth.

Ref No: 2/2007/1002 Applicant: David English Proposal: Replacement lounge windows and door from wood to UPVC Location: Silloth Social Club, Waver Street, Silloth

Allerdale Borough Council have refused the following:-

Ref No: 2/2007/0948 Applicant: John Reid Proposal: Extension to existing chalet Location: 27 Sunny Mount, Blitterlees, Silloth

c) Notification from Allerdale Borough Council that an appeal has been made against an Enforcement Notice relating to a ‘Breach of Listed Building Control’ in respect of 4 Marine Terrace, Criffel Street, Silloth.

None.

813 Committee Reports

None.

Primary School Dawn Maxwell is finishing at the end of this term, as she is starting at Inglewood school. The other deputy head will be on maternity leave for 12 months. The governors will be interviewing shortly. The school choir is doing a concert next Thursday at 6.00pm. Junior choir is singing at the convalescent home. Everything is running smoothly.

Joint Advisory Committee Brian Irving is not well and is seeing a specialist this week. The meeting scheduled for 15 December has been put back to the end of January. This takes the pressure off core staff, so they can concentrate on running the AONB which continues to work well.

Silloth Tourist Action Group No report.

Silloth Regeneration Partnership Cllr. Allison was unable to attend the meeting but sent a report. Plans for the land between the Lifeboat Station and the Dock entrance will tidy the area up. Allerdale had their own scheme but the alternative looks more acceptable. Trees - the consultants want to keep the town as it is and for the trees on the front street not to be cut down. Cllr. Jefferson will speak to Allerdale about the matter. Letter of thanks to be sent to David English for his help with United Utilities re: Xmas lights.

North Allerdale Partnership No report.

Sea Dyke Charity Cllr. Markley was unable to attend the last meeting.

Silloth Health Matters No report.

Longcake Education Trust No report.

Solway Community Technology College A few attended the prize giving ceremony. Numbers have dropped a lot in the September intake which has an impact on what the school can do.

County Council - Budget reviews at the moment. Meeting with Eric Robson etc. Silloth is being put at the forefront. Tourist board would like to do one good tourism book for the area rather than individual brochures. Signage on the motorways was mentioned. Quality parish status needs to be pursued. New cabinet is in place Cllr. Markley is going to America in January with BNFL.

The lighting boxes are in place for the Christmas lights. Electricity to be connected on Wednesday. Lights have been donated from Maryport. Need somewhere to store them. It was agreed that they can be stored in the disused toilets. They have asked if a Christmas tree can be put up which would be planted in the bed next to the toilet block on Criffel Street. It would be a mature tree with roots. This was agreed by the Town Council. Jimmy Johnstone has been in touch. It will be February before the new play equipment will be put in. The price quoted didn’t include fitting.

Allerdale have been notified about the vacancy on the Town Council and notices have been put up. If no election is requested then the vacancy will have to be filled by co-option.

The Town Council approved the list of cheque payments to 3 December 2007.

The following items were suggested for inclusion in the 2008/09 Budget:-

Regeneration finance

Signage

Xmas Lights

Youth Provision

Sports

A meeting was arranged for Wednesday 12 December at 10.00am at the Rugby club to look at what is needed regarding the Sports area.

Allotments meeting - 10 December 2007

Finance/Sports meeting - 17 December 2007

Brian Irving was unable to attend the meeting as he is unwell. It was suggested that the consultants be invited to the next meeting with Brian. They need to know how we see Silloth and how it should be promoted. Silloth has a new role now as the centre of the AONB and is referred to as the capital of the Solway Coast. It was not included in the AONB in the 60’s because it would have restricted things regarding planning etc. Abbeytown was the capital, then Wigton as the administrative centre and market town, then Workington as the centre of Allerdale. Chris Puxley has written an article in Tidelines magazine about Silloth and the port. It was agreed that Brian Irving and the consultants be invited to the next meeting.

A request had been received for street lighting between Greenrow Meadows and Stanwix Park. It was agreed that a letter be sent to Allerdale Borough Council to ask for additional lighting and to also point out that the light on the opposite side is ineffective, as it is lost in the trees.

The Town Council agreed to the installation of a broadband connection in the Community Hall for internet access and the removal of a telephone line which is surplus to requirements, up to a cost of £20 p/m.

Dealt with earlier under Regeneration Partnership report.

The Town Council agreed to the installation of security measures on the door of the Community Hall, to restrict access to the building when the Clerk is working alone, up to a maximum cost of £500. Clerk to make further enquiries.

The bridge at the cemetery has had to be closed to vehicles due to damage being found to the bridge. The Allerdale maintenance vehicle has been parked on the roadside and is causing an obstruction to motorists. Allerdale have been looking at the options available which include alternative routes, repairing the bridge etc They are now going to fix the bridge.

It had been suggested that a fence be erected around the back of the recycling centre to stop rubbish blowing into the woods. There are now rumours that trees are to be felled to accommodate the expansion to the recycling centre. It was agreed that a letter be sent to Ernie Davidson at Allerdale to request an update on the matter.

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.

Three quotes had been obtained for the purchase of a swingtrim hedge cutter with the trade in of the flail mower which ranged from £3000 to £2720. The Town Council accepted the quote from Henry Armer & Son which has since been reduced to £2500.

Cllr. Wannop left the meeting.

The Clerk gave an update on the Local Government pay negotiations which had recently been agreed and how the increases would affect the salaries of Town Council staff. The Clerk briefly left the meeting whilst the Town Council reviewed the salaries. The following increases were agreed by the Town Council which were backdated to 1 April 2007.

Susan SCP 4 From £5.82 p/h to £6.01 p/h

Joe SCP 14 From £7.68 p/h to £7.87 p/h

Ken From £10 p/h to £10.275 p/h

Will £6 p/h (already increased for 2007/08 at a previous meeting)

Wendy SCP 35 £14861 p.a. to £15228 p.a.

The Clerk also mentioned that the minimum holiday entitlements have increased. The legal minimum is 4.8 weeks a year (24 days if work 5 day week) which came into effect on 1/10/07. Holiday entitlement will increase again to 5.6 weeks (28 days) from 1.4.09. Council to review the matter at a future meeting.

Nothing of any concern.