Present:- Cllrs. G. Wilkinson, A.J. Markley, R.W. Allison, C. Baty, I. Baty, S. Hart,

W. Jefferson & A. Weightman. Also Wendy Jameson, PC Andy Robertson & PC Yvonne Benson.

521 Apologies:- Cllrs. M. Snaith, A. Proud & E. Wannop. Also Ken Wannop

Cllr. Allison re: Allison Designs.

Cllr. Markley re: Various

It was agreed to discuss items 21,22 & item 8(x) under correspondence at the end of the meeting after the Press & Public have been excluded.

The Chairman attended the following during October and November:-

5 Oct - Carrs Mill 175^th anniversary celebrations.

2 Nov - A presentation of a replacement cap and badge to Brian Foster in the Good Companions.

3 Nov - A presentation of flowers and a card to Mrs Evelyn Bates on the occasion of her 100^th birthday in the Convalescent Home.

11 Nov - Welcomed Lt. John Rider CO of HMS Biter to the town of Silloth.

12 Nov - The Remembrance Day Service at Christ Church and also the Poppy Laying service at the Cemetery at Causewayhead with the officers and crew of HMS Biter.

19 Nov - The Annual Civic Service at St Kentigerns Church, Aspatria.

2 Dec - Sailed with the officers and crew of HMS Biter from Liverpool to Manchester via the Ship Canal.

Remembrance service is to be held at Christ Church on Sunday 10 December to remember the Firemen/lifeboatmen who died 50 years ago.

After some minor amendments, the minutes of the meetings held on 6 & 14 November 2006 were approved by the Town Council and signed by the Chairman as a true record.

A report was given by PC Robertson. Operation buffalo took place which targeted motorists and youngsters. 8 people were arrested over the weekend as a result. Exercise will be repeated again over the coming months. Following the complaints about accidents at Barracks Bridge, PC Robertson had approached various organisations and had received a reply from DA Harrison. He has liased with Mr Brian Thackeray who has read the letter and received a reply from Insp. Barr. He will be reporting back to the residents of Barracks Bridge. “Mobile Support Group” will be giving it attention and doing spot checks on wagons leaving the Docks. Andrew Butler of Cumbria Highways is willing to consider other measures i.e. advisory sign re: speed limit, extra bend sign or “SLOW” painted on the road. Police will monitor the situation. Last Saturday, damage was done to a window at Winters, two windows at Bowling Club were broken and a gate at the Community Hall damaged. Also window at St Andrew’s Hall broken. 2^nd Police surgery was held with 6 visitors. Concerns about speeding at Beckfoot. Also asked to pay attention to Primary School as youths have been seen hanging around. West Cumbria Achievement Zone is moving out of Silloth to Maryport in January.

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

a) Highways Agency - Roadworks and journey planner leaflet (October 2006 to January 2007). Out on circulation.

b) Cumbria Highways - Your winter road gritting service - 2006/07. Put on circulation.

c) Clerks & Councils Direct - November 2006. Put on circulation.

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

e) Local Council Review - White Paper Special. Put on circulation.

f) AONB Solway Coaster - Issue six Autumn/Winter 2006. Put on circulation.

g) Allerdale Borough Council - re: Parish Council Elections - 3 May 2007.

h) Community Law Centre - weekly service to be provided on Mondays 1.30pm to 4.00pm at AONB, next to Discovery Centre, Silloth.

i) Allerdale Borough Council - Posters to promote use of Allerdale’s website.

j) Allerdale Borough Council - re: Provision of Tourist Traffic Signage. Copy of letter sent to Cumbria Highways by Allerdale to show proposed improved signage to Solway Discovery Centre (Tourist Information Centre).

k) Countryside Alliance - Post Card to support the campaign against the closure of rural Post Offices.

l) Solway Coast Neighbourhood Forum - Minutes of the meeting held on 30 October 2006.

m) Cumbria Wind Energy Supplementary Planning Document and Sustainability Appraisal Report - Letter to acknowledge receipt of Council’s response to the consultation.

n) Letter from Eileen Slack concerned about comments by Cllrs. in the press and requesting that when asked about accommodation that Cllrs. mention West View Guest House.

o) Allerdale Association of Local Councils - Joint meeting with Cumbria County Council to be held on 23 November 2006 at Victoria Hall, Cockermouth at 7.00pm.

p) Cumbria Constabulary - re: Barracks Bridge, Silloth. Letter has been passed to Inspector Barr who will reply in due course.

q) Letter from Marjorie Littleton objecting to the proposed demolition of the Skinburness Hotel and building of holiday apartments.

r) D.A. Harrison - re: Barracks Bridge. Complaints are investigated by the management. Problem was due to an error of the driver’s handling of the load and he was subsequently reprimanded.

s) Caltech - re: Odour. Report on action taken by Caltech as a result of the concerns about odour from sewers on Criffel Street.

t) United Utilities - re: Odour from sewers on Criffel St. Report on action taken as a result of the concerns about odour coming from sewers in Criffel Street & Station Road area.

u) Cumbria Constabulary - re: Barracks Bridge. Summary of action taken by the Police as a result of the concerns about recent incidents at Barracks Bridge.

v) Allerdale Borough Council - Comments requested regarding Allerdale’s Corporate Improvement Plan. Allerdale have damaged the prospects of Silloth Regeneration Partnership and North Allerdale Partnership thro their unwillingness to work as partners. The Town Council do not believe it is Allerdale’s vision to work with partners. Town Council’s experience is otherwise. Reply to sent.

w) Neighbourhood Forums Consultation - Questionnaire for completion. Response to be sent.

x) Allerdale Borough Council - re: Cleaning of Silloth Public Conveniences. Details of the cost of the operation to cover the cleaning of the four current facilities.

The Town Council have not supported the following:-

* Outline application for new build of holiday apartments at Skinburness Hotel, Dick Trod Lane, Skinburness.

The Town Council have approved the following:-

* Conversion of former Police Station to 5 dwellings at former Police Station, Eden Street, Silloth

* Erection of new conservatory at 302 Skinburness Road, Silloth

Allerdale Borough Council have approved the following:-

* Demolition and clearance of existing buildings and construction of 10 x 3 bedroom terraced single family dwellings with car parking at The Old Station, Silloth

* Conservation area consent for demolition of existing buildings on site and general clearance at The Old Railway, Silloth.

Cllr. Jefferson declared an interest. Cllr. Jefferson had called in the application for the Solway Lido which will be heard with amendments on Thursday. The main concerns are the flood plain, drainage and inadequate sewerage facilities for existing site.

None

None

Primary School Meeting tomorrow. Building work to the interior of the school is almost complete. Susan McKeen appointed as the new Clerk.

Joint Advisory Committee Recruiting a replacement for Nic Ashby. There has been quite a few applicants who were interviewed today. Expect to be appointed in January. Brian Irving has been unwell.

Silloth Tourist Action Group Appointing a new education officer at JAC but will not be for tourism. Looking for a Secretary. Things are ongoing. Website will be launched in January. Leaflets - designated a person from Lancashire University . Printing in Feb ready for distribution before Easter.

Silloth Regeneration Partnership Heritage Lottery people are coming on 15 January to look at the Green. Xmas lights are not happening this year due to liability. Something will be on for the kids on Friday. Might get some volunteers to come forward next year. It is due to bureaucracy and red tape that it is not happening this year. Need to push for it next year. £20K will be used for Liz Carlisle to push for lottery funding.

North Allerdale Partnership No meeting for the near future. Waiting for a replacement to be appointed to replace Victoria. There is some concern about the future of NAP. Matters are currently going through Scrutiny.

Silloth Health Matters No report.

Sea Dyke Charity No meeting.

Longcake Education Trust No report.

Allerdale - Questions are being raised about the position of the Executive. There has been a £150K overspend on the new car park at Workington. Officers have been praised for the work done. Scrutiny are investigating the matter. The question is “Who is running Allerdale?” Officers are being praised and Councillors criticised. The Executive is the rubber stamp for the recommendations made by the Leader and Cabinet.

County Council - Good meeting was held re: SIDS. Each Council will be putting in the same amount of money. Another meeting is to be held on 16 January. Neighbourhood Forum meeting is to be held on 27 January in the school to discuss the Community Travel Plan. White paper is being issued by Government. Committee has been put together at County Council to discuss the White Paper and look at what to recommend. Allerdale will be doing the same. There is dissatisfaction in Allerdale with some people wanting Workington to link with Whitehaven and for rural Allerdale to join with Carlisle. Allerdale may be looking to join Copeland. One unitary authority is also an option. There are various options being considered. A post has been installed next to the dropped kerb at the entrance to the Crofts which was put there to stop people mounting the pavement and parking there. Going to be made more visible with fluorescent tape as it is black and can’t be seen when it is dark. Cumbria Highways are looking into the request for a zebra crossing at West Silloth.

No report.

Vat inspection has taken place and was satisfactory. Next Council meeting will be held on 15 January, after the Christmas/New Year holidays.

Cllr. Jefferson left the meeting.

The Town Council approved the list of cheque payments to 4 December 2006.

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

a) Silloth First Response Team - The Town Council agreed to provide funding of £950.40 to cover the rental of the First Responders’ pagers, as in previous years.

b) Silloth RUFC Juniors - group has been running for 4 weeks. Letter to be sent asking Mr Lettice to attend our next meeting to discuss the proposal with the Council. It was suggested that he make an application to the neighbourhood forum. A constitution and bank account will be required. Sports Hall is also now available for training. Floodlighting is already in the regeneration plans for the sports area. Existing lighting is adequate for the adults.

The Clerk had prepared some draft Budget figures for the Council’s consideration.

a) Replacement of seats on the Promenade. Seating can be part of the regeneration plans. Allerdale are unable to provide funding as costs were part of the maintenance contract. Price to be obtained from J. Johnstone (Engineering) Ltd to repair the seats from the Lifeboat Station to the Dock entrance.

b) Renewal of Playing Field equipment - meeting to be arranged.

c) Renewal of Bouncy Castle - Putting Green has now gone. Need to negotiate with the operator of the facilities, when it is put out to tender.

Meeting to be held on 18 December at 7.00pm to finalise the Budget for 2007/08.

Following complaints received, the Town Council considered what action to take regarding parking in front of dropped kerbs at disabled accesses throughout the town. There is nothing there to notify motorists that they should not park next to a dropped kerb. Yellow lines are broken up and can’t be seen. Dropped kerbs need to be accessible and able to be used. It was agreed to bring the matter to the attention of the Highways Authority.

Following the meeting on 27 November, there is a further meeting to be held on 16 January 2007. It is hoped that 10 Council’s will sign up to the scheme which will spread the cost of purchasing the equipment. It was agreed to make an application to the Neighbourhood Forum for £500, to cover any potential shortfall.

541 Clerk’s wages for 2006/07

Cllr. Jefferson has not met with Guy Richardson yet.

Ongoing.

The Town Council are interested in the contract to clean the public conveniences in Silloth but the figures are not acceptable. Reply to be sent. May be interested in taking on Allonby as well, at the right price.