Present:- Cllrs. A.J. Markley, W. Allison, C. Baty, S. Burns, S. Hart, M. Snaith, E. Wannop & A. Weightman. Also Ken Wannop & Wendy Jameson.

583 Apologies:- Cllrs. G. Wilkinson & W. Jefferson. Also PC Andy Robertson.

Graham has been taken ill and is in hospital. It was agreed that a card be sent from the Town Council.

Cllr. Markley re: County Council

Cllr. Wannop re: Ken

Cllr. Allison re: Allison Designs

It was agreed to discuss items 25, 27 & 28 at the end of the meeting after the Press & Public have been excluded.

No report as Graham is in hospital.

Minutes of the meeting held on 15 January 2007 were approved by the Town Council and signed as a true record.

PC Robertson sent his apologies and sent a written Police Report which was read out at the meeting.

The meeting was attended by Ashley Daymond and Julia Cooper from Solway Community Technology College. Ashley gave a presentation to the Council re: the Citizenship Prize. He thanked the Council for the presentation of the award which had enabled him and his family to spend 2 days in London. They had spent time sightseeing, shopping, saw the Billy Elliot production at the theatre and also met with Tony Cunningham MP, who showed them round the Houses of Parliament. Thanks were also received from the school. The prize has raised the awareness of citizenship in the school.

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

a) CALC - Training Programme February to October 2007.

b) Cumbria County Council - One Council, One Vision, One Voice. Draft copy of the County Council’s proposed submission to Government to establish a single unitary authority for Cumbria.

c) Solway Coast Neighbourhood Forum - Meeting on 29 January 07 at Silloth Primary School re: Community Travel Plan.

d) Solway Community Technology College - re: Sports Hall. Interested sports groups have been contacted and organised a programme of activities around their needs. All have been given a time slot in the new hall and have been operational since the end on September 2006. Activities are scheduled between 4.00pm and 9.00pm Mon-Fri and a 2 hr soccer session on Sunday morning. School have use through the day and Silloth Primary use it on Tuesday afternoon. Not yet introduced a Pay and Play system, therefore all individual usage needs to be prebooked. Pay and Play may be introduced in the future if we are able to fund a full-time sports centre manager.

e) Allerdale Borough Council - re: Missing name Plates. Letter has been passed to Property Services section for their attention.

f) Allerdale Borough Council - re: Cleaning of Public Conveniences. The cost proposed is a cost that is not negotiable. The cost was set at a maximum level, to encourage the town council to take over the operation, but not set so high so Allerdale would be over its current budget level. Grateful for time and effort that Town Council has given the issue.

g) Allerdale Borough Council - re: The Dog Control Orders (Procedure) Regulations 2006. Council is preparing a Dog Control Order extending the areas where it is an offence for the person in charge of a dog which fouls to fail to remove any faeces forthwith. Town Council’s comments requested on the proposal. The Council commend Allerdale for their efforts and agree that all open areas should be subject to the regulations. An email had been received from the Rugby club re: Dog Fouling on the sports pitches which continues to be a problem. Letter to be sent to Allerdale. Item to be put in the Buzz to say that the Council support Allerdale in taking stronger action against offenders. Dogs should be kept off children’s play areas.

h) Solway Community Technology College - re: Prize Day - Thursday 8 February. Letter asking for Council’s support and invitation to the Annual Prize Day. It was agreed that a cheque for £25 be sent towards the Prize Day and agree in principle to support the Citizenship Prize. Three Cllrs. Will be attending the presentation.

i) Cumbria County Council - re: PC SIDS Scheme. Scheme is due to start on 11 Feb. Each Council needs to appoint a volunteer, together with a back up, who will take in the SID for recharging each evening. Contact details required. Next meeting is on 1 Feb in Beacon Hill School to agree the rota for the scheme. Representative needs to attend. Meeting took place. Ken has agreed to recharge the SID every evening.

j) Letter from D Whitfield praising the Council for work carried out to entrance to sports field and siting of litter bin. Another observation which needs looked at, is all the rubbish amongst the trees and shrubs. Suggest that people doing community service are asked to tidy it up. This has already been done.

k) Allerdale Borough Council - re: Allerdale Open Space Audit. PMP consultants have been recruited to conduct a survey of open space across the borough. Letter asking if the Town Council would like to be involved. Letter to be sent to confirm that the Town Council wish to be involved.

l) Silloth Youth Centre - Letter asking for a meeting with interested Councillors, regarding the future of the building. MOBEX will be coming to the Council with their ideas. It was agreed to wait until then, before a decision is made about the building. Reply to be sent to Mrs Johnstone and also to MOBEX.

The Town Council have approved the following:-

* Extension to existing slipway at the Boathouse, Lawn Terrace, Silloth

* Erection of conservatory and garden shed to rear of property at 20 Acre Bank Close, Skinburness, Wigton

Allerdale Borough Council have approved the following:-

* Change of use to tea/coffee shop at 9 Station Road, Silloth

* Proposed siting of port cabin for use as office for taxi business and parking two private hire vehicles at Unit 1 Station Road Industrial Estate, Silloth

* Proposed sunroon extension at 8 Latrigg Street, Silloth

* Conversion of former police station into 5 dwellings at former Police Station, Eden Street, Silloth

None

Play Equipment Committee Meeting on 17 December 2006. The Town Council agreed to the various recommendations made by the play equipment committee which included the following:- Depth of the woodchip needs to be increased; Fort gets a lot of use but is getting to be a problem. Price to be obtained from Jimmy Johnstone to replace all the woodwork with metal and also to have the metalwork sandblasted and then repainted; Ken to dismantle the climbing frame/monkey bars; Sand pit needs topped up with sand. Ken to put wooden latts on the inside, to prevent there being a finger trap hazard; Cradle seat needs replaced on swings; Replace bouncy motorcycle with something similar; Gate at bottom of play area needs attention. Kids keep riding into it with their bikes and it therefore no longer closes automatically; Wooden rail needs replaced on one of the picnic benches; Rubber safety surfacing will need to be replaced eventually.

Primary School Next governors meeting is tomorrow.

Joint Advisory Committee No report. Brian Irving is recovering well and is feeling better. Silloth Tourist Action Group Web site is being set up at the moment. Leaflets - will be out next month. 11/12 August - Food festival. Want permission from the Town Council to have it on the Green this year. This was agreed by the Town Council. Insurance will be covered by Silloth Festivals Ltd. Craft Fair at Easter. Kite Festival will be in July (letter to come). Beer Festival in September and Carnival in August.

Silloth Regeneration Partnership Report later.

North Allerdale Partnership No report.

Silloth Health Matters Currently refreshing their grants criteria. Will not be giving grants to anything that is not health related. Looking for things that will benefit kids and old people.

Sea Dyke Charity No meeting.

Longcake Education Trust Jim continues to attend the meetings with donations being given to local schools.

Allerdale - Everything is in place for the changes in local government. Town Council needs to be ready for the changes and meet with the criteria to be a Beacon council. One of the criteria is for Councillors to be elected. Clerk to check with CALC.

County Council - The Town Council needs to be looking forward. The Town Council is already pioneering with taking over the grounds maintenance. Town and parishes are likely to be responsible for more things. Town Council needs to find out what we need to be doing to achieve Quality Parish status. Item to be put on next agenda. Neighbourhood Forum meeting re: Community Travel Plan at the school was well attended, with over 50 people there. Andy Butler has gone away to put ideas together and see what they can actually do. It was suggested that a kerbside barrier be put up at the West Silloth entrance to the play area to prevent kids running out onto the road.

Ken gave a brief report on the work done over the last month. General Maintenance and putting mulch on the flower beds. Clearing sports areas and litter collected. Most of the work has been done in the play area. Ken has agreed to put the SID’s device out in the morning and collect it in at night.

Letter of resignation has been received from Cllr. Gus Proud which was read out in the meeting. Letter of acknowledgement to be sent to Gus. Allerdale Borough Council are also to be notified.

The Town Council approved the list of cheque payments to 5 February 2007.

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

a) Silloth RUFC - It was suggested that the Rugby Club be advised to apply to Allerdale Community Fund. B&Q also do grants to sports and community groups for kitchens. www.diy.com/awards Town Council have already supported the Rugby Club in the last 2 years.

b) Soldiers in Silloth - The Town Council welcome the idea, as the museum will bring visitors into the town. It was questioned who the local businessman is that will be acting as facilitator and what will they be doing? The Town Council support the venture in principle but need more details. It would be preferred that any funding provided was used for the actual fabric of the building.

A detailed report was received from Silloth Regeneration Partnership as to the recent meeting with Heritage Lottery regarding the project for the regeneration of Silloth Green.

Thanks were given to Cllr. Allison and everyone involved, for all the work they had put in re: Heritage Lottery etc. It will be good to see something happening on the ground. A meeting has taken place with Heritage Lottery regarding the pre-application form. Applying for a project planning grant for £50K. Detailed plans will be drawn up for the area by experts. Regeneration partnership is acting as agents. The Town Council will be the applicants. There will be a cost to the Town Council over a 3 year period. It was approved that the Regeneration Partnership apply for the grant of £50K. Match funding will be applied for from the North West Development Agency. Money will be forthcoming. Indications are that money will be allowed to be carried over to next year. Awards for All grant has been received of £8200. It would be better if the Town Council are seen to be paying part of Liz Carlisle’s fees which will amount to 12 days work + fees i.e. £5400. 8 days will be funded by NWDA. If Silloth Town Council are seen to be putting something in it would be better. £2500 is included in the Budget for the Regeneration Partnership. It was agreed that the Town Council would pay for the remaining 4 days @ £400 per day. £1600 + VAT, with the remaining balance to be paid to the Regeneration Partnership. Silloth Town Council will be responsible for contracts and paying out money. Regeneration Partnership will conduct interviews and get the approval of the Town Council. The Town Council will need to have accountable body status. Town Council will act as banker. Advice needs to be obtained on how to become an “accountable body” and how to get payments made etc. A meeting is to take place in the next fortnight with Tony, Bill & Margaret with Mike Phillips. The scheme is in its early stages and a public consultation exercise will have to be carried out prior to approval of any scheme put forward.

601 Criffel Street Market

The market stopped in November because traders decided they were not making any money. Planning to come back in March. When the market is sited from the Golf Hotel up Criffel Street, it causes problems re: traffic, particularly on a Sunday. A traffic impact assessment was done. The whole of Criffel Street is allocated for the market from the Golf Hotel to the Rafa. The Council were asked if we would allow the stalls on the Green which was not agreed to by the Council. As a compromise, it was agreed to write to Allerdale to request that the market be sited further up Criffel Street on a Sunday, to avoid the potential problems re: traffic.

It was agreed that a letter be sent to the County Council to request for an extension to the Library opening hours in the evening, to make it easier for residents who work during the day and to enable them to make use of the facilities.

The Town Council considered the possibility of offering weekend surgeries for residents who would like to have a chat with their local Councillors to bring concerns to their attention or pass on helpful information. Surgeries have been tried in the past but it was agreed try it again.

Letter to be sent to Cumbria Highways asking when the wall mounted street light No 319 at the rear of the Bowling Club, Eden Street is to be replaced, as this is of major concern to the pensioners using the footpath to their centre at night.

It was agreed that a letter be sent to Allerdale Borough Council/FOCSA to ask why they continually send the large sweeper into Silloth on a Sunday, when everyone is at home and cars are all parked. Mid week would be better when there are fewer cars parked up. Drains are getting blocked because of the mud not being cleaned away. In October 2004 Allerdale stated the day would be changed, we are still waiting. Furthermore why when the sweeper was round on Christmas Eve, did it again sweep the street on Boxing Day?

The Clerk had produced an up-to-date financial report. It was agreed that the Council give this some consideration and bring any comments back to the next meeting.

Student Progress Report has been received from Newton Rigg re: Will Stephenson. The report is a credit to Will and to the grounds maintenance team, and also to the Town Council for taking him on. Letter to be sent to Will to praise his achievement. Letter of praise also to be sent to the Grounds Maintenance team.

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.

Following a meeting with representatives of Allonby Parish Council, it was suggested that the Town Council put in a bid to Allerdale for the Grounds Maintenance work at Allonby. Allonby Parish Council may find it difficult to get the contract from Allerdale, whereas the Town Council may be able to extend our existing grounds maintenance contract. The grounds maintenance covers a large area (from the toilets coming into Allonby to the last house at the other end). It is likely to cost approx £10K to buy the necessary machinery to do the job. Would need an extra machine and a trailer to transport it there. Could possibly consider getting another small John Deere machine. It will be easier and likely to be more successful if we extend our existing contract with Allerdale. It would not cost Allonby anything because Allerdale would pay the Town Council for doing the work. Letter to be sent to Allonby Parish Council to get their views on the suggestion.

Nothing to report.

Nothing of any concern.