Present:- Cllrs. A.J. Markley, S. Hart, W. Jefferson, W. Johnston, A. Proud, M. Snaith, J. Snaith & G. Wilkinson. Also Wendy Jameson-Brown.

964 Apologies:- Cllrs. R.W. Allison, I. Baty, E. Wannop & A. Weightman. Also Ken Wannop. (All on holiday).

965 Declarations of Interest

Cllr. W. Johnston - re: Rugby Club. Non-pecuniary interest - will speak but not vote.

Cllr. S. Hart - re: Football Club

It was agreed that the Press & Public be excluded from the meeting when items 20 & 21 are discussed.

None

The Town Council approved the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 17 January 2005 and the Chairman was authorised to sign them as a true record.

A brief report was given on incidents of crime since the last meeting, which included various incidents of damage to vehicles, two minor traffic accidents and youths being a nuisance and gathering at the Dock area. On 1 February the drinking ban in public places came into effect in Silloth, Wigton & Aspatria. Signs have been put up on Wigton Road, Skinburness Road and Beaconsfield Terrace. There are a further 3 signs to be put up in the town in prominent positions and it was agreed that Ken would attend to this. Signs to be fixed to the Eden Street bus shelter, Petteril Street bus shelter and one on Criffel Street next to the Green. A report has been compiled following the Holme Cuthbert Parish Council meeting at which concerns were raised about the lack of signs when the road needs to be closed at Dubmill Point due to flooding. Signs need to be erected at Blitterlees and Maryport to give motorists plenty of warning. It was agreed that a letter be sent to the Traffic Management Officer at Ramsay Brow, Workington asking that signs be provided but stressing the point that these need to be supervised properly. Cllr. Proud mentioned the problem of mud and sluther on the roads and questioned who’s responsibility it is the clean it up. If there is an accident then the farmer would be liable. Farmers vehicles often have no number plates, no lights on trailers etc but this is low on the Police’s list of priorities.

There had been no requests from members of the public to speak in the meeting.

a) Community Law Centre - Annual Report 2003/2004.

b) Zurich Municipal - Further information requested following the claim by Mrs S. Mills.

c) Cumbria County Council - Cumbria & Lake District Joint Structure Plan - Copy of the panel report is available on the website www.planningcumbria.org.uk

d) Silloth First Response Team - Letter of thanks following receipt of the cheque for £950.40.

e) Cumbria County Council - re: Experimental width restriction in Wigton - Letter passed to Mr David Bell, so that Council’s comments may be brought to the attention of the Area Committee when is considers any representations.

f) Letter of thanks from the Mayor of Carlisle following our letter of support following the recent floods.

g) Cumbria County Council - re: The future of Acute Health Services in the North Cumbria Area. Comments passed to the Cumbria Health & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee for consideration.

h) Wigton Town Council - E-mail from Elizabeth Key re: Christmas Lights. Wigton has an ad hoc committee of volunteers who carry out all the work involved and are included on the Town Council’s insurance policy.

i) Cumbria County Council - Solway Coast Neighbourhood Forum - joint event to be held at Silloth Primary School on Wednesday 9 February 2005 at 1.45pm.

j) Keswick Town Council - E-mail from Kate Turner to say that Keswick uses the services of County Contracting for the installation and dismantling of its Christmas Lighting displays and is highly recommended.

k) Maryport Town Council - Letter from Mrs J. Thompson to say that Maryport uses Cumbria Contract Services for its Christmas Lights.

l) Allerdale Association of Local Councils - A special Highways & Transport Evening on Tuesday 8 March, Castle Inn Hotel, Bassenthwaite at 7.30 pm.

m) Office of the Deputy Prime Minister - Freedom of Information Act 2000 - Information about the authorisation of the Qualified Person and amendments to Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

n) Silloth RUFC - Letter asking for some clarification on the £380 pa rent charged. The rent charged is ground rent on which the clubhouse stands. Clerk to check the lease agreement. The Rugby Club are sent a bill which is paid each year. It was questioned why it had not been queried before and whether they have a copy of the lease. Letter to be sent to the Rugby Club clarifying the position.

o) Cumbria County Council - Consultation on the Draft Local Transport Plan. It was agreed to defer the matter to the next meeting as comments are to be sent in by the beginning of March.

p) Letter from Jan Enderby of The Old Post Office seeking clarification on a number of points in relation to the Silloth Childcare Initiative. The planning application has been approved by the Town Council’s planning committee and is now in the hands of Allerdale Borough Council. The Town Council have not put any money into the Childcare Initiative and there has never been a motion in front of the Town Council to express an opinion on it. The planning application was considered on planning grounds and not whether the Town Council agreed with the scheme or not. The first letter from TOPO was in response to an article in the Cumberland News which is difficult to express an opinion on. Cllr. Jefferson suggested that the Council needs to give an assurance to TOPO that we are not trying to openly undermine a business venture in Silloth. The Childcare Initiative was set up before TOPO and is in competition with the Nursery provision at the Primary School. It was felt that it is not a Town Council matter to say where competition comes from but it was also suggested that it is not fair competition if an enterprise is going to be funded by government funding.

q) On the Move Project - Letter about the project and seeking information about the facilities and activities available in Silloth. Clerk to obtain further information. Delegate the matter to the Parks Committee if necessary.

r) CALC - Survey of current functions of parish and town councils. It was agreed to delegate it to the Clerk for completion.

s) Cumbria County Council - Application to amend the Definitive map of public rights of way - public footpath no 253008. Photocopy of the definitive map as requested. The existing footpath runs through a farm building and after some discussion it was agreed that a letter be sent suggesting that the footpath should go behind the farm building and not the new proposed route which may cause objections from local residents.

t) Great North Air Ambulance Service - Information about the service and also a request that consideration be given for a suitable venue where a collection point could be situated. It was suggested that a container be provided, like the one supplied by British Heart Foundation and located at the existing recycling centre.

u) Letter from Navy Careers Office at Carlisle asking for permission to park their trailer on the Green when HMS Biter visits the town in March. There were no objections to the trailer being parked on the Green which is a prominent location.

Allerdale Borough Council have approved the following:-

Renewal of shop window at Berry & Sons, 5 Caldew Street, Silloth, Cumbria

Allerdale Borough Council have refused the following:-

Outline application for residential development on land adjacent to Holme Farm, Blitterlees, Silloth.

None

Cllr. Wilkinson is meeting with Peter Marr on Wednesday regarding the signs in the town.

Primary School Trip arranged visiting Carlisle Utd. Group away at Fellside at the moment.

Joint Advisory Committee No meeting.

Silloth Tourist Action Group No meeting.

Silloth Regeneration Partnership No report.

North Allerdale Partnership Tony attended a meeting. Jerry Sewell has been appointed as the new Chairman, with Duncan Fairbairn and Peter McRobert as the two deputy chairmen. Positives talks have been taking place.

Sea Dyke Charity No meeting.

Longcake Educational Trust Meeting on Thursday.

Silloth Health Matters Nothing of any significance to report.

Allerdale Massive campaign going on re: dog fouling. Signs are also going up re: drinking ban.

County No report.

The Clerk read out a brief report listing the work done over the last month by Ken and Joe.

No report

The list of payments to the 7 February 2005 were approved by the Town Council.

A report was produced by the Clerk showing the up to date position regarding the current financial year. This was briefly considered by the Council. Play Equipment committee meeting to be held and prices to be obtained for some disabled swings - £2303 remaining in the budget. The signs committee to consider whether there are any signs needed - £1500 remaining in the budget. £5000 allocated to Silloth Regeneration Partnership. £1802 remaining in the budget for donations etc. Also £400 in the sports fund.

A request had been received from Silloth RUFC for funding of £5000 towards the cost of providing and fitting a new conservatory. There is some confusion as to whether the Rugby Club would be classed as a business as it runs its own bar. Grants to businesses are outside the scope of the Council, however the main object of the Rugby Club is to play rugby not make money. It was agreed that clarification needs to be obtained on whether the Town Council can support the Rugby Club from the District Auditor and the Borough Solicitor. Letter also to the Rugby Club explaining that we are obtaining advice on the matter.

The Sports Changing Rooms were originally used by the Football Club, Cricket, Hockey and Netball but have become locally known as the football changing rooms as the other clubs have ceased to exist. It was suggested that the Town Council consider selling the changing rooms to the football club which would get rid of the financial burden involved. There are rates, water, electric and maintenance to pay every year. There has been no letter received from the football club asking if they can by the building and it is hoped that other clubs may be resurrected in the future. The Rugby Club regularly use the building, including Abbeytown football club and the tennis club use it for storage. The building is open to anyone who wants to use it. The football club was a major contributor to the scheme at the start, in the 1980’s. It was agreed that no action be taken. The changing rooms are a town asset and are available for use by people in the town.

983 Lease of the Green

An e-mail had been received from Gaynor Wragg of Crutes solicitors suggesting that the Council take up the matter of the security of tenure provisions of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 with Allerdale Borough Council, as this has been excluded from the new lease. The Town Council agreed to take her advice. Clerk to write to John Stables at Burnetts who is acting for Allerdale Borough Council.

Nothing outstanding of any concern.

Signed………………………………..................... Date…………………………