Present: District Cllr Stuart Langhorn, Cllrs Bill Deller (Chairman), Ruby Murray, Melanie Winstanley, Andrew Taylor, Sue Dawson & Jim Harrison, the clerk Mary Taylor, Police Community Support Officer Peter Wood & one member of the public Margaret Baker.

Public Time: The state of the roads in Tatham was discussed; there are many potholes and for several weeks the only minor road gritted in the recent ice and snow was Lowgill Road to Ivah.

Broadband is very poor or non existent in most of Tatham, a letter is to be sent to Cllr Langhorn at Lancaster City Council and the MP Geraldine Smith.

1. Apologies: Cllr Michael Mason who is working.

2. Minutes: of 17/11/09 have been circulated. Cllr Deller, chairman signed them as a true and correct record, proposed by Cllr Harrison seconded by Cllr Dawson.

3. Police & Community Together: PCSO Wood reported that windows of four cars had been broken on the night of 30 December; these were parked in Higher Tatham at the road side because of snow on private drives/tracks: In the Lune Valley poaching, hare coursing, speeding and boy racers the main problems:

A letter from Mr Andrew Stocks inviting anyone in the district to an event to be held at Ivah Great Hill on 31 December had been circulated and a copy put on the notice board; the event did not take place because of the snow. PC Carl Wood has arranged a meeting with Mr Stocks regarding licensing.

The next PACT meeting will be held here in the Old School on 2 February.

4. Lengthsman: Cllr Harrison reported that the renewal of the Lengthsman’s Contract is being put out to tender. Simon Armistead was at the meeting when this was decided.

5. Insurance: Cllr Harrison had obtained names of insurers from the LALC, the clerk had contacted them. Enquires are to be made as to the ownership and insurance of the war memorial.

6. Finance: The up to date Receipts & Payments book & quarterly report were inspected.

(a) Letters requesting grants for next year (with balance sheets) have been received.

(b) Cllr Dawson proposed and Cllr Taylor seconded that the following be paid –

Cheque No 329 Dave Duperouzel (hosting website) £60

(c)The Budget for 2010/11 was discussed; Cllrs agreed all items

(d) PRECEPT - Cllr Taylor proposed & Cllr Dawson seconded that we apply for a Precept of £4,250 and the form was filled in and signed. Budget displayed on the following page.

7. Plans:

09/01126/LB – Listed Building application for a replacement domestic garage for Mr R Bradley, The Green, Mewith Lane, Tatham, LA2 8PJ.

There were no objections

Work is being carried out on Blands, Old Moor Road (this suffered a severe fire), a letter was read from the planners who know all about the work.

8. City Council: The Parish Council had replied to a consultation re the City Council Budget supporting the District Community & Voluntary Solutions – closing date 8 Jan: Other meetings – Overview & Scrutiny Task Group 12 Jan; Street lights & crime; Shore line management 9 Dec.

9. County Council: Lancashire Local – Lancaster District minutes and agendas & proposed discontinuation of this: Proposed speed restrictions: Wastes & Minerals consultation.

Highways: Reply to our letter from Jo Turton. Letters received from Mrs Catherine Taylor re lack of gritting & Mrs Helen Wilkinson re flooding and contamination of her water supply, these are to be forwarded to Highways. After a great deal of work Highways have solved the problem of flooding at Millhouses.

The Parish Council would like to help the County Council, suggestions were made that a representative attend a Parish Council meeting; Parish Councillors volunteered to ride round with a Highways representative to point out the main problems; also local farmers could be used to clear snow; Snow Gates or Road Closed signs could be put up, on Lythe Fell at the Botton Head junction and in Slaidburn Parish at Lamb Hill to close this road in snow – this would release workmen to clear roads to where Parishioners actually live.

Highways are to be informed of many complaints regarding lack of grit and salt, grit boxes being empty, and lack of gritting on most of the roads.

They are also to be informed of potholes – 1 On Old Moor Road between Hunters Barn and Russells Lane junction and 2 at the entrance to Perry Moor; 3 on Burn Moor at Lanshaw road end; 4 Lowgill Road, on the hill south of Mill Bridge; 5 Ivah Great Hill; 6 Church Road, Tatham Fells and also on this road the side of the road is crumbling away near the Good Shepherd Church.

10. LALC:

Lancaster – Minutes & Agenda.

County – December Newsletter: Annual & financial reports: Results of Questionnaire re developed services: Training.

National- Magazines.

11. Parish Plan: A letter from Mrs Osborne to Ms Janet Soo-Chung at North Lancashire NHS Teaching Primary Care Trust was read, the meeting resolved to send the letter, this is to ensure that Parishioners are not disadvantaged by cross-border problems.

12. Correspondence: Christmas card from MP Geraldine Smith: One Voice: Invitation to Chairman to Blackburn Cathedral 10 Jan.

13. Next meeting: 16 March 2010 at 7.30pm in the Old School, Tatham Fells.

CLERKS SALARY 425

CLERKS EXPENSES 90

INSURANCE 380

L.A.L.C. 90

ROOM HIRE 40

AUDIT 120

WEB SITE 60

1,205

TATHAM FELLS OLD SCHOOL/VILLAGE HALL 400

LENGTHSMAN 1,500

EMERGENCY FUND 230

PARISH PLAN 85 2,215

ST JAMES THE LESS CHURCH 240

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH 240

FRIENDS OF TATHAM FELLS SCHOOL 200

N. W. AIR AMBULANCE 100

WRAYLY MAIL (Towards publication) 50

TOTAL & PRECEPT 4,250