Present: District Cllr Joyce Prichard, Cllrs Melanie Winstanley, Ruby Murray, Bill Deller, Michael Mason, Andrew Taylor, & Jim Harrison, the Clerk & Police Constable Ian Johnston.

Public Time:

Four Cllrs filled in the Notification of Members Interests Forms. This is the third time some Cllrs had filled in the form, as the City Council had sent the wrong forms twice. Cllr Prichard volunteered to take the completed forms to the Town Hall.

1. Apologies: Cllr Sue Dawson, County Cllr Susie Charles & District Cllr Stuart Langhorn.

2. Minutes: of 20/11/07 have been circulated. Cllr Winstanley, chairman signed them as a true and correct record, proposed by Cllr Deller seconded by Cllr Murray.

3. Police & Community Together: PC Johnston said that the new PC at Caton is Keith Collins. No crime had been reported in Tatham but roofing slates had been stolen from building sites locally. Also illegal hare coursing is being carried out at night, he said that anyone seeing a suspicious vehicle parked in a lay by should contact Lancaster Police Station on 01524 63333 and leave a message for him. He said that the new Lune Valley Road Safety Forum needs a representative from each Parish Council to discuss road safety matters; Cllr Winstanley volunteered. The Police are in the process of acquiring road signs (e.g. Mud on the Road) for use by farmers.

4. Lengthsman: The chairman had attended a meeting with Tarja Wilson and representatives from Wray and Melling where she had signed the Lengthsman’s contract. Cllrs had inspected his time sheet for November, much of his work is keeping water off the roads; he is to be asked to contact Cllr Mason to locate and clear grates on Long Lane.

5. Website: Northern Rural Partnership has given up hosting the web site. This has been taken over by Dave Duperouzel, 13 Kingsmill Ave., Whallley, Clitheroe, Lancs. BB7 9PG. Phone 01524 823902 or 07976 882136; email dave@duperouzel.com.

6. Finance: The up to date Receipts & Payments book was inspected.

(a) Letters requesting grants for next year have been received from the Good Shepherd Church and the Old School.

(b) Cllr Mason proposed and Cllr Harrison seconded that the following be paid –

Cheque No 297 Parish Plan Tatham Fells School (photocopying) £130

Cheque No 298 Dave Duperouzel (hosting website) £60

(c)The Budget for 2008/09 was discussed; Cllrs agreed all items, the Budget to be £3,400

(d) PRECEPT - Cllr Winstanley proposed & Cllr Deller seconded that we apply for a Precept of £3,400 and the form was filled in and signed.

CLERKS SALARY 400

CLERKS EXPENSES 90

INSURANCE 340

L.A.P.T.C. 90

ROOM HIRE 50

AUDIT 120

WEB SITE 60

1,150

TATHAM FELLS OLD SCHOOL/VILLAGE HALL

(Towards Insurance) 400

LENGTHSMAN 2,000

EMERGENCY FUND 20 2,420

ST JAMES THE LESS CHURCH 240

(Towards churchyard maintenance)

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH 240

(Towards churchyard maintenance)

FRIENDS OF TATHAM FELLS SCHOOL 200

(Towards trip to theatre)

N. W. AIR AMBULANCE 100

WRAYLY MAIL (Towards publication) 50

TOTAL 4,400

TAKEN FROM RESERVES 1,000

7. Plans:

Granted: Creation of a ménage at Knot Barn for Mr & Mrs Garstang.

Granted: Replacement of stable with office/studio for JWGovier, Higher Stock Bridge.

New – 07/01681/LB Internal alterations, Hill House, Lowgill Lane for Mr & Mrs Staveley

New – 07/01696/FUL Various alterations & extensions, Lower Perries, Old Moor road for Mr N Cookson

New – 07/01629/CU Conversion of redundant farm dairy building to Joiners workshop, Perry Moor for Mr & Mrs Mickle

New – 07/01689/FUL Provision of opening on south gable end, Park Side Barn for Mr John Day

New – 07/01765/FUL Erection & extension of stock building, Mealbank for L Burrow & sons.

8. Highways: Reply from Mr Robson: He is to be reminded that no verge trimming has been done on Lythe Fell and on the road to Botton Head; and informed of holes in the road on Monks Gate and Mewith Lane; blocked grates on Agnes Ing Lane and the poor state of the fence on Old Moor Road near Wennington Station.

9. City Council: (a) Cllr Prichard volunteered to send us the new Register of Electors (b) Cllr Mason is to attend the Mayors Reception on February 25

10. County Council: (a) Minerals & waste draft core strategy (b) Parish Charter update (c) Lancashire Local – Lancaster District minutes and agendas (d) Climate change website.

11. LAPTC:

Lancaster – Minutes Nov. Agenda Jan.

County – December Newsletter: Training workshops.

National- Magazines.

12. Community Futures: Cllr Deller reported that all the Parish Plan questionnaires had been delivered and around 130 returned. Community Futures are analysing the results at £2.50 each.

13. Correspondence: (a) Christmas card from MP Geraldine Smith and a letter offering to attend a Parish Council meeting (b) SELRAP (Skipton – East Lancashire Rail Action Group) request a letter of support, Cllrs agreed to support SELRAP.

14. Next meeting: March 18, 2008 at 7.30pm in the Old School, Tatham Fells.