Tatham Parish Council

Present: District Cllr Joyce Pritchard, Cllrs Melany Winstanley, Ruby Murray, Andrew Taylor, Bill Deller & Jim Harrison, PC Keith Collins and the Clerk.

Public Time: The work of the Lengthsman was discussed. The proposal to close Harden ward at Castleberg Hospital for six months before repairs are carried out was discussed.

1. Apologies: Parish Cllr Mason and Cllr Dawson whose mother is ill.

2. Minutes: of 15/01/08 including the budget has 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: A review of Police Authority Community Meetings has been received. PC Collins spoke about the new Lune Valley Road Safety Forum; this is expected to streamline communications between the Parishes, Police and Highways. The Police have obtained signs for farmers to use to warn road users of temporary hazards such as mud on the road. He said that although no crime has been reported in Tatham, thieves are targeting building sites and outlying buildings, stealing metal and equipment including chain saws; he said if anyone sees a suspicious transit van to contact the police.

4. Risk Assessment: Insurance and the state of Parish Council property was discussed at length and no problems found. Cllr Harrison is to inspect the Insurance policy

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

(a) Bank Statements Current 24 Oct. – 24 Jan £4,713.48

Reserve – Interest 24 Oct– 24 Jan £6.27 £762.56

The chairman signed the bank statements.

(b) Received: 12 February, VAT repayment £31.50

(c) Cllr Deller proposed and Cllr Murray seconded that the following be paid

Cheque No 299 Clerk’s salary £400; clerk’s expenses £73.24 £473.24

(d) Requests for funding from MENCAP.

6. Plans: Results of Planning Applications are to be viewed on the web site, hard copies will no longer be sent to the Parish Council.

Details received of Draft (replacement) Planning Application Validation Guide (web site)

Granted - alterations to Park Side Barn for Mr John Day

Granted – LB alterations to Hill House for Mr & Mrs Staveley

Granted – conversion of building to work shop, Lower Perries for Mr & Mrs Mickle

New & Amendment – 08/00216/FUL Construction of new access track to Raw Ridding House, Lower Tatham for Mrs Rebecca Sanderson.

7. Highways: (a) Reply from Mr Robson; gullies have been cleared near Aikengills. (b) The Lengthsman has spent all his time in Tatham clearing gullies/grates, he is to be asked to list the roads cleared on his time sheet so that the Parish Council can liaise with Highways. (c) A letter has been received from the Good Shepherd Church pointing out problem areas on the Church road. The owner of the field next to the car park has volunteered to clear debris from the stream to prevent flooding over the road; Mr Robson is to be informed of the other problems. Mr Bowden is to be asked to trim back trees between the Church and Glen Cottage. A sign is to be again requested to prevent large HGVs going down this road. (d) a hole in the side of the road has been reported on Lythe Fell road near Whitray Bridge. (e) Blocked gullies on Agnes Ing Lane were reported some time ago, Mr Robson is to be informed.

8. City Council: (a) information re Antisocial Behaviour Task Group – meeting March 27 (b) budget meeting (c) information re allowances (d) Register of electors (e) A thank you letter for those who attended the Mayors reception, Cllr Mason attended.

9. County Council: (a) best kept village (b) Parish Charter Seminar at Preston on 12 April (c) Lancashire Local – Lancaster District meetings minutes Jan, agenda March (d) North West Regional Assembly, the Parish Council does not wish to be on the register.

10. LAPTC: Lancaster –

County – (a) questionnaire re courses: Conference discussion summary: Morecambe Bay walk 22 June (b) The chairman’s name to be forwarded for the Palace Garden Party on 15 July

National- Magazines & legal briefing.

11. Community Futures: Cllr Deller reported on the Parish Plan – more than 70 percent of the people filled in the questionnaire; the committee has met twice and are well on with summarising the questionnaire. A public meeting is to be held in the Old School on 30 April.

12. Correspondence: (a)The Playing Field newsletter (b) NYCC Minerals and Waste development Framework core strategy submissions (c) Cllr Dawson has filled in the Fire and Safety questionnaire, they offer a free fire safety check (d) Forest of Bowland meeting 21 February (e) Code of conduct (f) Celebrate St Georges Day magazine (g) Standards Board leaflet (h) The Parish Council does not wish to remain on Wyre Borough Council database.

13. Next meeting: 20 May at 7.30pm in the Old School, Tatham Fells, Annual Parish Assembly/Meeting, Annual Parish Council meeting & May meeting.

Pictures kindly donated by Mike Winstanley and ICTMatrix Project
Parish Information provided by Mary Taylor - Clerk to the Parish Council