Tatham Parish Council

Present: District Cllr Joyce Prichard, Parish Cllrs, chairman Bill Deller, Melany Winstanley, Andrew Taylor, Michael Mason & Jim Harrison, the Clerk and PCSO Peter Wood.

Public Time: The clerk is to collect nomination papers for the coming election from Lancaster Town Hall. Cllr Mason said that he would retire at the election after spending 40 years in local government, first at Bentham and for the last 20 years at Tatham. The Chairman thanked Cllr Mason who is to be sent a formal letter of thanks.

1. Apologies: Cllr Sue Dawson & Cllr Ruby Murray who are both away.

2. Minutes: of 18 January 2011 including the budget has been circulated. Cllr Deller, chairman signed them as a true and correct record, proposed by Cllr Mason, seconded by Cllr Harrison.

3. Police And Community Together: PCSO Wood warned that scrap merchants are targeting farms, taking anything that can be sold for scrap. Recent police night operations have deterred thieves. Cllrs expressed dismay that the number of police officers is being decreased, the clerk is to write to Police Superintendent Richard Spedding at Lancaster Police Station asking for police cover in the country areas. PCSO Wood then left the meeting.

4. Lengthsman: Cllr Harrison reported on a meeting with representatives from Wray and Melling which he and Cllr Deller had attended. The Lengthsman is now to be paid £12 per hour and Tatham’s share of a one off fuel allowance is £41. The Lengthsman is repairing the notice board. Cllr Harrison has bought some cork tiles for the back, Cllr Deller proposed and Cllr Winstanley seconded that we reimburse Cllr Harrison for the tiles, all were in favour.

5. Seat: Mrs Barbary Hartley has given a seat to the Parish in memory of her husband; it is situated on Trinket Lane. She is to be sent a letter of thanks.

6. Risk Assessment: Cllrs reviewed the Risk Assessment form; Cllr Winstanley brought recent photographs of the seats.

7. Review of Effectiveness of Internal Audit: The review covered all five areas suggested in the Audit Briefing Newsletter.

8. List of Assets: Following a change in requirements from the Audit Briefing, the Parish Council has compiled a list of assets, these come to £884.68p.

9. Finance: The Accounts book and quarterly report were inspected.

(a) Bank Statements Current – 22 Oct. – 24 Jan £1,891.99

24 Jan - 24 Feb £2,031.97

Reserve – Interest 23 Oct– 24 Jan £0.10 £781.60

The chairman signed the bank statements.

(b) Received: 27 Jan from Barbara Hartley for seat £278.78

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

Cheque No 346 Clerk’s salary £425; clerk’s expenses £88.81 £513.81

Cheque No 347 Jim Harrison for tiles for notice board 25.08

Cllr Harrison and Cllr Taylor declared an interest.

10. Plans:

New: 11/00156/FUL – Erection of various play equipment and wooden gazebo at Tatham Fells School for Mrs Jodie Lumb.

Cllr Taylor declared an interest.

There were no objections.

11. City Council: letter re tree planting: housing survey posters: Mowing of road side verges – the map shows a short verge at Mill Houses.

12. County Council: information re Help Direct: Bite size briefing 15 March: Delegated Services Pilot Projects – Public Rights of way.

Highways: Reply to our letter, matters raised – The side of the road has collapsed on Old Moor road; there are still problems on Mewith Lane near Clear Beck; the grate outside Lowgill chapel car park is blocked.

Footpaths: Footpath 24 at Furness Ford Road end, this is in poor condition and the footpath sign post had been moved to point into the wood. Kevin Almond 01772 533722.has checked the path but not been able to contact the landowner.

13. LALC: Lancaster – Minutes & Agendas: Cllrs Taylor and Harrison reported on the meeting they had attended regarding the City Council mowing verges: CVS Bulletin: second homes fund: Lune District Local Strategic Partnership community Grants.

County –Newsletter: election literature: The chairman’s name to be forwarded for the Palace Garden Party: PAYE implementation: Design Review Road show.

National- Magazines

14. Correspondence: LASRUG: Fire & Rescue service draft risk management plan & consultation outcome: Queen Elizabeth 11 Fields Challenge: consultation regarding re-designation of Carnforth High School and Central Lancaster high School from 11 -16 to 11 -18 schools: information from Chris Conder – Broadband plan has hit a snag – a letter is to be sent to MP Eric Ollerenshaw and County Cllr Susie Charles.

15. Next meeting: 17 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