Tatham Parish Council

Present: Parish Cllrs Melanie Winstanley, Andrew Taylor, Michael Mason, Bill Deller, Jim Harrison and Ruby Murray, the Clerk and 4 members of the public John and Phyllis Holt and Eric and Margaret Baker.

Public Time: The ownership of the Old School in Lower Tatham was discussed as Mr and Mrs Taylor at Parkside Farm are having problems with the water supply. Planning matters were discussed.

Two Parish Councillors have filled in the Notification of Members Interests Forms.

1. Apologies: District Cllrs Joyce Prichard and Stuart Langhorn and Cllr Sue Dawson.

2. Minutes: of September 18 have been circulated. The chairman signed them as a true and correct record, proposed by Cllr Deller seconded by Cllr Mason.

3. Police & Community Together: Newsletter. The post box at Millhouses has been damaged by a firework; the Parish Council is to ask for a new post box.

4. Footway lights in Lowgill: No progress, the light outside East View has been repaired; the one outside Farr House is still out.

5. Lengthsman: The work of the Lengthsman was discussed, the meeting resolved to employ the Lengthsman for the next financial year.

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

(a) Bank Statements – Chairman, Cllr Winstanley signed the bank statements.

Current –July 34 – Sept 24 £5,112.48

- Sept 24 – Oct 24 £5,092.48

(b) Audit. The Annual Return was approved and accepted by the Council, proposed by Cllr Deller, seconded by Cllr Murray. The notice is to be displayed on the notice board for 14 days.

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

Cheque No 295 BDO Stoy Hayward LLP (Audit) £141.00

Cheque No 296 Parish Plan Mrs E M Taylor (envelopes and stamps) £108.00

(d) Requests for funding were received from Friends of Tatham Fells School and St James the Less Church along with balance sheets, also from the Air Ambulance.

(e) The budget was discussed.

7. Plans: Information re planning policies.

New – 07/01386/FUL Demolition of storage/stable & replacement with office/studio at Higher Stock Bridge, Rantrefold Road for JW Govier.

New – 07/01447/FUL Change of use of land to create a ménage at Knott Barn, Tatham Fells for Mr & Mrs Garstang.

There were no objections.

The Council has been asked to support the conversion of a redundant farm building at Perry Moor, home of Mr & Mrs Mickle to form a workshop for a joiner from Wray. All were in favour; the Chairman is to send a letter of support to Mr & Mrs Mickle.

8. Highways: Reply from Ken Dickenson: He is to be informed of (1) blocked grates on Rantrefold road and a blocked culvert near Tatham Fells Church (2) Mud on Church road on the steep hill (3) Large vehicles – following sat. nav. - becoming stuck on this hill and damaging Glen Cottage (4) a request has been received for a mirror in Lowgill village (5) a request has been received for the road sides on the moors to be mown (6) a further request is to be made for the railings at the junction of Cross road and Long Lane to be repaired (7) both Old Moor Road signs at the junction of this road and Long Lane have been damaged (8) information is to be sought as to when the work on Mill Bridge will be completed.

9. City Council: (a) Mayor Cllr Helen Helm reception Feb 25, Lancaster Town Hall at 7pm; to be put on the agenda for the next meeting.

10. County Council: (a) Lancashire Local – Lancaster District meetings minutes Sept & agenda Oct & special meeting Nov 26 at Caton (b) grants are available from climate change fund (c) Forest of Bowland conference (d) notes on mini seminars from conference (e) Parish Charter the Council wish to register an interest in being involved in the development process (Lynne Johnston 01772 530427) (f) Review & questionnaire re the future of Hornby, Skerton and Central Lancaster High School – Cllrs Taylor and Deller declared an interest. The meeting was in favour of keeping open all three schools, the clerk is to fill in and return the form.

Lancaster – July & Sept minutes, Sept & Nov agendas.

County – Sept newsletter; Annual report: Cllr Winstanley showed handouts from the Chairman’s Training day.

National – magazines & updates.

12. Community Futures: Parish Plan – Cllr Deller reported, questionnaires had been delivered and some had been returned. Mark Chappelhow had offered to input the results at £2.50 per questionnaire. Future of Clinical Services in Tatham, a letter from Mrs Osborne is to be sent to Mr Ian Cumming.

13. Correspondence: (a) Fire & Rescue Family carol service at Blackburn Cathedral on Dec 5: (b) Standards Board newsletter (c) The Playing Field newsletter (d) Cancer care Carol service Dec 1 and coffee morning Dec 4 (e) DEFRA ways to combat climate change (f) NHS consultation (g) LASRUG newsletter (h) CDC Core strategy (i) NYCC minerals and waste information.

14. Next Meeting: January 15, 2008 in the Old School, Tatham Fells at 7.30pm; the budget meeting.

The chairman thanked the Church for their hospitality.

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