Tatham Parish Council

Present: District Cllr Jane Parkinson, Parish Cllrs Jim Harrison, Bronwen Osborne, Bill Deller, Melanie Winstanley, Andrew Taylor, Edward Mason and Sue Dawson, the clerk and ten members of the public Mr and Mrs Wilson, Richard and Anne Wilson, Roger and Jenny Jennings, Eric and Margaret Baker, Ruth Garstang, Andrew Staveley and Joseph Govier.

Public Time: The possibility of a Diamond Jubilee beacon and souvenirs for local children were discussed.

1. Apologies: Police constables.

2. Minutes: of 20/9/11have been circulated. The chairman signed them as a true and correct record, proposed by Cllr Osborne seconded by Cllr Deller.

3. Police and Community Together: A report had been received from County Cllr Charles re Operation Diesel: PC Craig Irvine had sent a report on crime in the Lune Valley. There has been no crime reported in Tatham but scrap metal thieves are operating in the area, he asked anyone to report suspicious activity, noting registration plates where possible.

4. Broadband: Cllr Mason reported on a meeting of the City Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee held in September. This meeting had resolved to send local concerns and requests to the County Council; a decision is expected in January.

5. Wind farms and Wind Turbines: This was discussed with members of the public.

6. Lengthsman: Cllr Harrison is about to give the Lengthsman his winter schedule and asked for comments. If road side grit becomes depleted he is to be informed so that he can alert Highways.

7. N.H.S. Changes to Bentham Health Centre: Cllr Osborne reported on proposed changes. Tatham is in Lancashire with patients attending surgeries in Bentham (Yorkshire) and Kirkby Lonsdale (Cumbria) which are linked to different Primary Care groups. Bentham is leading a campaign to be aligned with South Cumbria rather than North Yorkshire and York. Letters are to be sent to Dr Reeve, head of the South Lakes Group and to M.P. Eric Ollerenshaw.

8. Finance: The accounts book was open for inspection.

(a) Bank Statements – Cllr Harrison signed the bank statements.

Current – 22 July – 22 Sept £3,987.26

22 Sept - 24 Oct £2,733.76

(b) Received requests for grants from Friends of Tatham Fells School, the Air Ambulance and the Good Shepherd Church.

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

Cheque No 361 LASRUG Rail users £25.00

9. Plans: Planning consultation. City Council is to clarify.

Cowkins Coppice Farm: In October the Parish Council received complaints about an illegal development and consulted the planners. Alison Hesketh, Planning Enforcement Officer replied; they had received a complaint in February this year 2011, that a block building had been built round a caravan, incorporating the caravan without planning permission. Outline Planning Permission had been refused in the spring of 2000 for an agricultural workers dwelling on the site. The owner Mr Wilson has applied for a Lawful Development Certificate; this will be granted if he can prove that the building has been in situ for more than four years.

Higher Stock Bridge: This property is for sale incorporating an office/studio, built when a stable block was demolished. It is feared that this may be used as a separate dwelling. It was also pointed out that a parking space has been made and a new double gate onto the road without permission.

Both these matters were discussed with members of the public.

10. City Council: The City Council are considering charging Parishes for by elections

11. County Council: Mike Otter (Champion for Parishes) newsletters: Environment Bulletin: Lancashire Local Access Forum Annual Report 2010: Conference 12 Nov.

Highways: Reply from Jo Turton: Winter service bulletins: Pot holes have been reported on Agnes Ing Lane, Ivah Great Hill, Church road and High Road; Ringstones road is falling into the river; An application is to be made for the roadside to be cut on Lythe Fell.

Lancaster – Minutes & Agendas, Cllr Taylor had attended the meeting.

County –Newsletter: Conference 12 Nov: Came and Company Insurance Newsletter: Funding Information: Briefing on Data Transparency: workshop: Human Trafficking.

National – magazine

13. Correspondence: War Memorial bulletin: Sustainable Government: Parliamentary Boundaries: Diamond Jubilee Beacons: CPRE Newsletter – Lancashire Voice: Ribble Valley Borough Council – housing review.

14. Next Meeting: 17 January, 2012 in the Old School, Tatham Fells at 7.30pm; the budget meeting.

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