Tatham Parish Council

Present: District Cllr Joyce Prichard, Parish Councillors Melanie Winstanley, Michael Mason, Sue Dawson, Ruby Murray, Andrew Taylor, Bill Deller, Jim Harrison, PCSO Peter Wood and the Clerk, Mary Taylor.

1. Apologies: none

2. Minutes: of 17/7/07 have been circulated; they were signed as a true and correct record, proposed by Cllr Deller, seconded by Cllr Harrison.

3. Police & Community Together: Police newsletter and notification of a meeting on Sept. 4. PCSO Wood said that Caton has a new policeman, PC Collins, he joins PC Johnston. He said that no crime had been reported in Tatham, and reminded Cllrs to make sure their vehicles are ready for the winter by checking antifreeze and lights. He then left the meeting.

4. Tree: Robert Whitfield confirmed that the fallen tree close to the footbridge near the Old School belongs to him and he said that he will remove it.

5. Footway Lights in Lowgill: An e mail reply from John Fell, at the Galgate office was read John.Fell@env.lancscc.gov.uk : The light F2 outside Farr House had deteriorated so the new one outside Rose Cottage has been moved there. If villagers would like Victorian type lights as in Wray, they would cost around £300 each. This would be too much for the Parish Council to pay, Cllr Murray volunteered to enquire as to whether residents would be willing to pay for such new lights; the County Council would maintain any new lights. Mr Fell is to be informed on progress.

6. Finance: The up to date Receipts & Payments Book was open for inspection.

The chairman signed the bank statements.

(a) Bank Statement: current £5,112.48

(b) Cllr Deller proposed & Cllr Dawson seconded that the following be paid

Cheque No 293 Melling with Wrayton Parish Council; Lengthsman £1,346

Cheque No 294 – Lancashire County Training Partnership, Chairmanship

Workshop £20.00 £58.75

7. Plans

Granted - infill at Tatham Fells School for new entrance and W C.

- conversion of barn attached to Station Farm cottage, Wennington for living accommodation.

From Blackpool/Fylde & Wyre Borough Council – extending your home consultation.

8. Highways: Reply from Mr Robson. The restriction sign at the end of Park Lane near the Bridge Inn is now in place; some of the hedges have been cut back. The owner of the land next to the school has contacted United Utilities to make good the damage they caused there with water running onto the road and an untidy opening. A reply has been received from Mr Bowden who will trim his hedge when next in the area.

Repairs to Mill Bridge will continue to October 1. The highway retaining wall between Ivah and Botton has been completed.

Mr Robson is to be informed of problems with the bridge over Croasdale Beck on Ringstones/Craggs lane. Also that the railings on the sides of the bridges on Lythe Fell towards the Cross of Greet are in very poor condition and that water is running onto the road at the upper bridge.

9. City Council: (a) The clerk reported on a training day on the Code of Conduct. Tathams Code has been lodged at Lancaster Town Hall. The minutes of the annual meeting of May 15 were altered to read "It was agreed to adopt the Model Code of Conduct to include paragraph 12 (2). (b) Polling Review (c) Consultation re licensing (d) Charter – work in progress (e) Consultation – Lancaster District Sustainable Community Strategy – a vision for 2020.

10. County Council: (a) Tour of Britain Cycle race went through Hornby on Sept. 14 (b) Minerals and Waste update (c) Conference Sept 15 (d) Strategy for aging population web site www.lancashire.gov.uk/corporate/aging_population/ David Halpin, Lancashire County Council Co-ordinator , Better Government for Older People is willing to attend a meeting David.Halpin@ssd.lancscc.gov.uk (e) Lancaster Local-Lancaster District minutes July agenda Sept 4.

11. Craven District Council: Biodiversity Action Plan.

Lancaster-

County – Constitution and balance sheets for AGM Nov 3: Conference Oct 19-20: Chairman to attend a Chairmanship workshop on Nov 13.

National –Magazines: Conference Oct. 5-7: information re decision on Post Office closures.

13. Community Futures: AGM Sept 24: Cllr Deller reported that the draft questionnaire is to be finalised at a meeting on Tuesday, thanks were expressed to Mike Winstanley for compiling it. Bronwen Osborne has been in contact with the NHS concerning the Reorganisation of the Primary Care Trust in Lancashire & Cumbria; replies have been received and points noted but the reorganisation has not yet been sorted out.

14. Correspondence: (a) Lune Valley Rural Housing Association questionnaire was filled in (b) Fire & Rescue questionnaire was filled in (c) An invitation to an Army Reception has been received also Lancashire Youth Organisation annual report and a newsletter The Playing Field. There is to be a day in Roeburndale – Farm management for breeding wading birds Sept 27.

15. Next meeting: Nov 20 at 7.30pm in St James the Less Church, Lower Tatham

The meeting closed at 9.14pm.

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