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February’s Council Meeting

Notes from the February meeting of Alston Moor Parish Council

Meeting held on Monday 3 February in the Annexe of Alston Town Hall

At the start of the meeting in public participation, a member of the public, Damon Hall, described his plans for a mass photograph like the one in 1999, to take place in September this year.  He was not seeking funding but asking for general support and help with information.  The council expressed their full support.

The chair asked that the record of decisions on motions should include who voted for, against or abstained.

Our Westmorland and Furness councillors, Mary Robinson and Michael Hanley, talked through the key points from recent meetings.  

  • The possibility of establishing an electric vehicle car club was discuseed with members of the established Derwent Valley group.  There are difficulties for our area as insurance alone would cost more than £10,000 and requires more than three vehicle.  Discussions are ongoing about other possible option.
  • Westmorland and Furness cabinet voted for devolution for the whole of Cumbria (W&F and Cumberland) as is being proposed by central government, but the timescale is regarded as unrealistic.  A final decision will be made in the autumn.
  • The proposal for an Alston to Penrith bus service has failed as tenders were too expensive.  However, more funding may be available in April.
  • The £6,000 available to be allocated before the end of March for the Alston Moor and Fellside ward has been agreed to go equally to a new Fellside food bank (on the Alston Moor model), play areas in Melmerby and Langwathby, and for a housing needs survey.

Reports from groups

1.  Nenthead Ward Meeting

  • An update is awaited from the Coal Authority on whether the Haggs Bank and Carrshield treatment works ar functioning as expected.  
  • The flooding issue at Nenthall seems to have been resolved.  
  • The Miners’ Arms bid by the local group has failed because the government discontinued the relevant funding source.  All donations will be refunded.
  • There were complaints that the Village Hall generator had not been in action during the recent power cut, but the problem has now been addressed and there are many volunteers now ready to spring into action when needed.
  • There is concern about the lack of WiFi at the Village Hall and they are seeking financial assistance for set-up and monthly costs.
  • The Community Toilets continue to receive compliments from visitors using the tourists, with gratitude to the volunteer local community who maintain them.

2.  Alston Moor Partnership

Several applications for the post of Community Co-ordinator have been received, with the closing date this Friday (7 February).  Interviews will then be arranged, and news of the appointed person will be available for the next meeting.

3.  Alston Moor Traffic Management Group

The Clerk and W&F Councillor Robinson are awaiting suitable dates to arrange a Zoom meeting.

Ongoing matters

  • Oak timber has been offered free of chargeto repair one of the Garrigill benches, and on this basis the Council voted for repairs to go ahead.
  • No decision has yet been reached on the location of the Women’s Institue centenary bench.
  • All the defibs have been registered and are working
  • All the bus shelters have been cleaned, and it was resolved that further work, including painting, will commence when there is more suitable weather.
  • It has been suggested for some time that each parish councillor should have a tablet and e-mail address dedicated to their council work, with the tablets to be handed back at the end of a councillor’s term.  It was agreed that separate councillor e-mail addresses would be issued, and that the Clark and Councillor Martin would source and purchase appropriate tablets.
  • The Clerk is still awaiting a response from the Environment Agency concerning the gauging station financial renewal.
  • Councillors Bondi and Grew attended the webinars regarding the switch of analogue phone lines to digital.  Cuncillor Grew suggested that BT should be invited to come and talk about the changes, and hear local concerns and questions, at the Town Hall.  Councillor Grew and the Clerk will arrange this.
  • A new date is to be arranged for the walkabout with W&F officers to look at the street lighting.
  • It was resolved to send a letter of thanks to Janis Goodfellow on behalf of the Parish Council for her continued help and support with the distribution and invoicing of the Christmas trees around Alston Moor.

Planning Applications and Decisions

  • The proposed replacement, at Salvin House, of single-glazed timber windows with double-glazed uPVC windows was discussed, and the confusing nature of the planning and listed building consent advice was raised.  The motion to support the application was passed by a majority.
  • The replacement of stable buildings with a hoeoffice-storage building at 3Wardway Foot was supported.
  • The Council heard that the discharge of conditions on the listing building consent at Ivy House, Garrigill, had been agreed.

Finance Report and Accounts

  • The current balance of the Community Account is £121,792.50,
  • Outstanding payment for the cleaning of the bus shelters was agreed.
  • Cllr Bondi has agreed to become a signatory for the HSBC account.

Correspondence

A very unsatisfactory response had been received from LINK, refusing to look further into the provision of a cash machine.  A draft further response was agreed to be sent, and it was decided to ask local people to write individually to LINK, and post this request on Facebook groups, noticeboards, and in shops.  A member of the public was asked, and refused, to post such a request on the Facebook group she administers.

The next meeting will be held in Alston Town Hall annexe at 7pm on Monday 3 March.