Minutes of the meeting of Old Hutton and Holmescales Parish Council on Thursday 23 rd April, 2015

150423-1 Present
Steve Capstick (chairman), John Heap, Alison Nelson, Ruth Rigg, John Shorrock, Arthur Robinson (clerk), Peter
Thornton (SLDC), Stan Collins (CCC) and 11 parishioners
150423-2 Apologies
Anthony and Anne Fitzherbert and Norene Robinson
150423-3 A scheme to provide superfast fibre broadband everywhere in the parish
Paul Parsons said that the current BT/Openreach broadband structure has a fibre cabinet at Oxenholme but, because
speeds decrease through copper cable from superfast to less than 1Mb/sec within about 1Km, speeds in Old Hutton
are usually less than 2Mb/sec. B4RN is the highly successful community company in north Lancashire which is laying
cable in 18 parishes to provide speeds 30 times faster than BTs. A sub-project is laying cable in Yealand, Silverdale
and Storth. B4RN links its structure to a national cable network owned by Zayo, a company which has a cable running
next to the national gas network pipeline which passes through the south western parts of both Old and New Hutton
parishes. He suggested that it might be possible to work with B4RN to access this cable and extend a network to local
parishes over the next few years. The routes of fibre cables would need to be negotiated with land owners. They
would be deeper than plough depth. The cost of the infrastructure would be met by local individuals and companies
who can claim 30% tax relief as EIS (Enterprise Investment Scheme) and would gain 5% interest after three years
when money became available. It would also be possible to apply for grants. Owners would pay about 160 for a fibre
link into their homes and an annual fee of about 360 with an extra charge for unlimited telephone use. Research has
shown that the values of houses are raised significantly if they have superfast broadband. The next step is that Paul
will speak at a New Hutton Parish Council meeting and hopes to speak to meetings at Preston Patrick and Preston
Richard. It was agreed that a meeting should be called soon to gather the views of representatives of local parishes to
discuss whether a community group should formally approach B4RN to take the project further.
150423-4 Acceptance of the minutes of the previous meeting
The Chairman signed the minutes of the parish council meeting held on 05-03-2015 as a true record.
150423-5 Chairmans announcements
a) Litter Many thanks to all those who picked up litter along our lanes in mid March especially to Ruth Rigg who
organised it and the WI who provided excellent refreshments. We think that all the roads were cleared.
b) The Highways Agency has painted over the graffiti under the M6 bridge. It has also added new 30mph speed
limit signs to its sign maintenance list for 2015/16.
c) New Old Hutton signs have been erected at Middleshaw and Hutton Gate. Alison Nelson was thanked for
pursuing this matter with CCC.
d) The relevant CCC committee has not yet discussed the issue of a 20mph limit. Such limits have to be
accompanied by changes to the road such as bumps, narrowing or white lines.
e) On the 13th May CCC will discuss with National Grid the conclusions of the independent report into the
Middleshaw flood. It is intended that there will be a public meeting on the 28 th or 29th May to discuss the
findings.
150423-6 Declaration of interests

none

150423-7 Open session

a) National Grids signs at Middleshaw will be removed in June when the work has been fully completed at the
sub-station.
b) It was agreed that a fairground carousel could be placed on the car park next to the church for a wedding
celebration on the 30th August if the narrow lane prevented its being placed on the Public Hall/school car park.
c) It was confirmed that grass growing over the paths between Middleshaw and Bridge End will be kept under
control.
150423-8 Planning applications
a) Applications submitted requiring council comments:
SL/2015/0296 outline permission for a new house in the garden of Low Bleaze Farm. The Parish Council agreed to
support this application.
b) The progress of the following applications was noted:
SL/2014/0252 outline planning for erection of stable and training area at Cocklea the Parish Council supported this
application at its meeting on 02-04-2014. The applicants have appealed to the Planning Inspectorate against the
failure of SLDC to determine the outline planning application within the specified time limit, and also against an
enforcement notice served by SLDC on 18-08-2014. A public inquiry will be held at 10am on the 9th June 2015 at
Kendal Town Hall. The Parish Council deferred a decision about whether to take part in the appeal until the next
meeting.

CU/2015/0004 change of use from a barn to a dwelling at Cocklea The Council agreed to support this application.
Prior approval was given by SLDC
SL/2015/0049 Installation of a window and three roof lights at The Old Stables Guest House, Eskrigg End the
Council agreed to offer no objection to this application. Permission was granted on 10-03-2015
150423-9 Payment of accounts
Payment of the following amount was authorised:
50.00 to Mathew Ellwood (MBE Accountants) for the 2014/15 internal audit
150423-10 Financial report
a) It was reported that income exceeded expenditure in 2014/15 by 276.01 leaving at the end of the year a
Community Account balance of 1918.71 and a Business Saver Account balance of 638.24
b) The accounts and internal audit for 2014/15 were approved (proposed by John Heap, seconded by Ruth Rigg)
[see the accounts at the end of these minutes]
c) The annual governance statement and external audit document for 2014/15 were approved (proposed by
John Heap, seconded by Ruth Rigg)
150423-11 Correspondence
The following items of correspondence received since the last meeting were noted:
17-03-2015 From CALC the new Audit and Transparency Regulations [filed]
17-03-2015 From CCC Cumbria Draft Minerals and Waste Local Plan [see item 14]
150423-12 Banks Funding Committee grant to Old Hutton Church
It was reported that minute 150305-5 of the Parish Council Meeting on the 5 th March recorded that 1000 was
awarded to the church for roof repairs at the Armistead Fund Committee meeting on 18-02-2015. The Church applied
for the grant on the 11th September 2014 explaining that the work needed to be completed before the winter weather.
Nothing was heard from Banks, so the work proceeded using the churchs reserves to make up the balance of
funding. Unfortunately, Banks insisted on the rule that grants would not be awarded for work completed and withdrew
the grant offer.
150423-13 The proposed Greaves solar park
At a meeting of three councillors and representatives of New Energy for the World (NEW) on 11-03-2015, NEW
agreed to consider laying a broadband fibre from Middleshaw (at least) to the Superfast broadband box at Oxenholme
next to the electricity substation. They will discuss details and costs with BT/Openreach. Following a meeting of two
councillors with Connecting Cumbria on 01-04-2015, the clerk was told who NEW should contact for this discussion.
The Connecting Cumbria meeting established that a broadband cabinet should be located at St.Johns if superfast
broadband is to be available to the greatest number of parishioners.
150423-14 The road problems database
Problems along several roads were indentified and will be reported to CCC.
150423-15 Draft Cumbria Draft Minerals and Waste Local Plan Consultation
The Parish Council was not in favour of the possible expansion of Holmescales Quarry by 2029. The parish had no
benefits from previous working, the heavy lorries travelled too fast through the villages and no local jobs were
generated. It was agreed that a letter be sent to CCC stating these points.
150423-16 Date of the next meeting
The annual Open Meeting, the AGM and an ordinary Parish Council meeting will be held at 7.30pm on Monday 11th
May at the Public Hall.
Arthur Robinson, parish clerk, Over Bleaze, Old Hutton, Kendal, LA8 0LU
Telephone 01539-725955
e-mail [email protected]

www.oldhutton.org.uk

Old Hutton & Holmescales PC

End of Year Statement 2014/15
Community Account balance on 1st April
INCOME
SLDC Parish Precept
SLDC precept - parish grant
VAT refund
Grant from LAP for notice board
Transfer from Business Saver account
Grant from First Responders
Total income

2013/14
Actual
4865.54

4151.97
48.03

2014/15
Budget

3000.00

2014/15
Actual
1642.70

2909.11
90.89
1771.33

4200.00

3000.00

342.00
1500.00
745.00
7358.33

665.65

380.00
2.00
160.00
0.00
80.00
50.00

198.75
0
152.00
0
98.00
163.47

60.00
0.00
100.00
130.00
100.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

50.00
0
100.00
158.40

EXPENDITURE
Insurance
Insurance for speed monitoring device (SID)
CALC annual subscription
External audit
Public Hall hire (8 meetings assumed@5/hour
General expenses/paper/ink/postage/etc
Bank charges
Internal Audit
Election Costs
Grass cutting in graveyard
Hedge cutting
Training courses/expenses for meetings
Repayment of VAT refund received twice
Salary of parish clerk
Maps
Footpath repairs
Footpath construction
Transfer to Business Saver Account
"No long vehicles" signs
Notice board
Defibrillator cabinet
Contingency
Total Expenditure

0.00
1176.62
150.00
82.80
52.20
2472.82
566.66
31.80

Community Account balance today

1717.99

149.00
120.00
80.00

1800.00

7347.55

700.00
1762.00

claimed to
31/12/2014

0
0
0
3292.80
804.90
0
450.00
720.00
894.00
7082.32
1918.71

Notes:
Budget should have a contingency fund of 25-100% of the annual gross
budget. If the reserves are more than 2.0x the precept, the external
auditors will require an explanation.
Government austerity = 10% reduction of precept
Comments:
Business Saver Account 30676721 on 07/11/13
Business Saver Account 30676721 on 27/06/14
Business Saver Account 30676721 on 26/09/14
Business Saver Account 30676721 on 27/02/15
Business Saver Account 30676721 on 02/03/15

2137.26
637.53
638.16
638.24
638.31

OLD HUTTON & HOLMESCALES PARISH COUNCIL

SUMMARIES - 2014/15

2014/15
Transaction
s:

Transaction
s

Transaction
s

in

out

Communit
y
Account
Business
Saver
Account
Totals
Net
change in
total
accounts

2014/15
Balances:

7358.33

7082.32

0.51

1500.00

7358.84

8582.32

-1223.48

01/04/2014

31/03/2015

1642.70

1918.71

2137.80

638.31

3780.50

2557.02

Communit
y
Account
Business
Saver
Account
Totals
Net
change in
total
accounts

-1223.48

BANK RECONCILIATION
Bank Accounts:
Communit
y
Business Saver
Less unpresented cheques
Add uncleared payments
Add petty cash
TOTAL

31/03/2015

1918.71
638.31
0.00
0.00
0.00
2557.02