Kirkland Parish

No apologies were received for this meeting.

The minutes of the meetings held on November, 2005, having been previously circulated, were accepted as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The views of the Parish Council will be taken into account when the Lancashire Locals are presented before Lancashire County Council on 26^th January, 2006.

The footpath runs along the river bank and the path was unsafe, it is to be investigated.

The results of the traffic survey on A586 have been received from Lancashire County Council. The survey was a simple volume traffic count, speeds and types of vehicles were not included. It should be noted that two days figures were omitted.

Whilst Lancashire County Council confirms that the dump is in need of tidying up, no priority can be given to this work at present. The Councillors were disappointed the dump is a mess and on a predominant part of the A6.

The Senior Welfare Officer is dealing with the request for a dog bin at Old Will’s. The original bin had been removed when the site was rejuvenated and the type removed is not in use now. Since then three bins have been placed on the post on the A586, these have been badly vandalised and subsequently removed. The last being at the request of the Police as it was a motor hazard. Therefore this is no longer a viable location.

As for a dog bin on the Avenue, it is stated that a similar situation arises there is no suitable posts and residents are not happy with a bin on a lamp post outside their house. It was noted that since the ban on dogs on the Memorial Field, Kirkland and Catterall St. Helen's Primary School has experienced dog pooh being thrown into the school grounds.

The Parish Lengthsman has reported a large number of bags of dog pooh being deposited in the litter bin on Old Will’s, the frequency of which is unknown.

The Clerk was approached by a resident who is unable to accommodate the range of refuse/recycling bins on her property and needed Wyre Borough Council to collect black bags.

A Casino Night is being held at the Youth and Community Centre, Poulton, on 2^nd February, at 7.30 pm.

Including the Newsletter, DEFRA launches ‘Community Halls for Rural People’ online, Minutes of the Wyre Area LAPTC meeting and NALC Survey.

The Chairman reported on the Wyre Area LAPTC. The meeting had a good attendance including Wyre Borough Council, Lancashire County Council and the Police. It was reported that Lancashire County Council has two new directives;

1. Young People

2. Adult Services

Disabled persons will be fitted into the above directorates.

The grant from Wyre Borough Council towards the cost of Christmas trees in Wyre will cease this Christmas. The representatives asked that it is revisited by Wyre Borough Council in the light of the actual cost to the Parishes. Jan Finch said she would carry this forward. Wyre will be able to offer free bus travel to senior citizen’s in Wyre, from 1^st April. It is hoped that the rest of the county will also be offering this by April.

The promised highway work on the A6 from New Lane to Kepple Lane should be starting in Spring this year. The Garstang and District Partnership was discussed at length and many of the Parishes were confused as to whether they should be donating or not. This is to be raised at the next meeting when Joanne Golton, the project manager will attend. It is proposed that the Ambulance Service in Lancashire is to be combined with Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cumbria, being based in Warrington. However although the LAPTC was looking for support the Parish Council would have to wait until they received the document.

The revised list from December 2005 has been noted.

The Police Authority meeting is to be held on 18^th January, at The Civic Centre, Poulton, at

7.00 pm.

The Clerk attended the Empowering Parish Councils to improve services. Run by Lancashire County Council it presented the Government’s policies and how they are being delivered.

The College is looking to create a file of information and contacts of local groups and local events with in Kirkland.

The Royal British Legion thanks the Parish Council for their donation to the poppy wreath.

Proposed by Cllr. J. Beattie

Seconded by Cllr. J. Parkinson and carried.

The Clerk submitted the accounts as to 31^st December 2005 for verification, includes the cash book,

balance, reconciliation of the bank statements and the internal scrutiny.

Wyre Borough Council will need notified by 20^th January 2006 of the precept and Clerks salary grant. The Councillors discussed the proposed budget and suggested precept, which includes environmental projects and increased hours for the Parish Lengthsman. It was raised that the addition of a decorated tree at Christmas would enhance the Village. However, the correct supply of the electricity supply alone would exceed £1,000. It was suggested to work in partnership with the Church to provide a tree in the Church yard and to make that tree a rooted one to continue for many years.

It was also suggested to approach the Old Vicarage about providing decorated tubs at the junction of Vicarage Lane and the Green to help the floral display. The Parish Council is looking to enter the Wyre in Bloom but by planting sustainable long term displays rather than summer bedding.

The Partnership is looking for support as the Project Manager’s post is to be matched funded and need monies to fund the post. The Councillors were confused that the manager’s salary is showing a shortfall. Surely the initial bid for the salary knew there would be this shortfall and also how they were going to make this up. There was also confusion over was the Garstang and District Partnership a charity or a business and what are the aims of the Partnership?

The Clerk wishes to attend the North West Regional Conference on 31^st January at Park Hall. The cost is £40.00, which can be split between the Partnership.

Copy of the planning permission for the Quarry;

Proposal; Proposed extraction of sand and gravel including construction of new access off A586, development of processing plant and site support facilities and restoration of the site to agricultural and lake/wetland areas

Location; Land between Sharples Lane and A586 (Tarnacre Lane) St. Michaels on Wyre, Garstang.

05/01440/FUL
Proposal; Alterations to width of existing vehicular access
Location; Ainspool House Farm, Tarnacre Lane, St. Michaels

It was reported that the no dogs sign recently erected was being ignored by some still using the field. The ‘caravaners’ have been asked to keep their dogs on a lead and walk them either on the Avenue or the river bank.

The School has been awarded a glowing Offsted report. Outstanding across the board and they are in the top 8% of the country.

Mrs. Thompson reported on the successful carols around the brazier, which took place before Christmas on the car park opposite the Punchbowl Inn. It was a new location and had worked well due to it providing a hard standing and better lighting.

Discussions had taken place about interactive speed signs for Kirkland and Catterall St. Helen's Primary School and the road markings. Also the road surface on Longmoor Lane outside Park Farm is to be renewed.

Wyre Strategic Partnership

The Clerk reported that the funding bid looking at schools and the areas surrounding them will be completed for costing shortly and presented to the Partnership on 26^th January.

The next partnership meeting for the three Parishes will be held on 15^th February in Pilling. On the agenda will be a youth worker of the area, abuse/bullying to Parish employees and speed trailers. The Councillors were concerned to hear that employees had been approached by abusive residents and suggested the Parish Lengthsman carries a contact number to defuse the situation.

Mention has been made of section 106 monies from planning applications for the benefit of those living in the area of the plan. The Councillors are interested to know what the section 106 in the application for the quarry will provide.

At present the speed trailer, which flashes the speed of the approaching vehicle, is garaged at Preesall Police Station. It is used infrequently due to the procedure necessary to set it up. However, it may not need a Policeman to site and use the trailer. It had been suggested at the Wyre Area LAPTC meeting to garage it in Garstang and use civilians. Also if the trailer was purchased by the Partnership it could be used at any time. It was suggested that to hire one and monitor the impact could be more advisable.

Resolved; To raise at the Partnership meeting.

The date of the next meeting will be 20^th March, 2006.

Date 20^th March, 2006. Chairman ………………………….

Gillian Benson

Clerk to the Parish Council

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