J. Parkinson, A. Sykes,

                                                                                                    Gillian Benson, Clerk to the Parish Council  

                                                                                                    Two members of the public

It was noted that due to illness and holidays the meeting planned for July was cancelled.

No apologies were given at this meeting.

Councillors disclosed any personal or prejudicial interest in any matter to be discussed at this meeting.

Cllr. A. Sykes declared a personal interest in item 214 as she works for the NHS.

Cllr. J. Meadows declared an interest, as Church Warden, in the donation to St. Helen’s Parochial Church Council.

A member of the public raised the state of the grass verges on roadsides, especially the A6. Photographs of overgrown gullies and kerbs were provided. These will be raised with Lancashire County Council for investigation.

The members co-opted a new member to the Parish Council.

Lancashire County Council has received numerous complaints about the planted bed outside the School House and would see tarmac as their answer. There is a problem with the shrubs overhanging the footway and obstructing pedestrians from the view of drivers pulling into the Horn’s Inn. The Parish Council would not wish to see this area flattened and would be willing to take on the license to maintain the bed, however, the bed has been planted and maintained by the owner of the School House and it would be manners to ask Mr. Shaw in the first instance.

The AGM of the LAPTC will be held on Saturday 3^rd November from 10.30 am at County Hall, Preston. The councillors are invited to attend.

Councillors Training Courses are being held on Saturday mornings and all Councillors are encouraged to attend.

A request has been made from a resident in Ainspool Drive for the Parish Lengthsman to cut the grass outside their house. The garden is being landscaped to eliminate maintenance. The grass in question is the road side of their hedge/garden and is deemed part of the highway. Being highway Lancashire County Council has refused their request to use slate chips rather than grass. However, the only acceptable alternative as stated by Lancashire County Council is tarmac or finding someone else to cut the grass. Councillors considered that asking the Parish Lengthsman to cut the grass would set precedence and would therefore suggest using a local contractor.

Councillors are asked to consider training proposals for the Clerk top attend the second level ECDL.

Wyre Borough Council is asking for articles from Parish Councils for the new look Wyre Voice, delivered to each home in the Borough. Councillors were asked to look at electing a person to write about Village life?

Lancashire County Council is producing a Parish Charter to work closer with Parish Councils. However, the Councillors found the proposal repetitive and only addressed issues that are already being undertaken. The Parish Council does not agree with the document and considers it a waste of time and money and shows Lancashire County Council are so far removed from residents that they have engaged a Neighbourhood Officer

The Chairman is invited to attend a Saturday Parish and Town Council Conference held by Lancashire County Council.

Whilst the Parish Council admires the production of this mammoth document and all the supporting information and that is contains quite a lot of relevant information they are perplexed as to which residents would need to read it. Surely they consult an architect or the planning department. It could be made simpler by condensation into a few pages with bullet points referring to internet sites.

This campaign aims to gauge the opinion and views of our local residents with regard to the future of health services in North Lancashire. Whilst the Councillors accept that they can only answer for themselves in the time given, this consultation should be completed by individuals and not authorities.

This plan has been compiled by the Fire and rescue Service, for the purposes of consultation. Again this was difficult to answer and should have been sent to individuals.

The statement of accounts, internal scrutiny, bank reconciliation and balance sheet to 31^st July, 2007, having been previously circulated, were accepted by the Council.

The external Auditors have returned their opinion on the accounts for 2006 – 2007 with recommendations to increase the Fidelity Guarantee to cover the maximum amount of money the Parish Council holds at any one time, that being £8,000 this year.

Payments received

*Reimbursement of the grant for the Clerk’s Course part funded by Garstang and District Partnership.

**Part cost of advertisement for the adoption of the Code of Conduct.

This is now due and the cost for the year is £120.00. This will be split between Catterall and Pilling Parish Councils as such:

Kirkland Parish Council £12.00

Catterall Parish Council £54.00

Pilling Parish Council £54.00

The Following planning application was refused:

Proposal: New vehicular access

Location: Butlers Arms Farm, Garstang By-Pass Road, Churchtown

The following planning application was granted:

Proposal: Two storey side extension incorporating garage and single storey rear extension (resubmission of 07/00254)

Location: 5, Ainspool Lane, Churchtown

Proposal: New vehicular access (resubmission of 07/00239)

Location: Butlers Arms Farm, Garstang By-Pass Road, Churchtown

This application was withdrawn before going to a decision.

Proposal: New building to provide blue cheese facility

Location: Dewlay Cheesemakers, Garstang By-Pass Road, Kirkland

Proposal: Rear conservatory

Location: 13, Ainspool Lane, Churchtown

Proposal: Change of use from taxi office to beauty therapy salon including side extension

Location: Ryburn, Tarnacre Lane, St. Michaels

A new classroom has been installed over the Summer although not finished yet it should be by half term. There are 131 children on the role, with enquiries from four more families just moving into the area.

Wyre Borough Council had stated that the safety doors installed for the IT Suite were unsuitable and the room could not be used and as such no further interest has been shown in the computers. However, an inspection by the Fire Brigade passed the doors and the use of the room by no more than 15 persons.

The flat roof on the storeroom is leaking and in urgent need or repair and both floors are to be polished.

The Trust has given £6,000 to the School for work to be carried out.

The Pact meeting held on 6^th August reported on a number of high value caravans stolen from Rawlinson’s storage. It is believed that the area is a target for further thefts by those persons outside the area. Any one seeing suspicious persons or vehicles are asked to report to the Police with a registration number if possible.

There were no incidents or crimes reported to the Police in August.

A carol service is planned for 14^th December in the Village. The AGM is to be held in October. The Society was a contributor in the recent Patronal Festival at St. Helen’s Church and held a garden competition in the Village. The Society continues to offer welcome packs to new residents in the Village.