MinutesAnnual Meeting11th May 2026
Minutes 11/5/2026
Present: Cllr C Carrington (Chair), Cllr D Savage, Cllr B Wright, Cllr V Pogrel, Cllr M Kitchingman, Cllr I Lockwood, Cllr M Bates, Lesley Cooper (Clerk), 1 member of public.
1/26: Election of Chair: Proposed by Cllr Pogrel, Seconded Cllr Savage. Cllr Carrington elected as Chair. Acceptance signed.
2/26: Election of Vice Chair: Proposed by Cllr Pogrel, Seconded Cllr Lockwood. Cllr Savage elected as Vice Chair. Acceptance signed.
3/26: Apologies for Absence: Cllr A Calsy (Family).
4/26: Minutes of Annual General Meeting of 12 May 2025: Approved and signed.
5/26: Appointment of Members to Serve on Outside Bodies: To appoint members of the Council to serve on the following outside bodies:
6/26: To reaffirm that the Parish Council meets the conditions under section 8(2) of the Localism Act 2011 and The Parish Councils (General Power of Competence) (Prescribed Conditions) Order 2012 and therefore may act under the General Power of Competence.
There being no other business, the ordinary meeting continued.
7/26: Exclusion of Press and Public: None.
8/26: Declarations of Interest: None.
9/26: Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting Held on 13 April 2026: The minutes were approved and signed by the Chair. Agenda item 161/25.4 General Reserve should read £12,492.14.
10/26: Police Liaison Report: Circulated. No comments.
11/26: Progress Report
Clerk’s Report: Bamboo had been sprayed. Received a letter from HMRC that a cheque had not been signed and therefore destroyed. Cheque requires re-issuing.
12/26: Public Participation: Resident apologised for the parking of trailers on the Pinnel Hole. He reported that he is keeping the footpath at the back of his property clear of weeds etc. Reported that the public footpath sign was not secure but being managed by the homeowner. The Chair thanked him for this report.
13/26: Unitary Councillor Report: No report. Clerk to contact re matters outstanding.
14/26: Applications for Development
14/26.1: To Examine Applications for Development and Submit Observations to the Planning Authority: None.
14/26.2: To Ratify the Observations Submitted by the Clerk under Devolved Powers since Last Meeting: None.
14/26.3: To Note the Decisions of the Statutory Planning Authority with Regards to Recent Applications: None.
15/26: Financial Records
15/26.1: The following payment was approved:
| L Cooper | Clerks salary & expenses | £231.96 |
| HMRC | PAYE | £49.00 |
| HMRC | PAYE April replacement | £48.80 |
| V E Falconer | Internal Auditors fee | £85.00 |
| KMC Grafix Ltd | Notice for play area | £10.71 |
| L Butcher | Spraying of bamboo | £60.00 |
15/26.2: To Note the Receipt of Payments: None.
15/26.3: To Receive and Note the Bank Reconciliation Statement Dated 30 April 2026: Not received.
15/26.4: To Consider the Budget Comparison Report as at April 2026 and Determine Action Need to Address Deviations from the Budget: None required.
15/26.5: To Approve the Internal Auditors Report and Note Any Actions: Approved, actions noted.
15/26.6: To Complete and Approve the Annual Governance Statement for 2025/26: Completed and approved.
15/26.7: To Approve the Accounting Statement for 2025/26: Accepted and approved.
15/26.8: To Confirm that the Parish Council Meets All Requirements to Submit a Certificate of Exemption for the Financial Year 2025/26 and to Authorise the Chair to Sign as Such: All criteria met, Chair approved to sign.
16/26: Parish Matters
16/26.1: Community Plan
a) Audit of Assets – Bench to be donated to school, Clerk to arrange delivery. Garages licences to be removed from asset register. Cllr Kitchingman had produced a condition survey for all assets. Clerk to obtain costs for undertaking works on those assets identified. Cllrs Wright & Savage to investigate minor works improvements for access to a seat at Lady Hall.
b) Pinnel Hole Car Parking – Cllr Pogrel reported that a consultation document had been produced showing 2 options for improvements. To speak to garage owners first, then to wider community. Proposed to hold a community consultation event to discuss Pinnel Hole, play area and solar lights.
c) To Determine New Entrance to Play Area – Clerk reported that the bespoke accessible gate should be completed by end of June. Clerk to contact contractor re other works required.
d) Website Development – Cllr Wright is experiencing problems accessing emails, Clerk to contact Webmaster. Cllr Savage stated that Out & About was out of date on website. Clerk stated that they are not being sent through to her.
16/26.2: Parish Projects
i) Active Transport – Barrow to Esk Active Travel – Cllr Calsy had sent a report in her absence stating that funding had been received for the feasibility study.
ii) Lights – Cllr Pogrel reported that a local supplier had been contacted. 3 quotes to be obtained for procurement/installation/maintenance. Final consultation to be undertaken re location of lights.
iii) Duddon Iron Furnace – Cllr Carrington reported that LDNP & Historic England were disputing responsibility for the site.
iv) Dog Poo Bins – Clerk to contact Cllr Pratt re costs etc.
v) Sandhalls Wood, Removal of Wood and Fallen Trees – Clerk reported that the wood is not owned by the Council. Clerk to bring maps to June meeting re land ownership by PC.
vi) Annual Parish Meeting 18 May 2026 – Report back on Community Plan, update on progress, project development. Clerk to source light refreshments.
16/26.3: Policies, Procedures and Consultations
a) Play Inspection Report – To await next report.
16/26.4: Subgroup Reports
a) Environment Group – No report.
16/26.5: Councillor Vacancies: Two vacancies remaining. To be raised at Annual Parish Meeting.
17/26: Reports from Representatives on Outside Bodies
Ghyll Scaur Quarry: Complaints received of lorries backing up on road at lay bye (usually Monday). GSQ staff to monitor. Complaint received re blasting, blast monitor to be moved. Ponds – survey and to clear out in phases. Concerns that there are no longer any specialist mineral planners within Cumberland Council. Concerns that the traffic management plan is not working.
Copeland Community Partnership (GDF): No further updates.
17/26: Correspondence: The following correspondence had been received that has not been previously circulated:
18/26: Councillor Matters:
19/26: Date of Next Meeting: 1 June 2026, The Hill Village Hall, commencing at 7.30pm.
There being no other business the Meeting closed at 2116hrs.
Signed: ……….. Date: ………….
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