Millom Without Parish Council

MILLOM WITHOUT PARISH COUNCIL

DRAFT MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING AT THE HILL VILLAGE HALL ON 13 APRIL 2026 COMMENCING AT 7.30PM

Present: Cllr D Savage (Chair), Cllr B Wright, Cllr V Pogrel, Cllr M Kitchingman, Cllr S Atkinson, Cllr I Lockwood
Cllr A Pratt, Cumberland Council
Lesley Cooper Clerk

152/25 Apologies for absence

Cllr C Carrington (holiday), Cllr A Calsy (Family), Cllr M Bates (work),

153/25 Exclusion of Press and Public

None

154/25 Declarations of Interest

None

155/25 Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 2 March 2026

The minutes were approved and signed by the Chair

156/25 Police Liaison Report

Circulated. No comments

157/25 Progress Report

Clerk’s Report

• The owner of a garage had confirmed that they would undertake repairs.
• Clerk had completed re-declaration – Pension Regulator
• AGAR completed and ready to submit to Internal Audit.
• Overtime worked during 2025/26 10.43hrs plus 3.75 hours taken as TOIL
• CALC questionnaire re Locum Clerks – response from council would explore if required.

158/25 Public Participation

None

159/25 Unitary Councillor Report

Cllr Pratt gave the following report:

• CALC have produced a questionnaire re Locum Clerks
• CALC are looking to have a list of Internal Auditors for 27/28 Financial year
• Buckman’s Brow to Duddon bridge – Cumberland awaiting a date from contractors to resurface road following its skid test failure
• Cumberland have no network engineers, all highways’ issues to be directed to Highways mentor Terry Wallace. Cllr Pratt was asked to provide the job description for this role
• Cllr Lockwood queried the state of the road down to Underhill.
• Actions to encourage the logging of potholes on the Hims system – article in Out & About
• Clerk to write too Karl Melville and outline case for road to be resurfaced (patches on patches, sunken road
• Cllr Pratt to obtain an index of footpaths and unclassified roads within the parish.

The Chair thanked Cllr Pratt for his report

160/25 Applications for Development

160/25.1 To examine applications for development and submit observations to the Planning Authority

4/26/2088 Crag Brow, The Hill

Change of use of land to residential to extend the domestic curtilage and erection of a garden room (part retrospective)

No comments

7/2026/4016 Coachmans Cottage, Buckman Brow, Thwaites

Replacement of 2 front doors on coachman’s Cottage

Supported

160/25.2 To ratify the observations submitted by the Clerk under devolved powers since last meeting

None

160/25.3 To note the decisions of the statutory planning authority with regards to recent applications

None

161/25 Financial Records

161/25.1 The following payment was approved

• L Cooper Clerks salary & expenses £ 232.16
• HMRC PAYE £ 48.80
• L Cooper unpaid annual leave £1560.88
• HMRC PAYE £ 390.40
• CALC Annual Subscription £ 256.24
• Zurich Insurance renewal £ 507.00

161/25.2 To note the receipt of payments

• Cumberland Community Grant £2000
• Ghyll Scaur Quarry Fund £ 571.51

161/25.3 To receive and note the bank reconciliation statement dated 31 March 2026

Checked and verified by Cllr Kitchingman

161/25.4 To consider the Budget Comparison Report as at 31 March 2026 and determine action need to address deviations from the budget

Clerk reported that spend for year was £14052.77 and income was £14229.38. Accounts stand as follows C/A £10324.15, Deposit Account £12445.42. Committed reserves £10277.40, General Reserve £1249217. Clerk recommended that £5k be transferred from current account to the deposit account. This was agreed.

161/25.5 To approve the Asset Register as at 31 March 2026

Approved

161/25.6 To approve the Risk Register/risk assessment for 2026

Approved

162/25 Parish Matters

162/25.1 Community Plan

a) Audit of Assets
Bench to be donated to school, Clerk to arrange delivery.

b) Pinnel Hole car parking
Cllr Pogrel reported that the camper van had now been removed but the trailers were still there. 3 large trailers till there which created problems for an Ambulance turning. Proposals to be presented at Annual Parish Meeting. Clerk to write to Estate Agents of house advertising garage space in advertising.

c) To determine new entrance to play area
Funding now received. Clerk has instructed contractor to make the bespoke accessible gate.

d) Website Development
Facebook link live. Header still being as a fixed pane. Suggested heritage/culture (visitor information page).

162/25.2 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 she was investigating local suppliers to maintain. To check with local suppliers if they were able to purchase and install streetlights.

iii) Duddon Iron Furnace
No update

iv) Dog Poo Bins
Cllr Pratt to source replacement wheels for existing bin at Marsh gate and cost of purchase and empty of additional bins.

v) Sandhalls wood, removal of wood and fallen trees
Clerk to ascertain ownership

vi) Annual Parish Meeting 18 May 2026
Report back on Community Plan, update on progress, project development.
Clerk to source light refreshments,

162/25.3 Policies, Procedures and Consultations

a) Play Inspection Report
Cllr Kitchingman reported that the replacement of the spring was not specified. Swing shackles were not checked even though this was a specific request. Continue with weekly monitoring and review after annual inspection in August 2026.
Clerk to obtain a contact sign for play area to report faults.

b) FOLD Fairer housing, strong communities campaign
Noted

c) Village Heat share projects
Environment Group to respond.

162/25.4 Subgroup Reports

a) Environment Group
Cllr Calsy had sent a report that litter picking had resumed.

162/25.5 Councillor vacancies

Two vacancies remaining. To be raised at Annual Parish Meeting

163/25 To reports from representatives on outside bodies

Copeland Community Partnership (GDF)
Cllr Pogrell reported that there was a new lead from NWS. May 2026 to submit request to Secretary of State for drilling. June report re bird survey results. Cllr Pogrel prepared to attend the June and September meetings.

164/25 Correspondence

The following correspondence had been received that has not been previously circulated:

• Thank you letter from Northwest Ambulance for donation
• Thank you letter from Millom Foodbank re donation
• Report of a street light out at The Green – advised to contact Cumberland
• Request for temporary frogs crossing sign at The Green

165/25 Councillor Matters

• Cllr Kitchingman sought additional information on the pylon works.
• Cllr Pogrel reported that a bush had fallen down at the Pinnel Hole and a member of public had dealt with the problem.
• Cllr Pogrel asked when the next tree survey was due, to be undertaken in the autumn.

166/25 Date of Next Meeting

11 May 2026 Thwaites Village Hall, commencing at 7.30pm

There being no other business the Meeting closed at 2124hrs

Signed ……….. Date………….