Mallerstang Parish Meeting

Minutes for 1996

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF MALLERSTANG PARISH MEETING 

AT THE BLACK BULL HOTEL KIRKBY STEPHEN HELD ON THURSDAY 28th MARCH 1996

1. ATTENDANCE
Nineteen residents of the Dale were present under the chairmanship of Mr Stephen Alderson. Apologies for absence were received from eight others. In addition, D Capel, T Ladhams and T Stoppard attended prior to the meeting.

2. EDEN BENCHMARKS
D Capel, the Countryside Officer outlined the Eden Benchmarks Sculpture Project. Residents L Alderson, T Firth and W Hamilton agreed to represent the Parish Meeting at the forthcoming selection meeting.

3. REFUSE COLLECTIONS
Since T Ladhams had to leave the meeting early this item was taken out of the order. T Ladhams reported that the contract for refuse collection is currently being re-tendered. If Sita, the current contractors, are re-appointed the fortnightly collection is likely to remain unaltered until the year 2000. T Ladhams is to continue acting on our behalf.

4. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
These were accepted with a minor amendment and were signed by the Chairman.

5. MATTERS ARISING:
(a) It was noted that the Parish was still without a new Notice Board. P Moore has suggested that the Ladies' money could be used for this purpose. R Howard proposed, I Smart seconded a new site adjacent to the Jew Stone. This was agreed. R. Keys to be contracted.
(b) It was noted that the hedge above Southwaite had been trimmed back.

6. OFFICER'S REPORT
The Clerk reported that the forthcoming issues on the agenda adequately covered the main events of the preceeding six months. It was fully further reported that the Parish Inventory, Minutes Book and Accounts were still awaited.

6. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
(a) Chairman; the serving Chairman Mr S Alderson stood down. Mr I Smart being the sole nomination was declared elected.
(b) Vice Chairman; Mr A McWhirter being the sole nomination was declared elected.
(c) Clerk and Treasurer; The Serving Clerk, Mrs M Atkinson, stood down. Mr P Watson being the sole nomination was declared elected.
The new Officers took their positions and thanked the retiring Officers for their works.

7. TRAVERS INSTITUTE
Due to his neighbouring interest in this site the new Chairman asked the Vice Chairman to take this item.
The new Clerk circulated a letter he had prepared outlining the latest situation. He summarised the findings.
The issue of the Chairman's liability was discussed and it was reported that insurance cover had never been arranged. It was agreed that this cover should be implemented as soon as possible.
After further discussion it was suggested that a special meeting be held at the site in the Summer. (NB this meeting took place on Saturday 13th July 1996 at 10.30 am. The outcome of the meeting was summarised by the Clerk in his letter dated 13th July 1996 which was ciculated to all residents)

8. THE PINFOLD
A letter from Steve Chettle of Cumbria Public Art to the Clerk was read out. Some concern was expressed with regard to the amount of community input that was required. It was agreed that the Officers should monitor progress.

9. MALLERSTANG CONSOLIDATED CHARITIES
It was reported that the missing documents and files have been forwarded to the Chairman and Clerk.

10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
(a) Some concern was expressed with regard to the state of the banking/retaining wall near to Watergate Bottom. The Clerk Is tp
write to Eden District Council, Highways Department.
(b) It was noted that the removal of the concrete pipes at Castlewaite is imminent.
(c) The issue of salt deposits was raised. The Clerk is to write to Eden District Council, Highways Department to seek clarification.

11. THE NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be arranged for late November.

There be no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 10.08 pm.

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE MALLERSTANG PARISH MEETING 

AT THE BLACK BULL HOTEL KIRKBY STEPHEN, HELD ON THURSDAY 5th DECEMBER 1996

1. ATTENDANCE
Ten residents of the dale were present under the chairmanship of Mr Ian Smart. Apologies for absence were received from Mrs Howard, Mrs Moore, Mr Hutton, Mr and Mrs Atkinson, Tony Sawyer and Trevor Ladhams.


2. MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING
These were approved by the meeting.


3. MATTERS ARISING
A letter was read to the meeting from Steven Chettle dated 12th November 1996 regarding the cone to be built within the Pinfold. It was noted that the cone was now built and the building of the cone was filmed by the BBC with the programme to be broadcast on BBC2 on 19.12.96.
It was noted that negotiations were still continuing regarding the re-building of the Pinfold. The meeting thought that the shape ought to be regularised if possible in as decent a size as possible. Mr Roger Howard wished it to be recorded that Cumbria Public Arts indicated that they would pay for ten years insurance and Mr and Mrs Chessums' legal fees for changing the deeds and that Cumbria Public Arts would maintain the Pinfold for ten years. The Parish Clerk, Mr Paul Watson, was asked to liaise with Mr Chettle and Mr and Mrs Chessum to finalise the project.

THE TRAVERS INSTITUTE
The meeting was informed by the Parish Clerk that a scheme had been submitted to the Charity Commissioners who were still deliberating as to its approval.
The meeting was told that Mr Keys was about to start making the new Parish Notice Board which he had kindly agreed to donate to the Parish free of charge. Mr Roger Howard opined that it would be better to put the new Parish Notice Board in the position of the existing board. The meeting then agreed that if possible the new Notice Board should be sited at the place of the existing one. -
The Parish Clerk was asked about the response he had received from the Highways Department regarding the banking/retaining wall near to Watergate Bottom. The Parish Clerk indicated that a reply had been received from the Highways Department to the effect that they were going to carry out a survey of the area with a view to carrying out remedial works. The Parish Clerk also reported that a reply from the Highways Department had been received regarding the gritting of the road and salt deposits and a letter was passed round the meeting from the Highways Department which set out the Council's policy and showed the position with the grit/salt deposits.

4. OFFICER'S REPORT
Mr Ian Smart reported that Mary Bournes' benchmark was virtually complete. Contractors were going to position it on the 9th /10th December 1996 and that the base was already concreted in.
One member of the Parish expressed concern that the Roman road had been chewed up by tractors. The meeting asked the Parish Clerk to
write to Mr Capel to ask that the surface of the road be reinstated as far as practicable.
The question of liability in the event of an accident involving the Benchmark was raised and the Parish Clerk was requested to write to Mr Capel to request an indemnity in respect of any liability which might arise.


5. MALLERSTANG CONSOLIDATED CHARITIES
Mr Philip Reddy gave an eloquent description of the aims and policies of the Charity and in particular the recent change in policy which has resulted in bread payments no longer being made, Mr Reddy reported that the Trustees' opinion was that the giving of bread was not appropriate in this day and age and that in any event it was becoming too costly for the Charity to afford.
Mr Reddy sought the views of the meeting and of the residents of the dale in general as to appropriate ways in which to distribute the available monies of the Charity which amount to several hundred pounds per year. Mr Roger Howard thanked Mr Reddy for his "excellent summary" of the Charity's position and the meeting concurred.


6. THE PRECEPT FOR 1997/1998
The Parish Clerk, Mr Paul Watson reported that the tri-annual audit had taken place and that the accounts were now regularised. He reported that the precept for the year 1994/1995 of £100 had never actually been paid into the Bank and that the audit having taken place Eden District Council had now forwarded another cheque to the Clerk which has now been paid into the Bank. As a result of the unexpected influx of funds a lower than normal precept would be required and that all that would be required would be £50 for the forthcoming year. Mr Roger Howard suggested that to be cautious £100
might be appropriate. The Clerk informed the meeting that a cheque had been found buried amongst the Parish papers for £70 being the precept for 1991/1992 which cheque had not been paid into the Bank. Mr Watson reported that he was checking with Eden District Council whether or not a replacement cheque had ever been issued and that it may be possible that in the event that the precept for that year had not been banked to obtain the funds now. The meeting decided after further discussion that the precept for 1997/1998 should be £50 in the event that the £70 from 1991/1992 was available and £100 otherwise.


7. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
A resident at the meeting reported that the Mallerstang sign post at the other end of the Tommy Road at its junction with the Sedbergh Road had disappeared. The Clerk was asked to write to the Highways Department accordingly. Several members at the meeting asked whether it would be possible for a sign denoting Mallerstang to be placed next to the sign denoting Swaledale positioned in Nateby. The meeting asked the Clerk to write to the Highways Department to see if that was possible.


The meeting that commenced at 7.45 pm was closed at 9.20 pm. It was announced that the Annual General Meeting would take place at the end of March 1997.

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