8th   The monthly visit to application sites for development control in the City Council area was preceded by a visit to the Carlisle Offices of the Carlisle and Eden Districts CAB in order to sign the monthly cheques.   Also I had to visit the Carlisle Branch of the HSBC bank in order to prove identity as I am now also a signee of cheques for the parish council.   The visits for contentious applications for development were to Great Corby, Talkin, Smithfield and Thurstonfield.   In the evening I attended the monthly meeting of Wetheral Parish Council.   At the meting we co-opted a new Parish Councillor for the Great Corby Ward, Rebecca Nemeth, who lives in the village.   There were a number of Wetheral Village residents who were complaining about the development at Skelton House and asking for Parish Council support in their actions.   This was willingly given, as the application is in its fourth year and has had some 16 alterations in its development, not all with approval from the City of Carlisle’s Development Control Committee.   An update on the improvements to some and the inception of other Village Playgrounds was given by the clerk and reports of The Hartley Trust AGM, Thomas Graham Trust AGM, The Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership Meeting and the Carlisle Parish Council Association were given.   So ended a busy day.

9th   Today I was in the Civic Centre early for the briefing of the Audit Committee prior to the meeting at 10 a.m.   I was the substitute for a member of the committee who was unable to attend.   The meeting having elected a Chairperson for the forthcoming year, scutinised the Annual Governance Statement 2014/15 and Statement of Accounts 2014/15 before approving them.   A report was given regarding the organisations which have taken over the functions of the Audit Commission that no longer exists.   Internal Audit reports, Annual 2014/15  and Progress 2015/16 were given and their effectiveness during 2014/15 were given.   Finally a report on Corporate Risk Management was given by the Chief Executive, Jason Gooding.   In the evening it was the meeting of the Conservative Group of the City Council who meet prior to the full Council Meeting the following week.   The members discussed tactics for the forthcoming meeting and the various items on the agenda, whether to approve or vote against proposals.   Ideas for the “Away Day” were put forward but there were still no nominations for Group Co-ordinator.

10th   The day of the Development Control Meeting, the Conservative Members on the committee have a prior discussion of the way forward as to whether to approve or reject the application.   As two of the applications were either opposed by a personal friend or submitted by the son of a personal friend I had to declare a prejudicial interest and leave the chamber whilst they were being debated.   Some 14 applications were scrutinised  and decisions made before the end of the meeting.    Tomorrow is my birthday and I will be spending it with my wife and after a walk around Talkin Tarn, lunch out at a newly opened restaurant we will be at a Classical Concert at The Cathedral with The Festival Choir.   Hope for a bright sunny day.