1st February The weather is still wet and stormy but this evening I was at the Planning Committee of the Parish Council in the new Wetheral Community Hall. We scrutinised some 12 planning applications relevant to Wetheral Parish and had concerns regarding two, namely the land to the rear of Park House, Parket Hill, Scotby for the erection of three houses and a bungalow due to access and drainage due to a history of flooding and the land adjacent to The Oaks, Plains Road, Wetheral for three houses due to road safety, ribbon development and the close proximity to a gas pipeline. Observations were made regarding a further three applications.
2nd Today we were battered by Storm Henry, but a 4 p.m. I met up with PCSO Gemma Dawson at Barley Edge, Durranhill to discuss future action against motorists who drive along Durranhill Road at excessive speed, e.g. in excess of 30 mph and also regarding parking issues at Scotby School. In the evening I was in attendance at the Special Council Meeting at the Civic Centre to determine the rate of Council Tax residents will pay in the forthcoming year. The Labour controlled Council wanted the Council Tax to be raised by 1.95% but we were minded to put a freeze on the Council Tax due to the state of the economy and the control of wage increases. We would fund this through staff transformation as two of the Directors are leaving the staff of the Council and are not being replaced but we lost the amendment. We (the Conservative Group) put forward two other amendments, the first being the idea of only having council elections every four years (in place of one third of Councillors resigning each year) plus money from unused travel expenses by City Councillors the money to be used for Community Centres which are having a grant cut by the City Council and the other a £20,000 kitty that can by applied for by Community Centres and Village Halls that have been affected by the recent floods. Both amendments were defeated. The Independents Group put forward four amendments all connected to Botcherby (2 Independent Councillors represent Botcherby) and all four were defeated.
3rd I was at Scotby School at 9.15 a.m. for a meeting of the Finance and Health & Safety/ Buildings Committee. We had an update on the Cleaning Contract, the New Energy System, the Play Trail, New Signage, New Metal Fencing and the new timing and fees of the After School Club. This was followed by a finance update and a review of the Lettings Policy and the Health and Safety Policy prior to discussing recent drainage problems with the Staff Toilets!! What a change from last evening.
4th Another change in venue as this evening I was at the meeting of the Scotby Village Hall Committee held in the village hall, but due to other events being held in the hall at the same time the meeting was held in one of the cloakrooms. There being some 13 members present it was a tight fit!! Thanks were given to those who replaced all the equipment after the laying of the new flooring and to those who had done all the organising. Concern was expressed regarding heating some of this had been rectified due some loose wiring, others due to the nearness of the thermostat, and finally the correction of the timing clock. An automatic light is not functioning properly and needs adjustment, a pot-hole in the drive up to the hall needs attention and the old lights in the corridor are to be replaced with modern lights. It is hoped that the Parish Council that owns the Hall and the Village Green will attend to the pot-hole with the Village Hall Committee dealing with the rest.
6th The Christian Men’s Breakfast at Carlisle Golf Club, Aglionby resumed after a two months break with the speaker being Mrs Allison Lee, Branch Leader of the Christian Police Association who spoke of the stresses and strains on police work and how her Christian Faith had helped her. A very interesting topic about which few members knew anything.