Millom Town Council
Millom Town Council was formed in 1974 when the parish boundaries changed from Cumberland.
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF MILLOM TOWN COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY 22nd FEBRUARY 2023 COMMENCING 07.00PM IN THE TOWN COUNCIL OFFICES
PRESENT: Cllr B Kelly (in the Chair), Cllr S Faulkner, Cllr G Brace, Cllr J Brown, Cllr B Crellin, Cllr D Billing, Cllr D Burness and Cath Jopson Town Clerk, Gillian Hoyle RFO/Assistant Clerk
Apologies were received from Cllrs R & S Peter due to ill health
Apologies received from Cllr McGrath – meeting clashed with another meeting of which he is chair.
No members of the press or public were in attendance
Mayor’s Report – Cllr B Kelly
This has been a period when long-standing issues have come to the fore again – complaints about dog-poop, request to change traffic regulations in town, anger at enforcement officers charging people with parking over-stays etc. To me this all reflects the way many areas, not just Millom and Haverigg, have suffered from local government cut-backs and being ignored by those with the powers to make a difference. Hopefully, we can begin to remedy some of this in the near future. What we do need though is for more residents to come forward and help the Town Council do what itself can and to put pressure on wider powers to assist us – so please encourage anyone who might be considering it to put their name forward for the May Town Council elections.
On a much happier and more positive note Denise and myself attended the pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Palladium at the invitation of the organisers and it really was an excellent evening which displayed the acting and singing talent of many of Millom’s youngsters and some slightly more mature people. The result was a great success with all the participants and the audience contributing to it.
Cllr Kelly also informed the council that his Mayor’s Annual Fund-Raising Event will be held on April 15th 2023 in Millom Cricket Club at a cost of £10/head. It is hoped that this will be well supported and help raise funds for the chosen charities.
Cllr B Kelly declared an interest in agenda items 11 and 14 as being member of both committees
The clerk informed the council that all actions had been completed by herself and the RFO.
Cllr Billing proposed that the minutes from the meeting held on 25th January 2023 be signed as a true and correct record, this was seconded by Cllr Faulkner and agreed.
No members of the public were present.
Eric Barker, Coastal Programme Officer gave a short presentation on the proposed Deep Time Coastal Art Project for the Millom Area. At present he stated that he could not let us know which project had been successful for the Millom area and stated that an open presentation would be held in the near future in the Millom and surrounding areas.
The RFO presented the following to the Council for approval:
Cllr Faulkner proposed that all the above be signed as a true and correct record, this was seconded by Cllr Brown and agreed. Action: RFO to make payments
The clerk informed the council that she had been informed that there was nothing to report this month for councillors’ information.
The clerk informed the council that there was nothing to report due to the forthcoming new Unitary Authority taking place
Cllr Kelly reported to the council that the Cumberland budget has now been set but is subject to changes as sources of finance have not yet all been confirmed. The basic information is that most residents in this area will have a 4.9% rise in their council tax as a result of government setting a 2% rise for social care and 2.9% increase in what councils can charge. Allowance schemes for the lowest income households have been set so they can gain total exemption from the tax.
In terms of localisation, Cumberland is to be divided into 8 separate areas for local planning and delivery of some services. Cumberland councillors will form local panels to devise plans in consultation with people from other sections of local communities. At the outset Millom will be linked with wards up to and including Cleator and Egremont but there is scope for the southern part of this area to develop their own plans. More details should be forthcoming soon.
The clerk had circulated a draft copy of the proposed Training & Development Policy. Cllr Brace proposed that the town council adopt this policy, it was seconded by Cllr Faulkner and agreed. Cllr Kelly then proceeded to sign the original document on behalf of MTC.
The clerk had circulated all correspondence received to the councillors for their information and had nothing more to report/update.
Cllr Kelly informed the council that a new chair of the board had been elected with timescales. The clerk informed the council that she was waiting for the new chair of the Millom Town Bid to get in contact in regard to arranging a meeting with the councillors. Action: Clerk to chase up date
Cllr Burness informed the council that this was still ongoing and that the working party had met again and were working through the action plans etc.
Cllr Brace informed the council of the proposed dates etc for the forthcoming local council elections. He reminded fellow councillors that it was important that the candidate nomination process for the May 4th local elections should be started as soon as the Notification of Election was declared by Copeland BC. Nomination papers had to be returned by 4pm on April 4th and the Clerk would probably need to make an appointment to take the papers up to Whitehaven in advance to be checked. It was agreed that sitting councillors would inform the Clerk by Monday 6th March as to whether or not they were going to stand and, following that, the Clerk would arrange a session in which papers could be completed and any queries answered. Action: Clerk to arrange session to complete forms.
Cllr Kelly proposed that he have a meet the Mayor event to see if there was anything anyone wished to ask regarding being a councillor and also to answer any questions in regard to the new Cumberland Authority. This was seconded by Cllr Billing and agreed. Action: Clerk to arrange a date and put posters out.
All working group papers (if meetings had been held) were circulated in the working papers.
Cllr Kelly informed the council that Cllr McGrath had been re-elected for the next 2-years as chair of the South Copeland Community Partnership.
Nothing at present to report
Cllr Falkner informed the council that the hedgerow had been cut back but has left a large amount of soil/debris growing out on the road area. Action: Clerk to inform CCC and ask them to cut it back.
Concerns raised re: face-to-face appointments. Cllr Faulkner to contact surgery. Action: Cllr Faulkner to contact Millom Surgery to discuss issues with Practice Manager.
All correspondence received for action/information had been forwarded either via email or placed within the working papers.
The Council had no objections in principle to this application. Action: Clerk to respond to CBC Planning
The following to be added to the next agenda:
There being no further business the meeting closed at 08.50pm
Signed: …………………………………. (Mayor) Dated: 29th March 2023
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APRIL 30TH: Methodist Church meeting room
MAY 28TH: Methodist Church meeting room
JUNE 25TH: Methodist Church meeting room
JULY 30TH: Methodist Church meeting room
All meetings will commence at 07.00pm unless otherwise stated on
the agenda.