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 26th JUNE 2023 COMMENCING 07.00PM IN THE TOWN COUNCIL OFFICES
PRESENT: Cllr G McGrath (Chair), Cllr S Faulkner, Cllr R Kelly, Cllr J Brown, Cllr D Billing, Cllr R Pattinson, Cllr B Crellin, Cllr B Amos, Cllr R Peter, Cllr A Gager-Leibhart, Cllr J Micklethwaite, Cllr D Barry, Cllr J Kellett, Cllr E Ormesher, Clerk Mrs Cath Jopson, Assistant Clerk/RFO Mrs Gillian Hoyle, Cumberland Representative Cllr Andy Pratt and Hannah Phillips, Health and Well-Being Officer
Prior to the start of the meeting the Chair welcomed Cllr Andy Pratt and Hannah Phillips to the meeting. The Chair also proposed that the presentation (item 10 on the agenda) by Hannah Phillips be moved up the agenda. All agreed to this process.
Apologies were received from Cllr S Peter due to ill health.
No items on the agenda needed the exclusion of the press or public.
Chair:
The Chair welcomed all the new and old councillors to the meeting. He went on to address the council over the upcoming challenges over the next 4-years.
Mayor:
Cllr Faulkner thanked everyone and also commented that it was great to see a full council membership and hoped that working together would help raise public’s perception of the town council better than it is currently.
Cllr Faulkner stated that going forward her objectives for the year are to connect with the community more and to know and understand what works well and more importantly what needs to be addressed in order to build a cohesive community that works for the good of the town.
No Declarations of Pecuniary Interest were received.
Cllr Faulkner proposed that the minutes of the mayor making meeting held on 24th May 2023 be signed as a true and correct record, this was seconded by Cllr Brown and agreed.
Cllr McGrath proposed that the minutes from the meeting held on 29th March 2023 be signed as a true and correct record. This was seconded by Cllr Faulkner and all agreed.
Cllr Kelly proposed that the minutes from the extra-ordinary meeting held on 19th June 2023 be signed as a true and correct record. This was seconded by Cllr Faulkner and agreed.
The clerk informed the council that all the office actions had been completed.
No members of the public were in attendance.
This item on the agenda was moved to the start of the meeting so that the officer could leave following her presentation. The chair thanked Hannah for her presentation and all agreed that it was very informative and useful.
Action: Clerk to give Hannah councillor contacts
The RFO presented the following to the Council for approval:
Cllr Kelly proposed that the Internal Auditors Report be accepted and returned. Cllr Kelly also proposed that a letter of thanks be sent to the internal auditor for their very informative report. This was seconded by Cllr Brown and agreed.
Action: RFO to return signed AGAR form, Clerk to write a letter of thanks to Internal Auditor.
Cllr Faulkner at this point proceeded to give a short presentation of what she felt going forward the Council needs to focus on.
Cllr Faulkner’s presentation was discussed during this agenda item. It was proposed by Cllr Faulkner that the clerk send out details of the groups etc asking as to which particular group a councillor would like to be in. The clerk to send out listed groups for councillors to return with their preferred group they would like to be in.
After a short discussion it was agreed that the council should be mindful and try to ensure that:
Action: Chair and Mayor
Cllrs muted suggestions for champions, this will be agreed at the workshop.
Cumberland Cllr Pratt congratulated MTC on their ambitious plans for the next 4 years and was impressed by their initiative and vision. He said that it was good to see a different aspect to a 4-year councillor plan. He informed the council that South Cumberland needed 3 priorities that Cllr Kelly and himself could take back to the Cumberland Authority and hopefully be sorted, the areas in question were between Millom and Egremont.
He stated that he would be willing to join and work alongside with Cumberland representative Cllr Kelly to try and ensure that things moved on in all of these areas. Cllr McGrath stated that two of the main key elements around the Millom and Haverigg areas were parking and transportation (service buses etc).
Cllr McGrath thanked Cllr Pratt and all the councillors for their input at this meeting.
Action: Chair and Mayor
Cllr Kelly informed the council that the new Cumberland Authority were looking for representatives on the Nature and Climate Change Group Champion from local councils. It had been agreed previously in the meeting that Cllr Pattinson represent Millom.
He also mentioned that public were also interested in the ‘We are Here’ grass roots workshop. It was suggested that Cllr Kelly ask if a presentation could be arranged for MTC in this regard.
Action: Cllr Kelly to look into presentation
The clerk informed the council that the current tenant would be vacating the premises on 30th June. The council were also informed that the recent building survey of the café had shown no underlying issues and that no asbestos was in situ.
Cllr McGrath proposed that it be put out to tender as soon as possible. This was seconded by Cllr Kelly and agreed.
Action: The following councillors to work up a business plan/questionnaire: Cllr McGrath, Cllr Faulkner, Cllr Ormesher and the clerk.
The clerk informed the council that the paperwork for the purchase of 6 Newton Street had been received and a signature was needed to go forward. It was proposed by Cllr McGrath that Cllr Faulkner have the authority to sign any paperwork received in regard to the purchase of the office on behalf of Millom Town Council.
Action: Clerk and Cllr Faulkner to deal with all paperwork for the purchase of the office premises.
Cllr Amos was most concerned with regard to the rules of GDPR. He stated that the councillors all needed to have their own MTC email address.
Cllr McGrath agreed with this and all councillors to try and get this resolved as soon as possible.
Action: All councillors to contact Cllr Amos to get their emails updated to Millom Town Council
The following planning applications had been received for council comments:
Action: Clerk to inform Cumberland Planning of comments
Cllr McGrath reminded the council of the upcoming Mayoral Civic Service which is to be held on Sunday 23rd July and hoped that all could attend.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 08.45pm
Signed: ………………………………… Chair Dated: 26th July 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.