Meeting February 2026

The minutes of Oughterside and Allerby Parish Council meeting

held on Tuesday 10^th February 2026 commencing at 7.00pm.

Chair declared the meeting open at 7.00pm

Present: Cllrs Chair Lyndsey Preston-Miller, Gladys Hunter (vice chair), Julie Gingell,       Gary Bolton, Pam Marriot.

Cumberland Councillor. Cllr Martin Harris.

Clerk: Mike Milner, no members of the public.

569.00 Apologies for absence: none

570.00 Declaration of interests: None.

571.00 To read and approve the minutes of the last meeting held on Tuesday9^th December 2025.

571.01 Resolved to approve the minutes as a true and accurate record by those who were present at that meeting.

572.00 Public Participation/open session.

572.01 no members of the public present, no reports.

573.00 Police Matters.

573.01 clerk confirmed police e newsletter duly circulated. Clerk advised that one of local police officers, PCSO Pete Nichol had won the prestigious “Public Sector Champion 2025” and the clerk had sent him a congratulatory email on behalf of the parish council.

574.00 Matters concerning Cumberland Councillor.

574.01 Cllr Martin Harris was present and updated on his report which the clerk had circulated. Chair thanked him and invited him to remain, an invitation accepted.

575.00 Applications for development. 

575.01 clerk had circulated 2 notifications concerning Fibrus installing telegraph poles, permitted developments, in the sewage works area down Pit Lonning and at West Moor End.

575.02 clerk advised the Barn Bank demolition along Pit Lonning had been approved and new build on existing footprint. Clerk advised that the request made to the planners when parish had approved FUL/2025/0083 had been noted and clerk read out the relevant officer’s decision on the subject.

576.00 Tivoli Grass Contract, confirmation of 5% increase for 2026 season.

576.01 clerk advised he had specifically included this agenda item as the council need to discuss the reseeding of the wild meadow sections. An issue raised last year by a member of the public.

576.02 chair produced an image of a wild meadow in Whitehaven in full bloom and also an article that indicated Fibrus are supporting seeding of wild meadows as a community project. Clerk to write to Cumbria Wildlife Trust contact and ask for advice on the seeds source, local to Cumbria, and also for assistance to fund the reseeding.

577.00 Discussion on parish council vacancies, two vacancies to fill.

577.01 clerk had no response from Hayton PC about a merger, requested to email again. Then followed a discussion about detailed item in Easter INSIDE for volunteers for co-option. Clerk to write.

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578.00 Noticeboard replacement. Resolve to replace 3 boards.

578.01 councillors studied two examples of a powder coated aluminium board top hinge hung with a metallic notice fixing back board. After discussion councillors resolved to replace the current boards with the board fitted with an external header board total cost £2055 ex VAT and £75 delivery, ex VAT.

578.02 clerk to confirm installation acceptable with Highways, then confirm planning are happy with the exchange of boards, without any planning application. Finally obtain a price for installation.

579.00 Update on gov.uk email and website domain name and use. 

579.01 clerk explained that he had spoken to current website provider and also completed all the paperwork with Cabinet Office and Mackintosh Electronics and the new domain oughtersideallerby-pc.gov.uk has been approved. Over the next few weeks, he would transition the old website to the new domain and set up the individual email parish council specific to the councillors.

580.00 Easter edition of INSIDE, consider content and publication and distribution dates. Easter Sunday 5^th April.

580.01 councillors agreed that content should include councillor vacancies, broken Give Way sign, new noticeboards, a request for support of a local resident who is running the London Marathon, raising money for GNAA. New website contact and clerk, chair and councillors new email addresses. Ready for distribution by next meeting would be splendid.

581.00 Reaffirm the parish council Standing Orders, docs circulated.

581.01 councillors had all received a copy of updated Standing Orders and unanimously resolved they were reaffirmed.

582.00 Progress reports, clerk.

582.01 finally Give Way markings on Oughterside road junction.

582.02 Hedge between Osborne Place and Bank End Cottages, has been trimmed back.

582.03 Governance review, no reply from Hayton, see 577.01 these minutes.

583.00 Councillors reports.

583.01 Cllr G.H advised road by River Ellen still not cut back, clerk to contact Highways.

583.02 Cllr G.B advised part of the verge under the hedge towards Beech Hill has been badly rutted. He will provide images and clerk to contact the land-owner.

583.03 Cllr J.G asked about dog poo bins on the same stretch of river road as 583.01. Clerk advised he had requested them before, but would submit another request.

583.04 Cllr P.M school sign by approach to school badly faded and a bin full and requires emptying. Images to be provided and clerk will contact Highways.

584.00 Correspondence.

584.01 clerk had received report fly tipping between Allerby Rd End and Oughterside Mill, reported to Highways, NH8300 and duly removed, complaint advised.

584.02 numerous email exchanges with Mackintosh Electronics and also Andy Ward concerning the domain change and gov.uk emails.

584.03 clerk advised for reference only not received an invoice for hall hire Oct-Dec’ or for the coffee morning council agreed to pay.

585.00 Payments for approval.

M Milner Intpay 379, £133.00, salary January, 10 hours no expenses.

HMRC Intpay 380, HMRC £33.20, PAYE. January.

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M Milner Intpay 381, £163.40, salary £109.40 Feb, £54.00 expenses.

HMRC Intpay 382, HMRC £27.20, PAYE. February.

All Payments approved.

Meeting closed 8.42pm.

586.00 Date and time of next meeting Tuesday 10^th March 2026 at 7.00pm at Prospect village hall.

Page 359 (3 of 3) chairman…………………………………………………………..10^th March 2026.

Text content to come.