Meeting March 2026 Agenda

OUGHTERSIDE AND ALLERBY PARISH COUNCIL

The minutes of the annual parish meeting of Oughterside and Allerby Parish held on Tuesday 10^th March 2026 at 7pm followed by March Parish Council Meeting

held in Prospect Village Hall.

Meeting Opened: By parish council chair, Lyndsey Preston-Miller

Also present: Cllrs Gladys Hunter (vice-chair), Pam Marriot, Gary Bolton, Julie Gingell plus clerk Mike Milner and one member of the public.

Chairman’s report, Chair Cllr L P-M read her annual report.

At the public participation section, no member of the public present offered a report.

Meeting closed. 7.03pm.

Parish Council meeting opened at 7.04pm by chair Cllr L P-M.

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

Clerk, M Milner and one member of the public.

587.00 Apologies. Cumberland Unitary Councillor Martin Harris.

588.00 Declaration of interests: none

589.00 To read and approve the minutes of the last meeting held on Tuesday 10^th February 2026.

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

590.00 Public Participation/open session.

590.01 member of the public present, a former councillor, had been investigating seeds where they could be sourced and costing them. Basically, for the two wild flower areas in the playing field opposite the school and two areas at Allerby, he had calculated it would require approx. 10kg of seed, approx. price £135 based on 35p per unit, which is how seeds are priced when purchased for such commercial use. He also recommended that for the best results they should be sown in the autumn after the area had been scarified.

590.02 councillors discussed the options and clerk said he would investigate scarify by both a local farmer and Tivoli who had the grass contract for the playing field. Cllrs were concerned that now 3 years into the project there was not a more colourful display of flowers over the spring and summer. As clerk pointed out, reading from an email from the Cumberland Wildlife Trust employee, it was not unusual for a Cumbria wild flower meadow to take up to 15 years to establish. Councillors remarked that they had not realised such a lengthy period was involved, they had thought 3 to 5 years.

591.00 Police Matters.

591.01 clerk confirmed police e newsletter duly circulated.

592.00 Matters concerning Cumberland Councillor.

592.01 Cllr Martin Harris, not present, his report, circulated was taken as read.

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593.00 Applications for development. None to consider or reports.

594.00 Resolve to contribute 50% of Prospect Village Hall annual insurance premium, £714.88 is requested figure.

594.01 clerk advised it was annual practice for the parish council to pay a 50% contribution to the Prospect Village Hall insurance premium. It was a figured accounted for in the parish council precept request.

594.02 councillors unanimously approved the contribution of £714.88 to the village hall.

595.00 Discuss issues reported by Tivoli on their visit to check contracted areas for maintenance contract.

595.01 clerk advised he had received the report from Tivoli, now Nurture Landscapes, he had circulated the document to all councillors. The issue pointed out with the children’s playground bridge clerk would inspect later in the month and he suspected he could buy chain link joints to repair. Cllr approved that action. The fallen tree on the boundary by the terraced house, cllrs accepted the quotation the clerk had obtained from Tivoli, £149.10 including VAT. Clerk to organise.

595.02 discussion about the Oughterside playing field boundary hedge on the side towards River Ellen. It is parish responsibility. Ash Die Back is the problem, trees in potentially dangerous condition. Clerk instructed to ask Tivoli to provide a detailed audit on the trees and also proposals for replacing with indigenous replacements. Finally discussed the two areas of missing turf on BMX track sides, obviously caused by children creating humps on the track, decided no action the areas, not large and they will grass over.

596.00 Noticeboards. Update.

596.01clerk ran through the actions he had taken since the last meeting, with regard Highways. The proposed board in Allerby would require a memorandum of agreement with the Highways department, similar to the agreement undertaken with the seat for the “Lest we forget” project. Cllrs approved that action for Allerby. The board opposite the Miners Arms is awaiting Connect Highways approval.

596.02 Highways have suggested that they would prefer the board opposite the school was placed inside the play area. Clerk explained where it could be located and that a safety fence was damaged so that could be repaired at the same time. Cllrs discussed the merits and otherwise of putting the board as clerk suggested and finally decided perhaps it should be located by the seat on the corner of the Arkleby Road. Clerk instructed to make contact with Highways and establish if that could be, with Highways agreement be approved. Clerk remarked last boards erected probably 20 years ago and he doubted any permissions    were sought or obtained; they were just installed. Clerk will discuss with planning department.

597.00 Easter or Spring newsletter production date, Content.

597.00 clerk apologised for not having produced a draft INSIDE ready for Easter, but he for various reason had been busy with other issues. Cllrs happy that it could be a Spring INSIDE.

597.02, clerk ran through a list of items for content, new noticeboards, new councillors, sigh posts, Give Way signs, potential support for Allerby man running the London Marathon. Cllr P.M would like to see a flyer in the next INSIDE, to provide local residents with links to Cumberland services they would find helpful to report issues. Clerk to investigate A5 with links that work and circulate. Clerk to obtain photo from individual running the marathon in London.

598.00 Progress reports, clerk.

598.01 message from local resident about wild flower seeds and source, discussed 590.00.

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598.02 clerk had emailed Hayton and Mealo clerk again about Governance review and possible merger. He had received a response that evening, the Hayton and Mealo parish wished to remain as its own entity.

598.03 Not yet implement the gov.uk as distracted by other issues and want to set it up correctly in one session.

598.04 reported fallen Give Way sign on C2023 junction E1/285131. Repair completed.

598.05 clerk reported again the trees on C2023 adjacent to River Ellen, E1/285247, still live active under original report E1/247793. No action yet.

598.06 reported overflowing bin, E1/NH10053, bin now emptied.

598.07 verge damaged by hedge cutting tractor in heavy rain, reported to landowner, who acknowledged the issue and will make good the damage.

598.08 clerk had responded to lighting issues on a property in Oughterside. Planning department advised permitted development and unless immediate neighbours complained there would be no further action.

598.09 reported overgrown brambles on road down to Allerby from A596, in Cross Cannonby parish. Again, all have been cut back.

598.10 reported large pothole on Allerby to Hayton road E1/285838, it appears numerous reports on Highways website, but still not repaired.

599.00 Councillors reports.

599.01 chair reported repairs to pot holes in Allerby had been completed.

599.02 Cllr P.M was keen to undertake a litter pic, however she had contacted the Allerdale section of Cumberland Council and although they could supply equipment, there was the issue and responsibility of a safety form to be completed, including section on having a First aider. She would investigate further as to requirements.

599.03 clerk answered Cllr J.B’s question about additional poo bins as being an on-going challenge.

599.04 Cllr G.H was concerned that trees still not tackled on road by River Ellen, see above 598.05 refers.

600.00 Correspondence.

600.01 advised by Openreach BT Fibre replacement to be undertaken by and on Pond Green play area. Probably May/June. Clerk had suspended the laying of new grass matting at Old Swing equipment.

600.02 Invoice from Prospect Village Hall, hall hire Oct-Dec, £72.00.

600.03 email about sink hole opposite school clerk photographed, reported, E1/290537.

601.00 Payments for approval.

M Milner Intpay 383, £284.46, salary £230.46, £54.00 expenses.

HMRC Intpay 384, HMRC £57.40, PAYE.

Prospect Village Hall Intpay 385, £714.88 half annual hall insurance premium.

Prospect Village Hall Intpay 386, £72.00 hall hire, Oct-December, 3 months @£24/mth

All Payments approved.

Meeting closed 8.42pm.

602.00 Date and time of next meeting Tuesday 14^th April 2026 at 7.00pm at Prospect village hall.

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