PRESENT

Mr John Rudd (Chairman)

Mrs Gillian Bryan (Vice Chair)

Mr Mike Parkin

Mr Steve Hill

Mrs Mary Herbert

In attendance Mrs Wendy Swinbank (Clerk)

There were seven members’ of the public present.

Mrs Margaret Davis

Mr Cec Coxon

Mrs Dorne Richardson

2. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING – 12^th August 2004 – These had been circulated to all Councillors before the meeting and were read for the members of the public to hear. It was proposed and seconded that these minutes be signed as a true and accurate record. The council agreed.

United Utitlies – the clerk had sent a letter but no response had yet been received.

Fire Officer – the clerk had sent a letter and a reply had been received and was on file.

Footway lighting – a letter had been received and was on file.

Trees – a cheque for £100 had been forwarded to Mr Coward.

There were no declarations of interest for this meeting.

There was no objection to these alterations.

The chairman opened the meeting for the action group to make comment.

The clerk had received two letters - one from David Maclean MP and the second from a walking group which had been in the village recently organising a day of 3 concurrent walks for a party of some 50 walkers. Both these letters are on file.

The action group reported that over 1400 names had been collected on the petition.

Mrs Mary Herbert gave a report of her findings after speaking with Mr Roy Fisher (chairman of the scrutiny committee). The criteria the scrutiny committee had set for their deliberation about the public toilets in Eden, was on use. Mary had also been told that the door was not closed and there was still time for consultation. However the action group had been told that the decision had been made and it was not up for consultation.

There followed a lengthy discussion about the public toilets in Dufton and what the next stage is. It was agreed by the councillors that the action group draft a letter which will be sent to a number of members in Eden District Council, raising various points:-

The letter will be given to the clerk to distribute among the councillors for their opinion before sending off to Eden. It was agreed that this letter be sent off as quickly as possible after that.

The clerk reported that an additional £22 had been banked since the last meeting. A Littlefairs bill had been received £86.14 it was agreed that this be paid. The next building day will be SATURDAY, 24^TH SEPTEMBER 2004.

It was proposed that as the village shelter is getting to the roof stage, then a professional Slater be acquired. This was agreed and Mr Hill and Mr Parkin will obtain quotes.

The clerk read out a letter which had been received from Mrs Jane Nattrass, Keystage one teacher Long Marton Community school. Long Marton School is taking part in a project called ‘Keeping Diversity on Track’ along with four other schools in the area and with the support of the Cumbria Development Education Centre at Ambleside.

The aims of the project are:-

A questionnaire about jobs had also been sent and each councillor was asked if they could spend a little time in completing the questionnaire and return it the school office at Long Marton in the SAE.

Village Shelter – it was proposed that two benches be placed in the village shelter – fixed down to the concrete – one on the left and one on the right. This will be discussed at the next meeting.

Audit – this was now ready to be submitted to the audit commission. Thanks went to Mr Walker for carrying out the internal audit.

Mrs Williams informed the meeting of the FIRE AUTHORITY afternoon which will be held on Saturday 2^nd October 2004 at 2pm. More details will be distributed around the village nearer the time.

There being no other business to discuss the meeting closed at 9.15pm