Minutes
Ordinary
4th March 2026

Seascale Parish Council

Chair Person; Lizzie Mawson

Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 4th March 2026

in Methodist School Rooms Seascale

37/26 Present: Lizzie Mawson ( chair) LM, David Moore ( Vice chair), Zoe O’Hanlon ZO, Jane Coltman JC, Catherine Harvey Chadwick CHC, Brenda Parsons BP, Ken Mawson KM, Bran Harvey Chadwick BHC.
In attendance: Mary Bradley Supporting clerk
9 members of the public

38/26 Requests for dispensations and declarations of interests

None declared

9/26 Exclusion of Press and public

No items required exclusion

40/26 Minutes of meetings

i) Minutes of the meeting held on 4th Feb 2026 were approved with adjustment to ordering.
Proposed DM, Seconded JC. Approved -7 for 1 against.

41/26 Chair’s Announcements

Good to see spring and people out and about.
Items in main minutes
To note: invitation for unveiling of Lord Byron figure head at The Neb on 4th April at 6pm.

42/26 Public participation ( Max 4 mins per person – Max session length – 15 mins)

1. Request for update on Parking at the Banks. DM reported that the traffic officer was returning to consider options, however no easy answer as yellow lines would restrict parking to one side and residents parking permits would be costly. The new legislation concerning pavement parking is due to come into force and police do ticket the area.
2. TRO clarification sought about the status of the TRO fo the car park. No further information from Cumberland had been received.
3. Concern regarding the consultation for the proposed sports hall mural as it appeared to ask for views on design and does not have an option of no mural. The point was made that any funder would want to see evidence of meaningful consultation. BHC to feed this back to sports hall.

43/26 Reports from visiting Councillors & Police – for information

Cumberland Cllr Moore reminded councillors of the presentation regarding proposed art work for a coastal location to be held on Thursday evening by Teams. DM to recirculate link.

44/26 Clerks report/correspondence

a) Utility Warehouse have at last responded and have asked for personal details to re -register the account. MB progressing.
b) Correspondence from a member of the public had been received and the clerk will respond directly.

45/26 Community Resilience

a) DM supported by ZO gave an update on the work and projects in relation to the Heart of Communities Task and Finish group. All projects are progressing as planned and will finish on time and within budget. If there is contingency money remaining a request will be made to utilise this for a third storage battery for the Sports Hall.
b) Community Fund really pleased with the confirmation of contracts, work and payments being progressed on time.

46 /26 Play Grounds

a) LM reported that she now had a quote for repair to the gravel activity on the foreshore play park from GD Sports + Leisure for £897.20. Cllrs were pleased this was finally getting resolved.
Proposed :ZO seconded CHC carried 7 for 1 against.
b) BP asked who the playground equipment belongs to and this was confirmed by LM that it was the Parish Council.
c) ZO updated on the work related to Coniston play park which is due to commence on 30th April 2026. The outstanding items had been resolved relating to the use of logos on signs and the siting of utilities. DM will remove the obstructing branch. LM will support the identification of seats that need to be replaced with the ones removed form Coniston Park. All the GDF funds are now in our accounts.

47/26 Parish Council Assets

a) Sports Hall – BHC
Proposed mural consultation – as above
Solar panels –work almost completed
b) Library refurbishment is not straight forward as we have 2 reports to consider. ZO and MB will look at these in more detail next week and seek to meet with Day Cummins for further advice. An option appraisal will then be prepared for SPC to consider. In the meantime, quotes will be sought for the repair to the canopy and the drainpipe.
c) CCTV – BHC had obtained a quote which was favourable. This is to be passed to RFO for payment.
d) BHC has completed the Assertion 10 training and gave a comprehensive report. He will now work with MB to ensure compliance and the development of an IT policy. His request to undertake GDPR training ( £30) was approved – MB to organise.
e) There is a need to progress work related to the web site -BHC and MB to progress with web site company.
f) MB reiterated that the Assets SPC have need to be better documented. The proforma and work schedule were guidelines, but it is hoped that the Coniston playpark may produce a model which others can follow. ZO is leading this.

48/26 Parish Maintenance and Highways

a) Cllr were reminded that the mowing tender has been written and circulated with bids due back 8th March 2026.
b) It was agreed to agenda tender appointment for a special SPC meeting – 19/3/26
c) DM reported he had re- taxed the mower as it was due 1/3/26. The insurance is due 23/3/26 and is on the agenda for the special meeting.

49/26 Planning and Licencing applications

a) 4/26/2042/OFI Seascale Hall
Agricultural building – No objections raised.
b) 4/26/2033/OFI 20 Seascale Park
Removal of garage to enable rebuild for ensuite to add to bedroom 2. – No objections raised.

50/26 Planning and Licencing decisions

Currently nothing to note

51/26 Governance, Support Structures and Staffing

i) MB gave a report from the Personnel Committee meeting held on 26/2/26 which had mainly focused on the recruitment of Clerk/RFO
ii) The committee requires a quorum of 3 to function, a suggestion was made to recruit a 4th member. Membership of the committee had also been challenged. DM agreed to step-aside and be available for any appeals etc. ZO and BHC were then nominated unopposed to join the committee alongside LM and JC
iii) Chair of the committee – LM and ZO were proposed. JC spoke at length to this referring to the terms of reference. A vote was held and LM was confirmed as chair.
iv) Training proposal to have good practice and civility as a combined session was agreed. MB to arrange.
v) Progress on updating policies and procedures was presented by JC. This batch will now be circulated for Cllrs to comment on before going live on the web site.
vi) The previous batch with some minor amendments will now be placed on the web site. MB thanked JC.

52/26 Finance and accounts

i) RFO Report 25th February 2026

ii) Payments made in February 2026:

iii) Payments for authorisation at March Parish Meeting:
1. Day Cummins – Library structural engineering services £1,083.60

iv) Bank reconciliation checked as above

v) To approve the Finance as above
Proposed LM Seconded BHC 7 for 1 against

vi) To note; DM reported that Reece has successfully delivered his sports project and the GDF have funded him for 2 years, for each school holiday and for more children to participate. All agreed this is excellent news.

vii) MB reported that she had now received the sign off letter for 24/25 accounts with recommendations to be implemented. She had contact the RFO as there were suggestions for filing in future paperwork.

viii) The actual accounts will be sent to the library for attn Mary Bradley. The details and discussion will be on the special council meeting on 19th March 2025.

ix) Budget for 26/27
Since setting the budget there have been a number of changes identified and although income can’t be changed there is a need to reconsider the expenditure lines. This will be on the agenda on 19th March 2026.

53/26 Councillors matters

a) BP asked for reassurance that no one had given permission for the Millom Bus to use the car park. DM responded by saying that it had been used for driver training to ensure drivers could navigate the bridge so that the service could expand to Drigg. The buses are only funded for 1 year and it is essential that all opportunities are taken to make the services viable.
b) ZO asked about opening the toilets – CHC said that spear keys were kept in the café and any of the staff can pop and open them if the volunteer is not available.
c) KM asked if there were bus timetables available. As these are on line it was suggested that hard copies were distributed to shops, library and pharmacy. LM will co-ordinate.
d) MB reported that Rural wheels is stopping and that the 5 users had been notified.
e) Report a landslip on the foreshore road – DM to follow up with highways
f) JC reported that the Defibrillator on the pavilion is now repaired with the help of a little lubrication.
g) A question was raised regarding the lights -LM and Dm are on the case.
h) DM reported that there is first aid training available on 7th April in the Winscale Club.
i) KM said that he had received excellent treatment and care from Seascale practice, Whitehaven and Carlisle Hospitals – all were pleased he was feeling better.

54/26 Date of Next meetings

Extra ordinary meeting 7 pm on 19th March 2026 in the library ( LM to book)

Next ordinary meetings
All following at 7pm in the Methodist School Rooms, Seascale
1st April, 6th May,
Annual Parish Meeting 13th May.

Meeting closed at 21.05