Minutes of the meeting of Old Hutton and Holmescales Parish Council on Thursday 5 th March, 2015

150305-1 Present
Steve Capstick (chairman), John Heap, Alison Nelson, Ruth Rigg, John Shorrock, Arthur Robinson (clerk), Peter
Thornton (SLDC) and 13 parishioners
150305-2 Apologies
Stan Collins (CCC)
150305-3 The proposed Greaves Solar Park
Axel Puttkammer from New Energy for the World described the proposed solar park at Greaves and answered
numerous questions. The following is a summary. The company was founded in 2010 in Germany and has staff with
experience accumulated since 1999. It has been in the UK since 2013 and is working with Eco Energy from
Bridgewater who found the proposed site through advertising for willing landowners. The companys first solar park is
due to begin operation in March at Banwell near Weston-super-Mare.
The site is the 25 acre field south west of Blaystone Bridge on Popplemire Lane (The field on the Greaves side of the
bridge on the Low Bleaze side of the road). The installation would generate 4.6 MwH, enough power for 1000 houses
and save 2500 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. The cable joining it to the grid would be underground passing
across the fields to the B6254 near the entrance to Highgate Lane and then along the road to Oxenholme. There it will
join the local grid and the power will be consumed locally. A mole would be used to drill under walls, hedges etc to
lay the cable.
The site would be surrounded by a two-metre high fence with no security lights. There are already trees along the
northern and western sides of the field along Peasey Beck and hedges on the eastern and southern sides. The hedge
which is currently trimmed along Popplemire Lane would be allowed to grow. More screening would be planted and no
trees will be felled. The company will see whether further screening would be needed between Low Bleaze, the
nearest houses, and the site to supplement the sparse woodland along the beck. The 5 to 10m strip between the
fence, hedge screen and panels will be sown with a wild flower mix and sheep will graze the grass between and under
the panels. The panels will have a 20o slope and face southwards, being 80 to 90cm off the ground at the front and
260cm at the back. They will be black in a black frame and produce little shine or reflection with the sun shining on
them. They will generate no noise, even when the wind blows onto them and they will be fully protected from lightning
strikes. After the initial construction period lasting six to seven weeks very little maintenance will be required. Potential
shading by Himalayan balsam was suggested by a parishioner. The panels will not need to be replaced during the 25
years which the planning permission lasts for.
Although our area is cloudy, the output from the site would be only 10% lower than at Banwell. The scheme will still be
economically viable. It will cost about 6 million and yield about 400,000 per year for the company. No grants are
available to defray construction costs. The landowner receives an annual rent. The firm will receive 12p/KwH for 20
years for the carbon-free generation; he compared this with the 12p/KwH for 30 years which nuclear power stations
receive from the government. It is very unlikely that the firm would seek to expand the site in the future because the
local grid cannot take any more power.
The company hopes to submit its planning application to SLDC in May. Unlike wind farms, there is no obligation for
solar parks to have an associated community fund but the company is willing to contribute towards local infrastructure.
The provision of solar panels at cost to householders and the installation of a broadband fibre to Oxenholme were
suggested in the discussion. Following the presentation, it was agreed that John Heap, John Shorrock and the clerk
will meet the company again to clarify the nature and extent of its contribution to the community if planning permission
is granted by SLDC. The chairman stated that another meeting will be held when the planning application has been
submitted, and the opinion of parishioners will be sought about whether the parish council should support or oppose
the application.
150305-4 Acceptance of the minutes of the previous meeting
The Chairman signed the minutes of the parish council meeting held on 29-01-2015 as a true record.
150305-5 Chairmans announcements
a) During the repair work Catlows laid a plastic sheet underneath the footpath between the church and Bridge
End to deter further damage by bracken growth.
b) In line with a new government regulation to increase transparency, all documents to be discussed or referred
to during Parish Council meetings will be published on the parish website. They will be removed after the
meeting.
c) The annual Old Hutton litter pick will start at 1pm on Saturday 21 st March. As last year, we hope that residents
of Old Hutton will pick up litter along their road. Bags and other equipment can be borrowed from the Public
Hall if desired and refreshments will be provided there.

d) Report from the Armistead Fund Committee meeting on 18-02-2015 - 1000 was awarded to the church for
roof repairs. 235 remaining in the fund will be carried over into next years fund. Organisations in the parish
are urged to submit bids for grants from the fund.
e) The Armistead Fund Committee requires a member of each parish council and parish meeting to represent
the parish. It was agreed that Steve Capstick would be the parishs representative.
150305-6

Declaration of interests

none

150305-7 Open session

The pot hole on Bridge End Hill is deepening rapidly and the spring nearer Hutton Gate is damaging the road. These
have been reported to CCC again.
150305-8 Planning applications
a) Applications submitted requiring council comments: none
b) The progress of applications submitted since the last meeting:
SL/2014/0252 outline planning for erection of stable and training area at Cocklea the Parish Council supported this
application at its meeting on 02-04-2014. The applicants have appealed to the Planning Inspectorate against the
failure of SLDC to determine the outline planning application within the specified time limit, and also against an
enforcement notice served by SLDC on 18-08-2014. A public inquiry will be held at 10am on the 9th June 2015 at
Kendal Town Hall.
To decide whether the Parish Council wishes to take part in the appeal and/or the public inquiry (or to defer a
decision again) this item was deferred again
CU/2014/0033 change of use from a barn to a dwelling at Cocklea The Council agreed to support this application.
SL/2015/0049 Installation of a window and three roof lights at The Old Stables Guest House, Eskrigg End the
Council agreed to offer no objection to this application.
SL/2014/1179, SL/2014/1180, SL/2014/1181 and SL/2014/1182 applications by United Utilities for temporary access
to temporary working areas along the Haweswater pipeline between Gillsmere Nook Farm and Cocklea. The Parish
Council had no objections permissions granted on 04-02-2015
150305-9 Payment of accounts
Payment of the following amounts was authorised:
153.48 to the parish clerk for expenses from 08-05-2014 to 05-03-2015
21.00 to the Public Hall for the hire of the little room on 29-01-2015 and 05-03-2015
150305-10 Financial report
a) The VAT refund of 1103.20 was paid into the New Hutton Parish Council account in error by HMRC. It has
now been transferred to our account.
b) The Community Account is likely to have a surplus of 276.01 for the 2014/15 financial year. The Community
Account balance will be 1918.71 and the Business Saver Account is likely to have 638.24
c) Mathew Ellwood (MBE Accountants) was re-appointed to conduct the internal audit of the 2014/15 accounts
d) Internal financial control and risk assessments were reviewed.
150305-11 Correspondence
The following items of correspondence were received since the last meeting:
03-02-2015 from CALC February newsletter (forwarded to councillors)
03-02-2015 from Banks Community Fund questionnaire about the value for money of the path-funded project
(completed and returned)
07-02-2015 from CALC Affordable Rural Housing: A practical guide for parish councils (filed)
150305-12 Parish Council elections
The election of the Parish Council for 2015 to 2019 will be held on the 7 th May. A key date is that completed
nomination papers have to be delivered to the returning officer at SLDC by 4.00pm on Thursday 9th April. The Parish
Clerk has a stock of blank nomination papers from whom they can be obtained by phoning 01539-725955 or they can
be obtained from the SLDC offices. The Parish Council hopes that residents of the parish will offer themselves for
election.
150305-13 Community led plan
Owing to lack of time, this item was deferred to a later meeting.
150305-14 Date of the next meeting
The next meeting will be at 7.30pm on Thursday 23rd April at the Public Hall
Arthur Robinson, parish clerk, Over Bleaze, Old Hutton, Kendal, LA8 0LU
Telephone 01539-725955
e-mail ohpclerk@gmail.com

www.oldhutton.org.uk