From the Meeting held at Casterton Village Hall on 20th February.
Development of a Modern National Health Service
  Pauline Wilson explained her role within the Primary Care Trust and gave a general overview. She is the Head of Primary and Community Care within the PCT and liaises with 40 GP practices in South Lakes and Furness. She explained that the PCT have a new contract to monitor services provided in the area.
  In answer to a question about out of hours services Pauline replied that in 2004-5 GP's could 'opt out' of the on-call service (every GP in Morecambe Bay did opt out) and that for an Out of Hours service people now ring 'Bay Call', who have a bank of GPs and nurses attached to hospitals and are available for home visits.
  Sgt Jo Fawcett explained that the police service are trialling a First Responder Scheme in the Ambleside area where PC's carry a defibrillator. Sgt Fawcett added that First responders are not sent to major trauma incidents - the Ambulance Service will look at all 999 calls made and respond appropriately.
  It was asked what had happened to Saturday morning GP surgeries. Pauline explained that a new White Paper is out shortly with proposals to extend opening hours for GP services and pharmacies. No details yet, but GPs may be expected to open Saturday mornings and to extend their working day.
  Pauline reported that lots of options are in place now to support people to remain in their own homes, both in terms of intermediate care and providing an Outreach Service eg. from the Hospice and District Nurses are very involved with palliative. The Primary Care Trust also has a contract with Marie Curie nursing to support district nurses.
  Regarding Dental Services Pauline reported that local dentists have to respond by the end of February to indicate whether they want to go private or remain with the NHS. She added that in Morecambe Bay most are staying with the NHS.
Local Development Framework
  Alastair McNeill, Planning Officer for SLDC, gave an overview of the new
planning system - called the 'Local Development Framework'. This will replace the South Lakeland Local Plan and will cover South Lakeland outside the National Parks. The Local Development Framework comprises of a series of planning documents outlining the planning process and statutory policy for development.
  Two documents the 'Statement of Community Involvement' and the 'Core Strategy Document' have been circulated at local libraries, Parish Councils etc. The Core Strategy Document sets out the long-term strategy for the area outlining the main community priorities. In this framework will be policies and proposals to protect the districts environment; guide location and standards for new development and day to day decisions on planning applications. It is envisaged that the new system will be faster and more responsive to meeting the community's needs.
  In Spring 2006 there will be a draft 'preferred options' report. For more information please telephone Alistair McNeill on 01539 733333. The documents are also on SLDC's website at www.southlakeland.gov. uk/ldf
Management of Gypsy and Traveller Issues Around Appleby Fair Time
  Mark Richardson, Environmental Protection Manager for South Lakeland District Council outlined the facilities provided last year to smooth the passage of Travellers through the District around the time of Appleby Fair. A subsequent meeting with representatives of the parish councils had confirmed that there was a noticeable improvement in the state that sites were left but identified some shortcomings which will be addressed this year.
  Advance publicity in a newspaper provided free to Gypsies and Travellers will make it known that Travellers will only be welcome between 15th May (i.e. 3 weeks before Appleby Horse Fair on the 8th. June) and the 16th June.
  Rubbish skips, refuse sacks and water will be managed and funded by the District Council and toilets will be provided near Devil's Bridge subject to funding by the County Council.
  As last year, potential stopping off sites will be signed as suitable or unsuitable for caravans and these decisions will be enforced by Police and District Council Officers.
  There was a general consensus at the Neighbourhood Forum Meeting that the improvements in the management of travel to Appleby Horse Fair last year resulted in a quieter time for all, with Sgt Fawcett reporting that the police only received 1/4 of the calls they usually get. The repeat of last year's management strategies, to carry on this year, was regarded as welcome by the local community. Sgt. Jo Fawcett also reported that annual leave has been curtailed this year over the Appleby Horse Fair period and so extra police will be on patrol.
  It was asked whether it was intended to limit the numbers or vehicles parking in the lay-by at New Bridge, Sedbergh . Mark explained that there are no Traffic Regulation Orders to prevent anyone staying there and there is no limit to the number of vehicles or people allowed, as long as they keep to the allocated designated area. Mark Richardson, after a request from Parish Councillors, will inform the Parishes, as to what land and how much area has been allocated for Travellers and Gypsies.
Grant Applications from Local Groups
  The following grants were awarded:
Dentdale Cricket Club - £300
(Towards the cost of providing toilet facilities)
Sedbergh & District Community Trust - £750 (Towards the cost of hiring a marquee for a promotional event)
Sedbergh Chamber of trade - £700 (Towards the cost of the production of a promotional leaflet)
Open Forum
  Sgt Jo Fawcett reported that Inspector AlI Dufty has been promoted to Chief Inspector and is now based at Police HQ in Penrith.
Community Notices
Tim Farron MP - Next Surgery Date in the area is Saturday 8th April At Sedbergh Community Offices, from 3 - 4 pm
Connexions Personal Advisors
Next Steps Advisors, based in Connexions Centres, offer a free guidance, advice and information service to Adults aged 20 and above, employed or unwaged. The types of enquiries advisors have dealt with include giving information on learning (developing skills, confidence building, academic/vocational qualifications/leisure courses), improving job prospects, new jobs and training opportunities. Telephone: 0800 435 709
  The Next meeting will be on Tuesday 25th April in Garsdale Village Hall
at 7.00pm.

Workshop Day
  On Saturday 29^th April will be holding a special workshop day to give you the opportunity to try out some new interest, or improve your existing skills.
  Our advert elsewhere in this Lookaround will give you further information, but we hope we can tempt you with one of these workshops:

• Practical Spanish. Practicing real life situations.
  
• Yoga for Fun & Liberation. A light-hearted yoga session.
  
• Dry Stone Walling. How do you put up a wall gap?
  
• Fun Fiddling With Flowers! Arrangements for home or business.
  
• Introduction to Machine Embroidery. Creating textural designs
  
• Bitesize Italy to introduce you to Italy and its beautiful language.
  
• Maths From helping with homework, to doing your own GCSE.
  
• Join the Circus! Try out tight rope walking, juggling, stilts, basic tumbling.
  
• Afro-Cuban Hand Drumming & Percussion. Learn the Mambo and ChaChaCha!
  

June 10th - June 25th
  All Concerts and Recitals will be in St. Andrew's Church except for a Concert in Dent Parish Church to be given by the Tubalaté Brass Ensemble.
  For more than a decade, Tubalaté has been one of the country's leading professional brass ensembles. Their wide range of styles and flexibility of performance has gained them an international reputation, regularly presenting familiar music contrasted with exciting new commissions in a repertoire which is innovative and unique.
Tubalaté travel worldwide, playing to audiences in Russia, Latvia and the United States as well as throughout Europe.
  They have performed at many of this country's leading venues, including the South Bank, the Barbican, the Water Front (Belfast), the Bridgewater Hall and Birmingham Symphony Hall and in 1998 performed at Buckingham Palace for Prince Charles's 50th birthday celebrations hosted by the Queen. Tubalaté has been recently appointed as Contemporary Brass 'Ensemble in Residence at the Royal Northern College of Music and International Brass Ensemble in Residence at the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatoire, St. Petersburg, Russia. Friday 16th June in Dent P.C.
  The following evening the Concert will be given by the Pro Nobis Singers, one of the finest vocal groups in the North. The choir was formed in 1969 when a group of friends met together informally to sing madrigals. It now numbers some thirty singers and, although Kendal based, draws its membership from a wide area. Known particularly for its performances of music from the Renaissance and Baroque periods, the choir also has a commitment to twentieth-century music. The choir's musical director is Clive Walkley, for many years a Tutor in Music at Charlotte Mason College and now a part-time lecturer in Music at Lancaster University. Their evening is called 'Sing Joyfully!'
  Just two of the series of events in the June Festival. Brochures out soon giving full details. More next month.                                                     D. Cox