AMINUTES OF LOSTOCK GRALAM PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 7 DECEMBER 2009 AT ST. JOHN’S CHURCH HALL, LOSTOCK GRALAM
The meeting commenced at 7.30 p.m.
PRESENT: Parish Councillors A McEllin, N Goulding, J Foster, R Reece, P Kelly
IN ATTENDANCE: N Clarke, Clerk
ALSO PRESENT: S Swift, CDP Ltd. & B Griffiths (Public)
PART I – Public and Press Present
Cllr McEllin took the Chair at the meeting.
UPDATE BY SONJA SWIFT FROM CDP LTD
The following points were raised by Sonja Swift regarding the Cheshire Business Park Development at Lostock Gralam:
1. CDP will be putting in a planning application for signage to go at the entrance to the Business Park. It will be made up of a stone wall with the lettering etched onto it and lit from below. The lighting would only be on between dawn and dusk.
2. The plans for the pub/diner have been turned down by CWAC planning as being too traditional. CWAC are suggesting a more modern design but this would put off the only interested brewery as they would like a traditional family pub. The Parish Council agreed with CDP that a traditional design would be acceptable and will write to CWAC planning to back up CDP.
3. As only one unit has been let, the construction period for the development has slowed down and nothing more will be built unless the unit is let.
4. Sonja asked how the Parish Council would feel if some of the site was turned over to warehousing. This was met with unanimous disapproval as it could involve HGV’s onto the site and was not part of the original plan.
5. The other option is turning over a 9 acre plot to housing which would run parallel with Stubbs Lane. This would provide about 100 homes: CDP would sell the land to a housing developer, as they are not in the business of residential property. The Parish Council were very supportive of this proposal and, indeed, would welcome the additional houses to support the school and neighbouring facilities. Sonja will organise a public consultation regarding the housing option but reminded the Council that it could take some years to come to fruition.
Sonja Swift then asked if the Parish Council had any further issues they wished to raise with CDP:
• When were blinds being fitted on the buildings facing the road (and residents)?
• There seems to be a lot of dust blowing onto Manchester Road from the development.
• Why has the fence been taken down on the boundary of the Community Centre.
• Why are the mounds lower on the Stubbs Lane side than on Manchester Road side?
• Although there is fencing to the ponds there is still pedestrian access to the site.
• ICI promised the land on which the Community Centre stands to be gifted to the Parish Council.
Sonja will forward replies to the above to the Clerk to relay to the Council at the next meeting. Cllr McEllin thanked Sonja Swift for attending the meeting and she left the meeting at 8.20 p.m.
PUBLIC FORUM
Miss Griffiths is concerned that there is water coming off land owned by Ineos by the substation on Station Road and streaming onto the road. The Clerk to investigate.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
RESOLVED to accept apologies for absence from Parish Councillors S Wells, CWAC Councillors Byram and Wright.
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES
It was RESOLVED to accept the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 9 November 2009 as being a true and accurate record and signed accordingly by Cllr McEllin.
MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 9 NOVEMBER 2009.
1. Repairs have been completed at the Birches Lane Play Area.
2. The Clerk has spoken to Jackie Garner regarding the old Vale Royal Playscheme and it was agreed that the Clerk was to attend the first meeting but that they may interchange depending on the agenda.
3. The Clerk and two members attended the Brunner Mond exhibition on 1 December. Cllr McEllin is anxious that the Council have a meeting with Northwich and Rudheath regarding application to organise a defence against the incinerator plans. The Clerk reported that Northwich Town Council were meeting at the same time as Lostock Gralam and would let the Clerk know their views. Rudheath are keen to meet.
The Cheshire West and Chester Waste Plan is currently being reviewed which is more or less the same as the old Cheshire County Council one which states that waste treatment plants can be built on brownfield sites. Cllr McEllin suggests that the transport issues will dominate the opposition, as there could potentially 100’s of HGV’s per day.
REPORT FROM PCSO JONES
There was no report from PCSO Jones. Cllr Goulding reported on the meeting held with Wincham Parish Council regarding the renewal of the PCSO contract. A further meeting has been arranged for Tuesday 15 December with Supt. Bertenshaw and Insp. Loughlin to discuss the Service Level Agreement. It was agreed that records should be provided to the Parish Councils as to the work of the PCSO. In addition Cllr. McEllin has requested a breakdown by % as to what time is spent in each area.
REPORT FROM CHESHIRE WEST AND CHESTER COUNCILLORS
None present although the Clerk had received phone calls from Cllrs. Byram and Wright apologising to due other meetings and asked for any information to be sent to them.
HIGHWAYS MEETING
Cllr Goulding gave a report on the meeting with Highways about the A556 closure. Although several suggestions were made to Highways the situation has remained the same with Lostock Green unable to reach the A556 without a long diversion. Highways claim that the work will be completed earlier than expected.
SPEED GUN
Cllr Kelly reported on the use of the speed gun on Manchester Road. The highest speed recorded was 56 mph; all information has been given to Cheshire Community Action. The gun cannot be used over the Christmas period due to the police carrying out their Christmas drink driving campaign but Cllr Kelly will be in touch early in the New Year. It is recommended that the gun is alternated with the SID.
WEB SITE
The Clerk attended a meeting with Reg Hardingham and has now been instructed in uploading information onto the web site. After discussion it was RESOLVED that Reg would be compensated for any expense he has occurred in buying the domain name and maintenance costs. All information will be transferred to the Clerk and continue with the address Reg has set up of www.lostockgralamparishcouncil.co.uk The Council asked if the Clerk will also look into using gov.uk domain name. The Council asked the Clerk to thank Reg for the work he has done on both the previous Lostock Link and the setting up the new web site.
PLAY AREAS
The Clerk reported on the following items:
1. The Clerk attended a hand-over meeting on 23 November with AJK and Groundwork for the second phase of the play area. There are a still a couple of items outstanding including fencing and planting. A party has been arranged for 17 December to include the toddler group, Veolia, Groundwork, the press and the Parish Council from 10.00 – 11.00 a.m.
2. The inspections have been completed for November. The seat on the aerial runway was due to be re-tensioned as part of the 12 month guarantee. However, SMP have written to say it should be ‘tensioned on a regular basis under the weekly/monthly site inspection’ and therefore they would charge £300.00 to do this. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk should ask Mark White to quote for the work.
3. Groundwork has provided costings for project managing the Birches Lane play area. It has been recommended that a ‘Friends of Lostock Green Play Area’ is set up and a consultation takes place in the village. RESOLVED to appoint Groundwork to act as project manager.
BUDGET
The Clerk reminded members that the Precept will be due in January and provided the Council with a proposed budget for 2010/11 together with estimated costs for 2009/10 for discussion next month.
REPORT FROM THE CLERK
1. The Clerk attended an Audit Workshop on 25 November for Clerks. NALC are lobbying the government about security for local councils when cheques will be phased out.
2. A local resident had complained about excess noise from Brunner Mond on 16 November which the Clerk reported. The complaint was valid and BM have spoken to the Clerk and resident about the matter.
PLANNING APPLICATIONS & DECISIONS
The following planning applications have been received and sent to council for approval.
Planning Applications
09/02246FUL Mr D Barber, 10 Village Close, Lostock Green, CW9 7SW
Addition of a pitched roof over existing single storey extension
Planning Decisions
09/01779/FUL Mr Barrow, 2 St.Johns Avenue, Lostock Gralam, CW9 7QT
Erection of conservatory and workshop to rear
Permitted
PAYMENT OF ACCOUNTS
It was RESOLVED to pay the following accounts:
021 Baldwin Landscaping – Play inspections Oct and Nov 09 94.00
022 Lostock Gralam Comm Centre – Litter pick Oct – Dec 09 156.00
023 Vale Royal Playscheme – Playscheme at Lostock Gralam 09 600.0
024 SLCC – Subscription 2010 95.00
025 ChALC – Audit Workshop 30.00
026 North West Air Ambulance – s.137 donation 100.00
027 Alzheimer’s Society – s.137 donation 100.00
028 Samaritans Society – s.137 donation 100.00
DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be a committee meeting to discuss the precept for 2010/11 to be held on Monday 11 January 2010 at Lostock Gralam Church Hall at 7.30 p.m.
The meeting closed at 9.05 p.m.