MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF LOSTOCK GRALAM PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 7 MARCH 2011 AT ST. JOHN’S CHURCH HALL, LOSTOCK GRALAM
Part I
The meeting commenced at 7.30 p.m.
PRESENT: Parish Councillors M Litton, D Woodward, P Kelly, A McEllin,
E Guy and N Goulding
IN ATTENDANCE: N Clarke, Clerk
ALSO PRESENT: B Allcock, Steve Newson and members of the public
PRESENTATION BY STEVE NEWSON, NORTHWICH AND RURAL APB
Steve Newson introduced himself to the members as the Neighbourhood Manager for Northwich and Rural Area Programme Board. It is hoped that Lostock Gralam parish will be moved from Winsford and Rural East into Northwich and Rural APB after the boundary changes and Steve will want to work closely with the Parish Council. The APB’s have 8 members made up from groups such as the Police, Council, ChALC and PCT. Sub-groups include Highways, Crime, Health and Wellbeing.
Steve indicated that each parish should be producing parish plans, which will link into an area plan for each APB area. Cllr. McEllin suggested that this could be a hard sell in Lostock Gralam as a previous parish plan was ignored by the old Vale Royal Council. In addition, the Parish Council had strongly opposed being put into the Winsford and Rural East APB but was ignored.
Cllr. Litton thanked Steve for his presentation.
PUBLIC FORUM
1. Terry Hargreaves asked why Birches Lane on the Lostock Gralam side of the by pass was still at 60 mph when the Lostock Green side is now 30 mph?
2. The bridge on Birches Lane is cordoned off so there is no pavement but no work seems to be taking place. The Clerk to contact Highways.
3. The fencing needs repairing opposite the entrance to Octel.
4. Ros Todhunter reported that since the A556 has reopened the litter in the village has increased.
5. There is fly tipping by the old Octel site in Lostock Green and at Winnington Wood. The Clerk to report.
6. There is speeding through Lostock Green, can the police do a speed check?
7. Cllr. Kelly reported that HGV’s are still parking on the Triangle overnight.
8. There is a street light on 24 hours a day on Manchester Road.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
RESOLVED to accept apologies from Cllrs. Beasant, Foster and Wells.
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting of the council held on 7 February 2011, having been copied to members, was taken as read and confirmed and signed as being a correct record.
MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 7 FEBRUARY 2011
a) The Community Forum for 22 March 2011 has been cancelled due to the purdah period for the local elections.
b) The advertising sign on the fence around the Community Centre is advertising a plumber who has worked at the Centre. The Clerk has spoken to Jackie Garner and the sign will be removed when the new fencing is being erected.
c) The Clerk has contacted Stockdale Fencing with regard to replacing fencing at the Community Centre. The work should be completed by Easter 2011.
d) The Clerk has contacted Countrywide Grounds Maintenance to appoint them the grass-cutting contract for 2011.
e) The locations for the dog bins have been forwarded to Cllr. Stocks and he has sent the request into CWAC.
f) The Clerk has asked CWAC for an update on the fly posting by Kitchen Kraft. They are currently looking at their legislation in order to be able to prosecute.
REPORT FROM PCSO P HAMBLETON
No report
REPORT FROM CHESHIRE WEST AND CHESTER COUNILLORS
Cllr. Stocks sent an email to the Clerk reporting that he was giving a grant from his ward members’ allocation to the play area at Birches Lane and also one to Lostock Green Chapel to assist with redecoration.
PLAY SCHEME PROVISION IN THE PARISH FOR 2011
Vale Royal Playscheme Association has sent a request for assistance with funding for a Play Scheme to run at the Community Centre, Lostock Gralam for two weeks. The members discussed giving financial help. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk obtain additional information as the Council is keen to ensure there is play provision at Lostock Green as well as Lostock Gralam.
PLAY AREAS AND INSPECTIONS
1. Birches Lane – The Clerk had a meeting with Fiona and asked for an update on the play area. Groundwork is currently applying for grants to make up the £50k shortfall, Fiona thinks that several smaller grants might be successful. After discussion I instructed Groundwork to start the tendering process in order to get the ball rolling with the possibility of the Parish Council contributing to the shortfall if necessary. The works will take 12 weeks so it is imperative that the work starts at the beginning of April in order to be complete for the fete on 9 July 2011.
2. Play Inspections – There are a few minor issues at the Stubbs Lane Play Area, e.g. bolts missing from the teen shelter. The Clerk to ensure the repairs are completed.
SONIC
Northwich Town Council has sent an email asking for the Parish Council to nominate a champion for the SONIC campaign. The Clerk to inform the Town Council that Cllr. Guy will act as the representative for the Parish Council.
REPORT FROM THE CLERK
The Clerk reported on the following:
1. The training programme has been received from ChALC. Copies have been distributed.
2. A Lostock Gralam resident has been in touch regarding the planning application for the extension at the sub station on Birches Lane and fly tipping near the area. The Clerk has been in contact with the resident and reported the fly tipping.
3. Notification of road works at Byley with diversions from April have been distributed.
4. The Clerk attended a ‘Big Society’ seminar run by ChALC about devolution of services.
5. The Clerk attended the Vale Royal Area Meeting on 3 March. The minutes will be distributed when received.
6. It is the intention of CWAC to put all planning applications on line by 1 April 2011 with only large applications being sent by paper copy. The Clerk reported that a large number of clerks have complained to CWAC that this will not be practical for a lot of smaller councils, and that not everyone has access to a computer. The Clerk to keep a watching brief and report back to the Council in April.
7. The Election packs have been received for the Parish Council elections on 5 May 2011. The Clerk has distributed the packs and will collect them from members individually and take them to the election office on the designated day.
PLANNING APPLICATIONS & DECISIONS
Planning Applications
10/0405/FUL Lostock Gralam Church of England School, CW9 7PT
Single storey extension to the front
No objection
Planning Decisions
Refusal of Waste from Energy Plant at Lostock Works
PAYROLL
There has been notification from HMRC that Parish Clerks are no longer able to be classed as self-employed and each Parish needs to register themselves as an employer. It was RESOVLED that the Council appoint CVS to manage the payroll. The Clerk to contact the firm as soon as possible.
GRANTS AND DONATIONS
The Council discussed letters received from St. John’s Church and Gossip on the Green requesting financial assistance.
It was RESOLVED to approve a grant of £1500.00 to St. John’s Church, Lostock Gralam to assist in maintenance of the churchyard.
It was RESOLVED to approve an s.137 payment to Gossip on the Green on an issue by issue basis for the purchase of ink cartridges to a limit of £20 per issue at the discretion of the Clerk.
PAYMENT OF ACCOUNTS
It was RESOLVED to accept payment of the following accounts.
Chq no. Payee Amount
96 Amos Wright – grass cutting at the churchyard 400.00
97 Groundwork Cheshire – 2nd payment for Lostock Green project 1800.00
98 Lostock Gralam Community Centre – litter pick Jan – March 2011 162.50
99 QS Services – repair and staining of notice board at Lostock Green 24.00
The meeting finished at 8.55 p.m.
DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be held on Monday 4 April 2011 at Lostock Gralam Church Hall at 7.30 p.m.