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Clerk to the Council: - Mr. R. Stopford 147 Warrington Road Penketh Warrington WA5 2EN 01925-723124
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting of Walton Parish Council held at St. John's Community Church Hall, Old Chester Road, Walton, on Thursday the 1st June 2006. Present Councillor P Morgan Vice-Chairman Councillor R Hewitt Councillor R D Bennett Councillor H A S Hardie Councillor R Hardie Councillor J R Ward Councillor D A Meacock
In Attendance 2 members of the Parish Roy Stopford - Clerk to the Council The Vice-Chairman opened the meeting at 7.30pm and formally welcomed Councillors and members of the Parish to the meeting. 15 Apologies for Absence The Clerk confirmed that apologies for non-attendance had been received from Councillors Brocklehurst, Chadwick, Ashcroft and Lacey.
16 Election of Authorised Representatives The Vice-Chairman reviewed the list of authorised representatives still to be appointed and after a short discussion moved that the appointment of representatives to CPRE and ChALC be deferred. Councillor Bennet agreed to act as the representative for Roads and Traffic.
17 Election of Committees Following a short discussion, the Vice-Chairman deferred the matter of appointing members to the Planning and Betterment Committees. Both Committees are quorate in that they currently have 3 members.
The Chairman invited a motion to adjourn the meeting to allow members of the Parish to address the Council. The motion was proposed by Councillor H A S Hardie, seconded by Councillor Bennett and unanimously approved.
The meeting adjourned at 7.32pm.
Mr. Eldridge addressed the Councillors and acknowledged the letter submitted to Halton Borough Council opposing the Creamfield's concert. He also highlighted the overgrown state of the "triangle" in the centre of the village. The Clerk and Councillor R Hardie commented on the contact with Mr. Brown, the solicitor acting for the village Trust. Mr. Eldridge asked if the fence could be re-aligned and a footpath provided. He also asked if the grass could be cut.
The meeting re-convened at 7.32pm.
18 Minutes of the Previous Meeting The minutes of the meetings held on the 4th and 22nd May 2006 were reviewed and the following amendments noted:-
Page 158 should read "Monday the 22nd May 2006" not Thursday. Page 160 should read "Monday the 22nd May 2006" not Thursday. Page 161 4th paragraph 1st line, should read "Mrs. Young" not Mr. Young. Page 163 2nd paragraph, 2nd line "should read "Clerk" not Clark.
It was proposed by Councillor Bennett and seconded by Councillor R Hardie that, subject to these amendments, the minutes be accepted as a true record. Motion approved.
19 Reports on Matters Arising from the previous minutes In the absence of Councillor Chadwick, the Clerk confirmed that he had spoken with Councillor Chadwick regarding the Deed of Dedication on the land owned by the Parish and he had confirmed that matters were still progressing normally.
Councillor R Hardie asked if anything further has been received from WBC regarding the "safe haven" turning" on the A56. The Clerk reviewed the previous response from Keith Moyles. It was proposed by Councilor R Hardie and seconded by Councillor Bennett that the Clerk be asked to write to Mr. Moyles for a further update on this matter and request to know if any draft proposal has been prepared. Motion approved.
20 Borough Councillors Report Due to the absence of Borough Councillor Walker, the Chairman moved to the next item. 21 Parish Accounts The Clerk issued with the Agenda the Financial Report and a copy of the Receipts and Payments Account for the current year to date. The Clerk reviewed the Financial Report and the accounts for payment and confirmed that the Balance Confirmation of the Temporary Parish Loan has now been received, in quadruple.
The Clerk presented the Annual Return for the year ended the 31st March 2006 and reviewed the questions to be confirmed and answered before the return is signed. The Clerk read out the questions and the responses.
It was proposed by Councillor R Hardie and seconded by Councillor H A S Hardie that the Financial Report, the accounts for payment and the Annual Return for the year ended the 31st March 2006 be approved and that the Vice-Chairman sign the Annual Return on behalf of the Parish Council. Motion approved. Councillor Morgan signed the Annual Return.
The Clerk presented: - Cheque number 000484 payable to Mr. R Stopford £ 258.00p Cheque number 000485 payable to Mr. R Stopford £ 2.36p
Councillor Morgan and Councillor H A S Hardie signed the cheques
22 Planning Matters The Clerk issued with the Agenda the Planning Committee Report, a copy of which is attached to these minutes.
Councillor R Hardie reviewed the application in respect of Elms Farm, Hobb Lane, Walton. The matter was referred to the Development Control Committee and a site visit carried out. The Committee subsequently approved the application.
It was proposed by Councillor Bennett and seconded by Councillor Hewitt that the Planning Report be approved. Motion approved.
23 Report of Appointed Representatives WYFC Councillor Morgan reported on the recent activities and events of the WYFC. He also highlighted future events and their ongoing work in the community. In referring to the visit from Steve Bitawli last year, and the subsequent discussion at the Parish Council meeting, Councillor Morgan asked that a proposal be put before the next meeting of the Parish Council for a donation of £100.00 to be made to the WYFC, to support their work. Transport Councillor Ashcroft - absent - nothing to report CPRE Nothing to report. Arts Councillor Ashcroft - absent - nothing to report Publicity Councillor Chadwick - absent - suggested items for inclusion are the opposition to the Creamfield's concert, the issuing of passes if approved and the appointment of the new Parish Councillors. Police Forum Councillor H A S Hardie reported that there had been no Forum meeting but the police have written to residents regarding a spate of burglaries in the area on the 30th May 2006. ChALC Nothing to report. Footpaths. Councillor R Hardie reported on the recent Rights of Way meeting. Councillor Morgan highlighted the lack of action in repairing the canal bank and the Clerk was asked to write to MSCC and WBC regarding this matter. Waste Councillor R Hardie reported that the next meeting is scheduled for week commencing the 5th June 2006. Road/Traffic Previously dealt with under matters arising.
24 Parish Matters The Clerk issued with the Agenda a Report on Parish Matters, a copy of which is attached to these minutes. Councillors accepted the report.
Risk Assessment Councillor R Hardie commented on the state of the benches following his inspection. The Clerk explained that it is very difficult to get a tradesman to undertake "odd jobs". Councillor Ward stated that, provided it was within the rules of the Parish Council, he is prepared to inspect and prepare an estimate for attending to the matters raised by Councillor R Hardie. The Clerk agreed to provide the information to Councillor Ward. The Vice Chairman thanked Councillor Ward for stepping forward to resolve this matter.
Street Lighting The Clerk confirmed that he has written to WBC regarding the unit on the A56 opposite Holly Hedge Farm and Councillor Bennett confirmed that it is still inoperative.
Village Centre/Triangle Following the earlier comments from Mr. Eldridge, the Clerk was asked to write to Mr. Brown at Davis Ridgeway to try to obtain a response following the meeting with Councillor R Hardie.
Parish Web site Councillor H A S Hardie confirmed that, other than the minutes of the last meeting, the site is up to date. The Clerk asked if it was possible for residents to contact the Parish Council via the web site and for e-mails to be re-directed to his mailbox at AOL. This matter will be looked into. The Vice-Chairman thanked Councillor H A S Hardie for her work in attending to this matter on behalf of the Parish Council.
Creamfield's Concert Councillor Bennett declared an interest in this matter in that he occupies part of the land on which Car Parking is proposed.
The Clerk confirmed that the letter to Halton Borough Council had been forwarded by Special Delivery and a response is awaited. A request has been made to address the Licensing Committee. The response for other interested parties was noted. A copy of the submission by WBC has been promised by Jan Souness.
Employment Contract of the Clerk At the request of the Clerk, the Vice Chairman deferred this matter to the next meeting.
Other Parish Matters It was noted that the promised "wild flower" planting scheme on the A56 has not yet materialised. The Clerk was asked to write to WBC and ask for an update of the progress in this matter. The Vice-Chairman noted the other correspondence not dealt with under Agenda items.
25 Date and time of next meeting The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Thursday 6th July 2006 at St. John's Community Church Hall, Old Chester Road, Walton, commencing at 7.30pm. The Chairman thanked everyone for attending and the meeting closed at 8.35pm
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