MINUTES OF A MEETING OF STAPELEY & DISTRICT PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON 20TH SEPTEMBER 2006 AT BROAD LANE METHODIST CHAPEL |
Present: Councillor M Gibson (Chair) Councillor S McEneny (Vice-Chair) Councillor S Heathcote Councillor M Murphy Councillor K Nord Councillor M Wilcock In attendance: (for whole or part of the meeting) Mr R A Cartwright Chair - Audlem Parish Plan Steering Group Borough Councillor D H D Charlesworth Mr C M Moulton (deputising for Mrs C M Jones - Items 1 to 4 only) Inspector C Brierley Nantwich Police PC S Lloyd Nantwich Police - Neighbourhood Policing 1 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST No Member made any declaration of interest in any item of business on the agenda. 2 MINUTES RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 16th August 2006 be approved as a correct record. 3 MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 16TH AUGUST 2006 RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 16th August 2006, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair. 4 PARISH PLAN Mr R A Cartwright, Chair of Audlem Parish Plan Steering Group, was in attendance for this item. He outlined the arrangements made by Audlem Parish Council and the Steering Group to ensure that the Parish Plan came to fruition. Mr Cartwright responded to questions from Members of the Parish Council. Following his presentation he was thanked for his contribution and he withdrew from the meeting. 5 PUBLIC QUESTION TIME It was noted that on this occasion, there were no questions from members of the public in accordance with Standing Orders 15A and 15B. 6 YOUTH ISSUES
John Bailey (Cheshire County Council Youth Service) who had previously indicated that he wished to make a presentation to the Parish Council, was not in attendance.
7 POLICE MATTERS
Inspector Chris Brierley (Nantwich Police) and PC Stuart Lloyd, who were in attendance, took the opportunity to address the Parish Council in respect of general police issues and crime in the area.
8 MATTERS ARISING (FROM THE MEETING HELD ON 16TH AUGUST 2006)
Members considered and noted the report on issues raised at the previous meeting.
8.1 Research into name "Peter de Stapleigh" Way
Councillor McEneny undertook to research the background to the name.
8.2 New signs for "Peter de Stapleigh" Way
The Borough Council considered it imprudent to expend public funds on the installation of new signs, but would take the opportunity, at some future date, to correct the depiction of the name, if and when they became damaged or required replacement due to wear and tear.
8.3 Stapeley Water Gardens - Opening onto Peter de Stapleigh Way.
Councillor D Brickhill had provided an interim reply in respect of the Board's decision to require the development on Stapeley Water Gardens to access/egress from Peter de Stapleigh Way with a longer-term intention to close off access from London Road. The suggestion had been made by Councillor Brickhill who had been responding to comments made by local residents.
Members AGREED to raise this matter again with Councillor Brickhill at his next attendance at a Parish Council meeting.
8.4 Re-phasing of traffic lights - junction Ellwood Way/London Road
The traffic light re-phasing had been implemented.
8.5 Cronkinson Development - various
Members noted action taken by Bovis in response to concerns expressed at previous Parish Council meetings.
8.6 Footway between Maylands Farm and Broad Lane School
This matter had been reported and would be included in the County Council's maintenance programme.
8.7 Potential breach of planning - Mayland House
A response from the Borough Council's Compliance Officer was awaited.
8.8 Drainage problems - Second Dig Lane/A529
The Borough Council had commented that there were no mains drains in this location and any flooding was the responsibility of the land owner. Members did not accept this and the Clerk
8.9 Casual vacancy
There were no candidates for the casual vacancy. This would be advertised in the newsletter.
9 WYBUNBURY UNITED CHARITIES
Members recalled that Wybunbury United Charities had issued a cheque for £121.82 to the Parish Council, made out in favour of "Stapeley Charities". The cheque had been returned to the drawer as there was no such account. (Minute 9 - page 942 - 22nd March 2006). In an effort to disburse the annual interest from this charitable fund, Wybunbury United Charities had invited the Parish Council to -
(a) accept funds (approx. £200) from Wybunbury United Charities on an annual basis; (b) appoint one Member of the Parish Council, together with one "reputable member of the community" to oversee the distribution of the funds to "poor and needy" in the parish; and (c) notify Wybunbury United Charities annual that the funds have been received and distributed.
Parish Councils were only permitted to spend money if there was a statutory power, and in this case there was no power. The Parish Council would be acting ultra vires if it agreed to the request and for this reason it was recommended to decline.
RESOLVED: That the request from Wybunbury United Charities to accept funds for disbursement amongst the "poor and needy" be declined.
10 FINANCIAL MATTERS
10.1 Budget Proposals - 2007-2008
Members were invited to consider the second draft of the budget proposals for 2007-2008.
The following were agreed and these would be incorporated into a further draft document for submission to the November meeting, for finalising. At the meeting in January 2007, the Parish Council would be invited to adopt the proposals for 2007-2008.
Line 16: £1,500 New street light - Second Dig Lane/Audlem Road
It was acknowledged that no consultation with local residents had taken place, and in view of increasing environmental awareness, and the potential for light pollution, the residents in the vicinity of Second Dig Lane/Audlem Road should be consulted informally on the proposal. The Chair undertook to discuss this with the local residents and report to the November meeting.
Line 22: £11,000 Police Community Support Officers
The Clerk reported that Hatherton & Walgherton Parish Council and Wybunbury Parish Council had been asked to consider a partnership arrangement for the funding of one Police Community Support Officer. Both Parish Councils had indicated that they were not in favour of funding for this purpose and had declined to support the proposal.
AGREED: That this be deleted from the proposals, and a sum of £11,000 be included for "youth projects" to be identified at the January 2007 meeting. The Clerk advised the Parish Council that the auditor would be critical of public funds being allocated for an unspecified purpose. Funding of this level should not be included in the budget for the forward year unless (a) a specific project was identified and (b) there was a realistic prospect of its implementation during the financial year 2007/2008.
Contingency Fund: In response to a Member's suggestion that a contingency fund be included in the budget proposals, the Parish Council was reminded that a sum of £1,500 was allowed each year as a working balance.
10.2 Authorisation of Payments
RESOLVED: That the following payments be authorised.
£37.94 Mrs C M Jones - travel expenses
Attendance at 6 Parish Council meetings (April - September 2006), based on 52.7P per mile (Mileage : Audlem-Nantwich return = 12 miles (total mileage 72 miles). £22.84 Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council (£19.44 + £3.40 vat) - photocopying - August 2006
£211.05 Scottish Power - unmetered electricity supplies (£201 + £10.05 vat) for the period August 2005 - August 2006
11 PARISH NEWSLETTER
Councillor McEneny reported that he had been unable to make progress on the parish newsletter.
12 PLANNING MATTERS
12.1 Planning Applications
§ P06/0914 91 Clonners Field, Stapeley (Conservatory)
RESOLVED: That no objections be raised on this application.
§ P06/0905 Outline application for one dwelling - The Cedars, Wybunbury Lane
RESOLVED: That the Parish Council object to the application on the basis that it was contrary to the Local Development Plan.
§ P06/001 Outline application for the redevelopment and relocation of existing Garden Centre facilities, A1 and A3 Retail Units, construction of Class C3 residential development, B1 office development, car parking and ancillary facilities and associated infra-structures - Stapeley Water Gardens. The Clerk had received this outline application subsequent to issue of the agenda. The deadline date for comments was the 11th October (the date of the next Parish Council meeting), but the Case Officer had agreed to an extension to 12th October to allow the Parish Council to discuss it on two occasions. The application would be considered in conjunction with the up-dated Stapeley Water Gardens Development Brief which had recently been received.
The Parish Council gave initial consideration to the application and was minded to recommend, subject to more detailed discussion at the next meeting, that the Planning Authority enter into a S.106 Agreement requiring the developer to provide an open space area.
RESOLVED: That the application be discussed at the October meeting.
12.2 Planning Schedule
The Parish Council received the up-dated Planning Schedule. 13 CORRESPONDENCE The Clerk reported receipt of correspondence. 14 COUNCILLORS' REPORTS Reference was made to the annual "Town and Gown" event organised by the Borough Council. The Clerk undertook to make enquiries about the date of this year's event. 15 PUBLIC QUESTION TIME (Guide time: 10 minutes)
It was noted that on this occasion, there were no questions from members of the public in accordance with Standing Orders Nos. 15A and 15B. 16 DATE AND PLACE OF NEXT MEETING Date: 11th October 2006 Venue: Broad Lane School.
....................................................Chair
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