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Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Monday 18th February 2019 in the Woodside Pavilion ‘C’ at Somerford Park Farm @ 7.30 pm.
Present;
Councillor G Bell (Chairman),
Councillor P Crompton (Vice Chairman),
Councillor K Wainwright,
Mrs J Mason (Clerk)
Councillor J Wray (Cheshire East Representative) left at 8.10 pm
Declaration of Interest;
Cllr K Wainwright – RSPB land and Blackfirs Lane development by DWH
Public Forum
One member of the public – arrived at 8.15pm.
16/19 Apologies
Cllr R Crookes, Cllr T Swain and Cllr S Hughes all due to work commitments.
17/19 Minutes
Cllr P Crompton suggested some grammatical amendments which were accepted.
Resolved the minutes of the meeting held on Monday 21st January 2019 having been circulated be approved and signed as a true and accurate record.
18/19 Cheshire East
Resolved to suspend the Standing Orders to accept a report from the Ward Councillor
Cllr J Wary updated members on the NHB meeting he had attended that day. He had promoted SPC bid but it did seem as if the Voluntary Sector had received most of the funding this time. He encouraged the PC to resubmit their bid in the Summer as it had scored favourably. There was a lesson to be learned from the scores which could be easily rectified.
There was an update given to Cllr KW in relation to the Environment Weight Restriction on Radnor Bank. JW would ask for this recommendation to be placed on the Local Area Highways agenda for the 22nd March which would lead the request to being evaluated by a road safety engineer.
Cllr JW left to attend Smallwood PC
19/19 Annual Parish Meeting
The Parish Council discussed the possible content of the meeting as it had been thought the RSPB land would have been sold to a developer and this would have involved a consultation event. It was apparent from the RSPB this would not be the case.
Resolved the Parish Council would speak on the Congleton Link Road, the history of Somerford, Cheshire Wildlife Trust involvement in Blackfirs Nature Reserve and the RSPB land progress.
Resolved Ms A Froggatt would be invited to speak on the proposed plans for the RSPB land.
Resolved the event would include cheese and wine.
The newsletter content was agreed, and topics involved.
20/19 Congleton Link Road
The members considered the presentation from GRAHAM at the last meeting. The CLR implementation had started with the signs being installed and tree works/ fencing being completed along Sandy Lane. Back Lane had closed, and the diversions were causing issues along Chelford Road with HGV’s not following the signage. There were concerns about the proposed works along Chelford Road which involved a diversion and the impact on the traffic flow.
There had been complaints received in relation to the diversion signs, the pedestrian access as well as the vehicle access being stopped along Sandy Lane and the trees along Sandy Lane. Mr D Cawthra wished to meet the Clerk on a monthly basis to discuss issues that had been raised be the public and the Parish Council.
The meeting had been confirmed for 28th February. It was agreed the Chairman would also be present.
21/19 RSPB Land
There was a meeting scheduled on the 1st March. There had been an email received from the RSPB that the land may be sold by the end of March.
22/19 New Homes Bonus Community Fund
There had been a meeting conducted that day (18th February) with the Congleton Area Ward Councillors and Cllr GB had attended as the scrutiny member. The full results would be released on Friday, but it seemed that SPC had not been successful.
The whole amount had not been released and there would be another opportunity in the summer to bid.
23/19 Risk Assessment 2018/19
Resolved the circulated Risk Assessment would be accepted by full Council.
The equipment checklist was discussed, and actions agreed.
Resolved the Clerk would enquire of the cost to repair and paint the railings along Radnor Bank.
24/19 Planning Applications
None submitted since the last meeting
Blackfirs Parks DWH
There was still concern that there were advertising signs in situ that did not have planning permission.
Resolved DWH would be informed if no reply was forth coming in relation to permission within 14 days the PC would report to CE Planning.
16/0206D Somerford Park Farm CW12 4SW
There had been a complaint submitted that the landscaping had not been completed in relation to this application.
Resolved the Clerk was requested to contact the landowner to enquire of the details.
25/19 GPR
The Clerk updated members that all the policies had now been completed. The housekeeping had been completed and the relevant documents were being delivered to Chester Achieves. The computer needed the anti-virus and back up checking as soon as possible.
‘Use of personally owned computer equipment for Council business’ forms as were circulated to members to sign.
Cllr TS was checking the retention form document then it could be finalised.
26/19 Accounts
To note the balance of the accounts = £8,578.01
Payments
- Cheque no 233 – £250.00 North West Air Ambulance
- Direct Debit £5.99 Office 364
Receipts
- £200.00 HW & SB PC
- £200.00 NBACM PC
Donation to North West Air Ambulance
Resolved a donation would be given of £250.00.
27/18 Highways
Environmental Weight Restriction
The comments were noted from Cllr JW.
Footpath along Blackfirs Lane
Resolved the Clerk would contact CE planning to check if there was a condition in the approved Blackfirs Park application to build a footpath along Blackfirs Lane.
Pot Hole on Radnor Bank – 3347207
This had been closed by CE Highways but had not been actioned. The Clerk would investigate.
Memorial bench.
It was agreed the siting needed improving.
Resolved bricks would be laid around the edge.
Street Signs along Blackfirs Lane
The Chairman and the Clerk had met with Mr Paul Johnston, Cheshire East Council, Development Engineer, Ms G Kidd Highways Engineer and Mr R Cooper CE Highways Engineer. They agreed to move the street signs back from the verge and towards the hedge row. The block paving would also be addressed that was over the boundary line on the grass verge.
28/18 Blackfirs Nature Reserve
There had been an update received in relation to the improvement works that had been completed. Cheshire Wildlife Trust still wished the Parish Council to take over the site.
Resolved the Clerk would arrange a meeting with Parish Council and the Area Manager at CWT.
29/19 Clerks Report
Elections 2019
The Clerk was attending a briefing on 28th February.
Post Box – Sandy Lane
The Clerk had consulted with the manager from the collections office and it was now under consultation with their area manger which would take 6/9 months.
30/19 Chairman’s and Members report
Police Surgery at Hoofers café SPF on 4.3.19 at 2pm
Cllr K Wainwright and Cllr P Crompton would attend.
Town & Parish Conference 07.03.19
Cllr G Bell would attend.
Public Forum
There was great concern about the prospect of a footpath being built along Blackfirs Lane. It had come to light that there may be a condition of the planning application for David Wilson Homes from the Blackfirs Lane development that they had to construct a footpath. The resident wanted to make sure the Parish Council were aware she did not want this condition encouraged by the Parish Council.
31/19 It was noted the next meeting would be on 18th March 2019 at 7.30 pm at the Pavilion in Somerford Park Farm.
The meeting concluded business at 9.50pm