Minutes of the Annual Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 15th May 2019 in the Pavilion ‘C’ at Somerford Park Farm @ 7.30 pm.
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47/19 Election of Chairman 2019/20
Resolved Cllr G Bell would act as Chairman for the ensuing year.
The Acceptance of Office was signed.
48/19 Acceptance of Office
Resolved Cllr S Hughes and Cllr A Bossons would sign their Acceptance of Office before the next meeting
Present;
Councillor G Bell (Chairman),
Councillor R Crookes
Councillor P Crompton (Vice Chairman),
Councillor G Derbyshire,
Mrs J Mason (Clerk)
Councillor J Wray (Cheshire East Representative) arrived at 8.05 pm
Declaration of Interest;
None declared
Public Forum
One member of the public present.
49/19 Apologies
Cllr A Bossons – annual holidays
Cllr S Hughes – no apologies submitted.
50/19 Minutes
Resolved the minutes of the meeting held on Monday 18th March 2019 having been circulated be approved and signed as a true and accurate record.
51/19 Register of Interests Forms
The Clerk circulated the hard copies for completion and reminded members the electronic copy was required by the 3rd June by the Monitoring Officer and the website administrator.
52/19 Election of Vice Chairman 2019/20
Resolved Cllr P Crompton would be Vice Chairman for the ensuing year.
The Acceptance of Office was signed.
53/19 Code of Conduct
The Clerk briefly explained the new Code of Conduct which had been adopted by Cheshire East Council. There were courses being held by CHALC to explain in more detail.
Resolved the New Code of Conduct was adopted by the Parish Council.
54/19 Standing Orders
Resolved the Standing Orders were adopted by full Council
55/19 Financial Regulations
Resolved the Financial Regulations were adopted by full Council.
56/19 To adopt the General Power of Competence
The Council continues to meet the requirement to exercise the General Power of Competence and no longer needs to use s137 as a power to spend on certain items.
Resolved the Council adopted the General Power of Competence.
57/19 Somerford Business Plan
The Business Plan was discussed in detail and amendments/ suggestions were agreed. It was agreed the Chairman would redraft an updated version and this would be circulated before the next meeting for approval.
58/19 Annual Parish Meeting
The meeting had been a great success with an attendance of 63 parishioners. The comments/feedback were discussed both from the meeting and the subsequent emails. The main feedback were in relation to the footpath along Black firs Lane.
59/19 Councillor Responsibilities
- RSPB Representatives – Cllr GB and Cllr PC
- CWT / Black firs Nature Reserve Park – Cllr RC Cllr AB and Cllr GB
- Congleton Link Road & Highways – Cllr GB and Cllr PC.
- CHALC – Cllr GD
- Communication – Newsletter and Website – Cllr SH
- Finance & Audit Compliance – Cllr PC
- Neighbourhood Plan/ Planning – Cllr PC, Cllr SH and Cllr RC
- Personnel – Cllr GB and Cllr PC
- Police – Cllr PC and Cllr GD.
- Business Plan Delivery – Cllr GB
Audit and Local Councils in England 2018/19
60/19 Internal Audit
The Internal Audit had been circulated to all members. The comments were accepted and the referral to the HMRC contributions acknowledged as the PC understood due procedure was being followed as the salary payments were carried out by Cranage Parish Council
Resolved the internal audit was accepted by full council.
61/19 Section 1 Annual Governance statement section 2018/19 of the AGAR
Resolved the Council accepted the report and it was signed by the Chairman and Clerk /RFO.
62/18 Section 2 – Accounting Statements 2018/19
Resolved the Council accepted the statements and the Chairman sign to confirm approval.
63/19 Public Inspection period (Notice of public rights) from Monday 17th June to Friday 26th July 2019 inclusive.
Resolved All information will be posted on the website and the noticeboards on the above dates.
64/19 Black firs Nature Reserve – Cheshire Wildlife Trust
The PC had met with Mr J Plimlott CWT Living Landscape Manager to discuss the future of the site in March and there had been communication received back from the CWT board that the site would not be sold at a nominal fee to the Parish Council but would be sold at market value due it being a Charitable Trust. The site was approximately 2.2 aces and they valued an acre at £6k so would like £13k to complete the sale.
Cllr PC thought this figure was excessive and the site was not in very good condition. Cllr RC pointed out the omission of the rear boundary fence and front also needing attention. The comments were also taken on board from the Annual Parish Meeting.
Resolved the Parish Council would not purchase the site at the value of £13,000.
It was noted there was another meeting on the 7th June.
65/19 RSPB Land
The PC had been notified that the land had been sold to a developer. Mr B Costello the RSPB representative had resigned and unfortunately his replacement had also resigned. The PC were awaiting contact from the new appointment, Mr Colin Pringle but nothing had been forthcoming to date. The Clerk had also made contact to ask for the grass to be cut as soon as possible as it was very long and there was evidence of weeds.
66/19 Highways
Congleton Link Road
The Chairman and the Clerk met with Mr D Cawthra on 10th May (notes circulated). Sandy Lane is due to be closed on 28th May for approximately 9 months. DC had interacted with both schools (CHS and Black firs Primary) in anticipation of the extra traffic on Box Lane. There had been workshops conducted in relation to road safety. GRAHAM had circulated a newsletter and it had been put on the website.
Environmental Weight Restriction on Radnor Bank
Cllr JW had spoken to Mr Simon Wallace and was awaiting his reply. An ex councillor had made contact if any resolution had been made with this ongoing issue.
Speed along A54 by Somerford Park Farm
The residents from the new houses on the east side of the A54 had approached the PC in relation to the vehicles exceeding the new 40mph. The PC had contacted the local PSCO Sue Holt and she had conducted some checks at rush hour but from 159 vehicles only 2 were exceeding the limit. She suggests the residents set up a speed watch group and she would train them. The Clerk had contacted Brereton Parish Council as the houses are in their Parish to suggest a leaflet drop to the houses to evaluate the interest. The PC would then peruse the option of purchasing a handheld Speed display gun. This would be revisited when BPC had replied.
Cheshire Railings
Deferred as no quote submitted.
Footpath clearance by the bench on the A54
Resolved the Clerk would obtain a quote.
New bushes/ trees along Chelford Road
Deferred
67/19 Planning Applications
- 19/1763C Land adjacent to 36 Blackfirs Lane, Somerford – application for approval of reserved matters (access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale) following outline approval of 16/0325C – outline planning application for the erection of 3 dwellings.
Resolved No Objection
- 19/2305C Hatherlow, Holmes Chapel Road, Somerford CW12 4SP – Single Storey side extension.
Resolved No Objection
- 16/0226D Somerford Park Farm Somerford CW12 4SW – discharge of condition 2 (landscaping) on application 14/4518C – retrospective application for retention of a new stable building with ancillary grooms’ accommodation
There had been a response from SPF indicating they would complete the planting when the horse box application was completed.
Resolved the Clerk would contact SPF to enquire when this would be carried out and feedback.
- 18/00887E Bovis – Loach brook estate
It appears Bovis have left the site and the infrastructure had not been completed as the planning conditions specified. The Clerk had report this to Planning Enforcement and this had now been moved to CE highways but as this has been going on since October 2018 and no actions had been taken the Parish Council asked Cllr JW for some support.
- Black firs Park – David Wilson Homes
There had been a meeting held on 4th May with Mr A Taylor and numerous issues had been raised. The notes had been circulated and they were awaiting a response on actions from DWH.
Resident complaint in reference to working hours – this had been raised with Mr AT as the new Barratts site had opened which had different working hours and they were being breached regularly.
- 16/5156C Black firs Lane development – footpath claim
The planning officer had placed a footpath as a recommendation when the application was considered but CE Highways had dismissed it due to removal of too many trees, so it was not added to the planning application as a condition. Even though the Parish Council have received many requests to peruse the footpath option as they felt it unsafe to walk along the lane the condition was not enforceable so there was nothing the PC could do other than ask Cllr JW to investigate what had happened at the planning meeting. .
68/19 Accounts
To note the balance of the accounts = £8,826.14
Payments
- Cheque no 235 – £30.00 Mr G C Roberts
- Cheque no 236- £213.48 CHALC
- Cheque no 237- £20.00 CCA
- Cheque no 238 – £1,518.10 Cranage Parish Council (inc £ HMRC contributions)
- Cheque no 239 – £150.00 Horseshoe Inn (Annual Parish meeting)
- Cheque no 240 – £65.31 Ms J Mason (expenses from Jan to April)
- Cheque no 245 – £36.00 CPRE
- Cheque no 246 – £70.00 Mrs J Mason (flowers for Cllr T Swain and Cllr K Wainwright)
- Direct Debit £5.99 Office 364
Receipts
- £10,500.00 Precept
69/19 Account Signatures for Natwest Bank
Resolved the account signatures would be Cllr P Crompton, Cllr R Crookes and Cllr G Derbyshire
70/19 Cheshire East
Resolved to suspend the Standing Orders to accept a report from the Ward Councillor.
The Chairman congratulated Cllr JW for retaining his seat in the elections. Cllr JW reported that the elections had resulted in massive changes within the Council – 34 Conservatives, 25 Labour, 19 Independent and 4 Liberal seats. The Independents had decided to join that day, with the Labour party so they would now have the overall majority as opposed to the Conservatives. It seemed Cllr Sam Corcoran Labour would be the new leader.
The Annual Meeting was on the 22nd May where there would be more decisions taken by full Council.
He would enquire about the enforcement officer in relation the ‘Bovis’ development.
71/19 Clerks Report
Training 2019
The two new Cllrs Induction Training course was approved.
GDPR forms
Issued to new Cllrs to return.
72/19 Chairman’s and Members Report
Police Surgery at Hoofers café SPF on 20.5.19
Cllr G Derbyshire would attend.
Local Plan and Site Allocations Meeting
Cllr GB and Cllr PC would attend.
It was noted that Cllr R Crookes had operated a laptop and projector in the meeting to show the relevant documents related to the agenda. The members agreed this was of great benefit and it would be on the agenda for the next meeting.
73/19 It was noted the next meeting was on the 24th June 2019 at 7.30 pm at the Pavilion in Somerford Park Farm.
The meeting concluded business at 10.10 pm