Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 10th January 2017 at Cranage Village Hall.
Declaration of Interest
Councillor G Morgan declared a personal interest in 16/4724C
Public Forum
36 members of the public present (some left early).
Mr P Wild gave a history of the paddock (land adjacent to Middlewich Road and the A50). He wished to Parish Council to conclude the issue of protecting it for the people and action the hard work of himself and Councillor M Hodge to put it in a residents company with the support of Knights solicitors.
Mr L Dooley (former Chairman of the Parish Council) spoke about the lack of transparency regarding declaration of interests within the Parish Council. GM, DM and MH were named for failing to declare interests at past meetings.
Mr J Halstead reinforced comments.
One more resident wished it to be noted the aspects of the village that needed protecting.
Part 1
Present Councillor R Hurst (who chaired the meeting), Councillor M Hodge, Councillor D Madden, Councillor G Morgan, Councillor R Hocknell ,Councillor A Kolker (Cheshire East) and the Clerk.
Apologies – Councillor G Yarwood due to a book launch.
01/17 Minutes
Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 29th November 2016 be approved and signed as a true and accurate record.
02/17 Parish Council Vacancy
It was noted Mr L Dooley had resigned as a Parish Councillor. RH thanked LD for all his hard work and commitment to the community where we all lived.
RH would act as Chair until the Annual Parish Council meeting in May 2017.
The vacancy notice to co opt a new member was advertised on the notice boards.
03/17 Newsletter
The January newsletter was circulated by the clerk for delivery by members.
04/17 Housing Needs Survey
The report, which had been compiled by Cheshire East under the guidance of Ms Vikki Jefferies, was received by members. The Clerk was requested to see if there were any subsequent actions that would be taken by CE.
05/17 Business Plan
Resolved Councillor R Hurst would action the Business Plan.
06/17 Footpath and Tree Report
The A50 footpath (Holmes Chapel ) – CE made an attempt to clear this by getting the road sweeper on the pavement. It is better but by no means perfect, and in places is very slippy with the rain on the leaves.
A dog fouling sign had been requested for the paddock – not actioned to date CR1506306
Football Pitches – the sign for the football pitches by the A50 entrance was removed by vandals – we have the sign but it needs new brackets to refit it.
There has been an incident of fly tipping on the football car-park near the A50. The junk consists of old road warning signs / a selection of traffic cones.
Trees along A50 – highways need more confirmation of actions to be taken before the 3rd letter is submitted to the landowner. It was agreed a site visit would be conducted with DM and the Clerk.
It was noted Holmes Chapel PC had requested a new footpath sign on FP4.
07/17 Land adjacent to Deans Row
The report was received from Mr B Brassington from Knights solicitors. GM proposed the solicitors were requester to speak with the SOS for health to secure ownership of the land against an adverse possession claim. Seconded – DM. VOTE – FOR – unanimous.
Resolved the clerk would instruct the solicitors to request the Secretary of State for Health to take ownership of the land if they don’t intend to sell the land.
PROW claim – agenda next meeting.
08/17 Land at Middlewich Road
DM had submitted a report to full Council to consider options but the Chairman requested as it had only be received that day it would be moved to the next agenda.
It was agreed the clerk would make enquires about the letter from the Secretary of State.
09/17 Highways
- The Clerk had organised three quotes for the extra grass cutting in the Parish
- Speed along Northwich Road – proposals had been submitted from CE about the proposed reduction to 50mph.
- Grass Verge – Emma Hood from CE had requested if the PC had ever maintained the grass verge along Oak Tree Lane.
Traffic Survey request from resident in relation to planning application 16/4724C
There was a concern the traffic survey submitted by ‘Sibelco’ in the Environmental Impact report was inadequate. Three quotes had been circulated by the resident to conduct an additional survey in more detail.
The Clerk was requested to see if any figures were available from CW and Chester and CE and to request more detail as to the works that would be carried out.
It was agreed that Allostck and Holmes Chapel PC’s would be approached to support with additional funding.
AK wished it to be noted that the results may give an adverse effect than desired.
10/17 Planning Applications
- 16/4724W Rudheath Lodge Farm, Knutsford Road, Cranage CW4 8HJ
No recessionary resolution would be made in relation to this application.
- 16/5665C Caravan Court, Knutsford Road, Cranage CW4 8HJ – proposed two storey extensions with additional structural alterations to rear section of the existing building.
Resolved No Objection
- 16/5964C Hall Farm, Knutsford Road, Cranage CW4 8EU – Proposed front, side and rear extensions to existing dwelling
Resolved No Objection
- 16/5785C Land at Silver Birches, Variation of conditions 2,3,4,5,6 & 12 on approval 16/2052C – construction of one new house.
Resolved No Objection
- 17/0038C 28 Byley Lane, Cranage CW4 8EJ- Single story side and rear extension.
Resolved No Objection
- APP/R0660/W/16/3063386 Land north of Oak Tree Lane. Erection of two detached 4 bed dwellings. It was agreed the clerk would send a letter to reiterate the objection.
Neighbourhood Planning Statement – letter was received from Mr S Hannaby to explain the new Government guidelines on the planning rules if a Neighbourhood Plan was in place.
11/17 Land adjacent to the Village Hall
The legal department at CE had received the report again after intervention from AK. On this occasion they had approved actions but needed a further report from CPC to summarise actions. The Clerk would organise this report.
12/17 Accounts
To note the balance of account = Leek United £29,911.85 + Natwest £40,365.79 =
| £70,277.64 |
Payments
- £3,266.02 Clerks salary (Sept to Dec)
- £1,132.62 HMRC
- £113.01 Clerks expenses (Sept to Dec)
RECEIPTS
- £662.38 HW & SB Parish Council
- £55.00 Twemlow PC
Resolved the above payments are approved and signed for as a true and accurate record.
Resolved Councillor R Hocknell would act as a new signature on the Natwest bank account.
13/17 Cheshire East
The inspector had indicated that he was satisfied that CE had fulfilled the 5 year housing supply figures. The figures had been robust and sustainable. This hopefully would finally lead to approval of the CE Local Plan.
The catering facilities had been opened at HC Community Centre.
The sodium lights were being replaced by LED across the borough.
Arclid waste site was proposed to close and was under consultation at this time. RH requested that the access point was therefore re visited at the Middlewich site as it is dangerous.
RJH asked if AK would update on the progress of works to repair Hermitage Bridge at the next meeting.
14//17 Chairman and Members report
DM requested that the notes from the Sibelco meeting with LD and the Clerk were put on the website.
15/17 Clerks Report
It was agreed that Councillor R Hurst would attend the Self Presentation and Media Skills Course on 24th February.
Training was discussed with members. It seemed that GM and RJH were outstanding Induction courses which were required. The Clerk would organise.
Manchester Airport information was circulated.
The Clerk informed members that a complaint had been received from a resident about the legality of the meeting held on 22nd October 2016. The Clerk had responded that it had been carried out legally.
The Clerk had visited all the notice boards and reported back. The repairs would be arranged.
The public and press left at 9.15pm
PART 2
Resolved; “That in accordance with the public bodies (admission to meetings) Act 1960 as
extended by the Local Goverment Act 1972 section 100 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for discussion of the under mentioned item on the grounds that the publication of the matter would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted”,
The Decision Notice of a Code of Conduct against the former Chairman was discussed.
Referenced Appendix 1
Councillor G Morgan and the Clerk left the meeting
There had been a complaint submitted to the Vice Chairman which was discussed.
Resolved A letter was to be drafted by the Vice Chairman with approval of full Council.
Referenced Appendix 2
16/17 The next meeting would be on the 21st February 2017 @ 7.30pm in Cranage Village Hall.
Meeting closed at 9.55pm.