Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 27th June 2017 at Cranage Village Hall.
Declaration of Interest
Councillor A Townson – 17/8000C and Councillor M Cohen – the Paddock on Middlewich Road.
Presentation from Mr Lucy Hughes from Cheshire Community Action
The Clerk had invited Mrs L Hughes to speak to the Council on the process of completing a Neighbourhood Plan and its effectiveness. Once completed it would become part of planning law so was an effective document when dealing with applications in the Parish of Cranage. The process was explained to members, the time span could be 2 /3 years but an effective team could complete in 18 months. There was funding available from central Government of up to £9,000. It had to be headed from the Parish Council with the support from volunteers who lived in Cranage.
Public Forum
Mrs J Wild reported on her feelings in relation to the proposed Adult Fitness Area under consideration and its history.
Two residents from Byley Lane wished to raise their concerns about the speed of traffic on Byley Lane including her concerns of school children who caught the bus on both sides and the accident reported that month. They requested the Parish Council’s support for a reduction in speed or some calming solutions.
Part 1
Present Councillor R Hurst (who chaired the meeting),Councillor M Hodge, Councillor R J Hocknell, Councillor A Townson, Councillor M Cohen, Councillor A Kolker (Cheshire East) and the Clerk.
Apologies – Councillor C Brown and Councillor G Morgan both due to ill health.
70/17 Minutes
63/17 cheque number 168 – Ms S Amies website – £240.00 as no amount entered.
Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 30th May 2017 be approved and signed as a true and accurate record.
71/17 Register of Interests
Cllr M Cohen and Cllr A Townson returned their signed Register of Interests. It was noted that Cllr C Brown’s was still outstanding.
72/17 Cranage Bowling Club
The Clerk had attended a landlord’s check with the Bowling Club on 8th June. Everything was satisfactory within the building and outside. There had been some evidence of some vandalism and the police had been informed. The issue of visitors not parking on the car park but travelling down the grass between the play areas was still happening and need to be resolved. The Clerk had reported the lack of signage to Cheshire East again.
Cllr M Cohen offered the suggestion of a dummy CCTV camera.
73/17 Neighbourhood Plan
As both members who wished to sponsor the NP were absent this would be deferred to the next meeting.
74/17 Adult Fitness Area
Ms C Hewson had approached the Parish Council on the manner in which she would approach residents for support. A draft questionnaire had been submitted to the Council.
Resolved the Parish Council would support a newsletter going out to the electors and Cllr A Townson would redraft the questionnaire/survey.
75/17 Internet in the Village Hall
The Cranage Preschool was due to close which resulted in a loss of internet connection. Cllr R Hurst informed members that a new radio station would be launched soon from the Village Hall and would have access to the internet.
76/17 Footpath and Tree Report
- The path behind Glebe Farm – the short section behind Glebe Farm is overgrown with nettles and thistles. Just about passable in jeans / trousers.
- When walking around Glebe Farm on footpaths 2 and 3 – FP 3 runs up the hill behind Glebe Farm crossing 2-3 fields before intersecting with FP 2. The fields over which FP 2 and 3 are normally laid to pasture, but have recently been ploughed and maize has been planted. The fields are ploughed right to the hedge and the existing footpaths are obliterated by the maize field. There is a lack of signs in this area, even with knowledge of the footpath system, it is impossible to know whether you are actually on the footpath. As the maize get to full grown height (6 feet plus), unless a definitive path is cut into the maize, estimate that approximately 0.5 to 1 mile of footpath will be unusable. FP from Cranage Manors Barns to where it meets with FP3 needs new signs reinstating.
- FP 2, for many years horses were kept in a field adjacent to FP 2. The shed that once housed all the horse equipment / feed has fallen down and there is a whole area which needs removing.
- As previously reported (Holmes Chapel), the footpath at the top of the hill opposite to the George and Dragon is in a poor state due to two years of leaf fall not being removed. This covers the whole stretch down to the bottom of the hill. At the bottom of the hill the footpath becomes extremely narrow.
77/17 Police presence in the Parish
It was apparent in Holmes Chapel and Cranage Parishes there was less police presence. H/C Parish Council no longer contributed to the funding of a PCSO neither did the nearby rural parishes. The PCSO was on long term sick and there was some coverage from Police Officer Barbara Evans but she was over stretched. There was a list of anti social behaviour / vandalism and more presence was required.
Resolved the clerk would write to the Police & Crime Commissioner Mr D Keane
78/17 Manchester Bomb Victims
Resolved under the General Power of Competence Cranage Parish Council would donate £100.00 to Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School to fund a garden in the school in memory of Nell Jones.
79/17 Highways
M6 screening
Cllr A Townson had attended a meeting at Mr and Mrs Wilde’s house on 12th June with Highways England to discuss screening on Oak Tree Lane. The residents are proposing to plant 100 trees along the boundary of the motorway with the agreement of the local farmer and they will seek funding from the Parish Council. Conifers are known for being like a sponge, and could help reduce the overall pollution from the motorway. The costing of the project had not been finalised so this would be deferred to the next meeting.
Highways England confirmed they have been using a computer simulated wind and noise program to measure the effects on Cranage and manual tests administered on a day trial in various locations cannot justify the cost of spending on noise reduction fencing.
Meeting with Mr R Cooper Highways Cheshire East – 12th June
Cllr R Hurst and the Clerk met with CE to discuss the footpaths and signage across the Parish. The footpaths were in desperate need of cutting back as they were very narrow and not passable for pedestrians.
Resolved the Clerk would obtain three quotes for siding out the footpaths along the A50.
Resolved the Clerk had reported all signs that had been identified.
50mph Northwich Road
The speed reduction had been actioned in June. There were concerns that it had not been advertised well on site. Cllr A Towson had emailed highways and Cllr A Kolker would investigate further.
Litter Picking
Cllr R Hurst proposed the Parish Council would arrange a litter collection. It was agreed and would be advertised in the next newsletter.
Accident on Twemlow Lane
Cllr R Hurst reported an accident and the details. She added another on Byley Lane. The Clerk was asked to start a road traffic accident register.
Give Way sign missing on Northwich Road
3290085 – Reported
OnPoint developers – Goostrey Lane
Not all points were actioned – Cllr Hodge would make a report to the Clerk
Speed limits on Twemlow Lane and Byley Lane
Cllr A Kolker would make further enquires.
PROW behind Deans Row
Due to the absence of Cllr G Morgan this was deferred.
80/17 Land at Middlewich Road
Cllr M Cohen wished to discuss a proposal to give the Parish Council an opportunity to receive an income from building four executive houses on the land owned by the Parish Council. He would build the houses at no cost to the Parish Council for the exchange to build on the paddock land. The rental income from the houses would go to the Parish Council and could then be utilised for the benefit of the community. MC made it clear that the land adjacent to the paddock was in his ownership and he currently had planning permission to change his property to four houses from the original two.
81/17 Planning Applications
17/8000C Evermore Sandy Lane Cranage -It was noted this application had been re submitted to extend the footprint more than the original application. The Parish Council still objected but was not a consultee.
82/17 Accounts
| It was noted the balance of account = Leek United £29,911.85 + Natwest £40,722.83 = £70,634.68 |
Payments
Cheque number
- 171 – £3,815.79 Ms J Mason (salary from April to June for Cranage, Astbury, Somerford and Hulme Walfield)
- 172 – £93.85 Ms J Mason (expenses from April to June)
- 173 – £25.00 SLCC Training Course for Clerk 21.09.17
- 174 – £868.46 HMRC
- 175– £12.60 Upper Bridge Enterprises
Receipts
- £112.00 Cranage Bowling Club (insurance)
Resolved the above payments are approved and signed for as a true and accurate record.
83/17 Leek United Bond
Resolved Cllr A Townson would replace Mr L Dooley as the signature on the Leek United Bond
84/17 Cheshire East
Resolved to suspend standing orders to receive a report from Cllr Kolker
He wanted members to note the 319 bus through Cranage would be stopping and encouraged members to object as it seemed to be a bus key to many elderly residents.
The inspector had closed the consultation of the Local Plan and it should be finalised by July. This confirmed CE now had the supply of housing for the next 5 years.
85/17 Clerks Report
Local Council Award Scheme training session 03.8.17 – Cllr R Hurst will attend
Councillor Induction Training on 4th October–Cllr A Townson and Cllr M Cohen will attend.
Letter of Objection to Arclid Tip – acknowledged
Comments on Local Plan re Minerals – submitted
86/17 The next Parish Council Parish Meeting would be on the 8th August 2017 @ 7.30pm in Cranage Village Hall.
Meeting closed at 9.30 pm.