Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 9th August 2017 at Cranage Village Hall.
Declaration of Interest
Councillor M Hodge & Councillor G Morgan – 17/3605W
Councillor M Hodge – 17/3689C.
Public Forum
8 members present
There was general concern in relation to the re submission of planning application 17/3605W. The public had attended to be aware of the Parish Council’s decision.
One member updated the Parish Council of updates on the speed review on Northwich Road and actions of Cllr A Kolker.
Part 1
Present Councillor R Hurst (who chaired the meeting), Councillor M Hodge, Councillor R J Hocknell (arrived at 7.40pm), Councillor A Townson, Councillor M Cohen, Councillor G Morgan and the Clerk.
Apologies – Councillor A Kolker – no apologies submitted.
87/17 Minutes
It was noted that minute reference 69/17 was not allocated in the previous minutes.
Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 27th June 2017 be approved and signed as a true and accurate record.
88/17 Councillor Vacancy
It was noted Councillor C Brown had resigned due to ill health. The Chairman hoped he recovered soon and wished him all the best in the future.
The Vacancy Notice had been circulated on the notice boards.
89/17 Neighbourhood Plan
Cllr G Morgan proposed Cranage Parish Council completed a Neighbourhood Plan.
Resolved CPC would complete a Neighbourhood Plan
Cllr G Morgan would now endeavour to gain public support.
89/17 Adult Fitness Area
Cllr A Townson had circulated a draft survey to be included in the newsletter and then completed online (hard copies would be available from the Clerk). It was to determine the level of support in the Parish for an adult fitness area before the project was taken further by the Parish Council after a request by a local resident.
It was noted there was a site meeting with ANSA/Cheshire East on 10th August with the Clerk.
90/17 Footpaths and Trees
The following report had been submitted from the Footpath Officer –
- HCPC had started clearing the footpath along the A50. They commenced with the stretch at the top of the hill near George and Dragon, and have cleared the path / cut back the verge as far down as the cottages at the bottom of the hill. It is a vast improvement. CPC need to action theirs the same.
- Twemlow Lane heading from the A50 direction, on the right hand side at various points by the turning for Hollins Farm / Hermitage Lane, there are a number of areas where there are deep ruts where the tarmac finishes and the verge starts – in a couple of place nearly 9 inches deep. These are a particular hazard to walkers / cyclists when cars are passing by. At one of two points, the ruts have been filled with loose chippings (may be by residents) which is a vast improvement. This needs reporting.
Footpath behind Deans Row
Cllr G Morgan had submitted a report in relation to the PROW claim from 2006 of possible actions to be taken by the PC to influence the score being allocated.
Resolved all members including the Clerk would contact local people residents for statements proving a past use of the open space and the footpath. It was noted that residents over the age of 70 years old carried more bias with the committee.
Kissing Gates
Cllr R Hocknell had sited one gate on FP2.
Letter from Mr Browne to Cheshire East
The letter had been circulated to members from Cheshire East in relation to their contractor’s supposedly cutting grass on Mr Browne’s land.
91/17 Highways
M6 Highways – Screening along Oak Tree Lane
Cllr M Hodge had attended a meeting at Mr P Wilde’s house (notes circulated) to discuss the possibility of fencing to alleviate the sound created by the M6. The issue before any works could progress was that the sound needed to be measured by an officiated body.
Resolved the Clerk would write to Cheshire East Council to ask them to assist in completing a noise survey on behalf of the residents of Cranage Parish.
Litter Pick
The Chairman circulated dates where the Village Hall could be open as a central point. She would confirm via email.
One Point Developers
Cllr G Morgan stated the grass verges still had not been actioned and request the Clerk make further contact.
50mph Northwich Road
There had been comments from Cllr A Kolker to Cllr D Brown and Mr R Welch- “the speed limit recently imposed on Northwich Road was originally going to be 40mph. I understand that following objections by the police, this was changed to 50mph. However our recently adopted Speed Management Strategy makes no reference to consultation with the police and their ability to veto Highways Department proposals. Furthermore, we now have confirmation of this by the Police and Crime Commissioner.
In view of this and the continued risk to pedestrians, school children and home owners, I would like to see the original proposal for a 40mph limit on Northwich Road, Cranage, readopted.”
Speed on Twemlow Lane and Byley Lane
The Clerk had received guidance that neither of these roads complied with the new Speed Management Strategy and not eligible to a speed reduction. Cllr M Cohen had visited the residents and engaged with their concerns. He proposed a SLOW sign was put on both lanes.
Resolved this would be an agenda item at the next meeting.
Siding out footpaths along the A50
The clerk had obtained 3 quotes to side out the footpaths as follows –
- John Harrison – £6,335.00
- Philip Booth – £2,600.00
- Congleton Town Council – £2,220.00
Resolved the Clerk would instruct Congleton Town Council to action the footpaths.
Fly tipping on Kings Lane
This had been reported by Cllr A Townson
92/17 Grievance Policy and Disciplinary Policy
Resolved both policies would be adopted.
It was noted the Complaints Policy would be re visited by Cllr G Morgan.
93/17 Committee Members
Resolved CHALC Representative – Cllr M Hodge
Manchester Airport Representative – Cllr A Townson
94/17 Planning Applications
17/3970C Chestnut Farm, Knutsford Road, Cranage CW4 8HG.
Certificate of proposed lawful use for extension to existing building.
Resolved No Objection
17/3689C Holly House Farm, Middlewich Road ,Cranage CW10 9LT
Minor material amendment to application 36397/3
Resolved No Objection
16/5890C Glebe Farm, Knutsford Road, Cranage CW4 8EF
Resolved Objection
17/3055C Oaklands,11 Northwich Road Cranage CW4 8HL
Construction of an outbuilding to the back of the existing dwelling on site.
Resolved No Comment
Councillor G Morgan left the room
17/3605W Land at Rudheath Lodge, New Platt lane, Cranage and Allostock CW4 8HJ – Silica sand extraction and associated development, mineral extraction by dreading progressive restoration, mineral processing and dispatch
Resolved Objection
Cllr M Cohen proposed a leaflet was delivered to all residents explaining that any previous comments were ignored by Cheshire East Council and any new ones were resubmitted before the deadline of 24th August. Cheshire West Council must be included in this circulation.
Cllr A Townson seconded the proposal.
Vote FOR – MC, AT, RJH. AGAINST – RH
Cllr G Morgan returned to the room.
95/17 Accounts
| It was noted the balance of account = Leek United £29,911.85 + Natwest £37,190.40 = £67,102.25 |
Payments
Cheque number
- 177 – £288.00 TCS Management
- 178 – £240.00 BDO LLP
Receipts
- £115.16 Scottish Power
- £357.96 Leek United Interest
- £758.06 Hulme Walfield & Somerford Booths Parish Council
- £1,036.69 Somerford Parish Council
- £1,361.29 Newbold Astbury cum Morerton Parish Council
Resolved the above payments are approved and signed for as a true and accurate record.
96/17 Leek United Bond
Resolved the monies would be reinvested in a One Year Bond with the Leek United
97/17 External Audit
The Audit had been approved by BDO LLP. The Clerk reported to full council that they had received a clear audit for 2016/17.
98/100 Newsletter
A Newsletter would be produced for delivery in September. Articles to be included were as follows –
Neighbourhood Plan – Cllr G Morgan
Adult Fitness Area Survey – Cllr A Townson
M6 Noise – Cllr M Hodge
Deans Row Footpath – Clerk
Litter Collection – Clerk
Website – Clerk
Vacancy – Clerk
99/17 Cheshire East
No report was submitted
100/17 Chairman and Members Report
Code of Conduct of Councillors
Cllr G Morgan proposed that a training session was organised by the Clerk for the Parish Council.
Resolved the Clerk would contact Mr P Hoey for a quote.
Freedom of Information
Cllr G Morgan wished to remind Councillors that anything that was written in email was subject to a Freedom of Information request and members should take care when writing on subjects. She proposed a separate email addresses were allocated to each Councillor. This was discussed by members and the Clerk reemphasised this was due procedure as a private email address was open to scrutiny.
Resolved the Clerk would organise a parish council email address for each Councillor.
101 Clerks Report
It was noted there had been three FOI requests since the last meeting. All been actioned.
There had been a complaint in reference to a Parish Councillor from a resident and the Clerk had advised to contact the Monitoring Officer in conjunction with policy.
Training had been confirmed for Cllr M Cohen and Cllr A Townson on the 4th October in Congleton .
There had been a response to the letter from the Police Crime Commissioner and a PCSO had been appointed for Holmes Chapel and the surrounding rural areas. There was a CHALC Police Forum evening on 26th September – Cllr M Cohen and the Clerk would attend.
The Clerk had organised a painter to action the notice boards but he had failed to action over the drier months. Congleton Town Council had been contacted and submitted a new quote.
Resolved the clerk could instruct CTC to refurbish the notice boards.
102/17 The next Parish Council Parish Meeting would be on the 19th September 2017 @ 7.30pm in Cranage Village Hall.
Meeting closed at 10.05pm.