Minutes of the Annual Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 18th June 2019 at Cranage Hall Hotel.
Part 1
Present
Councillor D Bennett – Vice Chairman (who chaired the meeting)
Councillor R Hurst,
Councillor G Morgan
Councillor A Nicol
Ms J Mason – Clerk
Declaration of Interest
Cllr R Hurst – Village Hall payments
Public Forum
Two members of the public present.
Apologies
Cllr J Swithenbank due to holidays, Cllr R Hocknell due to holidays and Cllr A Kolker due to attending another meeting.
68/19 Minutes
Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 21st May 2019 be approved and signed as a true and accurate record.
69/19 Vice Chairman appointment
Cllr D Bennett signed the Acceptance of Office
70/19 Cranage football pitches
Resolved the Parish Council would approve James Ashbrook’s Ltd to complete the drainage works on the football pitches.
It was noted this was in compliance with the Financial Regulations 11.1 iv)
71/19 Children’s small play area on Needham estate
A local resident had approached the Parish Council for support to improve the small children’s play area as she felt it was dated. It was noted the play area was in excess of 20 years old, but it was a safe place to play due to passing the safety inspections.
It was agreed the Clerk would contact Cheshire East to enquire if they were willing to contribute to improve the play area and if a positive response was received the Parish Council would consider the proposal.
72/19 Business Plan
The Cllrs had been briefed to bring two contributions to include in the Business Plan. All ideas were debated, and the following were agreed;
- Footpath access along Northwich Road
- Football car park extension
- Improvements to small play area on Needham estate
- Storage container for football equipment
- Footpath access along the A50
- Improve welcome boundary signs and include flowers to be upkept each season.
- Address social isolation – quarterly luncheon
- Hard standing for school children catching the bus outside Cranage Hall Hotel
Resolved the Clerk would endeavour to obtain a costing for each of the approved suggestions.
73/19 Grant Funding – Community Clean Up
The Chairman and the Clerk had met with the Bowling Club and discussed the allocation of monies. The bowling club wished to improve the garden area and the boundary. Quotes were being retrieved and due to be submitted to the Clerk.
74/19 Training 2019
Cllr R Hurst, Cllr J Swithenbank would attend Planning Seminar 1 and Cllr R Hocknell, Cllr G Morgan, and Cllr D Bennett would attend the Planning Seminar 2 in July.
Cllr A Nicol would attend the Introduction to Local Councils and Clerks in June.
Cllr D Bennett would attend the Chairmanship Course in November.
75/19 Highways
Northwich Road
This item was deferred as Cllr AK was absent.
Northwich Road M6 motorway bridge
A resident’s complaint had not been resolved since 2017/18. Reference 3353117.
Hard Standing outside Cranage Hall Hotel for a bus stop
This item was deferred as Cllr AK was absent.
There had been a response received from the local PCSO and photographs were requested. Cllr RH would organise.
Grass verge cutting
There had been a requested for grass cutting along Northwich Road. The Clerk would ensure that all the verges were incorporated.
Manhole cover on Needham Drive
It could not be confirmed if this had been actioned. Cllr RH would check.
Emissions on Northwich Road/ A50
There had been a complaint from a resident in relation to the emissions on Northwich Road when there were issues with the M6.
Resolved the Clerk was requested to retrieve some information from CE.
76/19 Footpath and Tree Report
Resolved to accept the report for the officer.
- The 50-mph speed limit sign on the A50 travelling down the hill from Holmes Chapel into Cranage is totally obscured by trees.
Footpaths
There are several hedgerow issues that are impacted by the ban on cutting hedges until after the bird nesting season.
- Manor Barn footpath is particularly difficult to pass in a couple of places
It was agreed the Clerk would report these issues.
Footpath Claim – Carver Ave/ Byley Lane/Crescent Avenue Ref FPS/R0660/14A/2
The was still awaiting a response.
77/19 Planning Applications
- 19/2689N Harley House, 20 Northwich Road, Cranage CW4 8HL – variation of condition 2 on 18/5291C – construction of new detached house – resubmission of application 18/3070C.
Resolved No Objection
- 19/2423N Pump Cottage, Kings Lane, Cranage CW10 9LX – retrospective application for change of use of land to garden.
Resolved No Objection
- 19/2246C ‘Caberfeidh’, 8 Northwich Road, Cranage CW4 8HL Alteration and extension to existing dwelling, new garage and associated works.
Resolved No Objection
18/5051C Land at rear of Cotton Farm, Middlewich Road, Holmes Chapel CW4 7ET
It was noted that this application had a certificate of lawfulness approved on 7th June. Cllr AN had circulated a report which gave clear evidence that there was commercial activity taking place on this site.
Resolved Cllr DB would contact Cllr AK and if this proved unsuccessful the PC would write to the Chief Executive.
Sibelco
The Chairman had contacted Mr M Hurley, but it seemed he had retired. The Clerk was requested to arrange a meeting with his replacement.
Site Allocation and Development Polices meeting on 03.06.19
The Chairman and Cllr AK had attended this meeting at Westfield’s in Sandbach. It was positive that there were no site allocations approved except for a small parcel of in fill land between Armistead Way / Needham Drive and it was recognised the Dane Valley was a special designated area.
Advertising at Woodside Golf Club
It had been reported that several pieces of advertising had appeared on the boundary of Woodside Golf Club.
Resolved the Clerk would enquire if planning permission was required.
78/19 Communication to the press
The Clerk explained the rules when communicating to the press. Cllrs should remember it is acceptable to speak as a Parish Cllr but not on behalf of the Parish Council as a whole.
79/19 Accounts
It was noted the balance of account = Leek United £30,488.46 + Natwest £42,222.43 = £72,710.89.
Payments
- Cheque number 271 – £250.00 Cranage Village Hall donation
- Cheque number 270 – £350.00 Ms S Amies (website)
- Online payment – £324.00 TCS Management
- Cheque number 272 – £250.00 Byley Church donation
- Online payment – £649.85 Memorial Benches
Receipts
- £2.93 Lloyds Banking Group
Resolved the above payments are approved and signed for as a true and accurate record.
80/19 Signatures on the Natwest bank account
Resolved the signatures would be Cllr A Nicol, Cllr R Hocknell and Cllr R Hurst
81/19 Cheshire East
Resolved to suspend the Standing Orders to accept a report from the Ward Councillor A Kolker.
No report.
82/19 Chairman and Members Report.
Memorial bench
It was noted the bench was to be sited this month.
83/19 Clerks Report
Pension Report
The Clerk had met with TCS Management in relation to her pension and it seemed the first stage of the pension staging in 2017 had not been completed correctly as the employer had not been registered with a pension as required. There had been a quote from the TCS Management of £125 to action the process correctly.
Resolved the Parish Council would approve TCS management actioning the correct procedure for the Clerk’s pension.
It was agreed a portrait of the queen was not necessary to accompany the black book as there was one in the Village Hall.
Public Forum
No comments.
PART 2
Resolved; “That in accordance with the public bodies (Admission to meetings) Act 1960 as extended by the Local Government 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”
84/19 Clerks Salary 2019/20
Resolved the PC approve the salary scale increase for 2019/20.
85/19 The next meeting would be on the 30th July 2019 @ Cranage Hall Hotel
Meeting closed at 9.30pm