Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 31st July 2018 at Cranage Village Hall.
Part 1
Present Councillor R J Hocknell (who chaired the meeting), Councillor R Hurst, Councillor J Swithenbank, Councillor M Hodge, Councillor M Cohen (arrived at 7.40pm), Councillor G Morgan and the Clerk.
Declaration of Interest
Cllr R Hurst – Grants and Donations due to being a member of the Village Hall Committee, Cllr G Morgan – Sibelco and Cllr M Hodge – Sibelco.
The Chairman wished the Parish Council to note their respects to the recent passing of Mrs Esme Furnival. Her husband Mr Tom Furnival was a Parish Councillor for many years, including chairman and their late son, Alan, was also a Parish Councillor and chairman. She and her family had been heavily involved in the community.
Public Forum
5 members of the public present.
There were concerns about the number of advertising lorries that had been placed in fields by the side of the M6 close to Oak Tree Lane and Kings Lane. Not only were they a distraction to drivers the back of the lorries were open so were easy to access.
Apologies – Cllr D Bennett due to work commitments.
74/18 Minutes
Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 19th June 2018 be approved and signed as a true and accurate record.
75/18 Neighbourhood Plan
Resolved the Neighbourhood Plan would be postponed for six months due to family commitments of Cllr G Morgan.
76/18 Highways
VTC Consultants
Cllr RJH, Cllr RH and the Clerk had met with Mr J Carruthers on 17th July and visited Byley Lane, Twemlow Lane, Goostrey Lane, Middlewich Lane and Northwich Road. There was now a list of improvements for the Parish Council to approve and take forward with Cheshire East highways. The Parish Council discussed the list of actions and included the outstanding improvement works still to be completed by Cheshire East at Goostrey Lane and Middlewich Road.
It was agreed Mr J Carruthers would complete his action plan and then the Clerk would arrange the Parish Council to meet with highways to discuss suggested options.
Residents Action Group Report
Cllr M Hodge reported that in the reply from Highways England, following the FOI request it had revealed that they had made the mistake with the boundary limit when carrying out an impact assessment; it should have been 600 metres not 300 metres. To make the situation worse Highways England had now refused to communicate with the Parish Council and the Residents’ Action Group. RAG may be forced to take legal action to challenge Highways England but it is understood this would be costly. They are hoping to meet with Fiona Bruce MP to discuss further and Cllr A Kolker was arranging an appointment.
It was noted a return letter had been sent to the Parish Council from Fiona Bruce with a copy reply from Highways England.
HSF Grass Cutting
The quote was £400 to include the rural lanes in the verge cut.
Resolved the Parish Council would approve the rural lanes in the Parish in the extra rural cuts.
Glebe Farm
The recent fire was noted at Brereton timber adjacent to Glebe farm. The Parish Council were still receiving complaints about the cars parking on the verges and stopping pedestrian access. The Clerk was requested to check if the change of use had been resolved from last year.
Sign cleaning across the Parish
This issue had now been outstanding for over twelve months. The Chairman would challenge further.
‘Give Way’ sign on Northwich Road
CE Highways still had taken no actions. Cllr M Cohen had installed a temporary sign.
77/18 Adult Fitness Area
It was noted the Lottery funding application still had not been decided.
78/18 Standing Orders
NALC had circulated a revised version of the Standing Orders in relation to changes in legislation. The draft copy had been circulated to members.
The Council revisited the policy and agreed the relevant points. It was agreed the Clerk would amend and recirculate.
Cllr R Hurst proposed the clause in relation to the sale of the land at Middlewich Road was added to the next meeting’s agenda.
Resolved the original Standing Orders 101/102/103 would be put on to the next agenda.
79/18 Footpath and Tree Report
Hawthorn House
It was noted the Parish Council had been copied into a resident’s complaint which had been responded to from Mr B Poole.
Public Rights of Way notification
PROW had notified the Parish Council of an upgrade to bridleway existing public footpaths nos. 18 & 10 in Cranage on the Definitive Map and Statement for Cheshire East which had been registered on 27th July 2018. This was a claim to upgrade these existing footpaths to a bridleway, linking Twemlow Lane to Hermitage Lane in Cranage.
Resolved No Objection
Hermitage Bridge
Cllr RJH had made some improvements with the recent hard core; the bridge had not been completed to date. It was noted the dog fouling was down to the landowner and not PROW.
Footpath Claim; Carver Avenue/Crescent Road/Byley Lane.
The Parish Council had been informed this had now been taken to a Rights of Way Executive, Agriculture & Estates Team, Birketts LLP. They had contacted the Clerk for some relevant information of landowners and witnesses. There would be some interviews taking place in Holmes Chapel in September. It was noted they would also contact the Health Authority in relation to the unregistered land.
Woodland by the Village Hall.
Cllr RH had met with ANSA and they had devised a plan in relation to cutting the tree canopies and scrub underneath. There were also some willow trees that needed attention but there had to be checks if there were any TPO’s present.
80/18 Football Pitches in Cranage
The Parish Council had instructed James Ashbrook’s to undertake the drainage works in August. The Cheshire Football Association had not come back with a positive outcome and Cheshire East again had taken no actions.
81/18 GDPR
The Clerk had attended the SLCC conference on 27th June where the new GDPR rules were included. She had subsequently arranged a meeting with a representative from all her four Parish Councils at Cranage Village Hall in 6th July (unfortunately Cllr GM had not been able to attend). There had been an action plan approved and the Clerk was working through the actions.
82/18 Adult Fitness Area
The Clerk updated members the lottery funding application was still under review.
83/18 Planning Applications
- 18/3562C Wood Corner,Goostrey Lane, Cranage CW4 8HD – Replacement dwelling
Resolved No Objection
- 18/3716C 18 Byley Lane, Cranage CW4 8EL – single storey side and rear extension and new first floor window.
Resolved No Objection
- 18/3194C Fontainbleau Farmhouse, New Platt Lane, Goostrey CW4 8HS – erection of new garage with studio
Resolved No Objection
- 18/3070C Harley House, 20 Northwich Road, Cranage Cw4 8HL – construction of new detached house
Resolved No Objection
- 18/3443C Land adjoining The Paddocks, Sandy Lane, Cranage CW4 8HR – Proposed dwelling following outline approval 16/4427C.
Resolved No Objection
Sibelco application at Rudheath Farm, Cranage – this application still had not been heard in Cheshire West. Cllr MC updated members there was an issue with possible subsidence around the perimeter of the site.
84/18 Grants and Donations
The Village Hall had approached the Parish Council for a donation towards the Beer Festival Event in August. They had submitted their last years accounts.
Resolved a donation of £200 would be submitted.
85/18 Accounts
It was noted the balance of account = Leek United £30,275.36 + Natwest £40,279.75 = £70,555.11.
Payments
- Cheque number 242- £200.00 Cranage Village Hall
- Cheque number 241- £4,026.77 Ms J Mason
- Cheque number 240 – £959.36 HMRC
- Cheque number 243 – £300.00 TCS Management
Receipts
- £57.58 Scottish Power
- £771.54 HW&SB PC
- £1,462.44 NBACM PC
Resolved the above payments are approved and signed for as a true and accurate record.
Credit Note
It was noted the Clerk had managed to secure a credit note from CHALC for £35.00
Leek United Bond
The Clerk had arranged for Mr A Townson to be removed from the Leek United account but still had to add Cllr JS.
The Parish Council discussed whether to reinvest the money in a bond with the Leek United as the interest rate was only 0.75% for 1 year.
Resolved the Clerk was instructed to investigate the possibility of investing with the NSI as it held a better rate of return.
86/18 Business Plan 2018/19
The Chairman had circulated the revised business plan for the forth coming year. Members agreed some amendments to the action plan and the Clerk was instructed to update.
Resolved the Business Plan would be accepted subject to amendments.
87/18 Cheshire East
No Report
88/18 Chairman and Members report
Police Forum 31.07.18
Cllr MC had attended the police forum in Holmes Chapel. He communicated the relevant points. The anti-social behaviour was discussed on Needham estate. He requested the cold calling posters be advertised as available on the website and the option to become speed gun trained by the local PCSO Lee Berry.
Chairman’s invite to the Mayors parlour in Macclesfield and Crewe
The Chairman unfortunately had a prior engagement.
Newsletter
It was agreed to action in September.
Public Forum
It was noted that 1,500 addresses had not been include in the noise level restriction of 40 decibels which was the statutory EU requirement when carrying out mitigation for the new Smart M6.
89/18 the next meeting would be on the 11th September 2018 @ 7.30pm in Cranage Village Hall.
Meeting closed at 9.35 pm