Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday 28th July 2020 – due to COVID – 19 and the Government social distancing regulations the meeting was virtual @ 7.30 pm.
Part 1
Present
Councillor D Bennett (arrived late)
Councillor R Hocknell (RJH)
Councillor R Hurst (RH)
Councillor S Lavin (SL)
Councillor G Morgan – Chairman
Councillor A Nicol (AN)
Councillor L Gilbert (LG) (Cheshire East Ward Cllr)
Ms J Mason – Clerk
Declaration of Interest
Cllr G Morgan – Sibelco and Cllr R Hurst – Village hall
Public Forum
There were two members of the public in attendance. One member was muted and had no video in place and just listened to the whole meeting with no comment.
One member had attended to listen and have an update on the works taking place by Sibleco at Rudheath Lodge.
Apologies
Cllr A Kolker due to other meetings.
69/20 Minutes
Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 23rd June 2020 be approved and signed as a true and accurate record.
70/20 Cllr S Lavin
It was noted the Acceptance of Office had been signed in the presence of the Clerk.
The ROI had also been completed.
71/20 Play Area and Adult Fitness on Needham Estate.
Both areas had been closed due to Covid 19 as Government guidelines instructed. The Clerk had reopened the adult fitness area and the play area on Friday 24th July. There had been signs placed on both sites to advice of socially distancing and to use hand sanitiser before and after use. There had been photographs taken of the information on site and a risk assessment carried out.
There were weeds growing though the flooring and the Clerk had instructed ‘Jacques Landscapes’ to carry out the works.
It was agreed it could not have been cost effective to place a hand sanitiser station on site and it would have been open to abuse.
72/20 Play area for the younger generation on Needham estate
This still had not been completed as the contractors were struggling to resource the pathway materials.
73/20 Monies held over in 2019/20
Cllr S Lavin discussed participatory budgeting after the Clerk had circulated the information. The process was time consuming and members were unsure if it would work as the PC had gone out previously to ask the parish how they would like to spend monies. Cllr SL proposed that the money was allocated to improve connectivity from Cranage and Holmes Chapel. After the lock down period there was an incentive to walk and cycle.
Resolved a meeting would be arranged between Cllr SL and Cllr S Ackers Smith from Congleton Town Council.
Resolved Cllr SL would complete some background information.
74/20 Football Pitches
There had been two quotes submitted as follows:
- Quote A = £8,750.00 plus Vat
- Quote B = £7,730.25 plus Vat
- Quote C = could not quote as they could not carry out the works until after September
- Quote D = could not quote as too busy.
Resolved Quote B would be instructed to carry out the drainage work on the football pitches in Cranage.
75/20 Planning Applications
- 20/2523C Land North of Boundary Cottage, Twemlow Lane, Cranage CW4 8DS – Demolition of existing buildings and construction of 1 self-catered holiday unit
Resolved No Objection
- 20/2363C Coppice Lodge, Knutsford Road, Cranage CW4 8EF – outline application to create a new self-build sustainable detached house on land adjacent to Coppice Lodge.
Resolved No Objection
- 20/2618C Heyhead Farm, Twemlow Lane, Cranage CW4 8EX – Proposed two storey rear extension to rear of detached house with new side porch and new brickwork to throughout.
Resolved No Objection
- 20/3120C Cranage Trade Park, Goostrey Lane, Cranage – commercial building for the expansion of Cranage Trade Park.
Resolved No Objection with conditions
- 20/3029C Shanty Farm, Moss Lane, Cranage, CW10 9NG – New access and track off Moss Lane to serve agricultural vehicles at Shanty Farm.
Resolved No Objection
- 20/00449E Glebe Farm, Knutsford Road, Cranage CW4 8EF – fencing business on site causing highway issues.
The Clerk had carried out a visit with CE highways on 15th July due to the complaints in reference to the sandbags and highway fencing plus parking on the grass verge. (notes circulated). There were many disparities in the reports given to the Clerk.
Resolved Cllr LG would investigate the history with CE Highways.
Cllr LG reported if the verge parking was an issue there was signage available to utilise.
Sibelco -update from Cllr GM meeting on 21st July 2020. The minutes had been circulated.
Cllr D Bennett arrived at 8.50pm
76/50 Cheshire East
Cllr LG reported if there was a speed limit in place the local police could not enforce it unless they were in possession of the Traffic Regulation Order from CE highways. These documents were put in place by Congleton Borough Council, before Cheshire East was in place from 2009 and it is seemingly hard to retrieve them. The local PCSO’s were in the process of asking the Parish Councils for the TRO.
It was agreed the Clerk would ask the PCSO if there were any missing in Cranage.
Cllr LG had requested if there was funding was in place with CE Highways for the resurface / repair of the road over the M6 Northwich bridge.
He gave an update on the connectivity work that HCPC and the HC Partnership had carried out.
77/20 Highways
Gully on Twemlow Lane reference 3379901 – still not actioned.
78/20 Footpaths and Tree Report
8 Armistead Way – the hedge was in the process of being cut back.
The overhanging trees on Needham estate reference : 3399299 reported
Management of scrub area by the Village Hall Cllr LG had followed this issue up with ANSA (email dated 26th June) and they had agreed to recommence in October.
Footpath Claim – Carver Ave/Byley Lane/Crescent Avenue Ref FPS/R0660/14A/2
As the 10-week deadline had elapsed the Clerk had enquired with the Inspector on the progress to date. Due to lock down and staff being furloughed the inspector had not been allowed to access the files so until the staff were allowed back in the office the case could not progressed.
Fly tipping of two shrubs on exit route to Cranage Hall Hotel– the Clerk would report.
79/20 Accounts
It was noted the balance of account = Leek United £30,721.75 + Natwest £30,741.57 = £61,463.32
Payments
- Online payment – £240.00 HSF Recycling Ltd July
- Online payment – £36.00 Crewe Colour Printers Ltd
- Online payment – £20.00 Cheshire Community Action
- Online payment – £820.13 HMRC
- Online payment – £4,077.97 Ms J Mason (salary from April to June)
Receipts
- £57.58 Manweb PLC
- £1,570.60 NBACM (Salary)
- £90.00 NBACM (TCS)
- £1,570.60 SPC (Salary)
- £90.00 SPC (TCS)
Resolved the above payments are approved and signed for as a true and accurate record.
Audit 2019/20
The Clerk reported on the enquires from PKF Little John – external auditors.
80/20 Chairman and Members Report
Cllr RH reported that the VH was due to open on 1st September. They had read the Government guidelines and the report from ACRE (action in community buildings in rural England) on the reopening rules. It involved more cleaning and although some of this responsibility could be passed to the hirers it was still a large task to the committee.
81/20 Clerks Report
Website
The Clerk reported that there were new guidelines from Government about the accessibility of the website which had to be implemented by September 2020. The Clerk had circulated the new rules to the website administrator, and she was in process of completing them This would incur a cost.
Newsletter
It was agreed this would be produced after the next meeting.
Clerks holidays
The Clerk was on holiday for the last two weeks in August.
82/20 The next meeting would be on the 22nd September 2020
Meeting closed at 9.15 pm
It was noted this would be held at Cranage Hall Hotel as the hotel would be reopened after lockdown
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