MINUTES of the Parish Council Meeting held in the School, Back Lane, Newburgh on Wednesday, 25th June 2008 commencing at 7.30pm.
PRESENT Cllr. R.E. Porter, Chairman.
Cllrs. Mrs C. Gillard, C.D. Moore, Mrs R.J. Richardson, A. Sunderland and Mrs M.A. Turner.
Mr B. Howard, Clerk of the Council.
56/08.
APOLOGIES were received from Cllr. Mrs J. Citarella, holiday.
57/08.
DECLARATION OF INTERESTS.
Cllr. Porter declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 8a in that his wife is included in the Schedule of Accounts for Payment in respect of village cleaning.
58/08.
MINUTES of the Annual Council Meeting held on 21st May 2008 were agreed and signed as a correct record.
59/08.
SERVICES, AMENITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
Newburgh Footpaths.
The Meeting was held between the County Council representative and the land owner but there was no progress in terms of retaining access to the blocked route. However, there was an offer of community input into something not connected with the disputed footpath.
Advice has been obtained from both Lancashire County Council and the Ramblers Association about the possibility of making a claim on maintaining the route with at least seven people being required to provide evidence of use over a long period of time. There is considerable support in Newburgh including evidence of a footpath leaflet dated 1986, which included the disputed route.
It was RESOLVED to: -
The newly produced footpaths leaflet has now been completely withdrawn and advice will be sought on a new production either with or without the disputed route. When this is clear, County Council will be approached to ascertain if financial support is still available.
Vacancy for a Councillor.
The District Council has notified us that an election has not been called and co-option can now be arranged.
It was RESOLVED to place posters in various locations in the village seeking expressions of interest to be submitted to the Clerk by 18th July 2008. In order to attract a younger resident, a similar item will be placed in the School Newsletter. In addition, a Newburgh News Special will be prepared.
Japanese Knotweed.
An outline of the response received from the Area Surveyor was provided including: -
Course Lane, opposite Ivy Cottage.
The plants growing around the chevron and adjacent sign look to be dead/dying. Therefore, someone, possibly W.L.D.C. must have treated them with weedkiller. I have arranged for the dead stems to be cut down and removed.
Tabbys Nook at Lamp Column 2.
Six very weak stems have managed to grow through the paved highway surface. They will be removed very shortly.
Finally, the Area Surveyor has indicated that the responsibility for verge maintenance is still subject to ongoing discussions between officers of W.L.D.C. and L.C.C.
It was RESOLVED to write to Senior Management seeking support to resolve the responsibility issue.
Course Lane, Pedestrian Safety.
The negative nature of the response from L.C.C. was NOTED. The complainant resident of Course Lane will be advised accordingly.
Prohibition of traffic, A5209 from Higher Lane to Lancaster Lane, 21st July to 31st August 2008.
A number of concerns were raised: -
It was RESOLVED to obtain more information from Lancashire County Council and ask them about the possibility of introducing single light controlled arrangements instead of total closure.
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60/08.
PARISH PLAN UPDATE.
New Play Area.
It is understood that a 25 page Lease and 10 page Licence has now been drafted by a Solicitor and sent to the Church Wardens for comment. When cleared by them, a copy will be sent to the Parish Council for consideration. The Lease is a complex document, therefore, it was RESOLVED to form a small Group to examine it when received. It will be necessary to send a copy of the Lease to the Grant Bodies for their observations.
The timescale is difficult to assess but it would seem that construction of the Play Area will not commence until after the school summer holidays. When timescales are clearer, it will be essential that the project is managed efficiently and Cllr. Porter indicated his willingness to be involved.
SPID.
Due to heavy vehicular movement, the battery soon becomes flat but the Parish Council budgeted for handling the equipment once a week only. This will need to be reviewed when setting the 2009/10 Precept. The computerised data has not yet been evaluated but Cllr. Porter agreed to carry out an interim examination of the disc to see what is required to produce some meaningful data. It may then be possible for a detailed evaluation exercise to be carried out as a project for someone in the village or an organisation such as a college.
Website.
Some updates are still outstanding. Newburgh Fair pictures are being prepared for inclusion on the site.
61/08.
ISSUES RAISED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
Cllr. Mrs Gillard raised two items on behalf of a resident of Clovelly Drive: -
Cllr. Gillard agreed to respond to the resident as agreed.
62/08.
CORRESPONDENCE.
The Schedule of Correspondence, copy attached, was NOTED.
The following were discussed: -
c) LALC Conference, 3rd – 5th October 2008 and AGM 1st November 2008.
The details of the LALC Conference were noted.
Cllr. Porter agreed to attend the AGM on 1st November 2008 but the submission of resolutions will be deferred and
considered at the 23rd July 2008 Parish Council Meeting.
e) Hoscar WWTW visit on 26th June 2008.
Noted.
g) Independent member of Lancashire Police Authority.
The invitation to apply was noted.
63/08.
FINANCE.
a) Accounts for Payment.
It was RESOLVED to pass for payment those accounts included in the Schedule attached.
64/08.
PLANNING.
A copy of the Supplementary Planning Design Guide, January 2008 was handed to each member of the Planning Working Group with one copy place in circulation.
65/08.
REPORTS.
Lancashire Local, 4th June 2008.
Cllr. Porter attended on behalf of the Parish Council and provided a verbal report.
66/08.
DATES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS.
The following dates were agreed: -
23rd July 2008, 24th September 2008, 22nd October 2008, 26th November 2008 and 10th December 2008.
No members of the public were present.
Meeting finished at 9pm.
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Schedule of Correspondence.
The following were placed in circulation: -
Primary Care Trust, Community Engagement, Newsletter May 2008.
Community Play Areas leaflet.
The Playing Field, Spring 2008.
CPRE Fieldwork, June 2008.
Lancashire Link, May & June 2008.
Heritage News, June 2008.
Schedule of Accounts for Payment.
Mrs S. Porter, village cleaning. £100.00
Mr B. Howard, June Salary and Expenses. £430.91
Mr R.E. Porter, re-imbursement, refreshments for Civic Service £ 19.71
Mr B. Howard, re-imbursement, photocopies. £ 21.80
Lancashire County Council, School Hire for Council Meetings. £ 24.00
Mr B. Howard, re-imbursement, refreshments for Civic Service. £ 4.45
BT Payment Services Ltd. phone/IT £ 83.16 *
* The telephone connection is registered under the name of the Clerk but as the cheque account is held under the name of the Parish Council BT have advised that the Direct Debit arrangements cannot be implemented.
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