MINUTES of the Annual Council Meeting held in the School, Back Lane, Newburgh on Wednesday, 25th May 2011 commencing at 7.30pm following the Annual Parish Meeting.
PRESENT Cllr. R.E. Porter, Chairman.
Cllrs. Mrs J. Citarella from Minute 69/11, Mrs C. Gillard, C.D. Moore, Mrs J.M. O’ Keefe, Mrs R.J. Richardson, A. Sunderland and Mrs M. A. Turner.
Mr B. Howard, Clerk of the Council.
63/11.
ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN 2011/12.
Cllr. Porter was unanimously elected Chairman for 2011/12 and duly signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.
64/11.
APOLOGIES were received from Borough Councillor E. Pope.
65/11.
ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN 2011/12.
Cllr. Mrs Citarella was, in her absence, unanimously elected Vice-Chairman for 2011/12 having previously indicated her willingness to take up the position if supported.
66/11.
DECLARATION OF INTERESTS.
Cllr. Porter declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 10a in that his wife is included in the Schedule of Accounts for Payment in respect of village cleaning.
Cllr. Mrs O’ Keefe declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 11, Planning, in that she is a near neighbour of the former Mushroom Farm, Course Lane.
67/11.
MINUTES of the Parish Council Meeting held on 27th April 2011 were agreed and signed as a correct record.
68/11.
APPOINTMENTS.
It was RESOLVED to make the following appointments: -
Planning Working Group.
Cllrs. Mrs Gillard, C.D. Moore, Mrs Richardson and in reserve, Mrs Turner.
Finance Committee.
Cllrs. Mrs O’ Keefe, C.D. Moore and R.E. Porter.
West Lancashire Area Committee.
Cllrs. Mrs O’ Keefe and R.E. Porter.
Community Engagement Group.
Cllrs. Mrs Citarella, Mrs Gillard and Mrs Richardson.
PACT Meetings.
Cllrs. A. Sunderland and Mrs O’ Keefe.
Play Area Management Committee.
Cllr. C.D. Moore.
69/11.
SERVICES, AMENITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
List of Properties For Sale/To Let.
The updated statement is attached.
Cllr. Mrs Citarella arrived at this point.
Maintenance of the Village, update.
It was RESOLVED to arrange for a meeting with Street Scene Management on 8th June 2011 commencing at 10.30am in the upstairs meeting room of the Red Lion Hotel. All Councillors are welcome to attend and an invitation will be sent to the Village Assistant.
Cllr. Mrs Citarella has arranged a meeting with Newburgh Sports Club on 9th June 2011 to discuss the removal of the play equipment located on King George V Playing Field. In discussion with Ian Yates, Yates Playgrounds Ltd, it would appear that the most favoured vehicular route to the Play Area is on the flagged path and the edge of the grass area. Ian Yates has estimated £1000 for the removal of the play equipment, rubber tiles and concrete bases. £450 has been included in the 2011/12 Financial Budget and it has already been agreed to allocate some of the funds obtained from the Open Gardens event to this project.
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69/11 (continued).
SERVICES, AMENITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES (continued).
Maintenance of the Village, update (continued).
The Parish Champion, County Councillor Mike Otter, attended the recent Civic Service and in discussion afterwards, indicated that he has financial resources available, part of which could be allocated to the improvement of the amenity of the village by the removal of the redundant play area. It was RESOLVED to write to the Parish Champion requesting a financial contribution to the cost.
The bus shelter, at the junction of Course Lane and Sandy Lane, has been repaired thanks to a resident of New Acres, Sandy Beswick. It was RESOLVED to send a letter of appreciation to him. A joint effort by the Chairman and the Village Assistant has completed improvement by painting the shelter. In addition, the bus shelter on Cobbs Brow Lane and the shelter on Course Lane, opposite the War Memorial, have been washed down.
The Good Childhood Conversation.
A further progress meeting has been held regarding this event, which is confirmed to be held on 13th July 2011. It was RESOLVED to contribute to the cost of the publicity material and for Councillors to deliver the invitations throughout the village during week commencing 13th June 2011. It was also RESOLVED to contribute to the cheese and wine refreshments for those residents attending the 13th July 2011 Meeting, this to be obtained from some of the receipts of the Open Gardens event.
70/11.
WORK PLAN UPDATE.
Values and Visions Statement.
It was RESOLVED that the revised Statement sent to Councillors prior to the Meeting, be agreed. The Work List 2011/12 and the Shopping List 2011/12 will feature as a standing agenda item.
71/11.
CORRESPONDENCE.
The Schedule of Correspondence was noted and the following were discussed: -
a) British Legion 90th Celebration, 18th June 2011.
The invitation was noted.
d) Freedom of Information and Data Protection Workshop, 4th August 2011.
It was RESOLVED that Cllr. Mrs Citarella would attend.
72/11.
FINANCE.
a) Accounts for Payment.
Cllr. Porter left the Chamber at this point and handed Chairmanship to Cllr. Mrs Citarella.
It was RESOLVED to pass for payment those accounts included in the Schedule, copy attached.
Cllr. Porter returned to the Chamber and resumed Chairmanship.
b) Reserves and Balances Statement year ending 31st March 2011.
The Statement, copy attached to the Agenda, was noted.
c) Annual Return year ending 31st March 2011.
It was RESOLVED to approve the Statement of Accounts, Section 1.
It was RESOLVED to approve the Annual Governance Statement, Section 2.
d) Budget/Expenditure Statement year ending 31st March 2011.
The Statement, copy attached to the Agenda, was noted.
e) Assets Register.
It was RESOLVED to accept the Assets Register prepared in the new format, copy attached to the Agenda.
f) Internal Audit.
The Report from the Internal Auditor, copy attached to the Agenda, was noted.
73/11.
PLANNING.
Updates.
The former Mushroom Farm, Course Lane, Appeal.
The submission to the Planning Inspectorate in support of the Appeal made by K. Hughes & Co. Ltd against the refusal of the Borough Council to their application for demolition of the farm and erection of four detached dwellings and garages was circulated prior to the Meeting and it was RESOLVED to agree to this response.
Round O Quarry extension of operation until 2020.
Round O Quarry Management have agreed to the Parish Council having sight of the Section 106 Agreement but only after this has been finalised. At present, the documentation is being delayed due to the pressure of work in the LCC Legal Department. Whilst the conditions restricting vehicle numbers passing through the village are not yet operational, an Inglenorth vehicle was seen passing through Newburgh in a recent Saturday. The incident was reported to the LCC Planning Officer who advised that information of this kind is useful and should continue to be reported.
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74/11.
REPORTS.
28th April 2011 Area Committee Meeting.
Cllr. Mrs O’ Keefe attended and she found the meeting to be well run and worth attending. She provided a verbal report, which included a controversial discussion on Parish Council representation on the Three Tier Forum. Also concerns were raised over the financial difficulties in the operation of Dial-a-Ride services.
12th May 2011 Core Strategy Preferred Options Meeting.
Cllrs. Mrs Richardson and C.D. Moore attended and reported that this was a helpful and well organised Meeting. We were asked to encourage participation by our own residents and a message to this effect was included in the May edition of Newburgh News.
One copy of the Strategy document is held by the Parish Council and a copy can be inspected at, among other places, the local Post Office. A short version has been distributed to each household in West Lancashire either by post or an insert in the Champion newspaper.
A Newburgh Parish Council response has been prepared and will be circulated to all Councillors for consideration and for agreement at the 22nd June 2011 Council Meeting.
75/11.
DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING.
22nd June 2011 at 7.30pm.
One member of the public was present.
Meeting finished at 9.15pm.
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Schedule of Correspondence.
a) Invitation to Royal British Legion 90th Birthday Celebrations, 18th June 2011.
b) Communication from Geoff Roberts on his retirement as Councillor for WLBC.
c) NALC Bulletin, Standing Orders and Big Society Awards.
d) Freedom of Information and Data Protection Workshop, 4th August 2011.
e) E-mails regarding bollards on the canal bank.
The following were placed in circulation.
CPRE Field Work, Spring 2011.
Clerks & Councils Direct, May 2011.
Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service, Risk Management Plan, Consultation Outcomes.
WLBC. Change of Councillors Statement.
Countryside Voice, Spring 2011.
Schedule of Accounts for Payment.
Flexipress, printing & folding Annual Report. £ 40.00 retrospective
Mrs S. Porter, village cleaning. £ 60.00
Mr B. Howard, May salary & expenses. £458.56
North West Air Ambulance, Donation. £ 20.00 s137
Mr B. Howard, re-imbursement, Civic Service refreshments £ 41.10
Mr J Horrobin, grass cutting, Play Area. £ 30.00
Mr F.J. Beswick, re-imbursement, bus shelter repairs. £ 61.33
The Grove Activity Scheme, grant for summer activity. £ 53.00 s137
56 Newburgh Scouts, cleaning fence and play equipment. £ 20.00
Michelle Rigby, internal Audit Fee. £ 30.00
AoN Limited, Annual Insurance Premium. £663.26
Mr B. Howard, re-imbursement, stationery. £ 12.01
Flexipress, printing Newsletters. £ 31.50 retrospective
Lancashire County Council, School Hire. £ 20.62
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