MINUTES of the Parish Council Meeting held in the School, Back Lane, Newburgh on Wednesday, 6th December 2006 commencing at 7pm.
PRESENT Cllr. R.E. Porter, Chairman.
Cllrs. Mrs J. Citarella, Mrs C. Gillard, C.D. Moore, Mrs E.F. Pratt, Mrs R.J. Richardson and A. Sunderland.
Mr B. Howard, Clerk of the Council.
OPEN FORUM.
The Chairman declared the Meeting open; in Open Forum he welcomed members of the public and asked Cllr. Moore to outline the pedestrian safety issues.
Cllr. Moore addressed the Meeting with initial comments: -
First, the Parish Council decided to issue the report to residents on pedestrian safety although some actions are not finalised. We thought it timely to make this report but it is only an interim one.
Secondly, a great deal of effort has gone into dealing with the various agencies who are involved in pedestrian safety – notably the Police and Lancashire County Council. A good relationship has been established with the Police and whilst we have received some useful information from Lancashire County Council, we still await answers to some of the questions we have raised.
Thirdly, the purpose of tonight is to allow residents to make comments and suggestions, which may help us to make more progress.
He then dealt in some detail with three categories in the report: -
Cllr. Moore contended that it would be more rewarding if the proposals where we might be able to help ourselves, became the focus of the discussion tonight i.e.
· Community Speedwatch could be one way of helping deal with speed. This was not a popular idea when last muted in the village but perhaps worth another look when we have survey results.
· We continue to look at the possibility of a safer off-road route to Parbold.
· The School is reviewing the preparation of a School Travel Plan.
· Finally, the question of monitoring devices. Data has been provided on traffic speed from the mobile speed camera on Course Lane. We then have had discussions with the Police that led to the occasional use of the Speed Device on Cobbs Brow Lane. The general concern about speed led the Parish Council to review the possibility of buying our own Speed Device and moving it around the village. The Police have supported this and places to mount the device have been agreed. We thought some voluntary support from the village would be a way of controlling the use of the device, As of now, discussions are continuing between the Police and the County Council as to whether we will be allowed to do this as there is a public liability issue. We would like to find volunteers to help with this proposal if eventually, we are allowed to do it. The Parish Council will decide tonight whether to budget for a device. The device is here for you to look at.
Members of the public in open forum made the following comments: -
· General complaint about traffic flow on the A5209 and no consultation when the road was re-classified from B5209 to A5209.
· Is the introduction of a weight restriction possible on the A5209?
· Bridges were reinforced to accommodate large vehicles, was the Tawd Vale Bridge similarly treated?
· Is the Speed Device effective and is there adequate public liability cover?
· Is the Speed Device the best chance of success in reducing speed?
· Does the Speed Device record the speed of traffic?
· The pavement opposite The Green is very narrow and dangerous for pedestrians.
· The volume of HGVs on Cobbs Brow Lane continues to grow, particularly to and from Round O Quarry.
· Would it be valuable to press Lancashire County Council and British Waterways to progress the proposed improvements to the pedestrian route between Newburgh and Parbold?
Answers were given to the above issues, where available.
Mr Richardson, member of the Parish Plan Steering Group and the Pedestrian Safety Group recognised the importance of the issues raised by other members of the public but fully supported the Parish Council approach to tackle, as a priority, those issues which might be progressed by the community.
The Chairman thanked members of the public for their input to this discussion, closed the Open Forum and declared the Council Meeting open, in due form.
124/06.
APOLOGIES were received from Cllr. Mrs M.A. Turner, family commitment.
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125/06.
DECLARATION OF INTERESTS.
Cllr. Porter declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 8a in that the Schedule of Accounts for Payment includes an item in respect of his wife for village cleaning.
Cllr. Sunderland declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 7e, British Waterways Funding, due to his residential and leisure relationship with the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.
126/06.
MINUTES of the Parish Council Meeting held on 22nd November 2006 were agreed and signed as a correct record, subject to the following additional sentence to be added to the first paragraph of Minute 115/06, PC Steve Hackney Report: -
“The Council made some suggestions as to how to make travelling by train between Parbold and Burscough less attractive for young people. Steve agreed to consider these.”
127/06.
SERVICES, AMENITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
Carols on The Green, 14th December 2006 at 7.15pm.
Councillors were reminded to support the above event. The Carol Service will be conducted by Rev. David Towler and the Coppull and Standish Brass Band will play The Red Lion Hotel has agreed to provide complimentary tea, coffee and mince pies after the Service.
128/06.
PARISH PLAN.
Pedestrian Safety.
The update report has been distributed throughout Newburgh and the consultation with residents was held at the beginning of this Meeting.
There has been no response from Lancashire County Council to the questions recently raised with them. It was RESOLVED to press for a reply.
There has been no objection raised to the proposal to increase the precept to purchase a Speed Device for exclusive use in Newburgh. It had been calculated that the financial implication on residents would be on average, approximately 50p per household per month. Although there are some physical handling problems to overcome, it was RESOLVED to precept in 2007/08 for the purchase of a basic Speed Device plus back plates. However, the actual purchase will not take place until the handling issues have been resolved.
The Speed Device will be located on the main roads in the centre of the village and the point was made that residents located in the outskirts have lodged no objection to raising the precept, which will largely benefit others.
It was RESOLVED to submit the application to County Councillor Shepherd for £1000 financial assistance towards the purchase of the Speed Device.
New Play Area.
Consultation with the public has taken place this afternoon, key people have attended and any comments made have been noted. Discussions will now take place with CVS on the tactics to be used in order to obtain the necessary funding. However, the bid for the District Council Capital Funding is now due for submission. There is a scoring method of allocating the limited funds available. One of these areas is previous funding provided. Newburgh received £5000 from this source in the current fiscal year for Village Green improvements; therefore, in order to receive a higher scoring in this category, a modest bid seems to be the best strategy. It was, therefore, RESOLVED to submit a bid for £5000 from the Scheme.
Help has been obtained in preparing the planning application, which has been based on the proposals received from locally based Yates Playgrounds. As their estimate is considerably less than the second estimate received from a larger more national company, it was agreed that best value would be obtained by supporting the Yates Playgrounds bid.
Once the above issues become clearer, a judgement will be made on the timing to progress the preparation of a lease with the Church Authorities.
Another issue arose, the CVS are planning to run five workshops on topics which have emerged from Parish Plan. From the list of topics identified, the five priorities in Newburgh were agreed.
129/06.
ISSUES RAISED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
There were no members of the public present at this point.
130/06.
CORRESPONDENCE.
The Schedule of Correspondence attached was NOTED. The following were discussed: -
a) County Training Event, 20th February 2007, subject Planning.
Cllr. Mrs Citarella agreed to attend.
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130/06. continued.
CORRESPONDENCE ( CONTINUED).
b) West Lancashire Design Guide.
A number of ideas for inclusion were discussed and these will be forwarded to W.L.D.C. for consideration.
e) Response from Barry Gardiner MP on British Waterways Funding.
A copy of the response was attached to the Agenda and it was agreed that the style of this letter was not
satisfactory. The communication was clearly a standard reply, which did not address our specific points and
appeared to be contrary to the stated Government strategy of effectively engaging with local communities.
In addition, Rosie Cooper MP had simply sent the Barry Gardiner response without expressing her own views
about the implications of the reduced funding and not saying whether she would take any action in support of our
concerns. It was RESOLVED to respond to our MP on this basis.
f) Standards Committee.
Councillors were asked to put 20th March 2007 in their diaries so they could undertake Code of Conduct training as
some important changes are due to be implemented. It was noted that members of the West Lancashire Standards
Committee are planning to attend each Parish Council Meeting in the District in order to understand more fully the
way Councils work and handle declaration of interest issues.
g) Lancashire Minerals and Waste.
A new consultation document has been received. This is being examined with a view to forwarding observations, as
necessary, to meet the mid January 2007 timescale.
It was RESOLVED that as we continue to experience the adverse effect of HGVs through Newburgh, time was
opportune to ask Lancashire County Council how robust is the Round O Quarry final completion restoration date of
2010.
h) Best Kept Village Awards.
The residents have had the opportunity, prior to this Meeting, to view the trophies in connection with the successes
of 2006. It was RESOLVED to: -
· Place the Plaque on the front of the Post Office building alongside the other three plaques. The owner has agreed to this but points out that the brickwork is quite fragile and we will, therefore, have to employ a tradesman to do this work.
· Place the original painting in the Red Lion Hotel on public display. This to remain a Parish Council asset, which will be clearly identified.
· Discuss with the Headteacher the placement of the Winner of the Champions Class Trophy and the Winner of the Best Kept War Memorial Trophy and the accompanying Certificates, in the School display area.
131/06.
FINANCE.
a) Schedule of Accounts for Payment.
It was RESOLVED to pass for payment those accounts included in the Schedule attached.
b) Finance Committee.
It was RESOLVED to re-convene the Finance Committee on Wednesday, 10th January 2007 in the Victorian
Classroom, Newburgh School commencing at 8pm. Committee members are Cllrs. R.E. Porter, Mrs E.F. Pratt and
C.D. Moore.
132/06.
PLANNING.
New Application.
2006/1239 Mughouse Stables, Lowes Lane, temporary siting of mobile home and stable block.
Whilst the Parish Council raised no objection to this application due to the lack of certain information, a number of questions were submitted. However, it is understood that a neighbour of the proposed development has raised considerable concern with the District Council. Enquiries have revealed that the application could well be delegated to the Planning Officers but District Councillor Eddie Pope has become involved and he has arranged that, if the Officers are of a mind to refuse the application, then no further action will be necessary. However, if they recommend the granting of the application, then this must be submitted to the full Planning Committee for a decision.
Updates.
2006/1122 & 1123 Listed Building, Ivy Dene, Course Lane, replacement rear porch.
2006/1146 Newburgh Sports Club, variation of condition, to extend the opening hours to 12.30am on any day.
Planning permission granted for both applications by W.L.D.C.
133/06.
DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING.
24th January 2007 at 7.30pm.
Ten residents were present for part of the Meeting.
Meeting finished at 9pm.
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Schedule of Correspondence.
a) County Training Partnership, Training Event on Planning, 20th February 2007, 7pm to 9pm.
b) West Lancashire Design Guide, ideas for key subjects.
c) Invitation to County Civic Service, Blackburn Cathedral, 14th January 2007.
d) Lancashire Minerals and Waste Development Framework, research for potential sites.
e) Response from Barry Gardiner, MP on British Waterways funding.
f) Standards Committee visit to Parish Councils and Code of Conduct Training, 29th March 2007.
g) Consultation on Joint Lancashire Minerals and Waste Development Framework.
The Clerk, November 2006.
Streets Ahead, Autumn 2006 and Community Action Guide.
Lancashire Burning Issues No 10.
NALC Policy and Parliamentary Briefings.
Ambition, Winter 2006.
CVS Newsletter, The Beacon and Annual Report 2006.
CPRE, Fieldwork, December 2006.
Mr C.D. Moore, re-imbursement, Newburgh News Special, Report & Posters. £111.84
Mrs S. Porter, village cleaning. £ 46.50
Mr B. Howard, December Salary & Expenses. £350.85
Coppull & Standish Brass Band, Carols on The Green Fee. £100.00
S.L.C.C. Contribution to membership of The Clerk. £ 30.00
Mr B. Howard, re-imbursement, photocopies. £ 13.88