MINUTES of the Parish Council Meeting held in the School, Back Lane, Newburgh on Wednesday, 24th February 2010 commencing at 7.30pm.
PRESENT Cllr. Mrs J. Citarella, Chair.
Cllrs. Mrs C. Gillard, Mrs J.M. O’ Keefe, C.D. Moore, R.E. Porter, Mrs R.J. Richardson and A. Sunderland.
Mr B. Howard, Clerk of the Council.
11/10.
APOLOGIES were received from Cllr. Mrs M.A. Turner, family commitment, County Councillor D. Westley and Borough Councillor E. Pope, other commitments.
12/10.
DECLARATION OF INTERESTS.
Cllr. Porter declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 7a in that his wife is included in the Schedule of Accounts for Payment in respect of village cleaning.
13/10.
MINUTES of the Parish council Meeting held on 27th January 2010 were agreed and signed as a correct record.
14/10.
SERVICES, AMENTIIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
Annual Parish Meeting.
It was RESOLVED to hold this Meeting on 28th April 2010 commencing at 7pm, which is prior to the normal Parish Council Meeting already arranged for this date. The format of the Annual Parish Meeting will be the presentation of the Annual Report.
List of Properties For Sale.
The updated list is attached.
Civic Service.
It was RESOLVED to hold the Civic Service on Sunday, 18th April 2010 at the 10.30am Service in Christ Church.
Local Bus Services.
It was RESOLVED to support our local Service 203 to Skelmersdale and Ormskirk by distributing a promotional leaflet throughout the Parish. L.C.C. has agreed to produce this leaflet timed to coincide with service changes, which will take effect from 12th April 2010.
It was suggested that L.C.C. be reminded to update their electronic travel data in time to reflect the service changes.
Cobbs Brow Lane Play Area.
Newburgh Sports Club has indicated that they have no interest in taking over the play facilities. Minutes and other papers are currently being examined to identify any indication that the Parish Council has accepted responsibility for maintenance and other work, both on the Play Area and King George V Playing Field.
It was RESOLVED that, once the facts have been established from the documents, a legal opinion would be obtained from Cook & Talbot, Solicitors on the implications of withdrawing from the arrangements,
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Newburgh News.
It was agreed that the next edition would be prepared for distribution during week ending 27th March 2010 with input to the Clerk by 19th March 2010.
Best Kept Village Competition 2010.
It was RESOLVED to again enter this Competition.
Clerk’s Contract of Employment.
The Contract is currently being updated to conform to the NALC Model, as appropriate. The new Contract of Employment will be presented to the Council at the next Meeting for consideration.
15/10.
WORK PLAN UPDATE.
The updated Values and Visions Statements are attached.
It was reported that the demographic review has now been completed. This has been based mainly on the 2001 Census, plus mid year estimates, also crude data by Parish, 2001 to 2007. It was agreed that a copy of the review would be provided for a small group of Councillors to evaluate and to determine how to use or disseminate the data.
In respect of the new Play Area on Back Lane, the Clerk advised that a telephone call had been received from a local resident expressing concern about her five year old child who had slipped off the slide rungs to the floor. The resident has been advised that the matter would be investigated and it was RESOLVED to initially confirm that the provision of rungs is acceptable under British standards.
16/10.
ISSUES RAISED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
No members of the public were present.
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17/10.
FINANCE.
a) Accounts for Payment.
It was RESOLVED to pass for payment those Accounts included in the Schedule attached.
b) Budget/Expenditure Statement.
The Statement, attached to the Agenda, was NOTED.
c) Members Allowances Scheme.
It was RESOLVED to continue with the current Travelling and Subsistence arrangements.
18/10.
CORRESPONDENCE.
The Schedule of Correspondence, copy attached, was NOTED and the following were discussed: -
e) Invitation to the Chair to be placed in the ballot to attend Buckingham Palace Garden Party.
No submission will be made.
f) West Lancashire CVS.
After some discussion on the merits of becoming a member of CVS, it was RESOLVED to become a member but to
monitor their philosophy to ensure their objectives continue to match those of the Parish Council.
19/10.
PLANNING.
New Applications.
2010/0021. 2, Pine Close, new vehicular/pedestrian access. No objection raised but concern expressed about poor information regarding the construction and the materials to be used for the driveway.
E/08/0198. 39, Clovelly Drive, untidy site. It was noted that an Enforcement Order has been sent to the absent owner of this property.
Update.
Round O Quarry, continuation of re-cycling facilities.
L.C.C. has now advised that a further planning application has been received, this time for the continuation of quarrying at Round O. L.C.C. will now deal with both planning applications together at a date yet to be set. The details of the new application are awaited.
A communication has just been received from W.L.B.C. entitled “Consultation on changes to our residential development Policy” with a submission date for comment by 18th March 2010. In view of the time constraints, it was RESOLVED to discuss this matter although it is not on the Agenda.
The proposal includes a statement that residential development on brownfield sites and small-scale residential developments on greenfield sites (i.e. ten units or fewer) will be permitted within certain areas of which Newburgh is included. However, this is qualified in that the Green Belt Policy remains unchanged and therefore, the statement above will only apply to the Newburgh Settlement as outlined on the plan provided. This means that, for example, the Mushroom Farm, Strawberry Field and Liggins Field remain in the Green Belt and are not affected. The only piece of land that will be incorporated is the field located between each section of Doe Meadow.
After some debate, it was RESOLVED to respond on the following basis: -
“The Parish Council supports the principle of the Green Belt but needs to understand the relationship between future housing needs and the availability of land.”
20/10.
RPORTS.
5th February 2010, Charter Celebration Event.
Cllr. Porter attended and provided a brief verbal report of the presentation made by the Mayor and the Chief Executive of W.L.B.C. which was followed by an interesting tour of the West Lancashire Investment Centre. (Information Pack was placed in circulation).
9th February 2010, PACT Meeting.
Cllr. Sunderland attended and provided a brief verbal report, which included: -
21/10.
DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING.
24th March 2010 at 7.30pm.
The Meeting finished at 9.05pm.
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