MINUTES of the Parish Council Meeting held in the School, Back Lane, Newburgh on Wednesday, 23rd January 2008 commencing at 7.30pm.
PRESENT Cllr. Mrs J. Citarella, Chair.
Cllrs. C.D. Moore, R.E. Porter, Mrs E.F. Pratt, Mrs R.J. Richardson and A. Sunderland.
Mr B. Howard, Clerk of the Council.
District Councillor Ian Grant, Member of the Standards Committee, was welcomed to the Meeting in his role as an observer.
01/08.
APOLOGIES were received from Cllr. Mrs C. Gillard, business commitment and Mrs M.A. Turner, family commitment.
02/08.
DECLARATION OF INTERESTS.
Cllr. A. Sunderland declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4 Lancashire County Council Charter, in that he is employed by the County Council.
Cllr. R.E. 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.
03/08.
MINUTES of the Parish Council Meeting held on 12th December 2007 were agreed and signed as a correct record.
04/08.
SERVICES, AMENITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
Welcome Pack.
The distribution update is attached.
Protection of village amenities.
Whilst the Post Office Local Area Plan is now out for consultation, it appears that Newburgh Post Office will not close. This is welcome news and it was agreed to arrange to place an item in the next edition of Newburgh News.
Christmas tree/lights arrangements.
The Chair and the Clerk met John Gardner and Phil Hodson from WLDC on 23rd January 2008 and ventilated the Parish Council’s concerns in respect of the 2006 arrangements. In particular, the unacceptable invoice received, which was double the original estimate, no advice given about the additional costs incurred and general communication problems.
The points were accepted but it was agreed that, despite a number of problems, arrangements for Christmas 2007 were better organised. The difficulties experienced with the lights arose from power surges throughout the District, which apparently, melted the timing devices. The District Council has some spare manual timers available and these will be used to replace the damaged equipment at no cost to the Parish Council.
The leaning tree was caused by the sleeve in which it was set, being too large for the size of the tree. A second sleeve will be provided to ensure this does not occur again, at no cost to the Parish Council.
The District Council is in the process of reviewing the 2007 arrangements with Parish Councils individually with a view to effective planning for 2008. They are moving towards the purchase of LED lights with a timescale decision by the end of February. Any new provision will be at Parish Council expense.
The services and costs that the District Council can provide for Christmas 2008 will be available for consideration by May or June 2008. In the meantime, it was agreed that Cllrs. Mrs Pratt and Mrs Richardson would examine alternative arrangements.
Carols on The Green.
It was agreed to hold this event on 11th December 2008 commencing at 7pm and again engage the Coppull and Standish Brass Band.
Lancashire County Council Charter.
Cllr. Mrs Richardson agreed to participate in either the Locality Working or the Consultation Focus Group.
Area Committee Meeting, 24th January 2008.
Cllrs. Mrs Gillard and Mrs Richardson agreed to attend.
Risk Assessment Training.
This will be held in the School commencing at 7.30pm on 12th February 2008. All Councillors, except Mrs Richardson, are able to attend.
Dog faeces problems.
An incident has recently arisen on the footpath to the School alongside Back Lane. It was agreed to include an item in the next Newsletter highlighting the availability of faeces bags and the sanctions that will be taken to offending dog owners.
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05/08.
PARISH PLAN UPDATE.
SPID.
The Lancashire Local Meeting is being held this evening, therefore, the Parish Council could not be represented. However, the paper on this subject indicates that Parish Councils must take responsibility for their own SPID arrangements including a Service Level Agreement, training for the operative and satisfactory insurance cover. It was, therefore, RESOLVED to contact Ian Yates, Yates Playgrounds to undertake the handling task in Newburgh based on the draft agreement prepared by Burscough Parish Council. The cost of £32 per week is as included in the 2008/09 budget.
It was RESOLVED that the draft contract be examined and progressed by a Working Group consisting of Cllrs. Mrs Pratt, C.D. Moore and the Clerk.
Play Area.
Ownership of the land has now been established. The School Governors have now given their approval and the Church Authorities are meeting later in the month to discuss the preparation of the lease.
The costs for the development of the project remain within the available financial resources but inflation can affect the position if more delay occurs. The main funder, The Lancashire Environmental Fund, has been contacted who accept the present position.
Website.
Councillors were asked to maintain contact with nominated organisations to keep the “What’s On” pages up to date.
06/08.
ISSUES RAISED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
No members of the public were present.
07/08.
CORRESPONDENCE.
The Schedule of Correspondence, copy attached, was NOTED. The following was discussed: -
e) Development & Transportation discussion, 8th February 2008.
As the Clerks Meeting is being held on the morning of 8th February 2008, it was agreed that the Clerk should also attend this discussion, which will take place later that day.
It was RESOLVED to discuss the following items although they were not placed on the Agenda: -
Newburgh Fair, 7th June 2008.
The 2007 Fair had been very successful with donations being made to the Cricket club, School and Guides. The Banner and Flag Competition were also well supported with the chosen banner to be used at future Fairs and the flags to be made into buntings.
The events for 2008 have yet to be confirmed but a large private donation to the Fair Committee has enabled a bigger marquee to be obtained with wooden floors. The Committee now has on board representatives from School.
The Committee has requested that the Parish Council Chair places an entry in the Fair Programme. It was agreed to include an item in the next Newsletter with a flyer, prepared by the Fair Committee to be included for delivery with the May Newsletter.
Next edition of Newburgh News.
It was agreed to produce the next edition for delivery in mid February 2008 and Councillors were asked to provide input from their contacts to the Clerk by 11th February 2008.
08/08.
FINANCE.
a) Accounts for Payment.
It was RESOLVED to pass for payment those Accounts included in the Schedule attached.
b) Finance Committee Meeting, 7th January 2008.
The Minutes of the Meeting, copy attached to the Agenda, was NOTED.
It was RESOLVED to: -
Attached are Appendix B Budget Allocation and Appendix C Precept History.
c) British Telecommunications.
It was RESOLVED to make future payments by Direct Debit each quarter in order to avoid payment penalties and
obtain the discount on offer.
The Financial Regulations will require amending accordingly.
d) Play Area, Cobbs Brow Lane.
It was RESOLVED to authorise essential work on the Play Area at an estimated cost of £258 quoted by Yates
Playgrounds.
e) Internal Audit.
Mrs M. Rigby has carried out the agreed additional audit and a copy of her report and Audit Schedule is attached.
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09/08.
PLANNING.
New Application.
2007/1495 23, New Acres, single storey side extension and front porch.
It was RESOLVED to endorse the recommendation of the Planning Working Group to submit no comment to the application.
Update.
Mushroom Farm, Course Lane, siting of a residential caravan.
The Appeal was dismissed with the following requirements: -
10/08.
REPORT.
Round O Quarry, Appeal Hearing, 22nd January 2008.
Unfortunately, the Parish Council was not represented at the Hearing as planned.
11/08.
DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING.
27th February 2008 commencing at 7.30pm.
Meeting finished at 8.45pm.
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