MINUTES of the Parish Council Meeting held in the School, Back Lane, Newburgh on Wednesday, 25th July 2007 commencing at 7.30pm.
PRESENT Cllr. Mrs J. Citarella, Chair.
Cllrs. Mrs C. Gillard, C.D. Moore, R.E. Porter, Mrs E.F. Pratt, Mrs R.J. Richardson, A. Sunderland & Mrs M.A. Turner.
Mr B. Howard, Clerk of the Council.
73/07.
APOLOGIES were received form District Councillor, E. Pope who was otherwise engaged.
74/07.
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.
Cllrs. C.D. Moore, Mrs Richardson and Mrs Turner declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 9, Planning, in that the owners of Hatherlow, Back Lane, are personal friends of theirs.
75/07.
MINUTES of the Parish Council Meeting held on 27th June 2007 were agreed and signed as a correct record.
76/07.
SERVICES, AMENITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
Japanese Knotweed.
The information attached to the Agenda illustrates the seriousness of the presence of Japanese Knotweed seen in the village. In response to our enquiries, the District Council has indicated by telephone that they have no one available that could speak to us at a Parish Council Meeting but the advice leaflet is in the course of preparation. The County Council has said that this subject is the responsibility of their Landscape Section and they have now asked for a more accurate location of the knotweed.
It was RESOLVED that the Chair and Clerk would walk round the village to identify the exact location of knotweed, as requested. It was also agreed to involve the Environment Agency, seek advice from L.A.P.T.C. as this topic has arisen previously at their AGM, in the future contact the landowners of the ground where knotweed is present and possibly seek guidance from a commercial source.
Donation of trees and lack of a Village Hall.
It is understood that a number of trees donated by the Scouts are available for planting in the village but at present, no details are available.
It is recognised that there is no Village Hall in Newburgh but the School is extensively used for meetings and events organised by village organisations. The Church had aspirations for a Church Hall but this failed due to lack of support particularly from potential funders. The provision of a new meeting place was a low priority in the Village Plan but it was RESOLVED to consider in the Autumn, the way forward in progressing this and a number of other issues not yet addressed.
Open Gardens, 8th July 2007.
This was again a very successful event with over £1000 being raised for new village amenities. It was RESOLVED to record a vote of thanks to Cllr. Maureen Turner for all her hard work in organising this project.
Traffic Issues, Woodrow Drive and Tabbys Nook.
Cllr. Porter declared a personal interest in this issue as he is a resident of Woodrow Drive. He was allowed to give his views under Paragraph 10 (2) of the Code of Conduct.
The response from L.C.C. was NOTED and it was RESOLVED to contact the Road Safety Partnership to seek advice on the most effective method of obtaining the views of local residents.
Eco School and Green Village projects.
The School has asked for support in making the children more aware of the environment in litter picking, recycling waste, etc. Their ambition is to achieve the Green Flag Award organised by ENCAMS. By coincidence, the Chair and Clerk have met the Street Scene Manager to discuss his idea of Newburgh becoming a Green Village. It was RESOLVED to support both projects, so advise the School and arrange a further meeting with the Street Scene Manager to develop his ideas. The experiences of Mawdesley in respect of Going Green will be obtained.
Newburgh Welcome Sign, Course Lane, graffiti.
The reported graffiti appears to have been removed.
77/07.
PARISH PLAN.
New Play Area.
Rainford Trust has awarded a further £500 and £276 was also obtained from a coffee morning hosted by Mrs Moore, Back Lane. This now leaves a deficit of around £1500 with a decision from Ibstock still awaited. The School has agreed to do a fund raising event in September, if required. The receipt of a lease document from the Church Authorities is still outstanding.
-879-
77/07. (continued).
PARISH PLAN (continued)
SPID.
The equipment has now arrived and has been collected by L.C.C. The handling arrangements will now be discussed with the Police.
Website.
The Open Gardens pictures are now on the website with Newburgh Fair material being worked on.
Village Directory.
This needs updating and a decision on what form this should take will be made in the Autumn.
Affordable Housing.
An examination has been made of the Second Draft Strategy 2007 – 12. This included the importance of involving Parish Councils and in this respect, advice has now been received that the Executive Manager Housing Services will be holding an event in the Autumn for Parish Council representatives to fully discuss the implications of the Strategy at local level.
78/07.
ISSUES RAISED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
No issues were raised.
79/07.
CORRESPONDENCE.
The Schedule of Correspondence, copy attached, was NOTED. The following were discussed: -
a) LAPTC Annual Conference, 19th – 21st October 2007, details noted.
g) West Lancashire Civic Sunday Service, 2nd September 2007. It was RESOLVED that Cllrs Mrs Citarella and
Mrs Gillard will attend.
i) Area Committee Meeting. It was NOTED that the AGM has now been arranged.
80/07.
FINANCE.
a) Accounts for Payment.
It was RESOLVED to pass for payment those accounts included in the Schedule attached.
b) Interim Policy for dealing with Grant/Donation Applications.
It was RESOLVED to adopt the Interim Policy, copy attached.
81/07.
PLANNING.
New Applications.
2007/0666. Hatherlow, Back Lane, retention of windows to side elevation.
Objection submitted, windows overlook the only private area of the neighbouring property.
2007/0755. Cedars, Tears Lane, single storey side extension. No comment.
2007/0787. Newburgh House, Cobbs Brow Lane, part single/part two-storey rear extension. No comment.
It was RESOLVED to support the above recommendations of the Planning Working Group.
2007/0792. Lawrensons Farm, Tears Lane, change of use from agricultural access track to domestic vehicular access
It was RESOLVED to comment that we are not clear why access to the property cannot be from the existing road rather than making another road within the Green Belt.
Updates.
2007/0502. Siting of caravan for agricultural worker, Ivy Cottage Farm, Back Lane. Refused WLDC.
2007/0607. Single storey rear extension, 25, New Acres. Granted WLDC.
2007/0624. Single storey side extension, New Orchard, Back Lane. Granted WLDC.
Administration.
Cllr. Mrs Citarella relinquished her position on the Planning Working Group and was replaced by Cllr. Porter as Chairman of the Group.
It was RESOLVED that in future, the Parish Council would not submit “objection” or “no objection” when responding to the District Council but would instead submit “comments” or “No comment” as appropriate.
The timescales for handling planning applications can cause some difficulties and it was RESOLVED that the Planning Working Group would examine its role and the timescale issues in the Autumn.
82/07.
REPORTS.
Bus Service Review Meeting, 3rd July 2007.
The Minutes of the Meeting attached to the Agenda, were NOTED.
The plans incorporate the introduction of an hourly bus service to both Ormskirk and Skelmersdale, these service revisions to be introduced in late October 2007.
Creating public awareness through the production of good publicity material is essential if the services are to be successful and sustainable. A further meeting will be held with Lancashire County Council to discuss the methods of creating a higher profile for the services.
-880-
82/07 (continued).
REPORTS (continued).
Parish Clerks Liaison Meeting, 29th June 2007.
The Clerk provided a brief verbal report.
The Police were present and advised that a Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators meeting had recently been held but Parish Councils had not been informed. Crime statistics are available but are best obtained from the local Community Beat Manager. A number of Parish Councils are developing the SPID project and a group may be formed to bring together the position within the District.
Planning Officers provided an update of their activities and discussed the move to a paper free system by April 2008. They asked whether there was any support for Parish Council training in this respect.
The next meeting will be held on 12th October 2007 and will be followed by an event to which each Parish Council Chairman will be invited. This will include visits to the CCTV and Communications Suites.
Lancashire Local, 11th July 2007.
A copy of the report given by Cllr. Porter is attached.
Hoscar WWTW Liaison Meeting, 25th July 2007.
A copy of the report from Cllr. Mrs Gillard is attached.
It was confirmed that in future, the Liaison Meetings would continue to commence at 6pm. This being so, our representative Mrs Pratt, will be unable to attend due to business commitments. Cllr. Mrs Gillard agreed to attend the Liaison Meetings in future as the Parish Council representative.
83/07.
AUGUST RECESS.
It was RESOLVED to delegate to the Chair: -
84/07.
DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING.
26th September 2007 at 7.30pm.
One member of the public was present for most of the Meeting.
Meeting finished at 9.25pm.
-881-
Schedule of Correspondence.
The following were placed in circulation: -
The Clerk, July 2007 including Urbanscape.
Clerks & Councils Direct, July 2007.
LCR July 2007.
A Sustainable Community Strategy for W.L. 2007 – 2017. (copy to each Councillor).
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, progress report.
W.L. CVS Bulletin, July 2007.
Countryside Voice, Summer 2007.
LAPTC Newsletter, June 2007.
Schedule of Accounts for Payment.
Mrs S. Porter, village cleaning. £ 96.00
Mr B. Howard, July Salary & Expenses. £381.48
Mr B. Howard, reimbursement, photocopies. £ 9.36
Lancashire County Council, School Hire. £ 39.40
Standish Estates Ltd. Rental Playing Field, fence gates. £ 40.00
Petty Cash. £ 50.00
Counters & Accessories Ltd. Purchase of Clever SPID. 3594.33
Counters & Accessories Ltd. Purchase of five back plates. £235.00
Receipts.
Open Gardens event, 8th July 2007, programme & refreshment sales. £1052.10
Coffee Morning, 15th July 2007 for new Play Area funding. £ 276.77
Rainford Trust Grant for new Play Area. £ 500.00
-882-