MINUTES of the Parish Council Meeting held in the School, Back Lane, Newburgh on Wednesday, 28th March 2007 commencing at 7.30pm.

PRESENT: Cllr. R.E. Porter, Chairman.

Cllrs. Mrs J. Citarella, Mrs C. Gillard, C.D. Moore, Mrs E.F. Pratt, Mrs R.J. Richardson, A. Sunderland and

Mrs M.A. Turner.

Mr B. Howard, Clerk of the Council.

27/07.

APOLOGIES. None, all Councillors present.

28/07.

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS.

Cllr. Porter declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 9a in that the Schedule of Accounts for Payment includes an item in respect of his wife for village cleaning and a re-imbursement for the purchase of cleaning material and postage Also Agenda Item 9b in that the village cleaning arrangements for 2007/08 refer to his wife.

29/07.

MINUTES of the Parish Council Meeting held on 28th February 2007 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

30/07.

SERVICES, AMENITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

Welcome Pack.

The updated statement is attached.

Round O Quarry.

The notes of the meeting with the Quarry Management held on 15th March 2007 were NOTED. Since the meeting, it has been observed that two road cleaners are often in operation resulting in improvements to the road surface.

Engagement with Neighbourhoods in Lancashire.

At the Area Committee Meeting held on 22nd March 2007, it was stated that representatives of L.A.P.T.C. are planning to meet L.C.C. to discuss this consultation document and they would express concerns on behalf of Parish Councils. However, reservations from Newburgh Parish Council still remain.

Annual Parish Meeting, 23rd May 2007.

It was RESOLVED to progress the following arrangements in connection with the above Meeting: -

Commence Meeting at 7pm.

Programme –

Chairman’s Report               7.00pm to 7.15pm

School Entertainment.               7.15pm to 7.35pm.

Folk Singing.                             7.35pm to 8.00pm.

Values and Vision.              8.00pm to 8.30pm.

Close, tea & biscuits             8.30 pm onwards.

It was RESOLVED to hold the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, 30th May 2007 commencing at 7.30pm.

Newburgh News.

It was RESOLVED that the next edition would be distributed during week commencing 23rd April 2007. Councillors to arrange input to the Clerk by 21st April 2007 at the latest.

It was agreed that the Footpaths leaflet and the Historic Buildings leaflet would not be distributed with the next edition of Newburgh News. The Footpaths leaflet is due for re-printing, as some changes are necessary. A quote will be obtained and a submission for grant support from L.C.C. will be investigated.

Copies of the Historic Buildings leaflet will be placed in the Post Office, Red Lion Hotel and other suitable places prior to the Easter holidays.

A Special Newburgh News will be issued week commencing 14th May 2007 carrying information about the Annual Parish Meeting including the Values and Vision statements.

Calor Village of the Year Competition.

Councillors were reminded to submit the Quick Tick Questionnaire to the Clerk.

WWTW Hoscar Residents Liaison Meeting.

The next meeting on 25th April 2007 includes a site visit at 4pm and was NOTED.

Disability Discrimination Act.

It was RESOLVED that the draft Newburgh Parish Council Equality Scheme be NOTED and subject to some agreed minor amendments, be adopted, see final version attached.

Once finalised, a copy should be placed in the Councillors Information Pack, an item included in the next edition of Newburgh News and a copy will be incorporated into the Welcome Pack.

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31/07.

PARISH PLAN.

Updates.

Pedestrian Safety.

L.C.C. continues the process of assessing the suitability of sites for supporting the SPID. Two of the lighting columns on Back Lane are apparently in a programme to be replaced in the next 1 – 2 years and L.C.C. cannot guarantee that the new ones will be suitable for holding the SPID. They are recommending that, along with one other site on Course Lane, three new posts be erected. There are Conservation Area issues involved with this, therefore, it was RESOLVED to recommend to L.C.C. that the SPID back plates be fixed to the existing columns, then these to be re-fixed to the new columns if they are suitable.

Guidelines have been received from L.C.C. indicating that the Police or a lengthsman employed by a Parish Council, are the only ones authorised to handle a SPID. This leads us to the question as to whether we can employ someone to undertake this task as if they were a lengthsman. There are implications that specific training would be required and public liability must be covered by the insurance arrangements of the Parish Council.

Before exploring the local solution further, it was agreed to first elicit a definitive response from the Police.

At a recent Lancashire Local Meeting, a Speed Management Strategy paper was presented, which outlined many of the outstanding issues raised by the Parish Council with L.C.C. and to which no direct response has been received.

This poses the question as to how the decision-making process at L.C.C. can be linked with communications about the Parish Plan aspirations.

Play Area.

Planning permission has now been received with straightforward conditions attached. The unsuccessful bid to Cory Environmental Fund has led to a number of applications or expressions of interest being submitted including Sainsburys, Duchy of Lancaster and Rainford Trust.

Now that planning permission is to hand, it was RESOLVED to progress the preparation of a lease and to seek the appointment of a local solicitor, Mrs Cook, to progress the arrangements. No firm costs are to hand but total costs in connection with preparation of the lease are expected to be in the region of £1000.

Website.

Councillors were reminded to check information contained on the website and advise any changes required.

CVS Workshops.

Parish Council representatives attended Workshops on: -

26th February 2007.            Environment & Conservation.

7th March 2007.              Traffic & Road Safety,

14th March 2007.            Youth Activity.

21st March 2007.            Public Transport.

The written reports attached to the Agenda were NOTED. A verbal report was received regarding the Youth Activity Workshop. It was agreed that attendance at the Workshops had generally been worthwhile. It was RESOLVED that a letter of appreciation be sent to Martin Trengove, CVS thanking him for this initiative.

32/07.

ISSUES RAISED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

District Councillor Pope referred to the discussion under the previous item, Pedestrian Safety and said that he was willing to take up the issue of lack of communication in connection with the Speed Management Strategy.

He also updated the Meeting on enforcement issues at Mug House Stables and the former Mushroom Farm, Course Lane.

He advised that he was up for re-election in May due to minor boundary changes caused by the new Lathom South Parish Council formation.

On behalf of local residents, Councillors raised the following: -

• ·         Concern over safety of barn located opposite Ivy House Farm, Back Lane.
• ·         Poor quality map in connection with the new South Lathom Parish Council.
• ·         Concern over extension next to the Post Office.

33/07.

VALUES AND VISION STATEMENTS.

The statements are agreed but the “Current Achievement Route” and “Additional Measures” are still under discussion. The project will be launched at the Annual Parish Meeting on 23rd May 2007 and will start with public consultation process.

34/07.

CORRESPONDENCE.

The Schedule of Correspondence attached, was NOTED. The following were discussed: -

g) Sustainable Community Strategy.

    The document will be examined with a view to preparing a response.

i) LAPTC Conference, 11th – 13th May 2007.

    The Conference details were noted.

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