MINUTES of the Annual Parish Council Meeting held in the School, Back Lane, Newburgh on Wednesday, 19th May 2010 commencing at 7.30pm.
PRESENT Cllr. Mrs J. Citarella, Chair, Minute 44/10 only.
Cllr. R.E. Porter, Chairman, from Minute 45/10 onwards.
Cllrs. Mrs C. Gillard, C.D. Moore, Mrs R.J. Richardson, A. Sunderland and Mrs M.A. Turner.
Cllr. Mrs J.M. O’ Keefe, from Minute 46/10 onwards.
Mr B. Howard, Clerk of the Council.
44/10.
Cllr. Mrs Citarella welcomed members to the new Council and Councillors duly signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.
45/10.
ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. 2010/11.
Cllr. R.E. Porter was unanimously appointed Chairman 2010/11 and signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.
The new Chairman thanked Cllr. Mrs Citarella for her excellent leadership of the Council for the past three years.
In response, Cllr. Mrs Citarella thanked Councillors and the Clerk for their help and support over this period making reference to all that had been achieved during her term of Office.
46/20.
VACANCY FOR COUNCILLOR, CO-OPTION.
Mrs J.M. O’ Keefe was unanimously supported to be a co-opted Councillor and she duly signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.
47/10.
APOLOGIES were received from Borough Councillor E. Pope, prior engagement.
48/10.
ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN 2010/11.
Cllr. Mrs J. Citarella was unanimously appointed Vice-Chairman for 2010/11,
49/10.
DECLARATION OF INTERESTS.
Cllr. Sunderland declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 10, Leeds – Liverpool Canal, vehicular access control, as he resides on the Canal bank off Back Lane.
Cllr. Mrs O’ Keefe declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 15, Farm Shop, Course Lane, Planning Appeal, in that she resides opposite the site in question.
Cllr. Porter declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 14a in that his wife is included in the Schedule of Accounts for Payment in respect of village cleaning. In addition, he declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 15, Planning Application 2010/0477/FUL, 1, Woodrow Drive in that the applicant is known to him as a neighbour.
50/10.
MINUTES of the Parish Council Meeting held on 28th April 2010 were agreed and signed as a correct record.
51/10.
APPOINTMENTS.
Planning Working Group.
Cllrs. Mrs Gillard, C.D. Moore and Mrs Richardson with Mrs Turner in reserve.
Finance Committee.
Cllrs. R.E. Porter, C.D. Moore and Mrs O’ Keefe.
West Lancashire Area Committee.
Cllrs. R.E. Porter and Mrs O’ Keefe.
Hoscar WWTW.
Cllr. Mrs Gillard to remain the link with this Organisation.
52/10.
NEWBURGH NEWS.
It was RESOLVED to produce the next edition prior to Newburgh Fair, therefore, items for inclusion should be submitted to the Clerk by 26th May 2010.
53/10.
SERVICES, AMENITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
Japanese Knotweed.
This weed is again active in a number of places in the village. It was RESOLVED to seek advice from a qualified organisation but also from Street Scene Management.
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53/10 (continued).
SERVICES, AMENITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES (continued).
Claim for Footpath 33 & 40 to 39 & 34.
Advice has been received from the County Council that their Regulatory Committee, at the Meeting on 12th May 2010 determined that the claimed public Footpath should be accepted.
A formal Notice of Acceptance of the claim has been received and L.C.C. has also sent a copy to the Landowners concerned and the Borough Council. Whilst this is good news, there are still further processes to be undertaken. The County Council will make a Definitive Map Order with a copy being published in the local Press and displayed on the site. The Landowners concerned will then have a formal right of representation against the Modification Order. This Order only becomes effective from the date on which it is confirmed and until that time, the route has the same status as it does today.
This process will clearly take some time but it was RESOLVED to update those people who supported our case.
Preparation for Best Kept Village Competition 2010.
It was RESOLVED that: -
Leeds – Liverpool Canal, vehicular access control.
British Waterways has responded to the complaint received, explaining that they are concerned that vehicles using the towpath pose a risk to the canal structure, visitors to the towpath and the vehicles themselves. As such, British Waterways feel that steps must be taken to reduce the risks. The measures include the installation of wooden bollards along the edge of the bank and new signage. They appreciate that this may not be aesthetically pleasing, however, health and safety is their utmost concern.
Nomination for vacancy on W.L.B.C. Standards Committee.
Cllr. Mrs Citarella agreed for her name to be submitted for consideration.
54/10.
WORK PLAN UPDATE.
The updated Values and Visions Statements are attached. It was RESOLVED to arrange a review of the process.
The following were discussed: -
PACT Meetings.
Cllr. Sunderland attended the last Meeting, the proceedings of which were much improved. There is a special Meeting arranged, which clashes with this Parish Council Meeting, therefore, apologies have been sent. This relates to the development of a Smartwater Security Scheme, details of the referral arrangements were discussed.
Review of arrangements for dealing with Planning Applications.
The paper attached to the Agenda was NOTED and it was RESOLVED to adopt the following option: -
“Continue to meet as a Planning Working Group, not a Committee and make sure that, if there is a Parish Council meeting in time, we circulate our proposed response before the Meeting so that all members are informed. If there is no Parish Council meeting, then we either do not make a response or consult with the Chairman and Clerk about the advisability of calling an extra Meeting of the Council, if it is felt that a response needs to be made.”
A further Meeting will be held to discuss the detailed process including accessing the plans from the W.L.B.C. website.
Community Engagement.
The Group met to review the content of the Welcome Pack, Newburgh News, promotion of businesses, update and reissue the Footpath leaflet. Discussion included: -
To overcome the problem of going out of date, it was agreed to investigate the possibility of having all the information on the regularly updated website and print off as required.
There are adequate numbers of the Newburgh Now and Then brochures and the Historic Buildings leaflets on hand.
It was clear that members of the public present were interested in the Round O Quarry Planning Application and it was, therefore, RESOLVED to bring this item forward on the Agenda.
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54/10.
PLANNING APPLICATION, ROUND O QUARRY.
The Round O Quarry application to continue operations until 2020 will be considered by the W.L.B.C. Planning Committee on 20th May 2010 at which Cllr. Mrs Citarella will be making a presentation to support our case.
The L.C.C. Development Control Committee will be considering the application at their Meeting on 9th June 2010 but it is understood that the Officer recommendation will be for the committee to have a site meeting. This will mean that the decision will now be delayed until the 14th July 2010 Meeting with an opportunity to make the Parish Council Presentation on 12th July 2010.
The above information will be verified to ensure that the Parish Council is able to make the most effective representation at the appropriate time.
55/10.
ISSUES RAISED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
The Meeting was adjourned to allow the public to make comments. Various observations were made about the Round O Quarry application and it was noted that the public objections submitted to L.C.C. do not appear on their website.
Residents had raised concern over United Utilities water pipe repair work being undertaken in the middle of Clovelly Drive roadway and the Company assertion that the residents are responsible for the cost of this work.
The Meeting was re-convened.
56/10.
CORRESPONDENCE.
The Schedule of Correspondence, copy attached, was NOTED. The following was discussed: -
b) Attendance at LALC Annual Conference, 18th September 2010.
The details of the Conference were noted.
57/10.
FINANCE.
a) Accounts for Payment.
It was RESOLVED to pass for payment those Accounts included in the Schedule attached.
b) Reserves/ balances Statement year ended 31st March 2010.
The Statement, attached to the Agenda, was NOTED.
The £500 allocation to Election will now be transferred to the General allocation, as an election was not necessary
in 2010.
c) Annual Return year ended 31st March 2010.
It was RESOLVED to approve the Statement of Accounts, Section 1 and the Statement of Assurance, Section 2,
both Statements being duly signed by the Chairman and Clerk.
58/10.
PLANNING.
Updates.
Farm Shop, Course Lane.
A Newburgh News Special has been distributed throughout the village advising residents how to respond to the Applicant Appeal against the W.L.B.C. refusal of change of use from Farm Shop to Business/Storage and Distribution.
The Parish Council response was examined and agreed and it was RESOLVED to submit this to the Planning Inspectorate.
New Applications.
2010/0407/FUL. High House, Back Lane, demolition of rear porch, erection of single story extension to side and rear.
2010/0477/FUL. 1, Woodrow Drive, retention of boundary fence.
It was RESOLVED to endorse the Planning Working Group recommendation to make no comment on the above applications.
59/10.
REPORT.
West Lancashire Area Committee Meeting, 29th April 2010.
A copy of the Report is attached.
60/10.
DATES OF MEETINGS FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2010.
The following dates were agreed: -
23rd June, 28th July, 22nd September, 27th October, 24th November and 15th December.
Two members of the public were present for part of the Meeting.
Meeting finished at 9.55pm
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