MINUTES of the Parish Council Meeting held in the School, Back Lane, Newburgh on Wednesday, 25th November 2009 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, A. Sunderland and Mrs M.A. Turner.
Mr B. Howard, Clerk of the Council.
106/09.
APOLOGIES were received from Cllr. Mrs Richardson, unwell.
107/09.
DECLARATION OF INTERESTS.
Cllr. 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.
Cllr. Mrs O’ Keefe declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 9, Planning Applications 2009/1100 and 2009/0701 in that she resides in close proximity to these sites.
108/09.
MINUTES of the Parish Council Meeting held on 28th October 2009 were agreed and signed as a correct record.
109/09.
SERVICES, AMENITTIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
Back Lane Lighting Scheme.
The letter from LCC containing an explanation and apology for the lack of communication, attached to the Agenda, was NOTED.
List of Properties For Sale.
The updated statement is attached.
Back Lane Play Area, Inspection Report.
The Inspection Report, submitted by Yates Playgrounds, attached to the Agenda, contained no items requiring attention and was NOTED.
Local Food Directory.
The Directory has now been produced and will be distributed throughout the village with the next edition of Newburgh News. The supporting Press Release is in hand.
Review of the Clerk’s Hours of Work and Contract of Employment.
It was RESOLVED to: -
Future of Cobbs Brow Lane Play Area, Update.
One Meeting has been held to consider the future of this Play Area. It was RESOLVED: -
It was RESOLVED to continue keeping the Play Area open until a resolution of it’s future is determined. In the meantime, arrange a meeting with the Sports Club to discuss the matter.
It was pointed out that the Village Plan indicated that there might be a requirement for a facility for young people to be provided and this site may be suitable.
Cllr. Sunderland reported that LCC has established a specialised team to help develop projects for young people and they are quite prepared to discuss opportunities with Parish Councils.
Once the future of the Play Area has been decided, the retention or removal of the boundary fence and footpath between the Sports Field and the adjacent privately owned field, will require examination. The removal of all interest by the Parish Council may well be a logical conclusion. It will be necessary to arrange a meeting with the Sports Club and Standish Estates to discuss this but, unfortunately, not many facts are available to help resolve the ownership of the boundary fence and footpath. It was agreed to examine documents including old Minutes to seek any clarification.
Christmas tree arrangements.
The tree has been delivered to The Green and now that an acceptable estimate of £880 for dealing with the Christmas arrangements has been received, WLBC will be asked to progress matters.
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109/09 continued.
SERVICES, AMENITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES (continued).
The Clerk reported: -
110/09.
WORK PLAN UPDATE.
Updated Values and Visions Statements are attached.
The SPID has again been examined and the device contains the appropriate four batteries, which should enable it to operate effectively. However, comparison with the operation of a SPID owned by a neighbouring Council reveals that the Newburgh equipment works far from satisfactorily. The SPID has been returned to the manufacturer again for inspection and identification of the cause of poor performance.
The website review has been completed.
One user of the Back Lane Play Area has complained about slippery steps on the slide. Yates Playgrounds has been asked to inspect and report back on any remedial action that might be necessary.
With 2010 approaching, the date for the review of the Values and Visions Statement was discussed. It was RESOLVED to re-evaluate these in June 2010, following the establishment of the new Parish Council after the elections in May.
It was RESOLVED to adopt the Training Statement of Intent, copy attached to the Agenda. It was noted that this can form part of the submission for Quality Re-Accreditation.
111/09.
ISSUES RAISED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
The Meeting was adjourned to allow members of the public to raise issues of concern.
Mrs Houghton asked what action had been taken to remedy the obstruction of the light on Sandy Lane.
Borough Councillor Pope asked if his and the County Councillor’s contact details could be included in future editions of Newburgh News. He also reported that Planning Application 2009/1100 has been called in for consideration by the Planning Committee.
County Councillor Westley indicated that he was planning to speak at the LCC Development Meeting, at which Round O Quarry recycling will be discussed. He also reported that, under the Lancashire Local grant arrangements, £600 was still available for distribution to suitable applicants.
The Meeting was re-convened.
112/09.
CORRESPONDENCE.
The Schedule of Correspondence, copy attached, was NOTED.
113/09.
FINANCE.
a) Accounts for Payment.
It was RESOLVED to pass for payment those Accounts included in the Schedule attached.
b) Applications for Financial Support.
The applications received from North West Air Ambulance and Mencap were considered against the adopted
criteria and it was found that there was no case for providing financial support to either of them.
A resolution was put that in view of the observed activities of North West Air Ambulance in Newburgh, a special
case should be made to support them. The motion was lost by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED not to
provide financial support to North West Air Ambulance and Mencap.
c) WLBC Capital Funding 2010/11.
It was RESOLVED to defer this for discussion at the December Meeting.
114/09.
PLANNING.
New Applications.
2009/1100 Mushroom Farm, Course Lane, erection of four detached dwellings with garages.
A copy of the submission to WLBC is attached.
2009/1122 Red Apple Nursery, display of non-illuminated advertisement board.
No comment.
It was RESOLVED to endorse the above recommendations of the Planning Working Group.
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114/09 (continued).
PLANNING (continued)
Updates.
2009/0701 Farm Shop, Course Lane, proposed development.
At the WLBC Planning Committee Meeting, the application was deferred for a site visit to take place.
2009/1141 Round O Quarry, variation to allow recycling to continue.
The objection to the proposal has been submitted to both LCC and WLBC.
It has been ascertained that objectors will have two courses of action to present their case to the LCC Development Committee i.e. A four minute presentation on the day of the Committee Meeting or a thirty minute presentation to the Committee two days prior. It was agreed that the Parish Council would avail themselves of the thirty-minute presentation opportunity on a date yet to be confirmed.
2009/0862. 1, Pine Close, two-storey rear extension. Granted WLBC.
2009/0951. Maharishi School, retention of portacabin. Granted WLBC.
2009/0970. 2, Tabbys Nook, pitched roof to replace flat roof to front and side. Granted WLBC.
Other.
Nuclear Power Station at Heysham.
It was agreed to consider response to this consultation at the next Parish Council Meeting.
115/09.
REPORTS.
31st October 2009. LALC Conference.
The Report was noted.
4th November 2009. Community Engagement Workshop.
The Report, handed out at the Meeting was noted.
The Certificate of Attendance will be retained as evidence for Quality Council purposes.
18th November 2009. West Lancashire Local Meeting.
The Report, distributed at the Meeting, was noted.
21st November 2009. LCC Conference.
The Report, sent out by e-mail was noted.
116/09.
DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING.
9th December 2009 at 7.30pm.
Two members of the public, Borough Councillor, E. Pope and County Councillor, D. Westley were present.
Meeting finished at 9.25pm.
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