MINUTES of the Special Parish Council Meeting held in the School, Back Lane, Newburgh on 4th October 2010 commencing at 7.30pm.

 

PRESENT Cllr. Mrs J. Citarella, Chair.

Cllrs. Mrs C. Gillard, C.D. Moore, Mrs J.M. O’ Keefe, Mrs R.J. Richardson, A. Sunderland and Mrs M.A. Turner.

Mr B. Howard, Clerk of the Council.

 

96/10.

APOLOGIES were received from Cllr. R.E. Porter, prior engagement.

 

97/10.

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS.

No declarations were made.

 

98/10.

CONSIDER ENGAGEMENT OF A CONSULTANT TO ADVISE ON TRAFFIC ISSUES CONNECTED WITH THE ROUND O QUARRY PLANNING APPLICATIONS.

Planning Applications 08/09/1141 and 08/10/0241, extension of recycling and quarry working until 2020 will be the subject of consideration by the LCC Development Control Committee on 17th November 2010 with the opportunity for the Parish Council to make their presentation on 15th November 2010.

 

A delegation of Parish Councillors met Mr J. Haine, LCC Planning Officer, on 1st October 2010 to discuss input into the Committee papers. It was clear that the applicants were resisting any routing agreement for vehicles to travel via Skelmersdale and the M58 instead of through Newburgh. In addition, their Consultants were addressing matters that the Parish Council was not qualified to handle effectively.

 

It was agreed at the Parish Council Meeting held on 22nd September 2010 to investigate the engagement of a Consultant to help deal with the more complex issues connected with this application. Enquiries through CPRE and local contacts did not achieve any result, however, a firm of Consultants, England & Lyle Ltd has been identified as having experience in the field of planning and associated traffic issues.

 

These Consultants have been contacted, provided with an outline of the issues and they have indicated that there is merit in our case. England & Lyle Ltd has now quoted an estimate of £500 Fees plus expenses plus VAT to prepare a written objection in support of the traffic data obtained by the Parish Council.

 

There is no Local Government Act that authorises expenditure on the engagement of Consultants. However, as this case would benefit some or all of the residents, the application of discretionary expenditure under the LGA 1972 S137 can be used to a maximum of £6.15p per Elector.

 

The Council’s financial position was closely examined and it was RESOLVED to engage England & Lyle Ltd to prepare an objection for submission to LCC at an estimate of £500 plus expenses plus VAT under the LGA 1972 S137

It was also RESOLVED to earmark a total of £1500 from Parish Council Reserves to meet the above expenditure and any subsequent demand from the Consultant. It may well be necessary to convene another Special Parish Council Meeting to consider what further use of the Consultants might be necessary e.g. help with the Presentation on the

15th November 2010.

 

Communication with residents was now important and it was RESOLVED to produce a Newburgh News Special providing an update on progress including the necessity of engaging a firm of Consultants. Round O Quarry will also feature on the Agenda of the 27th October 2010 Parish Council Meeting.

 

In progressing matters, it was also RESOLVED to: -

 

• ·         Assemble papers for submission to England & Lyle.
• ·         Obtain anecdotal evidence from residents on environmental problems they experience from heavy lorry movement. Starting point for this exercise will be to see what has been submitted by residents when objecting to the proposals, these being available on the WLBC website.
• ·         Undertake a further traffic survey on Cobbs Brow Lane.

 

Meeting finished at 9pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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