MINUTES of the Parish Council Meeting held in the School, Back Lane, Newburgh on Wednesday, 26th September 2007 commencing at 7.30pm.

 

PRESENT Cllr. R.E. Porter, Chairman.

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

Mr B. Howard, Clerk of the Council.

 

85/07.

APOLOGIES were received from Cllr. Mrs J. Citarella, attending Party Conference and Cllr. A. Sunderland, holiday.

 

86/07.

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS.

Cllr. Porter declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4 Traffic Problems in Woodrow Drive, in that he resides in Woodrow Drive and Agenda Item 8a in that the Schedule of Accounts for Payment includes an item in respect of his wife for village cleaning.

 

87/07.

MINUTES of the Parish Council meeting held on 25th July 2007 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

 

88/07.

SERVICES, AMENITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

Welcome Pack Distribution.

The updated statement is attached. The Village Directory is not now up to date and it was agreed to exclude this from the Welcome Pack until a decision on its future format is decided.

Best Kept Garden Competition 2007.

The results of the Competition were noted and a copy is exhibited in the village notice board. The Presentation Evening will be held on 15th October 2007 in the Sports Club commencing at 7.30pm and the support of Councillors would be appreciated.

District-wide Pond Survey.

This is a countrywide survey and an item has appeared in the latest edition of Newburgh News.

Green Village and Eco School Update.

The School has not been in contact as promised, therefore, the matter was deferred until the next Council meeting.

Footpaths/Rights of Way.

Cllr. Mrs Richardson verbally updated the Meeting on the state of the footpaths. It was agreed to: -

• Monitor paths when crops are sown to check that they remain clear. If not, report matter to LCC.
• Organise a Working Party to provide minor maintenance of paths. However, before instigating such an arrangement, the Health and Safety and Public Liability issues must be tested.
• Reinstate regular reports for all paths to the Parish Council. The agreed dates for this being May, July, October and February each year.

It was agreed that changes are required to the Walks leaflet and once details are available a cost estimate will be obtained with a view to seeking some grant support.

Traffic Problems on Woodrow Drive.

Cllr. Mrs Richardson assumed the role of Chairman whilst the discussion on this subject took place.

A letter from LCC was read out and in view of the contents and the lack of pressure from local residents, it was RESOLVED not to pursue the question of a one-way traffic system along Woodrow Drive and Tabbys Nook.

During the debate the Meeting was adjourned and then re-convened to allow District Councillor Pope to make some points relevant to this issue.

The Chairmanship was handed back to Cllr. Porter.

Best Kept Village Competition 2007.

The results of the Competition were noted. It was pleasing to see that the War Memorial has again been recognised, this time with a Highly Commended Certificate. Thanks were expressed to our Village Assistant, Mrs S. Porter and the local volunteer who wishes to remain anonymous, for their considerable efforts in keeping the Memorial in excellent condition.

Protection of Village Environment.

The articles relating to the future of rural Post offices were noted. It was RESOLVED that Newburgh Post Office, shop and tea-room being economically dependent on each other, were very important village amenities and if the Post Office was included in the closure list, some form of resistance could be mounted. The decision, for consultation, is expected during October and it was RESOLVED to set up a small Working Group in readiness for this, membership being Cllrs. Mrs Citarella and C.D. Moore. Cllr. Sunderland will be contacted to see if he is willing to participate.

 

During this discussion Cllr. Mrs Pratt arrived.

Annual Parish Meeting Format.

The Report was noted and it was RESOLVED that the Working Group will continue to examine the position, taking into account the experiences of others including Mawdesley Parish Council.

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89/07.

PARISH PLAN.

SPID.

An outline of the progress made so far was provided. LCC promised to erect back plates in August but there has been some delay due to engineers having to check the safety of lamp posts throughout Lancashire. It now appears that there is some difficulty in sourcing the provision of clips to fix the plates. The handling of the SPIDs is still being discussed between the Police and LCC

An approach has been made by a resident of Ash Brow about the siting of the SPID and concern over the volume and speed of HGVs along Ash Brow. A suitable response to the resident was agreed.

Pedestrian Safety Issues.

LCC has not yet responded to the issues raised with them. The correspondence has been sent to District Councillor Pope requesting some help in obtaining a reply.

Play Area.

Ownership of the land for the new Play Area is still in doubt. The latest thought is that it belongs to neither the Diocese nor Lord Derby but to Newburgh School. Our Solicitor will be asked to try to unravel this uncertainty but any intelligence from a local source would be most helpful.

This delay means that work cannot commence and is getting closer to putting the funding into jeopardy, as time constraints exist. For example, an agreement has just been received from the Ibstock Cory Environmental Fund, which includes details of land ownership, lease and the date of implementation of the scheme.

It was NOTED that a grant of £250 has been received from the Charles and Edna Broadhurst Charity.

Website.

Councillors were reminded that it was time to examine details on the site with a view to updating these as necessary. It was noted that the website did not win the Site of the Year, sponsored by LCR.

 

90/07.

ISSUES RAISED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

The Meeting was adjourned to allow District Councillor Pope to raise any issues.

He confirmed that he would press LCC for a response to the Parish Plan Pedestrian Safety Issues raised. He also indicated that the proposed Ormskirk Bypass, recently discussed at the Lancashire Local, might have some beneficial impact on the traffic volume on the A5209.

Cllr. Pope requested that his contact details be included in future editions of Newburgh News.

The Meeting was reconvened.

 

91/07.

CORRESPONDENCE.

The Schedule of Correspondence, copy attached, was NOTED.

 

92/07.

FINANCE.

a) Accounts for Payment.

    It was RESOLVED to pass for payment those Accounts included in the Schedule attached.

b) Annual Return Year Ended 31st March 2007.

    The Audited Return was accepted and approved.

c) Issues Arising Audit Statement.

    The Statement was NOTED. It was RESOLVED to reconvene the Finance Committee to examine Risk Assessment

    and adequacy of insurance cover. Date to be agreed with the Parish Council Chair.

 

93/07.

PLANNING.

New Applications.

2007/0800. 5, Ranleigh Drive, loft conversion including velox roof lights.

2007/0982. 18, Acrefield, conservatory at rear.

2007/1102. Snape Farm, Back Lane, single storey extension to side.

It was RESOLVED to endorse the recommendations of the Planning Working Group to raise no comment on the above proposals.

2007/0870. Hare Nurseries, Cobbs Brow Lane, Outline, detached dwelling house.

It was RESOLVED to endorse the recommendation of the Planning Working Group to express reservations about this application.

Updates.

2007/0575. Maharishi School, Cobbs Brow Lane, retention of portacabin as temporary classroom. Granted WLDC.

2007/0666. Hatherlow, Back Lane, retention of windows to side elevation. Granted WLDC.

2007/0766. Winchfield, Course Lane, front porch. Granted WLDC.

2007/0787. Newburgh House, Cobbs Brow Lane, part single/part two-storey rear extension. Granted WLDC.

2007/0800. 5, Ranleigh Drive, loft conversion including velox roof lights. Granted WLDC.

2007/0982. 18, Acrefield, conservatory at rear. Granted WLDC.

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93/07 continued.

PLANNING (continued).

Appeals.

Inglenorth, Round O Quarry, inadequate wheel washing arrangements, Appeal set for January 2008.

Mug House Stables Development, Appeal Dismissed.

 

94/07.

REPORTS.

The following Reports were NOTED: -

 

• Area Committee, AGM, 9th August 2007.
• Lancashire County Council Conference, 15th September 2007.
• Neighbourhood Watch meeting, 17th September 2007.
• Lancashire Local, 19th September 2007.
• Lancashire Environmental Fund Conference, 20th September 2007.

The following issues were raised: -

The Village Neighbourhood Watch Scheme seems to require some stimulation. It was RESOLVED to ask the Co-ordinator what was happening at present.

The position of funding for local road safety schemes, discussed at Lancashire Local was NOTED. In the general discussion, which ensued, it was RESOLVED to place the traffic problems in Back Lane on the Agenda of the next Parish Council Meeting. In view of this, Cllr. Porter withdrew the proposition included in his report.

 

95.07.

DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING.

24th October 2007 at 7.30pm.

 

 

District Councillor Pope was present for part of the Meeting, which he left prior to the discussion on planning matters.

 

 

Meeting finished at 9.35pm.

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