MINUTES of the Parish Council Meeting held in the School, Back Lane, Newburgh on Wednesday, 23rd September 2009 commencing at 7.30pm.

 

PRESENT Cllr. Mrs J. Citarella, Chair.

Cllrs. Mrs C. Gillard, R.E. Porter, Mrs R.J. Richardson and Mrs M.A. Turner.

Mr B. Howard, Clerk of the Council.

 

82/09.

APOLOGIES were received from Cllr. C.D. Moore, holiday, Cllr. A. Sunderland, holiday, Borough Cllr. E. Pope and County Cllr. D. Westley both attending the Lancashire Local Meeting.

 

83/09.

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS.

Cllr. Porter declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 10a in that his wife is included in the Schedule of Accounts for Payment in respect of village cleaning.

Cllr. Mrs Richardson declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4, Back Lane Street Lighting Scheme, in that she resides on Back Lane.

 

84/09.

MINUTES of the Parish Council Meeting held on 22nd July 2009 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

 

85/09.

SERVICES, AMENITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

Public Sector Duties, Equality and Human Rights.

The paper attached was considered and it was RESOLVED to: -

• Check exactly how this legislation applies to Parish Councils. The document seems to be talking about much bigger units of government.
• Recommend how best we can meet this responsibility – possibilities could, for example, include featuring the duty in the Newsletter annually and also on a checklist to be considered when any of our policies are reviewed.
• Refer the subject to the Community Engagement Committee to consider this topic and bring forward recommendations for ensuring that the Council is fully compliant by 2011.

List of Properties For Sale.

The updated list is attached. It was RESOLVED to prepare a new Welcome Letter for handing to new residents, which will be used until such time as the contents of a Welcome Pack have been examined.

Shelley Gregory, Community Fire Safety, has asked to be informed when new residents move into Newburgh so that they can make contact to ensure smoke alarms are fitted and a fire safety check can be undertaken, It was RESOLVED that due to Data Protection responsibilities, it was not possible to agree to this request. However, the Parish Council would be prepared to include Community Fire Safety contacts in a new Welcome Letter.

Best Kept Garden Competition.

The list of winners, attached to the Agenda, was NOTED. It was RESOLVED to again ask the Sports Club for the use of their premises on a Monday evening for the presentation of awards, date to be confirmed. Councillors agreed to help with the provision of refreshments. It was RESOLVED to authorise expenditure on refreshments and inscriptions on the trophies.

Dog Control Orders.

The Borough Council has indicated that they will in the future, add our new Play Area to the list of Dog Exclusion Orders.

Calor Village of the Year.

It was pleasing to record that Newburgh achieved third place in the Lancashire Competition. Cllr. Chris Moore, Wendy McDowall and Ruth Hayman attended a Presentation on 13th August 2009 at Howick House, Penwortham. The Certificate awarded will be displayed for a short period of time in the Notice board and the £100 Prize Money is a valuable contribution towards the cost of the new Play Area.

Open Gardens.

Thanks were again expressed to Cllr. Mrs Turner for the excellent event in 2009. However, Cllr. Mrs Turner felt that she did not want to continue managing the event in the future due to other personal commitments. In considering the future of the scheme, some options were mentioned – look for someone other than a Parish Councillor to take it over or hold the event every other year.

It was important to note that, if the Parish Council retains responsibility, any financial profits need to be put to a local project. It was RESOLVED to consider the options at the next Council Meeting.

Burscough Sustainable Group Meeting. 

There appears to be opportunities that we could examine to benefit Newburgh. It was RESOLVED to consider this subject in the context of the Local Food Project, which is still being finalised.

LALC Conference, 31st October 2009 at Leyland Hotel.

It was RESOLVED that Cllrs. Mrs Citarella and Mrs Gillard would attend.

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85/09 continued.

SERVICES, AMENITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES (continued).

West Lancashire Area Committee.

The next Meeting will take place on 15th October 2009 and representation will be considered. However, there is still a necessity for someone independent and experienced to look carefully at the role and function of the Committee, taking into account the Standing Orders.

Back Lane Lighting Scheme.

There was concern over the poor communication arrangements for this scheme. A report prepared by Cllr. Mrs Richardson is attached, It was RESOLVED to ask the District Partnership Officer to investigate and the following questions were posed: -

• Why was there no consultation with or information to residents?
• Why was there no consultation directly with the Parish Council?
• Why, when residents are bound by strict Conservation Area guidelines, can lack of money be a reason for using an inappropriate design of lamp standard?

Tree Work in the Conservation Area.

The plans for Timbers, Course Lane, were NOTED.

LCC Conference, 21st November 2009 at Preston.

Cllr. Sunderland has agreed to attend.

Neighbourhood Watch Scheme.

It was NOTED that the Co-ordinator has tendered his resignation and it was RESOLVED to: -

• Thank Mr Sudworth for undertaking the role of Co-ordinator for a number of years.
• Seek a replacement through an item in Newburgh News.

 

86/09.

WORK PLAN UPDATE.

The new Play Area was short listed (one of three) for a Best Practice Award by the Lancashire Environmental Fund.    The Winner was a much larger facility near Thornton Cleveleys.

 There still appears to be limited operational time of the SPID and the problem will be reported to the Manufacturer. It was noted that a new pole has been erected on Course Lane to hold the SPID back plate and as new lamp posts are being installed on Back Lane, consideration can now be given for a suitable position for a further SPID back plate.

 Councillors were reminded to review the content of the website.

 The new Play Area has been inspected and no problems have been identified.

 A number of other issues were discussed including timescales and these are incorporated into the updated Values and Visions statements attached.

 A review of the Village Green Improvements Plan has been carried out, report enclosed with the Agenda and it was RESOLVED that: -

• The replacement or repair of the pump handle was not necessary.
• All other items have been completed within funding constraints.

 

87/09.

ISSUES RAISED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

No members of the public were present.

 

88/09.

NEWBURGH NEWS.

The next edition will be ready for distribution within a few days.

 

 89/09.

 LOCAL FOOD PROJECT.

 The Group dealing with the next phase of this project, which is the production of a Local Food Producers Directory, will

 be meeting shortly to progress the matter. The deadline for providing some outline of the Directory and obtaining some

 costs, is by the end of October 2009, otherwise the remainder of the Grant is at risk.

 

 90/09.

 CORRESPONDENCE.

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

• a)       Code of Conduct Seminar, 26th November 2009.

Councillors were asked to place this date in their diary pending receipt of further information.

• l)         Community Engagement Workshop, 4th November 2009.

Cllr. Mrs Citarella agreed to attend.

 

 91/09.

 FINANCE.

 a) Accounts for Payment.

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

 

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91/09 continued.

FINANCE (continued).

b) Criteria for Assessing Applications for Donations.

    It was RESOLVED to adopt the criteria, copy attached.

c) Annual Return year ending 31st March 2009.

    The Parish Council RESOLVED to approve and accept the Annual Return, which has been accepted by the

    External Auditor.

    The External Auditor has again drawn our attention to an inadequate level of Fidelity Guarantee. Last year the

    Guarantee was raised to £16000, which, in normal circumstances, covers the level of risk. Due to the influx of

    money for the new Play Area on Back Lane, the quantity of money in the three bank accounts, amounted to  

    well over £16000. However, now that the new Play Area is completed and all invoices settled, the level of money

    lodged with the Bank is now at the normal balance and the £16000 Fidelity Guarantee will satisfactorily cover the

    risk.

d) Gift Account No 10073746.

    This account was opened at The Royal Bank of Scotland to hold grants and donations received to finance the new

    Play Area. As the Play Area is now complete and all invoices settled, this account is no longer required. It was

    RESOLVED to now arrange to close the Gift Account.

 

92/09.

PLANNING.

New Applications.

2009/0862. 1, Pine Close, two-storey rear extension – no comments.

2009/0951. Maharishi School, retention of portacabin for classroom. No planning comment to make but some concern expressed over the age of the portacabin, which has been in place, with planning consent, for some years.

2009/0970. 2, Tabbys Nook, pitched roof to replace flat roof to front and side – no comments.

2009/1016. 60, New Acres, two-storey side extension, single storey extension to other side elevation, front porch, amendment to permission 2002/0480. No comments.

 

It was RESOLVED to endorse the above recommendations of the Planning Working Group.

 

Application Updates.

2009/0282. Shirleen, Ash Brow, erection of sunroom to rear of garage. Granted WLBC.

2009/0701. Farm Shop, Course Lane. There was concern about an amendment to the application to change of use to
B1 Business and B8 Storage and Distribution only. Suitable representation has been made to WLBC.

 

Other.

West Lancashire 2027 Consultation on Core Strategy, Options paper.

Cllr. Mrs Citarella attended a Meeting on 9th September 2009 and it was RESOLVED to submit the written response, copy attached.

Inglenorth Management Meeting, 15th September 2009.

The notes of the Meeting, attached to the Agenda, were NOTED.

Whilst it is understood that the extension of the quarry life is inevitable due to the current economic climate and the amount of material being recycled on site, the expansion of Round O Quarry by an additional five acres, was a different matter. Therefore, the Parish Council could not come to any view on this because of: -

• ·         The uncertain outcome of planning considerations due to the land being in the Green Belt.
• ·         The reaction of residents to any such proposal.
• ·         The content of an Environmental Impact Statement.

 

93/09.

REPORTS.

Meeting with Tracey Jardine, LCC District Partnership Officer on 19th August 2009.

A worthwhile meeting was held when the discussion centred on the County Charter and improving communications.

United Utilities Meeting, Hoscar WWTW, 2nd September 2009. 

Representatives attended the Meeting from local Parish Councils and an explanation of developments was provided together with a summary of complaints received. In view of the small number of public complaints about unpleasant odours, United Utilities have indicated that they will no longer hold Residents Liaison Meetings.

A copy of the United Utilities presentation will be placed in circulation.

Road Traffic Issues Meeting at Hilldale on 17th September 2009.

The notes of the Meeting are attached for information.

 

94/09.

DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING.

28th October 2009 at 7.30pm.

 

Meeting finished at 10.30pm.

 

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