Minutes of a Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 7th February 2019 @ 7.30pm at ‘Westlow’ Mere Fisheries meeting room.
Declaration of Interest
Cllr G Silman 19/0013C
Part 1 Public and Press present
Present
Councillor M Wakerly – Chairman
Councillor P Amies,
Councillor G Booth – Vice Chairman
Councillor T Richardson
Councillor G Silman
Councillor J Wray – Cheshire East Representation
J Mason – Clerk
Public Forum
14 members of the public present.
Goods Vehicle Operators Licence – Giantswood House, CW12 2JJ
The owners of Giantswood House were attending to endeavour to explain their version of the history of the site after reading the last set of minutes. They were disappointed that the Parish Council had placed an objection to the operator’s licence applied for by V P Engineering as the opposition from residents had caused their purchaser to withdraw. The site had previously had permission for light industrial use with ancillary accommodation and they had operated ‘Macrotec Machine Tools Ltd’ from the site involving HGV’s, cranes and container lorries with no objection. The site had planning permission granted for four houses but developers deemed in not a viable financial option as the original barn had to be retained and disappointingly permission for five houses had been refused They welcomed any support on what actions to be taken with the site to secure a sale as although it is listed as a brownfield site it was not identified as such in planning terms. The Ward Councillor advised to use a reputable planning consultant to try and change this identity.
The Chairman gave an explanation that the new business was growing and the impact of the traffic in the Parish was of concern to many residents. He agreed the Neighbourhood Plan supported rural business in principal but not at the detriment of the road safety.
Alderley Gate – Bloor Homes
A resident had requested their own individual ‘house condition survey’ four times and still not received it and it was concerning her. Bloor’s had also promised to analyse her noise and vibration survey and again there had been no response.
Another neighbour also had received no feedback about the buffer zone maps which had been agreed at the site visit in January.
Congleton Link Road
The road had now commenced and was having an impact on the Parish especially on Giantswood Lane and Smithy Lane. There was a site base off Gaintswood Lane and many vehicles excavating the site were travelling up and down G/Wood Lane. The road was dirty from the extra traffic and traffic lights had been installed.
Website
A resident requested the heading of the latest news items was changed to the topic it was referring to within the information.
15/19 Apologies for absence
Nil
16/19 Minutes
Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 3rd January 2019 be approved and signed as a true and accurate record.
17/19 Congleton Link Road
It was noted the works had commenced and the appointed construction engineer was ‘GRAHAM’, who had conducted a consultation event at Blackfirs school on 29th January. The Parish Council had changed the consultation event with the community to the Annual Parish Meeting on 10th April 2019. The Clerk had met the Communication and Liaison Officer, Mr D Crowthra and was due to meet him once a month to discuss the impact the project was having on the area. There had been several complaints already in relation to the traffic. Cheshire East had implemented a 10mph speed limit along G/Wood Lane to the junction of Smithy Lane and was deterring site traffic travelling along Smithy Lane.
Cllr G Booth requested confirmation if there was a community budget available for HW & SB.
18/19 Highways
Goods Vehicle Operators Licence- Giantswood House, Giantswood Lane, CW12 2JJ
The application had been withdrawn.
The comments from the public forum had been noted.
Mill Lane
There had been a complaint received in relation to the standard of Mill Lane. The Chairman admitted due to time constraints the survey had not been complied.
Resolved the Clerk would ask if the resident from Mill Lane would accompany the PC on a site visit to complete a survey.
Drainage issue on Smithy Lane
The PC noted that no actions had been taken and there had been several complaints about the dangers of the water freezing on the lane. The Clerk reported it was with the Flood Risk Team for actions and the landowner had taken no actions.
The Chairman asked the Clerk to pursue.
Street names on Somerford Booths Hall development
Resolved Cumberbatch Road, Clement Drive, Navajo Drive and Piper Road
Unauthorised signs on highways verge at Smithy Lane/ Manchester Road junction
Resolved the Clerk would report to CE highways
Pot Holes on Smithy Lane Ref 3344435/3344433
Cllr GS noted these had not been actioned
Unauthorised advertising signs on the grass verge along Manchester Road.
Resolved the clerk would report
19/19 Newsletter
The Spring newsletter was to be delivered in March.
Resolved the topics to be written were as follows; Congleton Link Road – Cllr T Richardson, Elections – Clerk, Accounts – Clerk, Bloor Homes – Cllr P Amies, Chairman’s Report to include Rural Lanes and CHB – Chairman.
20/19 Alderley Gate – Bloor Homes
Resolved the Clerk would contact Bloor Homes in relation to the house condition surveys.
It was noted that there was a meeting scheduled for 26th February and Cllr P Amies and the Clerk would attend.
21/19 Risk Assessment 2018/19
The Clerk had completed the Risk Assessment for 2018/19 and it had been circulated to members.
Resolved the Risk Assessment was accepted by Full Council.
22/19 Cheshire East
Resolved to suspend standing orders to receive a report from Ward Cllr J Wray
Cllr J Wray informed the members he would be attending a ‘sod cutting’ event ceremony on 25th February. He had attended the local Police Beat surgery on 4th February and he encouraged members to be active in the meetings.
He was circulating updates on the CLR as members were aware.
The Boundary Review across the borough was to commence after the Elections in May 2019 and he anticipated it would be completed by 2023.
23/19 Congleton Ramblers
A report had been submitted to the PC.
24/19 Neighbourhood Plan
The Clerk had been asked to check if any actions needed to be under taken with the Neighbourhood Plan, there had been a response from Mr Tom Evans that no action was required although it’s helpful to monitor the plans and see how they’re being used in decisions but wouldn’t advise a review so soon. Plans are usually updated on a five-year cycle and whilst neighbourhood plans can be updated at any time, unless there’s a burning local issue advice is to wait until the middle of next year to start thinking if there’s anything to change.
The content of the plan remains valid but as external circumstances change, the weight we can give to a policy may change too. For example, as we introduce policies in the SADPD next year, they may conflict with some of the policies in the neighbourhood plan in which case the policies in the neighbourhood plan would be superseded in decision making – there’s no formal process to go through for that to happen, it’s just a normal function of the planning system as inevitably, things change over time (most up to date policy is the primary policy).
25/19 Planning Applications
- 19/0105C Somerford Booths Hall, Hall Green Lane, Somerford Booths CW12 2LY – Advertisement consent for roadside signage.
Resolved Objection
Cllr G Silman left the meeting
- 19/0013C Land of Smithy Lane, Hulme Walfield – construction of event training and livery facility.
Resolved Objection
Cllr G Silman returned to the meeting
- 18/6406C Tanyard Farm, Nursery, Mill Lane, Somerford Booths CW12 2JT – Proposed change of use of land and business premises to residential dwelling and new garage building.
Resolved No Objection
- ‘Hardknott’, Giantswood Lane, Hulme Walfield CW12 2HH – proposed first floor extension, single integral garage and internal alterations.
Resolved No Objection
18/1014C Sandy Lane Farm, Giantswood Lane, Hulme Walfield CW12 2JJ – Conversion of agricultural building into dwelling. – it was noted this appeal had been dismissed.
18/2968C Dairy House Farm, Somerford Booths CW12 2LY- it was noted this application was being taken to appeal.
Resolved the PC would take no action as they had submitted ‘No Objection’.
26/19 Accounts
To note the balance of accounts = £14,161.31
Payments
- Cheque number 327- £239.74 Congleton Town Council
- Cheque number 328 – £200.00 Somerford Parish Council (J D H Services Ltd )
Resolved the above payments be approved and signed for as a true and accurate record.
Receipts
- Nil
27/19 GDPR
‘Use of personally owned computer equipment for Council business’ forms were circulated and signed by members.
The housekeeping was virtually completed, and the Retention Document would be published before the next meeting.
There was a requirement for a computer company to check the ‘back up’ was in place and ensure the ‘fire wall’ was operating. As part of the retention document the holding a period of emails which also needed attention and there was no trigger to change the password on a regular basis.
A contract was being devised between the newsletter provider and the website host.
Resolved to instruct the same computer package with Somerford Parish Council and share the associated cost.
28/19 Clerks Report
Town and Parish Conference 29.01.19
This had been cancelled.
Annual Parish Meeting
GRAHAM the appointed CLR contractors would attend to compete a presentation on the Congleton Link Road.
Elections 2019
The Clerk would attend a briefing on 28th February at Sandbach. Cllr G Booths made the Council aware she would not be standing at the elections.
The elections were on 2nd May and the results are not published until the 6th May.
Resolved the Annual Parish Council meeting would be held on the 16th May 2019.
Health & Safety Training 6.3.19 by CHALC
Cllr M Wakerly would attend.
The next meeting would be the on 7th March 2018 @ 7.30pm at ‘Westlow Mere’ fisheries.
Meeting closed at 9.51 pm