STOCKTON HEATH PARISH COUNCIL A meeting of the Parish Council was held in The Sandy Lane Centre, Sandy Lane, Stockton Heath on Tuesday, 10 November 2015 commencing at 7:30pm. Present: Councillor C E Jordan MBE (Chair) Councillors S Barlow, S W Boggan, S L Dean, H J Dutton, W S Emsley, J Levy, L Murphy, W J T Pole, D Robb, S H Taylor, P Todd and P J Walker. 65. Apologies/Absence Apologies received from C E Jones and A Raymond. 66. Code of Conduct Declaration of Interests/ Requests for Dispensation No declarations of interest were made at the start of the meeting. 67. Public Participation Helen Curwen told Members that The Amado Boutique Hotel was interested in having the old lamppost as a monument. As the lamppost is not owned by the Parish Council and would be situated on private land then the Council has no involvement. It was agreed that the Clerk would arrange for the owner of the Amado to view the lamppost which is currently located at Sandy Lane. A Lymm High School pupil played the bugle at the Service of Remembrance on Sunday 8 November. The Parish Council was asked whether it would consider making a small donation to a charity supported by the School as a thank you. Recommended: subject to further discussion by the Planning, Finance and General Purposes Committee on 1 December 2015 a donation of 50 to be made from the Grants Budget to the Claire House Children s Hospice, the charity currently supported by Lymm High School. 68. Minutes Resolved that: a) The minutes of the Monthly Meeting of the Parish Council held on 13 October 2015 be approved and then signed by the Chair subject to the following amendment: - Min 58.4 to read: Most of the 600 credit would be used to pay for street signs and not Most of the 600 credit would be paid for street signs. b) The minutes of the Planning, Finance & General Purposes Committee held on 3 November 2015 be approved and signed by the Chair with all the recommendations confirmed including the resolution required by the Nationwide Building Society that one or more accounts be opened with Nationwide Building Society and that Nationwide Building Society is authorised to accept instructions or requests given by the business relating to withdrawals and transfers in accordance with the signing mandate supplied. It is also confirmed that the persons signing the declaration have the relevant authority to act on behalf of the business in the opening and operation of these accounts. - 1 -
69. Matters arising for Updating and Noting only where not on the agenda Monthly Meeting 13 October 2015 69.1 Marks and Spencer Cllr. Jordan told Members that the new store would be opening in December 2015. 69.2 Peel Ports reinforced barrier along the Manchester Ship Canal Cllr. Jordan told members that she has sent a letter to the Group Planning Director of Peel Ports. 69.3 Names on Stockton Heath War Memorial The Clerk told Members that she had spoken to the previous Clerk and found out that the earlier work on compiling the list of names was carried out for the purposes of putting the information on to the website. A review of the information reveals that there are 23 names listed on the St. Thomas War Memorial Screen that are not included on the Stockton Heath War Memorial or the Lower Walton War Memorial. The name that the Parish Council was asked to consider to be included on the War Memorial does not appear on any of the current lists. It was agreed that the Clerk should contact the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) to establish whether there is a protocol for adding names to war memorials. 69.4 Awning Piccolinos, Victoria Buildings An update has been received from the WBC Planning Enforcement Officer. Planning permission has not been granted for the awning/parasols and WBC Enforcement are actively pursuing the matter. The intention is to serve a notice requesting the removal of the two structures in the coming weeks. 69.5 Parking Cllr. Barlow told Members that the public were being invited in the newsletter to comment on the range of Parish Council options. The full parking paper will be made available on the Parish Council website. 69.6 Boundary Commission Review Cllr. Walker told Members that WBC have submitted a representation that is aligned with the Parish Council s representation. 69.7 Ackers Pit The Clerk told Members that an email was received, dated 3 November 2015, from the Bio Diversity Officer at the Environment Agency. The water samples have been taken but there is 50 day wait for the metal analysis. - 2 -
69.8 Parish Newsletter Cllr. Barlow thanked Members for submitting articles. The newsletter is currently being printed and is due to be distributed to residences the week commencing 16 November 2015. Copies will need to be distributed to businesses and to those Councillors living outside of Stockton Heath separately. PFGP Meeting 3 November 2015 69.9 Licensing Sub-Committee The application to vary the opening times at The Wine Bar, 101 London Road was granted and Determination Notice dated 3 November 2015 received confirming the decision. At the licensing sub-committee, Cllr. Jordan had been informed that there was no proposed change to the Sunday opening hours and had asked the Clerk to find out why the Parish Council had not been informed of this prior to the meeting. The Clerk contacted the Licensing & Support Services Team Manager who explained that the Parish Council representation was objecting to the proposed finishing times of 1am and how this would impact on the licensing objectives. Following contact from WBC Planning the applicant had withdrawn the Sunday opening times however they wished to retain the proposed increase in opening times for Thursday to Saturday and therefore the Parish Council s representation was still valid. 70. Clerk s Report The following correspondence/contact was noted and resolutions made where appropriate: a) The Clerk informed Members that there have been 115 hits to the website for the period 7 October to 10 November 2015. b) The Clerk had circulated to Members an email from Silcock s Amusements enquiring about the use of the Millennium Field on Walking Day 2016. The proposal is to have a small children s fair on site for the day. Silcock s have also approached Alexandra Park as an alternative location. Members discussed the proposal and agreed that further clarification is required about the use of the field. Resolved: In principle to support the use of the Millennium Field by Silcock s Amusements on Walking Day 2016. c) Email received from Shelter informing the Council that they would like to visit Stockton Heath on Tuesday 24 November 2015 in order to conduct a direct debit street collection. d) Email received from Apprentice Operational Support Licensing Officer informing the Parish Council that they have received an application from a street collection on behalf of Save The Children on Friday 27 November 2015. - 3 -
71. Defibrillator The Clerk had circulated an update to Members prior to the meeting. 24 defibrillators have been mapped around Stockton Heath, Appleton, Grappenhall and Appleton Thorn. Of these only five have access around the clock and none directly in the village centre. As Stockton Heath has a good level of coverage of defibrillator machines the best option is to try and move the machine located inside the police station to an outside wall. This would be the most cost effective option and the Parish Council could apply for funding for a case. It is proposed to relocate the machine to the entrance of the Forge Shopping Centre, alongside the Parish Council Noticeboard, as this is a central location. The Clerk told Members that she has contacted the Manager of the Forge and got agreement, in principle, to relocate the machine here. The Clerk will contact Clarks shoe shop, the owner of the wall on which the machine is to be mounted to ask for permission. In addition, the owner of the defibrillator needs to be approached. North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) are interested in helping to raise awareness of cardiac response in the area and discussions are ongoing. The aim is for NWAS to attend the Stockton Heath Festival next summer for public involvement and education. Promote Stockton Heath traders will assist with displaying flyers showing their nearest defibrillator, once the list is complete. Information can also be included in our June Newsletter. Members will be updated on progress at the next meeting. 72. PCSO Joint Funding Contract The Clerk told Members that although the PCSO was on duty this evening he was giving a talk to the local scouts and was unable to attend the meeting. The monthly crime figures had been requested but not received. At the October monthly meeting, Cllr. Jordan asked whether it was possible to organise a monthly PCSO surgery in Stockton Heath. Following discussion with the PCSO, police surgeries are to be held on Thursday 19 November and Thursday 17 December between 10:30am and 11:30am. Following discussion with Members it was agreed that the best location would be in The Forge Shopping Centre outside the new Marks and Spencer. The Clerk agreed to contact the Managers of The Forge Shopping Centre and Marks and Spencer to ask for permission. Notice of the PCSO Surgeries will be placed on the Parish Council website and on the Parish Council noticeboard. Cllr. Levy agreed to contact the local press and Cllr. Barlow agreed to contact Promote Stockton Heath. Cllr. Walker told Members that the current PCSO Partner Service Level Agreement ends on 31 March 2016. Under this agreement Stockton Heath Parish Council, along with the neighbouring South Warrington parishes of Appleton, Grappenhall & Thelwall and Lymm pay an agreed sum of 11,800 per PCSO per annum for three years for a total of nine PCSOs. Stockton Heath s contribution, based on Band D equivalent properties, is 15,777.40. The proposal is to extend this contract by one year to March 2017 and to increase the rate by 1% to 11,918 per PCSO. There is a meeting of the Parishes on 18 November to consider agreeing to accept the offer for the additional year. Resolved: To extend the current PCSO Partner Service Level Agreement by one year, to March 2017. - 4 -
73. Christmas Lights/Switch On Event Friday 27 November 2015 The Clerk reminded Members of the date for this year s event. The Christmas lights are to be switched on at 6pm. As previously agreed there is to be no stage this year but it is hoped to have a small podium on which the Chair will be able to stand to switch on the Christmas Lights. The Manager of The Mulberry Tree has confirmed that Father Christmas will be arriving and there will also be a snow machine. The Clerk told Members that discussions with the Parish Council s risk management support services provider, Terrain, and WBC Events department recommended the placing of Marshalls at the breaks in the railings around Victoria Square to prevent pedestrians stepping back into oncoming traffic. Cllr. Todd volunteered to help with this and to hand out carol sheets. 74. Stockton Heath Purple Flag Association (SHPFA) The final monies from the SHPFA, totalling 133.92, were paid over to the Parish Council via a cheque. The monies are to be ring-fenced. As the SHPFA was wound up and the projects shared between the Village Committee and Promote Stockton Heath (PSH) it was agreed that reports on PSH would replace this agenda item. Cllr. Jordan said she was hoping PSH would be able to speak at a future council meeting. Cllr. Barlow told Members that PSH had planned events in the village every Saturday leading up to Christmas arranging choirs, a Wurlitzer and free festive food and drinks samplers. 75. Councillors Reports a) Cllr. Pole asked whether there was a date that the temporary containers at the bottom of Lime Tree Avenue were to be removed. The clerk agreed to look through previous correspondence. b) Cllr. Robb: - Reported problems with individuals cycling on pavements. It was agreed that this was a matter for the police and Cllr. Walker offered to ask the Police & Crime Commissioner what guidance is given to officers. - Told Members that the planters in the village were very disappointing. Cllr. Barlow explained that the Village Committee had used the same scheme as in the previous year and it was still early in the winter season. They had agreed to include bulbs for the following year. Cllr. Dutton kindly offered to add some tulip bulbs and other Councillors volunteered to assist planting. c) Cllr. Todd told Members that she had received a number of complaints about litter and about bins being left out in the backs. Cllr. Barlow said that the issue of litter in the village is being addressed by the Clerk and Parish Ranger. The issue with bins being left out may be due to the Borough Council being unable to gain access in order to empty them. d) Cllr. Boggan told Members that she had reported a lamp out at 77 London Road. - 5 -
e) Cllr. Walker: - Told Members of the problem of overhanging trees along the pavement on Ackers Road leading up to the cantilever bridge. WBC do not own the land adjacent to the pavement and are unable to cut back the trees at this time as the situation is not considered to be dangerous. Attempts are being made to locate the owners of the adjacent land; - Reported fly tipping in the lower Forge Car Park, near to the recycling bins. The Clerk agreed to follow this up and to report to WBC if necessary; - Asked whether anything can be done to improve the appearance of old road signs. It was agreed to refer this to the Village Committee for further consideration; and - Told Members of flooding onto the pavements on Whitefield Road where there are dropped kerbs. There is a long stretch of road that apparently has no grids to take away the surface water. f) Cllr. Barlow told Members she has requested double yellow lines be painted on Evesham Close to prevent obstructions from parked vehicles. g) Cllr. Jordan: - Told Members that she had a list of blocked grids and the Clerk agreed to contact WBC. - Reported two incidents of thefts from handbags at the ALDI supermarket. - Told Members of a campaign run by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall to reduce the amount of waste and wondered whether we could write to the local charity shops to see if we can help raise awareness of the campaign. Cllr. Murphy told Members that WBC does not send anything to landfill. The meeting ended at 9:30 pm. - 6 -