ULNES WALTON PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF A MEETING HELD ON 11 OCTOBER 2004

In Attendance:

Cllr D Ormerod (Chairman), Cllr Mrs D Todd, Cllr Mrs E Doran, Cllr J Ascroft and Cllr P Mortimer

Also Present:

Mrs L Rowett (Clerk)

141/04 Apologies

Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr D Williams who was absent for personal reasons.

142/04 Quality Parish Council Status

The Clerk announced that the application to become a Quality Parish Council had been successful and Ulnes Walton had become the first parish in Lancashire to attain this status.

A special presentation will be made at County Hall on the 25 November 2004. Discussion took place on the arrangements for this event and it was agreed that if people from the community were not able to attend, a celebration would be held in the Parish.

143/04 Minutes of the Last Meeting

Minutes of a meeting held on 13 September 2004 were accepted and signed as a true record.

144/04 Matters Arising on the Minutes (not elsewhere on the agenda)

a) Dog Waste Bin (Item 118/04g)

The situation had not yet been resolved. The Borough Council had requested details of a contact at the prison that might be able to give approval for the location.

a) The Old School (Item 118/04f)

It was understood that the application had been submitted to the Lancashire Environmental Fund.

b) Prison Issues (Item 121/04)

A letter had been sent following the comments made by residents about the screening but there had been no reply.

c) Goal Posts (Item 122/04)

The Borough Council had agreed to provide new posts but not nets as it was against standard policy to do so. It had been suggested to the residents that they might like to think about raising money themselves to pay for some nets. It was agreed this was a good idea.

d) Boundary Signs (Item 125/04)

Lancashire County Council had given approval to the location of two signs but approval would need to be sought from South Ribble Borough for the sitting of the other two due to safety implications if located within the Ulnes Walton boundary.

145/04 Road Safety Issues – Southport Road

a) A meeting had been arranged with the County Council for the 19 October 2004, Members were asked to consider the points they wished to raise at the meeting. It was felt important to ascertain the criteria used for determining speed limits; speed and noise needed to be controlled. Residents should be consulted before any definitive proposals were introduced. The other problem areas around the parish should also be highlighted.

b) Members were asked to note the content of a letter from Mr Gilson. It was agreed that his comments were very constructive and the offers to help improve the situation should be accepted. It was felt important to maintain the dialogue.

The post box posed a problem and it was agreed that Royal Mail be contacted with a view to moving it to a more convenient site. It should be suggested that Mr Gilson do the same.

It was agreed that the problem with the ‘on pavement parking’ should be mentioned at the meeting with the County Council.

146/04 Secondment of Clerk to Action for Ulnes Walton

Following the successful bid to Awards for All for the start up costs of the group, an administrator/project manager is required for the first twelve months to establish the group and manage the projects. It was resolved that the Clerk be seconded for the first twelve months to this position with the Parish Council being reimbursed for any expenses incurred. After the initial grant period the situation would be reviewed.

147/04 Green Centre – Appointment to the Management Committee

Members gave consideration as to whether or not this appointment was still relevant. It was agreed that Cllr Ormerod should continue to represent the Parish Councils interests, but the situation would be reviewed towards the end of the Rural Partnership Project.

Members felt that there was a need to establish stronger links with neighbouring parishes and work together for a common aim.

148/04 Prison Liaison Committee

Earlier in the year the Parish Council were asked to make recommendations with a view to reconstituting the Committee to make it more representative of the local community, it was noted with disappointment that the Borough Council have chosen not to adopt the proposals. Members considered the best course of action to continue the dialogue with the Prison Authorities and it was agreed that the Borough be requested to consider the make up of the Committee again. It was important to have regularity to the meetings. It needed to be questioned of what relevance the meetings would be to Borough Councillors who had no connection with the Parish.

It was agreed that if necessary a local committee could be established and the make up determined by the Parish Council.

149/04 Financial Regulations

Members were asked to approve an amendment to the Financial Regulations to allow the Clerk to maintain a petty cash float for small items of expenditure.

Para 6.5 of the Financial Regulations currently reads –

The Council will not maintain any form of cash float. All cash received must be banked intact. Any payments made in cash by the Clerk (for example for postage or minor stationery items) shall be refunded on a regular basis, at least quarterly.

It was resolved that the following amendment be made –

a) The Clerk shall maintain as petty cash float of £50 for the purpose of defraying operational and
other expenses.
Vouchers for payments made from petty cash shall be kept to substantiate the payments.
b) Income received must not be paid into the petty cash float but must be separately banked, as provided elsewhere in these regulations.
c) Payments to maintain the petty cash float shall be shown separately on the schedule of payments.
150/04 Parish Council Notice Board

Mr Gilson had offered to relocate of the notice board at Oakdene Garage. It was agreed that this offer be pursued further.

There had been no success in contacting United Utilities.

151/04 Parish Plan Action

It was noted that many of the actions noted in the plan had been completed. The main items outstanding related to planning but it was felt better progress would be made when the QPS was officially in place as it would give more powers of negotiation.

152/04 Planning Applications

New application notified –

Retention of 2 caravans for occupation by caravan park employees for a temporary period of 3 years, The Royal Umpire Caravan Park. There were no comments.

The conversion of a garage to a studio and utility room at Garstang Farm had been approved.

153/04 Finance

The following items of expenditure were given approval – Neill Thompson £50 erection of notice board; L Rowett £91.73 salary October; Inland Revenue tax element of Clerks salary £25.87; D Ormerod £35 photocopying; Allianz Cornhill Insurance additional premium for willow weaving event; L Rowett £50 for petty cash float; Action for Ulnes Walton £133 transfer of funds from Viking event.

The Clerk declared an interest in the following item.

Discussion took place on the proposals by the LAPTC to change the method used to calculate to subscriptions. It was agreed that the Council supported the idea of using band D properties or the electoral count for the basis of calculation. It was considered that the smaller parishes were penalised and in comparison to the precepts of the larger councils any increase was minimal.

154/04 Matters of Concern

a) Vehicles Over Weight Limit

It was questioned as to what action could be taken against vehicles over the prescribed weight limit observed using Ulnes Walton lane. Such occurrences should be reported to the Police.

b) Wildflower Project

It was noted that land may be available close to Bullens Farm and Ernshaws Shire Farm.

155/04 Borough Councillors Report

Cllr Iddon reported on the recent report made to the Borough Councillors about grass cutting.
Cllr Dickinson reported that a new Police Officer had been appointed but had not yet moved into the Police Station.

156/04 Date and Time of Next Meeting

It was agreed that the next meeting be convened for Monday 8 November 2004 at 7.30 pm.

The formal business was concluded and time was allowed for a Residents Surgery.

Concern was expressed about the speed of vehicles travelling along Ulnes Walton Lane. It was felt appropriate to consider the use of a hand held speed monitor.

Signed ……………………………………………………………………….. Date……………………