ULNES WALTON PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF A MEETING HELD ON 13 SEPTEMBER 2004

In Attendance:

Cllr D Ormerod (Chairman), Cllr Mrs E Doran, Cllr J Ascroft and Cllr D Williams

Also Present:

Mrs L Rowett (Clerk)

116/04 Apologies

Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr Mrs D Todd who was absent following an operation. The Chairman wished to record that the thoughts of the Parish Council were with Cllr Todd and she be wished a speedy recovery.

Apologies were also given by Borough Cllr Dickinson.

117/04 Minutes of the Last Meeting 

Minutes of a meeting held on 12 July 2004 were accepted and signed as a true record.

118/04 Matters Arising on the Minutes (not elsewhere on the agenda)

a) Presentation by Darren Wilson (Item 98/04)

Mr Wilson had agreed to put on a display for the event on the 9 October 2004.

b) Countryside Agency Photographer (Item 100/04f)

The Clerk had a copy of the photographs, it was hoped to use them to mount a display.

c) Parish Council Website - Registration under the Data Protection Act (Item 106/04)

The paper work had been requested and an item will appear on the next agenda.

MR MORTIMER JOINED THE MEETING AT THIS STAGE

d) Horse Issues (Item 108/04)

Leaflets had been obtained for distribution with an appropriate newsletter.

e) Dog Waste Bin (Item 112/04d)

There appeared to be a lack of communication at the Borough regarding the sitting of the bin, hopefully this was to be resolved by Cllr Iddon.

f) The Old School (Item 113/04) – Residents Surgery

The Trustees intended to apply to the Lancashire Environmental Fund for a grant to carry out a feasibility study. Members wished to record their approval of the action being taken.

119/04 Road Safety Issues – Southport Road

a) Proposed meeting with Lancashire County Council – it was agreed that Cllr Ormerod; Cllr Doran and the Clerk should attend when mutually convenient.

b) Members are asked to consider the content of a letter received from a resident concerning problems at the junction with New Lane
It was felt that there needed to be more enforcement of parking regulations to help relieve some of the problems.

It was agreed that a letter should be sent to the owner of Oakdene drawing attention to the problems highlighted and asking for assistance in reaching an amicable solution. A copy of the letter to be sent to the resident and other on the circulation list.

It was further suggested that it might be appropriate to consider a boundary change to incorporate the houses on New Lane into Ulnes Walton.

The problem of fly posters was also noted and encouragement was given to remove them. It was agreed that a letter be sent to a particular group that regularly posted signs and ask that they be removed after events.

At this point members agreed to suspend the meeting to allow a resident to speak.

The resident reiterated the concerns noted in the letter received and thanked the Parish Council for the concern being shown.

Normal business resumed

It was questioned whether the original planning application for a garage included a requirement for parking facilities. The Planning Enforcement Officer was supposed to be following up the matter but due to staff shortages this had not happened. The Clerk was requested to take up again the matter of delays in dealing with planning enforcement with the Chief Executive.

c) Speed Enforcement. It was noted that a mobile speed camera had been allocated to Southport Road. The Clerk was requested to ascertain how often it visited and for a copy of the results.

120/04 Quality Parish Council Status (QPS)

A draft Charter has been issued by Lancashire County Council was considered. Members are asked to make comment in writing so that a collective view could be expressed at the LAPTC Area Meeting on the 30 September 2004. The meeting would be attended by Cllr Ormerod and Cllr Doran.

121/04 Prison Issues

Members considered notes on the meeting with residents regarding screening programme for HMP Wymott. It was agreed that resident feelings should be conveyed to the Architects concerned and a copy of the notes be placed on the website.

A further request was made that the planting schedule be ascertained for the screening.

122/04 Goal Post Wymott Park

Cllr Williams declared an interest in this matter and took no part in the discussion

Several letters had been received from residents of the estate requesting that more suitably sized goal posts be installed on Wymott Park. The Clerk had consulted with Chorley Borough and it appeared they may be able to provide new posts, however this needed to be confirmed. In the eventuality that the Borough could not assist approval was given for the Clerk to seek grant aid.

It was agreed that letters be sent to the residents concerned advising on progress and an edited version of those received to appear in the next newsletter.

It was further noted that the standard of grass cutting on the Park was giving concern and damage was being caused to trees.

125/04 Boundary Signs

Wymott Prison is able to manufacture the chosen design approval was given for the Clerk to seek funding for the project. The location will need to be approved by the Area Surveyor.

126/04 Clerks Remuneration

Salary Scales – new scales have been issued by NALC, Members formally adopted the document in line with the Clerks contract of Employment.

Members adopted the recommendations that had been issued relating to the enhancement of salaries for Clerks attaining quality status. The Clerks salary point would now be 22 on the scale.

Model Code of Conduct for Employees. A model code for consultation has been issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, it was felt that the document was more relevant to larger councils and comment was not necessary.

127/04 Mersey Basin Week Event on the 9 October 2004

Members were asked to consider the final arrangements for the event. £400 had been secured from the County Council by means of a Green Partnership Award.

Parking presented a problem, due to the wet weather, field parking would not be suitable, it was agreed to cordon off part of the car park for pedestrians and use the lay-by.

A flyer was necessary to advertise the event.

128/04 Chorley Partnership

Cllr Ormerod and Cllr Williams briefed on the forum attended and subsequent letter received from the Chorley Partnership. The aim was for people to share expertise and work together on joint projects.

129/04 Parish Council Notice Boards

Thanks were recoded to Cllr Mortimer for collecting the new notice boards.

The notice board at Oakdene Garage has been obscured by a rack, so a new site is required. The Clerk had tried to contact United Utilities without much success to request permission to erect one at the substation. It was agreed this line of enquiry should be pursued and that if possible a temporary board be erected on the bus shelter.

130/04 Sand and Gravel Extraction Euxton

Members gave consideration to correspondence received from County Cllr Whittaker regarding a proposed sand and gravel extraction project.

Contact had also been made by Euxton Parish Council inviting Members to meet with Tarmac to discuss the matter in more detail. It was agreed this option should be taken.

It had been pointed out that the proposals would have a direct impact on Ulnes Walton as traffic would be accessing the motorway via Leyland Lane and some service vehicles would travel along Southport Road. Members questioned what the consequences would be if the development didn’t take place; if an additional junction could be created on to the motorway and what was intended for the restoration programme.

131/04 Chorley Hospital

Members are asked to consider the content of a letter from Lindsay Hoyle MP regarding the reduction in casualty facilities at Chorley Hospital. It was agreed that a letter be sent to John Reid MP supporting Lindsay Hoyle's views and the Chairman of the Wymott and Garth Club be asked to circulate the petition provided.

132/04 Parish Plan Action

Action for Ulnes Walton had been officially launched. £5000 had been secured to fund the start up costs of the group.

133/04 Planning Applications

New application notified – Conversion of existing garage to studio and utility rooms and erection of attached double garage to side, Garstang Farm Ulnes Walton Lane. There were no comments.

Applications given approval – Certificate of Lawfulness granted for business at Briercroft; formation of two sand paddocks at Lowe Farm; erection of agricultural building at Lostock Bridge Farm; erection of detached garage at Four Oaks.

Application refused – Erection of two storey extension to rear of Pear Trees Barn

134/04 Finance

  • Monitoring Statement. Details noted.

  • Revised Budget 2004/05. Due to incurring expenditure of an unexpected nature it was necessary to draw on reserves. The revised budget presented for consideration was formally adopted.

  • Audit of Accounts. The audit was complete and there were no points arising.

  • Approval was given to the following expenditure – L Rowett repair of notice board £10; L Rowett salary July and August £168.81 plus tax element to Inland Revenue £75.44; L Rowett expenses April to August £190.25; donation to North West Air Ambulance £50; HLBAV Audit audit fee £141

It was felt that the audit fee was extortionate and a letter asking for justification of the charges should be sent to NALC and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

135/04 Multi User Track

It was resolved that due to the legal nature of this item this matter be treated as confidential and discussed under reserved business.

136/04 Wildflower Project

The Clerk briefed on discussions with the Countryside Officer, it was probable that Action for Ulnes Walton would be more successful in obtaining funding for the project so it was agreed to hand this over to the Executive Committee. A resident had offered a patch of land for planting and it was noted that a further patch may be available. Further meetings will take place with the Countryside Officer.

137/04 Members Issues

a) Mobile Home

It was noted that a mobile home had appeared on land near to the River Lostock.

b) Untidy Hedge

It was noted that the hedge at the north end of Ulnes Walton Lane near to Nixon Lane still had not been cut.

c) Fly Tipping

Fly tipping is continuing on Ridley Lane and Pump House Lane. This would be brought to the attention of Environmental Services.

d) Bus Routes

New bus timetables had been provided but there was no clear indication of the routes the services took, it was suggested that route maps could be provided.

138/07 Residents Surgery

Borough Cllr Iddon drew attention to the following matters –

A supply of Parkwise leaflets explaining the new rules regarding parking enforcement had been ordered for the Parish Council.

There would be a briefing on the Community Plan during the following week

Cllr Iddon was meeting on a regular basis with the Planning Enforcement Officer to monitor progress on out standing issues.

Grass Cutting – a panel had been established to look at the specification.

An Officer from the Environmental Health Department would be visiting Oakdene to inspect the gas bottles as a safety issue.

139/04 Date and Time of Next Meeting.

It was agreed the next meeting be convened for Monday 11 October 2004 at 7.30 pm.

 

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