Longton Parish Council

MINUTES of the COUNCIL MEETING held on Tuesday the 6TH DECEMBER2011in LONGTON LIBRARY

Present: Cllrs Gooch, Artis, Fox, Wignall, Underwood, Welch, Holmes, Turner and Kershaw

There were 2members of the public present together with PC D Pentall who arrived during public participation to and introduced himself to members.

110/11 APOLOGIES

Cllrs Cunningham & Coulton

111/11 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

It was resolved that the Minutes of the Meeting held on the1st November 2011 as previously circulated should be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record

112/11 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

None

113/11 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

The meeting was adjourned

A representative from the Little Hoole Action Group told the meeting that planning application2011/0304 relating to the installation of wind turbines in Little Hoole may now be withdrawn. If it was not then apparently the application would go to SRBC Planning Committee in January 2012.

It was mentioned that a 20mph leaflet drop was taking place relating to the areas which were to be covered by the new lower speed limit. It was suggested that the 20mph limit was not legally enforceable.

Mention was made that the new Three Tier Forums would be discussing the LCC Commissioning Plans at their first meetings.

It was mentioned that SRBC would shortly be taking responsibility for the cleaning of road signs and that other low level maintenance could be taken on by any local council subject to a devolvement of services agreement with LCC.

It was mentioned that LCC had now identified several areas of regular flooding and allocated funds to deal with these matters. A number of local sites had been included (see Commissioning Plans referred to above)

It was noted that a replacement of street lighting is taking place. The new lights use considerably less power than the previous ones thus saving on cost and also light pollution.

It is expected that a satellite office will be opened locally (Longton Library) once the Penwortham Station is fully decommissioned.

Lorraine Fulbrook MP has agreed to host a public meeting to discuss the potential for the creation of a Village Plan – SRBC Coulton will update this Council at its first meeting in January 2012.

The meeting was re-convened

114/11 PLANNING APPLICATIONS

2011/0752 – Single storey extension to front to form toilet @ Longton Methodist Church Marsh Lane Longton

2011/0767 – Single storey extension to side following demolition of existing garage @ 3 Woodside Ave New Longton

2011/0768 – Single storey extension to rear following demolition of existing conservatory @ 14 Highfield Drive Longton

2011/0779 – Raise the roof height over part of existing dwelling (amendment to previous application 2010/0832) @ Two Rivers Marsh Lane Longton.

It was resolved that no representation should be made to the above applications.

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115/11 PAYMENT OF ACCOUNTS

It was resolved that the under mentioned payments should be authorised:

001134 / W V McEnnerney-Whittle / Salary November 2011 / 492.50
001135 / Royal British Legion / Donation S137 / 100.00
001136 / CPRE / Subscription 2011/12 / 29.00
001137 / P Heise / Lengthsman / 1500.47

116/11 20MPH SPEED LIMIT PROPOSALS

Members had been asked to consider whether this Council might wish to make comment/representation to LCC concerning the proposed speed limit reduction to 20mph in this area.

It was resolved that a communication should be sent to LCC (copied Cllr K Young) seeking clarification as follows:

  • The justification for the proposed 20mph speed limits on residential roads in Longton and New Longton given that there is a very good accident record in this area and therefore little if any benefit can be derived from the spending of an immense amount of money which could be better used elsewhere in these times of austerity and why no consultation has taken place with the local area residents as to their views, in contradiction of the LCC Charter which commits to seeking local views on matters that affect them, before LCC issued its policy on this matter.
  • The justification for the introduction of costly 20 mph limits/controls around school areas in Longton and New Longton given that vehicles are in the main unable to reach a speed of 20mph during school start and finish times due to the natural restrictions imposed by parked cars and cars dropping off children and therefore monies are being spent for no real benefit when such funds might be better spent elsewhere and why again no consultation has taken place with the local area residents as to their views, in contradiction of the LCC Charter which commits to seeking local views on matters that affect them, before LCC issued its policy on this matter.

117/11 PLANNING CONSULTATIONS

Members had been asked to consider representation to the following Consultations:

  • Core Strategy Proposed Housing Related Changes (details already circulated)
  • SRBC Preferred Site Allocations Plan Consultation (details already circulated)
  • Policy C4 BAE Systems, Samlesbury (additional policy to SRBC PSAPC – Papers enclosed)

It was resolved that no representation should be made to any of the above consultation documents.

118/11 LENGTHSMAN FUNDING

Members noted that new funding arrangements for the lengthsman as set out in the papers accompanying the agenda had been initiated. Basically the Parish Council would not receive any ‘up front’ grant. Payment in line with a ‘tariff’ would be paid to the Parish Council for PROW works undertaken but only for those works which were agreed and allocated in advance with LCC using the usual PROW reporting system.

Chairman

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