RAINFORD PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF A MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 22 JULY 2013 COMMENCING AT 7 PM IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER AT RAINFORD VILLAGE HALL
Present Councillors K Aspinall, I Brown, J Collins, D Grice, A Jones, L Jones, P Jones,
R Leach, M Lee, M Lyons, D Monk (Chairman), R Reynolds, D Wesley
In attendance S Powell (Parish Clerk)
27. APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from Councillors D Nichols and R Nichols
RESOLVED: THAT APOLOGIES BE ACCEPTED
28. DECLARATION OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest
29. POLICE REPORT
Merseyside Police were unable to be represented at the meeting but sent the following Police report.
Burglary 5 Assault 0
Criminal Damage 0 Anti-Social Behaviour incidents 4
Theft (Other) 4 Arrests 4
Theft of (or from) a Motor Vehicle 0
The meeting was informed about an incident which took place outside the Eagle & Child Public House on Saturday 20 July 2013, when a man was assaulted. He was taken to hospital and is in a serious but stable condition. The accused perpetrator has been interviewed by the police and bailed. The police investigation is on-going and further information will be given by them when appropriate.
The meeting was also informed that there are suggested changes to the way St Helens is currently policed which will affect Rainford. Councillor A Jones and other borough councillors are meeting with the Police Area Commander in August to discuss the future policing of Rainford.
RESOLVED: THAT THE POLICE REPORT BE ACCEPTED
30. TO APPROVE AS A CORRECT RECORD THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING ON MONDAY 24 JUNE 2013
The minutes of the previous meeting were approved with the following amendments:
1. An apology was received from Councillor R Nichols and he was not, in fact, present at the meeting
2. Page 6 under Borough Council should read ‘Pathway updating schedule’, not Highway.
RESOLVED: THAT THE MINUTES BE APPROVED AND SIGNED AS A CORRECT RECORD
31. MATTERS ARISING
Absent: JC wished it to be noted that she was not at the previous meeting as she had not received a copy of the minutes and had not been told about the meeting.
Item 6 - To hear and respond to any questions/deputations by Councillors or members of the public – The Linear Park: AJ informed the meeting that he had had complaints from, and discussions with members of the public regarding the Linear Park.
Item 7: – Other information: AJ noted that at the Summer Festival the Parish Council display had posters giving information about a Wedding Fayre and a Business Breakfast which are being held in the Village Hall in September. He asked what the purpose of these two events was and under whose authority they had been sanctioned. A short discussion took place and the meeting was informed that they were both community initiatives with the intention of publicising the Parish Council, highlighting the Village Hall as a venue and assisting local businesses.
Item 8.1 –Finance, Planning & Administration – Finance: KA stated and there was general agreement that the look of the railings outside the building was much improved since they have been painted.
Item 8.1 – Planning Application P/2013/0373: AJ informed the meeting that this application would probably be before St Helens Council on 6 August 2013.
Item 8.1 - Community Development – Website: IB stated that the website was very good and easy to navigate. LJ suggested that clarification regarding issues such as the confusion over Wards could be put on the website and DM reminded the meeting that the website remains a ‘work in progress’.
Item 8.1 – Community Development - Annual Report: AJ stated that he had received both good and bad feedback regarding the Annual Report. One resident had commented that the money spent on the report could have been spent on other things and another that they were confused about the Ward representatives. AJ suggested that Parish Councillors who are also Borough Councillors should be highlighted in next year’s report. DW stated that she had only received positive comments regarding the Annual Report.
32. TO HEAR AND RESPOND TO ANY QUESTIONS/DEPUTATIONS BY COUNCILLORS OR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
None
33. CORRESPONDENCE
33.1 Letter received from West Lancs Borough Council regarding a schedule of Main Modifications on the Local Plan. AJ informed the meeting that planners in St Helens have stated that there is nothing in this plan that affects Rainford as a neighbouring Council.
33.2 Email from a resident with queries after receiving the Annual Report.
33.3 Letter from the Campaign for Rural England asking if the Council wishes to renew its membership
RESOLVED: THAT RAINFORD PARISH COUNCIL SHOULD RENEW ITS MEMBERSHIP OF THE CAMPAIGN FOR RURAL ENGLAND
33.4 Email from a resident regarding overgrown hedges on Bushey Lane and traffic on Windermere Drive. This was referred to the Borough Councillors.
33.5 Letter from a disabled resident regarding the barrier gates which will be put on the Linear Park and parked cars and vans in Old Lane.
33.6 Letter from a resident in Skelmersdale who received a parking ticket when shopping in Rainford. Letters were also sent to Borough Councillors and the police.
33.7 Email from Gill Pinder in the Planning Department at St Helens Council regarding a Call for Sites which St Helens Council will be starting shortly. A meeting has been arranged for Parish Councillors to explain the procedures being undertaken and the possible outcomes.
RESOLVED: THAT COUNCILLORS BROWN, COLLINS AND GRICE WILL ATTEND THE MEETING ON 8 AUGUST 2013
33.8 Email from Noel James re a Historic Towns Forum Tourism and Neighbourhood Planning Event
33.9 Email from Paul Walton about the reasons Firenze left the offices in the Village Hall and asking for the two weeks rent owing to be waived. Councillor D Nichols had sent an email asking that no-one replied to the email as it was a legal matter.
RESOLVED: THAT THIS MATTER BE DELEGATED TO THE FINANCE, PLANNING & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE (WHICH WILL MEET IN AUGUST) IN CONSULTATION WITH COUNCILLOR R NICHOLS
34. COMMITTEE & COUNCILLOR REPORTS
34.1 Finance, Planning & Administration
Finance
- The meeting agreed that another fly screen should be purchased for the external kitchen door as the one purchased 2 years ago cannot be found.
- It was also agreed that a stable style door should be purchased for the ground floor office that the Clerk and Admin Assistant are moving in to.
- Some of the sandstone decoration on the outside of the Village Hall has begun to disintegrate. It was agreed that this should be investigated.
- A request had been received from the Rainford Heritage Society for a donation towards the cost of the Heritage weekend in September. After a short discussion it was agreed that the Parish Council should not provide further funds on this occasion as the Main Hall and Reception Room were being used free of charge for the weekend and one organisation could not receive preferential treatment.
- Finalisation of the year end accounts 2012 -2013. Copies of the draft accounts had been circulated prior to the meeting. These accounts are still subject to Internal Audit. Various minor queries were raised.
RESOLVED: THAT THE YEAR END ACCOUNTS FOR 2012 – 2013 BE ACCEPTED
Accounts for payment – See attached appendix with summary of the income and expenditure for the first quarter
RESOLVED: THAT THE FINANCE REPORT BE ACCEPTED AND AGREED
Planning
8 sets of plans were considered by the meeting, as follows. All plans were accepted en bloc.
P/2013/0470 7 Church Road, Rainford, WA11 8HE No objection
Installation of roller spikes to the flat roof areas to the rear of the store
P/2013/0471 7 Mossborough Road, Rainford WA11 8QN No objection
Single storey rear extension
P/2013/0473 Corpus Christi RC Primary School, Rainford, WA11 8JF No objection
Erection of 2 Aluminium signs
P/2013/0495 Rainford High Technology College, Rainford, WA11 8NY No objection
Consent to display 2 no. free standing signs to car-parking area
P/2013/0500 18 Muncaster Drive, Rainford, WA11 8NR No objection
Single storey side and rear extension
P/2013/0506 7 Kings Moss Lane, Kings Moss, WA11 8RF No objection
Proposed extensions to form additional domestic accommodation to
existing bungalow to suit the needs of the disabled applicant
P/2013/0531 Bridge Farm, News Lane, Rainford, WA11 7JY No objection
Change of use: Conversion and extension of existing farm building to
form tea-room and shop
P/2013/0520 91 Church Road, Rainford, WA11 8EZ No objection
Conservation Area Consent. Replacement of front and rear windows.
Original stained glass units to be removed, cleaned and encapsulated
then refitted to new UPVC window frames. The layout, style and
approximate dimensions of the replacement windows will be the same as
the existing units
RESOLVED: THAT ALL PLANS BE ACCEPTED
Administration
There was a short discussion regarding the attire of the bar staff at recent functions. There was general agreement that the Junction is providing a good service in managing the bar.
34.2 Community Development
- Following the Business Breakfast on 27 September 2013, it is hoped that one or two members of the business community will join the Community Development Committee.
- The first Rainford Summer Festival was excellent. It was well attended and well organised and it is hoped it will become an annual event.
- DW reported that there had been 2 resignations from the committee by members who were not Councillors, but despite this the last meeting had been very positive.
- It is intended to produce 2 newsletters per year (in addition to the Annual Report) in October and February
RESOLVED: THAT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT BE ACCEPTED
34.3 Communications
- Enquiries are being received on a regular basis via the website.
34.4. BOROUGH COUNCIL REPORT
Due to the Council Improvement Fund there will be an extra £10,000 to spend in Rainford on the improvement of facilities. There will be no Christmas street lights this year due to the high cost last year.
35. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
JC congratulated AJ on his role in having parts of Springfield tarmacked.
36. DATES FOR DIARY
31 August Rainford Show
14 & 15 September Heritage Weekend
22 September Wedding Fayre
27 September Business Breakfast
14 – 17 October Art Exhibition
8 & 9 November Dambusters’ Concerts (Rainford Band)
10 November Remembrance Day
9 December Festival of Carols
13 – 15 December Christmas Tree Festival – All Saints Church
14 December Rainford Band Christmas Concert
Signed: ……………………………………………………………………………… Chairman
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