STRETTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held in St Matthews Church Hall, Stretton Road, Stretton on Monday
1 October 2012 at 7.45 p.m.
Councillors
L. Jones – Chairman*
D. Buckley
A. Cresswell*
J. Higgins*
T. Lyons*
D. Hutchinson*
G. Slattery*
* Denotes Councillor present
Also present:
L. M. Crewe – Clerk to the Council
12 Residents
K53 Apologies
Apologies were received from Councillor Buckley and Ward Councillor Kennedy.
K54 Minutes of Previous Meeting
The minutes of the previous meeting (3 September 2012)) were agreed and signed as a true record.
K55 Declarations of Interest
Councillors are reminded of their responsibility to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (hereafter referred to as DPI) that they may have in any item of the agenda no later than when the item is reached. Councillor L. Jones declared a DPI in Minute number K66.
K56 Planning Applications/Issues
K56.1 Declarations of Interest
It was noted that there were no declarations of interest put forward at this point.
No objections were recorded for the following planning applications.
Domestic Planning Applications (2)
2012/20639 -541 London Road, Stretton, Warrington WA4 5PH
Proposed single storey rear extension
2012/20568 – 38 Hatton Lane, Stretton, Warrington WA4 4NG
Proposed demolition of existing single storey garage and replacement with new single storey detached garage
Commercial Planning Applications (3)
2012/20619 – Fir Tree Farm, Fir Tree Close, Stretton, Warrington WA4 4NA
Proposed new shared access drive to Fir Tree Farm utilising an existing Track
2012/20648 – Fir Tree Farm, Fir Tree Close, Stretton, Warrington WA4 4NA
Application for prior notification of proposed agricultural building
2012/20687 – Fir Tree Farm, Fir Tree Close, Stretton, Warrington WA4 4NA
Listed building application for proposed demolition of non-original side porch, new external/internal openings, removal of internal walls and necessary remedial works to structure and fabric
Notice of Decisions (0)
2012/19554 – Northwich House, Northwich Road, Lower Stretton, WA4 4NX
Retrospective consent for Summer House and new entrance off Summit Close
Refused
Notice of Appeals (0)
Appeal Decisions (0)
Withdrawn (0)
.
K57 Finance
K57.1 Accounts Requiring Authorisation for Payment
L.Crewe – Standing Order
Clerk’s salary and expenses £289.52
The Print Centre – Parish Newsletter
Cheque No. 479 £217.00
Total £506.52
It was recommended by the Councillors that all payments be made.
K58 Correspondence
The Clerk circulated a list of correspondence and it was resolved that the same be noted and discussed by the Council.
Cllr Kennedy – HCA Land in vicinity of St. Matthew’s School – Horse manure/ inconsiderate riders. HCA will contact the owners to remind them of the rules for riding on the Highway. There is a no horse-riding rule on land belonging to PGT.
Rev. Canon Elaine – Request for information (dates) on Christmas Fair in Lower Stretton. The Clerk will inform her of the date, 2 December.
Resident – Hedges on Stretton Road. A resident has raised concerns about the state of hedges growing into the road. The Clerk will contact the Highways department to request they contact the householder directly and ask they deal with the hedges
Highways Agency – Land at Summit Close. Permission has been granted to plant the Jubilee Oak on the land. The PC was informed that the land has been passed to WBC for maintenance.
Resident – Request for planters opposite Cat and Lion. The PC the resident is keen to improve the area, though whilst the PC cannot commit to purchasing planters at the moment the Clerk will contact the resident to offer assistance if they wish to organise a litter pick, similar to the ones undertaken in Lower Stretton
Peel Ports – Master Plan Further Briefing. Information will be forwarded to the Councillors and the Clerk will register any interest in attending one of the two sessions.
Resident – Grid not working outside Garage. Following further complaints of flooding on drives the Clerk will contact the Highways Agency to request urgent repairs.
Cllr Kennedy – Live Music Act (for info)
Headteacher, St Matthews – Sculpture project. The PC received a thank you email for the promised financial support for the above.
K59 Stretton Old School Trust
Whilst the Councillors did not at the present moment have any ideas for a project for some of the remaining funds they agreed to contact Councillor Higgins if anything arose which would be suitable.
K60 Love Where You Live Campaign
The campaign is due to start week commencing 22 October. Councillors Higgins and Buckley have walked the area and submitted a map of appropriate lamp posts for the signs. Councillor Lyons had previously submitted lamp post numbers on Hatton Lane. The Clerk will liaise with the department to decide the best locations bearing in mind that if these are not suitable they can be moved over the four weeks of the campaign. A village tidy up will take place in Lower Stretton and around the M56 junction area just before the start of Love Where Your Live. The effectiveness will be monitored as the Parish Council can purchase the signs and have them personalised if they prove to be a success.
K61 Twinkling Stretton
Both trees will be lit on the weekend of 1st and 2nd of December. Lower Stretton’s switch on will be incorporated into a Christmas Fair to be held at the Ring O’Bells and Councillor Jones will liaise with Rev. Canon Elaine to make arrangements for the lighting of the larger tree in main Stretton village.
K62 Proposed Parish Web-site
The idea is in the early stages and information is still being gathered by the Clerk for discussion at the next meeting.
K63 Pewterspear Green Noticeboard
The Clerk reported to the Parish Council that the notice board whilst still in a good state of repair is in need of staining to protect it from the elements. The Clerk was instructed to obtain quotes for the work.
K64 Personalised Signage for the Village
The Clerk has been in touch with other Parishes and searched web-sites to obtain material on the above. This again is in the early stages and the Clerk will contact Chalc to obtain names of suppliers who have been used in the past and proved to be suitable. Prices will ultimately depend on the design chosen by the Councillors as each sign is bespoke.
K65 Councillors Issues
Councillor Lyons
The hedge bordering No 26 Hatton Lane is in need of a cut back. The Clerk will contact Highways to request they contact the householder.
Councillor Higgins
The hedge bordering Stretton House is overgrown and is in need of a cutback. The Clerk will contact Highways to request a cutback by the householder.
There is a damaged bendy bollard opposite the Christmas tree on Northwich Road. The Clerk will contact Streetscene to request its re-instatement
The fences on the lay-by opposite the hospital are still in a poor state of repair. The Clerk has endeavoured to contact the landowner on several occasions but to no avail. The Chair, Councillor Jones has offered to intervene and she will try to sort the matter out.
Councillor Jones
Following the heavy rain the drains in Hall Lane are not functioning causing flooding at the bottom of Hall Lane. Although there is still on-going remedial work with the drains in the area nothing appears to have progressed in Hall Lane. The Clerk will again contact Highways to ascertain a time-scale for the repair.
Councillor Hutchinson
Concerns were expressed about the revolving sign outside a shop on Stretton Road; it moves violently in the wind and has very sharp edges. As this sign is on a route regularly used as the way to the Church and School the Clerk will contact the shop owner to point out the danger.
Councillor Hutchinson commented on the very severe cut-back to the hedge on Stretton Road which is unsightly and appears to be catching all the rubbish which is blowing around the area. The Clerk will make enquiries as to who made the cutback and will ask Streetscene to litter-pick the spot.
There are many signs in the area which, unlike the A boards temporarily erected by tradespeople, are chained up to lampposts and signs. Councillor Hutchinson will furnish the Clerk with specific locations and she will contact the enforcement department.
Councillor Cresswell
There appears to be a collapsed drain on Well Lane which is adding to the flooding problems being experienced in the area off Northwich Road. The Clerk will report this to the Highways Department.
K66 Public Inquiry on land to the North of Hall Lane (Roots and Shoots)
Councillor Jones declared a DPI in this item and left the room, taking no further part in the discussion.
Councillor Higgins assumed the Chair.
The Public Inquiry is scheduled for the 16th October. It had previously been agreed that Councillor Higgins would speak on behalf of the Parish Council. There is to be a residents’ meeting following this Parish Council Meeting. Councillor Higgins asked the Clerk to inform the surrounding Parish Councils of the impending Inquiry and asked everyone to reach out to all residents to ask for support and if possible attendance at the Inquiry which will take place over three days.
K67 Public Forum
The state of the cycle path on the build outs near the Ring O’Bells is reported to be full of overgrown bushes and mud and impassable. WBC Highways department have offered the Parish Council the use of bench to be placed on the area off Summit Close, close to the Christmas tree and where the Jubilee Oak will be planted.
K68 Date and Time of Next Parish Council Meeting
Monday 5 November 2012 at 7.45 p.m.
The meeting closed at 9.05 p.m.
Signed as a true record:
STRETTON PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES –1 October 2012 Page 7