Minutes - September 2023

CROWTON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of Crowton Parish Council meeting held on

Tuesday 12th September 2023 at Crowton Village Hall 2023

Present

Cllr Ralph Oultram (Chair) (RO), Cllr Richard Thorne (Vice Chair) (RT)

Cllr Elizabeth Stubbs (ES), Cllr Jennifer Currie (JC), Cllr Roger Hammond (RH) Cllr Joel Rutter (JR)

Ward Councillor Gillian Edwards (GE)

Clerk T Whitlow (TW) 2 members of the Public (MOP)

Apologies for Absence were received & accepted from:

Cllr Ross McCrickerd (RM) Cllr Bob Stubbs (BS) Cllr Joel Rutter (JR)

Declarations of Members’ Interests – none

Approve Minutes The minutes of the Parish Council meeting on Tuesday 11 July 2023 were approved & signed by the Chair

Public Participation. MOP again raised issue of the large number of HGV’s travelling through the village to gain access to a local business, also concerned that tree trimming along Station Road today was to facilitate the lorries.

Ward Councillors reports:

Cllr GE reported on a very successful meeting with TW at Forresters, regarding the speed of the lorries through the village. At their request TW sent them a letter for them to send to their haulier companies, complaining about the speed of the HGV’s.

Crowdfunding via spacehive discussed.

Highways meeting set up for 9th October.

Hand held speed monitor – a number of other local PC’s have purchased one, Cllr GE would contribute if the PC decide to purchase one of these.

Matters arising from the previous minutes – unless an agenda item.

None

Correspondence. JC has received an email to say the whips for the hedge on the MG will be ready between 13-17 November.

Accounts/Financial

1. Cash book as at 28.08.23 approved.

2. Payments for approval.

T Whitlow Clerk Expenses x2 months (July & August) £76.65

Clerks salary September

Highways - Cllr GE has organised another zoom Highways meeting for the Parish Council next month (see 23/33)

Again a few more potholes have been filled, but still more needs to be completed on Station Road and village end of Bent Lane.

Millennium Green

1. External fence – This on-going issue between the PC and Highways in respect of ownership which is still not resolved – Cllr GE to contact the deputy leader of CWAC. TW to confirm with highways that if the PC are to remove the concrete/metal fence from the highway adjacent to the MG that the PC would not be liable for any accidents occurring with vehicles running off the highway into the stream.

2. Trust - to remove the “right to purchase back” clause from the trust agreement now that the time frame has expired. A member of the village has kindly offered to take this forward.

3. To consider fundraising via Crowd Funding (Space hive) – as previously discussed JC to complete the paperwork for this with assistance from TW. To bring back to the next meeting for full agreement.

4. Purchase of new gates – Resolved to hold back on the purchase of the gates and put this into the crowd funding costs Resolved to purchase 2 new gate furniture to enable easier access.

Planning.

23/02391/FUL – Spring Bank Farm, Ainsworth Lane – Resolved to comment - The access drive has been constructed crosses what was agricultural land and therefore surely constitutes a change of use from agricultural to domestic/residential/commercial use. This could leave the door open for all sorts of development in the future which would be totally inappropriate for the site and location.

23/02619/FUL – Yew Tree farm, Ainsworth Lane. As this application was only received at 16.00hrs today Resolved for cllr’s to send comments to TW for submission. TW

Asset Maintenance & Register.

1. Tree Survey - TW has received 2 quotes for the tree survey on PC owned land. The trees on the parish field do not require surveying as not on open public land. Resolved to accept the quote of £250 from Frodsham Tree Solutions, they can carry out the survey at the end of this week. TW

2. Parish Council Field - TW had written to the tenant regarding hedges and topping of the fields, but it appears that this has not been completed. TW to contact the tenant again to ensure that the small field is topped, and the hedges are cut. TW

3. Review of Asset Register & Insurance values- Resolved to accept the assets register. TW to now obtain quotes for the insurance. The figure placed on the War Memorial is a notional figure, TW to try to obtain an insurance figure from a stone mason. TW

4. Fence around War Memorial- RM has manage to find some volunteers to replace the fence, TW to collect the materials from Gleaves at Frodsham. TW

5. Trees on Station Road – following the trimming of some trees today, RH to investigate which if any have TPO’s on them. RH

Review of meeting dates. The council discussed the bimonthly meetings. Resolved to revert back to monthly meetings from next month. TW to contact the village hall & update website. TW

Items for next agenda:

Insurance quotes. 1st pass budget 2024/25. Crowdfunding for the MG. Handheld speed device.

Date of next meeting. Tuesday 10th October.

The meeting closed at 8.30 pm

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