Minutes 14th October 2025
CROWTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of Crowton Parish Council meeting held on
Tuesday 14thOctober 2025 at Crowton Village Hall
2025-6 Meeting started 7.pm
Present: Cllr Ralph Oultram, (Chaiman) Cllr Richard Thorne (Vice Chair) (RT) Cllr Sue Dolley (SD), Cllr Kathryn Brennan (KB)
In Attendance: Clerk - T Whitlow (TW)
Note
Resignation: Jenny Currie has resigned. Council gave thanks to Jenny for all her hard work and commitment over the past 4 years, she will be missed. Jenny is happy to continue as a volunteer for the Millenium Green.
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Apologies for Absence were received & accepted from:
Cllr Roger Hammond (RH), Cllr Joel Rutter, (JR), Cllr Bob Stubbs (BS),
PCSO Neil Flanagan
Ward Councillor Lynn Stocks,
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Declarations of Members’ Interests:
None.
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Public Participation:
None present.
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Approval of the last Minutes:
The minutes of the last Parish Council meeting on Tuesday 9th September 2025 were approved & signed by the Chair.
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PCSO Update:
Not present.
.
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Ward Councillor reports:
Written report from Cllr Lynn Stocks:
Cheshire and Warrington Devolution All 3 unitary councils have voted in favour of Devolution. Election will be held in May 2027. Intention to set up a shadow Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) in May 2026. Ben fletcher has been selected as the conservative candidate.
Greenbelt Survey is taking place at the moment.
Report from Cllr Gillian Edwards:
Sandbags have been ordered for the village use. To be stored at the Hare & Hounds.
Flood Forum Meeting 23/10/25 with the Environmental Agency and (possibly) Canal & River Trust. Hazel Pear, Acton Bridge 6.30pm all welcome.
Christmas Tree Wishes will go ahead again this year. More details via social media.
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Matters Arising – from previous minutes (if not an agenda item)
· RT raised the change of position for the memorial bench, and feels it may hinder the mowing of the area. Other suggestions followed. To be reviewed once the bench is purchased.
· RT has put the old village map up in the bus stop. Invoices received for the frame.
· RT has confirmed the Christmas Tree lighting event with the primary school of Friday 5th December.
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Accounts/Financial:
1. Receipt & Payments
Reviewed and approved. See appendix 1
2. Bank Reconciliation
Bank reconciliation as at 30.09.25 reviewed and approved.
3. Cash book and forecast Q2 reviewed and approved.
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Clerks Report: (unless an agenda item)
Charity commission return for the Millenium Green has been actioned.
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Planning:
New Applications since the last meeting:
None
LPA Decisions & appeals notified since the last meeting:
25/01925/FUL The Hollies Onston Lane Crowton. Proposal: Erection of a garden room Reference Number: 25/01925/FUL. Approved
25/02640/AGR Holly Bush Farm, Marsh Lane Crowton. Proposal: erection of agricultural building to cover existing yard and provide storage. Approved
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Highways:
· Cllr and TW attended a meeting with Highways bridge team to discuss the work to the culvert on the Millenium Green. There will be no action until 2026-27 financial year. Meanwhile the culvert wall continues to deteriorate.
· Tree overhanging the road also be discussed at the above meeting – it appears that many of those that overhang the road may infact belong to highways as they are in the hedge line. Tree inspection report has been sent to Highways. No response received to date.
· Consultation out for a new 20mph on Kingsley Road from The Stone house to just beyond Church Walk. This is due to only a few schools in CWAC not having been designated a 20 zone.TW to check with Highways if this could be moved further back towards Norley Lane, as seems strange that it runs as far as the church but only @50 meters before Meadow Gate. TW to request an explanation. TW
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Millenium Green:
1. General update: see 25.77
1. Volunteers: Volunteers were back last week. New safety mesh on bridge. Cleared the bank at Crewood end. Will be back in December.
2. Culvert Wall: see 25.77
3. Consider quotes for the replacement fence: Quote received for £270 for labour. The materials have already been earmarked. Total cost of fencing £828 inc VAT. Resolved to accept the quote. TW to contact the contractor.
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Asset Maintenance & Register:
1. Village Signage, Phone Box – Onston Lane &War Memorial Fence: Work in progress.
2. Memorial Bench due to delays, TW an alternative bench. A metal, bespoke memorial bench, similar to a few other local villages. PC asked TW to obtain a design drawing.
3. Further plaque for the War Memorial area. PC considered and Resolved to add a further plaque to the WM in memory of Liz Stubbs. TW to contact MOP who purchased the last one.
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Annual Insurance Renewal:
TW has reviewed the policy no amendments required. Policy £363.00 with Zurich Insurance. Resolved to accept the new quote.
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Domain Name:
Currently a big push on all parish and town councils to have a gov.uk domain name. Resolved to apply for crowton-pc.gov.uk. cost of domain £24 per annum. TW
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Website:
MOP’s have mentioned having a village page on the website. TW happy to upload documents, but not feasible with current website. Also concerns over being WCAG.22 compliant.
TW had given information on a company she has used for other PC’s to build a new website
at a cost of £450 including first years hosting. Resolved to have a new website.TW to action.
TW
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Community Resilience Group:
Ex Cllr has passed all information to TW. Waiting on JCEPT to update information.
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Defibrillators:
TW trying to contact the caravan park, at Pickering’s, as this seems the most sensible option. Lamp post defibs were considered, but GE informed the PC CWAC won’t allow this, even though there are many in Cheshire East. TW
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Village Newsletter:
Volunteers have come forward to distribute the newsletter. Cost to PC £600 per year. Resolved to join with Acton Bridge in a joint newsletter. TW to contact village groups for any items for submission. TW
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New Policies:
Document Retention Policy. Reviewed. Resolved to adopt. TW to update website. TW
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Items for next agenda:
Defibs. Newsletter.
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Date of next meeting: Tuesday 11th November 2025 at Crowton Village Hall.