Minutes DRAFT - October 2024
CROWTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of Crowton Parish Council meeting held on
Tuesday 8th October 2024 at Crowton Village Hall
2024 Meeting started 7pm
Present
Cllr Ralph Oultram (Chair) (RO) Cllr Richard Thorne (vice chair) RT
Cllr Roger Hammond (RH) Cllr Jenny Currie (JC) Cllr Sue Dolley (SD)
Ward Councillor’s Gillian Edwards (GE) Lynn Stocks (LS) & Phil Rimmer (PR)
Clerk - T Whitlow (TW)
Notes
RA on behalf of the PC welcomed Cllr Sue Dolley to the parish council. SD signed the acceptance of office paperwork.
24/57
Apologies for Absence were received & accepted from:
Cllr Bob Stubbs, (BS) Cllr Roger Hammond (RH) Cllr Joel Rutter, (JR)
24/58
Declarations of Members’ Interests:
None
24/59
Approve Minutes The minutes of the last Parish Council meeting on Tuesday 10 September 2024 were approved & signed by the Chair.
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Public Participation:
None present.
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Ward Councillor reports:
GE:
Poplar Vale: Drainage works on Ainsworth Lane have been completed.
Flood Meeting: another meeting is being arranged with CWAC, for November.
CWAC Highways Volunteer scheme was discussed – to add to next agenda
TW
24/62
Matters Arising – from previous minutes (if not an agenda item)
TW confirmed that a wreath has been ordered for Remembrance Day
24/63
Correspondence:
Nothing of consequence that has not been circulated or actioned.
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Accounts/Financial:
1. Cash book as at 30.09.24 approved.
2. Bank reconciliation 30.09.24 approved.
3. Payments ratified/for approval
R September payroll
R T Whitlow WFH Sept £25.00
R JC refund screwfix (War Memorial) £164.37
R JC refund Paintwell (War Mem) £50.03
R Zurich insurance £363.00
A Crowton village Hall - Room hire 3 mths £45.00
4. Receipts
Bank Interest £2.30
24/65
Clerks Report:
Road Sweeper: TW has contacted Northwich town council for more details on their proposed ‘hire’ of their road sweeper following a notification in the ChALC bulletin. They are gauging interest and will come back with further info.
LCAS: TW would like to put the PC through the Local Council Award Scheme, run through ChALC – to add to next agenda with more detail.
Kingsley Road sign: broken sign found in the undergrowth on the MG has been reported to Highways
24/66
Budget 2025-26:
1st pass budget, circulated prior to the meeting was discussed. Some amendments made. TW to recalculate and re-circulate for further discussion at the next meeting.
24/67
New Financial Regulations (2024)
Circulated prior to the meeting, reviewed Resolved to adopt the new FR’s. TW to upload to the website.
24/68
Phone box- Onston Lane: this belongs to the PC, it requires re-painting. TW to obtain quotes for the next meeting. Number of quotes will depend on the cost involved.
TW
24/69
Planning:
New Applications:
24//02594/FUL Oak Hill Farm Ainsworth Lane Crowton - Single storey and two storey extensions (Resubmission to previous planning permission 22/02006/FUL, to increase the eaves and ridge height part of the original building and Juliet balconies to the first floor. Reviewed Resolved no objections
LPA Decisions:
No planning decisions have been notified to the PC or appear on the PLA portal.
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Annual Insurance:
Noted that the annual insurance has been renewed through Zurich Insurance.
24/71
Highways:
No new reports. Potholes continue to be an issue around the village. Members of the public are encouraged to report these via the CWAC ‘report-it’ app.
24/72
Millenium Green:
1. Update of scheduled work: Pooling has been noted on the new pathway, TW has contacted the contractor who will investigate.
The wooden fence facing the fields appears to be leaning. TW to ask JR & BS if they can rectify.
TW/RT/JC to source ‘no dog fouling’ signs
2. Volunteers: Volunteers will be returning in November – to ask them to assist in the bridge repairs. JC to contact RH to ask him to detail the work. PC to supply any materials required.
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Asset Maintenance & Register:
1. Fingerpost maintenance (Norley Lane): TW has had confirmation of the members budget for this project – contractor has been instructed to carry out the work – this will be weather dependant.
2. War Memorial Fence – A small working party have completely replaced the wooden bollards and chain link around the War Memorial, many thanks to all concerned.
The war memorial needs a clean – GE to forward details of someone who did some stone masonry work in Weaverham to TW to follow up.
Metal work around the WM requires painting, TW to obtain a quote.
3. Planters: Discussions followed on having the planters in the village re-lettered and/or signage added. Add to next agenda.
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Community Resilience Group:
JC has spent a lot of time updating the Resilience Plan, this has now been given to RH to add to.
JC
24/75
Items for next agenda:
Telephone Box painting Onston Lane quotes, 2nd pass budget for 2025/26, Highways Volunteer Scheme, Planters, village signage, LCAS, bus shelter.
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Date of next meeting: Tuesday 8th October 2024 at Crowton Village Hall.