Minutes of a Meeting of the Grappenhall and Thelwall Parish Council at the Council Offices

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE GRAPPENHALL AND THELWALL PARISH COUNCIL AT THE COUNCIL OFFICES, BELLHOUSE LANE ON THURSDAY 19th NOVEMBER 2009

Present: Councillors M J Biggin (Chairman), Mrs L K Fernyhough, R Fisher, Mrs M J Finnegan, Mrs E Fountain, I Fountain, D Hockenhull, B S Johnson, H M Kazi and Mrs E Welborn.

In Attendance: Janet Richards, Clerk to the Council.

130. Apologies for Absence Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ms W Johnson, C G Taylor, Mrs J Woolvine and C Worsley.

131. Disclosures of Interests No disclosures were made.

132. Minutes Resolved that the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 15th October 2009 be approved as a true record and that the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 12th November 2009 be received and adopted.

133. Correspondence from Warrington Borough Council (WBC) The following correspondence was noted: a) Letter outlining the proposed introduction of SAP into WBC to replace the existing Finance, HR, Payroll and Procurement systems. b) Warrington Public Rights of Way Forum, minutes from 7th October 2009 meeting. c) Copy of presentation given by Mark Tune, WBC, at the Speed Limit Review meeting on 26/10/09. d) Letter confirming that the new street name plate at Barley Road had been renewed. e) Notification that the revised Register of Electors 2010 would be published on 1/12/09 (the Clerk had requested a copy).

134. Correspondence Miscellaneous The following correspondence was noted: a) Clerks & Councils Direct Magazine, November 2009, Issue 66. b) The Clerk Journal, November 2009, Vol 41, No. 6. c) Letter from Warrington Partnership inviting the Parish Council to a Third Sector Partnership Assembly on 25th November at Alford Hall, Manchester Road, Warrington, from 9am. d) Letter from Lancashire County Council asking whether the Parish Council had any concerns over the loss of local outdoor sports provision as a result of the proposed sale of Massey Hall Special School to an individual who intends to convert the school back to a private residence. e) Cheshire Community Action: AGM 2009 – Invitation & Annual Accounts 2008/09. f) Cheshire Police Authority: Have Your Say, September 2009. g) The Playing Field Newsletter, Autumn 2009. h) The Mersey Forest in Warrington Newsletter, 2009. i) Warrington South Neighbourhood Policing Team, October 2009, Issue 20. j) Letter from Stretton Parish Council to confirm that they would no longer be able to continue financially supporting PCSO’s due to constraints on their precept. k) Letter from Grappenhall Toddlers Group thanking the Parish Council for the £200 donation. l) Letters of thanks from Cobbs Infant School Gardening Club.

135. Other Information for Noting The following other information was noted: a) Cheshire Landscape Trust allocation of free trees – Grappenhall Heys Primary School had requested 19 trees and Thelwall Infants School had requested 7 trees to date.

41 b) Following on from discussions held at the Play Equipment Working Group held on 27th October 2009, the Clerk had applied for a Play Builder Grant of £38,560 for a Natural Play scheme at Euclid Park Play Area. c) The Parish Council logo had been re-drawn by local artists One Red Shoe, as a community gesture, it was then utilised for the proposed signage on Broad Lane and also on the Parish Council stationery. d) Councillor Mrs E Fountain and Councillor I Fountain attended the borough speed limit review meeting. e) Elizabeth Park had been awarded £75,000 for redevelopment as a Natural Play Area. f) The Clerk and Assistant Clerk expressed their thanks to Councillor Fisher for kindly repainting the Parish Council Office. g) A Civic Pride Working Group meeting took place on 5th November 2009. h) A Grappenhall Heys Estate Committee meeting took place on 9th November 2009. i) The Parish Council GYCA Sub Committee were due to meet on 17th November 2009.

136. Bus Shelter Security/Funding It was noted that the Parish Council had been provisionally awarded a Stronger Together Grant of £1000 towards a new bus shelter security system. Discussions took place as to the feasibility of putting the system in at Euclid Park. It was resolved that this be brought back to Parish Council when the funding had been received, for a final decision on where the security system would be installed.

137. Road and Pavement Improvements in Grappenhall Village The Clerk briefed members on the proposals to improve the cobbled road and re-instate the pavements in York stone in Grappenhall Village (subject to funding), and asked for a volunteer to work with Councillor C Worsley. It was resolved that Councillor D Hockenhull would work with Councillor C Worsley on this project.

138. Experimental Order in Church Lane/Broad Lane The proposals to introduce an Experimental Order in Church Lane/Broad Lane, consisting of a ‘No Stopping Zone’ between certain hours were noted. The Experimental Order would commence during early 2010 and would run for approx. 18 months. This proposal had been a result of a community effort involving many people.

139. Residents Request to Cut Back 3 Oak Trees on Euclid Park A further request from the resident of 41 Euclid Avenue had been made to cut back young Oak trees on Euclid Park. It was resolved that the trees would not be cut back.

140. Request from GYCA to Cut Back 4 Leylandii A discussion took place in relation to a number of Leylandii trees which were causing damage to the gutters at GYCA from a neighbouring property. It was resolved that the Clerk would speak to GYCA to advise on possible actions that could be taken.

141. Requests for Financial Assistance a) GYCA Senior Citizens Group - general request for a donation. Resolved that a grant of £325 be made. b) North West Air Ambulance - general request for a donation. Resolved that a grant of £400 be made.

142. Financial Reporting The Clerk provided an up to date analysis of ‘spends to date’. No issues were reported.

143. Accounts for Payment Resolved that accounts for payment totalling £11,863.59 be approved.

144. Exclusion of Press and Public 42 Resolved that the public and press be excluded from the next agenda item on the grounds that the matter to be considered, contains information which is legally and contractually sensitive.

145. GYCA Councillor Welborn provided an update on the current situation at GYCA. It was resolved that a further grant of £5000 be released to assist in paying off debts. It was also resolved that Councillor M J Biggin and a number of other Councillors would attend the next GYCA Management Meeting to discuss the vision for the club.