Sandymoor Parish Council 9 Walpole Road, WA7 4AY [email protected]

Minutes of the meeting held at Sandymoor Hall on Thursday 13th September 2012 commencing 7:30pm.

Present: Cllrs David Felix (in the Chair), Andy Lockyer, Jackie Watkins, Lynn Plumbley, Richard Eastburn, Simon Hurst, Adam Irvine, and Frances Street (Clerk).

1. Public Air Time – Due to the large number of members of the public present, the Chair proposed that:- 1. Public Air Time is deferred until after item 10 on the agenda and extended to a maximum time of 9.25 p.m. 2. New HBC Code of Conduct for Members, be brought forward from Item 8 on the agenda to Item 3. Resolved – That Council were in agreement that Public Air Time be deferred until after item 10 on the agenda and extended to a maximum time of 9.25 p.m. and New HBC Code of Conduct for Members is brought forward to Item 3.

2. Apologies for Absence - Apologies were received from Cllr Jo Wakefield

8. New HBC Code of Conduct for Members – The Clerk advised the meeting that Halton Borough Council (HBC) had adopted a new Code of Conduct for Members and commended it to the Council. Resolved – that the Council adopt the new Code of Conduct for Members.

3.a) Declarations of Interest – No Declarations of Interest were made in respect of the meeting agenda. b) Notice of Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and Other Disclosable Interests Forms – The Clerk advised that the completion of these forms were a legal requirement. Once completed copies were required to be sent to HBC for their records and to be published on the HBC website. Agreed that forms be completed by all Councillors and forwarded to HBC by the Clerk.

4. Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 19th July 2012 Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 19th July were signed as a true correct record with the agreement of one amendment. Borough Councillor Marjorie Bradshaw was not present and apologies were received.

Chairman’s Initials ...... Date ...... 1

5. Planning and planning liaison matters Two Planning Applications had been received electronically from HBC:- Application 12/00353/FUL – Alteration of boundary hedge to 38 Chatteris Park,Runcorn WA7 1XE Application – 12/00405/FUL – Proposed extension to Manor Cottage, Road, Runcorn WA7 2JP Agreed – That the applications be noted and no comments made. Halton Core Strategy Local Plan – Council were invited to comment on Public consultation on the HBC Core Strategy and Affordable House SPD being carried out between 20th July and 14th September 2012. Views were being sought on:-  Main modification and minor changes to the Halton Core Strategy  Consistency between the Halton Core Strategy and the New National Planning Policy Framework  Consistency of the Halton Core Strategy and the new Planning Policy for Traveller Sites

Resolved – That the Council had no comments to make on the consultation.

Homes and Community Agency – Nothing further to report.

6. Finance – a) Payment for Authorisation - Resolved – payments for authorisation totalling £529.74 were approved by the Council. b) Draft Budget – Resolved that the draft budget for 2012/13 be noted and agreed.

7. Councillor Training – Clerk advised the Council that it was proving difficult to arrange local joint training as ChALC ( Association of Local Councils) would require a minimum of 15 Councillors to make it viable to arrange training locally. To date interest had been shown by , and Hale Bank which, with the inclusion of Sandymoor, would only make a total of nine Councillors requiring training. The Clerk from Hale Bank Council had spoken to LALC (Lancashire Association of Local Councils) who had agreed to provide training locally at a total cost of approximately £190. Resolved – that the Council would agree to attend training provided by LALC at a local venue if a suitable date and venue can be found. Clerk to progress this with Hale Bank PC.

9. Updates on:- Sandymoor Postal Address – Clerk advised the Council that the Post

Chairman’s Initials ...... Date ...... 2

Office had agreed in principle to the inclusion of Sandymoor to the postal address, with the exclusion of properties in the Manor Park area of the Sandymoor boundary. Resolved – that the Council would support this proposition and that the Clerk to progress further with the Post Office.

High Speed Broadband – No further updates to report

Jubilee Benches – Parish Council still to meet with HBC to identify possible locations.

10. Policing Matters – In the absence of Police presence, no issues were reported.

1. Public Air Time – A large number of residents of Sandymoor attended the meeting to raise questions and concerns over a number of issues. The residents had elected Jeff Logan (a resident of Sandymoor, and also a HBC Councillor) to speak on behalf of the residents with concerns / questions relating to the:-  Proposal to extend the road network entitled ‘The Avenue’  Concerns regarding the proposed site for the new permanent school building  The Consultation which took place regarding the Free School – many residents did not receive a leaflet  A number of the Parish Councillors being involved with the Sandymoor Free School and concerns were raised over a conflict of interests.  The residents feel that the Parish Council are not representing the views of the members of the local community.

In response the Chair asked that members of the Council introduce themselves and state if they had any interest in the Free School and if so in what capacity. The Councillors responded:-  Cllr David Felix – in Chair – No personal involvement whatsoever with the Free School. A Governor at Daresbury Primary School  Cllr Lynn Plumbley – No personal interest or involvement in the School  Cllr Jackie Watkins – No personal interest or involvement in the School  Cllr Adam Irvine – No personal interest or involvement in the School  Cllr Andrew Lockyer – An interest in the School as a member of the Steering Group  Cllr Richard Eastburn – An interest in the School as Chair of Governors  Cllr Simon Hurst – An interest in the school as a parent  Frances Street – Clerk – No personal interest or involvement in the

Chairman’s Initials ...... Date ...... 3

School

In response to some of the queries raised the following comments were made:-

 In connection with the proposed permanent site for Sandymoor School it was noted that no formal application had yet been made. It was agreed that when Halton Borough Council (HBC) gave notification of a planning application being received, the Council would take the concerns and comments of the residents into consideration and reflect these in the observations and comments made to HBC. Resolved- that when the Council are asked to make comments/observations by HBC on the receipt of a formal planning application, that the concerns and comments of the residents would be taken into consideration.

 Concerns in respect of future proposed development being on a flood plain, were noted by the Council. It was also advised that discussions were underway the Environment Agency with a view to them making a presentation at the next meeting of the Council in October and this would be confirmed as soon as possible.

 Concerns were also noted regarding the consultation process in relation to Sandymoor School. The Council advised that they had not formally been consulted. Discussion took place regarding the possibility of any monies received from the Area Forum being used towards a consultation when a Planning Application for a permanent site was received. It was noted that residents wanted an open and transparent consultation process in respect of any planning application for a permanent school site. Agreed – that the Council would look favourably on using any Area Forum monies received being used towards a consultation when a planning application for a permanent site for Sandymoor School is received. The Council would also look at the possibility of holding an open meeting where presentations can be made.

 The concerns raised by some residents over a Conflict of Interests by some Councillors were openly discussed. The Chair advised that if residents were still concerned they could contact the Monitoring Officer at HBC or Cheshire Association of Local Councils (ChALC).

In conclusion the Chair commented that concerns raised by the residents

Chairman’s Initials ...... Date ...... 4

had been noted. The Council would ensure that the issues raised would be taken into consideration and residents views reflected in any responses made by the Council. It was agreed that Cllr David Felix would Chair the next Council meeting. Resolved – that David Felix would continue to Chair the next meeting of the Council.

11. Any Other Business – No other business was raised.

12. Date of next meeting - Resolved –The next meeting of Sandymoor Parish Council would take place on Thursday 11th October 2012 at 8 p.m.

The meeting ended at 9.40 p.m.

...... Chairman, Sandymoor Parish Council

Chairman’s Initials ...... Date ...... 5