Appleton Parish Council

Appleton Parish Council ______Appleton Parish Hall, Dudlow Green Road, Appleton, Warrington, Cheshire WA4 5EQ Telephone 01925 268153 Email [email protected] Minutes of the monthly Parish Council meeting of Appleton Parish Council held on Tuesday 20th February 2018 at 7.30pm at Appleton Parish Hall, Dudlow Green Road Appleton WA4 5EQ

Present: - Councillor S Benger (Chairman) Councillor K Arnett, Councillor B Axcell, Councillor I Axcell, Councillor J Bilsland, Councillor S Harris, Councillor J Price, Councillor T Stansfield, Councillor P Walker, Councillor J Walker and J Wheeler. Mrs. J Monks (Clerk), three members of the public and one PCSO. 1. Welcome and apologies for absence

Councillor S Benger welcomed everyone to the Parish Council meeting.

Councillor S Benger reminded all the Parish Councillors and members of the public that the use of mobile phones was prohibited during a meeting and all Parish Councillors were asked to use the microphones when speaking.

2. Members Code of Conduct and Declarations of Interest

Councillor S Benger declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to 2018/31940, 6 Hatfield Gardens, Appleton, WA4 5QJ. Householder - Part Implementation Of Approval Under Appeal (Ref. 2014/23981) Including Proposed Garage Door Details As Required Under Condition No6 Of Approval 2014/23981'. Councillor S Benger lives on Hatfield Gardens as such she did not take part in the discussion or decision in relation to this planning application. Councillor P Walker declared an interest in relation to Stockton Heath Festival as he was the Chairman of Stockton Heath Parish Council as such he did not take part in the discussion or decision relating to this item.

3. PCSO / Police report

The PCSO reported that there had been numerous incidents over the last month, including three anti-social behaviour incidents which included some incidents at Broomfield’s Youth Project. The PCSO was however aware that additional youth workers will be now recruited for this project. There had also been a couple of reported shoplifting incidents from the Co-op.

Councillor P Walker stated that there had been some anti-social behaviour issues in Alexandra Park in Stockton Heath and Stockton Heath Parish Council were providing some funds to the BYP project to employ extra youth workers.

The clerk asked the PCSO if it was possible he could have a look at the car parking issues on Hatfield Gardens following the complaints from the member of the public at the Planning Committee.

Councillor J Price reported a issue with a car causing an obstruction on Red Lane in Appleton.

4. Public Participation.

Three members of the public addressed the Planning Committee meeting with regards to the planning application for 6 Hatfield Gardens, (2018/31940). As Councillor S Benger had declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to this planning application she left the room for this discussion. The members of the public were concerned about the number of cars and vans that were parking along Hatfield Gardens whilst work was being undertaken at number 6. They had contacted the Highways Department of Warrington Borough Council regarding this matter. The clerk advised the members of the public that any vehicle that was causing an obstruction must be reported immediately to the police via 101 and that they must ask for a PCSO to attend to move the car/van in question. The members of the public expressed concerns over the current work and planning application for 6 Hatfield Gardens in particularly whether the new planning application would comply with current car parking conditions for any new builds/extensions.

5. Planning

The recommendations of the Planning Committee on applications received since the last meeting were accepted and it was RESOLVED that; The following recommendations be forwarded to the Development Control Manager, Environment and Regeneration, Warrington Borough Council. No Objections to the following applications – 2017/31615, Tan House Cottage, Barleycastle Lane, Appleton, WA4 4RF. Listed Building - Proposed installation of replacement windows to complement the existing design of current windows in accordance with Highways England noise insulation scheme and the fitting of a ventilation system into loft space. 2017/31619, Tan House Barn, Barleycastle Lane, Appleton, WA4 4RF. Listed Building - Application for listed building consent for proposed installation of replacement windows and patio doors and the fit of ventilation system into the loft space. 2017/31620, Hunters Moon, Barleycastle Lane, Appleton, WA4 4RF. Listed Building - Application for listed building consent for proposed installation of replacement windows, Velux's and doors.

2018/32032, 9 Beverley Avenue, Appleton, WA4 3BB. Householder - Proposed ground floor rear/side extension.

2018/32015, 5 Harrow Close, Appleton, WA4 5LX. Householder - Proposed Two Storey rear extension. 2018/32097, 37 Field Lane, Appleton, WA4 5JR. Householder - Proposed two storey kitchen and bedroom extension to rear elevation with link bridge to garage roof space, including increasing garage roof ridge with dormer to front elevation.

2018/32051, 5 Spinney Gardens, Appleton, WA4 4TJ. Householder - Proposed single storey extension to rear of house. Extend existing driveway to front of house. The Parish Council raised concerns to the following applications; 2018/31940, 6 Hatfield Gardens, Appleton, WA4 5QJ. Householder - Part Implementation of Approval Under Appeal (Ref. 2014/23981) Including Proposed Garage Door Details as Required Under Condition No6 Of Approval 2014/23981'. The Parish Council requests that the Planning Officer addresses the concerns and objections of the immediate neighbours. This comment was submitted after the Planning Committee meeting on Monday 5th February 2018. However, this planning application was further considered at the Parish Council meeting on Tuesday 20th February 2018 as several concerned neighbours attended the Parish Council meeting. Following the concerns of residents, the Parish Council would like to submit a further concern requesting that the Planning Officer checks that the planning application submitted confirms with the current residential car parking conditions on all new planning applications. Councillor S Benger declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to 2018/31940, 6 Hatfield Gardens, Appleton, WA4 5QJ. Householder - Part Implementation Of Approval Under Appeal (Ref. 2014/23981) Including Proposed Garage Door Details As Required Under Condition No6 Of Approval 2014/23981'. Councillor S Benger lives on Hatfield Gardens as such she did not take part in the discussion or decision in relation to this planning application. 2018/32004, 36 Chapel Lane, Appleton Thorn, WA4 4RZ. Householder - Proposed single storey rear extension. The Parish Council are concerned over the 45-degree code of the proposed extension on number 38 Chapel Lane. The Parish Council raised objections to the following application; 2018/32025, 40 Bridge Lane, Appleton, WA4 3AX. Change of Use - Proposed change of use from A3 Cafe to A5 Pizzeria. The clerk circulated an email from the leaseholder of 40 Bridge Lane shops for the consideration of the Planning Committee for their attention. The Parish Council wish to object to this planning application on the following grounds. There would be a significant loss of amenity for the flats above and immediately adjacent to this shop. The change of use to a hot food takeaway would result in additional traffic and result in additional car parking issues at Bridge Lane shops. The change of use would increase the litter in the immediate vicinity. The Parish Council noted as this is a residential area and the shop has living accommodation

3 above, if this change of use is granted there must be a limit on the opening hours and the closing time must not exceed 9pm. The Parish Council requests for this planning application to be referred to Development Control Committee and that Committee members undertake a site visit prior to any decision on this planning consent. Due to Councillor J Wheeler and Councillor P Walker being substitute members on the Warrington Borough Council Development Control Committee, they did not participate in the planning discussions or the recommendations agreed. For information, only – 2018/32031 5 Oakways, Appleton, WA4 5HD. TPO - Application for tree works to three areas of work: 1. Reduce/pedunculated Oak by 30% at Beechways Woods: 2. Remove a Sycamore and Elderberry adjoining 6 Beechways. 3. Remove dead wood from four red oaks at Oakways. Information Only. 2018/32117, 54 Kingsley Drive, Appleton, WA4 5AF. Section 192 Certificate - Proposed pitched roof to replace existing flat roof to garage and proposed rear dormer. Information Only.

The next Planning Committee meeting is on Monday 5th March 2018 at 10.30am. 6. Previous Planning Applications

Nothing to report.

7. Clerk’s Report and Accounts

The January 2018 statement of Receipts and Payments for the Financial Year 2017/2018 was noted, and the Members noted the Bank Statement as at 31st January 2018. The revised budget was also noted following payments. RESOLVED that; Payments were to be made in accordance with the payment schedule for February 2018 and the updated budget was accepted. The bank reconciliation and bank statement were both signed by the Chairman. The clerk informed the Parish Council that £20,000 has been transferred from the Nationwide Building Society into the NatWest current account to cover ongoing payments. The clerk had noted that the Parish Council had new external auditors from 1st April 2018, PKF Littlejohn and the clerk has attended a training webinar event. The clerk informed the Parish Council that the general data protection regulation (GDPR) is a new EU law that will come into effect on 25 May 2018 to replace the current Data Protection Act. It's the biggest overhaul of data protection legislation for over 25 years and will introduce new requirements for how organisations process personal data. Currently the Parish Council pays an £35.00 annual fee to registered with Information Commissioner’s Office. However, from May 2018 this will change. The clerk has circulated the guidance from the Information Commissioners Office to all the Parish Councillors for their attention, ‘Preparing for the General Data Protection

Regulation (GDPR): 12 steps to take now.’ The Parish Council may have to employ a Data Protection Officer, and this will incur a charge. The Society of Local Council Clerks have stated that they will provide a training course soon however the details of how this new regulation is be implemented are not yet known. Several companies including the internal auditors have offered their services however the clerk will await guidance before a decision can be made. The clerk was asked to contact Warrington Borough Council to see if there were going to provide any guidance to Parish Councils on this issue.

The clerk reported that the office phone had broken as such she had ordered a replacement. The Parish Council owned lawn mower has also been booked in for a service and the cost of this was approx. £70.00. The Assistant clerk had contacted a contractor and arranged for the smashed bus shelter window at Appleton Thorn to be repaired at the cost of £278.00 plus VAT. The clerk received an email dated 6th February 2018 from Warrington Borough Council regarding the consultation over the Local Plan Preferred option. The draft Local Plan is programmed to be published in autumn/winter 2018 and it will then be subject to a further period of public consultation. More information can be found at https://www.warrington.gov.uk/news/article/2582/public_s_views_over_20- year_growth_plan_considered. The clerk has arranged for a meeting with the representatives from Cheshire Police to discuss the new funding arrangements from 1st April 2018 onwards. The meeting has been arranged for Tuesday 13th March 2018 at 1pm and the clerk has invited representatives from Stockton Heath Parish Council to attend. Councillor J Bilsland confirmed that she had spoken to the PCSOs regarding this matter. The clerk reported that the Parish Ranger’s van had to be repaired at the cost of £158.00 plus VAT. The clerk confirmed that the Parish Council had been successful in the grant application to National Lottery Awards for All and has been awarded a grant of £2,725.00 for the renovation of the two-red old-style BT phone boxes. 8. Hardcopies of agendas and minutes RESOLVED that; The clerk would continue to post a copy of the agenda and previous minutes to Councillor T Stansfield. Hardcopies of agenda and previous minutes will also be available at the Parish Council meeting if any Parish Councillor wanted a hardcopy. 9. Tuesday morning library Following the move from plastic boxes to bookcases the Tuesday morning library would like to request the amount of £200.00 for additional items. RESOLVED that; The amount of £200.00 for improvements to the Tuesday morning library with the funds to be taken from Community library budget.

10. Wren grant application for Parish Hall Following the Wren grant meeting on Monday 5th February 2018; RESOLVED that;

The final quotation from Kingfisher Management dated 6th February 2018 was accepted by the Parish Council at the cost of £57,592.80 and that the additional expenditure of £4855.80 was approved with the funds to be taken from the earmarked Parish Hall improvement budget. The clerk was requested to cancel all bookings during the summer holiday period whilst the majority of the building work was being undertaken. All the Parish Hall users would be notified of the timescales for the project and advised that storage at the Parish Hall would be reviewed as part of the building works. RESOLVED that The sub-committee would decide the final specifications for the work, this would not be required to be approved at a Parish Council meeting. 11. Minutes of Wren grant meeting

RESOLVED that; The Minutes of the Wren grant meeting held on Monday 5th February 2018 (copies of which had been circulated to each Member) were approved and signed by the Chairman. 12. Draft Housing Strategy Consultation There is a draft Housing Strategy Consultation from Warrington Borough Council and the closing date for any comments is 23rd March 2018. The consultation is regarding the Housing Strategy for Warrington Borough Council for the next ten years up to 2028. Further details regarding the consultation can be found at; https://www.warrington.gov.uk/downloads/download/3115/draft_housing_strategy. RESOLVED that; Councillor P Walker will draft a response and sent it to the clerk. This draft would then be circulated and once approved be issued as a response from the Parish Council. 13. Enclosure Act The clerk has received a letter dated 13th January 2017 from a Grappenhall resident regarding the Homes and Communities Development at Appleton Cross. The Planning Consultant had stated that the Parish Council would need to seek legal advice on this matter. The clerk had contacted the Planning and Legal Advisors at the Society of Local Council Clerks and the matter had been discussed at the joint meeting of Parish Councils regarding the Local Plan.

RESOLVED that; The clerk was asked to send a reply to the Grappenhall resident concerned stating that the matter would be dealt with by the Local Plan Liaison group which is led by Grappenhall and Thelwall Parish Council. 14. Stockton Heath Festival 2018

The clerk received an email dated 9th January 2018 from the organisers of Stockton Heath Festival requesting a grant of £1,000 towards the cost of running the festival. In addition to this they have requested free room hire for the two events held at Appleton Parish Hall for the festival.

Councillor P Walker declared an interest in relation to Stockton Heath festival as he was the Chairman of Stockton Heath Parish Council as such he did not take part in the discussion or decision relating to this item.

RESOLVED that;

The Parish Council gives a grant of £1,000 towards the cost of running Stockton Heath Festival from the grants budget and provides free room hire for the two events held at Appleton Parish Hall.

15. Assistant Clerk

Following the resignation of the current Assistant Clerk the advertisement of a replacement was discussed at the Employment Committee meeting on Monday 29th January 2018.

RESOLVED that;

The post of Assistant Clerk was advertised for 15 hours per week, working hours to be agreed upon appointment to include some hours on a Friday. The post will be advertised as spinal column 26 to 30 plus contribution to Cheshire Pension Fund.

The clerk was requested to advertise the post with Warrington Borough Council on their website at the cost of £75.00 plus VAT and to advertise with Cheshire Association of Local Councils at the cost of £100.00.

16. Appraisal Scheme

RESOLVED that;

The appraisal scheme as discussed at the Employment Committee meeting on Monday 29th January 2018 was adopted by the Parish Council.

17. Employment Committee minutes

RESOLVED that; The Minutes of the Employment Committee meeting held on Monday 29th January 2018 (copies of which had been circulated to each Member) were approved and signed by the Chairman.

18. Minutes of last Parish Council meeting and matters arising

RESOLVED that; The Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 17th January 2018 (copies of which had been circulated to each Member) were approved and signed by the Chairman.

19. Parish and Borough Councillors Reports

Councillor S Benger reported that she had been contacted by a resident of Grappenhall requesting that the Parish Council organise a community litter pick. Concerns were expressed as the Parish Council were not able to undertake any litter picks on any roads that were over 30mph and the main issue was on the roads leading to the trading estates all of which could not be litter picked without traffic management. It would need Warrington Borough Council to litter pick on these roads and the Parish Council had submitted many requests to Warrington Borough Council for this. A community litter pick may be organised in the future however it would not be possible to litter pick on the roads near the trading estate due to the speed limit. Councillor S Harris asked the clerk to book the Parish Hall for two events in December. A Christmas light-switch on event for the first Saturday in December which will be organised by Warrington Borough Council South Area Board Team and for an evening event for the Parish Hall users.

Councillor S Harris stated that the family Easter egg Treasure Hunt had been organised by Warrington Borough Council’s South Area Neighbourhood Team for Saturday 24th March at Lumb Brook Millennium Green. The South Area Neighbourhood Team would like £50.00 towards the cost of prizes for the event from the Parish Council.

RESOLVED that;

The Parish Council would provide up to £50.00 towards the cost of prizes for this event. The cost of this would be taken from the Youth Work Earmarked budget.

Councillor I Axcell reported that the South Warrington News had published the letter from the Parish Council regarding their 25-year anniversary.

Councillor J Wheeler asked the clerk if the Parish Ranger could clean the signs around the phone box at the junction of Lyons Lane and London Road.

Councillor J Price reported that he had been liaising with Bridgewater High School and the Enforcement Officers at Warrington Borough Council with regards to the light pollution from the tennis courts.

Councillor J Walker confirmed that Stockton Heath Parish Council had received an apology from Warrington Borough Council regarding the lack of public bin collections over the Christmas period.

Councillor S Harris thanked the clerk for the publication of the newsletter. The clerk confirmed that it would be hand-delivered to residents over the next few weeks.

Councillor S Harris confirmed that she had attended a Planning training course provided by Cheshire Association of Local Councils on Monday 19th February 2019. The slides will be circulated to all the Parish Councillors for their attention.

Councillor P Walker reported that Warrington Borough Council were looking to increase the Council Tax for 2018/2019.

Councillor B Axcell reported that Warrington Borough Council had applied to Central Government for funds for road improvements in Warrington.

Councillor K Arnett reported that there was an issue with water freezing on the New Lane junction was water from the duck pond was overflowing. The clerk was requested to report this to the Highways Department of Warrington Borough Council for their attention.

Councillor K Arnett reported that there was a sandbag which had been abandoned on the layby on New Lane in Appleton. The clerk was asked if the Parish Ranger could collect this.

Councillor K Arnett confirmed that the speed limit changes had been implemented by the Highways Department of Warrington Borough Council. The clerk was requested to ask when the village gateways would be installed.

Councillor J Price reported that households were being asked to pay the green bin charge from Warrington Borough Council. Some households were being sent reminders by email. The clerk was asked to contact Warrington Borough Council to see if any other reminders would be issued to other residents.

Councillor J Wheeler confirmed that she has been liaising with Warrington Borough Council regarding the grass verges on Bridge Lane in Appleton.

20. Date and time of next meeting

Tuesday 20th March 2018, Planning Committee meeting 7pm followed by the Monthly Parish Council meeting 7.30pm.