Dear Resident, April 2013 You are invited to attend the Annual Parish Council meeting of the Council to be held on Tuesday 16th April 2013 at 7.30pm at Cranage Village Hall. This will provide an opportunity to raise questions or comments on the work of the council throughout the past year. A copy of the Chairman’s Annual report and a summary of the Parish Council’s accounts for the financial year, as well as the Spring newsletter, are attached. Yours sincerely, Julie Mason Parish Clerk. AGENDA 1. Welcome and apologies 2. Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on Tuesday 20th March 2012. 3. Matters arising from the minutes . 4. Chairman’s Report. 5. Financial Report 6.A open discussion with the leader of Cheshire East Council - Councillor M. Jones. 7. Questions from residents (written e mail or note to clerk beforehand would be helpful). 8. Presentation from Village Hall Committee. 9. Refreshments. Accounts Summary from April 2012 to March 2013. Balance at 01.04.13 80,117.00 Receipts Precept 20,000.00 Interest 2,016.00 Wayleave 50.00 Rent 50.00 TOTAL 22,116.00 Payments Wages/Expenses 3,370.00 HMRC 11.00 Planning Application 420.00 Training 60.00 CHALC membership 280.00 Room hire 272.00 Insurance 490.00 Playing fields membership 16.00 Printers 425.00 CCA membership 16.00 CPRE membership 29.00 Audit Commission 162.00 Notice board Maintenance 640.00 Solicitors fee land search 100.00 Byley PCC 100.00 Website 300.00 TOTAL 6.691.00 Balance at March 2012 - £95,542.00 CRANAGE PARISH COUNCIL SPRING NEWSLETTER – APRIL 2013 Guest Speaker for 2013 Councillor Michael Jones is our guest speaker this year which is very exciting for Cranage. He is the ward Councillor for Bunbury, the leader of Cheshire East Council and the leader of the Conservative Party. A very busy man ! Please come along and listen to him speak. He is very responsive to questions so it will be an ideal opportunity not only to discuss our Parish but any Cheshire East issues. Good Companions Bowling Club The Parish Council have been approached by Cheshire East to consider taking over the Good Companions Bowling Club. The clubhouse is in need of re building and if retained by Cheshire East, approved builders will have to be utilised which may be too expensive for the club. If the bowling clubhouse is transferred and the land rented for a fixed term to Cranage Parish Council the members of the Bowling Club can employ their own approved builders and be able to afford a new clubhouse. It is a long process to transfer the asset but one the Parish Council is currently trying to support. The legal implications of transferring the asset are extensive as not only do Cheshire East have to transfer the asset to the Parish Council we have to set up a lease with the bowling club and ensure their building costs and standards are carried out satisfactorily. Playing Field development Members of the Parish Council have given up a great amount of time to this development and last year were pursued by Cheshire East to instruct a new topographical survey in order to proceed with the project. At the present time, it seems that the landowner will not sell a section of land to let Holmes Chapel and Cranage continue building a foot bridge/cycleway over the River Dane. In addition, the Parish Council have tried since last November to arrange a meeting with Cheshire East to commence the initial stages of a footpath/bridleway in the area but, unfortunately, we are still waiting. The project is being stalled by Cheshire East and we are seeking the support of our ward Councillors (Councillor A Kolker and Councillor L Gilbert) in order to move forward after completing the topographical survey. It is an issue we intend to raise at the Annual meeting. Precept 2013/14 You will all be aware that Cheshire East has frozen the Council tax this year. Cranage Parish Council has also reduced their precept this year to £10,000 from £20,000 due to extent of funds being held. Footpath and Tree Officers Our two new officers Tim and Amanda have settled in very well as our officers. They provide us with up to date reports on all the footpaths and tree issues throughout the parish after walking them regularly. There is currently some confusion around footpath 15 near Glebe Farm and this is an update; “This public right of way has not been legally diverted from the route that was originally put on the Definitive Map in the 1950s. Many years ago, there were caravans erected on the Definitive Alignment and this alternative route came into being. The new landowner would like to resolve these anomalies and is therefore on the waiting list of diversion proposals (approx 12 months) to formally divert the legal line. However, this may not necessarily be on to the route that most people currently use (the permissive route). Cheshire East Council will not agree to any diversion that is detrimental to the public. When it comes to the top of the list, the Parish Council will, as always, be consulted on the proposals. I have met the landowner and he has stated he will not and has no intention to prevent the public from using this footpath. “ The Clerk reports issues to Cheshire East and they are usually resolved within two to three weeks. We hope you have noticed the footpath from Cranage to Holmes Chapel along the A50 has recently been cut back and cleared. A great improvement for walkers and joggers. Planning Applications There are planning applications arriving constantly that we have to comment and make observations about to Cheshire East, the planning authority. The Parish Councillors are at the ‘grass roots’ of the government tier and application responses usually have the best most up to date knowledge. The application 13/0580C Woodside Golf Club is one of the larger developments proposed currently and the Parish Council have supported the application as they feel it would be a great asset to the community of Cranage. For residents to have access to the leisure and recreational amenities at a reduced cost would be an excellent benefit for families. Defibrillator The Parish Council have resolved to purchase a defibrillator for the Parish. They are in process of talking to the North West Ambulance manager and are considering siting it at Hayley Conference Centre. Cranage Parish Council feel it would be accessible to everyone for 24 hours there. When installed they will ensure via Mrs Sally Ball from Goostrey that as many people as possible in the Parish will be trained. Please contact the Clerk if you are interested. Sandbach Almshouses Charity This Charity has existed for over three hundred years and the Clerk and Trustees administer the 29 properties, which consist of flats and houses, for occupation, situated at The Hill and Charlesworth Court, in Sandbach. The rented accommodation was, originally, for “the retired older persons of the Ancient Parish of Sandbach.” Inhabitants of a wide rural area “within the townships of the parish of Sandbach” are eligible to apply to participate in the benefits of this Charity, within the jurisdiction of the Charity Commission. The townships included, as well as Sandbach town, are Arclid, Betchton,Blackden, Bradwall, Cotton, Cranage, Goostrey, Hassall, Holmes Chapel, Lees, Twemlow and Wheelock, Anyone who would like to apply for accommodation and wishes to be included on the existing waiting list should contact the Clerk at the address below. A. H. Roberts – Clerk, Sandbach Almshouses Charity, The Gables, 20 Crewe Road, SANDBACH, CW11 4NE. Tel: 01270 762547 Report from Cranage Pre School Cranage Pre-school was established in 1975 and is located at Cranage Village Hall and since then has maintained a strong standing in the local community and nearby area. We are a registered charity and are run by a committee of parents who play an active role in the ongoing develpoment of the group. We have a reputation for high quality care and education and our aim is to encourage the development and education of Pre-school children in a safe and stimulating environment. We have a philosophy of fun and friendship with an emphasis on learning through play. Our curriculum is based on Development Matters in the Early Years Foundation Stage and is delivered through play and via a variety of adult and child initiated activities within both our indoor and outdoor environments. We have a fully enclosed play area, large playing field, surrounding woods and a large car park. We are open term time only, full days on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday am. We have established links with all local schools and parents have the flexibility to choose any combination of sessions and lunchtimes to suit their individual requirements. For further information please contact [email protected] 01477 534840 07933767430 Report from Village Hall Committee Cranage Village Hall was built in 1907 for the workers of Cranage Estate, in 1947 it was gifted to the village and is held in trust for the community. It’s a local, non-profit amenity in our village that has no pub, church or shop. It is used by a variety of clubs and classes, preschool, social events and occasions, political and community meetings, and is a venue for social events that many of us can walk to! However, the committee that runs the hall, which is a registered charity, needs new members. The current committee has been dwindling in numbers over the last few years, and needs some ‘new blood’ to appear, with different ideas, ways of doing things and energy.