2314 WILLASTON PARISH COUNCIL ANNUAL PARISH MEETING 24th APRIL 2012 Present : Parish Councillors M R Jones (Chairman), M R Crimes, A J Cutts, J M Flackett, B Harding, D W Lewis, W E Kirby, F R Morton, S Potts, S J Renkel-Clarke & C F Todd. Cheshire East Councillor B Silvester and 8 members of the public. Apologies : Parish Councillor S Brazier. Cheshire East Councillors M Simon & J Weatherill. 1 CHAIRMAN`S REPORT The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting, explained the order of the agenda and thanked the members of the council for their work during the year. He then reported on the business of the Council during the last 12 months, making particular reference to the following issues. Make up of the Parish Council • The council was up for re-election last May and two new councillors were elected in Anna Cutts and Bill Kirby. • Keith Ward decided to stand down last May and our thanks go to him for his service to the parish over several years. The Council Year Parish Plan Group • The Willaston Community Opportunities Group (COG for short) has continued to implement actions from the Parish Plan during the year. • More to follow in their own presentation. Village Summer Fete • Thanks go to Councillor John Flackett and his team of helpers for organising the Summer Fete which was held on the playing field last August and was a great success. Plans are already in place to repeat the fete in June this year as a joint event to also commemorate the Queen`s Diamond Jubilee. • Thanks also go to a local resident who has made a donation of £500 towards the cost of the joint event to be held this coming June. Willaston Clean Team • The Willaston Clean Team has been active throughout the village during the year, led by Richard Frost. 2315 • The team is made up entirely of volunteers who give up their time to keep Willaston tidy, and new volunteers are always welcome. Traffic Management • Speeding remains a key concern within certain areas of the village and this continues to be monitored by the Speedwatch team. • There has also been increased use of the SID within the village at certain times during the year. Local Police • PC Sarah Marson has continued to have responsibility for Willaston with help from PCSO Nick Jarvis. • Inspector Bob Hassall left for pastures new during the year and was replaced by Inspector David Smithers, who now heads up the NPU. • The council continues to work closely with the police and particular success has been achieved in reducing anti-social behaviour over the last 12 months. • The police have just agreed to donate a set of football nets for the playing field as a reward to youngsters for good behaviour. Planning • The number of planning applications within the village has remained low, with just 17 applications over the last 12 months (there had been as many as 60 in a year prior to the recession). However, there has been a pick up in applications recently, with 5 received since the beginning of March. Britain in Bloom • Willaston was successful once again in the 2011 North West in Bloom Competition, being awarded a second runner up prize. • Work on some of the larger beds continues to be contracted out, but thanks must also go to the hard work put in by a small band of volunteers. New volunteers are always welcome. Playing Field, Wybunbury Road • The new children`s play area continues to be well used. • There have been some issues recently with dogs not being kept properly under control on the playing field, which can be intimidating for young children. We would appeal to all dog walkers to keep their dogs either on a lead or at heel when on the playground and to clear up any dog waste, which can cause serious illness to children if they come into contact with it. 2316 • Moorfields Corner remains the show piece of the village with its floral displays. The Remembrance Day ceremony there in November was once again well attended, as was the Carol Service in December. Mike Heywood Green sign • The council has obtained agreement from Cheshire East Council to re-name the village green as Mike Heywood Green in memory of the previous chairman who died suddenly last year. • A mosaic sign has been commissioned for display on the green and thanks go to Borough Councillor Brian Silvester and the Willaston Scout Group, who have both made financial contributions towards the cost of this. Allotments • The allotments continue to be very popular and are currently 100% let, with 8 people still on a waiting list. Parish Finances • Having decided to reduce the precept to £18,000 in 2010/11 and 2011/12 in view of the difficult economic conditions still prevailing, the council has again agreed to maintain the 2012/13 precept at the same level, and will fall back on reserves where necessary. • Financial assistance was provided during the year to St Mary`s Church towards the upkeep of the graveyard. • The council operated with a deficit of £2,630 during the year, which was covered from reserves. Conclusion • The life of a Parish Councillor continues to be a busy one, but every effort is made to act in the best interests of the village residents. • The Chairman thanked the Cheshire East Borough Councillors for their support during the year. • The Chairman also thanked Councillor Todd for standing in for him during his recent absence due to health issues and thanked the clerk for his work during the year. 2 WILLASTON COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES GROUP Anna Cutts of the Communities Opportunities Group gave a presentation on the work and achievements of the group over the last 12 months and reported the following :- Willaston Parish Plan was published in Autumn 2009 and included an action plan containing 71 items. 2317 To date 46 actions are complete i.e. 64% which is a great achievement by a team of just 7 people for a village with a population of 3000. The actions were split into 6 sections: Amenities and Social Activities • 9 actions of which 5 are complete. • Outstanding actions include Building of a Village Hall. Travel and Transport • 10 actions of which 3 are complete. • Outstanding actions include Willaston Train Halt, reducing car usage and reviewing the siting of bus stops on Coppice Road. Environment, Development & Planning • 17 actions of which 11 are complete. • Major achievement is the creation of the Green Gap Action Team which has been successful to-date in the retention of the Green Gap around Willaston but their activity must continue as the Cheshire East planning process is still in progress. • 3 Willaston Walks devised by Carole Bentley, 2 published so far with the 3rd planned for later this year. Village Walk on Saturday 19th May at 10.30am from Social Club. Crime & Road Safety • 14 actions of which 10 are complete. • Speeding in the village is still a major issue. • Outstanding actions include increasing the number of HomeWatch schemes and recruiting more SpeedWatch volunteers. Under 18s • 9 actions of which 5 are complete. • Outstanding actions include improving facilities and bridging the generation gap. Communication and Community Spirit • 12 actions – all complete. • Quarterly Newsletter now produced by the Parish Council. • Willaston web – usage growing especially with Jubilee events. COG Future Plans • Investigate Parish Plan Renewal Process which builds on existing plan and updates the action plan. This will need the involvement of more people. • Progress the charitable provision Table Tennis table. • Apple Pressing event in the Autumn. 2318 3 GUEST SPEAKER Phil Shone, Placement Manager, Community Payback gave a presentation on the work of the Community Payback Team, which is part of the Probation Service. It delivers services back to the community with a view to developing a work ethic within offenders and getting them back involved with their communities. It usually involves group work with groups of up to ten workers and is sometimes charged out at a cost of £30 + VAT per day. Contact details were left with members of the council. 4 OPEN FORUM The following specific issues were raised by members of the public :- • The residents parking scheme on Gladstone Street has led to more parking on Victoria Mill Drive and an increase in traffic flow close to the maze where children play. • The reporting of registration numbers to the police of cars speeding in the village. It was pointed out that the police could only take action if the speed had been registered by a speed gun as part of the Speedwatch activity. • The pelican crossing on Crewe Road which was on the Cheshire East Council list of minor improvements will not be going ahead this year due to cost constraints. Chairman………………………………………. Date………………………… .