LYMM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held in the Parish Council Chamber, Village Hall,
Pepper Street, Lymm on Tuesday 9 December 2008 at 7.30 pm
______________________________________________________________________________

Present Councillor Mrs S E Woodyatt (Chairman)
" R Barr
" Mrs C Coupe
" J Griffiths
" Mrs P Hunter
" Mrs P Marks
" I G Marks
" D Openshaw
" W N Woodyatt

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Gallimore, Mrs Gaster amd June Gittins

93. Code of Conduct

Members were reminded of their responsibility to declare any personal interest or prejudicial interest that they may have in any item of business on the agenda no later than when the item is reached. Cllr Barr declared a personal interest in item 5 on the agenda – Outdoor Play Area at Lymm Village Hall and took no part in the discussion about this item.

94. Minutes

RESOLVED : That the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 11 November 2008 be signed as a correct record.

95. Proceedings of the Committees of the Council

1. Planning and Development Committee on 11 November 2008
2. Plans Sub – Committee on 24 November 2008

RESOLVED : That such of the proceedings of these committees as require the confirmation and adoption of the Council be confirmed and adopted.

96. Outdoor Play Area at Lymm Village Hall

Standing Orders were suspended for Scott Bloxsom and Caroline Sproston to outline their suggestions for an outdoor play area at the Village Hall. Mr Bloxsom explained that it was an OFSTED requirement for playgroups to have a suitable outdoor play area. At the present time the Village Hall Playgroup does not have an outdoor play area and he suggested that the paved area to the front of the Village Hall could be used as a play area. The area would need fencing, suitable flooring and a storage container for the play equipment.

RESOLVED : The Parish Council does not support the proposal for an outdoor play area at the Village Hall.

97. Footpaths in Lymm

John Read said that he had now been the Lymm Footpath Warden for nearly 12 months and during this time he has walked each of the 47 Rights of Way in Lymm. Mr Read said that he reported any problems on the footpaths to the Rights of Way Officer at Warrington Borough Council and he also attends the Warrington Rights of Way Forum meetings. The next Rights of Way Forum meeting will be held in the Council Chamber, Lymm on 14 January 2009 commencing at 10 a.m.

98. Matters Arising

1. LPC 70.3. Nameplates in Bucklow Gardens. A letter has been received from Warrington Borough Council advising that an inspection had taken place at Bucklow Gardens on 20 October 2008. A works order has been raised but as the sign needs to be manufactured it may be a number of weeks before it is in place.

2. LPC 84.1. Parish Council Website. The Clerk had contacted Parish Websites Ltd for a quotation for setting up a Parish Council website. The initial cost would be £438.82 with a £100 annual cost for maintaining the website and £141.00 every two years for the .gov.uk domain.

RESOLVED : The Parish Council to have a website designed by Parish Websites Ltd.

3. LPC 84.2. Setts on Eagle Brow. The Clerk said that work had commenced today on replacing the setts on Eagle Brow outside Sexton’s Bakery.

4. LPC 85.4. Notice Board. The Clerk has contacted Warrington Borough Council and a notice board could be erected at the bottom of the steps at the Pepper Street Car Park. A licence for the works would be required at a cost of £311.38. Warrington Borough Council would need to arrange the installation work. The notice board would be an open bay one measuring 1830 mm by 800mm (16 x A4 size) on two posts at a cost of £992.75 including the engraving.

RESOLVED : The Clerk to obtain costings for a replacement notice board outside the Village Hall

5. LPC 89.1. Cycle Racks in Village Centre. The Clerk met with Mike Wheldon, Warrington Borough Council to identify locations for cycle racks. Two cycle racks can be placed next to the telephone box on Pepper Street. It was hoped to place another outside 14A The Cross but the landowner needs to be identified.

99. Chairman's Communications

1. The Chairman, Cllr Woodyatt and Cllr Griffiths had attended the lunch at Oughtrington Community Centre.

2. The Chairman would be participating in the Lymm Dickensian Christmas on 13 December 2008

100. Clerk's Communications

1. Cllr Mrs Woodyatt had contacted the Clerk to advise that the railings in Longbutt Lane are not owned by anybody according to the Land Registry. Warrington Borough Council has replaced the railings and has asked if Lymm Parish Council will pay for their future upkeep.

RESOLVED : The Parish Council to maintain the railings on Longbutt Lane

2. Ruth Whitworth has been appointed as the Area Coordinator for South Warrington. She has asked if she could come to the January Parish Council meeting to discuss area coordination.

RESOLVED : Ruth Whitworth to be invited to speak at the January Parish Council meeting

3. Cllr Mrs Woodyatt had contacted the Clerk asking that the Parish Council nominates two representatives for Lymm Clothing Charity.

RESOLVED : Cllrs Woodyatt and Griffiths be nominated as the Parish Council representatives for the Clothing Charity.

4. Phil Sexton had contacted the Clerk about the raw sewage that had flowed down Eagle Brow on 5/6 December 2008 and the delay in United Utilities dealing with the problem that had resulted from United Utilities attempting to unblock a drain on Brookfield Road.

5. Inspector Edgar had contacted the Clerk advising that the next anti-terrorism presentation will be held at Stockton Heath Police Station on 14 January 2009 commencing at 7.30 p.m.

6. The next Police Community Action meeting will be held in the Village Hall at 7.30 p.m on Wednesday 10 December 2008.

7. An e mail has been received from the Domestic Violence Strategic Coordinator on behalf of the Warrington Domestic Abuse Forum asking if the Parish Council could make a financial contribution towards the costs of the development of domestic abuse awareness materials.

RESOLVED : Under the provisions of Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 Lymm Parish Council to make a grant of £50 to the Warrington Domestic Abuse Forum

8. A letter has been received from Lymm Climbing Club asking if the Parish Council could make a grant towards the cost of building a Climbing Centre. The first phase will cost approximately £17000 and the club has so far raised £15,400.

RESIOLVED : Under the provisions of Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 Lymm Parish Council to make a grant of £50 to Lymm Climbing Club and suggest the club contacts other Parish Councils, where its members live, to request further funding.

9. The Clerk has received an invoice from John Embleton & Son Ltd for additional painting undertaken at Oughtrington Community Centre. The total cost was £567.60 excluding VAT. Oughtrington Community Association would reimburse the Parish Council with this amount.

10. An e mail has been received from Lymm Clothing Charity thanking the Parish Council for the grant.

11. A letter has been received from Warrington Borough Council advising that a review of primary school places is taking place throughout the Authority.

12. The Clerk has Fieldwork December 2008.

101. Airport Community Trust Fund

Cllr Mrs Marks said that when she and Cllr Mrs Coupe had attended a meeting at Manchester Airport they had been told that Lymm was not in the designated area to qualify for grants from the Airport Community Trust Fund. Grants of up to £5000 were available to groups within the designated area. Cllr Marks said that Warrington Borough Council had been invited to send a representative to sit on the Manchester Airport Consultative Committee.

RESOLVED : A letter be sent to Warrington Borough Council and Manchester Airport asking that Lymm be included in the designated area to qualify for grants from the Airport Community Trust Fund







102. Village Hall Hire Charges 2009/2010

With effect from 1 April 2009 the following rates of hire will apply :

Village Hall

Time of booking Rate

Standard rate to 11pm £ 9.60 per hour
Standard rate after 11pm £24.20 per hour
Charity rate to 11pm £19.20 per booking in any one day
Charity rate after 11pm £24.20 per hour
Commercial rate £42.80 per hour

New Extension

Standard rate to 11pm £ 6.70 per hour
Standard rate after 11pm £16.50 per hour
Charity Rate to 11 p.m £13.40 per booking in any one day
Charity rate after 11 p.m £16.50 per hour
Commercial rate £29.80 per hour

103. Allotment Garden Rents 2009/2010.

RESOLVED : The Clerk to obtain details of the charges made for other allotment gardens in the Warrington area.

104. Budgets 2009/2010

The Clerk said that she would be preparing the 2009/2010 budgets and needed to know any items which Parish Councillors wished included in these budgets. The Twin Town Society had applied for a grant for 2009/2010.

RESOLVED : Under the provisions of Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 a grant of £1200.00 be made to the Lymm Twin Town Society in 2009/2010.

105. Lock at Sowbrook Allotments

The Clerk said that the lock at Sowbroook Allotments had been replaced but a policy decision was needed as to the provision of any future replacement lock.

RESOLVED : A meeting be arranged between the Allotments Garden Sub-Committee and representatives from Sowbrook Allotments

106. Reports From Outside Bodies

1. Cllr Mrs Marks and Marks would be attending the Christmas Lunch at Oughtrington Community Centre.

107. Schedule of Accounts for Payment

RESOLVED : That the schedule of accounts for payment in December 2008 in the sum of £12046.49 be passed for payment.


108. Date of Next Parish Council Meeting

Tuesday 13 January 2009 in the Parish Council Chamber, Village Hall, Pepper Street, Lymm at 7.30pm. The Christmas decorations to be taken down in the Village Hall on 4 January 2009 at
11.30 a.m.

109. Public Open Forum

1. Mrs Coates said that when she had worked at the Village Hall Playgroup the children used to play outside but it took time to get the children into their hats and coats.

2. Mr Read said that the plot holders at Sowbrook Allotments would welcome the opportunity to meet with the Allotments Sub-Committee.

110. Part Two Matters

RESOLVED : That the Press and Public be excluded from this part of the proceedings



PART TWO MATTERS

1. Employees Remuneration 2009/2010

RESOLVED : To increase the wages and salaries with effect from 1 April 2009 as follows :

Employee Increase New Wage/Salary

Village Hall Caretaker £192.00 per annum £4008.00 per annum

Evening Keyholder £ 96.00 per annum £1920.00 per annum

Handyman and Tidyman £ 0.30 p per hour £ 6.05 per hour

Clerk £732.00 per annum £15248.00 per annum




The meeting closed at 9.05 p.m.