LYMM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Annual Parish Council meeting held in the Parish Council Chamber, Village Hall,
Pepper Street, Lymm on Tuesday 14 July 2009 at 7.30 pm
______________________________________________________________________________

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

35. 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.

36. Minutes

RESOLVED : That the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 9 June 2009 be signed as a correct record.

37. Proceedings of the Committees of the Council

1. Planning and Development Committee on 9 June 2009
2. Plans Sub – Committee on 6 July 2009
3. Allotment Gardens Sub-Committee on 16 June 2009

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

38. Play Facilties in Lymm

Standing Orders were suspended for Dave Cotterill and Tina Cross, Warrington Borough Council, to speak to the Parish Council. Mr Cotterill explained that Warrington Borough Council had applied for funding for play facilities in the Borough and been awarded a Playbuilder grant of £1.1 million. Warrington Borough Council proposed using this grant, together with revenue funding of £45,000, to enhance at least 22 sites in Warrington over a 2 year period. Ms Cross said that the criteria for the selection and development of existing play sites are :

1. That they are innovative and attractive to children, particularly girls and 8 – 13 year olds
2. That they are inclusive for disabled children and ethnic minority groups.

Mr Cotterill said the sites at Sandy Lane and Ridgway Grundy Park had been assessed and it was the Officers view that the Ridgway Grundy Park Play Area should be enhanced. At Sandy Lane it was proposed to put in a tarmac path from Sandy Lane to the play area and upgrade some of the equipment. In Year 1 £78,000 was available for the Ridgway Grundy Park and the new equipment would need to be challenging to the children and give them exercise. Local young people would be consulted to identify the equipment they would prefer and it was hoped to have it installed by March 2010.

39. Lymm Spar Shop

Peter Dodding, Retail Director, James Hall & Co., said that he had been concerned about the two articles, concerning the Lymm Spar Shop, in the Warrington Guardian as he felt they gave the wrong impression about the shop. Spar had taken advice from Somerfield about the lines that sold well and since opening Spar had introduced many new lines in response to customer feedback. Mr Dodding said that he was keen to be involved with the Lymm Traders and had met with Philip Sexton earlier in the day. Mr Dodding said that Spar would be contributing towards the costs of the Lymm Traders advertisements in Lymm Life. The store had been awarded a five star rating by the Environmental Health Department. Mr Dodding said that Spar was very pleased to receive feedback from its customers and asked anyone with concerns to contact the store manager – Dave Clements.

Standing Orders were re-instated

40. Matters Arising

1. LPC 129.2. Parish Council Website. All the documents were sent to Parish Council.net earlier in the year. An e mail was received in April 2009 advising that they had been very busy but the website would be ready shortly. The Clerk has sent an e mail to Parish Council. Net on 26 May 2009 asking for an update and she has tried telephoning them on several occasions but cannot get a response.

2. LPC 26.2. Speed Restrictions on Roads in Lymm. A letter has been received from Warrington Borough Council advising that a speed limit review is underway across Halton and Warrington. Hyder Consulting have been commissioned to undertake the study and have assessed all the A and B roads in Warrington. From their initial findings Council Officers and Police have commented and as such development of concept plans are on-going. Concept plans should be available on the internet in the next 6 – 8 weeks.

3. LPC 27.1. Unauthorised Adverts in Lymm. Phil Sexton has sent a copy of a letter received from Warrington Borough Council concerning the large number of unauthorised and illegal advertisements within the Village Centre Conservation Area. Mr Sexton has asked if the Parish Council could liaise with the Borough Council to request that a more balanced consideration based on each individual’s circumstances. Cllr Barr said that the Development Control Department at Warrington Borough Council was keen to enforce the ban on commercial advertising.

RESOLVED : Cllrs Barr, Griffiths and Mrs Hunter to form a sub-committee to discuss the criteria for acceptable advertising in the village centre.

4. LPC 33.1. Police Information at Parish Council Meetings. Inspector McIntyre has e mailed to say that he will ensure that when a Police Office attends a Parish Council meeting he will bring the recent crime and detection figures for Lymm.






41. Chairman's Communications

1. The Chairman said that he had the application form for grants that were available through the Stronger Together Programme. Grants of £50 - £1000 would be available to groups or partners in the South Warrington Neighbourhoods Co-ordination Area.

2. The Chairman said that Phil Ratcliffe had telephoned him to say that he had caught two gentlemen fishing at the Lower Dam. There were no signs at this location advising that fishing was not allowed so the Chairman had contacted Tim Baker, Warrington Borough Council Ranger, to ask that such signs be installed.

42. Clerk's Communications

1. Andrew Wilson, Oughtrington Community Centre has contacted the Clerk about various works that needs doing at the Centre. The flooring needs replacing and three quotes have been obtained for this work :

Contractor
Total Cost
Paul Bains £16950.00

Cory Flooring £12061.76

Lymm Kitchen & Bathroom £13750.00

.
Mr Wilson has asked if the Parish Council could place the order for this work. Additionally a further £7000 is needed for roof repairs and £2800 for painting.

RESOLED : Under the provisions of section 33 of the Local Government Act 1972 the Parish Council to purchase the flooring from Cory Flooring for installation at Oughtrington Community Centre at a cost of £12061.76.

2. Gary Skentelbery has contacted the Clerk to ask if the Parish Council would consider giving a grant of £500.00 plus VAT towards the costs of a promotion being run in Lymm Life by the Lymm Traders to encourage people to shop in Lymm.

RESOLVED : The Parish Council will not make a grant towards the costs of the Trader’s promotion in Lymm Life.

3. Daren Dennis, PCSO has contacted the Clerk asking if the Parish Council could contribute towards the cost of a bicycle for use by the Lymm PCSOs. The cost of a bike would be £256.50 and would be used only in Lymm.

RESOLVED : The Parish Council will not contribute towards the costs of a bicycle for the Lymm PCSOs.

4. PCSO Brendan Glover has contacted the Clerk to say that he will be joining the Greater Manchester Police on 3 August 2009.

RESOLVED : A card be sent to PCSO Glover, from Lymm Parish Council, thanking him for all the work he has done in Lymm

5. Lymm Dam has retained the Green Flag award for a further year.

RESOLVED : Letters of thanks be sent to Warrington Borough Council and Lymm Environment and Heritage Group for all the work they have put into retaining the Green Flag award

6. Cllr Mrs Marks has asked that the Parish Council considers doing another walk round Lymm Village to identify any problems.

RESOLVED : A walk around the village centre, by the Parish Councillors, be arranged during September 2009

7. Cllr Mrs Marks had asked the Clerk to find out what was currently happening at Lymm Youth Club. The Clerk had contacted Rebecca Bennett who said that the Youth Club has not been open since before Christmas. Miss Bennett said that more people are needed to help with the running of the building and to be involved with the Youth work. Some of the committee members were no longer able to continue and various work within the building needed to be undertaken. Cllr Barr said that the Environment Department at Warrington Borough Council was looking at a master plan for Lymm which would take 2 years to complete. In the interim the Youth Club required a short term lease and to demonstrate the need for a community facility in Lymm.

RESOLVED : Cllr Barr to discuss the current position regarding the Youth Club lease with Property Services, Warrington Borough Council

8. Cllr Mrs Hunter had contacted the Clerk about the road surface outside the tanning salon on The Cross. Cllr Mrs Hunter said that two of the setts outside the tanning studio had been replaced with concrete. Cllr Mrs Woodyatt said she would take this matter up with Warrington Borough Council.

9. A card of thanks has been received from Lymm Lions for the grant aid and a copy of all the grants made by Lymm Lions in the previous year has been forwarded to all members of the Parish Council

10. Rushbearing will take place on Sunday 9 August 2009 leaving Pepper Street Car Park at 4 p.m for a service at St Mary’s at approximately 4.30 p.m.

11. Lymm Jubilee W.I has written to confirm that the members have planted the flower bed outside Lawlor’s Hairdressers. The Jubilee W.I has a rota of members to weed and water the plants.

RESOLVED : A card be sent to Lymm Jubilee W.I. thanking the members for their work on the flower bed.

12. The Clerk has received a copy of a letter sent by C.Brooks to John McKie, Tree Officer, Warrington Borough Council about the unnecessary removal of a Holly Tree at 16 Brookfield Road.

13. A letter has been received from Martin Dunkley, Lymm Rotary Club asking if the Parish Council has any objections to the annual charity walk being held on 13 September 2009. The walk will commence at the Youth Club and will raise money for local charities.

RESOLVED : The Parish Council has no objections to the Rotary Club Walk

14. Letters of thanks for grant aid have been received from Lymm Scouts and Lymm Clothing Charity.

15. Warrington South Neighbourhood Policing Team Newsletters 15 and 16 have been distributed to all members of the Parish Council.



43. Shed for Festivities Group

Cllr Griffiths said that the Festivities Group needed a new shed for the storage of the bunting etc. Cllr Griffiths said that a metal shed guaranteed for 15 years would cost about £299.00

RESOLVED : Under the provisions of Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 the Parish Council to purchase a shed for use by the Festivities Group

44. Reports From Outside Bodies

1. Cllr Griffiths said that he had attended Lymm May Queen, the Mayor’s Civic Service, events at Lymm Festival and with the Festivities Group had taken down the bunting in the village. The Festivities Group would be putting up brackets on which the speakers could be mounted for Carols at The Cross.

2. Cllr Mrs Hunter said that Lymm Festival had enjoyed a good year and thanked the Parish Council for its support

3. Cllr Barr had attended a planning meeting of the Neighbourhood Board and the priorities for action identified were additional community facilities, community transport and affordable housing. Phil Sexton has agreed to be a Lymm representative on the Neighbourhood Board for South Warrington.

4. Cllr Marks thanked the Festivities Group for putting up and taking down the bunting in Lymm.

5. Cllr Mrs Marks said that she had attended a CAB away-day at Walton Hall which had been well attended and very interesting.

45. Schedule of Accounts for Payment

RESOLVED : That the schedule of accounts for payment in July 2009 in the sum of £6458.62 be passed for payment.

46. Date of Next Parish Council Meeting

Tuesday 8 September 2009 in the Parish Council Chamber, Village Hall, Pepper Street, Lymm at 7.30pm.

47. Public Open Forum

1. Rob Tucker said that the section of the Trans Pennine Trail from the Railway at Heatley to the Co-operative Store was very restricted for dual passage because it was so overgrown.

RESOLVED : 1. John Read, Footpath Warden be asked to walk this section of the Trail and report any problems with Warrington Borough Council

2. Cllr Barr to discuss this section of the Trail with Mike Bailey, Warrington Borough Council


2. Mrs Heyes said that since the introduction of pay and display car parking at the Pepper Street car park many cars were now parking on Rosebank. Vehicles were often being parked irresponsibly and blocking residents driveways. Cllr Griffiths said that there was also a problem with vehicles parking on Brookfield Road.

RESOLVED : 1. The PCSOs be asked to patrol on Rosebank and Brookfield Road to ensure all vehicles are legally parked

2. Cllr Mrs Woodyatt to ask Warrington Borough Council to do a survey of parked vehicles on Brookfield Road

48. Part Two Matters

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