LYMM PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held in the Parish Council Chamber, Village Hall,
Pepper Street, Lymm on Tuesday 8 September 2009 at 7.30 pm
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Present Councillor J Griffiths (Chairman)
" R Barr
" June Gittins
" Mrs P Hunter
" Mrs P Marks
" I G Marks
" D Openshaw
" Mrs S E Woodyatt
" W N Woodyatt
Apologies for abscennce were received from Councillors Mrs Coupe and Mrs Gaster
49. 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.
50. Minutes
RESOLVED : That the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 14 July 2009 be signed as a correct record.
51. Proceedings of the Committees of the Council
1. Planning and Development Committee on 14 July 2009
2. Plans Sub – Committee on 20 July, 10 August and 7 September 2009
RESOLVED : That such of the proceedings of these committees as require the confirmation and adoption of the Council be confirmed and adopted.
52. Policing in Lymm
Standing Orders were suspended for PCSO Mike Luckett to speak to the Parish Council. PCSO Luckett said that he had just been appointed as a PCSO in Lymm. He said that during the previous day he and PCSO Carter had seen a person thought to have been involved in car crimes in Lymm and given chase. PCSO Carter had been assaulted by the person but clothing had been obtained from the suspect and it was hoped that DNA evidence would be found. Cllr Mrs Marks asked that the PCSOs increase surveillance near the Henry Street Car Park during the evenings as there had been recent incidents of vandalism. PCSO Luckett said that PCSO Dennis was looking into the problem of parked cars on Grove Rise and Rosebank.
Standing Orders were re-instated
53. Matters Arising
1. LPC 47.2. Cllr Mrs Woodyatt said that there had been issues about cars parked on Grove Rise and Rosebank and she had contacted Warrington Borough Council about these problems. There is a possibility that Grove Rise will be marked with yellow lines. Warrington Borough Council had not received any adverse calls or correspondence about the parking on Grove Rise and Rosebank since the introduction of pay and display car parking on the Pepper Street Car Park. Any residents encountering problems need to contact Warrington Borough Council. There is a possibility that ‘Residents Parking’ could be introduced in these areas and Warrington Borough Council will be having a Members Briefing on Residents Parking.
RESOLVED : Residents Parking to be included as an agenda item for the October Parish Council meeting
2. LPC 96. Village Hall Playgroup Fence. The Village Hall Playgroup has asked if a representative could speak at the next Parish Council meeting about some new ideas for a fence at the Village Hall.
RESOLVED : A representative from the Village Hall Playgroup be invited to speak at the October Parish Council meeting.
3. LPC 144.3. Village Hall Kitchen. The Clerk met with Stuart Swift, Warrington Borough Council to discuss submitting an application for Lottery Funding to re-furbish the Village Hall kitchen. Mr Swift had suggested that the support of the Disability Partnership be sought and that consideration be given to including in the application a bid for funding to install a toilet that was accessible for the disabled. The Clerk was meeting with a representative from the Disability Partnership on 24 September 2009.
4. LPC 25. CCTV in Lymm. The Clerk had met with Daren Dennis, PCSO and Mark Floyd, Neighbourhood Action Team Coordinator. The Police would prefer automatic number plate recognition cameras which could read all the car number plates that passed the camera and store this information. The cost of the initial camera, infra red equipment and the software would be approximately £5000 and then approximately £2000 per camera for any additional cameras.
RESOLVED : Enquiries to be made as to the possibility of the Police funding new CCTV cameras and having the CCTV system monitored by Warrington Borough Council.
5. LPC 40. Parish Council Website. The Clerk has made contact with the company preparing the Parish Council website and sent all the requested documents and photographs. It is hoped that the website will go live on 1 October 2009.
6. LPC 42.2. Flooring at Oughtrington Community Centre. Andrew Wilson, Oughtrington Community Association had contacted the Clerk because the sub-floor at the Centre had been found to be in very poor condition when Cory Flooring came to lay the new floor. Cory Flooring had estimated that the cost of the required remedial work would be £5050.00 plus VAT. Mr Wilson had asked if the Parish Council could pay the cost of this work with repayment being made by Oughtrington Community Association at a later date. Two further estimates had been obtained for the necessary work :
Contractor Estimate Notes
Burrill Building Solutions £6000.00 Including VAT
George Philips £2450.00 Only a part estimate as the part of the work had already been completed by Cory Flooring Ltd when the estimator attended
RESOLVED : Under the provisions of section 133 of the Local Government Act 1972 the Parish Council to pay Cory Flooring Ltd £5050.00 plus VAT for the remedial work at Oughtrington Community Centre.
7. LPC 42.2. Lymm Traders Initiative. Gary Skentelbery, Lymm Life had sent an e mail to the Clerk asking that the Parish Council reconsiders its decision not to financially support the traders’ advertising in Lymm Life. Cllr Mrs Woodyatt said that many households had not had the August edition of Lymm Life delivered yet. Cllr Griffiths said that Spar was making a substantial financial contribution to the delivery of Lymm Life.
RESOLVED : The Parish Council will not make a financial contribution to support the advertising by the traders in Lymm Life.
8. LPC 42.6. Village Walk. The Clerk said that it had been agreed at the July Parish Council meeting that the Parish Councillors would walk round the village to identify any problems.
RESOLVED : A walk round the village will take place on Tuesday 22 September 2009 commencing at 5.30 p.m from the Village Hall.
9. LPC 47.1. Trans Pennine Trail. John Read had reported that the Trans Pennine Trail between the Co-op and the Railway Public House was in a poor state. Kevin McCready, Warrington Borough Council has said that in the short term the vegetation overgrowth will be cut back. In the longer term Warrington Borough Council is trying to get some stone etc so that the Probation Service can carry out repairs to the path surface. Cllr Barr said that giant hog weed is now invading the Trans Pennine Trail and he is hoping to get the Environment Agency, Trafford Borough Council and Warrington Borough Council to work together to resolve this problem.
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54. Chairman's Communications
The Chairman had no communications.
55. Clerk's Communications
1. Ken Chambers has contacted the Clerk to say that the ‘virtual railings’ in Lymm are now available for any community group to advertise their events. Anyone wishing to advertise should send the advert to
matthew@lymm.com. Mr Chambers also asked if the Parish Council would have any objections to him locating two web cams in the village to promote the attractiveness of the village.
RESOLVED : The Parish Council has no objections to Mr Chambers locating two web cams in the village.
2. Cllr Mrs Gaster has forwarded an invitation, to all members of the Parish Council, to attend a welcoming and commissioning service for Susannah Pilkington, at Lymm Baptist Church on 13 September 2009 at 10.30 a.m.
3. Information has been received from the Local Works Coalition about the Sustainable Communities Act Amendment Bill asking the Parish Councillors to write to their MPs requesting their support for this Bill.
4. Cheshire Association of Local Councillors has written asking if the Parish Council is interested in looking to develop participatory budgeting for Lymm or for a group of local councils in the area.
5. There will be a Parish Liaison meeting on 14 September 2009 at 5 p.m in the Town Hall when one of the topics to be discussed will be Neighbourhood Working. The next liaison meeting is on 26 October at 5 p.m in the Town Hall when speed limits in Warrington will be discussed. All members of the Parish Council are invited to attend.
6. Cllr Mrs Hunter has contacted the Clerk about the land at the junction of Rushgreen Road and Sandy Lane that is owned by Antler Homes. Cllr Mrs Hunter said that local residents would like to landscape and maintain this area.
7. RESOLVED : A letter be sent to Antler Homes asking if the local residents could landscape and maintain this area of land.
8. Warrington Borough Council is intending to publish an updated Statement of Community Involvement. This will set the standards and approach that Warrington Borough Council takes to ensure that the people of Warrington know when and how and for what reason they will be able to participate in planning matters. Members of the Parish Council are invited to tell Warrington Borough Council what they would like to see in this document.
9. Families United has written asking if the Parish Council could give a grant towards the £4994.00 needed for the Trains, Boats and Planes project. Families United is a locally based charity supporting families with a disabled child and are supporting several families in Lymm. The Trains, Boats and Planes project will enable the whole family to enjoy stimulating activities in their local environment.
RESOLVED : Under the provisions of Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 the Parish Council to make a grant of £100.00 to Families United
10. Letters of thanks for grant aid have been received from Lymm Floral Art Group, Samaritans and St Peter’s Church
11. Cheshire Association of Local Councils Newsletter 128 and Grapevine July 2009 have been distributed to all members of the Parish Council.
12. The Clerk has Fieldwork September 2009
56. Play Facilities in Lymm
The Clerk said that a letter had been received from Warrington Borough Council advising that a £1.1 million grant had been received from DCSF for the refurbishment of play areas across the town. The funding will allow existing sites to be refurbished using innovative and exciting play equipment to attract children aged 8 to 13 years including children with disabilities. The multi agency Playbuilder board is now looking to identify 11 existing play areas for refurbishment between April 2010 and March 2011. The Clerk has the necessary forms to submit an Expression of Interest to the Playbuilder Board. Cllr Mrs Woodyatt said that Lymm was considered deprived in relation to the provision of play facilities. Play facilities for the under 8s had been considered on the May Queen Field and there had been lobbying for the updating of the play equipment on Sandy Lane. Funding had been allocated, in the financial year ending on 31 March 2010, from the Playbuilder Fund for new equipment at the Ridgway Grundy Park. Ms Dwyer had contacted the Parish Council suggesting that the Parish Council provided additional funding and could perhaps source third party funding for play facilities in the Ridgway Grundy Park. It was explained that there was no money in this year’s budget for the Parish Council to contribute towards play facilities and the Playbuilde Funding for the Ridgway Grundy Park had to be spent by 31 March 2010.
Standing Orders were suspended for Ms Dwyer to speak to the Parish Council. Ms Dwyer said that many people using the Ridgway Grundy Park considered the play facilities poor. By improving these play facilities the whole community of Lymm would benefit as new facilities would attract people from all areas of Lymm and bring in visitors to Lymm. A survey had been devised to establish what play facilities the children would like and this survey would be distributed via the local schools. The results of the survey would be available by the time of the October Parish Council meeting.
RESOLVED : Ms Dwyer to advise the Parish Council of the results of the survey at the October Parish Council meeting.
Standing Orders were re-instated.
57. Annual Accounts to 31 March 2009.
The Clerk said that the annual return for the period ending 31 March 2009 had been approved by the External Auditor
58. Use of The Cross and Lymm Village Hall
The Clerk said that it would be advisable if the Parish Council had a clear policy concerning who may use The Cross and who may hire the Village Hall.
RESOLVED :
1. The Cross may be used for activities supported by the Parish Council, charitable events and public information events. The organisers of any other event wishing to use the village centre to request the permission of Warrington Borough Council to use the Lower Dam area
2. The Village Hall and Council Chamber be available for hire by any person or organisation providing the current hire charge is paid.
59. Reports From Outside Bodies
1. Cllr Griffiths said that he had attended Rushbearing together with Councillors Barr, Mrs Hunter, Mrs Woodyatt and Woodyatt. The Christmas Trees had been ordered and would be put up in the village on 28/29 November 2009 by the Festivities Group.
2. Cllr Mrs Hunter had attended the Produce Show at Oughtrington Community Centre which had been a great success and another one was planned for 2010.
3. Cllr Barr had attended an Oughtrington Community Association Management meeting when he had seen the new floor at the Community Centre. A member of the committee was hoping to attend the October Parish Council meeting to thank the Parish Council for its support.
60. Schedule of Accounts for Payment
RESOLVED : That the schedules of accounts for payment in August 2009 in the sum of £9414.87 and in September 2009 in the sum of £18172.08 be passed for payment.
61. Date of Next Parish Council Meeting
Tuesday 13 October 2009 in the Parish Council Chamber, Village Hall, Pepper Street, Lymm at 7.30pm.
62. Public Open Forum
1. Trish Lowe said that she lived on Rosebank and had sent an e mail to the Clerk about the parking on Grove Rise as she was concerned about the safety aspects of the carelessly parked vehicles. Cllr Mrs Woodyatt had suggested that Ms Lowe contact Barbara Heyes who had complained about this problem and had also advised that the proposals for parking restrictions on Grove Rise were advertised on lampposts on Grove Rise. Cllr Griffiths said that he and Cllr June Gittins had spoken to PCSO Luckett about these problems and PCSO Luckett said he would take appropriate action.
2. Dave Fenson said that he had lived in Lymm since 1965 and had been involved with Lymm Youth Club. He thanked the Parish Council for paying for the required electrical work at the Youth Club. Warrington Borough Council is charging £4500 rent per annum with a lease of one year with one year’s notice at the Youth Club. Mr Fenson asked for the Parish Council’s support to have a lease of at least five years and perhaps give a loan or help towards obtaining a loan of £10,000 for the Youth Club. Mr Fenson said that the building is in very good condition structurally. The Youth Club is currently used every Thursday morning and evening and on a Friday morning, but rumours within the village that the building is for sale and because there is only a short term lease other potential users will not commit to a regular booking. There will be a public meeting at 8 p.m on 8 October 2009 at the Youth Cub to inform the community about the current position at the Youth Club and discuss its future. Cllr Barr said that he was an Executive Board Member for Property Services. The Youth Club is currently on a list of properties for disposal but is not up for sale. All three Borough Councillors for Lymm are campaigning for additional community facilities in Lymm. In the short term Cllr Barr said that he was happy for the continued use of the Youth Club as a community facility and this will help support the need for youth and community facilities in Lymm.
63. Part Two Matters
RESOLVED : That the Press and Public be excluded from this part of the proceedings
