UPTON BY CHESTER & DISTRICT PARISH COUNCIL

Meeting of the Upton by Chester and District Parish Council held on Monday 18TH January 2010 at The Pavilion, Wealstone Lane, Upton, Chester

                       

PRESENT:    

Cllr Jean Evans (Chairman), Cllr John Butler, Cllr David Evans, Cllr Gerald Grant, Cllr Jill Houlbrook, Cllr Gill Jordan,Cllr Pat Lott, Cllr Paul Lowry,

Cllr David Savage, Cllr Liz Squire and Cllr Miljenko Williams.

 

Also present:  2 Members of the public

                        PC Andrew Brand

 

1.         OPEN FORUM:

No issues were raised.

 

2.         APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:

Resolved:       that the apologies received from Cllr Caroline Mosley,  Cllr Theresa Bartliff, Cllr Robert Thompson, Cllr Chris Reeve, and Cllr Bryan Smith be approved.

 

3.         DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN ITEMS ON THE AGENDA:      

No declarations of interest were received.

 

4.         MINUTES:

Resolved:      

(a)        that the minutes of the Parish Council Meeting of 7th Dec 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

(b)        that the minutes of the Extra Special meeting of 15th Dec 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

(c)        that the minutes of the Parish Communications Committee Meeting of 11th Jan 2010 be confirmed  as a correct record by members of that committee.

(d)        that the minutes of the Finance Committee meeting of 11th Jan 2010 be confirmed as a correct record by members of that committee.

(e)        that the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting of 11th Jan 2010 be confirmed as a correct record by members of that committee.

 

5.       PARISH COUNCIL 7th December  2009.

The Chairman reported on the reply she had sent with regard to the Boundary Review.  Members discussed some anomalies with the Parish Wards and it was

suggested that a letter be sent to the Boundary Commission to ask that these be amended at this stage so that when Parish boundaries are reviewed they will

hopefully follow suit.

 

6.        EXTRA SPECIAL MEETING 15th December 2009:

Resolved:       that the resolutions passed be approved.

 

7.      PARISH COMMUNCIATIONS COMMITTEE  MEETING  11th January 2010:

Resolved:       that the resolutions passed be approved.

 

8.      FINANCE COMMITTEE 11th January 2010:

The Clerk reported that the precept figure being recommended by the Committee was 4% lower than the previous year.  Members discussed doing a press release and also

putting an article in the next newsletter about the reduction in the precept.

Resolved:       (a)        that the recommendations and resolutions passed be approved.

                        (b)        that a press release be prepared and an article added to the next newsletter.

 

9.       PRECEPT FOR 2010/11:

It was proposed by Cllr David Evans and seconded by Cllr John Butler that the recommendation from the Finance Committee be accepted.  Members voted

unanimously for this.

Resolved:       that the precept be set at £91,755.

 

10.       PLANNING COMMITTEE 11th January 2010:

Resolved:       that the resolutions passed be approved.

 

11.       COMMUNITY SAFETY:

PC Andrew Brand gave Members an update on events in the area over the holiday period.

Resolved:       that the report be noted.

 

12.       PAVEMENTS AT  SPAR ON LONG LANE:

Cllr John Butler informed Members that he had received complaints from residents about the state of the pavements outside Spar on Long Lane and asked that the Parish Council write to Spar and the Highways Department to ask that these be attended to.

Resolved:       that the Clerk write to Spar and the Highways Department.

 

13.       WESTON GROVE SERVICE STATION:

Cllr John Butler told Members that although work now appeared to have started on the site, he felt it was unacceptable that this had taken so long.  Cllr Jill Houlbrook and Cllr Pat Lott informed the meeting that the problems had been with the Environment Agency and that the owners were keen to clear the site as soon as possible.  Cllr David Evans asked if the Parish Council could write to the Environment Agency to gain confirmation that there was now no obstacle for the owners clearing the site.

Resolved:       that the Clerk write to the Environment Agency.

 

 

 

14.       SPEAKER FOR ANNUAL ASSEMBLY 2010:

Members discussed options of speaker for this year’s Annual Assembly.  Suggestions were:

                        Mrs Sarah Lock, wife of the Commanding Officer at The Dale Camp

                        The new Chief Constable

                        Chester Zoo

Resolved:       that the Clerk contact each of the above in order to check their availability.

 

15.       BUS SHELTER AT MILL LANE.BACHE AVENUE:

The Chairman and Vice Chairman reported on a site meeting with Cheshire West & Chester Council.  Members were shown a picture of the shelter that was proposed for the site.  Members discussed the possibility of having ‘real time’ information in bus shelters along this route and maybe at Bache Railway Station, due to the high number of visitors to Chester Zoo that use it.

Resolved:       that the Clerk write to the Local Council to ask that ‘real time’ information be considered for this route.

 

16.       APPLICATION BY CHESTER ZOO FOR PHASE 1 – Redevelopment and expansion:

Cllr David Evans gave presentation on the application to Members and outlined the main points.  Members had a number of concerns.  It was suggested that another Planning Committee meeting be organised to discuss this application more thoroughly.

Resolved:       that a Planning Committee meeting be set for 7pm on Monday 25th January 2010.

 

17.       CHESHIRE VILLAGE QUIZ:

Nothing to report.

 

18.       COMMUNITY LINKS SCHEME:

Cllr David Evans reported.

 

 

19.       PUBLICATIONS:    

Resolved:       that the publications be received.

 

20.        INVITATIONS:       

Resolved:       that the invitations be received.

 

21.       ACCOUNTS REPORT:

15/12/09                 1931            Clerk                               Salary (December)            1807.66

15/12/09                 1932            Att 1                               Wages (December)            338.34

15/12/09                 1933            Att 2                               Wages (December)            184.50

15/12/09                 1934            Att 3                               Wages (December)            174.43

28/12/09                 1935            Post Office Ltd              Tax & N.I.                          3402.22

07/12/09                 1936            Scottish Power              Elec tric at Pavilion            261.17

07/12/09                 1937            Chesh West & Ches    Grounds Maintenance    2037.4

07/12/09                 1938            Clerk                               Exps (Mileage etc                 80.17

 

It was moved by Cllr John Butler and seconded by Cllr Gerald Grant that the accounts be approved.

Resolved:       that the accounts be approved.

 

22.       BANK BALANCES:

Members were informed of the following bank balances:

54131582        Yorkshire Bank                             £67,805.88

 

23.       CORRESPONDENCE:

The Clerk reported on correspondence received.  Cllr David Savage asked Members

views on holding the Parish Service at St Columbas which would be combined with

another event.  Members stated that they felt the Parish Service should either be put

back a year or held in June instead.

Resolved:       that Cllr David Savage report back to Churches Together.

 

24.       DATE FOR NEXT ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING:

Resolved:       that the date be set for 6.30pm on Monday 8th February 2010..

 

25.       ITEMS FOR INCLUSION ON WEBSITE:

Resolved:       that the Clerk update the website where appropriate.