UPTON BY CHESTER & DISTRICT PARISH COUNCIL

Meeting of the Upton by Chester and District Parish Council held on Monday 1st September 2008 at The Pavilion, Wealstone lane, Upton, Chester

                       

PRESENT:    

Cllr Jean Evans (Chairman), Cllr Theresa Bartliff, Cllr John Butler,

Cllr David Capstick, Cllr David Evans, Cllr Gerald Grant, Cllr Jill Houlbrook,

Cllr Gill Jordan, Cllr Pat Lott, Cllr Paul Lowry, Cllr Caroline Mosley,

Cllr Chris Reeve, Cllr Bryan Smith, Cllr Liz Squire and Cllr Robert Thompson,

 

1.         OPEN FORUM:

 

No Members of the public were present.

 

2.         APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:

 

Apologies were received from Cllr Miljenko Williams.

 

Resolved:       that the apologies be received.

 

3.         DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN ITEMS ON THE AGENDA:      

 

Cllr Robert Thompson declared an interest in respect of his association with the

Chester & District Housing Trust in relation to the Pavilion project.

 

4.         MINUTES:

 

Resolved:      

(a)        that the minutes of the Parish Council Meeting of 30th June 2008 be confirmed as a correct record with the amendments agreed.

(b)        that the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting of 30th June 2008 be confirmed as a correct record.

(c)        that the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting of 14th July 2008 be confirmed as a correct record.

(d)        that the minutes of the Parish Communications Committee meeting of 14th July 2008 be confirmed as a correct record.

 

5.     PARISH COUNCIL – 30th June 2008:

 

The Clerk reported that the pathway across Chemistry Pits Play Area had now been

raised.  Cllr Jill Houlbrook asked if a request had been sent to the Area Committee for

funding towards a ‘booklet of activities’.  The Clerk reported that this had not yet been

done.  Members discussed this issue.  Cllr John Butler asked members about the

ownership of the bridal path at Chester Zoo and commented on the advice given by Cllr

Jill Houlbrook at the last meeting.

Resolved:       (a)        that the Clerk submit a request from the Area Committee for

funding towards the ‘booklet of activities in Upton.

(b)        that an item be put on the next Parish Council agenda to discuss the bridal path at Chester Zoo.

 

6.      PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING – 30th June 2008:

 

Resolved:       that the resolutions passed by the Planning Committee Meeting of 30th June 2008 be noted

 

7.      PLANNING COMMITTEE:

 

Resolved:       that the resolutions passed by the Planning Committee Meeting of 14th July 2008 be noted.

 

8.      PARISH COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE:

 

Resolved:       .that the resolutions passed by the Parish Communications Committee Meeting of 14th July 2008 be noted.

 

9.      UPDATE ON PAVILION PROJECT:

 

The Chairman and the Clerk reported on a meeting that had been held earlier in the day

with Dr Martin Carey, Surestart and the architect.  Members were informed that

Surestart needed to be sure that various parts of the project were in place within the

next few months to ensure that they could officially give their support to the project.

The Clerk also reported that the architect had asked her to produce a draft outline of the

requirements of the Parish Council from the new building to enable him to start the

process of providing costings and a business plan.  Members discussed the list

provided by the Clerk and Cllr Caroline Mosley asked if members could have a few

days to think about it before giving their comments to the Clerk for submission to the

architect.

 

Members discussed the land survey at Marl Heyes and the intended letter to nearby residents.  The Chairman reported that Chester & District Housing Trust were awaiting the date of the survey before the letter was sent, but that the survey should be undertaken over the next two weeks.  Cllr John Butler reported that he was still sceptical about the success of being able to use the land at Marl Heyes and was aware that many other areas in Cheshire had built community centres and village halls and wondered how these were funded.  He asked if the Clerk could try to find some information on this.

 

Cllr Theresa Bartliff informed Members that she had a number of questions to ask about the project, but felt it would be easier to send these to the Clerk which she could answer and send the replies out to all Members and that these could then be discussed at the next meeting.

 

Resolved:       (a)        that Members consider the draft list of Parish Council

requirements from the new building and let the Clerk know of any changes they would like to see.

(b)        that the Clerk contact all Parish Councils in Cheshire to get information on how they funded their community centres if applicable.

 

10.      APPROVAL OF COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER:

 

Members discussed various changes to the draft newsletter.

 

Resolved:       that the suggested changes be made and that the Clerk arrange for the printing and delivering to be done.

 

11.      STANDING ORDERS:

 

Members considered the various changes to the Standing Orders that had been

suggested by the working party.  Cllr Caroline Mosley told Members that she felt that

the working party should consider the Standing Orders on a yearly basis to ensure that

they were kept up to date.

 

Resolved:       (a)        that the changes to the Standing Orders be made.

(b)        that the working party consider the Standing Orders each year prior to the Annual Meeting, starting in 2010.

 

12.       RE-ACCREDITATION AS A QUALITY PARISH COUNCIL:  

 

The Clerk reported that the Parish Council would need to re-apply for Quality status by December 2008, that a fee of £117.50 would need to be paid and that the criteria had changed.  The Clerk told Members of the changes and asked for advice of how providing evidence of this could be achieved.  Cllr Caroline Mosley suggested that the Clerk provide all Members with a copy of the criteria and that they would then make suggestions.

 

Resolved:       that the Clerk provide copies of the criteria and start to prepare the evidence.

 

13.      CREATION OF ‘FRIENDS OF WEALSTONE PARK’:

 

Members discussed this idea.  It was suggested that the matter be put on the next

Environmental Committee agenda.

 

Resolved:       that an item be put on the next Environmental agenda.

 

14.      ANNUAL PARISH SERVICE:

 

The Clerk informed Members that the Clerk had received an email from Churches

Together in Upton with the suggestion of 31st May 2009 at United Reform Church for

the next service.

 

Resolved:       that Members agree with this date.

 

 

 

 

15.      SPEEDING PROBLEMS ON CAUGHALL ROAD:

 

The Clerk reported that she had received a letter from Christine Russell, MP for

Chester stating that local residents had approached her with regard to the problem of

speeding traffic on Caughall Road and was asking for the Parish Council to consider

the use of a SID camera in the area.  Cllr Jill Houlbrook and the Chairman told

Members that local Councillors from the City Council had already worked very hard

on the problem and had discovered the action needed to overcome the situation.  They

also reported that unfortunately none of the actions had been undertaken due to lack of

funding from the County Council and due to the criteria, created by the government,

needed to enable works of this nature.  Cllr Jill Houlbrook told Members that whilst

she was glad of the support of  Christine Russell MP, she was a member of the

government who imposed the criteria, and she would be serving the community better

by trying to get it changed and that a letter should be sent to her suggesting this.

 

Resolved:       that the Clerk reply to Christine Russell MP as outlined above.

 

16.      GREENFIELDS PLAY AREA:

 

The Clerk reported on a letter received from Christine Russell MP with regard to the

intentions of the Parish Council in respect of the play area at Greenfields.  Cllr David

Evans reminded Members that this area is leased from the Chester & District Housing

Trust and that there is currently only an interim lease and this makes it difficult to get

funding for improvements.  Cllr David Evans also reported that the area had a history

of vandalism of equipment and its current position was unsuitable due to access and not

being overlooked.  The Chairman reported that talks had started with the CDHT in

respect of the future of the area which they would like to develop to create a more

suitable area for play equipment, but that this had been somewhat sidelined by the

Pavilion project for the time being.  The Clerk reminded Members that some years ago

a request had been received from a local resident, to remove a swing.  The Clerk had

hand delivered a letter to all residents of Greenfields stating the intention to remove the

swing and asking for comments.  Not one comment was received.

 

Resolved:       that the Clerk write to Christine Russell outlining the facts above.

 

17.      ADDITIONAL SIGN AT WEALSTONE LANE PLAYING FIELDS:     

 

The Clerk reported on an email received from the Community Wardens with regard to a

problem with young people riding motor scooters around the playing fields.  The

Wardens had approached one young person who said that there was not a sign saying

he could not.  The Wardens are suggesting that the Parish Council install a sign

prohibiting motor cycles on the playing fields.  Cllr Jill Houlbrook suggested that the

Area Committee could be approached to finance the signs.

 

Resolved:       that the Clerk approach the Area Committee for funding for the signs.

 

18.     COMMUNITY SAFETY:

 

Nothing to report.

 

19.       CHESHIRE VILLAGE QUIZ:

 

Cllr John Butler reported that Churches Together in Upton were organising a quiz and wanted the Parish Council to get involved.

 

Resolved:       that the report be noted.

 

20.       COMMUNITY LINKS SCHEME:

 

Nothing to report.

 

21.       PUBLICATIONS:    

 

Resolved:       that the publications be received.

 

22.        INVITATIONS:       

 

The Clerk reported on invitations.

 

Resolved:       that the invitations be received.

 

23.       ACCOUNTS REPORT:

 

Members discussed the following accounts report:

ACCOUNTS REPORT

Date           Chq No  Payee                      Item                       Amount 

30/06/08                 001743        H M Revenue & Custons       Nat Insurance                                       31.23

30/06/08                 001744        Clerk                                           Exps (Mileage/postage)                      78.63

15/07/08                 001745        Clerk                                           Salary (July)                                      1740.66

15/07/08                 001746        Att 1                                           Wages (July)                                      557.62

15/07/08                 001747        Att 2                                           Wages (July)                                      674.08

15/07/08                 001748        Att 3                                           Wages (July)                                      447.91

02/07/08                 001749        Royal Mail Group                    Business Reply service                       40.00

07/07/08                 001750        J H Griffith & Son                    Repairs                                                 435.93

07/07/08                 001751        B T Payment Services             Telephone at Pavilion                         69.16

15/08/08                 001752        Clerk                                           Salary (August)                                1741.26

15/08/08                 001753        Att 1                                           Wages (August)                                899.85

15/08/08                 001754        Att 2                                           Wages (August)                                953.43

15/08/08                 001755        Att 3                                           Wages (August)                                679.08

12/08/08                 001756        Stan Smith & Son                    Repairs                                                 114.56

12/08/08                 001757        BTCV                                         Repairs to pathway                            853.59

12/08/08                 001758        BTCV                                         Maintenance of Wildlife area           146.87

12/08/08                 001759        BT Payment Services              Clerks telephone                                  78.45

 

 

It was moved by Cllr Jill Houblrook and seconded by Cllr Gerald Grant that the accounts be approved.

 

Resolved:       that the report be approved.

 

24.       BANK BALANCES:

 

54131582        Yorkshire Bank                             £80,986.33

 

Resolved:       that the balance be noted.

 

25.       CORRESPONDENCE:

 

The Clerk reported on correspondence received  

 

Resolved:       that the correspondence be noted.

 

26.       ITEMS FOR INCLUSION ON WEBSITE:

 

 Resolved:      that the Clerk update the Website where appropriate.