UPTON BY CHESTER & DISTRICT PARISH COUNCIL

Clerk – Mrs Sandra Devenney,

20 Bridge Street,

Port Sunlight,

Wirral CH62 4UR

Tel 0151 644 5975

E- Mail clerk@uptonbychester.org.uk

ANNUAL REPORT

&

ANNUAL ACCOUNTS

2008 - 2009

REPORT GIVEN TO

The Annual Assembly Meeting

On 6^th April 2009

By the Chairman of the Parish Council – Cllr Jean Evans

The Chairman of the Parish Council reported as follows:

A minutes silence was held in remembrance of Cllr David Capstick who recently died.

New Community Building

The results of the questionnaire about the new community building project as follows:

19% return of forms

79% wanted to sell the land to raise finance

Highest percentages for what facilities included:

centre for all ages

Year round toilet facilities

New sports facilities

Large meeting and function rooms

Of other comments made on forms, majority wanted café/vending machine.

A land survey of Marl Heyes has been done which showed no problems and that the Project Management Team are now preparing the specification for the new building so that costings can be done to see if the project is possible. If possible this will be followed by a planning application for both the land at Marl Heyes and the new community centre. There will also be a Business Plan prepared with regard to the sustainability of the new building.

The Parish Council will only make the final decision if everything stacks up.

Community Noticeboard on website

Following a request to put more details of events and clubs/socities in Upton onto the website, some local residents have assisted in building new pages for the website for this facility and the Clerk has now taken over the management of inputting the information. There is still some graphics work to be completed, but the information is now starting to appear. Website address is www.uptonbychester.org.uk

Pathway at Chemistry Pits Play Area

Due to the flooding of the pathway across this field, the Parish Council arranged for the path to be raised in the affected area.

New gym equipment

A very successful new additional to play equipment for older children in the form of outdoor gym equipment has been put in at Wealstone Lane Playing Fields. This was paid for as follows:

£5,000 from Area Committee of City Council

£4,000 from City Council Parished Areas fund

£1,000 from PC

Re-accreditation as Quality parish Council

Quality Status lasts for four years and therefore the Parish Council had to apply again for Quality Status. This was successfully done in December 2008.

Annual Parish Service

The first Annual Service was held at Holy Ascension was a great success and this year on 31^st May there will be another one at United Reform Church on Heath Road.

Publication Scheme

The Parish council adopted a new Publication Scheme during the year. This can be found on the website or you can contact the Clerk for a copy. It outlines all of the information that is available to the public and how it can be obtained.

Naming the new roads at the hospital development

The developers were not aware that they had to ask the Local Authority for suggestions for names for the new roads. Councillors objected to the names put forward and were asked for suggestions, most of which were taken on board.

Precept

Unfortunately the Parish Council has had to increase the precept for new financial year. This is mainly due to the loss of a grant which came from the City Council for a long standing double rating issue.

Proposal to lay sewer at Wealstone Lane

The Parish Council have been in talks with the Water Board who wants to lay a sewer system in the corner of the field by the youth club. They have the right to do the work and may need to change the entrance. A meeting has been held with them to discuss this and they have taken on board the wishes of the PC with regard to changes needed.

Re-turfing of the hill in the childrens play area at Wealstone

The Parish Council has agreed to pay for new turfing on the hill. Due to the change over of authorities, the order for this had to be delayed until the new authority was in place. The work should be done shortly after the Easter holidays.

Repair of Cheshire Railings

Despite giving Highways the information on the day of the accident, it took many months for them to sort out the paperwork. This paperwork then got lost in packing boxes during an office move. When found it was too late to order the work from the old Authority and has had to wait until the new authority is in place. Should be done very soon – they said!!!!!

£

Balance at 1 April 2008 14,507

Income - Precept 79,610

Pavilion 5,399

Bank Interest 1,812

Grants 22,718

Misc other 1,743 111,282

125,789

Expenditure –

Administration 39,196

Tax & NI 15,537

General 6,650

Section 137 0

Playing Fields 17,123

Pavilion 2,951

Open spaces 5

Pavilion Project 856

Other 9,987

92,305

Balance at 31 March 2009 34,484

YOUR PARISH COUNCILLORS

Upton Heath

Theresa Bartliff 66 Cross Green 348467

John Butler 109 Long Lane 383703

Patricia Lott 47 Appleton Road 344837

Paul Lowry 15 Glastonbury Avenue 345088

Caroline Mosley 55 Pyecroft Street 676542

Liz Squire 49 Appleton Road 348993

Miljenko Williams 33a Greenfields 374544

Upton Grange

David Evans 26 Alpraham Crescent 377200

Jean Evans 26 Alpraham Crescent 377200

Jill Houlbrook 18 Daleside 383345

Christopher Reeve 51 Appleton Road 343061

Bryan Smith 11 Willow Close 381164

Upton Park

Gill Jordan 39 Wealstone Lane 374223

Vacant Seat

Moston

Gerald Grant 16 Tintern Avenue 312825

Bache

Robert Thompson 5 Ashwood Crt, Hoole 342920

The Clerk to the Council is Mrs Sandra Devenney who can be contacted during office hours on Chester 0151 644 5975 or in writing: 20 Bridge Street,

Port Sunlight Village, Wirral CH62 4UR or e-mail clerk@uptonbychester.org.uk