PARISH COUNCIL MEETING 22nd March 2017
PRESENT: – Councillors – Mr R Buckley (Chair), Mr N Eardley, Mr P Torr, Mr R Buckingham, Mr A Broadhurst, Ms A Stott, Mr J Nicholas, & Mrs W Carter (Clerk)
1. APOLOGIES – Mrs E Wilson (Vice Chair), Mrs M Street. Mr C Fleming,
2. DECLARATION OF INTEREST – None.
3. PUBLIC FORUM – None.
4. CHAIRPERSON’S ANNOUNCEMENTS – Our good wishes to be sent to absent councillors.
5. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING HELD 22nd February 2017
Approved and signed.
6. CLERK TO GIVE UPDATE ON THE FOLLOWING:
(a) Current Bank Balance – statement to 3rd March 2017 – £3954.84
Which includes the £1290.00 payment from the insurance company for the notice board.
(b) All audit documentation is to be taken to Bollington Town Hall before Friday May 26th 2017.for collection by the internal auditor.
(c) In line with our current procedures, a final Risk Assessment for this financial year was carried out when the meeting notices were posted and the only fault, which is a very low risk, is the tube holding the sign at Higher Fold has flaking paintwork. It would be preferable to have it painted at the same time as the new sign for Higher Fold is installed by Zach Wilcox.
7. AUTHORISATION OF PAYMENT OF ACCOUNTS – 22.3.2017
Hurdsfield Church Meeting Room Rent for:-
Audit Meeting June 2016+Feb+March 2017. £37.50.Chq. No. 000807
HMRC Salary tax payment. £90.60 Chq. No. 000808
Clerk W. Carter-12 Months Expenses £184.80 Chq. No. 000809
8. PLANNING COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER AND COMMENT ON ANY PLANNING
The method by which the Planning Committee came to a decision was discussed, particularly looking in depth at the specifications of materials used and how to improve the paper trail and transparency of the decision making process. It was agreed that Cllr. R. Buckingham head the committee and the results of the discussions be compiled and documented by Cllr. R. Buckingham and forwarded to the Clerk who will issue the response to the Planning Dept.
No applications received.
9. TO RECEIVE AND NOTE ANY PLANNING DECISIONS
Ongoing – Officer’s are still assessing if the requirements of the Enforcement Notice 07/00047E for the large polytunnel have been fully complied in respect of areas of hardstanding which remain on site.
Planning decisions are now sent via email to the Parish Councils
Vinny Jones from Cheshire East Planning Enforcement has advised that the officer dealing with this case is on sick leave following a heart attack.
Deborah Ackerley has taken over and there will be no change until Deborah has reviewed the documents which are considerable. – On going
10 REVIEW AND DISTRIBUTE CORRESPONDENCE
A note for your diary, Rainow Parish Council Civic Service – Sunday 24th September 2017
11. THE DEAD TREES NEAR THE SEATING ARE AT HIGHER FOLD
The problem with branches falling from the dead trees continues as ownership of the strip of land and trees is still in dispute. A colleague of Andy Simpson in Asset Management is looking into the land ownership. If the situation drags on Andy Simpson has advised he will arrange for the necessary works to be carried out in the New Year and he would try and recover the costs at a later date.
Andy Simpson arranged a meeting with their Asset team on 14th March to look at this piece of land and said he would be able to advise further after this meeting.
The Clerk has requested an update. The Clerk to advise Cllr. Stott.
12. THE UN-ADOPTED ROAD AT HIGHER FOLD
(a) The condition of the road surface.
A. Simpson replied advising that the last time this matter was raised it was passed to Ansa to sort out on behalf of CEC assets as they are responsible for the playground area at the top of Higher fold. However, as the track has no designation on his mapping, there is no obligation for them to maintain any section other than the part immediately fronting their property and any other maintenance lies with the adjacent landowner.
As the car park is also responsibility of Ansa, who regularly use it for their vehicles, the entrance to the car park would therefore appear to be the responsibility of Ansa. Andy Simpson advised we contact Property @ Cheshire East.
The Clerk emailed Property @ Cheshire East requesting the road to be filled in and resurfaced. They replied saying Alcamay Developments Limited of 2 Statham Court, Statham Street, Macclesfield, SK11 6XN was responsible, however they were dissolved July 2013, the company no longer exists. The Clerk has replied with this information, again asking for remedial work to be carried out as it is access to their facilities.
The Chairman produced a letter of complaint from the four residents at Higher Fold with photos, one of which showed 6 Ansa vehicles on the car park. The Clerk to pass on this letter to Property East and request remedial work take place.
The alternative of residents and the Parish Council supplying the gravel to fill in the holes was also discussed. – Ongoing
(b) The drainage channel at the entrance.
The gully at the entrance to Higher Fold is completely blocked with stone from Higher Fold lane. Andy Simpson advised on 30.11.2016 that he would add the drainage channel to their Adhoc empty/jetting programme, but as there is a considerable list it would be approx. 2 weeks before work could be carried out.
This work has not been carried out the Clerk to request an update from Andy Simpson.
(c) The sign for the entrance “HIGHER FOLD”.
The size of the signs quoted for were thought to have been too large.
The Clerk has requested the cost for a sign measuring 330x350mm, printed in capitals with a border around, with a clip attachment, for which we will have to advise the diameter of the post onto which it is to be fixed. – On going.
13. THE GENERAL CONDITION OF THE PARISH
(a) Well Lane – flooding – road surface – overgrowth
The Council have carried out some work to clear the drains, this has not been successful, water is still coming up through the grids and the road is still flooding.
3.3.2017 Andy Simpson advised they have attempted to clear this drain on two occasions, the latter being successful to a degree which cleared some of the silt. However this was not sufficient to maintain the flow. Further works to be programmed to investigate this problem.
The pot holes are as bad as ever and a separate job has been raised to repair the carriageway defects however the water levels may dictate when this can be done. The road remains closed.
In addition overgrowth and tree seedlings along the length of the lane have still not been cleared and are growing which is causing more problems.
Andy Simpson has advised this will be addressed in the new financial year.
A complaint was also made about an incident that happened a few days before the meeting. Two Council workmen cut down the hedge on top of a wall belonging to the council and threw it onto the land on the opposite side of Well Lane which was private and not council property. Had any of this growth been poisonous, it could have had serious consequences for the live stock.
Andy smith knows nothing about this work team carrying out such work.
(b) Rainow Road –
A REPLACEMENT “HIGHER HURDSFIELD” ROAD SIGN is required on the left hand side of Rainow Road as you drive into Higher Hurdsfield from Rainow. A request was made to Andy Simpson who replied by saying, Parish signs are the responsibility of the Parish to maintain, he could provide us with suitable companies for quotes.
The clerk to obtain a quote.
THE WALLS AT THE JUNCTION OF ROEWOOD/RAINOW ROAD ARE TUMBLING DOWN. Some rails have been put around the wall. A rechargeable works order has been raised for this damage and is scheduled to start 6th March until the 10th March using multi phase traffic signals. No finished on the day of the meeting.
RAINOW ROAD SURFACE CONDITION. –
Carriage way issues-; surface condition, old utility trenches and highway drain covers will be addressed as part of their Level 2 carriageway repairs to be carried out later in the year. Once completed, the section from Lower Fold Farm to Well Lane will then be resurfaced with Micro Asphalt in next summer’s programme.
In the meantime, he has arranged for the road to be inspected that day to check for any actionable defects, which will then be repaired as appropriate.
The road is deteriorating and causing a real problem for the residents living on this road as a considerable amount of heavy wagons use this road, from very early in the morning until late. The noise of the wagons hitting the various loose/exposed grids and bumps in the road is very distressing to the residents. – On going
(c) Cliff Lane – gullies – damaged road sign.
The damaged road sign frame has now been removed and the replacement will be programmed in the new financial year.
The gullies running along each side of Cliff Lane are widening and are dangerous. The Clerk has reported the issue to Andy Simpson and is waiting for a reply.
14. THE ROAD / FOOTWAY / BINS ON RAINOW ROAD, between Cliff Lane and the George and Dragon.
The number/s of the houses not complying with the request to move their bins off the public footpath and back onto their own property, to be confirmed to the Clerk by the Chairman who will in turn advise Cllr. Stott.
15. REPLACEMENT NOTICE BOARD
The Notice Board has been installed, leaving only a couple of paving stones to be laid at the front of the board and a letter to be replaced.
The invoices have been sent to the insurance company.
£1290.00 payment from the insurance company has been received. – Ongoing
16. THE PUBLIC FOOTPATH SIGN.
A “Public Footpath” sign which was lying on the ground opposite Lower Fold Farm on Rainow road was reported to Andy Simpson who is arranging for this matter to be passed to the PROW dept for a replacement to be organized.
17. THE FOOTPATH BETWEEN HIGHER FENCE ROAD & TELFORD CLOSE.
Footpath between Telford Close and Higher Fence Rd. The area at the bottom of this path has been getting progressively worse as the water all collects at a low point. The result is a big pool of water or mud that cannot be avoided measuring approx. 2m x 2m. This path is well used. The Clerk put in a request to have a drain away towards the canal.
Andy Simpson advised on the 3.3.2017 that it would be assessed at the earliest opportunity and he would advise further after the assessment.
It does look like someone has roughly scooped out a drainage channel which has gotten rid of the water for the moment. – Ongoing
Meeting ended approx. 7.15pm.
The date of the next meeting to be Wednesday 26th April 2017 –
The Annual Parish Meeting followed by our Parish Council Meeting.
