MINUTES OF THE NORTH RODE PARISH COUNCILMEETING HELD AT DAINTRY HALL , NORTH RODE ON THURSDAY 7th SEPTEMBER 2023 AT 7.30PM
Present:
Councillor Huw Williams – Chairman
Councillor Georgina Bailey – Vice Chairman
Councillor Brian Evans
Councillor Jon Burwood
Councillor Richard Edwards
Councillor Alastair Bayley
Mrs Brenda Lomas – Clerk
Members of the public – Mrs L Petts and Mr T Hayes
- Welcome by the Chairman
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked John Dwyer, Police Commissioner and representatives of the Police and CEC Highways department for their attendance to discuss the traffic problems on Bank Lane and Church Lane following the creation of the Congleton Link Road. - Apologies for absence
Cheshire East Councillor Lesley Smetham (on holiday)
Councillor Jacqui Lea - Public Participation – Meeting with the Authorities regarding the use of Bank Lane / Church Lane
John Dwyer, Police Commissioner, Inspector Chris Watkins,Traffic Police Officer. PCSO Chloe Shore (who advised that she is about to be replaced by PCSO Amy Mayers) Debbie Mitchell, CEC Highways Design Manager, Sam, (Press Officer for John Dwyer)
Inspector Watkins acknowledged that the Police hadn’t given the attention required to police the traffic on Church Lane / Bank Lane but would be doing so from 24th September 2023. There is no automated system for catching offenders who breach the weight restriction. It requires officers placed at both ends of the road – to check that the 7.5 tonne vehicles aren’t delivering to premises along the route. Enforcement is problematical but the police will write to firms and provide verbal warnings. Attendees raised concerns re road safety, and that it is the volume of cars which are causing as much of a problem as the use of the roads by HGV’s and other heavy weight traffic such as tractors and plant. The Chairman advised of the concern that a further 1000 homes are to be constructed in Congleton with direct access on to the Link Road which will further exacerbate the problem. The Vice Chairman raised the point that as CEC had caused the problems – in terms of the design of the Link Road and it’s exit point in Eaton – then CEC should now provide solutions to the problem. Debbie Mitchell, Highways ,advised that CEC are planning to install Buxton direction signs on the Link Road to dissuade traffic from using Bank Lane and Church Lane in North Rode. It is hoped that the work will be completed in the next two months. New signage has been erected at the ends of Church Lane and Bank Lane (today) which include an ‘unsuitable for HGV’s’ sign. John Dwyer wondered if a 20mph speed limit might help. Other solutions raised might include ‘access only’ or ‘quiet lane’ which means that satnavs couldn’t direct traffic down the route. It was stated by the Authorities that no accidents had been reported to the police or to the Highways Dept. The safety of the road for walkers, horse riders & cyclists was raised. Inspector Watkins said that they could only look at enforcement and education within the restrictions of the status of the road. Satnavs were discussed – the Highways department are continuing to look at this issue i.e. the highways team will explore the possibility of approaching the origins of sat nav – in an attempt to downgrade or remove Church Lane / Bank Lane to HGV’s. It was noted that there was a concern that whatever action was taken should not displace the current traffic problems to Shellow Lane in North Rode. The CEC Highways representative was happy to receive any suggestions from local residents as regards suggestions to improve the current situation. The condition of the road surface and drains was also raised – and the Highways representative advised that she would have a look as to when maintenance is scheduled for the road. It was reported to the Authorities that road markings had disappeared, pot holes were significant and skid marks were on the road. The Authorities advised that residents and the parish council need to report all such issues to the Highways department. The Police advised that there will soon be a new beat police officer for our area – P C David O Connor – to whom we could discuss any traffic problems. John Dwyer advised that we should also involve the Police Rural Crime Team for issues such as fly tipping.
The Chairman thanked the Authorities for attending the meeting. They left the hall at approximately 8.15pm. The members of the public also left the hall at that time and the Parish Council meeting continued.
- Declarations of Interest
A declaration was made from Councillor Huw Williams regarding the creation of an entrance to the field adjacent to his property. - Minutes of the previous meetings
Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting and the Annual General Meeting held on 11th May 2023 were agreed as a true and accurate record and were signed by the Chairman. - Highways Updates
The Chairman advised that he has been chasing John Denwood CEC Highways, regarding the drainage problems on Church Lane. The drains are to be jet washed to clear any blockages. The ‘hole’ on the road by Cloud View Farm is also under investigation. Huw advised that the drain to Daintry Hall kitchen might feed into the road drain on Church Lane (as opposed to the waste water being directed to Daintry Hall’s septic tank). A pump system to take the kitchen waste to the septic tank would be adviseable. The drain may have collapsed at some point along its length and requires to be properly checked. Huw is chasing CEC to jet wash that highways drain. The flooding on Bramhall Hill is noticed to be better. A budget is required to address further work to prevent flooding at Bank Lane outside of Bank Farm.
Councillors and residents need to report accidents and HGV’s to the Chairman, who will collate and forward the information to the Police for action.
Pot holes can be reported directly to CEC online or via an app on the phone.
- Planning Applications
22/3480M – Keepers Cottage, Manor Park Road – a planning appeal has been lodged to the Planning Department’s refusal of the application. The Parish Council’s previous comments on the application will automatically be carried forward to be considered by the Planning Inspectorate in determining the appeal. Hence no further action is required. - Planning Enforcement – update
a) Tinker Bells Hollow, Bramhall Hill. It was discussed and agreed that a watching brief will remain as regards whether the owner of the property returns to live in the mobile home on the site. This matter will remain on future agendas. It is understood that the owner had advised the Planning Enforcement Officer that he was not living in the mobile home /at the property.
b) 20/00535E Land behind Daintry Hall. The PC had previously been advised by the Planning Enforcement department (in communication dated 17th November 2022) that a Planning Contravention Notice (PCN) was being prepared in respect of the mobile home and other issues on the land. The Clerk had recently written to Planning Enforcement requesting an update on the case but had not received a response. Consequently, Councillor Smetham had subsequently made enquires of CEC and had received a response which stated that, as the agricultural buildings had been in place for in excess of 10 years – then the Planning Enforcement department could take no further action. Councillor Bailey advised she would speak to Mr Heywood as being the nearest resident and who could confirm exactly how long the sheds and other items had been in place. It was agreed that following the gathering of that information, then the Clerk should send a further enquiry prior to the next meeting of the Parish Council. Clerk to write to planning enforcement.
c) 20/00120E Creation of a new access gateway on Church Lane owned by Mr Mark Bullock of The Oaklands. Planning enforcement have advised that, as engineering works have been involved in the creation of this access i.e. the digging out of the land / soil removal – that they had referred the matter to the Highways Department for their involvement and that the Parish Council should also make contact with the Highways department if they were concerned that the new vehicular access could result in highway concerns. It was agreed that the Clerk should write to the Highways Dept. Clerk to write to Highways.
d) 22/0080E Shellow Lane Lodges, Saw Pitt Wood – a possible breach of occupancy condition has been reported to Planning Enforcement by Councillor Smetham on behalf of a resident of North Rode. It is alleged by the resident that workmen / people are living in the lodges for significant periods of time in breach of the holiday use condition. There is also a condition that the lodges should not be used in January of each year. Andy Cush is the allocated Planning Enforcement Officer who will be looking into the case – reference no. 22/0080E. In addition, it has been noticed by passer-bys that the septic tank was causing an odour in the immediate locality. The Chairman offered to visit the area and determine if he felt that there was a problem. Chair to visit and to ascertain the extent of any problem - Finance
Since the last meeting, the Parish Council had received a donation of £1779.59 from the Friends of North Rode organization (North Rode 2000 Fund) for the purpose of providing a second defibrillator to be installed in the village. The Chairman had purchased the defibrillator and cabinet and the donation had covered those costs. The only additional costs to the Parish Council would be the purchase of a mounting post at £120, and an electrician to connect the defibrillator to the electricity supply – (approximately £120 including cable and wiring) and concrete – (approximately £20). Volunteers would undertake the installation work. John Miller of the First Responders will register the defibrillator and maintain it. Councillor volunteered to undertake the installation work.
Councillors approved the future associated costs for the installation of the defibrillator, i.e. the post, concrete, and electrical costs.
Councillors also approved the costs of the hire of Daintry Hall (£30 per meeting for May & September) = £60. Councillor ChALC Induction training course for Councillor Edwards and Councillor Burwood (£25 per course) = £50. Chairmanship Training for Councillor Williams (£25)
The Parish Council’s current account held £6988.00 as at 17th August 2023.
- Village Defibrillators
See point 9. A second defibrillator is to be installed at the Park Gate (Shellow Lane) side of the village. Chair to arrange additional training for residents. - Village boundary name signs
Four village name signs have been erected around the village – but for completeness, three further village boundary name signs are required. The Chairman advised that we have not been informed of how much the previous four signs had cost. He had contacted Natalie Maltese of CEC Highways to enquire of the actual costs of three additional signs. The Chairman was advised that each sign would cost £250 but that the installation cost by the Council would bring that total cost up to £5800. The Chairman had enquired of the Highways Department whether the Parish Council could install the signs – but was advised that signs had to be installed by a CEC contractor.
The Chairman had then made an approach to Councillor Smetham to ascertain if there was possible financial assistance from the ward budget – but there appeared to be no funds remaining to be allocated for North Rode. Councillors understanding of the ward budget was that a new allocation per annum would be calculated. It was agreed that this query should be pursued.
Councillors agreed that they could not warrant a payment of approximately £5,000 out of the Parish Council funds for the remaining three signs. It was agreed that further enquiries would be made by the Chair re the ward budget and also how other villages had funded their boundary signs. Chair to make further enquiries re boundary signs / costings - Neighbourhood Plan – no progress has been made as yet. Georgina offered to speak to the Chair of Marton Parish Council re their Neighbourhood plan.
13.Training
Councillors Edwards and Councillor Burwood are to attend the Induction course for new Councillors. Councillor Williams is to attend the Chairmanship training.
- PC Website and communication with residents
The new website is up and running and able to be populated with whatever village residents and the Parish Councillors would like to see – such as history of the village. - Adoption of CEC new Code of Conduct Policy
Councillors agreed to adopt the new policy. Chair to upload the policy to the website - Commemoration of D-Day 80 – 6th June 2024
Councillors agreed that we should organise a simple village celebration similar to the party which was held to celebrate the Kings Coronation – such as a picnic with music – and that this proposal should be highlighted in the next village newsletter. It was discussed that the National proposal for D-Day 80 is for each town / village to have the reading of a proclamation and for beacons to be lit. The current beacon in North Rode is incorrectly sited – being slightly outside of the boundary of Daintry Hall’s land. It also requires maintenance due to its age / becoming rotten. The Chairman advised that he was now a trustee of the Daintry Hall Management Committee and wished to merge / interlink village activities. The D-Day celebration may provide an opportunity to replace and reposition the beacon. Chair to put a save the date notice on the parish newsletter and to look at the beacon. - Correspondence / communication received by the Parish Council
• A complaint by e-mail had been received from a resident of Bull Gate Lane in respect of the speed that UPS vehicles drive to and from the UPS depot. It was agreed that a letter be sent to the transport manager of UPS from the Parish Council. Clerk to write to the Transport Manager at the depot.
• A complaint had been lodged that the post from the post box was being collected at a different time than that stated on the village post boxes. Chair to investigate and get boxes updated
• It was noted that there is now a FlexiLink bus provision for the over 80’s in the village. It is available to residents at a cost of £3 between 9am to 2pm. The scheme provides for residents to ring and book the bus. Chair to post this facility in parish newsletter and Clerk to put an advertising poster in the village notice board.
• A complaint had been received regarding delivery vehicles which deliver to properties in North Rode Park and then get ‘stuck’ at the electric gate. It was agreed that this wasn’t an issue in which the Parish Council could become involved as the Park Road is a private road and that the residents who order the deliveries should be responsible for the route which the delivery drivers take.
- Dates of the next meetings
The proposed dates of the next two meetings are Thursday 11th January 2024 and Thursday 16th May 2024 to include the AGM and the Parish Meeting
The meeting closed at 9.40pm.