North Rode Parish Council
Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting
held on Thursday 16th May 2024 at 7.30pm at Daintry Hall
Present : Councillor Huw Williams, Chairman
Councillor Georgina Bailey, Vice Chairman
Councillor Jacqui Lea
Councillor Alastair Bayley
Councillor Brian Evans
Councillor Richard Edwards
Councillor Jon Burwood
Cheshire East Ward Councillor Lesley Smetham
Police Constable David O’ Connor
Brenda Lomas – Clerk
No members of the public were in attendance
- Welcome by the Chairman
Huw Williams welcomed everyone to the meeting and particularly PC David O’ Connor who is North Rode’s (relatively new) beat Officer. - Councillors were introduced
- Apologies for absence – None
- Public Participation – due to PC O’ Connor’s commitments – it was agreed to allow him time at this stage in the meeting to advise of his involvement with the traffic issues along Bank Lane and Church Lane. PC O’Connor advised that 40 HGV’s had been reported to use that route over the last 12 months. Any spikes in April 2024 (9 incidents reported) will inevitably have been due to road closures on the A54. In response to reportings of HGV’s to the Police, PC O’Connor has spoken to the transport managers of HGV firms involved – as a means of education and to manage the problem. He advised that the Police did not have sufficient time and man power to effect enforcement days. It was suggested that the Parish Council could put up an ANPR camera itself (provided permission was obtained / granted by the Information Commissioners Office (ICO)). Some cameras will confirm the type of vehicle. This could be useful evidence towards providing a rigourous record towards a future traffic count – plus it might assist with any incidents of fly tipping in the village. Councillor Smetham advised that Gawsworth PC had had such a camera but that they found that the results required to be downloaded by an IT literate person. Following the erection of other cameras by the Highways Department, Gawsworth PC might still have a camera which isn’t being used. Lesley agreed to put Huw in touch with ‘Matthew’ in Gawsworth who had been responsible for the camera. It was discussed that the PC could perhaps erect ‘dummy’ signs to advise that cameras are operational as an additional traffic control measure. Councillor Smetham to advise the Chairman of Matthew’s contact details.
During discussions, it was confirmed that Cheshire East Council had undertaken a traffic count along Bank Lane prior to the completion of the Congleton Link Road and also a further traffic count after its completion – which confirmed a significant increase in traffic use. The Highways Department have promised to erect new direction signs on the Congleton Link road to direct traffic – which is en route to Buxton or to Leek – to travel through Congleton town to get on to the A54 – as opposed to cutting through Bank Lane and Church Lane in North Rode. The Highways Department will possibly undertake a further traffic count around 12 months after the erection of those signs to assess if the signs have achieved the required improvement.
Three road traffic accidents on Bank Lane had been reported to the Police in May. There have been no other reported crime such as burglaries.
A new PCSO – Amy Mair – has been appointed for the village and will be holding regular police ‘surgeries’. It was discussed that North Rode Parish Council have not been contacted by Amy or informed of any such surgeries.
- Presentation of the Chairman’s Report for 2023/24
Huw Williams presented the Chairman’s Annual report. It was unanimously agreed that a lot of positive actions had been achieved over the past 12 months and Huw was thanked for his hard work and committed approach to achieve improvements. Huw advised that his aim was for the Parish Council to organize at least one social event per year for the village.
- Questions & Answers
Councillor Evans asked whether the PC would have any involvement in terms of costs towards the proposed changes to Daintry Hall. Huw advised that this would not be the case. Huw further advised that the Daintry Hall Management Committee are to submit a planning application for improvements to Daintry Hall by the end of May 2024. Phase 1 will be the construction of a pavilion and Phase 2 will look at extending and improving Daintry Hall itself.
The Annual Parish Meeting closed at 9.00pm