Minutes of North Rode Parish Council Meeting
held on Thursday 7th August 2025
at Daintry Hall, North Rode at 7.30pm
Present :-
Councillor Huw Williams, Chairman
Councillor Georgina Bailey, Vice Chairman
Councillor Alastair Bayley
Councillor Brian Evans
Councillor Jon Burwood
Councillor Mark Bullock
Brenda Lomas – Clerk
Member of the Public – Mr Andrew Syson
1. Apologies for absence – Cheshire East Ward Councillor Lesley Smetham, & Councillor Jacqui Lea
2. Public Participation – none
3. To receive any Declarations of Interest – None received
4. To review, approve and sign the minutes of the previous meetings –
held on 8th May 2025 – Parish Meeting followed by the Annual General Meeting –
Councillors resolved to approve the minutes
5. To discuss any matters arising from the minutes of the meetings
• Councillor Georgina Bailey had attended an ‘online’ planning meeting which she had found useful – and had forwarded the course notes to all other Councillors.
• Councillor Jon Burwood is to become involved with police matters on behalf of the parish council. The Chairman will forward emails relating to police surgeries to Jon.
• Councillor Brian Evans is to take responsibility for the defibrillators and any maintenance which they require. The Chairman offered to forward recent emails relating to the fact that the pads in the Daintry Hall defibrillator require to be replaced.
• Councillor Burwood advised that he had researched the issue of the parish council becoming GOV.UK registered. There is no legal requirement to do so at the current time – and it would be expensive. The cheaper alternative would be for the PC to continue with the current practice of employing an outside body for website and email hosting etc. – at around £150-160 per annum.
6. To discuss the Railway 200 fete – held on 14th June 2025 – including expenditure and income
It was generally agreed that the Railway 200 event had been a very successful event. It was a sunny day and the event had been enhanced by the passing trains sounding their horns as they drove over the railway arches. The brass band played well and the duck races were well supported. The Chairman thanked Mark & Sue Bullock for providing the marquee, tables & chairs and toilets and thanked all helpers who had made the event so enjoyable. The Chairman advised that the intention of the Railway 200 event had always been to create a social get together for residents of the village to enjoy – as opposed to being a profit making event. Expenditure included hire of the brass band and the purchase of ducks, prizes, signs, river fencing and other items which had come to a total of £609. From that amount – £247 worth of items were reusable for future similar events. £200 was raised in four duck races. The event therefore cost the parish council £409, which was considered acceptable to encourage community activity. It was agreed that a similar duck race event could be held again, especially since ducks and netting would not need to be purchased, perhaps at a different riverside location in the village as a change. (Full details of expenditure are detailed in the finance section)
7. To discuss the Well Dressing event in August / September 2025
It was agreed that there is still a significant amount of preparation work to be undergone to the well itself and that time was against holding the event in August / September 2025 as previously hoped. It was resolved to postpone the well dressing until next year and to make it the main village social event for 2026. It could possibly be scheduled for 1st September 2026. In the meantime, work could progress to prepare the actual well and Cllr Williams will discuss with land owner Malcolm Kidd. It was discussed that a working party needs to be organized – Cllr Brian Evans, Cllr Jon Burwood and Andrew Syson offered their assistance. It was suggested that weekends would be the best time for the work to be undertaken. The Parish Council could look at the planting of more daffodils around the village at the same time.
Resolved – well dressing to take place 1st September 2026
8. To discuss the poppy making workshop
It was agreed that Saturday 18th October would be appropriate for the workshop. – The Chairman’s garage was used last year – but due to interest from neighbouring villages to learn how to make the poppies – a larger space might be needed.
9. Correspondence sent and received
– An apology had been sent by the Chairman to the owner of land behind Daintry Hall for releasing his/her name within the minutes of a parish council meetings, which has now been redacted.
– Correspondence had been received from a resident of Eaton in respect of their concerns regarding a planning application at Ladera for the regularization of the site layout and an additional six retrospective units.
– Communication had been received in respect of concerns regarding noise from amplified music played as part of the new Swanley Meadows events venue at Bank Farm.
10. To discuss Planning Applications :-
The Parish Council had been consulted by Cheshire East Council in relation to :-
• 25/2416/DSC Discharge of condition 5 on approved 24/2680C (noise management plan) – Bank Farm, Bank Lane, North Rode – change of use of agricultural land and woodland to a wedding venue. It was discussed that a corporate event held at the site on 14th June 2025 with a live band had been very loud and detrimentally impacted on a number of neighbouring residents. Complaints from affected residents had been made directly to the operator and also to the Parish Council. The Parish Council acknowledges that since that event, Swanley Meadows have taken steps to reduce noise outbreak, with specialized speakers and have engaged with the local community to obtain feedback.
The Noise Management Plan submitted was not though to be robust enough to monitor and control noise outbreak and for dealing with noise complaints in a timely manner, as communicated in assurances to local residents. The Parish Council was in agreement with the suggested measures provided by CEC Environmental Protection Service.
Resolved – The clerk to submit a response to Cheshire East Council.
25/2142/FUL Ladera Luxury Lodge Retreat, Back Lane, Eaton CW12 2NL – Regularisation of the site layout with an additional six retrospective units
Concerns were expressed as regards changes being made to the site before planning permission was granted i.e. a disregard for the planning process. If approved – it was considered that this would only serve to encourage further retrospective applications. Concerns were also raised as regards additional traffic / access to the site from Macclesfield Road. The original application / permission for the Ladera site was that all traffic entered the site from Back Lane and not from Macclesfield Road. It was stated that approved safety measures in the form of the creation of passing places on Back Lane for traffic had not been put in place at that time as suggested when approval was granted. A general concern was raised regarding the apparent lack of planning enforcement. If this application was approved – it would set a precedent for similar unauthorized development.
Resolved – the Clerk to submit a response to Cheshire East Council
• 25/2218/FUL Ladera Luxury Lodge Retreat, Back Lane, Eaton CW12 2NL Conversion of an existing building to a Children’s Residential Home (Use Class C2)
Concerns were expressed as regards the access being from Macclesfield Road, and for the disregard for the planning process as the conversion had already taken place prior to planning permission being granted.
Resolved – the Clerk to submit a response to Cheshire East Council
11. Planning Enforcement (the below to remain on the agendas until resolved)
a) Tinker Bells Hollow, Bramhall Hill Lane
No change – it is understood that the mobile home on the site is not being lived in at present
b) Land behind Daintry Hall
Potential breaches of planning regulations and of waste disposal issues had been reported to the relevant Authorities but no updates / response had been received.
c) Mobile caravan at North Rode Stables, Bank Lane, North Rode
The Clerk had referred this issue to the CEC planning enforcement department – and it had been allocated a planning enforcement number but no update / response had been received.
d) Far Whittles, Farm, Bramhall Hill – use of chalet for holiday accommodation
The Clerk had referred this issue to the CEC planning enforcement department and received a reference of 25/0259/ENF Dougey P3 – but no further update / response had been received.
12. Highways – the following highways issues were discussed:
a) Update on traffic issues on Bank Lane / Church Lane
The Chairman has attempted to make contact with the Highways traffic officer / traffic design officer to organize a further traffic count / traffic survey on Bank Lane – hopefully to be undertaken in September / October 2025 – but preferably not during the school half term holiday. It was reported at the meeting that a traffic count system had been noticed as having just been installed. It was agreed that as August is a school summer holiday – then it may not be as representative as the parish council would wish. Consideration of the feasibility of traffic lights at the pinch point was discussed. The Chairman advised that since May 2025 – there had been eight HGV’s reported to the Police.
Resolved – The Chairman to approach Highways for the outcome of the traffic count if it is not forthcoming.
b) Flooding / drainage issues on Bank Lane & Bramhall Hill and drainage issues on Church Lane
The Highways Department have recently closed Bramhall Hill whilst undertaking significant works to the area of flooding. The Chairman had visited the site and discussed the work with the repairs team. He reported that the work included the jetting of the gullies on either side of the road, the installation of new drains, new pipework and a drainage interceptor. The success of the work or otherwise will be apparent following the next bouts of heavy rain.
Bank Lane appeared to be much improved following the completion of works to that length of road.
Cllr Williams had investigated two previously raised issues of a drainage grid that had been filled in with tarmac at the bottom of Bank Lane and also that the fire hydrant which is located on Church Lane outside Rode Hall Farm had also been filled in with tarmac. Both matters had been referred to the Highways Dept.
Cllr Brian Evans reported that there was a blocked drain outside the Park Gates at Park Road. The Chairman advised that the former Cheshire East Council ‘online’ reporting system for faults on the Highway has recently been replaced by a new online reporting system called ‘Trace it’.
Resolved – Cllr Evans to report the fault on the Trace it system
13. Finance
a) The current balance of the North Rode Parish Council is £4541.24
Bank Reconciliation – Cllr Brian Evans summarized that he had undertaken a reconciliation of the parish council accounts with the clerk on 21st May 2025. The outcome of which was that all was in order. A bank reconciliation should take place twice per year.
b) Approval of the following expenditures :-
Parish Meeting – cheese, wine, soft drinks, grapes, strawberries, & disposable plates / cocktail sticks / serviettes £77.89 (to be reimbursed to the Clerk)
Railway fete / duck race – purchases
Ducks £81.28
Paints for the colouring of the ducks including primer – £35.89
Netting material and stakes for the river – £31.98
Direction and safety road signs for the A54 – £65.14
Rope for the river – £25.34
Prizes for best Victorian costume – £51.19
Leaflets, paper & pens – £11.68
Para cord for the river – £6.99
Hire of brass band – £200
Hire of marquee – £100
Daintry Hall defribillator – replacement of electrode pads – £80.80 – which have just required to be changed at the Daintry Hall defibrillator and which the Chairman had organised.
Hire of Daintry Hall – for the PC meeting – £30
It was resolved to approve the above expenditures – proposed by Cllr Jon Burwood and seconded by Cllr Brian Evans
c) Discussion regarding future expenditure
• The defibrillator batteries were discussed – replacement batteries cost £200 per unit i.e. £400 for both defibrillators on an ongoing basis. Batteries should last at least two years. Electrode pads are a further expense. The Park Road defibrillator needs a new battery in August 2025 – which was sooner than expected. Cllr Evans will check the situation and work with John Miller of Dane Valley First Responders to obtain and fit a replacement battery and discuss electrode pad replacement intervals.
• Poppies – additional spray paint and other items will be required to make further poppies this year – at the workshop organized for Saturday 18th October – Chairman to source.
It was resolved to pre-approve the future expenditure costs prior to the next meeting – proposed by Cllr Jon Burwood and seconded by Councillor Brian Evans
14. Parish Council Liaison Meetings
The Chairman advised that the group meet every three months. The proposal for a multi-parish wildlife mapping survey had been agreed by all Parishes as there was no cost for the survey. The benefit of mapping is that it will help parishes to identify whether there are wildlife corridors – and if it is found that there are critical paths – then this will assist with planning applications.
Other subjects included that some parishes have their own speed cameras – most are currently erecting their own Parish signs. Police surgeries whereby the area PCSO attends take place at some parishes but not all. Neighbourhood Watch Schemes are employed at some parishes.
Dates of the next two meetings
Thursday 6th November 2025 and Thursday 5th February 2026
The meeting closed at 9.30pm