Draft Minutes of the 132nd Annual General Meeting
Thursday 7th May 2026 at St Michaels Church, North Rode
following the Annual Parish Meeting
Present :- Councillor Huw Williams, Chairman
Councillor Georgina Bailey, Vice Chairman
Councillor Jacqui Lea
Councillor Alastair Bayley
Councillor Brian Evans
Councillor Jon Burwood
Councillor Mark Bullock
Cheshire East Ward Councillor Lesley Smetham
Brenda Lomas – Clerk
Four residents of the Parish
- Apologies for absence – none
- Public Participation – none
- To Elect a Chairman and Vice Chairman for 2026-27
Nominations for Chairman : Cllr Georgina Bailey proposed Cllr Huw Williams Seconded by Cllr Jon Burwood
Cllr Huw Williams accepted the position as Chairman for 2026-27
Nominations for Vice Chairman : Cllr Jon Burwood proposed Cllr Georgina Bailey – Seconded by Cllr Jacqui Lea
Cllr Georgina Bailey accepted the position as Vice-Chairman for 2026/27 but wished to advise that she would like to step down from this position next year.
The Chairman and Vice Chairman signed the acceptance of office forms
- To confirm that current Councillors wished to remain in post
All current Councillors were willing to remain in their positions.
Proposed by Cllr Mark Bullock and seconded by Cllr Jon Burwood - To receive any Declarations of Interest – None Received
- To review, approve and sign the minutes of the previous PC meeting held on 18th March 2026
Councillors resolved to approve the minutes - To discuss any matters arising from the minutes of the meetings
The traffic issues at the narrow part of Bank Lane were briefly discussed. Following a suggestion of traffic lights similar to a particular bridge in Wales, Cllr Huw Williams had researched the system and found that it had not been too successful. Cllr Georgina Bailey suggested the trial of a convex mirror to be positioned by Daintry Hall – and which may assist drivers by being able to see whether traffic was approaching before committing to drive round the bend – and then having to reverse when faced with the oncoming traffic.
Councillors resolved to trial the idea and to purchase and erect a suitable mirror on Daintry Hall land – subject to approval from the DHMC and the nursery. In the longer term – the suggestion of a ‘no route except for access’ may resolve the heavy traffic problem – but this requires discussion with the Highways Department following their five year review of the impact of the Congleton Link road on surrounding highways.
Cllr Smetham agreed to make further contact with the Highways Department in terms of the results of the recent traffic survey.
- Report from Councillor Lesley Smetham
Cllr Smetham advised that Cheshire East Council is still in financial difficulties and whilst some finance is being provided from Central Government for highways work, the Council is being forced to sell assets. Devolution is progressing with an election due on 7th May 2027 and ward boundaries will then change. The parishes of North Rode and Bosley will be joined to Sutton parish. Cllr Smetham also highlighted the concerns around the Peak Cluster proposal and that strong objection is being raised from parish councils and villages in relation to the project – in particular – that there may be a better option of treating carbon dioxide as opposed to taking it to the North Sea via the proposed pipeline.
- To discuss the village well dressing event to be held on Sunday 30th August 2026.
It was discussed whether Church Lane could be closed to traffic for the well dressing event. Cllr Williams had made enquiries with the Local Authority and it seemed that the terms and conditions of a road closure system would be costly. Cllr Smetham advised of a possible ‘no cost’ system which might be applicable to the village as a social function. Cllr Williams agreed to pursue that possibility as he hoped that a village picnic could be held on the road itself near to the well. He proposed the well dressing event would run from midday to 4pm.
Cllr Williams had also researched Ceilidh bands to play in Daintry Hall in the evening as a village barn dance. The selection of possible bands was very limited and he had found the ‘Maggoty Band’ which was willing to play – for a fee of £650. A further £50 would be required to hire Daintry Hall.
In order to offset costs, Cllr Williams proposed that the dance was a ticket event being £10 for adults with children under 15 being free.
The costs of the actual well dressing would be £80 for the clay and approximately £80 to construct the frame. Cllr Williams offered to make the boards and suggested that workshops could be held at his home to create the actual picture. He has suggested that the North Rode village sign is replicated as the well dressing picture. The nursery could also create a small one and possibly Marton school to involve the local children.
Councillors agreed to the above expenditures for the Well Dressing event – Proposed by Cllr Williams and seconded by Cllr Bullock (see Finance)
- Planning Applications
26/0706/VOC Bank Farm, Bank Lane, North Rode – application to remove condition 1 (time limiting period of use from 1st May 2025 to 30th September 2028) on approval 24/2680C – to change of use of agricultural land and woodland to a wedding venue – update
The planning application has been withdrawn.
26/0152/PRIOR-6 Land off Bank Lane, North Rode – Agricultural determination of the erection of a proposed general purpose building
The application was refused
- 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
No change – Agricultural field to mobile home and other structures
c) North Rode Stables, Bank Lane, North Rode
No change – mobile caravan which appears to be habited
d) Far Whittles, Farm, Bramhall Hill
No change – use of chalet for holiday accommodation
The Clerk advised that there had been no further updates from the Planning Enforcement Officer in respect of the above issues. - Drainage problem on Church Lane
Cllr Smetham had submitted a members enquiry in relation to the issue of water running down Church Lane from a point in the road. Cllr Williams reported that the run off has an unpleasant odour and that the problem requires further investigation by the Highways Department to trace the source and to resolve the water run off. Cllr Smetham will revisit the case.
Resolved – Cllr Smetham and Councillor Williams to revisit the issue with the Highways Dept
- Finance
a) Current balance – £4637.74
b) Approval of the Parish Council Accounts for 2025/6 – audited by Mrs Lynn Petts. The PC accounts will then be submitted to the external auditor, P K Littlejohn – by the clerk before 1st July 2026.
Resolved – Councillors approved the 2025/6 PC accounts – proposed by Cllr M Bullock and seconded by Cllr G Bailey
c) Approval of the following expenditures for 2026/7
• ChALC membership – £81.60
• Zurich Insurance – £211.92
• Hire of Church for Parish Meeting & AGM – £40 (due to heating costs)
• Tech Division – word press hosting/domain name/SSL certificate – £170.92
• Cheese & wine for the Parish Meeting – cost to be confirmed at the next meeting
• Pre-approval of costs for Well Dressing event – to include hire of band/entertainment, hire of Daintry Hall, any advertising costs such as leaflets, purchase of clay, boards, flowers etc. Signage the safety of participants on Church Lane.
Resolved – Councillors approved the above expenditures – proposed by Cllr J Burwood, seconded by Cllr J Lea
- Peak Cluster – update
The Chairman advised that there had been a recent on-line meeting arranged by ChALC and attended by representatives of 26 Parish Councils and two representatives from Peak Cluster. Concerns and questions were raised from each of the Parish Councils – which were often similar in nature. One of the outcomes of the discussion was that a risk assessment is to be undertaken by Peak Cluster which will have to be approved by the Health & Safety Executive. There will be a formal second consultation in the near future of all involved. The answers to most questions can be found on the Peak Cluster website. Cllr Williams confirmed that North Rode PC had not received any response from Peak Cluster to any of the questions which were raised and it was thought that the Parish Council should approach Tim Roca, MP to see if he could get a response on our behalf.
Concluding points re the Parish Meeting
It was felt that whilst the Parish Meeting had been successfully attended – which had been assisted by invitation leaflets, presentations and cheese and wine – it should be held on a different date to the Annual General Meeting next year – due to the time constraints of holding both meetings on the same evening.
Dates of next two meetings
Thursday 30th July 2026 and Thursday 2nd October 2026
The meeting closed at 9.30pm