MINUTES of THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING (687)
7th March 2023
1. ATTENDANCE
Present Councillors Read, Carson, Flannery, Shore, Tarrant
Public 9 members of the public
Apologies Councillor Dobson; CEC Councillor K Parkinson; Police representative
2. MINUTES
2.1 Approval of Minutes The minutes of the meeting of 7 February 2023 were AGREED with the amendment in item 7.3 to the effect that Pickmere Community Group had offered to fund the whole of the cost of the proposed village boundary signs.
2.2 Matters arising from Minutes
Item 5 Report from Police Officer The Clerk reported that the police surgery had recently been held in the Village Hall.
Item 8.3 Implications of adoption of Cheshire East Local Plan for Pickmere The Clerk reported that a letter had been sent to CEC in respect of the above and in particular the situation with regard to persons living on the site at Spinks Lane, and that an interim response had been received from CEC stating that CEC officers are currently considering the position in relation to this site having regard to the recent Plan adoption.
Item 8.4 Neighbourhood Plan The Clerk reported that confirmation has been received of the award of NP grant for the year 2022-23, and that receipt of the sum is awaited.
Item 9.2 HS2 – Petition etc The Clerk has confirmed that he has yet to identify where expenditure of up to £3000 on the preparation of evidence to support the Council’s petition would be sourced. Cllr Flannery noted that in the light of the current situation with regard to the Council’s waiting to receive a date for its petition to be heard, it was unlikely that the Council will organise a public presentation of the HS2 proposals, as was previously proposed.
3. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS Nil
4. PUBLIC FORUM Several comments/questions were raised by members of the public (MoPs) [It is to be emphasised that these minutes are required only to be a record of decisions made by the Parish Council, and do not seek to provide a verbatim or detailed record of discussion at the meeting; Public Forum comments made at the meeting are noted by the councillors present.]
• A MoP asked who should be blamed for the Parish Poll not taking into account the views of persons whose names were not on the Electoral Register used for the administration of the Poll.
• The MoP also asked which representative of the Council had allegedly told an angler on the lake that the Council would not construct the proposed fence.
• Thirdly they stated that there was the expectation among some village residents that, in the light of the Parish Poll, the Council would discuss the matter and vote on whether the proposal to erect a fence was to proceed, rather than just noting the result of the Poll.
• A second MoP stated that there was an error in the schedule presented at agenda item 7.2 (New Payments) without explaining what the perceived error was.
Council NOTED these points. [Subsequently a response to the first two of these questions/points was posted on the Parish Council’s website.]
5. REPORT FROM POLICE OFFICER Nil
6. REPORT FROM CLLR K PARKINSON (CEC) Nil
7. FINANCE
7.1 Current Financial position The report was NOTED.
7.2 New payments The schedule was AGREED/AUTHORISED, including the following additional items:
• Payment of Cheshire Community Action’s forthcoming invoice of £1800 for professional planning services in relation to the Neighbourhood Plan.
8. PLANNING MATTERS
8.1 Update on Planning Applications Members NOTED the Planning update that was tabled, together with the updates reported by the Clerk. In relation to application no. 23/0795M, the Clerk pointed out the contrasts and similarities between this proposal and application 20/2159M (which was withdrawn by the applicant and to which the Parish Council had objected). Members AGREED that a response based on the previous objections and also querying the relationship of these two applications be submitted to CEC.
9. REPORTS FROM CLERK AND FROM COUNCILLORS
9.1 Resignation of Councillor Bold The report was NOTED. Council also AGREED to thank former Cllr Bold for her many years of conscientious and community-focussed work for the Parish Council and the community of Pickmere, and that CEC should be informed of Cllr Bold’s resignation.
9.2 Update – Replacement of Clerk and RFO The report was noted. Following discussion, it was AGREED that:
• The two applicants for the post should be thanked for their interest but should be informed that their interest would not be taken up at the present time, but that the advertisement of the post will be revisited following the Council elections due in May 2023.
• CHALC be asked if a locum Clerk could be found to cover the period running up to the May elections, and the initial period of the new Council, pending readvertisement of the vacant post.
9.3 Update – Current position on major projects and implications of previous agenda items The report was NOTED, and Council AGREED that, in the light of the factors referred to, it would take no further the projects referred to, with the exception perhaps of its objections to HS2, pending Council elections in May.
9.4 Result of Parish Poll on proposed IROS fence The report was NOTED.
9.5 Arrangements for forthcoming Council elections The report was NOTED.
9.6 Arrangements for celebrating the Coronation Following a discussion of the information submitted by the apparent organiser/person responsible for the proposed event, Council RESOLVED that:
• Subject to the receipt of evidence of satisfactory insurance to cover the event, together with a suitable Risk Assessment, and other necessary details by 31st March 2023, consent would be given to an event on the IROS (including use of the Pavilion) on Monday 8 May 2023.
• Consent would be given to the holding of a Jumble Sale at the Village Hall on Saturday 15 April 2023 to support the Coronation event, with the charge for the hire of the Hall being reduced by 50%.
• Consent is NOT given for the stationing of a hot food van on the Village Hall car park during the Jumble sale.
9.7 Continued holding of coffee mornings at the Village Hall Council RESOLVED that:
• Consent is given to the continued running of coffee mornings at the Village Hall on Wednesday mornings without payment of the Hall hire fee, until the date of the Council’s June 2023 meeting when the arrangement should be reviewed.
• The organisers of the event be requested to submit to the Parish Council a suitable Risk Assessment for the activity.
The Chair announced that there would be no Council meeting on 4th April in view of the lack of a full time Clerk, but that he will hold a Surgery at the Village Hall on Tuesday 11th April at 7.00 p.m.
The meeting closed at 8.17 p.m.