The meeting was held
virtually using ZOOM software. All
members could be seen and heard using
the audio and video functions.
Present: Cllrs: E Fairclough (Chair), K Shaw, S Birkby, H Massey,
T Saunders, J Carlon, P Lee, S Leith and C Wagstaff.
In attendance: Ward councillors M Cummings, the Clerk to the Council and two members
of the public.
33.
To receive apologies and approve reasons for absence.
Apologies were received from Parish
Councillors E Prince and C Pearson, Albert Manifield and Cllr F Heptinstall (WMDC
Ward Councillors). Cllr Wagstaff will be
joining the meeting late.
Resolved to note the reasons
for absence.
34.
To receive declarations of interest.
None.
35.
To approve the minutes of the council meeting held
on 7th and 16th July 2020.
Resolved to approve the minutes of the meetings held on
7th and 16th July without
amendment as a true and correct record of the meeting.
36.
Public forum session – To permit members of the
public to make representations, answer questions, and give evidence in respect
of any item of business included in the agenda.
None.
37.
To receive a report on the SAFE scheme and police matters.
The Clerk confirmed the July report was circulated
prior to the meeting but a report had not been received for August 2020.
Resolved to note the July report.
38.
To receive a report from WMDC Ward 5 Councillors.
Cllr M Cummings reported the following:
·
A
PACT meeting will be held virtually on 15th September using Microsoft
Teams.
·
Left
with the Clerk to obtain costings for the replacement of the three roadside
planters on Shay Lane that are in disrepair.
·
Still
chasing the fly-tipping referred at July’s meeting into the Beck.
·
The
metal fence at Brook farm that had fallen over was reinstated.
·
Manhole
cover on Oakenshaw Lane had been replaced.
·
Tyres
at the Golf Club are not the responsibility of WMDC given this is private land
but there is a dialogue now the Golf Club to resolve.
·
The
free packed lunch scheme reported by Cllr Heptinstall over the school holidays,
which was very well received.
·
Police
attended Brook Farm following the illegal encampment by travellers before the
Bank holiday weekend. They have been
served with a notice to vacate the premises.
Cllr C Wagstaff joins the meeting.
Cllr Carlon thanked Cllr Cummings
for clearing the drains but disappointed WMDC had not fully secured site at
Brook Farm as the travellers appeared to have gained entry by cutting lock.
A member reported the drains on
School Lane, Oakenshaw Lane and Greenside were blocked and another member
reported the gullies on The Balk required flushing out.
Resolved to note the reports.
39.
To ratify decisions, as scheduled made to date by the Clerk under her delegated
authority.
The Clerk submitted a schedule of decisions
made under her delegated authority from 1st July to 25th August 2020
to be ratified by the Parish Council. For transparency reasons, it was agreed
this schedule be published on the website.
The Clerk submitted details (copy attached
to minutes) of accounts paid totalling £2,963.05 for July 2020 and £3,573.18 for
August 2020, and income received of £750.42 and £10,400.43 for July and August
2020, respectively. The receipts in August include the £10,000 COVID-19 grant
secured from WMDC.
The account balances at the end of August
2020 are:
Current a/c: £9,033.78
Barclays Business Res a/c: £12,626.39
HSBC deposit a/c: £50,913.31
Total £72,575.48
Resolved to
(i)
Approve
the financial statements and payments.
(ii)
To
ratify the decisions taken by the Clerk/RFO under her delegated authority to 25th
August 2020 and to publish the list of decisions on the Parish Council website.
40.
To consider correspondence received.
The Clerk summarised the correspondence
received over July and August 2020 including the consultation on the new planning
reform. Cllr Lee gave a summary and it
was felt the proposals would reduce the possibility for stakeholders to submit
views.
The Clerk also raised a concern
highlighted by a resident near High Meadows.
The area concerned on Footpath 6 narrows and with cyclists using this
footpath, it is difficult to observe social distancing. The resident requested signage be erected by
WMDC to prevent cyclists using this stetch. WMDC’s Footpath officer has suggested
the Parish Council might wish to erect such signage, but this is questioned on
the basis the Parish Council is not the legal owner of the land.
Resolved
(i)
To
respond to the resident to restate the erection of the requested signage is outside
the Parish Council’s remit;
(ii)
Clerk
to work with the Planning Working party to formulate and submit an objection on
the proposed planning reform on the basis public participation would be reduced
and the reduction of the democratic
process would unduly benefit housebuilders in an attempt to cut red tape.
41.
To consider planning applications validated and
decided July and August 2020.
There
have been 2 applications validated and 1 application decided since the last
meeting.
Resolved
to note all the validated and
decided applications.
A member raised the
temporary planning permission for ‘The Van’ on Oakenshaw Lane and to be mindful
this was limited to 4 years. It is
understood the reason it was granted was that WMDC had not provided enough pitches
within the district. The Clerk confirmed
this can be added to next month’s agenda for discussion on any action to take.
An update was provided on the allotments lease. It was noted there was 2
large soakaways located near/underneath the allotment site. The surface will be
adopted as a public highway and limits what the Parish Council can do with the land
and is not unencumbered as referenced in the s106 agreement. Members of the Working Party felt the land
was not unsuitable and should be rejected with a request for an alternative
area. The Clerk to respond to WMDC under her delegated authority as this was
not an itemised agenda item.
Cllr Wagstaff left the meeting.
42.
To receive a report on the reopening of the Village Hall.
The Clerk reported after liaising with all hirers over the summer, 4
existing hirers were returning and one new U3A hirer was starting once the hall
reopens on 1st September. The Clerk confirmed the Hall’s COVID risk
assessment has been updated in line with new guidelines to include face coverings
now being mandatory and all aspects have
been implemented in line with ACRE guidance and what is considered ‘permitted
activities’. It was also confirmed Cllrs Shaw and Birkby
attended to carry out pre-opening checks and sign-off that all measures are in
place for re-opening. The insurance
company has also been informed of our re-opening. There is still a pause on children’s parties due
to concerns with social distancing.
The Clerk reported the CCTV had been serviced with no issues.
Resolved to
note the report.
43.
To consider feedback from the village consultation on the uses for the
Tennis Club and determine next steps.
The Chair wished to thank all members
that assisted with clearing the Tennis Club Pavilion during the summer months.
Discussions were had on commissioning a feasibility study and how to assess
the number of proposals submitted, some more detailed than others. A working
party was proposed to review the proposals in detail and to make recommendations
to full council on areas/categories to form the bases of a feasibility study. The working groups terms of reference would be
to research, shortlist, explore funding and consider viable alternatives. The group will consist of Clls Saunders,
Birkby, Leith, Shaw, Massey and Fairclough.
Resolved to
set-up a new Working Party to review and consider the full proposals submitted
and to make recommendations to the Council a next month’s meeting.
A member noted a comment received was to reduce the Leylandii trees and
this was mentioned by the Recreation Working party in the past. The Clerk agreed to add to next month’s
agenda for discussion.
44.
To consider resolving not to sell the land formerly known as the Tennis
Club for the time being and retain for future generations.
Proposed by Cllr Lee at last month’s meeting.
Resolved to
approve the proposal on the basis this was a community asset and should be
safeguarded for future generations.
45.
To consider request for 1) use of toilets at the Pavilion and 2) a
formal lease regarding the Football pitch and 3)use of a storage cupboard, by
Walton Juniors.
Discussions were held as to whether it was safe to use of the toilets in
the current circumstances. The Clerk advised
a risk assessment would need to be completed and COVID-safe protocols will need
to be implemented in line with government guidance before allow use by any members
to ensure it is safe. It was also debated
that allowing use of toilets could hinder any plans the Parish Council would
wish to take for refurbishment or alternative use. Any permission to use would
simply be limited to the toilets and would be ad-hoc, on a week by week
basis.
A request to use the storage cupboard should be refused on the basis
another group made such a similar request and this was declined.
A final request for a formal lease of the pitch would not be permissible
as usage is shared with another club.
Resolved
(i)
For
the clerk to carry out a risk assessment and implement measures in line with Government
guidelines for use of public toilets;
(ii)
To
allow access to use toilets on match days, to be un/locked by the ground’s attendant,
on a week by week basis;
(iii)
To
refuse the request for use of the storage cupboard;
(iv)
To
refuse a request for a formal lease but to endeavour to support the group in
any application for grant funding to progress/further the football club.
Meeting closed at 9.10pm.