LONGTON PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD IN

NEW LONGTON VILLAGE HALL ON 4th FEBRUARY 2003

 

PRESENT:  Councillor Mrs Clark in the Chair.   

Councillors Artis, McLoughlin, Saul, Winter, Mrs Crighton, Mrs Cunningham, Mrs Wignall & Mrs Worthington.

County Councillor Young, Borough Councillor Breakell and two members of the public attended the meeting.

1.   APOLOGIES

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Heaney, Horritt & Mrs Roskell.

2.   MINUTES

Resolved:    That the minutes of the meeting on the 7th January 2003, having been circulated previously, be approved as a correct record.

3.   MATTERS ARISING

Councillor McLoughlin referred to the planning application 07/02/0850 relating to 192 Liverpool Road, Longton, and pointed out that at the last Area Committee meeting, the committee had agreed (although not amending their minute) that the developer had to complete the gable end in a sympathetic manner to the remainder of the terrace.

4.   ADJOURNMENT FOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION

The meeting was then adjourned for a period of public discussion. (for note of discussion see Appendix A)

Upon the termination of the discussion, the adjournment was concluded.

5.  CORRESPONDENCE

The following items of correspondence were noted:

Lancashire County Council

1.      Highway Matters – Longton – concerning repairs to Moss Lane, New Longton, and the dropped kerbs at Lanedale & Shirley Lane, Longton.

2.      The Dropped Kerb at Shirley Lane, Longton – confirmation that the dropped kerb will be re-located in line with the footway on Liverpool Road. (programmed for early in the next financial year)

South Ribble Borough Council

      1.   Personal/Prejudicial Interests – The Model Code of Conduct –

            regarding whether or not a particular interest should be        considered as ‘personal’ or ‘prejudicial’.

2.      The Christmas Trees – Longton & New Longton – letter advising that  the council’s complaint regarding the standard of the trees has been passed to the contractor for comment and reply.

Other

1.      The Annual Audit for the year to 31 March 2002 – letter from HLB AV Audit plc advising that due to an overwhelming response, delays in closing the audits are being experienced, and it is anticipated that it may take to the end of February to complete.

2.      Remembrance Sunday – Memorial Crosses – letter from Mr B McAuley thanking the parish council for its kindness in placing a memorial cross on the family’s grave at St Oswald’s Church yard.

3.      Playgrounds – letter from Councillor McLoughlin on the up to date events concerning playgrounds in the Western Parishes. (see Item 9 on the Agenda)

4.      The proposed de-trunking of the A59/Penwortham By-Pass – letter from Councillor McLoughlin on the subject. (see Item 10 on the Agenda)

5.      South Ribble Community Safety Strategy 2002-2005 – letter from Councillor McLoughlin providing an update on the above strategy.

6.      Footpath/Bridleway No 16, Liverpool Road to Back Lane, Longton – letter from Councillor Mc Loughlin providing an update on the matter of improvements to the bridlepath.

Scrutiny Review of the ‘Street Scene’ in South Ribble

The borough council is undertaking a review of all aspects and features provided, managed or maintained in the streets/highways of the borough, irrespective of whose responsibility the area falls within, and is seeking the help of parish/town councils in completing the review.

Resolved:           That the Chairman & Councillor McLoughlin complete the review on behalf of the parish council.

Traffic Calming Measures – Chapel Lane, Longton

Letter received from a Longton resident concerning the traffic calming measures on Chapel Lane, and since writing it, a meeting has taken place between the LCC and a group of residents. County Councillor Young confirmed that an interim safety audit was being undertaken in the light of findings, and when a response from the engineers was provided he would pass it on.

Councillor McLoughlin pointed out that several of the island bollards remained unlit, and it is understood that whilst Redrow Homes is responsible for the scheme, the power supply to the bollards on the north side is the responsibility of United Utilities.

Resolved:       That letters requesting immediate action be forwarded to United Utilities, Redrow & the LCC, citing the unacceptable delays inresolving the matter.

Footway Restrictions in Chapel Lane, Longton

Letter received from a local resident complaining about the overgrowth of private hedging impinging onto the pavements, the poor condition of the footways onto premises on Chapel Lane & the fact that vehicles park fully across the footways.

Resolved:           That the resident be contacted by letter, and requested to specifically identify the locations where the hedges are overgrown, and the footways leading to premises on the lane which require attention.

The Lancashire Best Kept Village Competition

Discussion took place on the merits or otherwise of this annual competition, and the quality of the reports provided for each village.

Resolved:           That the parish council enter the competition for a further year.

Government Consultation on the ‘level of interest’ in holding a Referendum on an Elected Regional Assembly

The Government (The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister) is currently undertaking consultation in each of the eight English regions on the level of interest in holding a Referendum on having an elected Regional Assembly, and Lancashire County Council has written to the parish council drawing attention to the consultation. It would seem that the proposed legislation on regional governance would not necessarily offer any significant degree of devolution, and the parish council believes that any changes in local government structures should be decided by the citizens of Lancashire, and not by those unaffected or positioned centrally. County Councillor Young commented that in the light of this, the LCC was opposed to any attempt to create a Regional Assembly, and felt that there was not sufficient interest from the residents in Lancashire as a whole to warrant a Referendum.

Resolved:   That the parish council does not support the holding of a Referendum, on the grounds that there would be insufficient support from the local electorate.

6.  BOROUGH COUNCIL MINUTES

Receipt of the Borough Council Minutes for January 2003 was noted.

7.  PLANNING APPLICATIONS

The list of planning applications for January 2003 was duly considered.

8.  PAYMENT OF ACCOUNTS

Resolved:    That the accounts set out below be approved for payment:

GRF Dennis           Salary – January 2003…………                  £283.33

       -do-           Telephone – January 2003…….                             £0.40

       -do-                  Travel – January 2003………                          £4.68

NLVH              Room hire……………………….                         £10.00

9.   PLAYGROUNDS

The Chairman provided the background to this matter and stated that at the October 2002 meeting of the Area Committee, representatives from the borough council gave a presentation on the proposals to upgrade the playgrounds at Longton & New Longton. Subsequent site meetings took place with members of the parish council present, and all left expecting a positive outcome and commencement of work in the Spring of 2003. However, the parish council was dismayed to read in the press that the playground improvements were now to be phased in over a 12 year period, and that the re-furbishment of Longton’s School Lane playground would be set back to 2005. Additionally, agenda details raised by the borough council indicated that potential S106 monies for Longton’s playground amounted to £45600, without any mention that a further £61950 of S106 money was shortly to be made available.

Borough Councillor Breakell attended the meeting and stated that the criteria used to decide playground re-furbishment  had been agreed by Cabinet on the 22nd January 2003, and had been based on the age of playground equipment, and whether or not the playground was fenced.

He commented that the availability of S106 monies for Longton in the Cabinet Report was correct in that the Area Committee had agreed to invest £45600 on the play area. Whilst an additional £61950 has since been received (the 2nd tranche from the Redrow development in School Lane) a resolution on the spend of this money had not yet been passed at Area Committee level. This matter should be resolved at the next Area Committee meeting in late February.

The matter which does cause concern to the borough council is the cost of maintenance thereafter, and Councillor Breakell stated that the council could offer no guarantees in this respect.

Councillor Breakell advised that the S106 monies held by the borough council is treated like any other sum, and the interest earned thereon is used to fund general council expenditure. He went on to say that the press comment was correct in that the 12 year re-furbishment programme for playgrounds would cost around £2.5m, and that it should be recognized that the total S106 fund includes monies for other forms of investment associated with the respective planning permissions such as affordable housing, transport, highway improvements and markings. He stated that it was the council’s approach to permit the relevant Area Committee to decide on which elements of open space provision to allocate to S106 monies.

10.  PARISH COUNCIL COMPETITIONS & TROPHIES

Resolved that:

·        The existing competitions be retained, and an additional competition be held in December annually for the best dressed house in each village during the festive period.

·        Two cups only, be awarded for the garden competition – the New Longton Garden Trophy for the New Longton winner, and the Robert Dent Cup for the Longton winner.

·        An additional cup/trophy be purchased, (the Clerk to obtain prices/quotes) so that the Heritage cup will be awarded to the Longton winner for the ‘best dressed house’ competition, and the new cup/trophy will be awarded to the New Longton winner.

It was agreed that the details of the new competition should be well advertised in the next edition of the Parish News.

11.  PROPOSED DE-TRUNKING OF THE A59

Councillor McLoughlin prepared a paper on the matter of the proposed de-trunking of the A59, expressing concern that the parish council had not been consulted on what could be a contentious matter with implications for the routes into the villages. A discussion then followed and it was considered that without specifics, any comment by the parish council would not be worthwhile.

The matter was therefore allowed to lapse.

12.  LENGTHSMAN SCHEME

The Chairman advised that the scheme was likely to be securely funded for a further term, and possibly beyond, and felt it may be appropriate to seek further financial assistance from the Area Committee to strengthen matters. The Lengthsman has more recently been planting new trees/hedges on the western boundary of the LVMRG, in addition to the main duties of village cleanliness, litter picks, footpath repairs and sundry jobs.

13.  TO FIX THE DATE OF THE PARISH MEETING

Resolved:         That the date of the Parish Meeting be set for the 6th May 2003, commencing at 7.00pm in Longton Library.

14. COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS

Councillor Mrs Worthington

Commented that she feels that the privately owned hedge between Glebe House, Liverpool Road, Longton & Booths entrance is overgrown, and requires cutting back.

Councillor Artis

Advised that a rut/hole had appeared in the road outside the Methodist Chapel in Marsh Lane, Longton.

Councillor Mrs Crighton

Asked that the parish council apply for Green Partnership funding for new fencing to border the old toilet block site in Longton, and also replacement of the fencing along the border of the Health Centre car park.

Councillor McLoughlin

Commented that hardcore was needed on the road junction (near the telephone box) on the corner of Chapel Lane & Moss Lane, New Longton.

Councillor Winter

Thought it would be a good idea to provide some form of coloured markings/signage on some of the main footpaths in the area, for the benefit of visitors, and offered to make enquiries with Mr Kershaw of the Ramblers Association, in this respect.

Resolved that:

·        LCC Highways Dept. be requested to make repairs to the road outside the Methodist Church, Marsh Lane, Longton, and also to the corner of the junction at Chapel Lane & Moss Lane, New Longton.

·        That a funding application be made under the Green Partnership Scheme to purchase and install fencing to replace the existing, on the perimeters of the old toilet block site in Longton, and the adjacent Health Centre car park.

15. CLERK’S REPORT

The Clerk advised the following:

·        The Ramblers’ Association is prepared to provide funding of some £400/500 towards the cost of a bench or some suitable signage scheme.

·        The LAPTC Spring conference takes place at the Park Hall Hotel on Saturday 15th March 2003, and Councillors were asked if they wished to attend.

·        New Longton Village Hall is in need of a Treasurer & Secretary for the hall committee – the AGM takes place in May 2003.

·        The Clerk is unable to attend the council meeting on the 3rd June 2003, and the meeting has therefore been re-scheduled to take place on Tuesday 10th June at New Longton Village Hall.

·        The Environment Agency are to install a ‘tide pole’ on the Marsh Bank near to the bench – installation expected in April/May 2003.

APPENDIX A

Mr Phillips commented that cars were continuing to park on the pavements, making it difficult for pedestrians to pass, particularly so for those wheeling a pram. He has lost faith in the police service.

Mr Evans, from New Longton, commented that the police were permitting vehicles to park half on the pavements, particularly in narrow roads, in order that there would be sufficient access for emergency vehicles. This has become more of a problem, due to the narrower roads on many new housing developments.