Parish Council Meeting – 3rd March 2021
Meeting Summary
Committee: | Full Parish Council |
Date/Time: | |
Venue: | Zoom Video Link |
Notes for Members of the Public:
a) This meeting is being held remotely in accordance with regulations made under S.78 of the Coronavirus Act 2020. There are, therefore, no paper copies of the agenda or the accompanying documents.
b) All documents (other than those which are restricted) can be accessed from the Parish Council’s website – www.www.shavingtononline.co.uk.
c) If you wish to observe the meeting or make a statement under the Public Question Time slot, please ensure that you register using the link above. The system can accommodate a maximum of 100 attendees. Therefore, registration will be on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.
Public Agenda
1 APOLOGIES
2 DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
Members to declare any (a) disclosable pecuniary interest; (b) personal interest; or (c) prejudicial interest which they have in any item of business on the agenda, the nature of that interest, and in respect of disclosable interests and prejudicial interests, to withdraw from the meeting prior to the discussion of that item.
In these circumstances, the Chairman will control the ‘presence’ of the appropriate Member and give him/her a time slot at which he/she can re-join the meeting.
Members are referred to the Code of Conduct for guidance (issued with the agenda papers for Annual Council on 8 May 2019 and adopted at that meeting).
Whilst the Clerk can advise on the Code of Conduct and its interpretation, the decision to declare, or not, is the responsibility of the Parish Councillor, based on the circumstances.
3 MINUTES
To approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 3 February 2021.
4 PUBLC QUESTION TIME
Members of the public are able to ask questions in accordance with the Parish Council’s Standing Orders. Please use the link on the front page to register.
5 POLICE MATTERS – BEAT MANAGER’S REPORT
To receive a copy of the Beat Manager’s Report. These are forwarded to Members as and when they arrive. At the date of publication of the agenda, there have been no reports.
6 BOROUGH COUNCILLOR DAVID MARREN
6.1 Report
To receive Councillor David Marren’s report on Cheshire East Council matters of interest, together with an update in respect of outstanding parish matters.
6.2 Questions
Members are able to ask questions of Councillor Marren in respect of his report presented under item 6.1 above. This is limited to Councillors and is not an opportunity for members of the public to ask questions.
7 REPORT OF COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN
Committee Chairmen are invited to report on activities for their Committees and the Task Group meetings of each Committee.
7.1 Community Engagement Committee (Councillor Kevin Gibbs)
Councillor Kevin Gibbs to report on Community Engagement Task Group meetings.
7.2 Environment and Recreation Committee (Councillor M Ferguson)
Councillor Ferguson to report on Environment and Recreation Task Group meetings.
7.3 Village Hall Committee (Councillor V Adams)
Councillor Adams to report on Village Hall task group meetings.
8 NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN – GRANT
To report that Groundwork UK (the delivery arm of Locality) has reduced the level of grant awarded.
The application was for £3,830 and this has been reduced to £1,733.27. The following is being funded:
A5 artwork/layout £120.00
3,000 A5 single-sided flyers £166.65
Printing 300 A4 Neighbourhood Plans £558.00
Artwork for Referendum version of the Neighbourhood Plan £400.00
Artwork for Parish Newsletter £150.00
Artwork for banners £150.00
Printing six banners 2000 mm x 750 mm £188.62
Total £1,733.27
As reported at the February meeting, the sum of £1,600 which was allocated for the Community Manager to organise and post Neighbourhood Plan documents onto the website has been declined as the only items which can be funded must be external to the organisation. A sum of £140 for social media has been excluded as there was no quotation for the work. Other minor items have also been excluded on the basis that Groundwork UK decided they could not be delivered before 31 March 2021.
9 FINANCIAL MATTERS
9.1 Payments made under the revised Scheme of Delegation
To report on recent payments made by the Clerk under the revised Scheme of Delegation adopted at the July 2020 meeting of the Parish Council. These are additional to the various direct debits made. Financial statements will be provided for the April meeting.
£142.00 | Scottish Power (Village Hall) |
£476.98 | Creative Cloud – package to assist the Community Manager in his social media role |
£90.00 | Beardmore Accountants – payroll service (two invoices – 2266 and 2267 |
£237.72 | North Staffs Fire – fire inspection of Village Hall |
£97.20 | Shavington Village Festival Committee – ¼ page ad in Village Voice |
£144.00 | Crystal Clean – Village Hall cleaning (Inv 1686) |
£1,636.86 | Water Plus – Village Hall |
9.2 Removal of Damaged Planter
To report that the Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman, authorised a quotation of £394.00 (from Northwich Town Council) for the removal of the planter which was damaged owing to a road traffic collision.
Although a Member suggested that the two planters in the Village Hall (donated by the Youth Club) should be put in its place, this is a matter for the Parish Council to decide. Northwich Town Council can provide a quotation for this work.
9.3 Energy Suppliers – Village Hall
9.4 Payment and Installation of New Bench on Newcastle Road
The Parish Council has already authorised the purchase of an additional bench, to be located opposite to Huntersfield on Newcastle Road. The last bench to be ordered was a Lowther and this was installed by a former councillor.
The Clerk has not yet placed the order as the following information is required:
- Delivery address and person to assemble the bench.
- Fixings which may be required to assemble the bench.
The Clerk has been asked to contact the former councillor to enquire if he would be able to quote for this work for the Parish Council. In the event of his unavailability, a contractor will be required, and Members may wish to suggest a local contractor.
9.5 Fixed Assets Audit Issues – 2019-2020
One of the outstanding issues raised by the Internal Auditor during the audit of 2019-2020 was that the fixed assets had been incorrectly recorded. The Clerk conducted an investigation and reported the outcome to both the Internal and External Auditor as part of the audit of 2019-2020.
The Fixed Assets Working Group (Councillors N Cooper, K Gibbs and R Hancock) met on 23 February 2021 to review the assets and the report from that meeting will be submitted to the Parish Council and can form part of the audit documents for 2020-2021.
10 PLANNING APPLICATIONS
10.1 Planning Applications
The Parish Council is invited to comment on the following planning applications which can be accessed By Clicking Here
21/0729N Langtry Barn, Shavington Hall, Weston Lane, CW2 5AT
Drive-through car port and glazed link.
Deadline date for comments: 17 March 2021
20/5373N 2 Broomhall Drive, Shavington CW2 5SW
Single-storey extension to side of dwelling
Deadline date for comments: 3 March 2021
21/0694N 8 Gresty Lane, Shavington CW2 5DD
Proposed construction of new two-storey detached house
Deadline date for comments: 17 March 2021
10.2 Southern Planning Committee
The Parish Council is entitled to be represented at the Southern Planning Committee meeting to be held on 3 March 2021 to speak in respect of the following planning application:
20/5236N Forget-Me-Not Fields, adjacent to Old Puseydale, Main Road,
Shavinnton – CW2 5DU
11 LENGTHSMAN
11.1 A Task Group of the Environment and Recreation Committee has considered the requirements for a lengthsman. The Group’s preferred option is that the lengthsman should be an independent contractor, rather than an employee. The following documents are enclosed:
- Role Requirements
- Contract Requirements.
11.2 Interview Panel
Subject to approval of the documents in item 11.1, the Parish Council is asked to appoint a Panel which can interview potential contractors. The Panel will have no delegated powers but can recommend to the Parish Council the appointment of a contractor. The decision will be for the Parish Council itself.
12 POLICIES
The Parish Council is invited to consider adopting the following two policies. These are the first two of several policies which the Council will be recommended to adopt.
- Anti-bullying and Harassment Policy (Dignity at Work)
- Grievance Procedure
13 INFORMATION ITEMS
13.1 Clerk/RFO Applications
The applications for the post of Clerk/Responsible Financial Officer will be sent to the Appointments Committee on 13 March 2021 (day after closing date for applications). The Committee will then be asked to suggest dates for interviewing candidates.
13.2 Community Governance Review
To receive the Community Governance Review draft document which was considered by Cheshire East Council’s Community Governance Sub-Committee at its meeting held on 26 February 2021. The next stage will be for the Sub-Committee to make recommendations to the Constitution Committee which is due to meet on 26 March 2021. If those recommendations are accepted, there will be a 12-week consultation.
Although this item is for information only, the Chairman would like the Parish Council to consider the following:
- Starting an active campaign to ‘Save Gresty in Shavington-cum-Gresty’ which will require Brave Little Tank creating the graphics/messaging.
- Publicising the proposals in the next newsletter.
- Encourage residents to write in when the consultation starts, objecting to the proposed changes.
14 EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC
The Council is invited to RESOLVE that in accordance with Paragraph 1 (2) of The Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items owing to the confidential nature of the business to transacted and the public interest would not be served in disclosing that information.
Note: In accordance with usual practice the following items have been withheld from publication on the public agenda other than a brief synopsis to indicate the nature of each item.
15 RECREATIONAL LAND IN THE PARISH
(Reason for exclusion: Commercial sensitivity and reveals the names of individuals)
Further to discussion at the Parish Council meeting on 3 February 2021, the Parish Council is asked to consider the proposal to identify recreational land in the parish.
16 140 MAIN ROAD, SHAVINGTON
(Reason for exclusion: Potential contract arrangements between the Parish Council and A N Other)
The Parish Council is invited to consider the enclosed survey report from Rory Mack Associates and to decide what action should be taken.
17 QUOTATION – TREE SURGERY WORK – CAMERON AVENUE
(Reason for exclusion: Commercial sensitivity)
The Clerk has contacted three tree surgeons to request a quotation for inspection of the trees at the cul-de-sac end of Cameron Avenue to (a) identify the species, (b) the condition of each, and (c) recommend action required.
The Parish Council is asked to consider the quotations with a view to accepting one of them.
It is expected that the quotations will be available for the meeting, but if not, they can be considered at the April meeting.
18 DATE OF NEXT MEETING – 7 April 2021