WINSFORD TOWN COUNCIL
A
Minutes of the meeting of Winsford Town Council held in the
Town Council Chamber, Wyvern House, Winsford, on Monday 19
September 2011.
PRESENT:- Councillor Mrs P Booher (Town Mayor)
Councillors Baker, Beckett, Blackmore, M Burns, S Burns, Clarke,
Garratt, Mrs Gaskill-Jones, Jones, Mrs Langley, Mrs Lewis, Smith
and White.
In attendance: Mr A Warburton (Town Clerk/Finance Officer) and
Mrs E Haspell (Administrative Officer).
Also present: The Leader of Cheshire West and Chester
Council, Councillor Mike Jones, the Chair of the Weaver Valley
Partnership, Geoff Hope-Terry, Ewan McHenry, CWAC Area
Manager for Winsford and Rural East, Sue Fernandes,
Streetscene Strategy Manager, Jane Hetherington, Project
Development Manager, CWAC, Mr A Hooton, Mr B Barton, Ms C
Halpin, Mr C Parkinson, Mr D Worthington, Cllr L Jones, J Crofts,
D Jones, S Edwards, Mrs M Anderson and Mrs J McQuaid.
APOLOGY
OPEN
FORUM
An apology for absence was received and accepted from
Councillor Kennedy.
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Mr A Hooton raised agenda item 10, ‘Traveller sites’, he asked
whether one of the proposed sites would be for travelling
showmen and he was told that it was.
Mr C Parkinson raised agenda item 8, ‘Partnership Working’, he
was concerned to see that out of the twelve members on the
Partnership Board, not one of them was from Winsford. He was
informed that Cllr B Clarke would be the labour representative for
Winsford.
He raised agenda item 10, ‘Traveller sites’, and said that he had
no objections for or against. However, he did say that the
travellers did have a permanent site in Winsford but they had
decided to move out of the town.
He was informed that they did not own the site at William Street.
Mr D Worthington raised agenda item 21, ‘Grange Lane,
Winsford’, the local residents and himself were concerned that
Grange Lane had been ‘stopped-up’ from Mill Lane in Whitegate
to the White House, Winsford, by means of metal barriers. He
was told that the Public Rights of Way team were looking at this
issue.
Mr A Hooton raised agenda item 9, ‘E-ACT Academy new-build’,
he was concerned about the traffic and about the future of New
Images. Dawn Jones, a resident on Grange Lane, said that she
hadn’t seen any of the plans. She asked to see a preview of the
plans and was told that Jane Hetherington was going to talk
about the plans in item 9.
Winsford Town Council
19 September 2011 – (page 2)
MAYORS
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REMARKS &
COMMUNICATIONS
The Mayor remarked that since the last meeting she had
been very busy and that she had attended the Fire Authority Respect – 100th Birthday Party which had been very well
attended.
She had attended the Presentation of Hoodies at the Winsford
Detachment off Dene Drive and they had received a grant from
Winsford Town Council. She said that on 27 July she had opened
the Wharton Rec Toddlers Play area but that a few days later it
had suffered some vandalism.
She said that on 1 August she had attended the Open Day for the
Community Project that the Princes Trust had done at the
Winsford Fire Station. She said that she would like them to come
to one of the Council’s future meetings. She remarked that she
had hosted a Charity Hotpot & Bingo Evening for her charity, the
Winsford Youth Forum which had raised around £200.00. She
had attended a Fun Run at Knights Grange and said that it had
been the very first run for Winsford, she thanked everyone for
their support. On the 4 September 2011, she had attended the
Explorer Scout and Scout Network Awards Evening for Cheshire
County at the Grange Theatre, Hartford. The Mayor had
attended the opening of the EAM Care Home for young people
and remarked that she had had a letter of thanks for attending.
She thanked the Deputy Mayor for attending the Licensing of the
Revd Doctor Gordon Kegg at St Stephen’s Church on Thursday 8
September. On 9 September she had attended the 20th Birthday
Party of Winsford Arthritis Care and said that unfortunately they
had now disbanded. Finally, she thanked all those who had
supported and attended her Civic Service on 18 September.
MINUTES
C73
RESOLVED:That the minutes of the meeting of Winsford Town Council held
on Monday 18 July 2011 be approved and signed as a correct
record.
ARISING FROM
MINUTE C56
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A member enquired about whether the number of dog bins had
been ascertained.
RESOLVED:That the Clerk obtain the total number of dog bins from Cheshire
West and Chester Council.
ARISING FROM
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MINUTE C58
Information Boards
RESOLVED:That the Clerk writes to Mike Solari, Cheshire West and Chester
Council enquiring about possible sites for information boards in
Winsford.
ARISING FROM
MINUTE C66
At the last meeting a Member had provided a study he had
undertaken of the High Street and about the condition of the A54.
C76
Winsford Town Council
19 September 2011 – (page 3)
Carriageway condition
And floral Displays
He said that since the meeting, Streetscene had dealt with a few
of the issues raised and he would like to thank them for that.
He would like to see more bins in bus stops and to deal with the
areas which hadn’t been done like the highway at the bottom of
Winsford.
FINANCE
COMMITTEE
C77
RESOLVED:That the minutes of the last meeting of the Finance Committee
held on Monday 20 June 2011 be ratified.
PARTNERSHIP
WORKING
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a)
The Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council,
Councillor Mike Jones, and the Chair of the Weaver Valley
Partnership, Geoff Hope-Terry were in attendance and discussed
with Members opportunities to work in partnership in helping
move Winsford forward.
 An idea put forward was that of a new bypass through
Winsford.
b)
Ewan McHenry, CWAC Area Manager for Winsford and
Rural East, and Sue Fernandes, Streetscene Strategy Manager
were in attendance to suggest opportunities to help improve the
local environment through partnership working, in particular: Improved floral decorations
 Enforcement against litter, graffiti, dog fouling
 A ‘Love Winsford’ campaign.
A Member reported that on 7 and 8 October there was an
opportunity for anyone interested to join in and clean the fishing
pond outside the Lifestyle Centre.
RESOLVED:1. That more litter bins and dog bins be placed throughout
Winsford.
2. That a Task Group be set up to discuss Environmental issues.
E-ACT
ACADEMY
NEW-BUILD
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Cheshire West and Chester Council were preparing a
consultation and engagement plan in relation to the planned newbuild at the E-Act Academy.
Jane Hetherington, Project Development Manager, CWAC was in
attendance and explained that the Town Council would be one of
the major players to be engaged during the process.
She said that she would come to the Council’s meetings on a
regular basis and give updates.
RESOLVED:This information was received and noted.
TRAVELLER
C80
It was reported that Cheshire West and Chester Council was
Winsford Town Council
19 September 2011 – (page 4)
SITES
proposing the development of one transit and five residential
Gypsy and Traveller sites across the Borough. Two of the
proposed sites were in Winsford, ie:

Blakeden Lane/Browning Way
Road one Industrial Estate
The shortlisted sites had been agreed by the CWAC Executive on
7 September. The Authority would now apply for planning
permission, with public consultation as part of that process.
Copies of the Executive report and a ‘myth busting leaflet’ as
issued by CWAC were available in the Town Council office and
could be downloaded from the CWAC website.
There was also a link on the CWAC website to the full study on
potential sites prepared by consultants Ekosgen.
CWAC had set up the following email address for the public for
any comments or enquiries they wish the Council to answer.
GypsyandTravellerenquiries@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.
RESOLVED:That this information be received and noted.
TOWN
COUNCIL
AWAYDAY
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Many positive views had emerged during the highly successful
Member’s awayday in July. The discussion focussed on a
number of key themes, all of which would make a positive
contribution to the Councils overall mission of ‘Improving the
quality of life of the people of Winsford’.
It was reported that a number of the ideas put forward could be
implemented with modest resource impact and the report of the
Town Clerk/Finance Officer suggested the setting up of a
Steering Group to identify a programme of ‘quick and easy
initiatives and to report their recommendations to the October
Town Council meeting.
RESOLVED:That a Steering Group of 5 members be set up.
PLANNING
COMMITTEE
MINUTES
C82
The minutes of meetings of the Planning Committee held on
25 July, 8 August, 22 August and 5 September 2011 were
circulated for information.
RESOLVED:That this information be received and noted.
ALLOTMENTS
COMMITTEE
C83
RESOLVED:That the Minutes of a meeting of the Allotments Committee held
on 13 September 2011 be circulated at the next meeting.
Winsford Town Council
19 September 2011 – (page 5)
OVER
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ALLOTMENTS – REQUEST
FOR ‘PLOT SWAP’
A request had been received from the tenants of allotment
plots 20 and 48 to ‘swap’ plots. The tenant of plot 48 had a
large plot but due to other commitments was unable to cultivate
the full plot. The tenants of plot 20 were looking for a larger plot.
The request was supported by the Over Allotments Association.
Members were asked if they felt that the Allotments Committee
could be given delegated powers to consider further such
requests on the Council’s behalf subject to those requests being
supported by the Association.
RESOLVED:That delegated powers be given to the Allotments Committee
to consider further such requests on the Council’s behalf subject
to those requests being supported by the Association.
LOCAL
DEMOCRACY
WEEK
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This year’s Local Democracy Week would run from 10 – 16
October.
It was reported that at the last Town Council meeting, a series of
draft initiatives proposed by the Local Democracy Week Working
Group was approved.
The Group had since met on several occasions and had refined
its proposals which were circulated.
RESOLVED:That this information be received and noted.
PROPOSED
YOUTH
COMMITTEE
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Councillor Mike Burns reported on the proposed Youth
Committee.
RESOLVED:That due to the amount of work involved, this item would be
deferred until after the Local Democracy Week.
PUBLICITY
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RESOLVED:That this item be deferred until the next meeting.
PLAY AREA
IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAMME –
KING GEORGE VI
PLAYING FIELDS
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In 2007 the Town Council had agreed a rolling programme to
upgrade its play areas. An order of priority had been approved
and to date, the Meadow Bank and Stanthorne play areas had
been renewed, with work due to start on Leaf Lane.
Next in the order of priority was the King George VI play area and
The report of the Town Clerk regarding a proposed consultation
and implementation plan was circulated for Members
consideration.
RESOLVED:That the proposed consultation and implementation plan be
approved.
Winsford Town Council
19 September 2011 – (page 6)
QUEEN
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ELIZABETH II
FIELDS CHALLENGE
Members were informed that her Majesty the Queen celebrates
her Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
The Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge, operated by Fields in
Trust was a national campaign in which landowners were being
invited to nominate outdoor recreational spaces for inclusion in
the scheme. If nominations met the minimum criteria, they would
be awarded the designation of ‘Queen Elizabeth II Field’.
The key benefits of designation would be for the Council to make
a commitment to local people to safeguard their land, and to pay
tribute to the Queen on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee.
Further details of the Fields in Trust scheme, including the
benefits and minimum criteria, were circulated.
RESOLVED:That the Clerk report back further on this item.
POLLING
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DISTRICTS AND
POLLING STATION
REVIEW
Cheshire West and Chester Council was undertaking a review of
Polling Districts and polling stations throughout the Borough and
had requested comments on the current arrangements and any
proposals for change.
Further details of the review, together with existing polling
arrangements in Winsford, were circulated.
RESOLVED:That this information be received and noted.
GRANGE LANE,
WINSFORD
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A member of the public had expressed concern that Grange
Lane had been ‘stopped-up’ from Mill Lane in Whitegate to the
White House, Winsford, by means of metal barriers.
RESOLVED:That the Clerk await further information from the Public Rights of
Way team at Cheshire West and Chester Council.
REDUNDANCY
DISPUTE AT
NEWSQUEST
CHESHIRE AND
MERSEYSIDE
C92
Correspondence was circulated from the National Union of
Journalists regarding its campaign against redundancies at a
group of newspapers owned by Newsquest Cheshire and
Merseyside.
Given that the consultation process ended on 16 September and
the nature of the matter, Members had been invited to submit
comments on an individual basis if they so wished.
RESOLVED:That this information be received and noted.
PLANNING
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APPEAL BY
ANWYL CONSTRUCTION
CO LTD, LAND AT
Anwyl Construction Co Ltd had appealed against the decision of
Cheshire West and Chester Council to refuse planning consent
for the erection of 93 dwellings, associated open space and
access, and the demolition of 241 Ways Green on land at Ways
Winsford Town Council
19 September 2011 – (page 7)
WAYS GREEN, WINSFORD –
LOCAL INQUIRY
Green, Winsford.
An Inspector had been appointed to determine the appeal at an
Inquiry to be held at Wyvern House on Tuesday 27 September
and may last for two days.
The application was considered by the Town Council’s Planning
Committee on 31 January 2010, when the following comments
were made:‘Winsford Town Council’s Planning Committee recommends that
the application be carefully considered and refused on the
following grounds:1.
2.
3.
4.
The access and egress.
Highways – the traffic issues, in particular the volume of
traffic.
The lack of educational provision within the area.
The pond has special scientific interest’
The Council was asked if it wished to convey these comments to
the Inspector and/or if it wished to be represented at the Inquiry.
RESOLVED:1.
That the above comments be conveyed to the Inspector,
and
2.
That Cllr Beckett represent the Council at the Inquiry.
CHESHIRE
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ASSOCIATION OF
LOCAL COUNCILS
ANNUAL MEETING
2011
The Cheshire Association of Local Councils would be holding its
Annual General Meeting at Middlewich Civic Hall at 6.30 pm on
Thursday 20 October.
The Town Council had been invited to send representatives and
to submit Notices of Motion for consideration.
The Councils representatives on ChALC were Councillors
Michael Kennedy and Gina Lewis. It was suggested that those
two Members and the Clerk represent the Town Council at the
AGM.
The Council was also asked if it wished to put forward any
Notices of motion for consideration.
RESOLVED:1.
That Councillors Kennedy, Mrs Lewis and the Clerk
represent the Town Council at the ChALC AGM; and
2.
That any Notices of motion be put forward for
consideration and that the Councils representatives and
the Town Clerk attend the AGM.
MEMBER
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FEEDBACK FROM
OUTSIDE BODIES
Members appointed at Annual Council to represent the Town
Council on outside bodies gave feedback on their attendance at
meetings held since the last Town Council meeting.
Winsford Town Council
19 September 2011 – (page 8)
Cllr Mike Burns reported that Mid-Cheshire Mind’s new shop had
raised over £5,000 since it had opened.
Cllr Beckett reported that the Dingle Centre was still thriving and
that it was still the best centre of its kind in the Cheshire West and
Chester area.
SUSPENSION OF
STANDING
ORDERS
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RESOLVED:That Standing Orders be suspended to allow the meeting to
continue after the Closure of the Meeting at 9.00 pm.
POTENTIAL
ALLOTMENT
PROVISION IN
WHARTON
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RESOLVED:That the Town Council agree in principle to managing the site at
Wharton.
MINUTES OF
STAFFING
COMMITTEE
HELD 9TH
AUGUST 2011
C98
RESOLVED:That the minutes of the Staffing Committee held 9 August 2011
be received and approved.
TOWN CLERK/
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FINANCE OFFICER –
PERFORMANCE
APPRAISAL AND
SALARY REVIEW
RESOLVED:That the report of Councillor Beckett regarding the Town Clerks
salary appraisal and performance review be approved.
CLOSURE OF
MEETING
The Town Mayor declared the meeting of the Town Council
closed at 9.10 pm.
TOWN MAYOR ………………………………