WINSFORD TOWN COUNCIL
B
Minutes of the meeting of Winsford Town Council held in the
Town Council Chamber, Wyvern House, Winsford, on Monday 16
February 2015.
PRESENT:- Councillor Mrs Gina Lewis (Town Mayor)
Councillors Beckett, Blackmore, Mrs Booher, Clarke, Edwards,
Mrs Gaskill-Jones, Kennedy, Mrs Langley, Parkinson and Theron.
Also present: Aleta Steele, Locality Partnership Manager,
Cheshire West and Chester Council, approximately seven
residents from Winsford and a Local Reporter from the Northwich,
Winsford and Middlewich Guardian.
In attendance: Mr A Warburton (Town Clerk/Finance Officer) and
Mrs E Haspell (Administrative Officer).
APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were received and accepted from
Councillors Baker, Burns, Hooton and Smith.
DECLARATIONS
OF INTEREST
C155
Cllrs Mrs Gaskill-Jones and Mrs Lewis declared their personal
interest in agenda item 11, ‘Allotments Committee, 13 January
2015’, minute C166. Cllr Kennedy declared his personal interest
in agenda item 10, ‘Planning Committee Minutes’, minute C165.
OPEN FORUM
C156
Mrs Byers once again spoke of her fight to save the X22 Winsford
to Liverpool bus. She reiterated that this bus was very well
used. She thanked Winsford Town Council for subsidising the
service since April 2014. She was accompanied by several fellow
supporters.
X22 WINSFORD
LIVERPOOL
BUS SERVICE
C157
Winsford Town Council had been subsidising the service since
April 2014. The arrangement was due to end on 31 March 2015.
On 21 January 2015 a private meeting had been held between
interested parties to discuss whether the service could be
sustainable – i.e. if it could be self funding without any Town
Council support.
RESOLVED:a)
That the current subsidy end on 31 March 2015 but that
discussions take place with GHA coaches regarding a private hire
service from Winsford to Liverpool to operate on alternate
Saturdays for a 3 month trial basis with effect from Saturday 4
April 2015;
b)
That no concessions be made available and that the fare
for all passengers be set at £7.50 return with a view to achieving
a sustainable service;
c)
That an assessment of passenger numbers currently
boarding the bus at Northwich be made, and Northwich Town
Council be then invited to make an appropriate financial
Winsford Town Council
16 February 2015 – (page 2)
contribution towards the operating cost to enable the bus to
continue to pick up passengers in the town; and
d)
That in the event that the service does not break even at
the end of each month, Winsford Town Council agree to
underwrite any operating loss (i.e. any difference between the
total amount of fares received and the current subsidy level of
£560) for the period of the trial scheme.
MAYORS
C158
REMARKS AND
COMMUNICATIONS
A list of engagements attended by the Town Mayor since the
last meeting was circulated.
MINUTES
C159
RESOLVED:That the minutes of the meeting of the Town Council held on 19
January 2015 be approved and signed as a correct record.
ARISING FROM
MINUTE C149
C160
The Clerk reported that the Councils concerns regarding the
condition of certain roads in Winsford had been conveyed to
CWAC.
ARISING FROM
MINUTE C150
C161
The Clerk reported that Colin Edmondson would be giving a more
detailed presentation at the next ‘New Dawn for Winsford’
meeting.
He also reported that the Friends of Weaver Parkway had
produced a number of display boards. He said that they would be
going on display in the Winsford library between the 9th and 27th
of March.
BUDGET
2015/16
C162
The Finance Committee held on 19 January, had recommended
the following:a)
That a zero Council tax increase for Winsford residents in
2015/16 in respect of Town Council services be agreed:
b)
That the Town Council’s budget requirements for 2015/16
be £350,873;
c)
That the precept be set at £291,783 by utilising £11,732
from the 1st Reserve Account and by the receipt of a Tax Base
reduction grant of £47,358 from Cheshire West and Chester
Council, resulting in an annual charge to Band ‘D’ properties of
£37.08;
d)
That the Capital programme for 2015/16, in the sum of
£35,000, be approved as per the draft budget.
RESOLVED:a)
That the Town Council’s budget for 2015/16 be formally
approved, and
b)
That the precept be set at £291,783 by utilising £11,732
from the 1st Reserve Account and by the receipt of a Tax Base
reduction grant of £47,358 from Cheshire West and Chester
Winsford Town Council
16 February 2015 – (page 3)
FINANCE
COMMITTEE
C163
NEW HOMES
C164
BONUS PRIORITIES
Council, resulting in an annual charge to Band ‘D’ properties of
£37.08.
RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Finance Committee held on 19 January
2015 (approved by the Finance Committee at its meeting held
earlier), be ratified.
At the December meeting, Members had been informed that the
Council would be receiving a ‘New Homes Bonus’ of £28,167 for
the current financial year, which, when coupled with the
remaining allocation from the previous financial year, had resulted
in the sum of £41,556 being available.
Use of the grant was at the Council’s discretion and the Council
had committed itself to utilising the grant in helping to deliver the
aspirations of the Neighbourhood Plan.
The Council had set up a Working Group to review the early wins
and draw up an order of priority for implementation, for
consideration by the Council.
The Working Group’s
recommendations were submitted.
RESOLVED:That the New Homes Bonus Priority List be approved.
PLANNING
COMMITTEE
MINUTES
C165
The Minutes of meetings of the Planning Committee held on
26 January and 9 February 2015 were circulated for
information.
RESOLVED:That this information be received and noted.
ALLOTMENTS
C166
COMMITTEE,
13 JANUARY 2015
RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the meeting of the Allotments Committee
held on 13 January 2015 be received and noted.
CONSULTATION
C167
ON ‘PLANNING FOR
A SAFER CHESHIRE
2015-2020’ –
CHESHIRE FIRE
AUTHORITY’S
DRAFT FIVE YEAR
STRATEGY
Cheshire Fire Authority was consulting on a new five year
strategy which sets out the authority’s plans up to 2020.
The Strategy proposed to:
a)
Provide the Service’s frontline resources on its current
Cheshire boundaries rather than exploring options to merge
with other fire and rescue services.
b)
in relation to support functions, embark upon a programme
of collaboration with Cheshire Police and potentially with other
organisations locally and regionally.
c)
Further review the Service’s prevention and protection
functions, including exploring the potential to work more closely
with health bodies to reduce the demand on services.
Winsford Town Council
16 February 2015 – (page 4)
d)
Consider asking residents to vote for an additional council
tax increase if the Authority feels that the alternatives would
increase local risk levels unacceptably.
e)
Undertake a new review of emergency response
arrangements to ensure that the resources in place reflect local
risks and activity levels.
A copy of the strategy and further details could be found on the
Service’s website www.cheshirefire.gov.uk.
The consultation period would run up to 27 March.
An approach had been received from Northwich Town Council
suggesting that a small number of members meet jointly to
discuss a possible response on behalf of both authorities.
RESOLVED:That Cllrs Beckett, Edwards and Kennedy meet with their
Northwich counterparts to discuss and agree a joint response to
the Cheshire Fire Authority’s consultation.
GROT SPOTS
C168
CHESHIRE WEST C169
AND CHESTER COUNCIL
EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Concern was expressed about the condition of the former Raven
public house and the former Liquid Lounge. Members also
expressed their concern regarding Whitby’s Lane, Rilshaw
Meadow’s car park and the amount of litter which accumulated
from McDonalds at Wharton Park.
RESOLVED:a)
That McDonalds be approached and asked what the
radius is from their premises that they are required to litter pick.
b)
That Cheshire West and Chester council be approached
with regards to the condition of the former Liquid Lounge;
c)
That Cheshire West and Chester council be asked to tidy
up Whitby’s Lane and finally
d)
That Darnhall Parish council be approached regarding the
condition of the former Raven public house.
It was reported that CWAC wished to celebrate the role and
value of Local councils as the most local form of democracy and
to showcase the work of town and parish councils across the
Borough through the presentation of ‘Excellence Awards’.
The prospectus was circulated from which applications were
being invited in 8 award categories. The awards would be made
at the annual Local Council assembly on 25 March.
RESOLVED:That Winsford Town Council be nominated in the ‘Council of the
Year’ category.
EVENTS
C170
RESOLVED:-
Winsford Town Council
16 February 2015 – (page 5)
AND
EARLY WINS
ACTION GROUP
That this information be received and approved.
SALT FAIR
COMMITTEE
C171
RESOLVED:That the notes of a meeting of the Salt Fair Committee held on
10 February be received and noted.
TIMETABLE
OF MEETINGS
C172
RESOLVED:That the draft timetable of Finance and Town Council meetings
for 2015/16 be received and noted.
EXCLUSION OF
PRESS AND
PUBLIC
C173
RESOLVED:That due to its confidential nature, the press and public be
excluded from the meeting during consideration of the
following matter in accordance with section 1 (2) of the Public
Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960.
LAND
MATTER
C174
RESOLVED:a)
That a site visit be held to clearly identify the extent of the
land concerned and
b)
That a representative from CWAC be present at the site
visit.
STAFF
MATTERS
C175
RESOLVED:a)
That the post for Part-time Administrative Officer be filled
like for like i.e. 2 days a week, Thursday-Friday.
b)
That consideration be given to exploring the possibility of
100% Arts Council/Heritage Lottery Funding being available for
the employment of a Festivals and Heritage Officer on a two year
contract.
PART B
CLOSURE OF
MEETING
The Town Mayor declared the meeting of the Town Council
closed at 8.00 pm.
TOWN MAYOR ………………………………