Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held at the Village Hall, Singleton
on Tuesday 15 December 2020 at 7.15 pm
Present: – Cllrs Gallagher (Chair), Bailey (Vice Chair), Ibbotson and Lee, one representative of the public and the Parish Clerk, Verena Henderson, who took the Minutes.
| 1. | Apologies for Absence – Cllr Cholmondeley. The Parish Council extended its condolences to Cllr Cholmondeley and his family for the loss of his father. |
| 2. | Police Matters According to the crime figures received for November, there were 5 cases recorded, all for Anti-Social Behaviour – 3 breaches of the Covid restrictions, 1 of malicious communications and 2 civil disputes. Cllr Bailey informed the meeting that the Church alarm had gone off very recently between 8 and 9 pm. Three people had been contacted on the list including Cllr Bailey, who was unable to attend. Two couples did go out but as they were both elderly, Cllr Bailey telephoned the Police to ask them to do a drive-by but was told that they would not. They logged the call as 125613/12. The Parish Council was very disappointed to hear this as the alarm was fitted on a former Chief Superintendent’s advice following an incident of theft of lead from the roof several years ago. |
| 3. | Open Forum Following an influx of over 40 complaints regarding the Trust’s housing application to build 4 detached houses, this matter was discussed during the Open Forum to hear these concerns from the public. The meeting was told that on looking at a draft report from 5 April this year, which was being discussed with planning consultants, a small residential scheme was being proposed for 4 detached houses. In 2013 the said development was for 8 semi-detached affordable dwellings. 4 detached dwellings are not affordable and would be out of place with the character of the existing houses. Recent works on Worsicks Farm and Dumbreck Court have kept the original character of the buildings but these proposed dwellings would not fit in with historical view at the entrance of the village. The proposed buildings will be directly opposite the Miller Arms and will obstruct the view from that country pub. The original plan for the 8 semi-detached houses had a gap so that the countryside could still be viewed, albeit less of it, but these houses will not allow any views. There have been enough new houses built in Singleton Parish to more than satisfy the original 15 suggested in the Trust’s consultation back in 2013. The Parish Council had submitted comments to Fylde BC’s planners following the November meeting noting its concerns that since the original planning application of 14/0652, 10 houses have been built off Lodge Lane, 2 in the village centre and 7 more will be in the Grange Farm development (20/0821) and there have been many more in the Mains Lane area. This far exceeds the original 15 dwellings mentioned. The Parish Council went on to say that it was particularly concerned that of all the recent developments in Singleton Parish, none were affordable for first-time buyers. This matter would be discussed again this evening under item 7 but the Chairman stressed that if people felt very strongly about this proposal, they should also write to the Planning Department at Fylde BC, as individual letters carried far more weight than one letter signed by 100 people. The public was thanked for attendance and left the meeting. |
| 4. | Minutes of Previous Meeting and any Matters Arising The Minutes of the previous meeting held on 24 November, having been previously circulated and agreed, were signed as a true and correct record by the Chairman. Matters arising Bridleway adjacent to Bankfield Manor. Much correspondence backwards and forwards between The Chairman, Clerk, Fylde BC and Lancashire County Council. Reports received of plastic waste and batteries being included in tipped material used for filling in the pond and the footpath now resembles one going through an industrial estate. The officer at Fylde BC is still being copied into all these emails, but as this work includes waste material, it is now a matter for LCC. On-going.Dog fouling signs – Fylde BC put up more signs on Mains Lane immediately upon receiving our request. Dumped caravan on Grange Road. Reported to Fylde BC who will arrange removal.Flooding outside property on Mains Lane. Still complaints coming in about this one. Voiced concerns to Highways England and Environment Agency. Acknowledgement received from Highways England and response received from Environment Agency to say that they were only responsible for flooding from rivers and the sea and suggested LCC Environmental Health. The Clerk will refer to LCC. |
| 5. | Declaration of Interests – None |
| 6. | Planning Matters and Decisions 20/0877 – Linden Lea, 37 Mains Lane Singleton FY6 7LJ – Single storey extensions to dwelling … The Parish Council has no specific observations to make on the proposal. |
| 7. | The Trust’s Housing Application for 4 Detached Dwellings –This item is also covered in item 3. The Parish Council had previously submitted comments about this proposal but it decided it should now object because of the strength of feeling from residents of the village. The proposal would spoil the character of the entrance to this historical village. The Parish Council had recently had the Miller Arms listed as a place of community value. People travel to it as a country inn with views over open countryside. This proposed development would completely change the character of this meeting place. The objection will be formally submitted as soon as possible. |
| 8. | Traffic and Highway Issues Highways England had still not cut back the hedges on their land on Lodge Lane. The Clerk will chase this up. Also concerns expressed about an untidy hedge on Pool Foot Lane which hadn’t been cut back all year. |
| 9. | New By-Pass It looks like the work on Lodge Lane will start at Easter. |
| 10. | Correspondence Information received from Fylde BC regarding the precept for 2021/22 financial year, which they will need to finalise early in the New Year. The Clerk will prepare a balance sheet and put this item on the agenda for the January meeting.Circular received from the Environment Agency regarding operations at the Cuadrilla Site at Preston New Road which are currently suspended. They will keep us updated on any key issues or changes in the future. Noted. |
| 11. | Update from Fylde Borough Council – None |
| 12. | Accounts and Any Invoices to Pay Forsyth and Steele – Printing Xmas cards – £218.00. Proposed Cllr Bailey, Seconded Cllr Ibbotson. Agreed.S Butcher – Litter-picker £134.60. Proposed Cllr Gallagher. Seconded Cllr Lee. Agreed.Clerk, Salary and Expenses for Nov/Dec – £319.24. Proposed Cllr Gallagher, Seconded Cllr Lee. Agreed.Cllr Ibbotson – Reimbursement for Competition prizes – £22.00. Proposed Cllr Bailey, Seconded Cllr Gallagher. Agreed. |
| 13. | Any Other Business Concern that the SpID wasn’t working as well as it should in its present position at the moment – due probably to the lack of sunshine and overhanging branches. Cllr Lee will ask Andy Pawson to move it.Concern expressed about a property on Mains Lane which had many black sacks in the driveway and an overflowing skip also with opened black sacks falling from it. The Clerk will ask Environmental Health to look into this. |
| 14. | Date and Time of next meetings These were arranged for: – Tuesday January 26th, Tuesday February 23rd and Tuesday March 23rd 2021, all to take place at the Village Hall starting at 7.15pm. As there was no further business, the meeting closed at 8.30pm. |
Signed …………………………………………… Dated ………………………………………
Verena Henderson
Clerk to the Parish Council
Tel: 01995 670455