Singleton Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held at the Village Hall, Singleton
on 17 November 2016 at 7.15 pm
Present: – Cllrs Smith (Vice Chair), Bailey, Chew and Lee, and the Parish Clerk, Verena Henderson, who took the Minutes. Two members of the public also attended.
1. Apologies were received from Cllr Gallagher. Cllr Smith took the Chair for this meeting.
2. Minutes of Previous Meeting and any Matters Arising
The Minutes of the previous meeting held on 20 October 2016, having been previously circulated, were proposed to be a true and correct record by Cllr Chew. This was seconded by Cllr Bailey, agreed and accordingly signed by the Chair.
Matters arising from previous meeting
Litter-picking. The Clerk had informed Andy Taylor that the Chairman, Cllr Gallagher, wished to speak with him prior to him commencing litter-picking in the parish, to discuss the roads which needed to be done and how often. The Clerk had also written to Singleton Trust to advise them of this. At the last joint meeting between the Parish Council and the Trust it was agreed that both Chairmen would meet to divide the areas up between the Village and the Parish and determine which roads were the responsibility of both parties. The Trust was happy with the arrangements that both them and the Parish Council would pay for their particular areas.
Singleton road sign – The repainting of the road sign on Shard Road from Hambleton is the responsibility of Lancashire County Council. The Clerk has logged a fault report with LCC.
Lodge Lane road sign – The Clerk has logged a fault report for the broken sign at Singleton traffic lights with LCC.
The Clerk had asked Andy Pawson for a quote for the lay-by on Mains Lane and an area on the opposite side of the road to be added to the grass-cutting contract. Cllr Chew will pursue this with Andy Pawson.
Cllr Chew had spoken with Shaun Thornton about looking at putting chippings of some sort under the picnic benches in the children’s play area. He is very busy at the moment but will have a look after Christmas.
3. Open Forum – None
4. Declaration of Interests – None
5. Planning Matters and Decisions
There were no new plans but the Parish Council had been asked to reconsider planning application 16/0787 – 144 Mains Lane Singleton – in which the Parish Council had queried the height of the wall. On further examination of the very small details on the plans, it was apparent that the overall height of the wall had been misread and that this was to be 5ft, which was acceptable to the Council. However the planning officers would be asked to make landscaping in front of the wall a condition of any planning consent to compensate for the urbanising effect this brick wall would have on the area.
Planning decisions
16/0583 – Land to south of Applegarth, Church Road, Singleton – Outline application for erection of dwellinghouse – Granted
16/0708 – Windy Harbour – Variation of condition 1 of planning application to permit caravans and holiday accommodation to be occupied all year round – Granted.
6. Police and PACT Report
Information had been received from Sgt Andy Hill about contact details for the Police in our area. Our new PCSO – Becca Didsbury – also emailed to introduce herself and was advised of the date of this and the next Parish Council meeting.
The Police Crime report showed that 3 crimes had been logged for our area, including a break-in at a local public house, driving off from the petrol station without paying for fuel and an offender being apprehended on Mains Lane on suspicion of going equipped to commit a crime and being found in possession of wraps of brown and white powder. This crime is under active investigation.
Cllr Chew was invited by Sgt Hill to a Police Trap which took place on Mains Lane on 10 November. As well as Sgt Hill, there were 2 Police Officers and 2 Specials on duty who were primarily looking for people driving whilst using their mobile phones. Whilst Cllr Chew was there, 3 drivers were apprehended with one being found to have no tax, no insurance and no MOT. His vehicle was duly towed away. This exercise will be repeated across the Fylde in December. Cllr Bailey reported that he had seen the speed vehicle in the area more regularly too.
7. Traffic and Highway Issues
The work on the M55, which was due to start on 7 November for 11 days, had been delayed because of bad weather. It is scheduled to start as soon as possible.
Correspondence
• Rural Tourism. Fylde BC is compiling a new list of interesting tourism areas across Fylde and had sent a list of the ones they had so far. The Clerk was asked to respond to add the new permissive footpaths around Singleton Park starting at Puzzlewood.
• BT – Confirmation that the phone box at Lodge Lane Post Office is to be removed as it is rarely used.
• Minutes received from the District Parish Liaison Meeting, held on 19 October 2016. Cllr Chew attended this meeting, which she found to be a much better and informative meeting than of late and worthwhile. County Councillor Paul Hayhurst has requested that the issue of election recharges be discussed at the next meeting – to be held in January 2017. This is because there is a move to share the cost of elections evenly throughout the Borough which would fall heavily on smaller councils who did not have sufficient electorate in their parishes to pay an excessive sum.
9.
Proposed By-Pass
Cllr Chew and Cllr Bailey had met with Tristram Bardrick and Chris Hardy of Highways England who seemed to be responsive to their views. However, they were having separate meetings with different groups in Fleetwood and Poulton which was of some concern as there was now an elected group from all areas who, it was felt, should discuss all matters together. The next meeting of the elected group was scheduled for 17th January 2017.
The Gazette had done an article on the views of the Leader of Wyre BC and Cllr Chew had asked if she could also put forward the views of Singleton Parish Council, which she did. However, since this she had been subjected to some very unpleasant responses and emails. A gentleman from Fleetwood had also been to see her with his views of an alternative route, which he had forwarded to Highways England. Some of his ideas had already been thought of and discounted by Highways England.
Both Councillors expressed disappointment at the lack of support by the one officer from Fylde BC who had attended the initial group meeting. He had not shown any concern for the effect this by-pass would have on the residents of Singleton, some whose gardens and property would be severely affected.
Compensation for those affected was also found to be very disappointing with residents having to wait for 4 years before they could make a claim. Any double-glazed windows under 20 years old would not be eligible for replacement.
The number of new homes being built across Wyre and Fylde was also of concern, which would not only increase traffic but also put extra pressure on already stretched health services. Amongst all the plans there are no plans for any new health centres or dentists. Dementia is also a huge problem with their only being 160 Dementia beds available across the whole of Lancashire. These issues need to be addressed and the Parish Council has already added these views to the Local Plans of both Fylde and Wyre Borough Councils.
10.
Defibrillator
Quite an alarming time with our new defibrillator and the Parish Council is very grateful to Cllr Bailey for his help in sorting this out. Notification was received of a fault in the mechanism of some defibrillators whereby the voice instructions did not work and also they could give out an electric shock. On investigation, Cllr Chew discovered that our model was one of those giving concern and after much persuasion with the company, she managed to get it taken away and for an interim model to be delivered, which Cllr Bailey fitted. We now have a fully working defibrillator, albeit a temporary model, and Cllr Chew will chase up what has happened to our original one which she hopes will be replaced with a brand new one.
11.
Feedback from Meeting with Singleton Trust
Litter-picking was discussed at length, and is referred to in item 2 of these minutes. Other matters included Worsicks House. The Trust has sacked the original architect and has employed a new one and hopes to have some new plans soon. They are hoping to start work in January. The Trust is going to take a back seat about the by-pass but wants to be kept informed.
12. Accounts and Cheques to Pay
• T A Pawson – Mounting of SPID – 2 locations – £60.00 – Proposed Cllr Lee, Seconded Cllr Smith – Agreed.
• Clerk – Salary and Expenses for October/November – £242.18. Proposed Cllr Chew, Seconded Cllr Bailey – Agreed.
13. Any Other Business
Newsletter – Grantham’s had now amalgamated with Forsyth and Steele and the girl who used to produce our newsletter has now moved across to Forsyth and Steele. It had been previously agreed that she would produce our Christmas card and newsletter. Cty Cllr Paul Hayhurst had written a couple of pages for the newsletter and Police Sgt Andy Hall had also sent over something, which will be added to the final version.
Concern had been voiced by local residents about trees being cut down at a site on Lodge Lane where planning permission had been previously given for a development of 8 houses. The Tree Preservation Officer was duly informed, who came out straight away to discover some conifers being cut down, which was in accordance with the planning permission, and he advised about the trees which should remain to fulfil the planning conditions.
Concern also voiced about a bonfire at a property on Mains Lane which burned for 4 days. An item about bonfires will be put in the newsletter.
Lodge Lane Lay-By – More discussion about the stones there and how to improve the appearance of the area.
Wish List – Another brochure had arrived about play equipment for the Children’s play area. This was passed to Cllr Smith to be compared to the one from Playdale. These brochures will be circulated between all councillors with a view to coming to a decision in early Spring. It was felt that the Parish Council should get something that the younger children would enjoy.
14. Date and Time of next meeting
The next meeting will take place on Thursday 8 December 2016 at 7.15pm at Singleton Village Hall. As there was no further business the meeting closed at 8.45pm.
Signed …………………………………………… Dated ………………………………………
Verena Henderson
Clerk to the Parish Council
Tel: 01995 670455