Under the Local Government Act 1972 (83(4)) the Chairman signed the Declaration of Office.

The new Chairman thanked the outgoing Chairman on behalf of the Councillors for his valuable service to the community during his unprecedented length in office. He has seen the Parish Council through many milestones including the Parish Plan, Village Surveys and much newly introduced legislation.

1566. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Cllr. N. Harrison and the reason accepted. County Cllr. Wilson sent her apologies for the meeting.

Councillors disclosed personal or prejudicial interest in matters to be discussed at this meeting.

Cllr. D. Sharples declared a personal interest as a member of Wyre Borough Council’s planning committee.

The meeting was adjourned.

Cllr. G. Wilson reported on the PACT meeting held before the Parish Council meeting. PCSO Marti Long reported on eight crimes this month as compared to six in the same period last year. More serious crimes are being reported in the area in line with the up surge in thieving nationally.

There has been a general increase in the number of burglaries from insecure buildings and vehicles and he asked that every one ensures their cars and sheds are locked. There was damage to a vehicle on Calder Drive which has not yet been detected, two thefts from the Post Office, both of which were detected and damage to a vehicle on Catterall Gates Lane, when a stone was put through the windscreen, although this is believed to be a neighbour dispute. A bicycle was stolen from a shed on Keepers Way and Crime Reduction Officers are issuing victims with advice and bike locks and window alarms. The Multi Use Games Area was damaged and a vehicle damaged on Cock Robin Lane with its registration plates removed. The perpetrator used a crow bar to gain access to a dwelling on Cock Robin Lane and enquiries continue to recover the stolen items.

Anti-social Behaviour is down on last year at this time although calls to the Police have increased from 30 to 50 in the past month. These include a hoax 999 call, vehicle nuisance of a motorbike to which the owner has been issued with a section 59 warning, an animal bite and 4 youths reported on Cock Robin Lane using aerosol cans as flame throwers.

PCSO Long reported that Garstang have a new youth worker and the Councillors added that Catterall should have one by July. There is a ‘Chocolate Bus’ available to visit sites in Wyre run by the Youth Team in Garstang.

One resident present raised the length at which the speed indicator devise picks up vehicles saying if shorter it would last longer. Unfortunately the Parish Council is unable to change the angle of the camera or the brackets on which they hang.

The meeting was resumed

Councillors accepted the following Parish Council Meeting dates for the coming year.

2^nd June, 2009, 7^th July, 2009, 4^th August, 2009,

1^st September, 2009, 6^th October, 2009, 3^rd November, 2009,

1^st December, 2009, 5^th January, 2010, 2^nd February, 2010,

2^nd March, 2010, 6^th April, 2010, 4^th May, 2010.

The meetings will take place at Catterall Village Hall, Garstang Road and commence at 7.30pm following the PACT meetings.

Responsible for policies and procedures.

Councillors Mrs D. Croston, J. Houghton, D. Sharples and G. Wilson

Councillors J. Houghton, D. Sharples and G. Wilson

Responsible for the accounts, employee’s payments, budgets and recommending the precept.

Councillors J. Houghton, D. Sharples, Mrs. E. Thomas and G. Wilson.

The Clerk is the Responsible Financial Officer

Councillors I. Brayshaw, N. Harrison, J. Houghton, D. Sharples and G. Wilson

Pilling Parish Council will be auditing the accounts this year

Meetings called as necessary one week prior to Parish Council meeting to comment

Councillors J. Houghton, H. Kenyon, D. Sharples and Mrs. E. Thomas.

Up line managers to the Parish Lengthsman

Councillors I. Brayshaw, Mrs. D. Croston and D. Harvey.

Responsible for highways and street scene in the Village

Councillors I. Brayshaw, N. Harrison, J. Houghton, and G. Wilson.

Responsible for Catterall Playing Field, Open Spaces and Play Areas in the Village.

Councillors Mrs. D. Croston, J. Houghton, H. Kenyon and Mrs. E. Thomas

Councillor J. Houghton

Councillors N. Harrison and Mrs. E. Thomas

Councillor G. Wilson

Councillors D. Harvey and H. Kenyon

Councillors Mrs. D. Croston, J. Houghton and G. Wilson

Councillors I. Brayshaw and G. Wilson

Wyre Borough Council has been informed of the vacancy and has sent notices which are displayed in the Village. The last date for an election request is 7^th May; if one is not called then the members will need to co-opt a Councillor. The Clerk has received one application for the vacancy to date.

The following information has been received:

Employment Briefing – Employment Act 2008

Lancashire County Training Partnership is holding training sessions:

Quality Parish Council Scheme – Workshop – June 18^th

Freedom of Information and Data Protection – Workshop – 1^st July

New Councillors and Clerks – Training Course – 4^th and 25^th July

Councillors were requested to write to their MPs to sign the House of Commons Early Day Motion number 1064 demanding proper Local Spending Reports under the Sustainable Communities Act and

To sign the Early day Motion number 1010 in support of the Green Energy Bill, and most importantly, to be in Parliament on 8^th May for the vote.

There were no planning applications to be considered for comment this month.

Wyre Borough Councillor D. Sharples reported on the Planning Inspectors decision to allow the wind turbine at Dewlay Cheesemakers, Kirkland. The report concluded that there would be no adverse effect on wildlife or on motorists in the area and it would have no material effect on the surroundings. Although it is the energy company that submits the planning application the public perception will see Dewlay as the applicant.

The meeting was suspended to allow a member of the public to speak.

He enquired if objections could be made after the inspector’s decision? Wyre Borough Council could only appeal against the original appeal but this would not be cost effective, however residents can write to their MP and MEP.

The meeting was resumed.

It was reported that the Village Hall has replaced the front and back doors recently.

The new roof over the main hall is almost completed.

The meeting took place on 21^st April, with 10 Parishes represented, guests speakers were Jan Finch, Wyre Borough Council, Eileen Winnington, Lancashire County Council and Police Inspector Dave Vickers. The Committee is looking for a Vice Chairman, following the re-location of Cllr. D. Thompson.

Lancashire County Council and Wyre Borough Council are working together to ensure the brackets for SID will ALL be in place by the end of June. The seven Wyre Borough Council’s SID’s are to be distributed between the Parishes and Pilling and Catterall will be sharing one SID and will be given five brackets.

Wyre Borough Council has filled the three posts for Parish representatives on the Standards Committee and launched the Parish Charter at the Golf Club. The Police statistics were explained and Inspector Vickers reported on the Policing Pledge, working through PACT meetings, to highlight problems and concerns in your area.

A special meeting is to be held on 20^th May to allow Jo Turton, Chief Executive, Environment Directorate, Lancashire County Council to give a presentation to the Parishes.

There has been slow progress arranging a meeting with Francis Walton, youth worker for Lancashire County Council. But a new youth worker assigned to Garstang is to spend half a day in Catterall/Kirkland.

The Gateway Grants committee are to meet shortly to assign projects. The members look at supporting bids for equipment and training rather than staff costs.

The report on the draining of the Playing Field was accepted with an amendment to read ‘This confusion led to Councillors not wanting to drain the field immediately, but to monitor the situation.’ The results of the recommended actions will be considered before progress.

*Costs split with Kirkland Parish Council

          9. Environment Agency £152.00 Waste Transfer License

BT £ 26.40

Orange Home £ 9.78

The renewal has been received.

Councillors are asked to approve the following for the Audit.

In order for the Parish Lengthsman to move debris within the Parish and to the Household re-cycling Facility the Parish Council needs a Waste Transfer License to cover this service. The license is available from the Environment Agency at a cost of £152.00 and valid for three years. There are very serious and expensive convictions if the Parish Council is found not to have one.

Garstang Free Methodists and the Church Inn Football Club have completed the hire forms, and both have paid for the use of the Playing Field.

The statement was accepted by the members.