Present: Councillors;                                      D. Sharples, Chairman,

                                                                  Gillian Benson, Clerk to the Parish Council

In the absence of the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman Cllr. D. Sharples was elected as Chairman.

1468. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Cllr. G. Wilson and Cllr. D. Thompson and the reasons accepted.

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.

Resolved; That the minutes of the last meetings, held on 5^th August, 2008, having been circulated were agreed and signed by the Chairman as a true record.

The meeting was adjourned. There were no members of the public attending tonight.

The Chairman reported on the PACT meeting held prior to this meeting. Attended by PCSO Craig Jones who reported four crimes in the past month. One assault in the Youth Shelter on the Playing Field of which CCTV evidence has been taken by the Police and the perpetrators have been arrested. There were also three crimes of stealing car badges and a road sign by the same individual who has been apprehended and admitted to the offence. There have been five anti-social incidents reported, including a malicious phone call regarding a fire arm.

The Road Policing Unit has been using the mobile speed camera in Catterall recently and the Officers are asking for appropriate locations to kerb speeding in the Village. It was reported that the litter bin near the Pickerings is being filled with household rubbish from a neighbour. This will be reported to the environmental health at Wyre Borough Council. PCSO Jones stated that the youth bus will continue to visit Catterall Playing Field until further notice on Thursday evenings.

The meeting was resumed

Following concern about the signs on the river bank it has been decided to look at carrying out a risk assessment to identify possible hazards and risks. Risk assessments are necessary as the Parish Council owns the Playing Field and the indemnity insurance is only covered providing the Parish Council have take reasonable precautions. Cllr. D. Sharples will seek advice from Malcolm Reese, Wyre Borough Council as to responsibilities. In the meantime a quote of £200 has been given to carry out a professional assessment lasting about two hours with follow up visits.

Resolved: Consider the information from Wyre Borough Council prior to sourcing other risk assessment companies then the Finance Committee to resolve who will carry out the assessment.

The CCTV camera had become obscured by condensation and scissors lift was hired to reach the camera, which was cleaned and resealed. It was noted that the maintenance contract taken out was for technical support only. Unfortunately condensation has built up again in the camera.

Resolved: That the Parish Council contacts the installer stating that the previous fault has not been repaired satisfactorily.

Councillors considered the flooding on Cock Robin Lane during the recent down pour. Water ran across the full width of the carriageway and motorists seem to take delight in driving through the standing water and splashing pedestrians. The road has not drain efficiently for many years and water stands between Thornbank Drive and Stone Cross Gardens. The primary school pupils also wait for their bus on Cock Robin Lane and could be drenched by a passing motorist.

Resolved; That the Parish Council writes to Lancashire County Council about the adverse flooding on Cock Robin Lane.

Lancashire County Council’s new Parish Charter has been distributed to the Councillors, who were some what confused as to what they should be looking for and the implications it could have on Parish Councils.

Resolved: To hold an informal meeting to examine the document in detail and the implications of each section on 8^th September.

DEFRA is to appoint three commissioners for the Commission for Rural Communities.

Alternative names and styles for Parish Councils;

The introduction of the Local Government Act 2007 means that a Parish Council may have the name and style of a Parish or Town Council, or a community council, a neighbourhood council or a village council.

Resolved: That the Parish Council notes the possible change, but will not take action.

A Planning Workshop is to be held at Howick House on 28^th October 7.00 – 9.00pm.

Resolved: That Cllr. D. Croston attends the Planning Workshop.

The following planning application will be decided by the Planning Committee on 3^rd September. Councillors are invited to attend and are permitted to speak for three minutes if they so wish.

08/00676/FULMAJ

Proposal: Erection of one wind turbine, foundation, access track and ancillary equipment

Location: Dewlay, the Traditional Cheesemakers, Garstang By-Pass Road, Garstang

The planning Officers are recommending refusal.

Resolved; The planning committee report of 11^th August was accepted and included;

Proposal; Outline application for residential development for 6 dwellings

Location: Highfield, Stones Lane, Catterall

Resolved: The Parish Council objects to this application and requests neighbourhood notification.

The internal improvements and fewer properties noted; concern about access onto Garstang Road and increase in properties also increases vehicles. Site is on a blind bend, concern sightline can not be achieved with Duckworth Cottage Bridge. Original planning permission for access was for one dwelling.

Proposal: Single storey rear extension

Location: 4, Old Lancaster Road, Catterall

Resolved: The Parish Council has no objections to this application and requests neighbourhood notification,

Proposal: New agricultural workshop to provide secure storage and modification of curtilage boundary to site area enclosing farm buildings

Location: Ripon Hall Farm, Catterall Lane, Catterall

Resolved: The Parish Council objects to this application and requests neighbourhood notification.

Farm being re-created following the selling off of the original barns for conversion, further buildings would increase traffic problems on Catterall Lane and compound conflict with vehicles to Franklaw. The farm nearer to A6 chance of mud/soil contamination of highways increased.

Proposal: Two storey side extension

Location: 8, Chapelside Close, Catterall

Resolved: The Parish Council has no objections to this application and requests neighbourhood notification.

Original purpose for dwelling was affordable housing, extension would take it out of this category.

The following planning applications were considered at this meeting

Proposal: Two-storey side extension

Location: 25, Meadowcroft Avenue, Catterall

Resolved: The Parish Council has no objections to this application and requests neighbourhood notification.

Proposal: Proposed erection of 8 bay garage and an additional 5 parking spaces to serve existing approved development

Location: Land at Catterall Gates Lane, Catterall

Resolved: The Parish Council has no objections to this application, but asks for the planning condition to restrict the usage to domestic purposes only and that each garage is assigned to a relevant property on the site.

The Chairman and Clerk met John Smith to discuss the way the Parish Council had been treated with the funding bid for the CCTV at the Pickerings and that no contact was made as to progress or the postponement of decision meetings. He apologised for the misunderstanding and explained that funding sources have been curtailed into his department and they were unaware of this at the time Catterall Parish Council applied. There has been a change in funding programmes in that organisations are being encouraged to apply for funding directly. Confirmation of the £500.00 grant has been received.

The Clerk met with Mr. Thornton and Dave Norton from Nortech to discuss the recent problems holding up progress with the installation of the CCTV. The Parish Council has been promised a usable electricity supply from the owner, this will save engaging a contractor to bury a cable at the appropriate depth and the further problems of digging up the tarmac. However, the base is not in the most advantageous position and needs relocating. This will allow for the mast to be dropped within the garden, to prevent obstructions on Stones Lane during maintenance and cleaning. The mast will be between two trees with TPO’s one of which can be trimmed to allow clear sight for the digital unit to relay to the Hotel. The meeting also looked at the reach of the arm and it may be possible to extend in order to observe South on Garstang Road, giving a more comprehensive tour of sights.

Payments received this month;

It was resolved that the following accounts were approved for payment;

1. Broughton Hire shop £ 70.50

2. Clerk’s expenses £ 31.11

3. Lancashire County Council £191.74 Pension contribution

4. Parish Lengthsman £293.07

5. E-On (Christmas lights electricity) £ 12.15

6. Wyre Area Road Safety Com. £ 10.00

7. A. J. Williamson £290.00

8. C and C Supplies £ 77.87

9. Kirkland Parish Council £ 65.25

Subscription to Society of Local Council Clerks

BT £ 31.17

Orange Home £ 9.99

Resolved: the Parish Council accepted the monthly statement.

Cllr. D. Harvey informed the Councillors that on the Council’s approval he will be taking over the grounds maintenance of the Memorial Garden, but leaving the litter collection to the Parish Lengthsman. The Parish Council was pleased to allow Cllr. Harvey to keep the Memorial Garden maintained.

The continuous and volume of the music at the Pickerings played during a Christening last Sunday was reported. Such matters should be reported to the environmental health at Wyre Borough Council as soon as possible. There had been some mention of the original planning permission which banned the opening of windows to preserve the quality of life for neighbours.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.48 pm.