Guilden Sutton Parish Council
Newsletter
July 2006, no 114
The Parish Council has
three vacancies for Councillors.
Interested electors are
invited to contact any Member of the Council or the Clerk (see back page) as
soon as possible.
Vacancies.
The Council has said farewell and thank you to three
councillors. The resignations were received with regret of long serving Cllr
Pat Astbury, who continues as Guilden Sutton’s local bus user contact, Cllr
Julie Proudlove and Cllr Gail Young.
The Council is now seeking to co-opt people who
would like to serve. Initially, they would be councillors until the next
elections due in 2007. Anyone interested can speak to any of the
Parish Councillors listed on the back page of this issue or contact the clerk,
David Norbury, 01244 300783.
Meetings are held monthly, apart from August and
councillors can become involved in everything from the traditional parish pump
activities of reporting pot holes to be filled and street lights to
be repaired to planning applications and wider aspects of policies and
proposals by other organisations which affect the village. A copy of the
council's annual report which details its activities can be obtained from the
Clerk.
Green Lane.
As regular readers will know, parish
councillors objected to a proposal by the County Council to redesignate the
status of the green lane, as did a number of residents. The Council
subsequently presented arguments against the County Council’s case at a public
inquiry.
The order has yet to be confirmed
as modifications were put forward by the inspector. In the meantime, new
legislation has been introduced and when the change in status is confirmed, it
will be on the basis of the path becoming a restricted byway on which no
mechanically propelled vehicles will be permitted, other than those used by
adjoining landowners who may wish to use the path to reach their land.
At the time of writing, the
inspector’s further interim report had not been considered by the Parish
Council but the new status of the path is in line with the Council’s
aspirations for the route. The County Council’s countryside access manager has
previously given an assurance that in the event of any change, the minimum
amount of work would be carried out to make the route suitable for those
entitled to use it with the aim of retaining its rural character.
Parish Plan/Village Design Statement
The
Parish Council has given further thought as to whether Guilden Sutton should
have a parish plan and/or a village design statement.
It is now
proposed to hold a public meeting on Tuesday, September 12 in the Village Hall
to enable people to find out more and have their say. Watch out for further
details!
A key
point is that both documents are prepared by and owned by the community and not
just by the Parish Council.
A parish
plan would look at where we are now and where we would like to go specifically
on issues which are raised by the community.
It is a combination of aspirations which may be achievable and a future
wish list. Issues which might be raised
could include transport - do we believe Mickle Trafford station should be
reopened for example - or perhaps affordable housing or provision for the
elderly.
The aim
of the early stages is to tease out topics people in the village feel should be
looked at and included in the plan.
A village
design statement would concentrate on what the village actually looks like now,
how residents would like it to look in the future and how planners and others
can take account of this.
The
benefit of both types of plan is that they are validated by the City Council
and are taken into account as expressing the views of the community when
decisions are taken on the issues contained within them by a wide range of
organisations.
What to
do you think?
If you
support the idea, please tell us, now or at the public meeting. If you would
wish to be involved, what is your particular interest - youth, transport, the
elderly, help with photography or printing or data collection etc. If you
believe the idea should not to go ahead, please tell us why, your views are
still important. Comments may be passed to any parish councillor, e mailed to info@guildensutton.org.uk or
returned to the Clerk at 1 Orchard Croft.
Parish Council 2006/07.
The Chairman of the
Council is Cllr Bob Armitage, the father of the Council and the vice chairman
is Cllr Ron Bayton, holding the office for the first time.
The parish paths warden,
Brian Lewin, was unanimously asked to continue as were the parish tree wardens
Cllr Bayton and Mr Alan Young. The Council is delighted that former councillor
Mrs Pat Astbury has agreed to continue as local bus user contact.
Parish playing field.
The Council is extremely
disappointed that the parish playing field, which is included in a Chester City
Council grounds maintenance contract and cut at the Parish Council’s expense,
is not being maintained as it should be. The City Council is being very
supportive in seeking to improve the standard of work by their contractor and a
site meeting is to be held to discuss the field and other areas in the village
which are part of the contract.
Community Safety.
Sheds. Lighter evenings are upon us and
at least one shed in the village has already been burgled, warns PC Mal Baker.
Make sure your shed is secure and equipment of any value is security marked.
PC Baker. PC Baker says he would welcome
an opportunity to speak to any members of the community about issues which
concern them. He can be contacted through 0845 458 6394 or people can call in
at Mickle Trafford Police Station next to the primary school.
Correction!
An error in
issue 113 mistakenly said the cost of the parish precept to an average band D
property in the village is in the region of £1.55 per week. This should have
read `per month.’ Our thanks to the eagle eyed local government figure who
kindly brought this to our attention.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Information.
The
Council's e mail address is info@guildensutton.org.uk
and its web site is at www.guildensutton.org.uk
Future
meetings:
Future
meetings of the Council are due to be held in the Village Hall on Mondays 17 July and provisionally on 11 September, 9 October, 6
November and
11 December, 2006. Residents are welcome to attend and
all are preceded by public speaking time.
Contact
Councillors Bob Armitage 300528, Ron Bayton 301286, Danny
Fisher 301398, Derek Hughes 300185, Trisha Paterson 300307 or the Clerk, David
Norbury, 1 Orchard Croft, Guilden Sutton, CHESTER, CH3 7SL, 300783.
Pat Astbury 318276 is the Local Bus User Contact and Brian
Lewin 301501 is the Parish Paths Warden. The Parish Tree Wardens are Cllr Ron
Bayton 301286 and Mr Alan Young 301558.
Guilden Sutton Parish Council
Annual Report Summary
2005/06
2005/06 was again an extremely busy period for the
Parish Council on behalf of the local community.
The Council was saddened to learn of the death of
former Parish Councillor Myles Dutton who had been a member of the Council from
1993 to 1997.
Monthly meetings were held throughout the year,
apart from August, together with site meetings. There were extensive
consultations on planning applications and highway issues which properly
involved a great deal of time.
During the year, arrangements continued under which
individual Members expressed an interest on specific aspects of the Council's
business as follows:
Cllr Armitage: Policy, Cheshire Association of
Local Councils, National Association of Local Councils, Ethics and Standards,
Strategic Planning.
Cllr Astbury: Public Transport.
Cllr Bayton: Trees and woodlands.
Cllr Fisher: Major highway schemes, Education,
Cheshire County Council.
Cllr Hughes: Development control, finance,
community safety, public footpaths.
Cllr Paterson: Health, Social Services, Parish
highways, Village Hall, Fire Service/Fire Authority, Youth.
Cllr Proudlove: Play area.
Cllr Young: Youth/CPRE.
The Clerk: Chester City Council.
The following representatives were appointed to
outside bodies:
Cheshire Association of Local Councils, Chester
Area Meeting: Cllrs Armitage, Paterson, Bayton.
Cheshire Community Council Village Halls Forum:
Cllr Hughes.
CPRE: Cllr Bayton.
Guilden Sutton Village Hall Management Committee:
Cllr Paterson.
Chester City Council Gowy North Area Committee:
Cllrs Hughes, Peterson, Fisher.
Chester Police Forum: Cllr Hughes.
Chester District Public Transport Liaison
Committee: Cllr Armitage.
The following Office holders were appointed:
Parish Paths Warden: Mr B Lewin.
Parish Tree Wardens: Cllr R Bayton, Mr A Young
Local Bus User Contact: Cllr P Astbury.
Cllr Fisher continued as a community governor
nominated by the Parish Council to the governing body of Guilden Sutton Church
of England Controlled Primary School.
The Council continued in membership of a wide range
of outside bodies including the Cheshire Association of Local Councils,
Cheshire Community Council, the CPRE and the Mid Cheshire Footpath
Society. Guilden Sutton again provided
both the Chairman (Cllr Armitage) and Honorary Secretary (The Clerk) of the
Chester Area Meeting of the Cheshire Association of Local Councils. Cllr
Armitage also served as a member of the association's executive committee and
as a representative to the Chester District Public Transport Liaison Committee.
In addition he was one of two parish council representatives in Chester
district to the City Council's Ethics and Standards Committee.
Members and the Clerk attended a wide range of
conferences and meetings held by Cheshire County Council, Chester City Council,
Cheshire Community Council, the Cheshire Planning Forum, the CPRE and the
Cheshire Association of Local Councils.
These meetings brought valuable information to the parish to assist the
Council in the conduct of its business and enabled Members to make useful
contacts with Members and officers of other authorities. Members and the Clerk
also undertook training which will be of assistance should the Council aspire
to Quality Council status.
A number of significant issues were under
consideration or review. These included the new local plan for the whole of the
Chester district, which has recently been adopted having been in preparation
since the early 1990s.
This plan includes new policies to control
development in Green Belt villages such as Guilden Sutton. The Council believes that continued
vigilance to protect the Green Belt is essential, particularly in the light of
representations made to the City Council at an earlier stage in the plan
process for land at Guilden Sutton Lane to be allocated as a business park and
for 1,600 new houses to be built between Guilden Sutton and Littleton.
There have also been consultations on a wide range
of other matters by bodies such as the City and County Councils, the Police and
Fire Services and the Government which in one way or another affect the parish.
For 2006/07 the Council agreed to increase the
budget to £14,575 from £12,000 although the precept was held at the previous
level of £12,000 with the balance being financed through income. Annual expenditure
has been rising as additional services and facilities have been provided and
other costs have increased, including those of the Clerk whose terms and
conditions have been under review. The Council aims to have a balanced budget
in order to build up reserves for major expenditure such as any future
replacement of the equipment in the children's play area and similar major
projects. At present, the precept is
approximately £1.55 per month for an average band D house in the parish. The
Council believes this represents good value for money but remains fully
committed to spending council taxpayers' money wisely and to securing grants
towards expenditure wherever this is possible. The Council is reimbursed by the
City Council, for example, for approximately 50% of the cost of the village
lengthsman. Twice in recent years, the
value of grants which have been attracted towards projects for the benefit of
the community have exceeded the value of the precept.
The Council was pleased the City Council conducted
a review of the long standing double taxation anomaly whereby, as an
illustration, council taxpayers in Guilden Sutton directly fund the cost of
provision of the children's play area and the parish playing field in addition
to making a contribution to similar facilities in Grosvenor Park and Hoole. The
Council believed, on the basis of an initial analysis, that 25% of its overall
budget could qualify for relief if the outcome of the review led to wholesale
changes in the system. In the event, the City Council agreed an initial payment
equivalent to 50p per head, which brought in a welcome sum in excess of £700.
This was applied to grounds maintenance provided through the City Council.
For 2006/07 the figure is increased to 75p per head
with a further 25p, totalling £1 per head, promised in 2007/08. This compares,
however, with the estimated per capita cost of double taxation of £3.70.
Members had hoped it might be possible to make more rapid progress to remove
the anomaly.
A wide range of issues were dealt with during the
year. The Council is very aware of its responsibility to speak out for local
interests, for example in responding to consultations and this is reflected in
its very detailed monthly agenda. All issues, both large and small, are considered
equally.
With local planning, there were again a number of
difficult issues and the Council, as always, took a great deal of care to
ensure that all aspects were carefully considered and fairly discussed before a
decision was reached. It is also worth noting that the Council is also
consulted on planning applications on or near the Parish boundaries where these
would affect Guilden Sutton. Four such applications arose during the year.
A number of local highway matters were
considered.
The Council remains disappointed that a number of
motorists exiting Guilden Sutton Lane at the junction with the A 41 ignore the
intention that the gap in the central reservation is suitable to allow only one
vehicle at a time to turn right into the main road, causing problems for
themselves, approaching traffic and the vehicle already waiting. The Council
hopes that all motorists using the junction will see the sense of exercising a
little patience given the previous difficulties caused by inappropriate
manoeuvres have not been entirely eradicated.
County Councillor John Burke supported a bid by the
Parish Council which led to improved signing and lining on part of Guilden
Sutton Lane at the approach to the parish playing field. It is hoped further
measures will be funded at this location.
A number of highway issues arose on Wicker Lane
where the Parish Council was pleased to facilitate a dialogue between residents
and the highway authority. The issues which were raised are under
consideration. It is unlikely, however, that a suggestion there should be a
30mph limit will be approved as the road does not meet the criteria.
The speed of traffic particularly on Guilden Sutton
Lane, School Lane, Wicker Lane and Oaklands remains a concern and the
possibility has arisen of a speed campaign in the village. This will be
progressed at an appropriate stage.
Street lighting faults continue to be reported.
Faults can be reported by any resident by telephoning the number and road name
of the light concerned to the Guilden Sutton highway office on 01244 603475.
Members maintained a close interest in bus services
serving Guilden Sutton and Councillor Mrs Astbury continued as the local bus
user contact.
Following changes to the ChesterBus timetable, the
0900 to Chester was lost leading to protests from residents. Following action
by the Parish Council, the service was reinstated on a `use it or lose it’
basis.
The Council was pleased the parish playing field,
which is rented from a private landowner, continued to be a useful village
amenity. Guilden Sutton remains
deficient in all aspects of open space provision and any improvement in the
position hinges crucially on land becoming available. The Council would be
pleased to hear from landowners who might be able to help. The City Council
would then be able to assist with help and advice as to the funding of the
project.
The children's play area has benefited from a
significant uplift in recent years thanks to magnificent fund raising by
interested parents and grants from Chester City Council, WREN and Awards of All
in addition to funding from the Parish Council. Regular visual inspections are carried out on an informal basis
by Members of the Council, two of whom have received more formal basic
training. The statutory annual inspection is arranged for the Parish Council by
Chester City Council. Litter continues
to be a problem and the Council's contractor is paid to give the play area
weekly attention. A litter bin is available very close by and the Council hopes
this will encourage children and their parents to dispose of their litter in
this manner.
Public footpaths are seen by the Council as an
important part of village life and Members would wish to thank the Parish
Footpaths Warden, Mr Brian Lewin for leading the Parish Paths Group.
The group has carried out much valuable on behalf
of the community over the years. New volunteers are always welcome and would
help to reinvigorate the initiative.
The decision by Cheshire County Council to upgrade
the status of public footpath No. 7, the green lane on the boundary of Guilden
Sutton and Mickle Trafford parishes, to a byway open to all traffic on the
basis of historical evidence dating back to earlier centuries was of particular
concern. This proposal was strongly resisted by the Parish Council at a public
inquiry. The Inspector agreed the order in principle, subject to modifications.
At the time of writing, it had yet to be confirmed
Pressure was placed on the County Council and the
local joint committee for highways and transportation to consider a parallel
traffic regulation order to prevent the use of the route other than by walkers,
cyclists and horse riders. (See update in the main newsletter.)
The Council believes that trees play a vital part
in the village environment and would wish to thank Cllr Bayton and Mr Alan
Young, the parish tree wardens, for their efforts.
The Council's newsletter continued to appear and
reached its 113th issue. Members would be pleased to hear comments as to its
value in helping the Council's communications within the Parish. During the year, the noticeboard at Guilden
Sutton Lane, originally provided by a member of the community, was replaced
having suffered damage and wear and tear. The remaining parish noticeboards
opposite the Summerfield Road shops and at the car park on Church Lane continue
to be well used
Due to its proximity to the urban area, the parish
suffers from a great deal of indiscriminate dumping of refuse, particularly in
Belle Vue Lane and Guilden Sutton Lane. This continued to be a serious concern
and the Council was grateful to the City Council for its help in having litter
removed on an all too regular basis.
Tipping in the dingle at the rear of Oaklands
continued to be a concern. Such action is regretted by the Council which
believes that residents should appreciate the good environment the village is
fortunate to enjoy.
The Council would be pleased to receive views on
the Parish's entry in the Cheshire Best Kept Village Competition, now the
Community Pride Competition, having
again decided there was insufficient support to participate in 2005. Marks in
earlier years, although no worse than average, had highlighted that a number of
aspects needed to be improved including the extent of community
involvement.
The Council remained concerned at the degree of dog
fouling within the village, particularly on the footpath leading to the primary
school and the dingle footpath. This is a totally unnecessary problem and the
Council hopes that the small minority of dog owners concerned would feel more
able to play their part in tackling the matter. During the year, following a
request from a resident, an additional bin was provided in Guilden Sutton Lane.
A further bin was located at the dell on Oaklands at the Parish Council’s
request.
So far as the policing of the Parish was concerned,
PC Rob Boulton was replaced by PC Mal Baker with whom the Council looked
forward to a long and successful relationship.
PC Baker attended meetings of the Parish Council to
discuss Policing issues and made high-visibility patrols of the parish
accompanied by Parish Councillors. This
initiative is very much to be welcomed. Generally Guilden Sutton is seen as a
relatively peaceful village although there have in the past been instances of
anti social behaviour in the vicinity of the play area and the Village Hall.
The CCTV equipment there is known to have had a beneficial effect.
The Council continued to embrace information technology.
A significant proportion of the Clerk's contact with Members and with the City
and County Councils and other organisations and individuals has been carried
out through e-mail for a number of years.
Under the leadership of Councillor Fisher, the village web site has been
further developed and offers an ever increasing range of information about the
Council and the community, attracting praise from this country and overseas.
Civic duties have included the laying of the
customary wreath on Remembrance Sunday in memory of the fallen and attendance
at the Lord Mayor of Chester's Civic Service.
An extremely successful four hour community drop in
was organised on Monday 19 September 2005 attended by a wide range of public
sector organisations, councillors and Mrs Christine Russell MP.
During the year, the Council spent a considerable
amount of time considering provision for youth. Illustrative proposals were on
display for comment at the community drop in. The Council was pleased to hear
from young people themselves and also took account of representations made by
residents that any proposals should be preceded by consultation. The issue of
provision for youth was set against the backdrop that the Parish Council
controls no suitable land itself. The Council agreed the use of the amenity
areas at the dell and Fox Cover should be discounted as unsuitable, having
taken appropriate advice from the City Council as landowner. No further
progress is possible at the present time given the lack of suitable sites.
The Council was pleased to hear that successful
efforts had been made by Mr E J Spencer and Mr B Dacre to open a youth group
and would be willing to consider an application for financial support for this
venture.
A suggestion by Mr Spencer and Mr Dacre that the
Parish Council should be formally associated with a proposed twinning
arrangement with a town in sub Saharan Africa was carefully considered over a
period of months. Having discussed the issue with Mr Spencer and Mr Dacre, the
Council concluded the venture should be progressed within the community.
Individual Members of the Council who wished to offer support would do so on a
personal basis.
The Council would wish to thank the City and County
Councils, Guilden Sutton’s City and County Councillors, Brian Bailey, John
Boughton and John Burke and Mrs C M Russell MP for their unfailing help and
support during the year.
The Chairman also wished to pay tribute to the
Council for its hard work during the last 12 months and believed the parish was
fortunate that Members had felt able to come forward with their time to serve
the community.
A
copy of the full report is available from the Clerk.