THOSE PRESENT:- The Chairman, Cllrs. Cope, Foster, Hulme and Williams. Also present were 7 parishioners.
The Minutes of the meeting held on 28th July, 2008 and the extra-ordinary meeting of 19th August, 2008 were approved and signed by the Chairman.
The Chairman invited Mr Bower to address the meeting, to outline the basis of his offer. Mr Bower explained that his proposals were at a very early stage and could be developed as opportunities were identified. Mr Bower emphasised that his intentions were genuinely altruistic.
Mr. Bower however felt that the publicity given to the earlier meeting, which had attracted a high level of public interest, was mistaken and counter productive, so much so in fact, that he made the decision to withdraw his offer.
The Chairman reported that the Parish Council had entered Hankelow in three Competitions, Community Pride, Best Kept Garden and Community Spirit and that Mr. Tom Hassall's beautifully kept garden had met with some very fierce competition as the competition covered the whole of the Crewe and Nantwich area. Although Mr Hassall was not a prize-winner on this occasion, the Parish Council had sent a letter to him, thanking him for agreeing to take part.
The Chairman reported that Hankelow came fourth in the Community Pride Competition. It was suggested that more planters of summer flowers were required on the green which may give Hankelow more judging opportunities in the Community Pride Competition. However, it was also reported that the Chairman had been invited to address the Amenities Group at their AGM in January 2009 to report on Hankelow's success in the Competitions and it was agreed that a decision concerning planters should be made at a later date.
The Chairman reported that Hankelow was Highly Commended in the Community Spirit Competition and had received a Certificate and cheque for £50. The Certificate had been framed at the cost of the Amenities Group and it was to be decided by Hankelow Methodist Church Council whether the Certificate would hang in the Chapel Schoolroom.
The Chairman reported that a Petition from the village had been sent to the Highways' Department Cheshire County Council at Chester. The Petition had been very widely supported in the village.
A letter in reply from the Highways Authority stated that a review of all A and B Class roads in the area was currently underway The Chairman stated that most of the contents of the reply were not relevant in Hankelow's case and that there was a current Government Paper which stated that the speed through villages should be 30 m.p.h. or less. The Chairman reported that he had again written back to the Highways' Authority stating that their decision should not be based on money comparisons and the projected costs of collisions against the cost of supervising speed restrictions. However, the Chairman reported that he was not disappointed with a recent conversation he had with an official from the Highways' Authority and that he would report to the Parish Council again on the subject in the New Year. He reported that the Council should be optimistic and that by 2011 there should be a result.
The Chairman reported that a letter had been received from Audlem Burial Board stating that the precept for 2009 would be £170. Cllr. Foster reported that payment would be due in April, 2009.
The Clerk reported that a new Dog Waste Bin had now been installed in Hall Lane.
The Chairman reported that he had attended a Site Meeting at Hankelow Hall on Thursday 9th October which was also attended by Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council Development Control Committee. The Committee attended the meeting in order to assess the environmental impact such a development would have on the surrounding countryside.
The Parish Council has received no official notification of the plans having been passed but the Chairman understood that official notification should be received by the Parish Council before Christmas 2008.
The Chairman reported that a letter had been received from Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council stating that Hankelow should receive 1000 bulbs for distribution this year and that they should be collected on 4th November, 2008. Ian Jones agreed to collect the Bulbs.
Cllr. Cope suggested that an area for consideration for the planting of bulbs might be the grass verge along the road opposite the entrance to the Golf Club. It was agreed that this year the bulbs would be distributed amongst residents with preparations for alternative sites being made for next year. Cllr. Foster said that if there were 1000 bulbs there would be 9 bulbs per household.
Cllr. Cope stated that he would like a local government representative to attend a Parish Council meeting to explain how Sue Walley and Ann Wright could be paid for the good work that they do, keeping the green tidy. It was agreed that the Clerk should write to Cheshire Association of Local Councils to enquire how Sue and Ann could be rewarded as the Council would like to show their appreciation for the work that they do.
The Clerk reported that the Application form had now been accepted by Grants for All and that the Parish Council should hear whether they had been successful in their application by 14th December, 2008.
The Clerk reported that a Consultation Document had been received from the Conduct and Councils Constitutions Team, Communities and Local Government, Bressenden Place, London.
The Clerk was instructed to circulate the document amongst the Parish Councillors.
The Clerk reported that supplementary Planning Documents had been received from Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council. The Clerk was instructed to circulate the documents amongst the Parish Councillors.
The Clerk reported that a letter had been received from Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council stating that the Scheme, which would allow Town and Parish Councils to apply for capital funding, was subject to approval by the Full Council on 5th November and if approved Hankelow Parish Council would receive an application pack.
The Clerk reported that she had received a letter from Audlem Fire Service (Cadet Unit) concerning the Fire Cadet Ghana School Building Challenge 2009. The letter was signed by two Fire Cadets, Naomi Brown and Matthew Turner. The Clerk was instructed to send a cheque for £25.00 to each of the Fire Cadets concerned. Proposed by Cllr. Cope and seconded by Cllr. Williams.
The Clerk reported that she had received a letter from Crewe, Nantwich and Congleton Dial-a-Ride requesting a donation. The Clerk was instructed to send a cheque for £50. and to request information concerning eligibility, concessions, charges etc. Proposed by Cllr. Williams and seconded by Cllr. Foster and Cllr. Cope. The Clerk was also instructed to provide information concerning the Dial-a-Ride Service for publication on Hankelow Village Web Site.
The Clerk reported that the External Audit had now been completed by the Audit Commission.
The Clerk reported a balance of £4416.71.
| Details | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total | £50.00 |
| Cheshire Community Action - Highly Commended award - Community Spirit competition | £50.00 |
| Details | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total | £474.23 |
| Clerk's fees and expenses | £183.72 |
| Alan Davenport fees for annual accounts | £40.00 |
| Earth anchors - Dog Waste bin | £217.26 |
| Duck food | £25.00 |
| Bank fees for copy statements | £8.25 |
The Clerk reported that she had received a Merger Notification Statement concerning the merger of Cheshire Building Society with Nationwide Building Society.
The Clerk reported that she had received a request for a donation from Hope House Children's Hospice, Morda, Oswestry. It was agreed that as this Charity has been well supported by the Amenities Group in the past and was likely to be supported by them in future that on this occasion a donation from Hankelow Parish Council would not be sent to Hope House Children's Hospice.
At the request of the Council, the Clerk agreed to prepare printed accounts for each Council Meeting.
It was agreed that the amount of the precept for Hankelow Parish Council for 2008 should remain the same for 2009. Proposed by Cllr. Cope and seconded by Cllr. Foster.
The Clerk reported that she had received correspondence requesting Councillors' attendance at meetings of Crewe and Nantwich Parish Planning Network. Cllr. Foster reported that she regularly attends meetings but that she thought Hankelow was too small a village to have a Parish Plan.
The Chairman reported that he had received an Invitation from the Mayor to attend a Remembrance Day Service on Sunday 9th November, 2008 at the Civic Square Crewe. The Chairman had replied to the Mayor to say that unfortunately he could not attend the service as he was preaching at Hankelow Methodist Church on Remembrance Day.
Mrs Daphne Mounteney reported that there were problems with mud on the road from farmers' vehicles in Hall Lane. Cllr. Foster said that a quick response to problems could be had by contacting the Highways Authority via email. Cllr. Hulme said that he would contact the farmers concerned and ask them to clear the road once the carting of crops was over.
There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting with the date of the next meeting fixed for 2nd February, 2009.