Minutes Parish Council Meeting 7th March 2024

SILVERDALE PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Regular Meeting on Thursday 7 March 2024 at 6.30pm at Silverdale Library

Present: Cllr H Adamczuk (HA), Cllr C Mrozicki (CM), Cllr J Avison (JA), Cllr J Crabtree (JC) Cllr C Bennett (CB), Cllr R Adcock (RA, part)

Parish Clerk – Ms D Powell (DP)

Two members of the public were present

59/24	Public Participation: Two members of the public attended to observe the meeting.
60/24	To receive apologies. Apologies were received from Cllr J Brown.
61/24	To resolve that the minutes of the Regular meeting held on 8^th February 2024 are correct and for the Chair to sign at the meeting. RESOLVED to approve.
62/24	Declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary interest in any item on the agenda. CB declared an interest in agenda item 75/24.
63/24	To note the written update from the Borough Councillors Borough Councillor reports had been circulated. RA added the following: Regarding Walleys Quarry (WQ), a Committee of Inquiry would be set up as a sub-committee of the Health, Wellbeing and Environment Committee to hear evidence from Walley’s Quarry Ltd, the Environment Agency, the borough council and other agencies as well as residents.. Flooding on the Mineral Line is possibly due to the disturbance of an underground spring by contractors. NBC and SCC are aware and the matter is being investigated by a NBC engineer. Tranches had been dug out to take the water away from the Mineral Line pathway. There is the intention to sink crates to absorb the water. There is an issue over the ownership of the land and therefore the responsibility is unclear. The flooding is getting close to properties at Station Road. CM raised that matter of bins being left out on the pavements on Church Street and an issue with rats. This had been reported and it was requested that RA follow this matter up and speak to the Cabinet Chair. RA left the meeting at 7.05pm.
64/24	Community matters (Standing item) a. To receive an update on the Spring newsletter. CB had emailed a draft newsletter. CB was thanked for her good work in assembling the document. It was RESOLVED to arrange for the printing of 2700 copies of the newsletter. b. To discuss newsletter distribution. JC had arranged for the distribution of the newsletter. c. To receive an update on the afternoon tea events. JC had booked the communal room at the Dell. Afternoon tea events are being planned for 16/17 July 2024 from 1.30 to 4.30pm. There will be a small charge and a maximum of twenty people and delivery to anyone housebound. JC to calculate the cost for 50 afternoon teas. d. To receive an update on afternoon activity events for children. CB and CM to organize a children’s event in Silverdale Park in August 2024. JC to speak to the magician. e. To discuss communications with schools regarding grant applications. JC and CB have spoken to the schools regarding grant applications. f. To discuss social media and communications. CB to draft posts once the newsletter is printed. g. To receive an update on defibrillators. JC to ask the Headteacher about the costs of moving the defibrillator at the school to outside the school railings. The deadline for funding for defibrillators had passed.
65/24	To receive an update on the purchase and installation of the final two pieces of outdoor exercise equipment at the Ilkley Place play area, completing the upgrade which was started using the energy saving scheme funding. JA to write to residents at Ilkley Place regarding the installation of outdoor adult exercise equipment.
66/24	Planning sub-committee feedback (Standing Item) and to approve comments for the following Planning Applications 24/00068/FUL \| Retention of existing public house and erection of four four–bedroom dwellings(Use Class C3) forming access off Ashbourne Drive, with associated parking, hard and softlandscaping \| The Bush Inn High Street Silverdale Newcastle Under Lyme Staffordshire ST56JZ (newcastle–staffs.gov.uk) RESOLVED to object.
67/24	Finance a. To approve the payments, receipts and transfers – Appendix A. RESOLVED to approve. b. To note and approve the bank reconciliation – Appendix B. Awaiting bank statement. c. To note and approve the budget report 2023/24 – Appendix C. RESOLVED to approve. d. To review the earmarked reserves. Reserves were discussed. e. To approve the increment increase in staff pay from 1 April 2024. RESOLVED to approve.
68/24	Walley’s Quarry Ltd Landfill a. Walley’s Quarry Liaison Meeting. b. Borough Council Action and Public Enquiry over role of Environment Agency. This matter was covered in item 63/24.
69/24	Neighbourhood Development Plan a. To receive feedback from the Neighbourhood Planning Steering Group. HA to set up a meeting of the Steering Group and circulate a position statement including updates on the Housing Needs Assessment so that outstanding issues could be addressed then contact businesses in Silverdale.
70/24	For information only – Silverdale Gardens – Planning update regarding S106 This matter was covered in item 63/24.
71/24	Mining Monument progress (HLF) Project and Miners Wheel a. Quotes for external lighting for the Miner’s Wheel. JC to obtain a quote.
72/24	Parish jobs referred to the contractor Nothing further. JC to contact RA about the bin in the park.
73/24	Local Plan consultation and Keele/Silverdale Growth Corridor a. Borough Council Plan Update. No update.
74/24	Acres Allotments (no additional legal/site remediation/Knotweed costs) a. To receive an update on the tenancy at will agreement. b. To receive an update on the appointment of Knights solicitors and negotiations over the tenancy with Acre Allotments involving the borough council and the condition of the land at the first extension of the 2015 lease c. To agree in principle that if the Borough Council clears the waste material on the council’s land beyond lane 4 then Silverdale Parish Council would negotiate a new lease for the whole site (previously known as Acres Allotments Nos 1-80) HA had spoken to the solicitor. A revised cost estimate had been received for between £500 and £700. HA to speak with the chair of Acres Allotments to explain the changes then the solicitor will send the revised Tenancy Agreement.
75/24	To consider any grant applications (SPC Grant Programme £2,000) a. To consider a grant application received from Silverdale Primary Academy b. To consider a grant application from St Luke’s PTFA RESOLVED to approve the two grant applications.
76/24	GDPR (Standing Item) – INFORMATION ONLY Subject Access Requests/Information Security/Data Breaches. None.
77/24	To receive an update on the noticeboard project a. To receive an update on the Higher Horizons initiative for the noticeboard DP to ask the contractor about a noticeboard.
78/24	To receive an update on the purchase of benches for The Parade and Silverdale Park. To consider purchasing benches for Silverdale Parish (Bath Road and Parksite) RESOLVED to order 6 benches from Broxap.
79/24	Flooding reports on the Mineral Line at Sutton Avenue/High Steet Silverdale This matter was covered in item 63/24.
80/24	To receive an update on contact with NBC regarding use of the former Bowling Club Pavilion, including sharing the cost of the survey of the state of repair with the borough council. The Property Maintenance Manager at Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council had met with chair and vice chair and looked inside the premises. Her advice was to consider how to use the premises before engaging an architect or surveyor. At best there were several different uses and until there was an identified end user, it was difficult to progress any scheme. HA and CM to write to NBC stating this issue of no end user identified in the future development of the Pavilion. To ask NBC about their plans and timetable for the Pavilion.
81/24	To note the Staffs Parish Council Assoc Bulletins and correspondence received. Noted.
82/24	Western Communities LAP. A meeting is taking place next month.
83/24	Highways matters (Standing item) a. S106 street lighting outstanding work at Silverdale Gardens, Station Road. No update.
84/24	To implement the maintenance agreement on the Mining Monument and obtain a quote for the Mining Wheel from Plowden Smith. No update. JA to request a quote.
85/24	Bonfiglios Garage site Cemetery Road update. CM to write to Councillor Huckfield and SCC.
	THE NEXT MONTHLY MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE ON 11^th April 2024 at 6.30pm To agree future dates to include, 9^th May 2024, 13^th June 2024, 11^th July 2024, 8^th August 2024

Cllr Rupert Adcock Ward report March 2024

Walleys Quarry

On 19^th February myself and local campaigners from Stop The Stink FFOT met with Robbie Moore MP, the Minister for Waste. He was very understanding of residents concerns and our complaints about the regulation by the EA. I met with Aaron Bell to discuss his petition to close Walleys and his meeting with the new head of the Environment Agency (at which over 7000 signature were presented).

The odour continues to be very bad and data continues to show up to 1000 complaints a week and over 20% of time over WHO annoyance at both MMFs. The suspension notice is a very welcome step by the EA who seem to be finally taking a firmer action. Aaron, the Council and I welcome it but think it isn’t enough and are continuing to call for a full closure.

Walleys Quarry Liaison Committee due on Tuesday 5^th March was cancelled at the last minute with claims they were ‘busy focusing on completing works demanded by the suspension notice’. The three Conservative councillors on the committee agree that this is not a good enough explanation and have all written complaints about this to Walleys in reply. I had intended to ask the EA about MMF2 and its absence for the last 2 months. I have instead written to Nesta Barker at the council to get her to ask the EA for an update on when it will be restored. I also spoke to Simon Tagg and Aaron Bell about the continued lack of corrected historical gas data from the EA and we will be demanding an explanation for it’s delayed release as it was promised in January.

At Health, Wellbeing and Environment Committee this month we voted to set up a Committee of Inquiry into Walleys Quarry to be comprised of local councillors and potentially some co-opted members of the public with expertise on the issue. This will hear evidence from Walleys Quarry Ltd, the EA, health agencies and others and create a report to be sent to council and to government ministers.

Silverdale Greenway access

I went on a walk with fellow Cllrs and partners from the charity Sustrans along the greenway looking at improving the access points for those with disabilities and those with buggies and mobility scooters. We identified some gates that could be widened or replaced to improve access but we also mentioned our concern about anti social behaviour and bikes on the path. They said they were working with Staffs Police on this for more patrols, in any case there will be a careful balance to be struck.

Silverdale Greenway fly tipping

On the walk I noticed a couple of instances of fly tipping and photographed and reported these. By chance, a resident called the next day to report the same issue. The council officer reported that this was cleared a few days later.

Mineral Line flooding

On the walk we noticed the flooding under the bridge of the mineral line. It was then reported to me by a resident that they suspected this was fresh water not rainwater. I reported this to Severn Trent who sent an engineer to investigate but found no evidence of leaks. Henryk and Jacqueline have done more work around investigating solutions for the rainwater pooling on the line.

Littering

Walking down Silverdale Road last weekend I spotted a large amount of litter in the pavements and hedgerows, and I have reported this to the council. I also will be asking council officers if there is a possibility that this is coming off lorries destined for Walleys and remind them of their commitments to help with cleaning of this road.

Proposed development behind The Bush

I was emailed by the developers of this site to arrange a meeting. Henryk, Jacqueline and I all met with them and they presented their plans. We raised our concerns about heritage, potential disruption to the pub, trees and other issues. They were responsive to the issues we raised and were invited to present their plans to the Parish Council at the next meeting.

Ward Councillor report to Silverdale Parish Council Date of report 3 .3. 2024

Councillor: Jacqueline Brown No of cases: 60 No resolved: 54 ongoing: 6

Walley`s Quarry. An emergency meeting of the borough council was held on 14.2.24. The Labour group had put forward a motion to suspend the licence at WQL and seek a judicial review following a surge in complaints in the period from Nov 2023. The ruling Tory group put in amendments to this motion which included ending the licence but stopped short of a judicial review. The motion with these amendments was passed. The public gallery was full and there was real strength of feeling about this long running issue and an understandable demand for action. At the H.W.B & Environment scrutiny committee meeting I asked questions following arising from a letter sent to the council from Robbie Moore MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, who was appointed to this post on 13.11.23. In this letter Mr. Moore assured us that the EA will consider all appropriate regulatory actions and powers to resolve the situation at WQL. My question was

`Do officers, and the administration, consider these existing actions and powers go far enough and is the true problem at this site, and elsewhere due to deregulation`

Officer Nesta Barker said she was probably not qualified to answer the question in terms of deregulation, but she did say that was the way things had gone in recent years with an assumption that businesses `will in effect regulate themselves`. However, there was a dramatic development on 1.3.24 when we heard that the EA had suspended the license at WQL. This was reported on the BBC Midlands news with the operator issuing a statement that the suspension was `unnecessary`. All meetings are available to watch via the NULBC website on You Tube.

NULBC Emerging Local Plan A report detailing the consultation responses and possible ways forward for the plan are in the public domain. I have made sure copies are available in the library. The former Keele Golf Course land, the Glenwood Close site, Cheddar Drive and former playground at Ash Grove are all under consideration. Please contact me with feedback. The Labour group met 19^th February to make a list of questions considering the views of residents. We had invited a senior planning officer to brief us and answer any questions but none was available due to staff illness. We have agreed to form a sub group to meet with a senior officer and ask him/her to talk us through the site specific decisions plus answer questions we or residents may have. Full council will be asked to support the final draft after further public consultation. The final plan will be submitted for Planning Inspectors evaluation before the end of 2024.

Environment

Some progress has been made this week with the flooded walkway on the mineral line, first reported to me last summer. A resident has alerted me to the fact that work men have been down there this week and have diverted the stream of water away from the path to the right hand side by the railings along the old railway line. I went down and took photos and shared them with the PC. This has caused an improvement to the residual water on the walk way. The Chair of the PC knew that NULBC had done the work and it was down to engineer Barry!

Planning & housing: Silverdale Sidings Section 106 money I finally had a response form

Anthony Harold Head of Legal at NULBC. He said that although he had been in post since last November, he still had not had a briefing on this matter. He said as soon as he was up to date with the issue he would get back to me.

Planning Application 24/00068/FUL A meeting took place on 29.3.24 concerning this proposed development of 4 new 4 bed houses at the rear of The Bush pub High street, with access forom Ashbourne Drive. See separate paper on this.

On 19.2.24 I had a telephone meeting with Nicola McMillan, Silverdale housing officer. I was chasing up the case of overcrowding on Malvern Ave and I had requested she go through the bidding process with me and explain why my resident was lower down the priorities than I had expected. She explained several difficulties.

The number of people who are homeless and need immediate housing has risen. Factors for this include the rise in no fault evictions and people who have moved in with family due to

Covid/health/financial reasons and then apply for social housing. This was all made worse by the Liz Truss `crashing of economy` causing rising interest rates for both buy to let landlords and owner occupiers.

The fact that existing Aspire tenants are prioritised above non Aspire tenants. Therefore, someone who is homeless, escaping domestic violence or plagued by Anti social neighbours will be ahead of someone overcrowded if they are existing Aspire tenants.

The only advice she could give my resident was to keep bidding and look into Newcastle Housing Advice as it includes properties from other social landlords. Unfortunately, when I looked on there this week there were no properties available. I went to see the family and explained the situation. It seems the only option for now is a short term private rented tenancy in the hope that things improve/

Anti-social behaviour

Residents have reported the lights are out at the Parade Park. We have established the lights are the responsibility of NULBC. I have submitted an online report requesting the lights are restored to working order. I checked these on 13.2.24 and they are still not switched so I need to chase this up.

Some ASB was reported to me by a resident of Victoria Close. She feels the court is not very secure. Last May I reported security issues there to Aspire i.e. gate locks, lighting but although people came out to do quotes nothing has yet been done. This resident had advice form PCSO Neil Moffat about parking her car in the more lit areas of the car park. I have contacted him and Nicola today to see if anymore can be done to help residents feel safer.