Minutes Parish Council Meeting 14th October 2021

It was noted that Cllr Chris Spence had resigned.

Chris Spence had been the previous chairman and was the current vice-chairman. His contribution over recent years was massive. He had been the backbone of the Silverdale Parish Council. He will be deeply missed but we thank him for all the work he has done, look forward to meeting him in future events and wish him well in the future.

The required public notices having been displayed for fourteen days (on Parish Council noticeboards and website and the Borough Council website), the following resolution is proposed: the co-option of a new councillor to fill one of the existing vacancies on Silverdale Parish Council. It was RESOLVED to co-opt Mr Lee Leighton and for the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and the Disclosure of Pecuniary Interests forms to be signed. The Council welcomed Mr Leighton.

It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes which were signed by the Chairman.

1.     To receive an update on the final community engagement activities – budget and programme (£19443.23 left to spend with £19,955.00 committed to be reviewed by SB)

2.     Update on engagement activities planned:

a.     Website creation, poetry, and silk banner update. The website is going ahead. The poem has been finalized. The banner is finished and SB is arranging for a pole. The banner is showing on Facebook. The banner will be exhibited at St Luke’s Church. SB asked for suggested names of people to carry the banner.

b.     Revised costings for the website Memories of Mine to be sent to HA.

c.      Memories of Mine short film update

d.     Zoom film night 16^th September feedback. The film night was well attended and a number of people have requested the link to watch the film.

e.     Heritage Open Day 23^rd August feedback

f.      Jamland filmnight update

g.     Photography exhibition, canary tea lights holders, lantern bags, lantern parade and mining badges update. An additional lantern workshop is arranged for 6^th November at Elim Church. The lantern parade is scheduled for 13^th November 2021. A venue is required for the festival.

3.     To consider a quote for legal costs SCC to progress the Borough Council’s agreement to the asset transfer of the monument.

4.     To note delegated authority used to pay any invoices received in between  meetings in accordance with the approved amounts).

1.     To receive feedback from the meeting with Homeworks, HA, CS and AS.

2.     To finalize the list of jobs.

A list of jobs had been circulated. There were queries over the big painting areas but it was agreed that the rest of the work could be done. The painting of Ilkley Place could wait until the Spring. AS was to meet with Homeworks to discuss the idea of involving young people in improving parts of the village and involvement of the Horizon programme at Keele to be reported in November.  

AS

1.     Walley’s Quarry Landfill updates on Parish Council website and social media.  

2.     Update from Walley’s Quarry Liaison Committee.

HA and CJ attend the liaison committee meeting on 30^th September 2021. This meeting was attended by a Council Officer Nester Barker, Chief Environmental Health Officer despite the recent ban on attendance by officers and members by the Borough Council’s Leader, following disagreements over how to publicize the meetings. Reports were given by the Environmental Health Agency and the Planning Department of the County Council.

Environmental Health stated that the level of odour complaints reported to NuLBC had declined from the high levels in Mar (4,799), Apr (3,316), and May (3,466) to 592 in Sept and the operator agrees there is such a trend. This is not the complete consensus and the Environment Agency has a separate recording system with higher numbers of complaints, including an increase in May.

Considerable additional work is being carried out with over 20 pin wells sunk in a programme of extra new wells plus coverage of the area with Posi-shell (20km squared covering half the site) and gas infrastructure is being brought in to capture and treat emissions.

Demonstrations are still taking place by Stop the Stink. One group is counting the numbers of lorries attending the site, checking numbers against the County Planning Agreement for vehicle movement around the quarry.  The Environment Agency are appealing the High Court decision to the January 2022 deadline over hydrogen sulphide exceedances from Walley’s Quarry relative to international standards.

The Borough Councils abatement notice under Environmental Health legislation is being appealed against by the operator. The council has earmarked over £1m war chest for legal costs.

CJ commented that the smell appears to be worse at the weekend. This had improved over the last few weeks. It was accepted that the levels were higher at the weekend due to no management of gases. The smell was worse in wet and cold weather.

Concerns has been raised about the use of drones over the landfill as this was on the air ambulance flight path. The air ambulance has now been re-routed to avoid flying over the Quarry where there is the use of drones.

3.     Letter from Aaron Bell (MP) regarding Environment Agency appeal.

The letter had confirmed that there is a difference between further measures as a result of the High Court action, such as suspending the permit and stopping new waste coming and what is happening at the landfill, continuity of the permit. Also after the government’s reshuffle, a new minster had been appointed for waste, Jo Churchill MP.

4.     Silverdale PC Ombudsman enquiry against Environment Agency update.

The Parish Council had replied to two pre-investigation questions raised by the  Ombudsman. We are awaiting to hear formally on whether they will investigate the way the increase in tonnage consultation was conducted.

HA

The upper parade Christmas tree would be fitted with lights for Friday 3 Dec 6pm.

A meeting is to be arranged outside of this meeting to discuss the Christmas Tree at the Lower Parade and lights with Aspire Housing.

This matter was deferred to the next meeting.

HA,CM,

AR, CP

2. To consider a grant application from Silverdale Methodist Church. – It was RESOLVED to authorize a grant payment of £326 to Silverdale Methodist Church.

Subject Access Requests/Information Security/Data Breaches  There have been no data breaches.

It was noted that the damaged bench outside Brighton house had been removed.

21/00588/FUL | Proposed single storey side and rear extension | 9 Newcastle Street Silverdale Newcastle Under Lyme Staffordshire ST5 6PQ (newcastle–staffs.gov.uk)

RESOLVED to register an objection to this planning application as there is a privacy issue on the flank and rear wall in that a bedroom has an outlook over accommodation and the study and lounge has an outlook onto 4,6 and 8 Mill Lane. The en-suite shower room off a bedroom is without access to a toilet. The three parking spaces are not shown on the plan. SPC would like assurances that the house will not become a house of multiple occupancy.

Planning Appeal Reference: 20/01103/FUL | Residential development – 3no. 2 bed bungalows | 106 Park Road Silverdale Newcastle Under Lyme Staffordshire ST5 6LP (newcastle–staffs.gov.uk)

Delegated authority given to HA to decide whether to make additional representation in the light of the highways issues.

21/00583/FUL | Retention of garden shed and gazebo | 20 Waters Edge Close Newcastle Under Lyme Staffordshire ST5 6EN (newcastle–staffs.gov.uk)

No objection

21/00947/FUL | Retention of Boundary wall to front and raised platform wall at back of drive | 110 Underwood Road Silverdale Newcastle Under Lyme Staffordshire ST5 6QF (newcastle–staffs.gov.uk)

No objection

1.     Borough Council Plan update – Open Space and Green Infrastructure Strategy – update. Item covered earlier on the agenda.

2.     Public protest on 17 November 2021 at Castle House.

3.     Save Our Green Space update. There is a SOGS meeting arranged with other PCs on 18^th October to try to find a consensus between the PCs.

HA

There had been considerable technical problems with the sound quality during the meeting. This was an important issue with a hybrid meeting.  Members requested an immediate improvement in the quality of sound so the discussions were clear and the minutes were accurate. HA apologized for faulty IT and agreed to use better hardware and to test it before the next meeting.

The Clerk had offered to resign following the meeting.