Minutes Parish Council Meeting 9th September 2021

To note Dispensation granted to Chrissy Mrozicki to discuss (only) the Acres Allotments and not take part in decision making that affected her tenancy.

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The newsletter is to include the current Local Plan planning alert, a spotlight on two councillors , (a phot plus 120 words) and other matters.

The Local Plan, prepared by Newcastle Borough Council is to run from 2020 until 2040. The Issues and Strategic Options consultation includes six options (called Growth Directions)  all involve green belt release or rural extension. Option 2 – full title ‘Strategic green belt release for an urban extension: University Growth Corridor’ (UGC) is a plan to sell off land to a developer on old Municipal Keele Golf Course. That land is green belt, mostly in Silverdale.

The green belt status in several parish councils is threatened. Options 2, 4 and 5 (Audley, Keele, Kidsgrove TC and Silverdale) are specific while Growth Options 1 and 6 are general across the parishes south of the M6 (Loggerheads, Maer & Whitmore and Madeley & Bettley). Option 3 in Talke and Chesterton expansion covers non-parished wards.

There might be a consensus against any green belt release from these parishes, town council and wards. Some have the protection of a Neighbourhood Plan which is not yet available to Silverdale.

Silverdale parish council had previously objected to a mixed housing development on that green belt site to erect 1,200 houses. There has been no change in infrastructure funding or climate change mitigation since the previous UGC JLP with Stoke City Council was discontinued. Many components of future population growth have moderated since 2016 and the housing need calculation reflects lower expected household numbers over the plan period. As one of 20 major cities expected to contribute more new housing to the national target, Stoke has received an uplift in baseline housing number of 35% (from 500 to 675 p.a.) while Newcastle’s baseline number has remained fixed at 350 per annum.

The council’s exceptional case for re-designating options on green belt for housing is based on the assertion of insufficient brownfield land available. There are 57 brownfield sites on the 2021 planning register, mostly small in size and there are none in Silverdale. The brownfield register will be reviewed at the end of December when the number of sites may be reduced as some are on site and likely to be completed. The fire at the Hollywood colliery site was extinguished at great cost and yet the site at Pepper Street in Keele for 100 houses has not still not started as the developer has asked for more time.

The borough council does benefit from additional housebuilding with the Homes Bonus along with the extra Council Tax. The viability of a site determines whether it can be accepted for development and the example of Madeley College proposals where S105 funding was not released due to viability. There is uncertainty over infrastructure and climate mitigation costs for the Golf Course site.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) however assumes mitigation to be 100% effective and therefore not material consideration for planning.

It was RESOLVED to affirm opposition to Option 2 of the Local Plan. HA to write to other Parish Councils to seek agreement to oppose the development on the Green Belt.

It was RESOLVED to set up a Neighborhood Development Plan Steering Group. It was noted that there is budget available for a NDP Consultant.

Sarah Bonam gave apologies for the meeting. The item was deferred to the next meeting. However, it was noted that the film night showing  The Price of Coal  is scheduled to show on YouTube on 16^th September 2021.

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.

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 planned for 16^th September update

e.     Heritage Open Day 23^rd August feedback

f.      Jamland night update

g.     Photography exhibition, canary tea lights holders, lantern bags, lantern parade and mining badges update. Item deferred to the next meeting

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).

Silverdale Parish Council agrees to fund the ongoing hosting and maintenance costs of the Memories of Mine project website after the Heritage Lottery funded project continues.

This decision to be ratified afresh each municipal year at the Annual Parish meeting.

RESOLVED to accept the recurrent costs of the upkeep of the Memories of Mine website.

A list of jobs is to be circulated and a meeting arranged between Matthew Ray of Homeworks, HA, CS and AS to discuss the jobs required.

DP,HA,

CS,AS

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

•       Update from Liaison Committee  

An update had been received that from next week there would be extra drilling of wells to draw out gases which may resolve the odour. HA had spoken with activists as protests outside the quarry continue. There is a High Court case taken by the Mother of a five year old boy and legal action against the Environment Agency in relation to the Human Rights Act. The Operator is expected to appeal against the Council’s Abatement Notice.

There continues to be a police presence outside Walley’s Quarry. HA to prepare a letter of questions to Staffordshire Police regarding this presence and whether it would be possible to police the lorries entering and existing Walley’s Quarry.

HA

It was discussed whether a Christmas tree grown in CS’s allotment could be gifted and repurposed at Parkside. This matter will be investigated.

CS

CM, CS and HA to meet to discuss a letter received from The Acres Allotments Association requesting additional allotment spaces.

A commitment in principle was  RESOLVED subject to: The appointment of a consultant legal adviser to help negotiate the new lease AND the addition in the arrangement for Newcastle Borough Council to keep the land clear of Japanese Knotweed and provide an estimate for making their remaining portion suitable for a further extension of statutory allotments including preserving the original layout and hedges as established at 2013.

HA,CM,

AR, CP

1.     To consider a request from Elim to provide funding towards a family fun day in September 2021 in memory of Pastor Edwin Cotter – Elim do not require a grant.

2.     To consider an application from St Lukes School for books – nothing received yet.

HA

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

A list of benches and costs had been circulated. JW to contact the Ranger of Silverdale to source concrete benches.

Jake Wu confirmed he was moving to Newcastle in the North East to a new job and was therefore resigning from Silverdale Parish Council. He had written an email previously.

 Clerk

It was RESOLVED to ask Steve Hough for a quote to audit the public seating in Silverdale. The Clerk was asked to write to the Borough Council to request that the damaged bench adjacent to Brighton House, Station Road be dismantled

HA,CJ,

CM, AS

21/00836/FUL | Insertion of window at first floor side elevation | 50 Ashbourne Drive Silverdale Newcastle Under Lyme Staffordshire ST5 6RL (newcastle–staffs.gov.uk)

RESOLVEDto register no objection to this planning application provided that the window does not affect the right to light or affect adjoining properties.

Borough Council Plan update – Open Space and Green Infrastructure Strategy: Forthcoming stakeholder engagement workshop 15th July 2021, from 10am-12pm  Save Our Green Space update.

HA

No County or Borough Councillors were present 

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