Minutes of Annual Parish Meeting and Parish Council Meeting 13th April 2017

2017 Minutes Uploaded on July 12, 2025

SILVERDALE PARISH COUNCIL

ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

MINUTES OF MEETING held on

13^th April 2017 @ Silverdale Library High Street Silverdale @ 6.30pm

Present: There were no members of public present

Councillors:

Chair – Henryk Adamczuk (HA), BCllr Chris Spence (CS), BCllr Gareth Snell MP (GS), Matt Melvin (MM), BCllr Mrs Amelia Rout (AR), Casey Scarlett (CAS), Jan Siery (JS)

Clerk – Mrs C Withington

There were no members of public present.

Apologies –

Apologies were received from Mrs S Durber (SD) and Mrs S Snell

Minutes of the Annual Parish meeting held 14^th April 2016 – These were noted as previously agreed. A number of items were discussed, in particular the community speedwatch. It was suggested that this be relaunched to encourage more volunteers as there were none currently due to other commitments. It was agreed to include this on the next PC agenda in May 2017.

Annual report – Chair

The Chair read out a comprehensive report, as attached, regarding the events that occurred during the last year. Overall it had been a busy year with several important activities and projects underway. The Chair was thanked for his report.

The meeting closed at 6.50pm.

Chair’s Annual Report 2017

Silverdale Parish Council

Councillor Eileen Braithwaite

The year began with the shock that Eileen Braithwaite had passed away after a very short illness. She had been the longest serving parish councillor and a notable force in the local community for many years. The parish council offered their condolences and presented her family with flowers and a plaque was dedicated to her memory in the Parade.

Changes in Membership

Dr Terry O’Neill and Mrs Amanda Hughes were both unable to continue and three new members were co-opted during the year. We would like to thank those Councillors for the hard work, dedication and enthusiasm for the work done by the Parish Council.

Our new members were Jan Siery, Casey Scarlett and Matt Melvin who have together widened the representation of the council and have already made their mark putting forward initiatives and representing their neighbours to improve the parish.

I congratulated Gareth Snell for his bi-election result believing him to be the first resident of Silverdale to be sworn into Parliament at Westminster.

Silverdale Parish Budget

SCC ended the Lengthsman scheme and NULBC withdrew their financial support phasing the reduction over four years. The Parish Council has increased the Parish portion of the local Council Tax this year by about £7 for a band D property in order to protect its income stream and so ensure that services are maintained, including reducing the risk of localised flooding in Silverdale.

It is a considerable relief to know that our future funding is secure in view of the need to help complete the local large projects and provide the range of local services to our community.

Parish Council Community Grants

To support the work that is done by Silverdale by local community groups, the Parish Council has a £2000 fund to make small grants. In the last year, some of the small grants have been given to:

St Luke’s School PTFA – 3 picnic benches £749.00

Park Road Allotments – traffic mirror £165.50

Total Larger Awards/Grants £914.50

Facebook Pages & Village Magazine

In addition to our website, the Parish Council has now a Facebook page to enable residents to say in touch with all the work we are doing. As not all residents have access to the internet, so we have continued with the village newsletter.

In addition Sophia Snell and Jan Siery published Silverdale Parish’s social media policy Newsletter

The newsletter currently is funded by advertisement and is a colour magazine but limited to outlets such as the post office library and stores such as Gardner’s Garden Centre with a limited reach.

Parish councillors were able to leaflet the whole of Silverdale to explain the budget predicament and ask residents to support their decision to meet the costs of providing parish services from the precept. We felt that it would be possible using councillors’ local knowledge to distribute the newsletter free to every householder.

LARGE PROJECTS

Relocation of Silverdale Miner’s Wheel

Project planning is continuing to re-erect the 3.3 metre steel pit wheel, previously marking the entrance to Silverdale Colliery.

In June planning permission was achieved for the design by our architects and a grant decision is now awaited from Tesco to finance the project, so the wheel will stand proud adjacent to Silverdale Athletic club near Scott Hay Road to mark our industrial heritage.

Miner’s Tribute Monument

At the other entrance to Silverdale is the miner’s tribute at Stonewall, designed by local sculptors, Michael Talbert and Steven Whyte and built with a large number of local contributions and large organisations; Foundation for Sport and the Arts, British Coal PLC, National Power Australian Ministry, BP, Barclays Bank and others.

After standing nearly 20 years, there are maintenance issues that need to be addressed to ensure it will continue to capture our spirit.

The Parish Council is continuing to work with the Borough Council on a project which will see a full restoration of the Miners’ Monument at the entrance to the village. The scheme also incorporates plans to enhance and develop their local heritage. There is a separate report for a Silverdale Festival in

2018 to bring music and drama to the village

We have lopped branches of trees to ensure the sculpture is easily visible and worked with NULC to keep the area tidy. It was recognised as a Locally Important Building by NULC and added to the list in October 2017.

Heritage Park Play Areas

David Wilson Homes (the original developers) submitted a planning application to NULC to regularise the level of play space at the time of completing the development in 2014.

Silverdale Parish Council opposed the plans which would reduce the amount of play space below the original application in 2007 and the issue is ongoing with the Planning Department.

Ilkley Place Play Area

NULC Play Area extension scheme has been approved and work is expected to start April 2017.

SERVICES

Acre and Park Road Allotments

Our allotment associations have continued to extend coverage and won many horticultural awards. The parish have supported Acre Allotments to reduce anti-social behaviour, meeting on site to discuss security and liaising with Police and Crime Commissioner staff.

Silverdale Library

Staffordshire County Council took a decision to cease funding the library services including Silverdale and the Parish Council were concerned about the impact that this will have on the village as well as the capacity that the village has to provide sufficient volunteers.

However from January 2017 Business Enterprise Services were given a five year lease and are providing the same level of service as provided previously.

Joseph Cook‘s Blue Plaque

A terraced house in Newcastle Street was adorned with a bright blue plaque marking the place where a miner began his life. Cook emerged later on the other side of the world as a statesman. NULC, Newcastle Civic Society and SPC worked together bringing local author Graham Bebbington who wrote Pit Boy to Prime Minister the biography of Joseph Cook and all those interested in his story of highest ministerial achievement against the odds.

CAMPAIGNS

One of the many roles we carry out are to make representations to agencies when services are threatened or where dangerous situations arise for residents.

Brighton House, Sneyd Terrace

This care home specialised in re-ablement, once had 19 residents, with around 50 full and part-time members of staff as an essential part of the fabric of specialist nursing and social care provided for people in Silverdale, particularly following illness. Councillors mounted a vigorous local campaign and initiated an on line petition opposing the closure of Brighton House and other changes in Health Services which together were seen as detrimental to local people and brought about because of lack of adequate funding.

We were advised that the decision was not overturned and the home is closed and we note with great sympathy to the family one resident rehoused under the closure had died.

Near misses Mini Roundabout Pepper Street Scott Hay Road

There’s a legitimate concern that traffic measures undertaken at Heritage Park housing development need strengthening. The mini roundabout is the only entrance and exit to the estate of 300 houses. We allocated time to re-view video evidence collected by one of the residents living in Sutton Avenue. Suggested improvements included re-designing the mini roundabout to reduce the potential for accidents.

St Luke’s Pepper Street School Patrol

The Parish was concerned at traffic speeds outside St Luke’s school. After an on-line petition, several requests were made to the SCC Highways Department to introduce traffic calming measures Finally we heard that 2 crossing patrol staff would be advertised to ensure greater safety of school children and their parents and carers.

Underground Fire Hollywood Lane Keele Parish

There has been concern for residents in Parksite about the potential danger of the underground fire for many years and evidence that children are accessing the area through gaps in fencing and poor signage.

In November Keele Homes had bought the site located within the neighbouring Keele Parish and containing industrial spoil and so inherited the site of the underground fire which has been burning for at least ten years.

NULC have promised to ensure the new owners properly fence the potentially dangerous area to keep the area clear and we publicise the matter and worked with Keele Parish.

Walley’s Quarry

In December The Environment Agency with SCC gave Red Industries a 10 year licence to dispose of non-hazardous waste and stable hazardous waste so we highlighted on our Facebook the reporting of offensive smells and other environmental problems.

SPC and residents from Thistleberry Ward (which includes the Walley’s landfill land) are represented on a panel that meets regularly and reviews the licence conditions.

Adam

Henryk Adamczuk (Chair)

SILVERDALE PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING held on

Thursday 13^th April 2017 at Silverdale Library, High Street, Silverdale at 7.00pm

Present:

Councillors: Mr. Henryk Adamczuk-Chair (HA), Mr Matthew Melvin (MM), BCllr Mrs. Amelia Rout, (AR), BCllr Gareth Snell MP (GS), BCllr Chris Spence CS (CAS), Mrs Casey Scarlett (CAS), Mr Jan Siery (JS) Clerk – Mrs C Withington

Public Open Forum

As there were no members of the public present the meeting was closed.

The meeting was bought to order at 7.00pm.

Minute Ref	Item Action
63/17	To receive apologies – Mrs Sue Durber (SD), Mr Peter Rout (PR attended later in the meeting), Mrs Sophia Snell (SS)
64/17	To resolve that the minutes of the SPC meeting held on 9^th March 2017 are correct and for the Chair to sign (copy attached) RESOLVED to amend the minutes to remove Cllr Mrs A Rout from the attendance. Subject to the amendment it was RESOLVED to sign the minutes as a true and accurate record.
65/17	Walleys Quarry – reporting of incidents – Mr H Adamczuk HA noted that there had been several reports via the Facebook page. The next liaison meeting is 8^th June, and HA will be cross referencing the reports received with their statistics. It is important to keep in contact with the Councillors in the Thistleberry CAS Ward regarding the increase in incidents. CAS to try to find the relevant paperwork. HA HA to contact Cllr Huckfield or Cllr Tagg regarding the historic agreement in place with Tarmac. It was agreed to repost the post on Facebook at regular intervals.
66/17	To approve comments for the following Planning Applications *(please click on the* *link* *to view):* For Info only – 16/00316/NMA Garage Rear Of 55 High Street The Rookery Silverdale Newcastle Under Lyme ST5 6NA Staffordshire – Application for a non material amendment relating to elevational changes to planning permission 16/00316/FUL – Proposed replacement of the existing private garage with a two bedroom detached bungalow – The application was noted.
67/17	To receive an update from the Borough Councillors and County Councillor GS noted that there was an ongoing issue with Aspire selling off plots of land or properties on the open market which will be monitored. A planning application had just been received for Vale Street, which due to the layout will cause problems for existing residents who park on the road. This will be discussed at the next meeting. GS reported issues with dog fouling and broken glass on the Mineral Line. Streetscene are attending to the issues, but residents etc are asked to inform them of all issues, so that they can deal them in one visit. GS is chasing up the gating of Duke Place with Aspire. There may be an issue affecting the future funding for Silverdale Academy and St Luke’s Primary school – which will be monitored. GS will ask Ibstocks to revisit their funding criteria if Silverdale Ward is joined with Knutton to allow other organisations in Silverdale to be eligible for their funding.

	CS reported incidents of loose dogs attacking other dogs on leads at Silverdale Country Park. These issues need to be reported to the Police (101 for non- emergencies and 999 for emergencies) and the local police are aware of this. The Dog Warden will also remind people of their requirement to keep dogs under control.
	GS stated that the removed wall at May Street was a civil matter not planning enforcement, although the Police may be able to take action if there is blocking of other residents’ vehicles etc. HA stated that the Police are aware. CS reported numerous incidents of fly tipping that had occurred. A letter is to be sent to the County Council to ask that in light of recent Government guidance the charges are removed, which may assist with the increases in fly tipping.				Clerk
68/17	To note latest position with regards to recruitment for the Pepper Street patrol crossings vacancies and concerns regarding mini-roundabout It was noted that 2 applicants were in the process of being interviewed, so it was looking like appointments would be made.
69/17	To consider any further information regarding the underground fire site at Pepper Street – Mr H Adamczuk Keele Homes now own the site and it was understood that they are due to fence it off with like for like fencing (barbed wire) and new signs. It was suggested that once the signs have been erected, consideration be given to joint funding of further signs by both the Parish Council and Keele Parish Council. It was noted that the Fire Brigade had spoken to the local schools at the end of last year – although the information was very generic.
70/17	To consider any grant applications (SPC Grant Programme £2000) No grant applications had been received.
71/17	To receive any reports from the Grants Sub-committee – Mr H Adamczuk The sub committee would be meet potentially on 26^th April. GS to confirm arrangements with SS.				GS
72/17	Miner’s Monument and the HLF bid –Brief for community engagement – Mr H Adamczuk – see report circulated A proposal for a community engagement festival for next year had been circulated which was approved by the Parish Council, as a starting point. It was also approved that the Clerk contact Leading Lights to ask them to work up a brief, costed quote, project plan plus other specific information required for the community engagement aspect of the HLF bid. An amount of £500 was approved for this appointment.				Clerk
73/17	Community Engagement (Silverdale Festival) 2018 – Mr H Adamczuk This was discussed under the above item.
74/17	To receive an update (if any further information) on the Miners Wheel relocation project (Tesco outcome expected end of April) – note that the RED landfill scheme is now open The decision was expected to be received shortly. Clerk to send the costed estimates for the installation to MM. Clerk to ask for the estimated value of the wheel from the Architect appointed and to include it on the Asset Register and insurance.				Clerk Clerk
75/17	To note the outcome in relation to the request for a covenant on Brighton House It was noted that the request had been refused by the County Council, due to impact on the value of the site. There was some concern it may be up for sale. It was agreed to write back in response to say that “we reconfirm that the Parish Council will oppose
	any planning application, due to the building’s sensitive location – being next to the main listed building in the Parish and next to a retirement village.
76/17	Silverdale Colliery Photographs – Cllr Rout AR reported that there were a spare set of photographs (50) which were held at the museum. It was agreed that we would take ownership of them, frame them and potentially distribute them to various organisations. AR will collect them. It was agreed to include them on the Asset Register.				AR CS AR Clerk
77/17	To note correspondence received:- See Appendix A To note the Staffordshire County Council Notice of Election (Thursday 4 May 2017) – this was noted. To note the Section 53 Order – All out elections (Parishes) – next elections May 2018 – this was noted. An invitation to attend the Mayor Elect on 17^th May at 8.15pm was received.
78/17	To note the Staffs Parish Council Assoc Bulletins received: – See Appendix B – this was noted.
79/17	To consider adopting the LGPS Employer Discretionary Policies and the Internal dispute Resolution Procedure (IDRP), also to nominate an adjudicator from the Parish Council – see Appendix C RESOLVED to appoint the Chair as the Adjudicator. Clerk to obtain some samples of other LGPS Employer Discretionary Policies and to circulate.				Clerk Next agenda
80/17	To approve the Payments schedule, to approve end of year bank reconciliation statement, Draft Statement of Accounts (unaudited) and Asset Register – Appendix D: The payments schedule was approved as attached at Schedule 1. The end of year bank reconciliation statement was noted and approved by the Chair. The statement of accounts was noted and the Asset Register.
		CHQ NO		Gross
		Bacs 42 (16/17)	C Withington Office furniture share £106 (missed off Nov Minutes)
		bacs 43 (16/17)	St Lukes PTFA Grant (£749) missed off payment sched
		Bacs 001	C Withington Clerk -April salary and expenses	487.41
		bacs 002	HMRC Tax and NI April	108.60
		bacs 003	Staffordshire Pensions April	158.37
		bacs 004	SPCA Annual Subs NALC	582.00
		bacs 005	Quick Cleaning (bus shelters and signs Lenghthsman	350.00
		bacs 006	Steve Hough Park Lane Weed spraying Lengthsman	130.00
		bacs 007	Steve Hough – overturned Grit bin Hertiage Park	30.00
			Total	1846.38

Next agenda:

It was agreed to include the Park Road Allotment lease on the next agenda, and the Community Governance Review for Ilkley Place and the creation of a new Parish Councillor for Parksite. AR/PR passed on their apologies.

Meeting was closed at 8:25pm.

THE NEXT SPC MONTHLY MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE ON

Thursday 11^th May 2017 at Silverdale Library

6.30pm Statutory Annual Meeting