SILVERDALE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Regular Meeting on Thursday 10 August 2023 at 6.30pm at Silverdale Library
Present:
Chair – Mr H Adamczuk (HA)
Parish Cllrs –Cllr C Spence (CS), Cllr L Leighton (LL), Cllr C Jarrett (CJ), Cllr J Crabtree (JC), Cllr C Mrozicki (CM), Cllr J Avison (JA), Cllr C Bennett (CB) and Borough Cllr J Brown (JB, part)
Parish Clerk – Ms D Powell (DP)
No members of the public were present
| 212/23 | To receive apologies (in writing to the Clerk)
Apologies were received from Rupert Adcock. Matt Melvin had resigned as a councillor. |
| 213/23 | To resolve that the minutes of the Regular meeting held on 13th July 2023 are correct and for the Chair to sign at the meeting
RESOLVED to approve with a minor adjustment. |
| 214/23 | Declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary interest in any item on the agenda No councillor declared any interest in any item on the agenda. |
| 215/23 | To note the written update (to be circulated in advance) from the Borough Councillors JB’s report had been circulated and is attached to the minutes.
JB had met with Graham Nolan of Aspire regarding The Brighton and St Luke’s Close. The Brighton should be completed by early 2024 and the scheme is being agreed for St Luke’s. The demolition permission is pending. Bath Road leasehold tenancy on the shop runs out soon. Aspire are looking into alternative shop facilities. HA advised that the noticeboard outside the shop would be lost in demolition. SPC to investigate purchasing another noticeboard. The Health and Wellbeing Day was attended by 33 adults and 11 children. JB to repay £46.60 of unspent grant to SPC. The left-over prizes are to be used for a future event in Silverdale. JB looking into the banners erected relating to the delivery alcohol and convenience food. There was no objection to a banner for Slimming World. RA’s report had been circulated and is attached to the minutes. |
| 216/23 | To review the Social Media Policy
CB had reviewed the Social Media Policy and it was agreed to proceed with the recommendations. |
| 217/23 | In camera item for discussion
It was RESOLVED not to approve a grant application. |
| 218/23 | Community matters (Standing item)
a. Silverdale Bus Transport: To receive an update on the potential of a bus subsidy to enhance the existing service. This matter is ongoing. b. Dog Litter Bins: Update regarding new and replacement bins and whether to scan Silverdale for dog litter signage. Two new Dog litter bins have been ordered. c. To receive an update on bat and bird boxes. The bat boxes had been delivered. Awaiting delivery of the bird boxes. d. To make plans for the Christmas event 2023. Christmas tree lights were discussed. A quote is required for new Christmas tree lights. Aspire to be asked to set up the Christmas lights on The Parade. HA had written to The Lions about a Santa Grotto sleigh on a trailer wagon. e. To receive an update on streetlights – Silverdale Sidings. No update. |
| 219/23 | To resolve to purchase and install the final two pieces of outdoor exercise equipment at the Ilkley Place play area, completing the upgrade that we started using the energy saving scheme funding.
One quote had been received. Awaiting a response for a second quote. |
| 220/23 | To approve comments for the following Planning Applications
23/00610/PLD | Proposed side extension | 21 May Street Newcastle Under LymeStaffordshire ST5 6LZ (newcastle–staffs.gov.uk) No comment. 23/00595/FUL | Extension to front dormer (Rear dormer to be Permitted Development) | 3 Edale Close Silverdale Newcastle Under Lyme Staffordshire ST5 6RP (newcastle–staffs.gov.uk) No comment |
| 221/23 | Planning sub-committee feedback (Standing Item)
No meeting had taken place. |
| 222/23 | Finance
a. To approve the payments, receipts and transfers – Appendix A RESOLVED to approve b. To note and approve the bank reconciliation – Appendix B The bank statement had not been received. c. To note and approve the budget report 2023/24 – Appendix C RESOLVED to approve d. SCC LGPS RESOLVED to approve backdated contributions to the employment start date. DP to contact The County Treasurer due to lack of activity at SCC. |
| 223/23 | Walley’s Quarry Ltd Landfill a. Walley’s Quarry Liaison Meeting update
Discussed at the last meeting. HA had been unable to attend. A letter from Walley’sQuarry had been received regarding representatives from SPC. CJ to approve HA response. b. Chair report on statutory investigation and information gathered during 2018-19 Ombusman’s Enquiry HA to meet with Adam Jogee, Nominated Labour Candidate for Newcastle under Lyme regarding a formal enquiry into the increase in emissions over 2021-22. The spike in emissions followed the decision in October 2020 by the Environment Agency to give approval to change the maximum tonnage from 250,000 to 400,000. |
| 224/23 | Neighbourhood Development Plan
a. To receive feedback from the Neighbourhood Planning Steering Group. No meeting had taken place. b. To discuss the updates to the Policy Mapping document. Item rolled over. c. To receive feedback from the Draft Local Plan Drop In 5-7pm Session with Planning Officers at Methodist Church Wed 2nd August Two Drop In events had been held. The second drop in at Methodist Church had been less congested and residents seemed more familiar with the potential impacts of the Local Plan on their neighbourhood. Banners and leafletting across Silverdale had created more engagement. d. To discuss the next Public Meeting and Workshops for September covering headings in the Policy Mapping Document. A meeting is being planned for September at a weekday evening. A further NDP grant application is to be made. |
| 225/23 | For information only – Silverdale Gardens – Planning update regarding S106
See JB report. |
| 226/23 | Mining Monument progress (HLF) Project and Miners Wheel
a. Quotes for external lighting for the Miner’s Wheel One quote had been received a further quote is required. |
| 227/23 | Parish jobs referred to the contractor
The foundations had been prepared for the new benches, requiring 10-14 days drying time. One located in Sneyd Terrace and two on The Lower Parade. |
| 228/23 | Local Plan consultation and Keele/Silverdale Growth Corridor a. Borough Council Plan Update
The deadline for submissions is 14 August 2023. b. Save Our Green Space (SOGS) and Keele PC update A SOGS meeting had taken place in Keele and both Silverdale and Keele residents as well as residents outside the parishes had participated. c. Protect Audley Parish Greenbelt (PAPG) Petition and Facebook Group Update No update. A meeting was planned in August. |
| 229/23 | 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) d. To consider appointing a consultant regarding the remediation of waste in the legal agreement to represent the parish council’s interest It was RESOLVED to approve the bill for solicitor’s fees. |
| 230/23 | To consider any grant applications (SPC Grant Programme £2,000)
This was covered earlier in the meeting. |
| 231/23 | GDPR (Standing Item) – INFORMATION ONLY
Subject Access Requests/Information Security/Data Breaches – reminder – noted. |
| 232/23 | To receive an update on the noticeboard project
a. To receive an update on the Higher Horizons initiative for the noticeboard This is ongoing. |
| 233/23 | To receive an update on the purchase of benches for The Parade and the Park. To consider purchasing benches for Silverdale Parish (Bath Road and Parksite)
NBC to be asked for permission for SPC to replace the benches. |
| 234/23 | Silverdale Athletic Club Car Parking changes
No update. |
| 235/23 | 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.
There may be possible match funding of 50% with NBC for the costs of an architect. Rebecca Allen had met HA and is looking into this. |
| 236/23 | To note the Staffs Parish Council Assoc Bulletins and correspondence received – Noted |
| 237/23 | Western Communities LAP and Knutton Master Plan Consultation update – (HA/CJ) |
| 238/23 | Highways matters (Standing item)
There had been flooding in Pepper Street. |
| 239/23 | To implement the maintenance agreement on the Mining Monument and obtaining a quote for the Mining Wheel from Plowden Smith
The Mining Monument is in good condition. The area has been weeded ahead of Britain in Bloom judging. The Scouts had offered to keep it tidy. CS asked if the Scouts could weed the Upper Parade. The Miner’s Wheel is in need of a clean and some re-painting. A quote is to be obtained for cleaning both monuments. |
| 240/23 | Feedback from residents and county councillor on the planning application process for the 16metre Mast in front of Silverdale WMC concluded in 2022
No update. |
| 241/23 | Emergency Plan Risk Assessment (HA)
Councillor contact details were collected by HA. |
| 242/23 | Aspire House garage sale
No update. |
| 243/23 | Any other business for future agendas |
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THE NEXT MONTHLY MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE ON 12 October 2023 at 6.30pm To agree future dates to include, 9 November 2023, 14 December 2023. |
Appendices A to C – See the PDF version of the minutes
Ward Councillor Reports August 2023
Ward Councillor report to Silverdale Parish Council Date of report 6. 8. 2023
Councillor: Jacqueline Brown No of cases: 47 No resolved: 40 ongoing: 7
NULBC Local Plan: The public consultation for the draft Local Plan runs from 19th June until the 14th of August. NULBC aim to identify a rolling, minimum 5 year supply of land which could realistically be developed for housing. On 26.7.23 A petiton 213rganized by residents in Audley was presented to full council, as reported in Stoke Live. As the required number of signatures had been reached the council should have debated it in full. However, the controlling Tory group wanted to send the petition for consideration at scrutiny committee. Labour councillors objected to this and also tried to put an amendment into the report to remove the perceived `rebuttal` contained within the report on the petition. On both these votes the Labour group were defeated. Interestingly the public gallery was full, but protestors were not allowed to bring in any banners bigger than A4 size. This did not stop a large inflatable dinosaur being used outside urging councillors not to let green spaces become extinct.
Silverdale PC, S.O.Gs and the Labour group have all produced statements and/or leaflets explaining their
opposition to the draft LP which have been hand delivered across the borough. The PC also commissioned 2 large notices at either end of the village for public information. The second consultation event took place on 2.8.23 at Silverdale Methodist church. The format was the same as the first event and residents were able to ask the planning officers questions and get their views aired. The comments I heard that evening were very similar to those at the first consultation, however residents seemed more informed on both what was proposed and their views on these proposals. Their opposition again centred around lack of infrastructure, drainage issues, impact on the village in terms of loss of character/identity, loss of green spaces with impact on health & wellbeing, loss of habitat i.e. impact on wild life & nature and concerns that the housing would not meet local identified need.
A meeting of Save our green spaces SOGs to discuss the LP will take place on 9.8.23. Local groups and
residents have made their responses available to help and inform those wanting to make submissions. I checked
with Allan Clarke of Planning Department and letters and emails do not have to use the format on the consultation form. However, he said page references would help them deal with the responses so I am directing residents to the hard copies in Silverdale Library. The Local Plan will be the major issue for us for some time.
Planning & housing: Silverdale Sidings Section 106 money: I will contact Rachel Kileen for the latest update on the court action this week.
Bath Rd development: I have emailed Graham Nolan for an update on this, including any progress on temporary shop provision. Following Nicola McMillan`s advice I have also asked him for an update on The Brightons and the bungalows on St. Luke`s Close. Interestingly I saw workman at The Brightons in the last week or two suggesting some activity was taking place and I will keep the PC updated.
Environment: No progress to report so far on in relation to a change of use to the untidy business premises on Cemetery Rd, despite my emailing for an update from the owner`s agent. I discussed this with planning officers at the consultation event as I am not convinced everything is being done to identify brownfield sites. It seems ironic that this relatively large brown field site is available and not considered within the L.P. The site would cost a lot to clear and would probably need some decontamination. I think the owner of the site is at present happier to `sit tight` than to progress to an alternative use.
On 26.7.23 I reported water running down the bank and along the pathway of the mineral line to Severn Trent water after residents told me/sent me a video of the incident. The report was logged under a 4 hour call out and I was glad to learn the engineers had been out on the morning of the next day, as the location was very difficult to ascertain ie no postcode. An assessment was made and later that day a mains pipe was rediverted. On 28.6.23 I rang for an update and was told that surface water may take a few days to drain away and it was still there on Sat 29.6.23 as a large puddle. The engineer told me the council contractors had been working down there and this fits in with my own and resident`s observations of several Murphy vans being parked there. He could not say if it was these contractors who had caused the leak.
Trees continue to occupy much of my time as a ward councillor. The main difficulty is with trees belonging to NULBC causing issues to residents` property and NULBC having a lack of resources to deal with it. I have been told by Darren Evans NULBC tree officer that non urgent work has reached a 10 year waiting list and they are no longer adding to it.
However, on 4.8.23 a long standing case was resolved when trees on Silverdale AFC, owned by NULBC, which were causing damage and nuisance to a Heritage Park resident, were finally removed. Thanks to Darren Evans at NULBC for this.
Walley`s Quarry I have been asked by the Labour group leader to join the Walley`s Quarry Liaison group in place of Cllr. Steph Talbot but I have yet to be informed if this is acceptable to Red Industries. I will chase this up this week.
Streets & Highways:. Still no progress on the road condition issues I reported to Cllr. Huckfield, detailed in my July report to PC. The defective and dangerous Crescent Street was removed but not replaced. I will be pursuing this.
Waste & Litter I will be finding out from NULBC streetscene if the 3 larger` state of the art` sweepers have been delivered and finding out what is happening with the road sweeping schedule in Silverdale. Last time I asked they were still having issues and are slowly trying to complete the cleansing programme. In the meantime, I hear they have severe staff shortages and have had to employ agency staff. There are also some negotiations over contracts/redundancy clauses and there is the possibility of industrial action.
A Community litter pick has been arranged in the Parade Park area by Aspire for 13.9.23 at 1pm.
Anti-social behaviour: As reported in the July report noisy off road bikes/vehicles using waste ground and even driving on public highways continues to be an issue. Cllr. Rupert Adcock has agreed to inform the MP about the frustrating situation where a `road policing unit` operation could not go ahead in Silverdale due to lack of resources i.e. to pay officers overtime. In the meantime, I made a note of an off road vehicle being revved up and worked on at an address on Heritage Park and I have informed PCSO Neil Moffat. He is keeping a `data base` of addresses which keep these bikes for possible enforcement action. It seems residents are reluctant to report this information to the police.
Silverdale Health & Well being Event took place at Cornerstones Community Centre on 2.8.23. I was very pleased to have 9 local partners present at the event covering a range of health, well being and lifestyle advice and information. In total 33 adults and 11 children attended (excluding partners/exhibitors) The feedback I received was very positive, especially welcome were the individual health checks conducted by Everyone Health. There was also a lot of fun with balloons popping, free books & refreshments. Although the event took place inside, due to risk of thunder/lightning on the day, it was very enjoyable. Thanks to Silverdale PC and Silverdale Co-operative society for funding the event which I hope will become an annual feature.
General Comments
There was no Joint Councillor Surgery in August. The next one will be Sat 2nd September 10am for Cllr. Brown and 11am for Cllr Adcock Thank you to Silverdale Methodist church for their continuing support in allowing us to use the venue.
Love your Parks week: runs from 28 July until 6th Aug 2023. I was disappointed that NULBC have not organised anything this year. Cllr. Adcock and myself are hoping to organise a clear up of the Parade tennis court followed by a mini tennis tournament W/B 21.8.23.
Weekly updates available F.B. page Councillor Jacqueline Brown in Silverdale
Cllr. R Adcock Parish Council report August 2023
Local plan
I had a meeting last week with NULBC head of planning Allan Clarke and Cllr. Derrick Huckfield to discuss the ongoing consultation. We discussed potential impact on trees, green space, highways, sewage and drainage issues, how residents concerns will be listened to and what kind of detail we can expect in the next stage of the plan.
I also attended a local plan event in Audley to hear the views of residents there.
Walleys Quarry
We welcome the additional capping that is planned for the Galingale side of the site. Odour and complaint data has been low this month. In full council I welcomed the in person drop in event held at the fire station and asked if the leader would support another such event in future should be there be demand.
Highways
I have had more pothole reports from residents and have had success in getting potholes fixed on Sneyd Terrace and Underwood Road. There are more I have reported and awaiting repair.
Moped and quad nuisance
I have been in touch with Borough Police commander John Owen asking for an operation in our area to tackle the growing bike problem similar to an operation recently launched in Stoke. He will be considering this and passed this along to one of his senior officers. I have also been in touch with Aaron Bell to get him to also push for this.
We will be inviting PCSOs to attend our next surgery in September to discuss this more.
Planning
I have helped two residents this month to make comments on planning applications and get in touch with planning officers to have their questions answered around permitted development.
Weeds
Helped a resident log a request for weed spraying where some weeds were starting to block drains in Parksite.
Surveys
I have been delivering surveys around Silverdale on behalf of Aaron Bell inviting people to give their thoughts on the top issues facing them.