SILVERDALE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Regular Meeting on Thursday 2 October 2025
at 6.30pm at Silverdale Library
Present: Cllr H Adamczuk (HA), Cllr C Mrozicki (CM), Cllr J Crabtree (JC) Cllr J Brown (JB), Cllr I Gould (IG), Cllr R Stewart (RS) and Cllr R Jones (RJ).
In attendance: One member of the public was present.
| 210/25 | Public Participation
A member of the public attended the Meeting to apply for the co-option to one of the Councillor vacancies. |
| 211/25 | To receive apologies
Apologies were received from Ms D Powell (DP), Borough Cllr R Adcock (RA), County Cllr M Nixon (MN), Cllr A Osobu (AO) and Cllr S Toon (ST). |
| 212/25 | To resolve that the minutes of the Regular meeting held on 4 September 2025 are correct and for the Chair to sign at the meeting
RESOLVED to approve. |
| 213/25 | To note the NALC Members’ Code of Conduct and the training arranged with Staffordshire Parish Councils Association
The date of NALC Members’ Code of Conduct Training with Staffordshire Parish Councils Association had been set for when the majority of Councillors were available on Thursday 9 October at 6.30pm at Silverdale Library for 2 hrs. |
| 214/25 | To consider the co-option to one of the Parish Councillor vacancies
Cllr Rob Stewart was co-opted unanimously to the position of Parish Councillor for Silverdale. The Declaration of Acceptance of Office is to be signed and the Declaration of Pecuniary Interest form is to be completed. |
| 215/25 | To note the written updates from the County and Borough Councillors
Borough Councillor reports had been circulated and are attached to the minutes. HA added the funding left by Red Industries does not fund restitution of the Walley’s Quarry site. In addition, JB invited Councillors to email with their thoughts going forward for plans for the former Conservative Club proposals regarding the change of use to an HMO. |
| 216/25 | Finance
a. To approve the payments, receipts and transfers – Appendix A RESOLVED to approve. b. To note and approve the bank reconciliation – Appendix B RESOLVED to approve. c. To note and approve the budget report – Appendix C RESOLVED to approve. d. To receive an update on the NatWest bank mandate. HA had provided identification information to NatWest Bank. JC to provide information when requested. e. To receive an update on the AGAR external audit. The external audit is now complete and the audit closure notice and completed and signed documents are showing on Silverdale Parish Council website. The Chair congratulated the Parish Clerk on the successful external audit and noted it was part of a sequence of completed audits with no issues being raised by the external auditor. |
| 217/25 | Planning sub-committee feedback (Standing Item) and to approve comments for the following Planning Applications.
The Chair reported that the planning application relating to 18 Newcastle Street was received too late for consideration at the Meeting and the Planning Department had been asked to extend the response time beyond the next meeting. |
| 218/25 | To receive feedback from sub-committees
a. Allotments Sub-committee i. To receive an update The Borough Council Solicitor is preparing the new lease and the Parish Council had previously appointed its own solicitor. HA has sent emails to both sides to start the negotiation. b. Communication and Events Sub-committee i. To discuss the Christmas events 2025 (CM/JC) The Christmas light switch is progressing. All Councillors are involved in arrangements. The car park closure licence has been approved (RJ). There will be additional volunteers to support the car park closure from High Street and Vale Pleasant. c. Parks and Recreation Sub-committee i. To receive an update on the Borough Council Licence for provision of adult exercise equipment (HA/IG) The licence for the Adult Play Equipment had been revised, except for the cost of ROSPA annual inspections. The lead in time for the provision of Adult Play Equipment was 6-8 weeks. In view of the lead in time, Councillors approved the revised licence subject to DP approval. RESOLVED to approve subject to DP agreement. A defective dog bin waste had been reported (IG). |
| 219/25 | Community matters (Standing item)
a. To receive an update on the Community Speedwatch volunteers and training (RJ) Staffordshire Police have confirmed the two volunteers can start training with the existing equipment. RB is organizing training dates. b. To discuss an email received from a resident relating to bikers’ anti-social behaviour and crime (HA) HA had received a complaint at the Steering Group Meeting and had followed this up with correspondence with Newcastle Police. The update from the Police Sergeant was that the road bikes had been seized and information had been uploaded on to social media. The PCSO was attending sessions at both primary schools to explain the rules to schoolchildren. There was a comment that secondary schools should also receive the educational package. |
| 220/25 | Walley’s Quarry Ltd Landfill (Standing item)
a. Public Enquiry over role of Environment Agency This was covered under Borough Councillors’ reports at 215/25. See attached reports. |
| 221/25 | Neighbourhood Development Plan
a. To receive an update from the Steering Group Meeting (HA) HA reported the draft minutes of the Steering Group Meeting held on 23 September and the most recent information on the Local Plan Inspection proposals The NBC Housing Trajectory document – the number of new houses due for completion per year showed that the two Aspire owned sites (SP2 and SP22) will have completions beginning in 2027/28, 2028/29 and 2029/30. HA also circulated the full NBC trajectory for Silverdale showing that the other sites SP11 and SP23 don’t have any completions until 2030/31 and SP11(2) and won’t be complete until 2039/40. During 2034/35 at the height of the development 180 houses were due for completion. |
| 222/25 | Parish jobs referred to the contractor (Standing item)
Nothing further at present. |
| 223/25 | Borough Local Plan
a. Borough Council Plan Update (HA) See 221/25 |
| 224/25 | To consider any grant applications (SPC Grants annual budget £2,500)
a. To consider a grant application received from Silverdale Primary Academy for £588.48. RESOLVED to approve. b. To consider a request relating to a book proposal on the history of the Miners’ Tribute involving a contribution of £250 towards printing costs. RESOLVED to contribute £250, once the printing costs were known and with confirmation of community benefit with copies of the book for primary schools and Silverdale Library. |
| 225/25 | GDPR (Standing Item) – INFORMATION ONLY
Subject Access Requests/Information Security/Data Breaches. None. |
| 226/25 | To note the Staffordshire Parish Councils’ Association Bulletins and correspondence received
Noted. |
| 227/25 | Highways matters (Standing item)
None discussed. |
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THE NEXT MONTHLY MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE ON 6 November 2025 at 6.30pm To agree future dates to include 4 December 2025, 8 January 2026, 5 February 2026. |
The financial appendices can be found in the PDF version of the minutes
Cllr. Rupert Adcock report for Silverdale Parish Council October 2025
Walleys Quarry
At the last Health, Wellbeing and Environment Committee we heard about the positive data coming from the site. Focus remains on what happens next and we expressed disappointment that the EA still is not responding to their pledge to hold a public meeting (September self-declared deadline has passed). Much work has been going on in the background although myself and Simon Tagg are calling for the reformation of the Walleys Quarry Liaison Committee to involve local representatives including Silverdale Parish Council. I once again brought up at the last Full Council the need for a public inquiry into the failings and a pledge from the government to at least commit to holding one, something it has not yet done.
Former Conservative Club Church Street and HMOs
I have raised this case with Simon Tagg and spoke to former Cllr Derrick Huckfield. I have also been in touch with the Association of Conservative Clubs and their solicitors acting on behalf of the trustees. The am advised that the sale is not complete and unlikely to complete soon. There has been an application for the property to be registered with Land Registry as it was previously unregistered, and a requisition has been raised (likely due to missing or incomplete information) and is under review. I am awaiting the solicitors to put me in touch with the trustees directly so I can have a conversation about the sale.
I maintain that the HMO application should not have been granted given the parking situation alone and support the complaint that is in progress.
At full council last week, the Conservative Group brought a motion on HMOs which intends to make clear to the government the lack of suitability of HMO for asylum seeker accommodation both for them and for the local communities where they are placed. It requests more consultation with councils and more clarity on how they will be housed and supported so we do not end up with community anxiety and uncertainty. This motion was passed with considerable support from the Labour group also.
Local government reorganisation
I spoke at Full Council on my opposition to the forced reorganisation of councils. I raised that I believe residents would not support decision taking becoming more distant from them and there are concerns about the costs of reorganisation. The portfolio holder confirmed that the council had been forced to set aside £600k this year much of which will unfortunately go to consultants looking at reorganisation and I believe this money would be better spend on council services.
Silverdale Primary Grant
After chasing up with the Knutton Quarry Liaison Committee the last votes were collected, and I was pleased to pass onto the teachers at Silverdale Primary that their grant application had been approved. This together with the County Council grant they also received means they will be able to go ahead with the redevelopment of their Key Stage 1 outdoor area.
Personal update
I have let the party know that I do not intend to stand for re-election in May. I will serve until the term is over and continue to help as much as I can until then.
Ward Councillor report to Silverdale PC Date of report 1.10. 25
Councillor: Jacqueline Brown, Silverdale ward. No of cases: 107 No resolved: 92 ongoing: 15
Walleys Quarry At the full council meeting on 24th Sep the leader of NULBC Simon Tagg was asked by Cllr. Adcock if we should be pressing for a Public Inquiry into the events at WQLTD and he agreed that this was needed. In his response he implied the MP was resistant to this. The news broke on Wednesday that Red Industries walked away owing £80 million. I am staggered this was allowed to happen when it was common knowledge that the site was not operating safely. I spoke to the MP yesterday and he confirmed
`I am on record saying I support an inquiry but only when the site has been satisfactorily restored – otherwise the inquiry won’t pick up the whole journey and issues of the site. It’s about priorities and the priority is closing the site making the site safe, then restoring, then inquiry. `
Silverdale Sidings 106 moneys: No change since Sept report
Planning & housing: Planning Application 25/00336/FUL to use the former Conservative club on Church street as a 15 bed HMO. After admitting several errors in the handling of this application NULBC have now breached their own complaints procedures by not responding in time to my Stage 2 complaint. The deadline for a response was 19th of September and I emailed on the 20th pointing this out. Although I received confirmation of receipt I am still waiting for a response. I am concerned that I am now met with silence, as this is what happened with two other major cases I have pursued.
I was successful in getting more up to date information form the Head of Finance at NULBC regarding the concentration of HMOs. Although it appears Silverdale is average for the borough the map I was sent clearly shows a concentration around the Church st area.
Local residents have been extremely helpful in finding out the names of three of the Former Conservative club trustees. We would like confirmation that permission for the sale was obtained from the members of the club and we would like to know more about the decision to sell. At present the sale is subject to contract. The sale was obviously dependent on the planning permission we are contesting.
Environment The resident who reported the lack of maintenance of a strip of land which provides bin access at the back of Duke`s Place rang to thank me as the area has now been cleared. She now knows it is Aspire`s responsibility for future maintenance.
The untidy business on Cemetery Rd, former garage site. No change since Sept report.
Care Home/Supported housing on May Street We have made some good progress on this case. Incidents of Anti social behaviour have decreased. On 22nd Sept I attended a meeting with the director of Hadet Healthcare Harry Adada, residents, NULBC officer Gill Taylor and staff from the MP`s office. Harry brought along a regional manager and we heard about the improvements made so far, including the installation of privacy gates. Residents were able to voice their concerns. A plan to write to all neighbours with contact details of managers/responsible people has now been carried out. Also, resident representatives will be invited to the Hadet staff meetings.
I was able to question the suitability of such an establishment in this built up area. Hadet said they have many similar supported housing schemes in urban areas. However, it was agreed that the two former HMOs are really houses in gardens and the `dead end` presents multiple challenges. The MP has taken a keen interest in this case and he will lobby to get better regulation going forward.
After Jane Letts of NULBC said there would be no decision on the funding for the Parade Park Lights until the Autumn, I discussed this with the PC. The Vice Chair put forward a proposal to match fund the repairs. I put this proposal to Jayne on 9.7.25. We are now firmly in the Autumn. No change since Sept report.
Silverdale Community Centre Park Road: I found out that NULBC are responsible for this building and grounds maintenance, so I reported it with photographs to them after the last PC meeting. However, residents tell me there is still no improvement. As the neighbour put it, she wonders why anyone would want to hire it when it looks so unappealing. I chased it up again this week with Andrew Arnott at NULBC.
Events
I will have the privilege of opening the new library at Silverdale Primary school on Thurs 9th Oct. The children have voted to call in `The Reading Nook` and I will be the guest of honour.
My next Councillor surgery will be at 12.30-1.30 Mon 6th Oct at Silverdale Library and will continue at the same time on the first Monday of every month, next one Mon 3rd Nov.
Next Planning Committee Meeting Tues 7th October
Next full council meeting Wed 19th November
Remembrance Sunday 9th Nov This year I will be attending the service at St.Luke`s church and laying a wreath on behalf of the Labour party.
Weekly updates available F.B. page Councillor Jacqueline Brown in Silverdale