Minutes Parish Council Meeting 5th September 2024

Silverdale PC

5 Sep 2024

Chair’s Report

Planning Application Application Number: SCC/24/0059/FULL-MAJ

Severn Trent Water Ltd – application for change of use of land to operational land for sewerage undertakings and the installation of a MCC Kiosk and creation of a new access at the Silverdale Sewage Pumping Station at Land to the West of Silverdale Sewage Pumping Station, Silverdale Road, Silverdale, Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 6SH.

MCC Kiosk is a control centre for improved pumping of sewage at the Pumping Station.

The application has several important technical reports.

There is Flood Risk report that details the extent of flood risk. A

I am not convinced that the measures taken will deal effectively with all the flood risks on this site.

It was noticed that there was no account was taken in the Flood Risk Assessment report of the future profile of Walley’s Quarry which is located to the south of the pumping station beyond Garner’s Horticulture. I recommend objection.

201 Christmas Event Update

Do we have 2 people willing to coordinate all the jobs?

Statutory/Locally Listed

Statutory Listing The Bush will be very difficult as significant amounts of information need to be complied and the pub in Birmingham which I know about was in premium condition.

I have photos of the pubs and houses to make the case before Planning Deadline 20 Sep

2024

Selection criteria for local register

NBC  selection criteria and a scoring system which buildings or structures must meet to be included on the local register. A score of 7 marks out of 10 will allow the building to be added to the register. These criteria are:

Authenticity (Up to 2 marks)

Whether the building is substantially unaltered/does it retain original features? Has it a purity of form? Has its character remained?

Architectural interest (Up to 2 marks) Is the building typical in style, or of a certain architectural period? Does it have good quality architecture/craftsmanship?

Historic interest (Up to 2 marks) Has the building any association with the community or village?

Has it got an important social significance? Does it lie in a conservation area?

Visual importance (Up to 2 marks) Is the building visually prominent or are these significant views of the building? Does it have group value with other buildings?

Community value (2 marks) Has the building been nominated by community groups, parish councils or schools?

Defibrillators

Order put through August 2024.

Update June

Walley’s Quarry Ward Councillor 9 Sept. Parliament Debate.

Fire in Landfill. Is there a report?

Will it happen again?

204 NDP

a Next Steering Group 25 Sep Library 6.30-8.June and Sam with 3 residents attended last Aug main topic was the Local Plan and feeding details into Neighbourhood Plan.

Need to circulate minutes and details of consultant who wants to involve Steering

Group.B Technical Report

Aecom Consultants  Contact Dr Wei DENG, PhD, CMLI

Associate Urban Designer & Landscape Architect and Nicholas colleague want a meeting w/c 9 Sep by Teams. Not Friday.

Chrissy colleagues to be included?

But there are many Forms to complete.

I promised an outline of Silverdale and details of where planning applications were directed what sorts of schemes.

Central will be the SP11 SP23 in the local plan also all the community buildings and parkland; road access infrastructure roundabouts upgrades to Ashbourse Drive, Racecourse and Park Road Impossibility of easy access from Cemetery Road.Local Plan.

Ward Councillor report to Silverdale P.C.                          Date of report   2. 9. 2024

Councillor: Jacqueline Brown              No of cases: 71 No resolved: 59 ongoing: 12

Walley`s Quarry.

Day 2 of the WQ Inquiry was held on 14.8.24 at NULBC recording available here: https://youtu.be/fVmKgkEWpFc and https://youtu.be/vQ6FWK4RRRM .

We heard evidence from the M.P. Adam Jogeee, the E.A. and the H.S.A (formerly Public Health England) The committee were able to ask many searching questions. I asked about the EA allowing WQ to take much increased tonnage of waste before the consultation period   for objections had ended in 2020 on a so called `enforcement position`. Cllr. Adcock asked about the Band H classification and if this was just an` empty threat` ie the operator can carry on indefinitely despite being in the lowest band of operational safety. Questions were also asked about the recent fire.

However, the answers, in my opinion, were very disappointing. It seems there is a lack of urgency or robustness to the regulation and the responses from the E.A. seemed glib and superficial.

On 28^th Aug the E. A. and H.S.A convened a virtual meeting following the publication of the corrected data from the monitoring stations. This meeting was recorded and is available on the operator`s website. I attended the virtual meeting on 28th August.

I asked the HSA about their risk assessment still being `low risk` after the recalibrated data showed increases in H2S. I asked what is the threshold needed to raise it to `medium risk`? They said this was a good question but were unable to provide me with a satisfactory answer.

On Fri 30th September I attended a protest outside the site on Cemetery Road, reported on BBC news website.

I will be in parliament on Thursday 5th September for a debate organised by the MP on regulation of landfill sites. He is hoping that by getting together with other `victims` of landfills we can get some momentum, particularly reform of the EA to gain stronger powers.

Unfortunately, NULBC have scheduled the meeting to draw together the conclusions from the evidence on the same evening 5th September and I have had to send apologies. I am hoping there will be a further meeting.

Alarmingly the MP informed me that a residents are saying WQ LTD have applied for permission to go `100 foot higher`. He asked me to email planning which I  did on 2.9.24 to ask what is happening.

Alison Powell of the Arcadis study on WQ got in touch with me. They are seeking fuller consultation and asked me to visit the toddler story sessions I organise to speak to parents. I informed Alison that they are term time only and we will not be commencing again until mid September. In the meantime she asked me to meet with her virtually to give my views this Friday 6^th Septemember.

NULBC Local Plan Final Draft (Regulation 19)

I finally got the answer to my question regarding Site 8, a proposed Traveller and Gypsy site on land at the Acres Allotment on 30^th July from Craig Jordan, planning office below:

With reference to the question you raised at Full Council regarding the above. Please find below a response below:-

There is an expectation in national planning policy guidance that identified needs for Gypsies and Travellers are met through the local plan process.  The Council has evidence which has been prepared by consultants Arc4 which has identified the need for Gypsy and Traveller pitches in the Borough.

 In terms of the approach to site allocations, we have had a ‘call for sites’ process open since 2021 for the Council to receive from landowners potential  site opportunities to assess. Only one private site has been submitted which now has planning permission. Beyond that, we have had to look at sites in the Council’s own ownership and that of the County Council’s. The County Council had no sites available to include in the study. We have duly assessed a number of sites in the Borough Council’s ownership. The Council has published a site selection report which has detailed the process of assessing a total of 11 sites through the study.

 Following appraisal it has been concluded that many of these sites offer limited opportunities for allocation, primarily due to factors such as green belt impacts, flood risk, green space, access and open space impacts.

 Site 8 ‘land west of Silverdale Business Park’ does has been identified as suitable for allocation in the Plan. Post any allocation, there would remain a number of stages that would be required for the site to actually come forward. The site would still require planning permission and disposal by the Borough Council (if as the landowner the intention was not to retain the site within its portfolio) before it could be developed. Consequently, it is expected that the site would come forward later in the Plan period.

 My apologies that this response was not available for the meeting on Wednesday.

On 21.8.24 the Labour group met to discuss our response to the L.P. now that it has been put out to consultation. The leader & deputy had been briefed by officers and told us the after consultation the officers will advise the Cabinet Member Cllr. Andrew Fear of any changes and he then decides if he thinks it is necessary to go back to full council before it goes to the Planning Inspectorate. We discussed the Labour government`s Draft NPPF which went out for consultation on the 2^nd Aug. Relevant sections are as follows

3g. Deliver affordable, well designed homes using `golden rules` for land release in the green belt to ensure it delivers in the public interest`

3h. Ensure L.A.s are able to to promote the types of affordable housing their communities need on all housing developments and that planning systems support a more diverse housebuilding sector.

4. c Boost affordable housing to deliver the biggest increase in social & affordable housing in a generation

It is interesting to consider NULBC`s draft Local Plan in relation to these objectives. I will be submitting consultation responses as a Silverdale ward councillor, as a member of NULBC Labour group members and as a member of Loggerheads P.C. The consultation event is 19.9.24 at Silverdale Methodist church and the deadline for consultations is 7.10.24

Planning & housing: I have now had the planning training and my first session on NULBC Planning Committee is 10.9.24.

Silverdale Sidings Section 106 money    Craig Jordan informed me that he would arrange an update from Rachel Kileen. I await a date and time.

Environment

Lyndon Ryder informed us that a resident had been using a street bin in the Parade area for the disposal of used nappies. This was causing difficulties due to the weight of disposal etc. His team have put a notice on the bin saying that continued misuse would result in the bin being removed. Both Cllr. Adcock and myself have expressed concern in the past about this policy of removing bins. I emailed asking for clarification. I have put a notice on my  Councillor FB page warning residents about this and would be grateful if the PC would also raise awareness. Although I do not agree with this policy I think it is our duty to let residents know.

Work with schools   The GB of Silverdale Primary consulted me about the plans to build a new school on the former golf course. They have concerns, including the fact that they struggle to recruit enough pupils in some year groups and increased traffic. I have informed them about the consultation process, and they will be making a submission. The Academy chain have also been in touch with the Headteacher and will be submitting a response.

Anti-social behaviour

I will be having an update meeting with PSCO Neil Moffat time/date TBC.

I visited NULBC on 19.8.24 to speak to the ASBO team about the Parksite case. No officers were available, but I was able to speak to a customer services officer who passed on the info to the team. They responded by email. I asked about mediation services which they confirmed can be provided. Unfortunately, the residents concerned could not face doing this but at least I know it could be an option.

A new case came in this week which relates to both ASB and planning enforcement. A resident on Scott Hay Rd purchased some garages and land from Aspire and is now preventing residents on Buxton Ave, who have rear driveways to their own garages, from access. I went on a site visit on 2.9.24. Apparently, this has been reported to NULBC, Aspire and the police but none of these agencies have done anything about it. Paul Lejman from NULBC advised the 2 residents who have been denied access to get a solicitor, something they cannot afford. I will be taking this up with him.

General Comments:

I attended a walking surgery with our MP Adam Jogee on 31.8.24 in Madeley.

I held my ward surgery on Mon 2.9.24.  These continue first Monday of each month.

Toddler story session will continue as soon as the new nursery children have settled in. Weekly updates available F.B. page Councillor Jacqueline Brown in Silverdale Page

Cllr R Adcock report for Parish Council September 2024

Walleys Quarry Inquiry

On 15th August we had the second day of the inquiry. We heard from Dr. Scott, Adam Joggee MP, The Environment Agency and the UK Health Security Agency. There was lots of intense questioning of the EA in particular and the recording is now available on YouTube. A final report detailing our findings about the failings and missed opportunities will be discussed by the Committee next week and at the next full council before being published. We hope this lays the ground for a future full public inquiry.

The historical emissions data was finally released two weeks ago and the EA held a briefing for residents on 28th August. I believe it’s regrettable that they were unable to recalculate the crucial data for the Spring of 2021. It’s very worrying that the risk assessments can’t rule out long term health effects.

Meeting with Arcadis

I had a teams meeting with Alison from Arcadis who are undertaking the community impact study about Walleys Quarry. We discussed local businesses they can contact to discuss economic impacts of the situation. We discussed how we can broaden their research to hear directly from hard to reach groups like children and parents of young children. I got in touch with Jacqueline to ask if she can reach out to parents at the toddler group and at Silverdale Primary. I reached out to Marko from Silverdale Athletic to see if they would like to comment. I will be attending the next Arcadis Walleys Quarry Steering Commitee on 16th to hear about the focus groups they have been setting up into both the health and economic effects of the Quarry on our area.

Silverdale Athletic

After contacting Silverdale Athletic I have been helping them with a separate issue about gaining access to their Jollies Field Facility behind Newcastle Street where the council have changed the locks.

Walleys Quarry Fire – Liaison Committee

The day after the very worrying fire at the site, myself and several councillors requested an emergency meeting of the Walleys Liaison Commitee to discuss the fire, causes and it’s implications. This was delayed until after the fire service investigation was completed. It has now been set for next Monday 9th. Fire station visit

Last Thursday myself and other councillors visited Newcastle Fire Station. We heard from the station chief about response times, recruitment, improving the service for the public and heard from firefighters involved in tackling the Walleys blaze. We invited the station commander to come to the Health and Environment Committee in the New Year. Bins at Silverdale Park

Lyndon Ryder from StreetScene has informed us that the waste bins at the Park are being filled up with used nappies and this poses a ‘manual handling hazard’ because the bins are too heavy to lift and full of inappropriate domestic waste. Warning stickers have been placed on the bins but we have been told if it doesn’t stop by next week the bins will be removed leaving the park with no bins at all. Jacqueline and I have both written back expressing our big concerns about this.

I have shared the information on social media pages where I can.