Minutes of the meeting of Stockton Heath Parish Council held at Stockton Heath Library on Tuesday 11 February 2025 at 7.30pm.
Present: Cllr Murphy (Chair)
Cllrs. Barlow (left at 9.09pm), Dutton, Gillibrand, Harris, Jones, Jordan, North, Olsen, Taylor, Todd, Walker(left at 9.09pm) and Wheeler (arrived at 7.37pm;left at 9.09pm).
Attending: L Jacob (Clerk), R Mott (Clerk); V Alldred (Assistant Clerk); one representative from Warrington Youth Zone (left at 8.10pm); two members of the public; PCSO Jordan Bourke (left 7.35pm)
24/148 Apologies
Apologies were received and accepted from Cllrs. Dean and Goodman.
24/149 Declarations of Interest
Cllr Walker, as a substitute member of WBC Development Management Committee, took no part in planning discussions.
24/150 Public Participation
150.1 PCSO Monthly Report
PCSO Bourke presented the monthly report. There were two incidents of suspicious activity, one of shoplifting and one burglary. The TruCam had been deployed on Walton New Road; Grappenhall Road and Fairfield Road, with five activations in total. Police surgeries had been held at the library and the Forge Shopping Centre and a visit to a children’s nursery had taken place.
150.2 Members of the Public
Two members of the public observed the meeting.
150.3 Presentation from Warrington Youth Zone.
An informative presentation on the history of the Youth Zone was received, from its creation as a youth club for boys in the 1930’s through to the delivery of the Youth Zone centre on Dallam Lane today.
[Cllr. Wheeler arrived at 7.39pm]
The Youth Zone has been involved with engagement work with the Broomfields Youth Project and has also completed an outreach exercise in Stockton Heath, which resulted in little direct engagement with young people across known “hot spot” areas of the parish. Councillors put forward a range of questions and comments.
[the representative left at 8.10pm]
24/151 Minutes
151.1 Parish Council
The minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held on Tuesday 14 January 2025 were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.
151.2 Land Assets Committee
The minutes of the Land Assets Committee held on 21 January 2025 were confirmed as a true record signed by the Chair.
151.3 Planning, Finance and General Purposes Committee
The minutes of the Planning, Finance and General Purposes Committee held on 28 January 2025 were confirmed as a true record signed by the Chair.
24/152 Forge Car Park Charges
The information on the changes to parking charges was discussed.
The biggest impact of the charges would be during the afternoon school pick up, as the proposed fifteen minute free period would not provide enough time to safely complete pick up for some parents or carers.
Several options were suggested and it was agreed that the council’s response would be to suggest that a fifteen minute free period throughout the day is offered, a charge of £1.40 is applied from 9am until 3pm, with the hour between 3pm and 4pm free and a flat £2 charge is applied from 4pm until 10pm.
24/153 Day of Reflection
The information on the nationwide day of reflection for Covid 19 on 9 March 2025 was considered. The information will be made available through the parish council’s communication channels to highlight the Day of Reflection to residents.
24/154 PCSO Funding for 25.26
It was noted that Appleton Parish Council had agreed to a 50% share of the cost of a PCSO at their meeting and that the Service Leel Agreement had been received and will be signed by the Chairs of both Stockton Heath Parish Council and Appleton Parish Council.
24/155 Warrington Borough Council Budget
A verbal update on the proposals made by WBC that may affect services in Stockton Heath was given by borough councillors, who reported that there had been minimal communication and consultation on the content of the budget proposal. There would be little opportunity to debate the proposals before the Warrington Borough Council meeting where the vote would be taken. Cllr. Wheeler had submitted a question on library and recycling services and been informed that a written answer would be provided. A request to meet with officers to discuss the plans further had been requested. Councillors expressed concern and comment from other parish councils would be sought.
24/156 Report on actions and correspondence
The report was received and noted.
In addition a resident had reported an increase in dog waste on the Bridgewater Canal at Lumb Brook Bridge; a resident concerned about the reported review of the library service; a resident raised concerns about peak time deliveries to Sainsburys.
24/157 Working Groups
157.1 Communications
The group reported that there were no items to report or action..
157.2 Climate and Ecological Emergency
The group reported that there were no items to report or action.
157.3 VE Day 80
The group had met with Rev. Ridley and the following recommendations for the commemoration of VE Day were discussed:
Raising of a VE Day flag at 9am on Thursday 8 May 2025; a joint churches service to be held at 6.30pm at St. Thomas’ Church, with the pealing of bells, a reading by the Chair of the Parish Council and contributions from other councillors, the lighting of the Lamp of Peace. Following the service, refreshments will be served.
Resolved that a budget of up to £500 would be available to purchase a commemorative VE Day flag, contribute to refreshments and provide bunting.
157.4 Memorial Working Group
The group made the following recommendations:
Permissions would be sought form the owners of the Mulberry Tree Inn and from WBC Planning Department to have the commemorative plaque from the refurbishment of the square erected on the Mulberry Tree building;
A tree will be planted on the Mill Lane Jubilee Field and a plaque to mark its purpose will be erected. A small commemoration ceremony will be held.
Resolved to accept the recommendations presented by the group.
24/158 Reports from Outside Bodies
The report and recommendations for the South East Warrington Urban Extension (SEWUE) Parishes Group was considered.
Resolved that the parish council accepts the cost of £20 per month for the provision of planning expertise and administrative costs towards the work of the SEWUE Group. In the ninth month of the arrangement, the council will consider its membership of the group.
24/159 Councillors’ Reports
The following matters were raised:
Wild about Stockton Heath hold their Annual General Meeting on 8 March at 2pm in Stockton Heath Library, which includes a guest speaker on the topic of encouraging hedgehogs.
The Purple Flag road sign had dropped slightly form its post and this matter had been reported to WBC.
Two deep potholes on the Northwich Road Swing Bridge, Stockton Heath had been reported. Signs for cyclists to dismount had been requested again.
Enquiries about discouraging pavement parking had been raised with WBC, but no enforcement action by the borough can be taken.
24/160 Staffing
Resolved to accept the recommendation of the Interview Panel to appoint Ruth Mott to the position of Clerk/Responsible Financial Officer at Scale Point 24.
24/161 Planning Applications
[Cllrs. Barlow, Walker and Wheeler left the meeting at 9.09pm]
The following responses will be made to the planning applications received:
2025/00090/VARC
41 Grappenhall Road, Stockton Heath, Warrington, WA4 2AR
Variation of Condition 2 (approved Plans) to relocate vehicle access on application 2023/01346/FULH (Proposed single-storey rear extension and 2-storey side extension along with internal remodelling . A proposed single-storey annexe on the site of an existing garage.)
Concern – the proposed vehicle entrance presents a hazard as it results in the egress of vehicles closer to a busy road junction.
2024/01522/FUL
2 Ackers Road, Stockton Heath, Warrington, WA4 2DH
Self Build Detached dwelling
No comment.
24/162 Future Agenda Items and Items for Publicity
The following items were agreed to be placed on a future agenda:
an invitation to Peel Ports to attend a meeting (Possibly the Annual Meeting of the Parish in April); donation to Warrington Foodbank; updates on the effect of WBC’s budget proposals on services in Stockton Heath.
The following were agreed to be publicised through the website, newsletter or by report to the press and media:
Day of Reflection for Covid 19; VE Day programme of events.
24/163 Date and Time of Next Meeting
Tuesday 11 March 2025, 7.30pm
The meeting closed at 9.19pm.