Agenda and minutes

The Chair (Councillor Doreen Dickinson) welcomed everyone to the second meeting of the Lostock Ward Area Forum and introduced in particular, Councillor Margaret Iddon (the other Borough Councillor representing the Lostock Ward) two Borough Council Executive Members, County Councillor Alan Whittaker, Jamie Carson (Lead Officer for the Forum) and Officers from the Borough, County and respective Parish Councils, the Police and the Chorley and South Ribble Primary Care Trust.

The Chair also apologised for a printing error in the Neighbourhood newsletter that had been circulated to all households in the Lostock Ward.  The reference in the text to the Lostock Parish Council should have read Bretherton Parish Council.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Mr L Hoyle MP, Croston Parish Councillor Mrs A Peet, Police Sergeant A Clayton, Ms L Richardson (Croston Women’s Institute) and the Governor of HM Prison Wymott.

The minutes of the Area Forum meeting held on 23 March 2006 are enclosed.

(a)            Confirmation

            The minutes of the initial meeting of the Lostock Area Forum held at Croston Old School, Croston on 23 March 2006 were confirmed as a correct record.

            A schedule attached to the minutes contained details of each of the separate questions and concerns expressed either orally or in writing at the Forum meeting, together with a summary of the respective responses and actions instigated to address the issues.

(b)            Matters Arising

            (i)            Rural Public Transport Issues

                        The Chair requested County Councillor A Whittaker and Mr C Anslow to update the Forum on the County Council’s position in relation to the provision of public transport services to serve the rural parts of the County.

                        County Councillor Whittaker advised the Forum that, although the County Council’s Rural Bus Development Grant had been increased by 2.9% to £1.3m in 2006/07, the negligible increase in real terms would result in the County Council being able to support fewer rural services.

                        Local residents at the meeting drew attention to the lack of bus services available in the Lostock Ward and, particularly, the removal of the daytime 107 service and the implications of deleting the evening 108 service.

                        In response, County Councillor Whittaker and Mr Anslow stated that the 107 service had been withdrawn because of the failure to meet the required guidelines of revenue to costs and the fact that the Red Rose Runner service provided an alternative service.  The evening service had been maintained as there was no alternative service available.  The County Council was, however, examining the possibility of replacing the 108 evening service by an alternative pre-bookable service.  This would be less expensive than the currently heavily subsidised 108 bus service, which was currently being operated at a significant annual loss of several thousand pounds.

                        The Forum was also advised that a Lancashire County Council Working Group was currently examining the issues of public transport in the light of a recent Government report.  The remit of the Working Group would include the level of future investment in public transport in rural areas and the Forum Members expressed the hope that the Working Group would consider carefully the benefits of rural transport in terms of its impact on local resident’s travel to work, as well as the financial considerations.

Jamie Carson (Director of Leisure and Cultural Services) will give a presentation on the action taken on issues raised by Members of the Public at the first round of Area Forum meetings.

(report enclosed)

Mr Carson presented a report which gave an overview of the following six common issues which had been raised at two or all three of the initial meetings of the Area Forum pilot scheme in February/March 2006:

·            problems with recycling containers;

·          litter left behind by refuse collectors;

·            activities for Young People to combat juvenile nuisance and anti-social behaviour;

·            Motorcyclists causing problems on community roads and open spaces;

·          the need for more speed cameras and traffic calming measures; and

·          means of discouraging indiscriminate tipping around the Borough.

The report, which had been circulated with the agenda documents, also outlined the actions and measures which had been instigated by the Council’s Officers to address the issues and resolve some of the problems identified.

At the conclusion of Mr Carson’s report, a local resident reiterated the complaint that, in some instances, bins were not being returned to their collection point after emptying.  Mr Clark, in reply, assured the residents that this complaint would be raised with Cleanaway with a view to the bin crews being instructed to return bins to their point of collection.

A period of 30 minutes will be allocated to allow members of the public to raise questions and express views on any matters relating to the provision of local services in the Lostock Ward area.

Representatives of Chorley Borough Council, Lancashire County Council, the Parish Councils of Bretherton, Croston and Ulnes Walton, Lancashire Police, Chorley and South Ribble Primary Care NHS Trust and Lindsay Hoyle MP will be present.

The Chair invited the local residents present at the meeting to raise questions and express views on any matters relating to the provision of local services in the Lostock Ward area.  In addition, a supply of Question Cards were available at the meeting to enable residents to document their questions and views.

The Chairman of the Croston Rural Action Group referred to a new planning application that had been lodged with the Borough Council by the Diocese of Blackburn for permission to construct 10 dwellings on the Rectory Farm site at Croston, which was being opposed by the Action Group.  The Chair and Councillor Iddon, however, reminded the Forum that, under the provisions of the Code of Conduct on Planning, the Borough Councillors would be precluded from expressing any opinion on the proposal prior to the Development Control Committee’s determination of the application.

Six question cards were, in fact, completed and left at the meeting.  The schedule attached to these minutes sets out the various queries and/or comments raised, together with the respective responses to the questions of appropriate Council Officers or Partner representatives.

Representatives of the following organisations will be in attendance to provide an update on relevant issues affecting the Lostock Ward area:

Julian Jackson (Planning Policy Manager) will give a verbal update on the preparation of the Local Development Framework and its relevance to Lostock Ward.

Mr Jackson updated the Forum on the preparation of the Local Development Framework (LDF) documents.

            Mr Jackson explained that the LDF would replace the current Local Plan for the Borough and would include policies to control and promote the development of land, as well as a number of other policies and guidelines on such issues as sustainable development, renewable energy and other planning related matters (eg House Extension Design guidance, Chorley Town Centre etc).

            Chorley Council was currently collaborating with Preston and South Ribble Councils on the formulation of a Core Strategy for the Central Lancashire City area, the initial steps of which would entail the publication of the Issues and Options Paper.  The document would identify the issues affecting the planning process and development of land, together with possible solutions.  The consultation exercise on the Issues and Options Paper was likely to commence in September 2006 and Mr Jackson hoped that the consultation would generate a substantial response from interested parties and the public, given the importance of the ultimate strategy on future development plans for both the urban and rural parts of the sub-region.

            In response to a resident’s query as to the form of the consultation on the Core Strategy and Issues and Options Paper, Mr Jackson stated that, while the details of the process had not yet been finalised, there would be ample opportunities for persons and organisations to make their views known through, for example, specific focus groups and public meetings, exhibitions in public buildings, web-site information, etc.

            The Forum was assured that adequate advance publicity would be afforded to the various forms of consultation process.

County Councillor Alan Whittaker will report on any County Council issues affecting the Lostock Ward.

As the rural bus services and school transport issues were on-going matters being addressed, the Lancashire County Council representatives did not wish to raise any other specific issues.

A list of questions / issues submitted by the Parish Councils of Bretherton, Croston and Ulnes Walton is attached.

            The three constituent Parish Councils (Bretherton, Croston and Ulnes Walton) had each been invited in advance of the Forum meeting to submit questions on any matter affecting their Parishes.  The following issues had consequently been raised by the Parish Councils.

            i)            Question from Bretherton Parish Council

                        “What actions are being taken to reduce road traffic speed throughout the villages in the Lostock Ward, particularly in North Road, Bretherton? 

The enquiry had been passed by the County Council’s District Partnership Officer to her colleagues at the County Council, who had responded by indicating that, unfortunately, the criteria for changing the speed limit on North Road had not been met.

                        The question and response prompted a number of associated queries and comments from Parish Councillors and local residents, which can be summarised as follows:

                        ·North Road, Bretherton appears to satisfy at least four of the relevant criteria for speed limit restrictions, and perhaps the criteria is being interpreted incorrectly.

                        ·Speed limits apply to other similar stretches of roads in rural areas (eg Rufford).

                        ·The speed of cars up to 70mph along North Road, Bretherton poses a substantial road safety threat to local residents and particularly, school children during early mornings.  The speeding vehicles need to negotiate many dangerous curves along the road.

                        ·The request for a speed restriction is supported by the Parish Council and occupants of properties on North Road, many of whom experience difficulties in accessing the road from their driveway.

                        ·Three known accidents on North Road during the past month may not be reflective of the true number of accidents.

                        ·The residents were not at this stage seeking speed cameras and consider that the cost of warning signs should not be excessive.

                        In response to the Parish Councillors’ and residents’ comments and concerns, PC Plummer confirmed that road accident records held by the Police were supplied to Lancashire County Council.  Whilst there was a requirement for all accidents involving injuries to be reported to the Police, there was no statutory requirement for non-injury accidents to be reported to and recorded by the Police.  PC Plummer also indicated that, although North Road was not one of the three locations in the area currently targeted by the Police’s Traffic Section for surveillance, it was likely that the Police would support calls for the imposition of a 40mph speed restriction on the road.

                        County Councillor Whittaker also responded to the residents’ comments, assuring the Forum that regular liaison occurs between the County Council and the Police on road safety matters, including the prioritisation of locations where both authorities agreed that speed restrictions should apply.  In the light of the strength of argument expressed, County Councillor Whittaker undertook to seek clarification of the guidelines and criteria for speed limits on rural roads and ensure that the situation on North Road was reviewed by the County Council’s Highways Engineers.  The Officers’ comments would be reported back to the residents by County Councillor Whtttaker.

            ii) Question from Bretherton Parish Council

                        ‘What initiatives are being introduced  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14c

Representatives of the Lancashire Police will report on "Operation Summer Nights" to be operated in the Lostock Ward Area.

            Inspector J South, the newly appointed Area Inspector, gave a short address on the ‘Operation Summer Nights’ campaign.  The campaign involving both overt and covert operations would entail the Police and, particularly, Community Beat Officers targeting different locations around the Borough (including rural Parishes), especially the known ‘hot spots’ for anti-social behaviour.

            The campaign aimed to reduce anti-social incidents (eg criminal damage, congregation of youths; under-age drinking) and the campaign had already impacted by evidence of a reduction in criminal damage incidents.

            In response to a resident’s query, Inspector South advised use of the national telephone number, or the appropriate Community Beat Officer’s telephone number, whenever the public wished to contact the Police on a non-emergency matter.  Inspector South reminded the Forum that the rural Community Beat Officers were responsible for expansive areas, but would endeavour to ensure a response to telephone calls as early as practicable

Members of the public will be invited to express their views on the format and arrangements for this meeting and submit items for consideration at the next meeting.

The Chair drew attention to the feedback cards available at the meeting and invited the attendees to complete them to express their views on the format, arrangements and conduct of the Forum meeting.

The cards could also be used to suggest items for consideration at the next meeting

The next meeting of the Lostock Ward Area Forum will be held on Thursday 28 September 2006 at the Wymott and Garth Prison Officers Club, Pump House Lane, Ulnes Walton, commencing at 7.00pm.

The meeting noted that the third and final round of the current Lostock Area Forum pilot scheme was to be held on Thursday, 28 September 2006 at the Wymott and Garth Prison Officers Club, Pump House Lane, Ulnes Walton at 7.00pm.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Chair thanked all the members of the public; County, Borough and Parish Councillors; Partner representatives and Council Officers present for their attendance and contributions to the Area Forum meeting