Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The minutes were approved as a correct record.

Iain Pilling, United Utilities (UU) Stakeholder Manager for Lancashire, and Matt Wilkinson, Better Rivers Lead – Lancashire, will attend to give an update on the Better Rivers Programme for Chorley, provide details of the schemes UU will be completing in the next few years and the positive impact they will have on the environment and answer any questions.

The meeting received a presentation from Iain Pilling, United Utilities (UU) Stakeholder Manager for Lancashire, Matt Wilkinson, Better Rivers Lead – Lancashire, and Rob Moore, Head of Wastewater, Lancashire. 

The presentation gave an update on the Better Rivers Programme for Chorley, provided details of the schemes UU would be completing in the next few years and the positive impact they would have on the environment.  The presentation could be found here: https://democracy.chorley.gov.uk/documents/s170597/Chorley%20Liaison%20Committee%20Final.pdf

Following queries from members it was noted that UU were striving to improve early communication and consultation where possible.  Plans were future proofed to take into account the growth in population within Chorley. 

Issues in Rivington relating to car parking charges, wooden fences and walls which had been knocked down were discussed.  It was acknowledged that greater transparency was needed. 

The Chair thanked the representatives from UU for their presentation and attendance at the meeting.

The Head of Spatial Planning, Zoe Whiteside will to give an update and answer any questions.

The Head of Spatial Planning, Zoe Whiteside gave a presentation on the progress of the Local Plan. 

The presentation could be found here:  https://democracy.chorley.gov.uk/documents/s170549/Parish%20Liaison%20PPT%20March%202024.pdf

Members raised a number of queries and noted that each local authority had a duty to co-operate with neighbouring authorities on potential developments on their borders.  The three councils would come to an agreement regarding the housing numbers in due course. 

There would be further consultations on the draft Local Plan before it came into force and Zoe set out the timeline for this.  It was acknowledged that LCC would project the required number of school places as part of this process and that Chorley officers were inputting into this.  

An issue was raised regarding the academisation of schools, but it was advised that the council had no control over this. 

The Chair thanked Zoe for her presentation and attendance at the meeting.

In order to allow members of the Liaison and members of the public to raise issues of local concern, a period of 20 minutes has been set aside.

A member of the public may speak for no more than 3 minutes.  Members of the public are not required to give notice of the issue they intend to raise, although it is expected in the case of service issues that the appropriate mechanisms for resolving the issue have been explored. 

Where a question is raised which cannot be answered at the meeting, a record will be kept by officers supporting the meeting and it will be responded to via the appropriate mechanism.

There were no questions raised.

A schedule setting out deadlines for items to be requested on the agenda for the Chorley Liaison and dates for future meetings is enclosed. 

An item was suggested relating to anti social behaviour within Chorley and the Parishes.