Agenda and minutes

County Councillor Steve Holgate was appointed as Chair.

Councillor June Molyneaux was appointed as Vice-Chair.

As this is the first meeting of the new body which replaces both the former Chorley 3 Tier Forum with the County Council and the Borough Parish Liaison with the Borough Council. 

Enclosed are the terms of reference for the new Chorley 3 Tier Liaison. 

The membership of the body is all 7 County Councillors; the 8 Borough Councillors which Chair the 8 Neighbourhood Area meetings; an additional Councillor who represents Chorley town (as a non parished area); and one councillor representative from each of the Parish and Town Councils in the Borough.

The dates for 2014/15 are:

·         17 September 2014;

·         21 January 2015; and

·         15 April 2015, all at 6.30pm.

The Chair advised that this meeting was a hybrid of two former meetings, merged together to enable the three tiers of local government to consider together issues of shared priority and concern.  It was an opportunity for strategic issues which impacted on the local community to be discussed. 

Members of the Liaison voiced their support for the new approach.

The terms of reference were AGREED with an acknowledgement that Borough and Parish representatives could appoint a substitute to attend in their absence.   

Minutes of the Chorley Three Tier Forum held on 8 April 2014

The appendices to the minutes can be found here: http://council.lancashire.gov.uk/documents/g2277/Public%20minutes%2008th-Apr-2014%2018.00%20Chorley%20Three%20Tier%20Forum.pdf?T=11

The minutes of the 3 Tier Forum held on 8 April 2014, were confirmed as a correct record.

Information item.

Councillor Alistair Bradley, representing Chorley Town, queried the information on pot holes at ward level.  Sarah Palmer, Localities Officer, advised this it was not possible to provide this level of detail at this point, but officers were aware of this request and would keep in mind as new pothole reporting procedures were developed.

Information item. 

Members noted that this was a very important, but complex issue.  It was AGREED that figures in relation to current provision of school places and projected figures be shared with the Liaison members and that this issue be considered at a future meeting, with an officer from the relevant Education Team being asked to attend.  

Information item.

Sarah Palmer, Localities Officer, advised that this information had been requested at a previous 3 Tier Forum meeting.  The information was noted.

Information item.

The minutes of the Borough Parish Liaison held on 15 January 2014 were confirmed as a correct record. 

Graham Ashworth, Heath Charnock, queried the enforcement action in relation to Skew Bridge, Heath Charnock.  It was noted that the Enforcement Officer was pursuing the case and that, although improvements had been made, more were needed. 

In order to allow members of the Forum 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 Forum, a record will be kept by officers supporting the Forum and it will be responded to via the appropriate mechanism.

Mike Miller, Eccleston Parish Council, offered thanks to Lancashire County Council and Chorley Council during his time as the Parish Council representative on the 3 Tier Forum and the Borough Parish Council Liaison and passed on his best wishes for the success of the new arrangement. 

John Tayor, Charnock Richard, raised a query in relation to Japanese Knotwood.  The Parish Council had been in correspondence with officers prior to the meeting.  Further information would be circulated following the meeting.  It was AGREED that relevant section of the Highways Maintenance Plan be made available to Liaison members.  

Laura Lennox, Astley Village, requested a copy of the process for dealing with fly tipping.  It was AGREED this would be circulated following the meeting.  Jamie Carson suggested that Laura contact him outside the meeting to discuss the specifics of the case she had raised. 

Dan Croft, Adlington, queried what Lancashire County Council could do to increase the services provided by Network Rail and about the re-tendering of the service.  The Town Council had been in correspondence prior to the meeting.  Information would be circulated following the meeting. 

Dan Croft, Adlington, raised the issue of on street parking enforcement.  The Town Council had been in correspondence prior to the meeting.  There were two issues; the lack of parking spaces and the need for an increase in enforcement.  Terry Dickinson, Wheelton, supported the need for an increase in enforcement in rural areas.  It was AGREED that information about the frequency of street parking enforcement, be shared with the Liaison members. 

Councillor Alan Whittaker, Southern Parishes, queried how the meeting was being publicised to the public.  Carol Russell, Democratic Services Manager, advised that the agendas were available online.  It was AGREED that the details of future meetings be publicised through intheboro. 

A report from Lancashire County Council is enclosed. 

Response from Chorley Council

Since the police have withdrawn unofficial and ad hoc traffic management support in Lancashire, Chorley Council has set up a multi-agency ESAG (Event Safety Advisory Group) to deal with future events across the borough.

So it does not mean the police will not be in attendance, but it will be dependent on the nature and extent of the event, the risks associated and what traffic measures (road closures) the event organiser has in place. 

The Council is in discussions with Lancashire County Council to simplify the processes around road closures. 

The responsibility for arranging and resourcing traffic management lies with the event organisers. 

Sarah Palmer, Localities Officer, advised that the enclosed report would be presented to each of the 3 Tier meetings within the County for information and comments. 

Terry Dickenson, Wheelton, advised that he had already submitted comments which outlined his concerns.  He raised several issues, including, the need to get volunteers trained, the cost of using event management companies and the need to consult with those who arrange sporting events.  Ian Horsfield, Anderton, raised concerns in giving civilians police powers of traffic control.  Councillor Alan Whittaker suggested that notices be placed on the internet and in the libraries, rather than in newspapers, which was costly.  It would be helpful if procedures were simplified to make the process easier and organisations, such as the scouts, could be available to marshall events.   

This feedback would be sent to the relevant officers. 

A summary of the ways service requests can be made to both Chorley Borough and Lancashire County Council will be outlined, including the escalation of items which have not been resolved.

The Lancashire County Council website can be accessed via lancashire.gov.uk, the telephone number is 0300 1236701 and email address is enquiries@lancashire.gov.uk

The Chorley Council website can be accessed via chorley.gov.uk, the telephone number is 01257 515151 and the email address is contact@chorley.gov.uk. 

An account with Chorley council will enable users to report multiple service requests without having to input their details each time. They will receive updates via email or SMS when they report a job and they will also receive confirmation emails when a job has been closed. My account users can add notes and attachments to the service requests and also report jobs on behalf of someone else.  To access My account click here https://myaccount.chorley.gov.uk/MyAccount.aspx

Sarah Palmer, Localities Officer, advised that the Lancashire County Council website could be accessed via lancashire.gov.uk the telephone number was 0300 1236701 and email address was enquiries@lancashire.gov.uk

The Chorley Council website could be accessed via chorley.gov.uk, the telephone number was 01257 515151 and the email address was contact@chorley.gov.uk 

This will include the new “My Parish” functionality on the Chorley Council website. 

Paul Sudworth, Senior Software Engineer, gave a demonstration of the My Chorley, My Ward and My Account services.  (The presentation can be accessed via the agenda item on the internet). 

The public could register and create an account which enabled them to report multiple service requests without having to input their details each time. They would receive updates via email or SMS when they reported a job and would also receive confirmation emails when a job had been closed. My account users could add notes and attachments to the service requests and also report jobs on behalf of someone else. 

To access My account click here https://myaccount.chorley.gov.uk/MyAccount.aspx

It was suggested that an account be set up for each of the Town and Parish Council's to enable them to report issues.  It was clarified that if a Parish Council submitted information on their assets, to be uploaded to the new My Parish functionality, it would be possible for reports to be run, on requests about their assets. 

A list of events has been compiled by Chorley Council for information. 

In addition, a link to Lancashire information about WW1 can be found at: www.LancashireWW1.org.uk

Information on events being held to commemorate the centenary of World War One had been enclosed with the agenda, both from Lancashire County Council and Chorley Council.  The Liaison members agreed the importance of marking the centenary and noted that any additional events could be added.

A schedule setting out the deadlines for items to be requested on the agenda for the Chorley 3 Tier Liaison is enclosed. 

·         Spice Time Credits – (item for the September meeting)

·         Adoptions of estates – (item for the September meeting)

At the request of County Councillor Kim Snape, Chorley Rural East Division, it was AGREED that the Traffic Asset Management Plan be requested as a future agenda item.  Information relating to this would be sent following the meeting.

At the request of Councillor Alistair Bradley, Chorley Town, it was AGREED to send a request for feedback from those people who had attended this meeting.