Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

AGREED – That the minutes of the last meeting held on 19 October 2016 be confirmed as a correct record.

Rebecca Huddleston, Head of Customer Transformation will present an update on the progress of the Market Walk Extension (presentation enclosed)

Rebecca Huddleston, Head of Customer Transformation presented an update on the progress of the Market Walk Extension.  This presentation would be emailed to all Parish Councils.

The Market Walk extension would bring in much needed national chains for the long term viability and vitality of Market Walk and the rest of the town centre along with a cinema and more food outlets to provide evening attraction. The proposals would importantly also bring in income for the Council through rental and business rates in future years when government support would reduce significantly. It would increase the value of the shopping centre as a key Council asset. Heads of Terms were now in place for 79% of the development, which meant that work could commence on the Extension.

 In the short term there would be disruption to the town centre and plans to mitigate this had been developed that included changes to car parking locations and tariffs to encourage residents to keep visiting the town whilst the development was being built. These new arrangements would be effective from 1 April 2017.

In the interim, the Tuesday Market would also be relocated along Fazackerley Street following consultation with traders, residents and advice given from market consultants. The Council would monitor profitability and usage of the location and were hopeful that its repositioning would have a positive impact on the surrounding shops. One of the town centres main attractions was its markets and every effort was being taken to ensure this remained. There would also be a new location for the Shopmobility service and the Council was asked to consider the introduction of an adaptations recycling scheme to complement this service.

In response to concerns about accessibility, the Executive Leader gave assurances that the Council were working extremely hard to ensure that there was connectivity between the new development, the markets, car parks and other forms of transport. A variety of different options had been identified that would improve the logistics of the town that included, changing people’s behavioural patterns when choosing to park and the installation of super crossings across the highway.

AGREED

1.     That the Market Walk presentation be sent to all Parish and Town Councils

2.     That consideration be given to some of the long stay car parks, in close proximity to the town centre being retained.

3.     Working with Shopmobility to introduce an adaptions recycling scheme

4.     Confirmation of the location of the meat wagon on Tuesday’s

An update on the current position of the LCC transformation is enclosed.

The Chair welcomed Victoria Willett, Performance and Partnerships Manager of Chorley Council who provided a transformation update on work being undertaken to protecting vital community services otherwise at risk of closure or reduction as a result of Lancashire County Council (LCC) budget cuts. This included support for a number of bus routes serving residents across the borough until April 201 and three libraries; Coppull, Eccleston and Adlington until April 2018.

The funding would allow for a transitional period during which, Chorley Council will work with community stakeholders including Town and Parish Councils, community groups and local residents to consider the options available and develop sustainable solutions for future service provision. A key element of this work will be exploring possible funding models including income generation and consideration of Town and Council Parish precepts.

Chorley Council Community Development Officers from the Health and wellbeing team were now actively working with local groups to understand the needs of the community and offer assistance with any potential community asset transfer process.

Representatives from Parish and Town Councils had met with the Executive Leader and the Chief Executive in a meeting held in December to discuss ways of working together to sustain services for the local communities, this included consideration of parish precepts.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) had been drafted to be agreed with LCC that sets out the operating approach, expectations and supporting governance structures between Chorley Council, Lancashire County Council and community stakeholders for the duration of the transition period until April 2018.

Parish representatives from Euxton and Clayton-le-Woods asked if the Council could help them to obtain the running costs for the libraries in their areas. This information would help them to better prepare, should LCC decide to close additional library resources across the borough. County Councillor Steve Holgate said that he would try to progress these requests with the County Council.

Chorley Council continued to work closely with LCC and local bus operators to investigate and understand future options to ensure a cost effective service that meets the needs of local residents. The Council had now received the relevant data and information from LCC and the Bus Operators that would be used to analyse usage and demand along the routes. This analysis would be used to inform potential options for the future of these routes post April 2017. As part of this work, consideration will also be given to community transport schemes. This information was vital to the Parish Councils when setting their parish precepts.

Councillor Matt Lynch reported that the 109A bus service was no longer stopping at Buckshaw Parkway due to parked cars blocking the access road. This was an enforcement issue but as the road was un-adopted it presented additional problems that could not easily be resolved. The Council would look at trying to resolve this situation by working in partnership with LCC.

AGREED –

1.     That the analysis of usage and demand on bus services be provided to Parish and Town Council when finished.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.100

Report from the Director of Early Intervention and Support (enclosed).

The meeting received an update on progress being made to ensure that the adoption of assets linked to new developments, transfer smoothly.

A database of assets to be adopted is now in place and the Council were prioritising the population of this database as follows:

·         Adoptions arising from all new planning permissions

·         Adoptions from major developments, for example, Buckshaw and Gillbrand

·         Assets that are adopted by Chorley Council, for example play areas and playing fields

·         Historic adtion issues that are brought to the Council’s attention by residents, councillors, parish and town councils

·         Highways information provided by Lancashire County Council in their quarterly reports.

·         Working backwards, a year at a time, through all major planning applications

This data base will provide the Council with an overview of all the outstanding issues that will allow the authority to be in a better position to make decisions as to the level of resource and effort needed to resolve these outstanding issues. The main issue related to adoption of highways, with the key partners being the respective developers, United Utilities and Lancashire County Council. Chorley Council’s role in resolving these highways matters was to facilitate and advocate on behalf of residents, track progress made and hold partners to account.

Any outstanding adoption issues should be brought to the Councils attention for investigation and inclusion on the database. Please contact carol.gore@chorley.gov.uk

Efforts to progress the adoption of estates as quickly as possible would continue and regular updates provided to the eight neighbourhood area meetings.

1.         To request the Schedule of planned maintenance for both gulley sweeping and street cleaning for the whole of Adlington.

Response enclosed.

2.         To request an update on the flooding problems reported by Adlington residents last winter. The Council understood that a solution to this would be discussed at the multi-agency “making Space for Water” meetings but has received no update on the situation.

Response enclosed.

3.         To clarify the procedure for submitting objections to HGV operating license applications. The Lancashire Association of Local Councils sends the application information to the Town Council but Town and Parish Councils do not have a statutory right to object directly to the North West Licensing Authority and would like to know who to contact within the borough or county in order to submit objections.

Response enclosed.

Adlington Town Council submitted the following items for information and discussion –

·         The schedules of planned maintenance for both gulley sweeping and street cleaning for the whole of Adlington

·         An update on flooding problems reported by Adlington residents last winter

·         Clarification of the procedure for submitting objections to HGV operating licence applications

Response to all the issues raised can be found attached to the agenda.

In addition to the response received about the procedure for submitting objections to HGV operating licence applications, the Town Council asked if there were any changes to the process for those licences that operated on un-adopted roads and the Executive Leader promised to look in to this issue further.

1.    The Parish Council wishes to ban the use of roads in Bretherton by large HGVs which are not suitable for rural roads.

Awaiting response

2.    In relation to Community Transport, Bretherton has no public transport and we wondered if Chorley could provide any help in relation to community transport schemes which might be in operation in other parts of the Council area or which they have knowledge of.

Awaiting response

Bretherton Parish Council submitted the following items for discussion –

·         A wish by the parish council to ban the use of roads in Bretherton by large HGV’s which are not suitable for rural roads

The Council were still awaiting a response for this issue.

·         Assistance form Chorley Council in relation to the provision of a community transport scheme for local residents

Chorley Council will contact South Ribble’s and West Lancs Councils to explore partnership working to solve this issue. Bretherton Parish Council had undertaken a survey of residents needs which would help to shape future provision needs of the parish.

1.    Could Parish Councils be given comparison figures showing the amount of money spent in recent years on Chorley Town Centre as compared to the amount spent by Chorley Council in the Parishes.

A response will be provided at the meeting.

2.    Is there any truth in the rumours that money is being moved around or diverted within the Borough Council finances into Town Centre improvements e.g. the use of s106 monies possibly generated from development in the Parishes being used or channelled into the Town Centre?  if this is incorrect, could an explanation be provided as to how this misconception may have been reached? 

A response will be provided at the meeting.

Charnock Richard Parish Council submitted the following items for discussion

·         Comparative figures showing the amount of money spent in recent years on Chorley Town Centre as compared to the amount spent by Chorley Council in the parishes.

·         The use of S106 monies generated in the parishes being used to fund Town Centre improvements

The Chief Executive and the Executive Leader explained the comparative spend between the town centre and the parishes. More money was currently being invested into the town centre with the delivery of major projects which were deemed necessary in terms of need and income generation for the future sustainability of the Council. The group received an explanation of how the New Homes Bonus, Section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) were accumulated and how they could be used to fund schemes across the borough.

The actual money generated by the Parishes by these various initiatives was considerably smaller than those generated by the town centre wards and was reflective of the spend in these areas. However, the Executive Leader explained, that the Council invested money into those projects and services that were deemed most appropriate, whether that be in the villages or the town centre and that a more detailed overview of the comparative spend was evidenced in the budget which was currently out for consultation.

Although difficult, the Council would attempt to provide a more detailed breakdown of the comparative split of Section 106 contributions received for both parishes and the town centre area of the borough that would be circulated for information.

The consultation on the Council’s budget can be found here.

1.         The parish council have been trying to get Town Lane, Heskin, which has no passing points, made into a ‘Quiet Lane’

Response enclosed.

Heskin Town Council submitted the following item for discussion –

·         The classification of Town Lane, Heskin as a ‘Quiet Lane’

The following response was read out at the meeting:

Marcus Hudson, Planning Manager, Lancashire County Council responded

Quiet Lanes were introduced under the Transport Act 2000 which gave local highway authorities powers to designate certain roads to encourage local journeys by sustainable modes of travel, increase driver behaviour to other road users and lower speed limits. Lancashire did introduce a Quiet Lanes Initiative for a short time under which a number quiet lanes and greenways were defined, principally in Ribble Valley were established.

However, there has been no further work by the County Council on this project for a number of years and funding is no longer available. Lancashire County Council will no longer consider applications for routes to be designated.

If the parish council wishes to raise particular issues it has with the use or safety of Town Lane for all users, these should be addressed to our Highways Service, by using our website to report a highways fault of by emailing lhscustomerservice@lancashire.gov.uk

Further to this response the Executive Leader requested that Heskin Parish Council report the issue to the Highways Service and copy him into any correspondence in the hope that he could progress things further with the County Council.

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

·         Digital Strategy

·         Boundary changes

·         Superfast Broadband