Agenda and minutes

The Chair, Councillor Gordon France, welcomed everyone to the meeting.

As requested at the last meeting the following are enclosed

·         Summary of reported injury collisions for Bretherton for the past 3 years

·         Review of Special Constabulary for South Division for 2018

·         For information about online reporting to the Police click here: https://doitonline.lancashire.police.uk/

·         The route of the Ironman UK bike ride

Decision: That the minutes of the meeting held on 16 January 2019 be confirmed as a correct record. 

The group noted the summary of reported injury collisions for Bretherton for the past three years, the review of Special Constabulary for South Division for 2018, information about online reporting to the Police and the amended route for the Ironman UK event. 

Chris Moister, the Monitoring Officer will attend to discuss the enclosed report previously considered by the Governance Committee.

The Chair welcomed Chris Moister, Head of Legal, Democratic and HR Services.  The report has previously been considered by the Governance Committee.  The changes have not yet been implemented.  A further report will be presented to Governance Committee and shared with this group. 

Members noted the changes to sanctions and suspensions, and that Chris (as Monitoring Officer) already provides support to Town and Parish Councils on standards issues.  One of the proposed changes is to include a Parish Council representative on Governance Committee. 

Members noted issued faced in relation to the use of social media.  Chris will facilitate some training on this issue. 

1)  Does Chorley Council have a forward plan in place to assist with letting/renting out the increasing number of vacant shops in the town centre?

Our stats show that it’s not an increasing amount! Several units are due new tenants in the first quarter (several displaced from Botany).

We do continue to have the shop front grants as an incentive for bringing vacant shops back into use, which continues to generate enquiries.

We have talked about the idea of identifying the owners of vacant properties and working with them to provide council support to make the properties more presentable to potential tenants. Several commercial agents have been contacted with the offer of this support but have chosen not to initiate activities just yet due to positive interest on units in the town centre, making an intervention unnecessary.

2)  Why are Chorley Council looking to go back in to social housing provision?

Chris Sinnott, Deputy Chief Executive and Director Early Intervention and Support) will respond at the meeting. 

1)       Does Chorley Council have a forward plan in place to assist with letting/renting out the increasing number of vacant shops in the town centre?

Chris Moister explained that this is a perception as stats show that it’s not an increasing amount.  In fact, Chorley is ahead of the curve.  Several units are due new tenants in the first quarter (several displaced from Botany). 

Councillor Alistair Bradley advised that the Council do offer grants for Shop Front Improvements.  A number of units have become vacant at the same time, but some tenants are still paying rent.  Town centres are generally shrinking and refocusing.  The new development at Botany Bay may have a positive impact on the Town Centre. 

2)       Why are Chorley Council looking to go back in to social housing provision?

Chris Moister advised that the aims of the Council are wider than social housing, including our own developments (Market Walk extension, Primrose Gardens Extra Care facility and Strawberry Fields Digital Office Park). 

The aim for the Housing Company is for quality affordable housing, with privately rented provision as a funding stream.  The Council also has Cotswold Supported Housing and the properties purchased for the Syrian Refugee resettlement programme. 

1.Collision statistics.

Following the last meeting the Police provided information on collisions occurring in Bretherton.  However, the Parish Council has also been keeping a record and there appears to be a discrepancy between the 2 sets of figures.

2. Use of roads in Bretherton by HGVs.

Rural roads are being adversely affected by HGVs, however the opening of the Penwortham Bye Pass would give the County Council the opportunity to reroute HGVs away from Bretherton and the Parish Council feels it would be helpful if Chorley Council could support this approach.

3.Speed Limits on North Rd, Bretherton.

Residents are constantly complaining about the speed of traffic along this road and have given examples of cars and motor cycles travelling at well above the 50-mph speed limit. The Parish Council has asked that the speed limit be reduced to 30 mph and would be grateful if Chorley Council would support this request and in the first instance ask the Police to carry out speed checks in some way

1. Collision statistics - Following the last meeting the Police provided information on collisions occurring in Bretherton.  However, the Parish Council has also been keeping a record and there appears to be a discrepancy between the two sets of figures.

Chief Inspector Gary Crowe responded to the query by email and advised that this isn’t unusual as the Police can only comment on ‘reported’ collisions.  If a collision is so minor in nature that no-one reports it then they won’t hold the statistics.  Members highlighted the need for residents to report incidents to the Police. 

2. Use of roads in Bretherton by HGVs - Rural roads are being adversely affected by HGVs, however the opening of the Penwortham Bye Pass would give the County Council the opportunity to reroute HGVs away from Bretherton and the Parish Council feels it would be helpful if Chorley Council could support this approach.

3. Speed Limits on North Rd, Bretherton - Residents are constantly complaining about the speed of traffic along this road and have given examples of cars and motor cycles travelling at well above the 50-mph speed limit. The Parish Council has asked that the speed limit be reduced to 30 mph and would be grateful if Chorley Council would support this request and in the first instance ask the Police to carry out speed checks in some way

It was agreed to write a letter from the Chair and the Leader of the Council to the Cabinet Member for Highways at Lancashire County Council, County Councillor Keith Iddon, highlighting the issues at items 2 and 3 and to invite him to attend the next meeting. 

Lack of parking enforcement in villages.

Lack of parking enforcement in villages.

It was suggested that CC K Iddon be invited to attend the next meeting to give an update at the next meeting.  It is understood that some enforcement has been undertaken, but during the day. 

County Councillor Kim Snape advised that work has been undertaken with Primary Schools on this issue. 

Councillor Laura Lennox (Astley Village) reported an issue with a school near Astley Hall - this will be investigated. 

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.

Councillors Laura Lennox (Astley Village) queried whether the Council consults the Parish Council or neighbours when it maintains a piece of land.  Chris Moister advised if the land is proposed to be sold then consultation will be undertaken.  In other circumstances the Council may need to issue a license. 

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

The agenda management timetable and suggested future items were noted.