Three members of the public expressed their opposition to Planning Application 06/0021/FUL, 'Heathfield', Blackden Lane on the grounds of its size and inappropriate style for a rural area of cottages and smallholdings. One member of the public, the applicant, explained how the plan had evolved and the consideration given to neighbouring properties. Cllr. Salmon confirmed that the Planning Committee of the Parish Council had considered the plans and letters received and that the matter would be reported on later in the meeting under item 02.06.7.

A member of the public, owner of the house at the junction of Main Road and Hermitage Lane expressed his surprise at receiving a letter suggesting that more work was necessary on the boundary hedge to his property only a few weeks after the hedge had been cut back. He considered the hedge was not highly significant relative to other aspects of road safety, in particular speeding on Main Road. The Chairman a greed to investigate the history of this request and reply.

There were no Declarations of Interest registered.

Apologies for Absence were received from Cllrs. Fallon, Kennington, Leake and Richardson and from Boro. Cllr Furlong.

Resolved to accept the Minutes of the Meeting of 10th January 2006 as a true record and to take them as read.

Cty. Cllr. Oliver reported the following County Matters to the meeting.

a) Plans for land fill sites at Kinderton and one other location had been passed. It was likely that only one of the sites would actually be used. There had been no grounds on which to refuse the application but the Minister of State would be notified of the numerous objections which could lead to a Public Enquiry.

b) A draft of the Cheshire Local Transport Plan which should be finalised in 6 weeks' time contained nothing detrimental to Goostrey, the nearest proposed development being a by-pass for Middlewich. However, a by-pass for Alderley Edge would have top priority.

c) A full County Council meeting was scheduled for Thursday 16th February at which the Council Tax would be fixed. An increase was inevitable due to a huge shortfall in funds made available for the demands upon the County Council. Any increase would be capped at 5%.

d) Members were invited to a Highways Presentation at Tatton Park on 7th April. The M6 at J16-J17 and J18-19 would be the main topics.

Boro. Cllr. Kolker reported the following Borough Matters to the meeting.

a) A Highways Agency report that J18 of the M6 was to have traffic lights on the North-bound entry slip road.

b) Extra parking had been provided at Congleton railway station which it was hoped would remain in place even after the Crewe railway line had been re-opened. He asked Members to let him know of any train passengers who normally used Goostrey station and were now using Congleton instead.

c) The Borough element of the Council Tax was likely to rise by just under 5%, due to the huge extra expenses loaded onto Borough Councils by Government.

AMENITIES: There was nothing requiring a Council decision arising from the last Meeting.

FINANCE: Minutes of the last meeting had been circulated and accounts for the period April-December 2005 were tabled. Cllr. Salmon asked that item 4 of the minutes be amended to explain that the previously reported discrepancy, now resolved, was due to incorrect reporting of VAT payments. Cllr. Owen drew attention to Village Hall lettings being well in excess of the budget.
Cllr. Henley advised that unaudited year end Accounts would be completed by 4th April, to be presented at the Parish Council Meeting on 11th April.

VILLAGE HALL: Minutes of the last meeting had been circulated. Cllr. Salmon asked that item 3b of these be amended to make it clear that there are four ovens in the school kitchen, two of which are fully operational, one slow-working and the fourth out-of-action. Cllr. Sewell reported the following decisions:

a) The charge for basic caretaker services was to be increased to £10 + VAT as from 1st April 2006.

b) The remaining recharge budget would be used to redecorate the lounge & kitchen, to clean the lounge chairs and make repairs to the curtains.

Planning Report 129 had been circulated.

Because of the interest in 'Heathfield', Blackden Lane, Cllr. Salmon decided to present the plans to the Members at this stage. It was resolved that the Council's report would state that Goostrey Parish Council strongly objected on the grounds of:

Style out of keeping with environment.
Massively increased footprint.
Height of roof elevations.
Potential creeping development.

Several Members commented on building work at 'Owl's Hoot' (formerly 'Brendene'), Blackden Lane. Two recent planning applications had allowed for side and rear extensions and a detached garage. These would not appear to cover the present extent of development. The Clerk was asked to contact Congleton Borough Council's Planning Department for an explanation.

The Chairman elected to take item 13 of the Agenda at this stage as it was closely related to Planning matters.

Planning application had been submitted by G.Y.P.P., with copies sent to the Parish Council.
The Chairman reported that the school governors were opposed to the plans due to the proximity of the proposed youth facility to the school, were seeking advice about how best to voice their concerns and preparing a statement to appear in the Parish Magazine.
The Members hoped that a cordial relationship with the school could be maintained while an outcome from Congleton Borough Council was awaited.

Resolved to accept Payment Schedule 02.06.

The Clerk referred to the items in Appendix 02/06

a) The Clerk was asked to arrange a meeting with the Planning Officer about registering the Goostrey Parish Plan as a Supplementary Planning Document.
b) No action required on copies of plans received from G.Y.P.P.
c) Literature about Police Community Support Officers, to be circulated.
d) It was decided not to enter the Best Kept Village competition while the village was in its current state.
e) The Clerk was asked to invite the Parish Plans Development Officer at Cheshire Community Council to the next meeting to advise about DEFRA funding for rural communities.

The Clerk then tabled the following additional correspondence which had been received since setting the Agenda:

a). Timetable for Borough and Parish Elections to be held on 4th May 2006.

b). Invitation to 'Boost' Day (information and funding advice for voluntary organisations) on 2nd March at Congleton Town Hall.

c). Copy of a letter from the Older Persons Forum to Cheshire Constabulary about vandalism and citing Wheelie bin burning in Goostrey as an example.

d). A schedule of public meetings about the proposed reconfiguration of Ambulance trusts in the North West, to be circulated to Members.

e). An invitation from the Association of Local Councils to nominate the outgoing Chairman to be one of four guests from the Cheshire Association to attend a Royal Garden Party, the Clerk being asked to complete and return.

f). Information about the 'October is National Poetry Month' tour, the Clerk being asked to pass this on to Janet Ollier, Organiser, Rural Touring Theatre.

g) From Doug Crowley, the Web Site Manager, his various requests to be considered in detail by Cllrs. Ball & Henley and the Clerk.

h) From Nick and Helen Thorne, an e-mail concerning damage at the Twemlow end of the Railway Compound. The Clerk was asked to reply pointing out that this was strictly in the Twemlow Parish but that the next Liaison Committee meeting would be addressing the clean-up operation, in the meantime to let them have contact details at Network Rail.

The Clerk referred to the items in Appendix 02/06 and was asked to write again to the Joint Highways Service asking them for a reply on the subject of hedge cutting debris on the roads and also to request that the pavements on minor roads in the village be swept.

In view of several complaints, The Clerk was asked to consult Joint Highways for advice about the hedge and narrow pavement opposite Bank View, sending a copy to the homeowner.

Cllr. Owen commented that some trees in the village appeared to be unsafe, this to be reported to the Tree Warden. Cllr. Robinson requested that the topic of trees be included on the Agenda for the next meeting.

The Council had been advised of closure of the A535 at Twemlow for approximately 12 days from 20th March. The Clerk was asked to request that 'No Through Road' notices be posted at Chelford and Holmes Chapel in an attempt to reduce additional traffic through the village.

Four videos were now in the Parish Office. It is hoped that 2 of these can be shown at a Church function and 2 on another occasion before they become part of the archive.

Cllr Salmon reported on the training sessions and circulated photographs. Use of the equipment could begin once information about police shift patterns had been received. 12 suitable locations had been identified, along Main Road and also in Booth Bed Lane and New Platt Lane. More volunteers were still required.

This item dealt with earlier.

Tuesday 25th April was selected as the date for the Annual Parish Meeting.

Several guest speakers were suggested and the Clerk was asked to contact the following to find out who would be available.

Helen de Lemos, Cheshire County Council, on the subject of Waste Management.
Joan Feenan, Director of Childrens Services on the subject of Transforming Learning Communities.
The Goostrey Tree Warden.
Johnathan Robinson, Homewatch Co-ordinator.

Other suggested topics were Police Community Support Officers, Congleton Borough Councils plans for Waste Management and a review of Parish Plan progress.

Cllr. Robinson suggested that a proposed agenda be prepared for consideration at the next meeting.

Cllr. Salmon reported his research into procedural matters in that:

a) The Council could accept donations provided no stipulation was made as to use.
b) It was considered good practice to allow a Public Forum at meetings so long as the period was defined, otherwise the public were entitled to attend but did not have the right to participate.

Cllr. Salmon reported that some swing seats in the Boothbed Lane Play Area were ripped and could be dangerous, the Clerk being asked to write to Congleton BC about maintenance.

Cllr. Ball reported that information from the Forum of M6 Councils was being circulated to members.

It was confirmed that the date of the next Meeting would be 14th March 2006.

The Chairman closed the Meeting at 9.35 pm.

A member of the public commented on the poor state of the Ladies Toilets in the Village Hall and also about smoking. Cllr. Ball replied that it seemed likely that legislation would ban smoking in all public buildings.