To:       All Members of Winsford Town Council

Local Press

 

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THIS MEETING

 

Dear Councillor

 

You are summoned to attend a meeting of Winsford Town Council to be held in the Winsford Town Council Chamber, 2^nd Floor, Wyvern House, The Drumber, Winsford CW7 1AH on Monday 18^th December 2017 immediately following the meeting of the Finance Committee but not before 6.45pm.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Mark Bailey

Town Clerk/Finance Officer

 

AGENDA

 

PART A

 

1. PRAYERS, at the discretion of the Town Mayor

 

2. APOLOGIES

Members must provide apologies to the Town Clerk before 5.00pm on the day of the meeting, together with reasons for their absence.

 

3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members to declare any interest under the following categories:

• Disclosable Pecuniary Interest
• Outside Bodies Interest
• Family, Friend or Close Associate Interest

 

4. OPEN FORUM

 An open forum will be held when Members of the public will be invited to speak for a maximum total duration of 15 minutes on items included in the Part A agenda, copies of which will be available at the meeting.

 

5. DEMPSTER CUP

 The Town Mayor will make a presentation to Mr and Mrs Johnson, winners of the 2017 Dempster Cup for the best plot at Over Allotments.

 

6. POLICE UPDATE

 Cheshire Constabulary will be invited to attend the meeting to provide an update to Members and also to answer any questions.

 

7. MAYOR’S REMARKS AND COMMUNICATIONS

 A list of Civic engagements since the last meeting is attached. (‘A’)

 

8. MINUTES 

To sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Town Council held on 20^th November 2017. (‘B’)

 

9. ARISING

 To discuss any points arising from the above minutes.

 

10. FINANCE COMMITTEE 

 To ratify the minutes of the Finance Committee held on 20^th November 2017 (approved by the Finance Committee at its meeting held earlier). (‘C’)

 

11. PLANNING COMMITTEE

The minutes of the Planning Committee meetings held on 21^st November 2017 (‘D’); and 4^th December 2017 (‘E’) are attached for ratification.

 

12. BRUNNER GUILDHALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

The minutes from the Brunner Guildhall Management Committee meeting held on 30^th November 2017 are attached for information. (‘F’)

 

13. WELL BEING UPDATE

 Cllr Gaskill-Jones to provide a verbal update on the work of the Well Being Group in Winsford.

 

14. LEAVE POLICIES

The proposed policy covering different aspects of staff leave is attached, having been noted by the Council at the last meeting in November 2017. (‘G’)

RECOMMENDED:

Members are asked to: –

(a). Note the contents of the policy;

(b). Suggest any amendments if required;

(c). Approve (or otherwise) the policy

 

15. CHESHIRE WEST AND CHESTER COUNCIL – DRAFT COMMUNITY ASSETS FRAMEWORK

Cheshire West and Chester Council has started a process of reviewing the assets the Council owns.

In all, the Council owns 580 buildings and other assets (including land; libraries and community centres).

The review of these assets seeks to ensure that they are fit for purpose; are in the right location; and are used efficiently within the context of bridging the Council’s funding gap.

CWAC has therefore mapped existing assets to understand their nature; the context within which they operate and their performance.

The process of review will take place over the next few months, culminating in summer 2018 before taking decisions on what to do with each asset in the future.

The options considered when making a decision on an asset will include:

• Supporting communities – to ensure that communities have access to services in the right location within communities which are vibrant
• Regeneration – to invest in assets where there is a good case for doing so
• Partnership – to work with partners to develop a better offer to communities
• Releasing – releasing assets which do not provide best value
• Transferring – to transfer assets to local communities where there is a good case to do so
• Equality – to ensure that all assets are inclusive and accessible

Within the locality of Northwich and Winsford, a number of assets are being reviewed including the Marina Building (currently leased to Winsford Town Council).

There is a consultation process which is ongoing and finishes on 25^th February 2018. It is suggested that the Town Council feeds back comments on the Marina Building as part of this process and also provides general comments on the process.

Members are therefore asked to put forward any views on this issue – further details can be found at (‘H’).

 

16. OUR BUSINESS PLAN 2017 AND BEYOND

An updated version of the Council’s Business Plan is attached for information and comment. This was previously presented to the Council in July 2017. (‘I’)

 

17. ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2016/17

An updated version of the Council’s 2016/17 Annual Report and Accounts is attached for information and comment. This was previously presented to the Council in July 2017.  (‘J’ – to follow)

 

18. GRANGE LANE, WINSFORD – PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY

 Members will recall that, in July 2017, the Town Council considered the matter of an application to Cheshire West and Chester Council in 2011 under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to add a public right of way to the definitive map and statement of public rights of way. The claim was to add a byway open to all traffic between Mill Lane Whitegate to White Cottage Winsford. This application was previously supported by Winsford Town Council at its meeting on 19^th December 2011.

A decision report was subsequently received by the Town Council with regard to this issue. The report referred to “Application to add a Byway Open to All Traffic [BOAT] from a junction with Mill Lane, Whitegate to the adopted section of Grange Lane, Winsford”.

The decision report provides background to the application; the Legal Tests applied; a summary of the investigation into the matter; user evidence and consultation.

The conclusion of the report is to refuse the application to record a BOAT, but CWAC has recorded the route as a Restricted Byway. This order will be made and will be published before the end of January 2018.

Members are asked to note this decision and a full copy of the decision report and subsequent correspondence is attached. (‘K’)

 

19. EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

 Due to their confidential nature, Members may decide to exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the following matter in accordance with section 1 (2) of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960.

The reports relating to this item has been withheld from public circulation and deposit.

 

20. LAND TO THE REAR OF 27 CROOK LANE, WHARTON

A report of the Town Clerk/Finance Officer on this matter will be circulated.  (‘L’ – to follow)

 

21. COMPLAINT

A update report will be circulated to Members on a complaint which has been received under the provisions of the Council’s Complaints Procedure. (‘M’ – to follow)

 

RECOMMENDED:                 Members are asked note the nature and details of the complaint and decide on what further action, if any, needs to be taken.

Documents

Document	Last Updated	Download
Town Council Meeting Agenda		Download