1 Mar 2026 – Council Meeting (Minutes)

GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of meeting: Wednesday 11th March 2026
Tim Parry Community Centre

Chair: P. Watson
Councillors: B Simpson S Pennington
H Cooksey N Catlow
A Morley C Lynas

Other: K. Carter (Parish Clerk)

1. To receive apologies for unavoidable absence.
Apologies were received from Cllrs Cotter, Cameron, Parish, Williams, L Hussain, M
Hussain, A Muqeem and Wren.

2. To approve the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 11th February 2026.
PARISH/2026/03/22: To approve minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 11th February
2026 as a true and accurate record (LGA 1972, Sch 12, para41(1)).
3. To receive any declarations of interest.
Agenda item 12: Cllrs Morley & Watson as Directors of Sankey Station CIC.
4. Community Policing: to receive the PCSO report for February 2026, request further
information or raise additional queries with the PCSO.
(Note: PCSO Kirkham arrived during agenda item 5 but noted here for ease).

PCSO Kirkham informed members that, following the PCSO review by Cheshire
Constabulary, he will be moving to a new role from 1 April. PCSO’s Grady and Jones will be
covering Warrington West. The council thanked PCSO Kirkham for his dedication and
approachability during his period of service.

5. Community Projects Committee: to receive the draft minutes of the meeting held on
26.2.26 and have the opportunity to comment or ask questions on decisions made.
A brief summary of the meeting was given by Cllr Morley. There were a couple of queries
on Sankey Fun Day about the introduction of a bar for this year’s event regarding the cost
effectiveness and the potential additional risks. The bar has been included in the Event
Management Plan which will be reviewed by the Event Safety Advisory Group at WBC any
potential risks/mitigation actions highlighted.

6. Finance Committee
6.1 to receive the draft minutes of the meeting held on 3.2.26
Noted.
6.2 to consider and decide on recommendations requiring full council approval.
Cllr Pennington briefed members on the meeting and the following recommendations were
approved:

PARISH/2026/03/23: To provide an initial, advance payment to Talbot Construction for the
works to meet with the requirements of the Football Foundation (Open Spaces Act 1906,
s10).

PARISH/2026/03/24: Cllrs Watson & Pennington to be the authorised signatories for the
lease on the unit at Penketh Business Park (LGA 1972 s124).

PC/2026/9 8.4.26
GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of meeting: Wednesday 11th March 2026
Tim Parry Community Centre

PARISH/2026/03/25: To accept the quote for the summer playscheme at £700 per week for
6 weeks. Cost per child per session to be increased to £5 with the additional £1 to be
refunded to GSPC (LGA 1972 s145).

PARISH/2026/03/26: To accept the quote from Peninsula for HR services, £277.58pm for
60 months (LGA 1972 s111).

PARISH/2026/03/27: To conduct a site visit with the Eve Community Project leaders, Cllrs
Hussain and Wren and the Head Gardener to understand the site and ascertain whether
any advice on planting from the Parish Council can be offered (LGA 1972, s137).

7. To receive a proposed response to the consultation on ward boundaries and decide
whether to submit it.
Cllrs Parish & Watson along with the Clerk had looked at a potential response for the ward
boundary review and had made suggestions for the north-west area of the parish (around
Westbrook Crescent. The submission from WBC had been received in the meantime which
closely followed these suggestions and therefore it was decided there was no need for
comment at this time. It was noted that there will be further opportunity for comment once
the draft recommendations have been published between the end of June & beginning of
September.

PARISH/2026/03/28: Not to comment on the ward boundary review at this time.

8. To consider planning applications received by the Council and decide if any
objections are to be raised.
No items for consideration.

9. To consider correspondence received by the Council and decide if any action is required.
Item 1: Poverty Truth Commission – information on the new project. Posters will be shared
through Council channels.

Item 2: update on Clarence Avenue: WBC have undertaken a consultation process to see if
the footpath could be officially recorded as a public right of way so that they would then be
able to repair the surface. WBC have informed that an objection was received which has
not been withdrawn. The only means of bringing the order into force is by referring it to the
Secretary of State which may lead to a public inquiry. Until the status and maintenance
liability issue is resolve, WBC is unfortunately unable to resurface the footpath.

10. To hear verbal reports from Parish Councillors and from Borough Councillors on
items of note within the Parish.
None.

11. PARISH/2026/03/29: Resolved to exclude the Press and Public from the meeting during
consideration of the item in Part 2 of the Agenda because of the confidential nature of the
business to be discussed.

PC/2026/10 8.4.26
GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of meeting: Wednesday 11th March 2026
Tim Parry Community Centre

Part 2

12. To receive latest information on the Sankey Station project & leases.
GSPC’s solicitor had provided information on the status of the lease negotiations and
outstanding actions/decisions. One of these is the decision on the works specification
provided by Sankey Station CIC which had been agreed by Arch Co. but not received by
the Parish Council. This document was tabled at the meeting and agreed by majority of
Councillors present with one abstention (Cllr Catlow). The remaining item for amendment is
the sub-underlease which currently doesn’t allow further underletting by the CIC. This point
has been raised with Arch Co.’s solicitors. The Property Manager for Arch Co has stated
that they may walk away from the project if it is not signed by 31st March and the council
expressed disappointment at this given that some of the hold-ups have been with Arch
Co.’s solicitors.

PARISH/2026/03/30: To accept the Schedule for Works for Sankey Station house (LGA
1972 s124).

13. To receive correspondence from a member of public and decide on any action
required.
The correspondence was noted. Members did not agree with the content and a brief
response was agreed.

PARISH/2026/03/31: To respond briefly to the correspondence received and await further
developments.

PC/2026/11 8.4.26