11 Dec 2024 – Council Meeting (Minutes)

GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of meeting: Wednesday 11th December 2024
Tim Parry Community Centre

Chair: P. Watson
Councillors: B Simpson S Parish S Pennington
N Catlow A Muqeem T Williams
A Morley C Lynas

Also present: L. Brereton, Deputy Clerk
A Nugent, Head Gardener

1. To receive apologies for unavoidable absence.
M Hussain, C Wren, H Cooksey, S Parish.

2. To approve the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 13th November 2024.
The minutes were shared before the meeting and were approved with a minor amendment.
Cllrs Cameron and Cotter had sent their apologies, but these were not recorded.

PARISH/2024/94: To approve minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 13th November
2024 with a minor amendment.

3. To receive declarations of interest.
None received.

4. Police Liaison & PCSO report.
Received and noted.

4.1 Police response to unauthorised firework display.
The Police response was acknowledged. A request will be sent to ask if the Police can
meet in late summer next year to discuss strategies for handling any potential illegal
firework displays in the future.

PARISH/2024/95: To request a meeting with the Police, late summer of 2025, to discuss
strategies for handling any potential illegal firework displays in the future.

5. Parish Estates Committee: to be informed of meeting held on 27.11.24
5.1 to receive the draft minutes and be informed of decisions made under delegated
authority. – Noted
5.2 to consider proposal for grounds depot
The proposal was discussed, and a revised version including Bewsey Barn in the feasibility
study was approved.

PARISH/2024/96: To move ahead with the geo-injection on Tim Parry Recreation Ground
to improve the drainage pending investigation into the environmental impact and total cost;
to liaise with Matthiola JFC regarding use of the field and consider options for pitch marking
(Open Spaces Act 1906 s10).

PARISH/2024/97: To recommend that the council engages a contractor to install fencing at
Bewsey Barn Community Centre. Three quotes to be forwarded to the Finance Committee
for decision (LG (Misc. Prov.) Act 1976 s19).

PC/2024/35 8.1.25
GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of meeting: Wednesday 11th December 2024
Tim Parry Community Centre

PARISH/2024/98: To approve the planting of wildflowers in the same areas as bulbs at a
cost of around £4,000 (Open Spaces Act 1906 s10).

PARISH/2024/99: To develop the borders at Vicarage Community Park alongside
Parsonage Way; costs to be met from the 2024-25 grounds budget (Open Spaces Act 1906
s10).

PARISH/2024/100: Permission was given to the Parish Estates Committee to investigate
the feasibility of Childs Wood and the grounds of Bewsey Barn Community Centre as
possible sites for a Grounds depot (LGA 1972 s111).

6. Finance Committee: to be informed of meeting held on 3.12.24
6.1 to receive the draft minutes – Noted
6.2 to consider recommendations and decide whether to approve them – Approved
6.3 to consider recommendation on precept prior to the final decision to be made at the
January Parish Council meeting
It was agreed in principle an increase in the precept of £7.29 per annum on a band D
property (annual cost £55.88) . This will be finalised at January’s Parish Council meeting.
Any questions from Councillors regarding the increase should be sent to the Clerk prior to
January’s meeting. Councillor Catlow asked to note that he voted against the decision

PARISH/2024/101: To implement an increase to hire rates for the centres from April 2025
as follows: Preschools, £6.60 per hour
Community rate, £7 per hour
Business rate, £17.60 per hour
Business rate (off peak), £13.20 per hour
Private functions, £80 for 3-hour booking (LG (Misc. Prov.) Act 1976 s19).

PARISH/2024/102: To accept 5-year contracts with BT for the phone and broadband
services at the parish office and broadband at Hood Manor Community Centre, providing
there is no reinstatement fee for Hood Manor (LG (Misc. Prov.) Act 1976 s19; LGA 1972
s111).

PARISH/2024/103: To remove Tim Parry Community Centre from the list of suitable
venues for private functions and large events. To explore the use of Bewsey Barn
Community Centre for this purpose.

PARISH/2024/104: To purchase 8nr Motorola TLKR T62 walkie talkie radios for use at
Sankey Summer Fun Day and other events (LGA 1972 s145).

PARISH/2024/105: To install perimeter fencing at Bewsey Barn Community Centre; To
clarify the VAT on one quote and await a third quote; final decision to be made via email
(LGA (Misc. Prov.) Act 1976 s19).

PARISH/2024/106: To give a donation of £200 to Sankey Seniors towards their Christmas
party (LGA 1972 s137).

PARISH/2024/107: To give a donation of £100 to Great Sankey Primary School for toy
hampers (LGA 1972 s137).

PARISH/2024/108: To give a donation of £250 to WODAC (LGA 1972 s137).

PC/2024/36 8.1.25
GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of meeting: Wednesday 11th December 2024
Tim Parry Community Centre

PARISH/2024/109: It was agreed in principle an increase in the precept of £7.29 per annum
on a band D property (annual cost £55.88). This will be finalised at January’s Parish
Council meeting. Any questions from Councillors regarding the increase should be sent to
the Clerk prior to January’s meeting. Councillor Catlow voted against the decision (LGFA
1992, Part 1, s41).

7. Sankey Station:
7.1 to be introduced to the new project manager for the CIC.
The new Project Manager will be introduced to the Parish Council after the Station lease
agreements are signed. They will be responsible for overseeing the operational and
community aspects of the project.

7.2 to receive an update on the lease for Station House.
A meeting has been scheduled with the Solicitor and Councillors to discuss the Station
leases and determine, in simple terms, if there would be any legal issues for the Parish
Council if the CIC were to close.

D.Price reported that a frequently asked questions paper will be produced.

7.3 to discuss a formal arrangement between GSPC and Sankey Station CIC.
This will be reviewed at a future meeting.

8. To receive a verbal update on meeting with the Football Foundation regarding
funding for the drainage project on the Parish Playing Field.
A meeting took place with a representative from the Football Foundation, who confirmed
that the Council does not need to issue a new tender for the work. The Football Foundation
will review the Council's funding application and send any suggested changes to the Clerk
via email. It was also recommended that the Council follow up on the planning process and
share the dates of the planning committee meetings with the Football Foundation.

A follow-up meeting will be arranged for the week starting January 13th, with the PPF
working committee and the Football Foundation.

9. To consider planning application received by the Council and decide if any
objections are to be raised.
Noted with no comments.

10. To consider correspondence received by the Council and decide if any action is
required.
Noted with no comments.

11. To receive verbal reports from Parish Councillors and from Borough Councillors on
items of note within the Parish.
Cllr Muqeem informed the Council that, as part of their studies, students at the University
where he is employed are required to complete a 3-month unpaid project for an
organisation. It was suggested that he contacted the Clerk to provide further details on the
students' fields of study and the type of project work they are looking to undertake, allowing
the Council to review the request.
Cllr Cameron reported that the new Redrow housing development's roads will be adopted
and maintained by WBC.

PC/2024/37 8.1.25