14 May 2025 – Council Meeting (Minutes)

GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of meeting: Wednesday 14th May 2025
Tim Parry Community Centre

Chair: P. Watson
Councillors: B Simpson S Pennington M Hussain
N Catlow T Williams A Morley
H Cooksey C Lynas S Parish
N Cotter C Wren M Cameron

Also present: K. Carter, Clerk
Dan Price, Sankey Station Community Association CIC
4 members of public

1. Election of Chair.
PARISH/2025/39: Cllr Watson elected as Chair of Great Sankey Parish Council (LGA 1972
s15 (1)).

2. To hear Declaration of Acceptance of Office from Chair.
Cllr Watson accepted the office of Chair of the Parish Council for 2025-26 and signed the
declaration.

3. Election of Vice Chair.
PARISH/2025/40: Cllr Williams elected as Vice-Chair of Great Sankey Parish Council (LGA
1972 s15 (1)).

4. To elect Chair and members of the following Committees:
4.1 Finance Committee (min. 5 members)
PARISH/2025/41: Cllr Williams elected as Chair of the Finance Committee, with Cllrs
Watson, Pennington, Catlow & Simpson as the other members (LGA 1972 s15 (1)).

4.2 Employment Committee (min. 5 members)
PARISH/20243/42: Cllr Watson elected as Chair of the Employment Committee with Cllrs
Cotter, Pennington, Cameron, Muqeem and L. Hussain as the other members (LGA 1972
s15 (1)).

4.3 Community Projects Committee (min. 5 members)
PARISH/2025/43: Cllr Morley elected as Chair of the Community Projects Committee with
Cllrs Cotter, Catlow, Watson, Pennington and Wren as the other members (LGA 1972 s15
(1)).

4.4 Parish Estates Committee (min. 4 members)
PARISH/2025/44: Cllr Williams elected as Chair of the Parish Estates Committee with Cllrs,
Pennington, Simpson, Muqeem and M Hussain as the other members (LGA 1972 s15 (1)).

5. To review Advisory Groups.
Parish Playing Field Advisory Group:
PARISH/2025/45: Members elected for the Parish Playing Field Advisory Group were Cllrs
Watson, Pennington, Wren and Simpson (LGA 1972 s15 (1)).

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GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of meeting: Wednesday 14th May 2025
Tim Parry Community Centre

6. To confirm role of Police Liaison.
PARISH/2025/46: Cllr Wren elected to continue in the role of Police Liaison.

7. To receive apologies for unavoidable absence.
Apologies for the meeting had been received from Cllrs Muqeem and L Hussain.

8. To approve the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 9th April 2025.
The minutes had been circulated prior to the meeting and were approved as an accurate
record.

PARISH/2025/47: To approve minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 9th April 2025 as
a true and accurate record.

9. To receive declarations of interest.
Cllrs Morley and Watson declared an interest in agenda item 20 (Sankey Station) as
Directors on the Sankey Station Community Association CIC.

10. PCSO report.
The report had been received earlier in the day and was tabled at the meeting. The high
number of vehicles speeding on Omega Boulevard and Lingley Green Avenue was
discussed. Cllr Cameron informed members that he has requested that WBC investigate
the possibility of an additional crossing on Omega boulevard. The next liaison meeting will
take place on 4 June.

11. To review and accept GSPC’s Standing Orders.
No amendments were required, and the Standing Orders were accepted.

PARISH/2025/48: To approve GSPC’s Standing Orders with no amendments.

12. To review and accept GSPC’s Code of Conduct.
No amendments were required, and the Code of Conduct was accepted.

PARISH/2025/49: To approve GSPC’s Code of Conduct with no amendments.

13. Community Projects Committee: to be informed of the meeting on 24.4.25.
13.1 to receive the draft minutes of the meeting and have the opportunity to query
decisions made under delegated authority.
Sankey Fun Day – 8th June
• Feedback from ESAG (Events Safety Advisory Group) has been received and
incorporated into the Event Management Plan.
• SEN hour has been advertised; 35 people have so far signed up for this.
• 7 councillors have volunteered to assist on the day; more would be appreciated to
help with the running of the event.
• There will be a safety briefing for the event on Dakota Park on 5th June.
• There will be a small charge (£1) for the rides this year as well as the Dog Show. It
was suggested that posters/leaflets should be put up on the day to inform people of
this and explain that all the proceeds would be going to charity. It was also

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GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of meeting: Wednesday 14th May 2025
Tim Parry Community Centre

suggested that information about the charities could be posted on social media
ahead of the event to highlight their work.
Classic Car Show – Tim Parry Recreation Ground
This is in the early stages of discussion by the committee and may take place on 31
August. Concerns were raised about the possible impact of vehicles on the
recreation ground as work is being undertaken over the summer to improve the
drainage and level the field. There are various options to mitigate any impact; a
briefing paper will be provided for next month’s meeting for discussion.

Heritage Boards
Culture Warrington have agreed to summarise the historical information provided by
Dr Fletcher into suitable age-appropriate detail for display boards at various
locations in the parish.
13.2 to consider recommendations and decide whether to approve them.

PARISH/2025/50: To provide a £10 welfare voucher for a meal and a drink for volunteers at
Sankey Fun Day as well as bottled water. To purchase a small gazebo for the event.

14. Finance Committee: to be informed of the meeting on 6.5.24.
14.1 to receive the draft minutes of the meeting and have the opportunity to query
decisions made under delegated authority.
Noted with no questions.

14.2 to consider recommendations and decide whether to approve them.

PARISH/2025/51: To give a contribution of £3,000 to Warrington Armed Forces Day.

PARISH/2025/52: To support Sankey Station CIC with a £10,000 contribution for the
appointment of a Project Manager. The Project Manager will lead on the development of
the website and social media content and presence, manage planning applications &
building regulation processes, manage contractors, engage with the local community,
identify and approach funders and chair the steering group to keep the project co-ordinated
and on track.

15. To consider setting up a working group for Brentnall Park.
A proposal was made to set up a working group to research the feasibility of the transfer of
ownership of Brentnall Park from Your Housing Group to GSPC. Terms of reference for the
group were also proposed. This was agreed along with membership of the group.

PARISH/2025/53: To set up a working group to consider the feasibility of taking ownership
of Brentnall Park and make recommendations to full Council for decision. Membership of
the group agreed as Cllrs Watson, Cotter, M Hussain, Pennington and Cameron.

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GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of meeting: Wednesday 14th May 2025
Tim Parry Community Centre

16. To consider planning applications received by the Council and decide if any
objections are to be raised.
No comments.

17. To consider correspondence received by the Council and decide if any action is
required.
Item 1: invitation from Cromdale Way Preschool to formal opening of Tim Parry Garden
following improvements made in partnership between the preschool and the parish council.
Maintenance and Grounds staff were invited and would be attending. Cllr Williams,
Cooksey and Pennington also offered to attend as council representatives.

Item 2: Invitation from Rev Tear to his leaving service. Cllr Pennington to attend.

18. To receive verbal reports from Councillors on important items relevant to the Parish.
Cllr Wren advised members to consider changing passwords and credentials for online
shopping following the recent issues experienced by M&S & Co-op.

Cllr Catlow thanked everyone for the support shown for VE Day. He mentioned that the
Union Flag at Whittle Hall Community Centre is extremely worn and requested that a new
one is purchased, which was agreed.

PARISH/2025/54: To purchase a new Union Flag for use at Whittle Hall Community Centre.

19. PARISH/2025/55: To exclude the public & press from the following item because of
commercial and legal nature of the business to be transacted.

20. To consider information from Sankey Station CIC relevant to the lease negotiations
for the former Station House and Ticket Office and decide whether to proceed.
Members were updated on the current status. A vote was taken on whether to proceed with
the lease for the Station House with Arch Co. and agreed by majority (Abstentions: Cllrs
Parish and Catlow).

PARISH/2025/56: To agree in principle to sign the lease with Arch Co. for the Station
House, subject to a Schedule of Condition being attached to the lease. To notify the
council’s solicitor and request next steps to proceed with the lease.

PARISH/2025/57: To sign the sub-lease between GSPC and Sankey Station CIC for the
station house under the same terms and provisions as the main lease for the building,
including duration and rent.

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