Present;                                                                                       A. Sykes, Chairman

No apologies were given for this meeting.

Councillors disclosed any personal or prejudicial interest in matters to be discussed at this meeting.

There were no members of the public present.

Following the resignation of Cllr. John Archer the Parish Council announced a vacancy in the Office of Parish Councillor; Wyre Borough Council was informed and the relevant notices were displayed. The date for electors to request an election having passed the Councillors were asked to co-opt a member, who must meet the qualifications as stated in the Local Government Act 1972.

Lancashire Association of Local Councils Conference 2008 to be held at Park Hall, Chorley 3^rd to 5^th October

Chairmanship Workshop to be held on 15^th October 7.00 – 9.00pm at Howick House.

Planning Workshop, to be held at Howick House on 28^th October 7.00 – 9.00pm.

DEFRA is to appoint three commissioners for the Commission for Rural Communities, look out for advertisements in the newspaper.

Alternative names and styles for Parish Councils;

The introduction of the Local Government Act 2007 means that a Parish Council may have the name and style of a Parish or Town Council, or a community council, a neighbourhood council or a village council.

Jan Finch, Monitoring Officer, Wyre Borough Council reminds Councillors to update any changes in their Register of Interests. New responsibilities for the Standards Committee at Wyre Borough Council have been introduced, should a breach in the code by a Councillor be reported it is this committee that deals with it. A handbook has been produced setting out the process and is available for reference.

Councillors considered the information in the charter and discussed the implications. It was noted that it was to be presented at the next Partnership meeting

Cash Book and Balance to 31^st July, 2008, Bank Reconciliation and Internal scrutiny checks.

Councillors considered the presented risk assessment.

*The cost is split between Catterall, Kirkland and Pilling Parish Councils

**Additional hours for the Parish Lengthsman to attend to the footway on the A6.

Payments for the employment of the Parish Lengthsman will be made on 10^th September.

Kirkland Parish Council has returned a successful auditor’s report and no matters have come to the attention of the auditors to give cause for concern that relevant legislation and regulatory requirements have not been met.

Wyre Area Road Safety Committee is requesting a donation of £10.00 to continue with their work on the road safety issues that affect the Wyre area.

The following planning application has been granted;

Proposal: Two-storey side with two-storey and single storey rear extension

Location: 14, The Green, Churchtown

Proposal: Erection of a rear extension and garage

Location: 14, Church Street, Churchtown

Proposal: Demolition of existing single storey and erection of two storey rear extension

Location: Beech Mount, The Avenue, Churchtown, PR3 0HR

Proposal: Erection of one wind turbine, foundation, access track and ancillary equipment

Location: Dewlay, The Traditional Cheesemakers, Garstang By Pass Road, Garstang

Dispensations were applied for two members of the Parish Council and granted by the Standards Committee at Wyre Borough Council to allow the Parish Council to meet in that without these Councillors the Parish Council would have been inquorate. The members were reminded that they have a responsibility to represent the views of constituents and not just their own.

The proposed wind turbine would, by reason of the scale, height and appearance, be visually obtrusive and out of character with the countryside area and the development would appear overbearing on properties in the immediate vicinity to the detriment of visual amenity and character of the rural area.

The development would therefore have an unacceptable detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the open countryside area contrary to Policy SP14 of the Adopted Wyre Borough Local Plan (July 1999), Policy CORE11 of the Wyre Borough Local Plan 2001 – 2016 (first deposit draft) and the provisions of PPS 22 ‘Renewable Energy’.

Proposal: Demolition of existing single storey and erection of two storey rear extension

Location: Beech Mount, The Avenue, Churchtown

The pupils have started their new term with Mrs. Price as the acting Head Teacher. The position of Head Teacher has not been advertised to date.

The flat roof on the extension has been repaired and the committee is running a fundraiser to benefit the new Play Area in the grounds of the Hall. The Parish Council has obtained a further estimate for the Play Area from Proludic to add to the one from Playdale. Funding has been sought from Lancashire County Council, through their Fair Play Strategy, where it has been added to a list of interested parties. The Government has given Lancashire County Council £1.1 million over the next 2½ years to spend on projects worth about £50k

The School interactive warning signs were again raised as not working and there had been with no progress as to ensuring they react as programmed with the traffic.

The value of the investments has fallen in recent months. It was reported that Kirkland and Catterall St. Helen's Primary School is not in a position to repay the loan at present and it has been extended for 12 months.

In July there had been an opportunist burglary from a house on The Avenue when credit cards and a mobile phone were taken from the entrance hall. The thief was believed to been cold calling a number of houses in the area and warning letters were distributed by the Police to neighbours following this incident. A burnt out Mini on Longmoor Lane was the unfortunate result of the owner getting stuck in the flood on the Lane and occurred after locals had pushed the car free of the water. The driver managed to get out just prior to the car catching fire.

Met on 15^th July and started with planning training by Garry Payne and Lydia Harper setting out the legislation and reasons behind the Council’s decisions. The River Wyre Flood Management Plan was raised as the consultation ends on 18^th July, but Parish Councils have not be included in the consultation. Lancashire County Council reported on the Traffic Management Act 2004 and that it will not impact on Parish Lengthsman as it concentrates on excavation of the roads. Safety Schemes to be completed in the next few years include sections of the A588. The restructure began three years ago should be completed in the next six months, when vacancies will be advertised. The Fylde and Wyre area is to be merged under one team.

Wyre Borough Council has appointed a further Parish Council representative for the Standards Committee. Jan Finch is producing a handbook on the Standards Committee procedures. Wyre Borough Council has appointed Nick Stephenson as the affordable housing officer and is looking to appoint a Housing Enabler for the area. They work with developers to use land that would not normally receive planning permission to build affordable housing.

Sergeant Nicki Bagnall reported that a Designated Public Place Order has been made on Garstang Town centre, which prohibits on street drinking. A combined ‘Clean Sweep’ operation will led by the Police with Wyre Borough Council, NHS, Customs and Excise and the Fire Service will be carried out in Garstang on 18^th and 19^th September and will include free health checks, litter picking, dog fouling notices, smoke alarms, vehicles checked for red diesel etc.

The red tables on the road to highlight village gateways and the School have been referred pending the outcome of the speed review of A and B roads. The A586, repair to the footway on the south side of The Avenue has been approved.