Minutes of the Annual Parish Council Meeting and Annual Parish Meeing held on Wednesday 13th May 2026 at 7.45pm at Little Leigh Village Hall.
Present: Councillors Antrobus, Dawson, Davenport, Brierley-Jones, Christopher. Councillor Lynn Gibbon & 2 Dutton Residents.
1. APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from Councillors Morrell, Underdown and Hough
2. DECLARATION OF INTEREST
No Declarations of Interest were made.
3. Report from CWaC
- The Marbury Update had been circulated.
- Updates on the Solar Farm @ Winnington
- A Devolution Interim Board has been set up.
- A petition to improve Northwich High Street was being perused.
- Residents were asked to ensure that their house names or numbers were clearly visible so that hopefully Delivery Vans would make less mistakes.
- A suggestion was made to try and improve the verges of Hill Top Road.
4. Appointment of Chairman 2026/2027 – Councillor Dawson accepted the position of Chairman for the forth coming year.
5. Appointment of Vice Chairman 2026/2027 – A proposal was made for Councillor Christopher to be appointed Vice Chairman. This was agreed.
6. To confirm the minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 18th March
MATTERS ARISING
• Move to .gov.uk domain – Councillor Christopher said he would make further investigations with the current Website provider and the new provider. It was made clear that the decision etc should be made and in place before the end of the 2026/2027 Financial Year.
• New property on Lodge Lane – Councillor Gibbon was given details of this as she knew nothing about it. One resident was concerned about the noise being made from a generator that was being used. Councillor Gibbon said she would take this matter up with Enforcement and hopefully get some answers for residents.
• Overgrown Hedges – Marsh Lane – The Clerk had written to Ashbrook Plant Hire but had not received a response. Councillors would assess the situation to see if any of the hedges had been cut back.
• Aston Grange Solar Farm – The Clerk had received an email from Innova regarding the proposed split payment between Aston & Dutton of the Community Benefit Fund which was currently being offered at 80-20 to Aston. This was discussed and the clerk was asked to respond asking if at 60:40 split would be considered as the visual impact to Dutton residents would be far greater than to Aston.
• Meeting Venue Move – Bluebell Cottage Nursery, Lodge Lane – This was confirmed and the next meeting on the 8th July would be held there.
5. Financial Review
Financial Review & Verification of Accounts ending 31.03.2026
The Accounts had been Internally Audited with no issue and the Clerk would forward the Certificate to the External Auditor.
Current Bank Statement: £8764.34
- CHALC Membership: £146.80
- C Swallow – Audit Fees: £85
- Zurich Municipal – Insurance Renewal: £179.73
- Room Hire: £15
All payments were approved.
6. CORRESPONDENCE
7. Planning Appeals
Change the use of an agricultural field to a dog exercise area – variation of condition 7 (Times of use) of application 22/04104/FUL (Appeal: APP/A0665/W/23/3319849)
Dog Walking Field Marsh Lane Dutton Northwich WA4 4EX
Ref. No: 26/00034/REF Status: Appeal In Progress – Objections raised
8. Planning Applications:
Bulk feed (silage) clamp
Lightwood Farm Marsh Lane Lower Whitley Northwich Cheshire WA4 4JL
Ref. No: 26/00872/AGR Status: Prior Approval not required
Removal of sections of hawthorn hedgerow and silver birch (approximately 15 metres) to improve site access
Land Along Side Northwich Road Dutton Northwich
Ref. No: 26/00459/HED Status: Pending
First floor front extension, single and two storey front and side extension, relocation of principal entrance and erection of front storm porch.
Dale Farm Northwich Road Dutton Northwich WA4 4LE
Ref. No: 26/00427/FUL Status: Pending
Discharge of condition 4 (landscaping) of planning permission 18/04777/S73
Meadow Farm, Marsh Lane, Dutton, Warrington WA4 4EU
Ref. No: 25/04028/DIS Status: Pending
Lawful Development Certificate to establish use of existing use of a dwelling in excess of 10 years.
Land at Northwich Road, Dutton
Ref. No: 25/02892/LDC Status: Pending
Application for a Certificate of Lawful Existing Use for the establishment of hardstanding associated with agricultural operations.
Land At Meadow Farm Northwich Road Dutton Warrington WA4 4LJ
Ref. No: 25/02722/LDC Status: Pending
Change of use of land for B8 open air storage and distribution of agricultural machinery and plant hire, hard surface, installation of perimeter fencing and creation of landscaping bunds – Retrospective.
Ashbrook Plant Hire, Woodside Farm, Northwich Road. WA4 4LJ
Ref. No: 25/02711/FUL Status: Pending
Repair works to concrete coping to the offside upstream and repair/replace stop plank grooves on the upstream side of the lock. Replacement of bottom end lock gates, coursed masonry and concrete to upstream approach wall/gate recess (towpath side) and replacement of lock ladder hoops. Installation of one mooring bollard on the lock side (towpath side) and two lock landing bollards on the downstream approach (towpath side).
Trent and Mersey Canal Stop Lock Northwich Road Dutton Northwich WA4 4LA
Ref. No: 25/02551/LBC Status: Pending
Demolition of existing dutch barn and erection of a stable building and associated hardstandings and fencing.
Marsh Lane Farm Barn Marsh Lane Dutton Northwich Cheshire WA4 4EX
Ref. No: 25/02019/FUL – Status: WITHDRAWN
Installation and operation of a ground mounted photovoltaic (PV) solar energy generation system (solar farm), energy storage facility and, associated infrastructure and engineering works in association with the laying of connection cable
Land At Aston Grange Aston Frodsham
Ref. No: 24/03807/FUL – Status: Pending
Discharge of conditions 3 (materials), 7 (sound insulation) and 19 (land contamination) of planning permission 22/01211/FUL
Dutton Park Farm Lodge Lane Dutton Northwich WA4 4HL
Ref. No: 23/02170/DIS – Status: Pending
http://pa.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/online-applications/
9. AOB
10. Date and Place of next meeting
8th July
9th September
All subject to change.
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
Reports were received from:
• PARISH COUNCIL
• DUTTON WI
• WHITLEY SCHOOL
These were read at the meeting, and the Clerk would send them to be published on the website.
AOB
There was no other business.