Minutes January 2025 | Dutton Parish Council

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 15^th January 2025 at 7.45 at Little Leigh Village Hall.

Present: Councillors Antrobus, Brierley-Jones, Christopher, Davenport, Dawson, Hough & Morrell

1. APOLOGIES

Apologies were received from Councillor Underdown.

2. DECLARATION OF INTEREST

No Declarations of Interest were made.

3. Report from CWaC

County Councillor Gibbon was not at the meeting but had sent the following information.

National issues impacting locally

Winter Fuel Allowance
Farm Inheritance Tax
Min Wage + NI Changes for SME / High Street and larger businesses
VAT on Schools – particularly for SEND provision
Further 1 year settlement – budget outlook – expecting 4.99%

Police Funds

SWAP Fund. This is from the proceeds of crime the police collect and this is available in grants – you can find the details on the PCC web site SWAP Fund (cheshire-pcc.gov.uk) – if you have ideas about crime reduction, then please apply

National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)

Consultation feedback expected January 2024
Housing numbers to be increased from current delivery of 1000 to 2100 per year
Further clarification required on increasing building in ‘green’ belt by naming areas ‘grey’ belt, which could be anything from a concrete base, glass house or garage
Clarification on Gypsy and Traveller sites, suggesting 5/10 pitches attached to new developments

Anderton Boat Lift Consultation

Engineering the Future at Anderton Boat Lift and Visitor Centre, proposals for a major upgrade, outside stairs to access marque and marque to be removed for permanent structure
Engineering the Future project | Canal & River Trust (canalrivertrust.org.uk) Anderton Boat Lift: Engineering the Future project | Canal & River Trust (canalrivertrust.org.uk)
(Link includes 04.22 video) – Very informative

Devolution – DEVO

Expression of Interest submitted to Government, CWaC subregional Task Group set up working across the three authorities Cheshire West, Cheshire East and Warrington

Members Budgets

To “support small to medium community driven projects and enhance the ability of Members, to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of their local communities”

Key dates are outlined below as set out in the guidance for 24-25:

31 January 2025 Last Day for completed applications to be received by the Council
01 March 2025 Last Day for applications to be processed and paid by the Council
31 March 2025 Projects which have received funding in 2024/2025 financial year should be completed.

In the conditions and guidance issued this year (24-25) on the webpage standard conditions and guidance for awards (cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk)

Consultations & Surveys

CWaCs Participate Now Citizens Panel – anyone can join & receive notification and submit
New Local Plan – need to read information on what’s included
Consultation on PAMs for schools – only impact on Marbury is Wincham primary dropping from 35 to 30 places published.

ALEXA

You can now ask your Alexa for up-to-date information about Council services

A new, Alexa skill has been developed by Cheshire West and Chester Council meaning that residents can get quick and easy access to information and updates about services, using simple voice commands.
This additional Alexa feature provides real-time information, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by responding to a series of questions or commands – such as, when is my next bin collection?, what can I put in my recycling bin?, where’s my nearest library?, when does the current school term start?, I want to report a missed garden bin collection, and much more.
The Alexa skill can be installed free of charge, and is accessible to anybody with an Alexa device or the free Alexa app. It’s easy to set up, inclusive for people with mobility or visual impairments and it also demonstrates the Council’s commitment to innovation and good customer service. As well as the new Alexa skill, the Council will continue to offer the more familiar ways to ask questions – including online telephone and in-person.

Planning

Antrobus Community Shop Application – resubmission -looks promising
Turkey Farm development in Whitley
Holly Bush saga continues

General

Highways – work continues across the ward but not always as quickly as expected, and arranged officer site visits to key areas to raise concerns across the ward
Flooding in Whitley Centre / Pill Moss Lane
Flooding Antrobus, requested site visit

Highways & Transport:

£130m maintenance backlog. Spend £4m/£4.5m at present but need to spend circa. £19m per annum to ‘maintain a steady state.’
Has been confirmed by DfT that the ‘Network North’ funding (HS2) will continue. Await confirmation of local government settlement for more details.

4. To confirm the minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Thursday 24^TH October 2024

MATTERS ARISING

A533 Northwich Road – Road Issues / SID – The Clerk had made some further enquiries regarding suppliers for the Sid. Councillor Davenport said he would have another look at the information.

Land at rear of Northwich Road – Councillor Dawson had no further updates.

Hydrogen Pipeline – Some updates had been received and some discussion concerning where the hub and the area of land required were held.

Sand excavation – There had been no response from CWaC but it seemed to have now stopped. Clr Antrobus has been told that the sand was being processed for use in Cattle bedding.

PCSO – The PCSO had now responded and apologised for not being in touch. She would keep sending the newsletters for the Councils perusal.

Dutton Horse Bridge Repairs – No response had been received from the Canals & Rivers Trust so the Clerk would recontact them again and send some photographs of the damage which needed some urgent attention.

5. CORRESPONDENCE

P Bate Invoice – Knotweed Treatment £180 – This invoice was passed for payment, and the Clerk had asked to be kept updated with any further treatment required.

SLCC Invoice – Membership £80 – This invoice was passed for payment.

CWaC – Devolution Programme – A letter had been received regarding the Devolution Programme.

6. PLANNING APPLICATIONS

Discharge of conditions 3 (materials, 5 (landscaping),10 (highways) and 11 (visibility splays) of 22/03694/FUL

Union Farm Northwich Road Dutton Northwich Cheshire WA4 4LB

Ref. No: 24/03715/DIS – Status: Pending

General purpose agricultural storage building

Hill Farm Warrington Road Dutton Northwich CW8 4QU

Ref. No: 24/03562/AGR – Status: Prior Approval not required

Erection of 3 outbuildings – proposed garage/machinery store building, erection of home office/gym building, erection of stables

Island Farm Lodge Lane Dutton Northwich WA4 4HN

Ref. No: 24/03312/LDC – Status: Approved

Application to discharge condition 4 (details of construction) of planning permission 24/00939/FUL.

1 Tunnel End Dutton Northwich WA4 4LA

Ref. No: 24/03129/DIS – Status: Pending

Replacement of existing conservatory with orangery

Island Farm Lodge Lane Dutton Northwich WA4 4HN

Ref. No: 24/03007/FUL – Status: Approved

Single storey rear extension

3 Dutton Locks Little Leigh Northwich CW8 3QQ

Ref. No: 24/02997/FUL – Status: Approved

Erection of porch

5 Whitley Brook Court Marsh Lane Dutton Northwich WA4 4EY

Ref. No: 24/01522/FUL – Status: Approved

Change of use of stables to dwelling

West Brook Barn Higher Lane Dutton Northwich WA4 4JW

Ref. No: 24/01308/FUL – Status: Refused

Discharge of condition 4 (structural calculations) of planning permission 23/0519/FUL

1 Tunnel End, Dutton

Ref. No: 24/00836/DIS – 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

Proposed change of use from Public House (use class sui generis) to C3 Dwelling House – The Tunnel Top Northwich Road Dutton Northwich WA4 4JY

Ref. No: 23/01978/FUL- Status: Approved

http://pa.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/online-applications/

7. Financial Review

Current Balance: £ 5,371.53

Parish Council Budget 2025/2026 – After some detailed discussion regarding the Budget and ongoing costs, it was agreed that a precept of £5000 would be requested. The Council members were deeply aware of the financial implications this would have on Council Tax for residents, but this rise in the precept was required due to the rising costs of running the Parish Council. Also, the New Homes Grant Fund which had been used over the last few years, was now coming to an end.

CWaC Precept Application 2025 – The form was completed with the newly agreed precept figure.

8. AOB

Online banking – The Councillors were not against this, but the Clerk was asked to check whether there were any associated costs.

Dog Litter Bins – River Weaver – It seemed that the problem of dog mess being left along the River Weaver was becoming problematic again since the removal of the Dog Litter Bins. Clr. Gibbon had made some more enquiries.

CWaC Members Budget Application – The Council would not be making an application for funding this year.

Website & email change to .gov.uk – The Clerk had done some investigations in to this matter. It was not mandatory at the present time, only strongly advised but as there was a cost and the Council could not meet this at the present time, making the change would be looked at next year.

Some complaints regarding light pollution within areas of the village had been received. Two of the sites in particular were Hope Farm & Ashbrook Plant. Clr. Antrobus said he would speak to the owners about this matter.

Clr. Antrobus informed the council that there had been a spate of robberies in the area where sites had been targeted using drones before crimes were committed. If any drone sightings were made, please inform the Police or the local PCSO.

A large pothole at the junction of Marsh Lane & Higher Lane was reported. The Clerk would log this on the CWaC website.

It appeared that flooding at the end of Marsh Lane was still happening. This would be reported.

Clr Dawson brought up the matter of the Planned Housing Development at Preston Brook which would eventually come right up to the A533 Northwich Road behind the old Tunnel Top Public House. The plan showed 2,400 houses.

9. Date and Place of next meetings

12^th March

14^th May

All subject to change.