Parish Council – 14th January 2026
The Parish Council meets at 7.30pm on the second Wednesday of every month at Astbury Village Hall, Peel Lane, CW12 4RQ, though we sometimes don’t hold a meeting in December.
Newbold Astbury cum Moreton Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting, Wednesday 14 January 2026
Astbury Village Hall, 7.30 pm
Present:
- Councillor J Critchlow
- Councillor T Potts
- Councillor N Plant
- Councillor P Critchlow
- Councillor B Jelf
- Councillor M Bailey
- Councillor C Pear
- Councillor P Cliff
- Councillor A Banks
- Ward Councillor P Redfern
- Mr C Evans (Clerk)
Part 1 – Public and press Forum
No members of the public were present.
001/26 – Declarations of Interest
None.
002/26 – Apologies for Absence
The Council received and resolved to accept apologies from:
- Cllr S Harrop (travel commitments)
- Cllr I Parry (travel commitments)
- Cllr C Sutton (travel commitments)
003/26 Minutes
The Council resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 10 December 2025 are a true and accurate record.
004/26 – Ward Councillor report
Cllr Redfern reported on several issues. The siding out on the A34 is due to go ahead within days. Highways officers have repeated that they are waiting for agreement to the quotes for SID poles and once received the installation at Wallhill Lane and Peel Lane should proceed quickly. Safety issues around the junction of the Village with the A34 will be reviewed in the early part of this year.
A multi-agency meeting about the laybys at Mow Cop had been held. The police recommend a trial of a Section 59 order (under the Police Reform Act 2002) rather than a PSPO. This would enable the confiscation of vehicles involved in any anti social behaviour, rather than just a £100 fine, and should be easier to enforce.
005/26 – Accounts
The Council discussed and resolved to approve the accounts (see Annex 1 for details).
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006/26 – Planning Applications
None received, but Councillors noted that Smallwood Parish Council had contacted the Cheshire East Planning Enforcement team about suspected unauthorised industrial activity at the Brownlow nursery. The Planning Enforcement team are looking into the matter.
007/26 – Highways and SID installation and other traffic matters
The Council noted that Cllr Parry had written to the police and Cheshire East Highways to request that the 40mph speed limit on the A34 as it passes through the parish be reduced to 30mph, and for average speed cameras to be installed.
008/26 – Common Land
Councillors noted that there would be a site visit with the Congleton Town Council Streetscape team on 15 January to discuss future maintenance plans.
009/26 – Chairman and Members’ reports
Cllrs reported that some parishioners had raised concerns about alterations to the stone wall on New Road related to the development of three new dwellings there. Cllr Pear will look into this further. Cllr P Critchlow reported that four of the large Remembrance Day poppies placed around the parishes had been stolen, and would need to be replaced next year.
010/26 – Clerk’s Report
The Clerk reminded the Council that the Cheshire East ‘Call for Sites’ was still active and had identified several areas both in the parish and at the border with Brereton/Somerford as suitable for development. However, there seemed to be little role for the Council to act until such time as planning applications come forward. There was also a Planning Inspectorate consultation about a proposed Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) initiative which would see carbon dioxide pumped from several facilities in Derbyshire and Staffordshire through a series of above and below ground pipes to a destination in the north sea off the coast of Liverpool. The proposed route would pass to the north of Congleton and Holmes Chapel.
The Meeting closed at 2020 hrsÂ
Annex 1 – Accounts
| Bank Balance as of 01 January 2026: £21,550.39
Of which: ·     £1,273.87 unspent CIL from July 2023 ·     £2,625.23 unspent CIL from April 2025 Received since 01 November 2025: ·     £nil Payments to approve: ·     none Payments to note since 01 November 2025: ·     £54.30 – NEST, Clerk Pension ·     £270.00 – CCP, Neighbourhood Plan ·     £285.00 – CCP Design Guide ·     £615.40 – Clerk October Salary ·     £516.24 – CCP Newsletter ·     £54.30 – NEST, Clerk Pension ·     £216.00 – Paul Minger, Lychgate light repair ·     £1,233.63 – SPEN electricity supply for defib ·     £615.60 – Clerk December Salary ·      £432.00 – Parish Online website and email hosting |
| AGENDA | |
| Declarations of Interest | Members should declare pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests as soon as they are aware. |
| Part 1 – Public and Press Present | The Chairman will invite members of the public to make representations, answer questions or give evidence in respect of the business in Part 1 of the agenda. |
| 1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Apologies | To receive any apologies for absence.
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| 2)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Minutes | To approve draft minutes of the 10 December 2025 meeting. |
| 3)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ward Councillor Report | To receive a report from Ward Councillors.
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| 4)            Accounts | Bank Balance as of 01 January 2026: £21,550.39
Of which: ·      £1,273.87 unspent CIL from July 2023 ·      £2,625.23 unspent CIL from April 2025 Received since 01 November 2025: ·      £nil Payments to approve: ·      none Payments to note since 01 November 2025: ·      £54.30 – NEST, Clerk Pension ·      £270.00 – CCP, Neighbourhood Plan ·      £285.00 – CCP Design Guide ·      £615.40 – Clerk October Salary ·      £516.24 – CCP Newsletter ·      £54.30 – NEST, Clerk Pension ·      £216.00 – Paul Minger, Lychgate light repair ·      £1,233.63 – SPEN electricity supply for defib ·      £615.60 – Clerk December Salary ·      £432.00 – Parish Online website and email hosting |
| 5)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Planning Applications | 25/0719/ENF and 25/0645/ENF
Smallwood Parish Council and a Smallwood parishioner have complained about a suspected breach of planning conditions at Brownlow Nurseries – technically in Astbury. To discuss whether any further action is needed |
| 6)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Highways, including SID installation and other Traffic matters in the parishes | The Council will discuss progress on the installation of SIDs at Peel Lane and Wallhill Lane
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| 7)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Common Land | To receive any updates from the Common Land Working Group or the Clerk on contacts with Streetscape about maintenance on site |
| 8)            Chairman and Members’ Reports | To update the meeting on any important matters which may have arisen since the last meeting. |
| 9)            Clerk’s Report | To update the meeting on any matters which may have arisen since the last meeting or other new items. |
Carlton P Evans, Clerk to the Council
The next meeting will be held on 11 February 2026