Parish Council Meeting – 8th April 2026

 

DRAFT Minutes of the Parish Council meeting, Wednesday 08 April 2026

Astbury Village Hall, 8.00 pm

Present:

• Councillor J Critchlow
• Councillor T Potts
• Councillor N Plant
• Councillor P Critchlow
• Councillor B Jelf
• Councillor C Pear
• Councillor A Banks
• Councillor S Harrop
• Ward Councillor L Wardlaw
• Mr C Evans (Clerk)

Part 1 – Public and press Forum

No members of the public were present.

036/26 – Declarations of Interest

None.

37/26 – Apologies for Absence

The Council resolved to receive and accept apologies from:

• Cllr P Cliff, prior engagement
• Cllr Megan Bailey, travel
• Cllr I Parry, travel
• Cllr C Sutton, travel

38/26 Minutes

The Council resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 11 March are a true and accurate record.

 

39/26 – Ward Councillor report

Cllr Wardlaw reported that she had received complaints about car transporters parking on the road outside Lawson Motors and will pursue this with CE Highways. CE Highways had previously confirmed that traffic management measures at the Village Green will be reviewed during 2026/2027 and she will continue to pursue this.  Some large rocks have been strategically placed at the laybys on Mow Cop to deter anti-social behaviour.

 

40/26 – Accounts

The Council discussed and resolved to approve the accounts (see Annex 1 for details).

 

41/26 – Planning Applications

26/0832/FUL

Conversion of residential annex to independent residential dwelling.

Gorse Cottage Gorse Lane, Astbury, CW12 3NR

The Council resolved to raise no objection

 

42/26 – Data Protection Policy

The Council resolved to approve the Data Protection Policy, noting that the Clerk had separated it from the combined Data Protection and Document Retention Policy and would hold the Retention Policy as a standalone document.

 

43/26 – IT Policy

The Council resolved to approve the IT Policy as drafted by the Clerk, based on the NALC Template.

 

44/26 – Business Plan

Chair J Critchlow and Cllr N Plant introduced the subject. The Council had previously identified several ‘projects’ such as installing more boundary signs, updating the War Memorial etc., but these weren’t yet reflected in a plan and weren’t fully costed. As a consequence many projects were not progressing. Individual Councillors should be identified as leading on each of these to make sure they are completed successfully and in good time. Councillors were asked to come forward at the next meeting with concrete suggestions for projects to take forward in a new Business Plan, in addition to those already identified, and the intention is to agree a robust Plan at the June meeting. Thereafter Councillors could work in small teams with support from the Clerk as needed to help deliver the projects identified and the Plan would become a standing agenda item.

 

45/26 – Highways

Cllr Harrop noted that some potholes – not all – had been filled along Peel Lane but the standard of the repairs was poor that they will likely fail again very soon. Councillors noted the destruction of the boundary sign that had been caused by a fallen tree and Ward Cllr Wardlaw will look into this further. The Clerk will investigate prices both for this replacement and additional signs at the borders with Somerford and Brereton.

 

46/26 – Common Land

Chairman J Critchlow undertook to produce a longer term maintenance and improvement plan soon, after the recent works done there by Streetscape.

 

47/26 – Chairman and Members’ reports

Chairman J Critchlow reminded Councillors that if they are working outside, e.g. planting daffodils on the road verges, they should consider a risk assessment and wear appropriate PPE.   The Clerk will check current insurance cover including for the Village Green and Common Land.

 

48/26 – Clerk’s Report

Nothing further to report.

 

Part 2 – no Public or Press Present

 

49/26 – The Clerk’s Annual Appraisal

The Clerk left the room at this point. The Council Resolved that in accordance with the Public Bodies (admission to meetings) Act 1960 as extended by the Local Government Act 1972, section 100, the press and public should be excluded from the meeting for discussion of this item on the grounds that the publication of the matter would be prejudicial to the public interest or by reason of its confidential nature.

The Council resolved that the Clerk had performed satisfactorily throughout the year. Although he will receive a pay increase if there is a revised NALC pay agreement, the Clerk will not progress up the pay scale until he successfully completes the CiLCA qualification.

 

The meeting ended at 2110 hrs.

 

Annex 1 – Accounts

 

Bank Balance as of 31 March 2026:  £15,425.89 Of which: •          £1,273.87 unspent CIL from July 2023 •          £2,625.23 unspent CIL from April 2025 Received since 01 March 2026: •          £nil Payments to approve: •          none Payments to note since 01 March 2026: •          £54.30 – NEST, Clerk Pension •          £51.79 – Clerk for SID clip fixings •          £25.00 – Councillor Training •          £3,507.65 – SID •          £50.00 – Clerk Training •          £140.00 – Councillor/Clerk Training •          £615.40 – Clerk March Salary