Minutes of a meeting of the
FINANCE, PLANNING & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE OF RAINFORD PARISH COUNCIL held in the Council Chamber at Rainford Village Hall on Wednesday 12 February 2025 at 6.30pm
Present: Councillors: Bardsley, Bimpson, Denton, Dobson, Lee, Long (Chairman),
Stockton-Pugh
In attendance: Sally Powell (Clerk)
1. Apologies for absence:
None.
2. Approval of the minutes of the meetings held on 07 & 08 January 2025:
The minutes of the extraordinary meeting held on 07.01.2025 were agreed as a true and accurate record, proposed by Councillor Denton, seconded by Councillor Bimpson and carried unanimously.
The minutes of the meeting held on 08.01.2025 were agreed as a true and accurate record, proposed by Councillor Bimpson, seconded by Councillor Denton and carried unanimously.
Action: The Clerk
3. Plans
P/2025/0003/FUL Installation of shipping container for storage use
Rainford Rangers Football Club, Church Road, Rainford
There was a short discussion about this application. Permission would need to be given by All Saints Church as the land belongs to it.
There were no objections to this application.
P/2025/0037/HHFP First Floor side and front extension, 2no front dormers, 1no rear dormer and external alterations
99 Old Lane, Rainford
There were no objections to this application.
P/2025/0059/COT Works to trees in a Conservation Area to fell 2no Horse Chestnut trees along with crown lifting of 6m
41 Church Road, Rainford
There were no objections to this application.
P/2025/0062/FUL Proposed siting of marquee, bar and chiller, following relocation of children’s play area, together with retrospective siting of brew station, storage, toilets and changing facilities
The Junction, News Lane, Rainford
There was a discussion about this application. It was agreed that a submission in support of this application should be made.
Action: The Clerk
Notification of Appeal under Section 78 Partial change of use of agricultural land to residential garden along with new vehicular access to the highway with associated boundary wall and hardstanding and the construction of 3no outbuildings comprising of a potting shed, garage and summerhouse.
1 Maggots Nook Road, Rainford
There was a discussion about this application. It was felt that the site was overcrowded and noted that the development had taken place without planning permission in the Green Belt.
Lord’s Fold Update: No further updates at this time.
Miller Homes Update: There have been complaints from residents regarding mud on the road and the noise and disruption from piling. Following conversations with Councillors Bimpson & Denton, Miller Homes have been keeping the road cleaner and there are 2 wheel washers on site, that are being used.
The potholes on Higher Lane have been filled in.
P/2023/0181/FUL Erection of 1no dwelling following demolition of existing dwelling house at 61 Higher Lane, Rainford
A complaint was received from a resident about the blocking of the footpath at 8.30am on a weekday and the removal of part of the wall. Kieran Birch, Head of Planning at St Helens Council has been contacted regarding conditions on the decision notice. There was a discussion. The Clerk was asked to circulate the details of the Construction and Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) of this planning application to all members of the committee and continue the dialogue with Kieran Birch.
Action: The Clerk
4. Financial Matters:
See Appendix 1 for full details
Income & Expenditure for January 2025:
Receipts £14,026.05
Payments £21,111.57
Bank balances @ 31.01.2025:
Current Account: £1,720.01
Business Savings Account: £ 48,970.27
Payments do not include staff costs for January 2025 as the appropriate documentation from St Helens Council had not been received before the end of the month. However, they do include staff costs from September 2024. Additionally, to offset the increase in the cost of wine, £4000 worth of stock was purchased for the bar.
£2000 was transferred from the Business Savings Account to the Current Account.
The invoice for the decorating of the Hall, Stairs and Landing has not yet been received.
Rainford in Bloom have requested that the Parish Council purchase a ‘taster’ planter. The original planters are wooden, and many are rotting and have come to the end of their useful life. The new planters are recycled plastic so they would need little maintenance, but Bloom would like to plant up one to check it meets requirements before purchasing in bulk.
RESOLVED: Councillor Lee proposed that a planter is purchased for Rainford in Bloom at a cost of £299.00 + VAT. This was seconded by Councillor Dodson and carried unanimously.
Action: The Clerk
5. Licence for Merseyside Police:
There was a discussion and members were concerned that this has not yet been agreed. The Clerk was asked to contact Merseyside Police’s agent to resolve the matter and ask for outstanding monies to be paid.
Action: The Clerk
6. Clerk’s Report:
The following report was circulated with the agenda. Additions are in italics.
i. The decorating of the hall, stairs and landing is complete, and the new noticeboard has been installed. There was a short discussion about whether the curtains should be put back up.
ii. The interviews for the Clerk & RFO vacancy will take place on 10.02.2025.
iv. Paula Blellock has requested another EPC assessment for the Village Hall. The Energy Surveyor has not yet confirmed the date that this will take place. No further information.
v. Residents have contacted the Parish Council regarding mud on the roads around the Miller Homes development.
vi. A response from St Helens Council regarding the recent flooding has not yet been received. An email was received from Cllr Mussell and circulated to members.
vii. A resident had contacted the Parish Council regarding an overgrown hedge on Church Lane. The details have been passed on the St Helens Council as the property appears unoccupied. No further information has been received.
viii. Replacements for the damaged replica Railway have been ordered.
ix. There is on-going dialogue with Councillor Riley from Windle Parish Council regarding sharing information on Neighbourhood Planning. A meeting will take place on 10.02.2025. This was a positive meeting with information being exchanged and plans of action formulated. Further meetings will be held in due course.
x. The Annual Meeting of the Parish Council will take place on 01.05.2025 at 6pm, and the Chairperson’s evening will take place on Friday 09 May 2025.
xi. A letter has been received from the Valuation Office Agency. The information requested has been completed via the .gov website within the requested time frame. No replies have been received.
xii. No further information has been received from Councillor Mussell regarding costings for holding classes previously held in the Library in the Village Hall. Committee members were disappointed that the Borough Councillors had not contacted the Parish Council about the reported sale of the library building. Members had found out via a Facebook posting. The Clerk was asked to contact Councillor Mussell regarding the costings.
Action: The Clerk
7. Entrance Hall Carpet:
The Community Liaison Committee have asked the FPA to consider cleaning or preferably replacing the carpet for the hall, stairs and landing. Now that the decorating has been completed, the carpet looks worn and dirty and is spoiling the overall improvement.
There was a discussion. The Chairman pointed out that there were other areas where money needed spending as repairs and redecoration are required in Office 5 and The Clerk’s office. It was agreed that quotations should be obtained for both replacing and cleaning the carpet.
Action: The Clerk
8. Clerk/RFO Vacancy:
The Clerk informed the meeting that 3 candidates had been interviewed on 10.02.2025 and one had been offered the job, subject to satisfactory references being received and a 3-month probationary period, which will start on 01.04.2025. There was a discussion about the criteria that would be assessed during the probationary period. The essential criteria from the person specification will be used. Supervisory meetings will be held at least monthly, and a record kept of issues discussed. Councillor Long offered to conduct the meetings.
Councillor Stockton-Pugh left the meeting at 7.30pm.
The salary offered would be at the starting point stated on the job advert. The candidate is available to start immediately, and it is hoped that they will start on 01.03.2025 and work one month with the current clerk.
The draft contract of employment will be sent out to all members of the committee for approval.
Action: The Clerk
There being no other business, the meeting closed at 7.35pm
_________________________
Councillor John Long
Chairman, Finance, Planning & Administration Committee
Rainford Parish Council 2024/2511. Draft FPA Minutes 12.02.2025
