This Is a Report on the Issue of Parking Problems Throughout the Town of Penwortham And
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PENWORTHAM TOWN COUNCIL
STRATEGY AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
Meeting held at the Penwortham Community Centre at 6.15pmon Monday 18July 2016.
Present:CouncillorsD Bretherton, H Hancock,D Howarth,AE Pimblett, R Taylor, Mrs C Wooldridge,D Wooldridge and T Young.
In attendance:Steve Caswell, Town Manager and Responsible Financial Officer (RFO)
Marie Dardis, Democratic Services Officer
7.Apologies for Absence
No apologies for absence were received.
8.Declarations of Interest
Councillor’s Mr and Mrs Wooldridge, Bretherton and Taylor all declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the Kingsfold Football Club Sponsorship item (minute no. 14) due to the Secretary of Kingsfold Football Club being an elected member of the Labour party, and left the meeting during the consideration of, and voting on this item.
Councillor Howarth declared a non personal and prejudicial interest in the Public Rights of Way Work, Expression of Interest – Preston Junction and LCC Property Strategy items (minute no. 11,12 & 13) as an elected member of Lancashire County Council, but was able, under the Members’ Code of Conduct, to remain in the meeting and take part in the discussion and voting.
Councillor Young declared a personal interest in the LCC Property Strategy (minute no. 13), as a member of Kings Church, he had a separate involvementwith Priory Lane Youth and Community Centre, but was able, under the Members’ Code of Conduct, to remain in the meeting and take part in the discussion and voting.
9.Minutes of the Last Meeting
RESOLVED:that the minutes of the meeting of the committee held on 16 May 2016be approved as a correct record and signed by the chairman.
10. Monitoring of Income and Expenditure
1st Quarter Year Accounts – to End June 2016
The Responsible Financial Officer presented a report and responded to questions.
RESOLVED:that the report on the monitoring of income and expenditure relating to the quarterly accounts to the end of June 2016 be approved.
11.Public Rights of Way Work
The Committee considered a report on the reduction of service and repair by Lancashire County Council (LCC) on the Public Rights of Way (PROW) within Penwortham and asked the Committee to consider the report.
The RFO explained the changes in working practices at LCC and confirmed that the maintenance required would involveoccasional strimming and repairs to a small number of stiles in Penwortham.
In response to a question by Councillor Wooldridge, the RFO confirmed that any major works needed would continue to be reported and carried out by Lancashire County Council.
Following a short discussion, it was proposed by Councillor Howarth that the Town Council continue to maintain the public rights of Way in Penwortham.
RESOLVED:i)that the report be noted; and
ii)that the Town Council continue to maintain and repair the Public Rights of Way in Penwortham.
12.Expression of Interest – Preston Junction
The RFO reported on the Preston Junction local nature reserve and asked the Committee to consider the Town Council taking over the maintenance of the site, including the provision of waste bins. Due to the scale of the area, it was suggested that South Ribble Borough Council would be more suitable and better equipped to manage the area more cost effectively.
RESOLVED:i)that the offer from Lancashire County Council to take over the maintenance of the Preston Junction site be declined based on the issues raised at the meeting.
13.LCC Property Strategy
The RFO presented a report on the current Lancashire County Council Property Strategy and the Town Council’s interest in the Priory Lane Youth and Community Centre and Penwortham Library buildings.
Councillor D Wooldridge expressed his commitment and stressed the importance of maintaining these well used public buildings for the future use of Penwortham residents. Councillor Howarth supported Councillor Wooldridge’s comments and suggested that the income figures missing from the property information packs would help to offset the actual running costs for the buildings.
Councillor Young referred to KingsChurch and suggested that the church group currently hired the Youth and Community Centre and hoped to continue to do so. Councillor Young also confirmed that King’s Church had not expressed an interest in the building with Lancashire County Council.
Councillor Howarth suggested that Priory Youth and Community Centre could be used as an alternative location for user groups that may lose the use of St. Mary’s Church Hall.
Councillor D Wooldridge suggested alternative uses for the existing Penwortham Library building such as a volunteer lead theatre or museum/tourist information office. Councillor Hancock agreed with Councillor Wooldridge’s suggestion but raised slight concern in relation to the lack of parking facilities at the location.
Councillor Young informed the Committee that he had formerly applied to list the library building on Liverpool Road to protect the building’s art deco architectural design.
In response to a question raised by Councillor Bretherton in relation to costs for the Youth and Community Centre and Library Building, the RFO suggested that the income from user groups would reduce the overall costs and the possible income generated in CIL monies from the two major City Deal housing developments in Penwortham could be used for any necessary building works. Councillor Bretherton also referred to management costs and extra staff needed to operate the additional buildings.
Councillor D Wooldridge referred to the existing youth workers at Priory Lane Youth and Community Centre and expressed his concern at the potential loss of those skills and knowledge in the community.
It was proposed by Councillor Howarth and seconded by Councillor Pimblett that the Town Council continue to pursue their interest in the buildings.
RESOLVED:i)that the Town Council continue with the asset transfer process with Lancashire County Council for the Penwortham Library and Priory Youth and Community Centre buildings; and
ii)that a business case be presented to Lancashire County Council.
14.Kingsfold Football Club
Councillor’s Mr and Mrs Wooldridge, Bretherton and Taylor having declared an interest left the room at this point in the meeting. Councillor Howarth took the Chair.
The RFO presented a report on a request made by Kingsfold Football Club to sponsor the club. Councillor Howarth expressed his concern at choosing one football club to sponsor due to the amount of other football clubs in Penwortham. Councillor Howarth also suggested that the Town Council had not sponsored individual football teams in Penwortham in previous years but would be happy to accept the request as a grant application.
Following a short discussion, the committee agreed to contribute £250 towards the running cost for Kingsfold Football Club for the forthcoming season rather than sponsorship of the club.
Councillor Howarth proposed and Councillor Pimblett seconded that the Town Council’s policy on awarding grants should be reviewed and amended to reflect future consideration for funding applications from football teams.
RESOLVED:i)that a grant of £250 be made to Kingsfold Football Club; and
ii)that the Town Council’s policy on awarding grants beamended to reflect the rules for footballclub sponsorship requests.
………………………………CHAIRMAN
(The meeting finished at 6.55pm)
The minutes of this meeting will be published on the website