LITTLE ECCLESTON WITH LARBRECK PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING
Thursday 10th April 2025, 7.00pm at Elswick Village Hall, Roseacre Road, Elswick.
PRESENT: Cllr P Bull (Chair)
Cllr A M Bull (Vice Chair)
Cllr Steve Milton
Cllr D May
Cllr Sandra Milton
Cllr G Stead
Cllr J Smith
Cllr P Hayhurst
Cllr J Singleton (left the meeting following his update)
IN ATTENDANCE: Diane Baker (Clerk)
Public Participation
No public attendance.
1000/25 1. Apologies for Absence
None
1001/25 2. Declaration of Interests and Dispensations
Cllrs S and S Milton. Item 8. pecuniary (contract)
Cllr G Stead. Item 7.a) pecuniary
1002/25 3. Minutes of the Previous Meeting
| It was resolved to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 13th March 2025 as an accurate record. | AP: Clerk to update website accordingly.
|
1003/25 4. Action Tracker
The action tracker of previous decisions of the Council was noted. Cllr Singleton addressed the pruning of West End trees in his note to Council (see item 9).
1004/25 5. Finance
- To receive and approve the monthly bank reconciliation.
- To receive and approve the cumulative budget report.
- To authorise payments.
- To acknowledge receipt of income.
- To discuss the transfer of funds from the current account to savings account.
- To discuss and approve the claiming of 6.30 hours’ Time Off In Lieu (TOIL) by the Clerk for additional hours worked.
| It was resolved to continue the work on the new budget spreadsheet for presentation at May’s meeting.
It was noted that no income had been received. All payments were authorised (see table below)
It was resolved to transfer £15,000 from the T1 current account to the savings account forthwith.
It was resolved to approve the Clerk’s TOIL in recognition of additional hours worked.
It was resolved to renew the Zurich Public Liability insurance for 2025/2026 at a cost of £300 per annum. |
AP: Clerk to populate with 2025/2026 budget headings and work with Cllr May on formulate issues.
AP: Clerk to transfer the monies and check to see if there was an automated facility to transfer between accounts if an overdraft on the T1 account occurred.
AP: Clerk to present a schedule of hours worked including tasks undertaken at future meetings so that an assessment could be made regarding hours allocated to the role.
AP: Clerk to renew the policy. |
| DATE | PAYEE | DETAILS | NET AMOUNT
£ |
VAT
£ |
GROSS AMOUNT
£ |
| 03.03.25 | Staff | Expenses | 40.00 | 40.00 | |
| 13.03.25 | P Bull | Reimbursement for Plaque | 41.99 | 41.99 | |
| 14.03.25 | S&S Milton | Amenity Cleansing (February and March) | 780.00 | 780.00 | |
| 17.03.25 | EDF | Supply of unmetered electricity | 10.42 | 0.52 | 10.94 |
| 24.03.25 | EE | Mobile Phone | 13.00 | 2.60 | 15.60 |
| 24.03.25 | Staff | Salary | 382.57 | 382.57 | |
| 31.03.25 | Bank | Service charge | 6.00 | 6.00 | |
| Bank balance at close of business 31.03.25 = 19,989.76 | |||||
1005/25 6. Monthly Health and Safety Risk Assessment
- It was noted that the style at Larbreck Bridge had been repaired and reported to the landowner as an issue. Cllr Hayhurst advised the meeting that grants were available from the County Council for such work, which would be carried out by contractors covered by the appropriate insurance. He also advised that ecology grants were available.
| It was resolved to contact Lancashire County Council to enquire about grants for repairs. | AP: Cllr Steve Milton |
| It was resolved to contact Lancashire County Council to enquire about ecology grants. | AP: Cllr G Stead. |
1006/25 7. Planning and Licensing
- Application 25/0194 relating to Cobblestones, Cartford Lane, Little Eccleston PR3 0YP was discussed. The proposal involved a single storey rear extension and alterations to existing first floor rear conservatory. Cllr Stead, who had already declared a pecuniary interest, left the meeting for this item.
- Application 25/0222 relating to Hillside Barn, Well Lane, Little Eccleston PR3 0XR was discussed. The proposal involved the erection of an agricultural livestock building with solar panels to east facing roof slope.
- Merlewood Country Park was discussed in relation to a recent electricity outage, which resulted in a loss of five and a half hours electricity to 85 dwellings in the village.
- Lancashire County Council’s Notice of Proposal regarding the bus stop clearway at a) Garstang Road, north side, from a point 8.3 metres east of its junction with the centreline of Blackpool Old Road, for a distance of 27 metres in an easterly direction, and b) Garstang Road, the South side, from a point of 50.8 metres west of its junction with the projected centreline of Blackpool Old Road for a distance of 27 metres in a westerly direction, was discussed.
| It was resolved to support Application 25/0194 | AP: Clerk to notify the Planning Department of the decision. |
| It was resolved to support Application 25/0222. | AP: Clerk to notify the Planning Department of the decision. |
| It was agreed that the Chair would write to the owner regarding c) above. | AP: Cllr P Bull to write to the owner of Merlewood Country Park and also discuss with the Fylde Borough Council enforcement team. Cllr P Bull will also copy Cllr Hayworth into correspondence. |
| It was agreed that a letter would be issued to Lancaster County Council regarding d) above. The letter should address current speed limits (need to be reduced) and the movement of bollards outside Sunningdale, to facilitate a pedestrian crossing. | AP: Clerk to write to Lancashire County Council. |
1007/25 8. Amenities/Maintenance/Environment
To discuss and consider any issues and resolve any actions required.
- Cllr P Bull presented a plaque that recognised Ron & Louise Hart’s donation of the Christmas tree at the west end of Blackpool Old Rod. Cllr Steve Milton will secure it in place.
1008/25 9. County and Borough Council
To receive updates from County and Borough Councillors
| Cllr Singleton explained that he couldn’t get the Highways Department to consider the 20mph as they based their decisions on historical data including accidents and fatalities. However, he was still pursuing this. He would ask them to look at road signage, to see if this would serve as a natural slowing of traffic. He will request a visit to look at different management options. | AP: Cllr A M Bull to write to Cllr Singleton to set out some options. |
| Cllr Singleton asked the Parish Council to provide options for the location of a ‘give way’ sign. The Council asked if engineers could assist with the legalities of sign placement and expertise on the best location. | AP: Cllr John Singleton to meet with engineers. |
| Cllr Singleton explained it had been deemed by Lancashire County Council that the trees at West End did not require further pruning. The Parish Council explained that they needed to be crowned and the location was clarified. | AP: Clerk to ensure the Action Tracker log remains active. |
| Cllr Singleton explained that the Cuadrilla work is still progressing. | |
| Cllr Singleton advised that there may be future opportunities for further donations to the Village In Bloom budget. | |
| Cllr Singleton was asked by the Parish Council if more notice could be provided in future, regarding road works affecting the village. There was an impact on business, the village roads were being used as ‘rat runs’ and it was also reported that works started before 8am each morning. | |
| Cllr Hayhurst updated the meeting on local government reorganisations and the financial impact of future devolution plans. He explained that there was an opportunity for Parish Council’s to contribute towards the consultations.
Cllr Stead advised everyone that the LALC Fylde Area Committee meeting would be dedicated to these issues and urged all to attend Kirkham Community Centre. on 22 May 2025 at 7pm. It was suggested that an agenda item exploring how the Parish Council would survive without elements of Fylde Borough Council funding be included on the next meeting agenda. |
AP: Clerk to ensure everyone receives notification of the meeting.
AP: Clerk to include for May’s agenda. |
1009/25 10. Business Continuity Plan
No revisions required.
1010/25 11. Clerk’s line management
Cllr P Bull explained the proposal for the Clerk to have clear lines of reporting and management in order to ensure best value for the Parish Council. Following a discussion a vote was held and five Councillors voted in favour of the Clerk reporting to the Chair of the Parish Council, whilst continuing to serve the Council as a whole. One Councillor abstained and Cllr Stead voted against the proposal and requested that his vote be recorded.
1011/25. 12. Financial Regulations
- The new model Financial Regulations 2025 were discussed and it was agreed that amendments would be made to some of the financial limits and the Regulations would be discussed again at the next meeting before any approval was made.
| It was resolved to review the financial limits | AP: Clerk to make comparisons against existing Financial Regulations and present for discussion at next meeting. |
| It was noted that the supply of electricity for the Christmas period was still ongoing. | AP: Clerk has now obtained a telephone number to discuss this matter.
|
1012/25 13. Internal Audit
The Clerk has spent a considerable amount of time preparing for the annual Internal Audit and will meet with the Auditor on 14th April to hand over documents. Some had already been provided electronically.
1012/25 14. Items for next Agenda:
Elections of Chair and Vice Chair
Appointments to Outside Bodies
Approve the dates of Parish Council meetings 2025/2026
Review of model Financial Regulations 2025
Review the financial situation in the event of funding being withdrawn by Fylde Borough Council.
Review times of Parish Council start times
Terms for future agendas
Business Continuity Plan to be reviewed previous month and following month
1014/25 15. Date of Next Meeting:
Thursday 8th May 2025