Present :
		R Gleave, Chairman R Holt, Vice Chairman E Connor S Pardoe E Burrows N Tappin K Worrall M Hodgson Cllr A Hooker

1. Minutes of the last meeting held on 3^rd March were accepted and signed as a correct record.

2. Public Matters

No members of the public present.

3. Matters Arising

a) Playing field - Still no letters from VR.
b) J Oakley has said that work on Chapel Lane will start in April / May.
c) J Oakley has confirmed that a letter has been sent to Mr Holland.
d) Letter from Police with reference to 'speed gun' stating that they have no plans at the moment to adopt the practice of lending speed guns to members of the public.
e) Cllr Hooker to speak to J Oakley about the bad state of the roads & pathways throughout the village, with the view of some repair to them before the PC AGM.
f) Village plan has now been framed at the cost of £10 for plan & £65 for framing. Mr M Hodgson to be reimbursed. Position in Parish Room of plan to be decided. PC suggested under the clock.

4. Planning Applications

a) Milton Heyes. Sandfield Lane, for Mr & Mrs Heath, --- Conservatory
No objections
b) Land adjacent to Sandycroft, Warrington Road for Mr & Mrs Butler - 2 Stables plus a block of 3 timber units for further stables & feed stores & sand surface to exercise horses.
No objections as long as they are for own use and not for commercial use.

5. Planning Decisions

a) Milton Heyes Sandfield Lane. Garage & vinery withdrawn.
b) 15 Milton Rough, Change in roof slope.& Conservatory --- permission given by VR
c) Bluebells Old Lane. Conversion of roof space & conservatory etc --- permission given by VR.

6. Authority for signing cheques

a) Town & Parish Council membership fee --- £ 98.04
b) Footpath Association fee --- £8.00
c) Reimbursement M Hodgson --- £75.00

7. District Representatives Report

Cllr A Hooker reported that people can vote on the Internet for the VR Council elections. Papers are to be delivered next week. The Borough is going through a Corporate assessment at the moment. Comprehensive Performance Assessment report is to be circulated.
Cllr Hooker has spoken to John Oakley concerning village problems.

8. Reports from other meetings

N Tappin attended a Parish Council Seminar. Discussions covered road links to houses, Green & brown fields and the Village plan. Villages were encouraged to do a village plan. It will be very difficult to do a plan for Acton Bridge as it is very widespread.
Best Kept Village : judging to begin on 13 April and goes on until 13 July.
ABCA Newsletter to be produced by Mr R Holt making villagers aware of Acton Bridge's entry to the competition.
Cheshire Planning Forum was attended by Mr R Gleave.
New Planning Bill - There will be 2 new rules for Spring '04 :
a) No need for outline planning applications - all details to be in first plan.
b) Work has to be started in 3 years, not 5 years as at present.
Cheshire will have 2 or 3 regional assemblies. There will probably be a referendum in 2 years time.
Village design statements. This is a community project, not Parish Council. A history is needed and a detailed report on good & bad points of the village and a very detailed plan. The Design Statement has no statutory status but will be listened to by the planners.

9. Correspondence

a) Police Forum 9th April.
b) NW Air Ambulance - request for donation.
c) CCC Winnington Lane Bridge - temporary closure.
d) Town & Parish Council Assoc - request for subscription
e) Footpaths Assoc - request for subscription.
f) ABCA Future rent for Parish Room charge. PC agreed to keep it at the 'peppercorn' rate of £1 per year.
g) Cheshire Constabulary, ref Speed gun. They have no plans to adopt this practice. Will give area attention when they can.
h) DEFRA Quality Parish & Town Council Initiative.
i) VRBC Draft Cultural Survey.

10. Village Matters

1) Lines outside Hazel Pear pub. Mr S Pardoe has compiled a report which has been sent to CCC stating what has been done as opposed to the original agreed plan. Traffic has not slowed down as they now take a wider turn. It was remarked upon the fact that a white van which is always parked at the end of Station Road does not help matters as the road narrows at that spot.
2) Nursery, Station Rd - nothing seems to be happening there. It has been noticed that the door has been broken.
3) Cheshire railings - it was reported that Mr Penney is not willing to have them repaired if they do not belong to him.
4) Bus shelter - Station Rd is not very safe. Cllr A Hooker to find out about grants.
5) Pot holes in roads have been highlighted, hopefully for repair.
6) Playing field - Mr Fox, who is dealing with this matter at VR, will be requested to attend a Parish Council meeting to explain what is happening about the new equipment that was promised.
7) It was suggested that a litter bin on the 'Give Way' sign at the end of Chapel Lane could alleviate the problem of litter in that area.
8) A caravan has been parked on the footpath along Chapel Lane.

11. Any other business

a) A new VR Policy will not allow any more barn conversions, but will allow them to be changed for holiday lets.
c) Mr E Connor asked Cllr A Hooker if she could find out what a site license allows at a caravan park.
d) There have been no new candidates for the Parish Council, therefore the council is as before. No election required.
e) Clerks salary was reviewed. A 5% increase was agreed.

12. Next meeting will be the Annual General Meeting to be held on Monday 12^th May 2003 at 7.00 pm

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