1) Public Matters
None present

2 Minutes of Previous Meetings
a) The minutes of the meeting 3rd November 2014 had been circulated. The minutes were accepted and signed.

3 Matters arising
June 2013 meeting
June 2013 meeting
Item 4 Planning Applications
Extended garage 23, Milton Rough. It is believed that the neighbour has now taken action with the Local Ombudsman on the CW&C handling of the matter and his concerns with the apparent lack of acceptance by CW&C over their responsibilities as Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA).

June 2014 meeting
3 Matters Arising
Reference the incident that had taken place on FP12 when three walkers had got into difficulties due to the poor state of the path. Clr Fifield had raised the matter again and also the letter from the Parish Council to Mr R Flood (CW&C Highways) on the role of CW&C as the Lead Local Flood Authority. Clr Fifield reported that Mr Flood said he was not the responsible person but that the letter had been forwarded to the appropriate Department. Clr Fifield has also tried to contact Mr S Holden (person responsible for Public Rights of Way) at CW&C. Action Clr Fifield - ongoing.

October Meeting
10 Village Matters
Item a) Work to install the defibrillator unit in a cabinet on the outside of the Parish Rooms has been completed. Clr Evans said that some training had been given to interested parties / people. More could be given if needed. Clr Oliver understood that there are instructions with the equipment that state it is necessary to check the batteries on a daily basis. This was thought to be an onerous task if true. Clr Fifield asked for a copy of the paperwork that had been sent to Clr Oliver.
Clr Oliver said that he had liaised with ABCA and had been able to confirm that daily checks were not necessary. Periodic checks on the state of the equipment were all that were necessary and Mr R Heaton had offered to check as part of his regular actions in the upkeep of the Parish Rooms. Action Clr Oliver - Completed
The investigation into the required checks had brought to light that the costs of renewing some parts of the equipment were quite expensive, new pads @ £400, battery £400. Together these were more than the cost of the machine.

Item c) Further to the item raised by Cllr Evans of his knowledge of three near-miss incidents on the bend of Cliff Road / Hill Top Road where cars overtake cyclists while cars are approaching from the other direction in contravention of Rule 163 of the Highway Code and the Parish Council letter to CW&C on signage, in view of the negative response, the Parish Council agreed that there is nothing more to be done at present. The Parish Council will keep the matter in abeyance, note any incidents that are brought to their attention and try to find suppliers of the signs similar to those in the photographs sent to CW&C.

November Meeting
9 Correspondence
The Clerk confirmed that she had contacted CW&C to acknowledge receipt of the letter regarding final approval of the Governance Review and that Acton Bridge would not attend the meeting as all items were as previously agreed. Action Clerk Completed

10 Village Matters
Further to the matter regarding that Acton Bridge had won the 'Best Kept Village' for our group but Clr Bayley had been unable to receive the award for the Village, Clr Fifield said that he had spoken to the Community Pride committee member that he knows and explained again the reason why Acton Bridge had not been represented at the presentation evening. He had been told the decision was final and could not be changed. Action Clr Fifield - Completed.
The Parish Council discussed the rejection and considered further participation in the competition. It was thought that there is merit in continuing and that the Village was improved by the actions and efforts in taking part. It was agreed that after the results had been circulated the matter would be considered again at the next meeting.

4 Planning Applications
a) Acton Hall Farm - amended plans have been received for the latest proposals that were commented upon in July. The main change is that the residential accommodation above the stable has been removed. The Parish Council discussed the stabling and associated buildings, size and construction in the light of what is required in the NPPF and the CW&C and Vale Royal Local Plans. It was recognised that the scheme did not comply with the temporary structures requirements for new stabling in the green belt and size and number of the stables and buildings was more than permitted. Also mentioned was that there was no information on the amount of available grazing for the proposed number of horses (based on the number of stables) and on the management of manure and protection of water courses.
It was observed that the residential accommodation is now not much bigger than the original area of the combined accommodation of the farmhouse.
It was agreed that the points on the equine development should be raised with CW&C and that the original observations and comments on the original submission in July should be taken into account.

b) Rosebank, Acton Lane Plans have been received to amend the scheme approved in 2011. The ground floor arrangement and changes are very similar to those already approved and the upper dormer accommodation has been deleted. The Parish Council have no objections or observations.

c) Woodstock, 9, Milton Rough. The original plans for extension, submitted in June and discussed by the Parish Council in July, had been withdrawn by the applicant following discussion with CW&C Planning Department. The Parish Council had not objected to the application. The new plans are similar but have reduced the size of the extension. The Parish Council considered that although the extension is large it does not affect the openness of the green belt and again have no objections.

5 Planning Decisions
The Falconry on Warrington Road has been approved. There are conditions on opening hours and that visiting is only to be by prior booking.

6 Financial Matters
a) The Clerk again reported on the ongoing discussions that she has had with the Cheshire Building Society and with the Nationwide B. S over the application of charges for cheques since the Parish Council account has been transferred to the Nationwide.
She had also had to point out to the Nationwide B.S that they should not have deducted tax from the interest on the account as Parish Councils are exempt. The account has now been credited with the deducted tax. Action Clerk Completed
Investigations on the possible charges for cheques were inconclusive and different people gave different responses at Nationwide BS. The Clerk had looked into changing the account to another bank and reported that the Co-Operative offered an account that did not charge for cheques and also has a cheque book system that could be used, on due signatures of Councillors, for payment of Council bills. This would be an easier system to manage than having to have cheques issued by the Branch office in Northwich. After discussion it was agreed that the Parish Council account and balances should be transferred to the Co-Operative Bank. Action Clerk

The Clerk was thanked for her prolonged efforts in trying to resolve the banking issues since the transfer from the Cheshire to the Nationwide B.S.

7 CWAC Ward Councillors
Clr Fifield had no additional topics to raise.

8 Reports from other meetings
Clr Pardoe reported that he had attended a meeting of the Weaverham and Acton Bridge Trust. A number of grants had been made to deserving applicants. It had been noted that there were no applicants from Acton Bridge residents and Clr Pardoe suggested that information on the Trust and its availability for assistance should be publicised in the Village newsletter. This was agreed by all.

9 Correspondence
CW&C - Members Briefings, issues 736 - 748 to 763.
CW&C - Bulletin -November 2014.
CPRE - Countryside Voice Winter 2014.
CPRE - Fieldwork report and minutes Winter 2014.
Letter Nationwide B.S. refund of tax.
Co-Operative Bank - application forms.
Joint Cemetery Committee - minutes for April and July 2014.
Mid-Cheshire Footpaths Society - Walks programme January to June 2015.
Partnership West - November Leaflet

10 Village Matters
a) Clr Bayley mentioned that the rickshaw in the recent 'Children in Need' fund-raising had passed through the Village.
b) The Chairman said that a resident had reported that the triangular milepost set along the roadside opposite Woodlands on Station Road had been removed. The matter had been reported to CW&C and the Police.
c) Residents on Station Road had reported that there are floodlights in use on the menage at Milton Heyes and that a large steel-framed structure was also being erected. These matters had been forwarded to CW&C for action. The use of floodlights was specifically excluded in the conditions for use when permission for the menage was granted.
d) The Clerk has again notified Highways that several street lights along Acton Lane are not working.

11 Any other business
None

Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be on Monday 5th January 2015, at 7-30pm.