'May' Parish Council Update

The May Meeting of the Parish Council was preceded by a raft of new appointments.

The outgoing Chair, Neil Matthews, extended his heartfelt thanks to both the Clerk, Jean Dutton, and to his fellow Councillors for their support and encouragement during his three year period of office.

Elections of both the Chair and Vice-Chair Persons took place thereafter ...
*Cllr Iain Keeping was voted Chair of the Parish Council
*Cllrs Alison Pritchard and Jonny Kershaw were voted Vice Chair-Persons

Various issues were then raised in the Open Forum of the Parish Council Meeting that followed, not least in terms of the outcomes to the Planning Appeals (all of which had been rejected by the Secretary of State); the volume of signage that has appeared on the Direct Mail Tattenhall outlet (in the heart of the conservation area) and which we were informed has been reported to the Law Enforcement Officer; the reinstatement of the grass verge which has been mentioned in previous meetings, the overhanging hedge near the site of the former Catholic Church, and the ongoing problem of dog fouling (not least in terms of 3 known incidents of residents receiving verbal abuse from dog owners in recent weeks).

Other matters which might be of interest to our readers this morning include a vacancy which has arisen on the Parish Council. The Clerk will officially advertise the vacancy on the village noticeboard and Parish Council Website and mention of it can also be found in the current issue of the Parish News.

The Parish Council approved various applications (wholly or partly) in relation to events surrounding the Armistice in 2018, to an application submitted by the Tennis Club and to another relating to signage for the new Village Market.

Some monies were also approved in relation to upgrading the 'control mechanism' on the Church Clock which has now been out of action for the last 4 months. That said, it was agreed that the Friends of the Church would also part-fund the improvements to this much loved feature of our village.

In relation to the Planning Appeal outcomes which we have already featured on Tattenhall Online, Cllr Weaver thanked the Parish Council for their superb support but she wished to extend her thanks to the community of Tattenhall, who were unwavering in their patience throughout what has been a very very long process and outcome.

Now that these 3 Planning Appeals have been rejected, it was argued that we cannot be complacent. Rather we must be vigilant as other developers might seek to advance their cause. In line with this, it was acknowledged that no-one wishes to re-examine and hold a referendum on our Neighbourhood Plan every 5 years but that a review of our Neighbourhood Plan, in whatever format, must be undertaken within 5 years of the Plan having been 'made'. This means, therefore, that 2019 is on our radar; our Plan having been made in 2014. Cllr Weaver will continue to update us on these requirements.

Various other matters were generally discussed, regarding, for example, the official opening of the Playground (some distance off), a summer fete (in some format), decorating the village with bunting etc. but acknowledging that the problem of litter continues to be an ongoing problem.

Draft Minutes will appear on the Parish Council Website within 10 working days.

Tattenhall Online also extends its thanks to Neil Matthews (our outgoing Chair) and to Jean Dutton – it was very pleasing to see that you are both restored to good health.