MINUTES
Meeting in the Rufford Village Hall
Monday 14th April, 2003

Present.
Cllrs Grace. Gordon. Colling. Lee. Rimmer. Cummings. Ashcroft plus 11 members of the public.

Minutes of last meeting.
Prop. Cllr Rimmer.
Sec. Cllr Cummings.
That the minutes be verified as a correct record and signed.

Matters arising from the minutes.
Fayre Game.
Screening not yet carried out. Letter to WLDC.
Fencing not erected. Letter to Fayre Game.

Community Futures.
Members of the various action groups attended and gave reports on the progress
made.

Mrs. Ashcroft. Meeting held with young people and their opinions noted.
Further meeting to be held, when a Cttee will be formed.

Mrs. Derby. Enforcement Officer to be again approached over Dog Fouling.
Parish Council to request weekly street cleaning and bins emptied.
Also request for larger litterbins and that damaged bins be replaced.

Mr. Pickervance. No further details on "The Hesketh"
Council to write expressing concern over the deterioration of this
listed building.

Mr. Gordon. Letters received from Cllr Hodge & the M.P stating that the 30mph
should shortly be implemented.
Survey of Holmeswood Rd B5246 is being carried out by volunteers.

Mr. Quinlan. Medieval Fayre main concern at the moment, other functions later.
The action groups to be asked to give further report at the next meeting.

Finance.
Grass cutting now started. C.I. Rufford Signs now painted.
Hesketh Court wall repairs now started.

Walking Day.
P.C. representative Cllr Colling presented members of the council with an agenda for the walking day on the 19th July 03.

National Trust.
Medieval Fayre -Car Parking at this and other events.
The Parish Council discussed the request for the use of the recreation ground field on this and other events.
The use of the field was refused due to the following,
a. Serious drainage problems on the field.
b. The traffic problem of vehicle using Flash Lane would be enormous.
c. The Village Hall itself is booked at some period in during each event.
The following facilities were offered.
Easter. Cars to use Hesketh Court only. Trust to supply supervision.
Fayre. Cars to use Hesketh Court. 14.th June 03
Village Hall and use of car park. Whilst on hire to Trust.
Flower Festival. 19.20. 21st July Hesketh Court only.

Post Office.
Councilor Grace to attend a meeting about Post Office closures throughout the area.

Rufford School.
The head Teacher has resigned and will be leaving shortly.

The Green. Smithy Lane. H' wood. WLDC to be informed this area needs cutting.

Turning Bay. Outside Rufford Post Office. LCC to be informed that this area as not yet attended to.

The Sluice. Opposite Cricket Ground.
The Environmental Agency to be informed of the debris being thrown on to the banks in this area.

Burscough Football Club.
Letter of congratulation to be sent to the club on their achievement in reaching the final of the F.A. Trophy.

Overhanging Trees. Flash Lane.
The Aboriculturist (WLDC) to be asked along with Mr. M. Dolling to inspect the
branches overhanging the property in Flash Lane, if the branches are diseased the Parish Council will agree to remove them.. If they are not diseased it will be the responsibility of the owner to agree over there removal.

Planning.
8.2003/0321. R.Village Hall. Side .ext & conservatory. No objection
0323 197 L 'pool Rd. Conservatory Cllr Colling dec. interest do
0337 6 The Stables. do do
0367 2 The Hawthorns do do
0375 453 L' pool Rd Dem of old building & replace with new do

Concerns and objections over the Village Hall extension were raised by members of the public present, who were advised to send their objections to WLDC.

Accounts
Prop Cllr Cummings.
Sec. Cllr Rimmer
That the accounts be paid.
000831 J.Forshaw. Salary £ 350.00
2 Crossroads. Grant £ 200.00
3 Air Ambulance. Grant £ 150.00
4 LAPTC Subs etc £ 421.43
5 WLDC Rent bin £ 37.43
6 R.Hewitt C.I Signs painting £ 58.25
7 R. V.Hall Cleaning rec. ground £ 50.00
8 Cornhill Insurance £ 842.90

Income.
First Installment Precept. £17484.50

Next meeting. Monday 19th May 03. Annual General Meeting.

There being no further business the meeting then closed.

P.G.Grace
Chairman.