On-line guide to Poynton

POYNTON WITH WORTH PARISH COUNCIL  
Annual Plan Summary 2008 - 2009

MISSION STATEMENT

TO SERVE the local community by efficient management of our present services and by proactively responding to future requirements

TO REPRESENT the views of the local community to other authorities and agencies  and thus influence and improve their service provision

TO CONSULT with the local community on existing and new services and to act as a focus for local issues.

YOUR LOCAL COUNCIL

Poynton with Worth Parish Council comprises 17 elected members serving the 3 electoral wards of Poynton. 

                                 
The Parish Council’s services are administered by four committees: Parks, Buildings and Highways; Crime, Order and Public Safety; Planning and Environment; and Finance & General Purposes. Council and Committee meetings are held on Monday evenings at 8.00 p.m. in the Council Chamber (with the exception of Finance & General Purposes Committee which usually meets at 7.15 p.m.). Members of the public are welcome to attend the meetings, and public participation – “Chairman’s Question Time” – is held prior to the Parish Council meeting. Agendas and Minutes of Meetings are displayed on the Civic Hall Notice Board, and the dates of meetings published in the Poynton Post.

One full time and six part time members of staff are employed, together with two contractors who are responsible for street lighting and play areas, respectively.

The Parish Council owns the Civic Hall, and Play Areas at Brecon Close and Hockley, parts of Lady’s and Prince’s Inclines, and over 100 “footway” street lights, three bus shelters and six notice boards.

SERVICES CURRENTLY PROVIDED BY THE PARISH COUNCIL 

Civic Hall
Community rooms for hire with fully accessible facilities
Indoor recreation facilities for badminton, short mat bowling, dancing, exercise classes, model car club.
Information Centre in partnership with Macclesfield Borough Council
Monthly Council Surgery on Saturday mornings

Parish Play Areas
Provision and maintenance of play equipment
Access control, collection of litter and removal of graffiti

Highways
Provision and maintenance of footway lighting owned by the Parish Council
On-going programme of works to improve lighting to highway standard, in appropriate areas
Provision and maintenance of three bus shelters, and six notice boards
Provision of Lengthsman service

Poynton Inclines
Tree management and maintenance scheme (provided by Macclesfield Borough Council)
Provision of litter bins and emptying

Planning Issues and Development Control
Commenting on and providing recommendations on all planning applications in Poynton to the Planning Authority, Macclesfield Borough Council
Presenting the local perspective in consultations on Local and Structure Plans

Maintaining records of planning decisions, licensing applications and Tree Preservation Orders, and making these available for public inspection
General

Representing the views of the local community to other authorities and central government, e.g. Community Plan and Boundary Committee Review
Working in partnership with other organisations and authorities for the benefit of Poynton

“Pump-priming” grant aid available for local organisations

In addition to its normal work, the Council through its committees plans to carry out the following:

Parks, Buildings and Highways Committee

• Contribute to a Management Strategy in partnership with Macclesfield    Borough Council for Poynton Park
• Continue to provide a dedicated room for You & Yours Counselling Service and Visyon counselling for the young aged between 11 to 25 years old at the Civic Hall

• Continue to extend the Lengthsman service to address the issues of graffiti on NTL and BT boxes, litter, fly posting, minor hedging and highway works, in response to local demand
• Continue with the Inclines Tree Management Programme (via services provided by Macclesfield Borough Council)

• Provide floral decorations on the lamp posts in Park Lane and at Fountain Place

• Continue to promote safer routes to school and road safety measures

Planning and Environment Committee

• Continue to safeguard the Green Belt and the future development of Poynton 
• Continue to make recommendations regarding the suitability of licensing applications taking into account local issues
• Encourage public participation prior to Planning Committee meetings
• Continue to liaise and work with local groups such as the Bae Systems 

• Local Consultative Group, Poynton Residents’ Association
• Encourage and assist local groups, schools and youth organisations to have a positive impact on environmental issues
• Design and execute selected environmental projects including the annual litter pick
• Use existing and new legislation for the benefit of Poynton in tackling environmental issues
• Monitor the performance of Macclesfield Borough Council’s street cleansing and take regular action when necessary to maintain clean, litter free streets in Poynton

Crime, Order and Public Safety Committee

• Provide 27.5% funding (72.5% funding provided by the Police) for the provision of four dedicated Poynton Police Community Support Officers and monitor their effectiveness in the reduction of crime and disorder.
• Continue to provide funding for and oversee Speedwatch schemes in partnership with the Police.
• Take a pro-active stance to address Crime, Order and Public Safety issues Safety issues and achieve a substantial reduction in criminal damage and low level crime
• Maintain liaison with Police and facilitate local Police surgeries and public meetings
• Encourage and assist local groups, schools and youth organisations in their efforts to reduce crime and disorder
• Continue to remove graffiti as it appears and ensure private property also removes it 
• Use existing and new legislation for the benefit of Poynton in tackling crime, order and public safety issues 

Finance and General Purposes Committee

• Maintain efficient financial control systems to comply with legislation
• Develop personnel policy and control personnel procedures
• Support the Parish Plan Steering Committee
• Support Poynton in Bloom
• Support the Twinning Association of Poynton 
• Award grants to local voluntary organisations

All Committees

• Work with all sectors of the community to provide better facilities and improve the quality of life for local residents
• Champion the recommendations of the Village Plan to achieve successful implementation 
• Consider the effect of Council decisions on crime and disorder and its prevention
• Increase partnership working with Macclesfield Borough Council to improve services
• Seek alternative funding sources whenever possible (grants, partnerships etc.) to improve the facilities and services in Poynton at minimal additional cost to council tax payers
• Keep up to date on new legislation and undertake appropriate consultation to inform the Council’s response


PARISH PRECEPT

To provide this level of service in 2008/2009 is estimated to cost £278,470. The estimated income for the same period from hirings, leases, etc., is estimated at £52,510, which reduces the cost to £225,960 to be levied as part of the Council Tax. This means that, for a Band D property in Poynton, the annual cost equates to £37.44 or 72p per week.


CONSULTATION PROCESS – YOUR OPINIONS AND IDEAS

The Parish Council would welcome the views of the local community on how its present services can be better delivered and improved, and what, if any, new services should be provided. 

A feedback form, for your comments and suggestions, is available online here on PoyntonWeb - click here 

Alternatively, you can write to your local Councillor or the Chairman of the Parish Council c/o Poynton-with-Worth Parish Council, Civic Hall, off Park Lane, Poynton, Cheshire, SK12 1RB, or email the Parish Council at poyntonpc@btconnect.com