Parish Councils were established through the Local Government Act 1894 to take over the powers and duties previously administered by churchwardens and overseers of the poor. The law relating to the constitution, creation and dissolution of local councils is contained in the Local Government Act 1972.
Scarisbrick Parish Council is a corporate body comprising the first tier of local government. Its purpose is to represent and serve the residents of the parish. It is comprised of democratically elected councillors who are unpaid and serve for a four year term of office. Scarisbrick Parish Council has ten members and employs a part time Clerk to implement decisions. Parish Councils are granted powers by Parliament, which essentially relate to local matters, and include the power to raise money through taxation (the precept) to fund its activities. They can only do that which they are empowered to do by law.
The Chairman gives an annual report on the work of the Council at the Annual Parish Meeting which takes place in May of each year. The Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer to Scarisbrick Parish Council is:
Mrs Judith Smith
Mobile: 07879713073
e-mail: scarisbrickpc@outlook.com
Can I attend meetings of the council?
Yes, all meetings of the council are open to the general public (except in very exceptional circumstances) and you are encouraged to attend.
Please note that the meeting venues can change at short notice and are shown on the meeting agendas. Please check before travelling.
Can I speak at the meeting?
You cannot speak while the normal business of the meeting is being conducted. However, provision is made in every agenda for members of the public to address the Council. The Clerk can provide you with details about how this works.
Can I see the minutes of council meetings and other papers?
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2010 you may see and have a copy of the ‘recorded’ information held by the council (unless it is classed as exempt information in the Act). This includes (but is not limited to) agendas, minutes, policies and procedures, and financial information. Much of this is available on this website, any other queries should be addressed to the Clerk. There may be postal and photocopying charges for paper copies and data protection rules may apply.
Do councillors have to declare financial or other interests they have in matters discussed by the council?
Yes. All councillors have to abide by a Code of Conduct which sets out which interests have to be declared. They must also complete a Register of Interests that is open to inspection by members of the public. The Clerk has a copy of the Register which can also be found on West Lancashire Borough Council’s website.
What do I do if I have a complaint against the council?
The Council encourages an informal approach in the first instance. Many issues are the result of a misunderstanding and can be resolved quickly; this also gives an opportunity for the Council to give advice should a complaint need directing elsewhere. We aim to resolve complaints at this stage within five working days. Contact the Clerk or Chairman in the first instance. If this does not resolve the matter (or you don’t want an informal approach), please see the Council’s complaints procedure.
Does the Parish Council have any influence with respect to planning applications?
Scarisbrick Parish Council is consulted by relevant planning authorities on applications affecting the parish. Views expressed by the Parish Council are taken into account before a decision is made but the final decision is made by the relevant planning authority, not the Parish Council.
Good Morning
We live in Halsall and walk along the canal on a regular basis, this week we have noticed Razor Wire, yes Razor Wire, on the iron bridge at the boat yard in Scarisbrick.
This area is beautiful and protected and walking along the canal is a privilege but now that area looks like the entrance to a prison, such a Blot on the landscape!
It is also dangerous as very low and people could be harmed.
How can this dangerous eye sore be allowed by your counsel. I understand that it is private land but it is private land with a PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, surely this Razor Wire needs to be removed?
Regards
Mrs jayne Heyes
The Parish Council are aware and have asked for the Highways Department to look into this
I am not sure if this is the correct forum to lodge a concern about the traffic on Hall Road scarisbrick. My family moved to the area just over 12 months ago and we massively underestimated the impact of the road. We have three young boys and we are extremely anxious about the speed of traffic on the road. No car appears to adhere to the thirty mile an hour limit. It’s bec se it changes quickly from 50 to 30 that the problem exists. Cars, lorries treat the road as if it is a motorway speeding and overtaking each other without any form of due care. Speed cameras or sleeping policemen should be installed it is a matter of time before a serious accident happens. The road is such a concern that we are seriously thinking of moving for the safety of our family . Kindest regards
The Parish Council are aware of the traffic problems on Hall Lane. We are currently consulting with residents and partners to resolve the issues as quickly as possible.
The situation in relation to traffic issues has continued to deteriorate in the last couple of years. Obviously the pandemic has taken control of all forward plans but we were wondering if the council has any measures in the wings to relieve the congestion and over usage of Hall Road.
Kindest Regards
Hello Ed,
The parish council has no specific powers with respect to highways (this lies with Lancashire County Council). However, traffic on the B5242 is a source of ongoing concern to the parish council. This is not only related to the numbers of vehicles but also their size. Weight restrictions are difficult to apply and even more difficult to enforce (particularly considering the number of local farms and businesses in the area). A relatively easy option is to gather information via automatic traffic counts (vehicle movements, speed, vehicle weights) which would act as baseline data and repeated at intervals to show a worsening situation. This would help make a case to the relevant authorities, we are also looking at monitoring air quality along the road. We also believe that the design of the Southport Road/County Road junction is a contributory factor as it can be a problem for HGVs which then look for an alternative route. We support the efforts of our local MP to try and get the situation addressed.
This is undoubtedly a difficult problem to solve and we have set up a working group to look more closely at the issue (and that of speeding on our rural roads). All sensible ideas are welcome!
I fully agree in respect of the Southport/County Road junction. This is a poorly designed junction due to its restricted width. It should have a filter lane allowing traffic going from the Southport Road to travel in the direction of Burscough.
Ample grass verge exists to redesign this junction
Take Jacksmere Lane a straight road which encourages speed well in excess of 40 mph . Road surface so bad that sensibly you would not exceed 20mph.
New housing developments like Kew & Scarisbrick are increasing volume of traffic.
Pandemic reduced commute but slowly normality returning.
We are living in an era of rapid change . Technology , AI , algorithms & climate change to name but a few .
Petrol, diesel , hybrid or electric car. I can remember the diesel recommendation !
Train , bus cycle walk are all options. Debate in rural parish ?
It seems to me that filters in both directions for traffic on Southport Road at the Fiveways junction would be of enormous benefit to all. Large queues tend to develop with people travelling east on Southport Road and wanting to turn south towards Aughton and Liverpool. There is a filter for traffic turning north towards Burscough from the eastbound carriageway, but not from the westbound Southport Road. LCC recently wasted (in my view) huge amounts of resources while disrupting traffic to install a very small change in road layout at St Helen’s Road, to the benefit of a few cyclists! Surely they can be persuaded to update the Fiveways junction to the benefit of a great many people?