Minutes of Meeting held in The Rez Country Café on Tuesday 31st. March 2009.

Present: Councillor R. Dawson (Chair)

Councillors T. Beastall, L. Bills, J. F. Sargeant, C. E. Taylor & S. R. Weston.

One Member of the Public.

116/8. Apologies for Absence.

No apologies for absence were received.

117/8. Declarations of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest at this point.

118/8. Chairman’s Address.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

He reported that he had attended, on behalf of the Council, the funeral of Mrs Valerie Smith, a prominent resident.

He had reported an unauthorised access which had been made in Denford Road to the Planning

Department of Staffs. Moorlands District Council. Subsequent communications to the Clerk from the Enforcement Support Officer had reported that the access was only temporary and would be returned to its natural state once work on the adjoining land had been completed.

He had also been in contact with British Waterways regarding the dates arranged for the removal of the growth of Himalayan Balsam. Waterways would contact him with the new dates when arranged.

119/8. Public Comments.

There was no business under this item.

120/8. Minutes of Last Meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 19th. February 2009 had been circulated. It was agreed that they be signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record.

121/8. Matters Arising.

The Chairman reported that he had contacted the Environmental Services Dept. of Staffs. Moorlands District Council regarding the untidy array of floral tributes at the scene of an accident on Leek Road. The Moorlands Council reported that it usually allowed a certain period of time for the displays to wither and then removed them as a matter of course. The displays in questions had now been removed. An agreed letter had been sent to the Information Commissioner’s Office regarding the outstanding problem with the owner of the pond area in School Lane. A reply had been received suggesting various ways to try to solve the ongoing stalemate. It was agreed that a suitable reply be formulated and sent to the owner after the contents had been agreed with a number of Councillors. This would suggest that a meeting to view the required information could be arranged at a neutral venue, possibly at St. Chad’s Church Room, or possibly copied by the Council and forwarded to him by post after receipt of a prepaid charge for the copying. In both cases a complete list of the information required would be needed.

An invitation letter to hold a workshop on Project Carbon in the village had been sent to the Marches Energy Agency either in the village or possibly one combined with an adjacent village.

The Chairman reported that he been in contact with British Waterways regarding damage to the bridge in Denford Road. He had met the engineer on site who stated that plans would be drawn up for the repair works which should be completed in April.

It was reported that:

a new date for the training sessions on Permitted Householder Development was still awaited. a list of names, addresses and telephone numbers of Councillors had been circulated.

122/8. Correspondence.

Notice was received from Staffs. Moorlands District Council that informal briefings could be requested on ethnic and standards matters, code of conduct and general governance issues. It was agreed that as this Council had no problems with these matters at present a briefing would not be requested at this time.

An invitation to join the Staffs. Parish Councils’ Association in the sum of £177 – 00 had been received. It was agreed not to take up the offer.

An invitation to become a member of the Community Council of Staffs was also received and it was agreed not to take up this offer.

Information received under this item was:

Community Paths Initiative – Bids for 2009/2010 from Staffs, County Council.

Temporary Road Traffic Regulation Order at Gratton Lane Endon from Staffs. County Council.

Professional Development Brochure, Issue 2, from Staffs. Moorlands District Council.

Safety Plan News, Spring Issue, from Staffs. Fire & Rescue Service.

details of Awards Scheme for the Enhancement of the Environment from Leek & District Civic Society.

Digital Switchover pack, for stations in Wales, from Digital UK.

Town and Parish Standard, issue 4, from the Standards Board of England. News and Views, issue 4, from the Community Council of Staffs.

123/8. Planning Matters.

The following planning applications were discussed.

Councillors agreed to forward no objections in principle, subject to normal planning guidelines, to Application

09/00185/FUL Proposed Manege, Stables and Alteration to Access at Lapwing Farm, Dunwood Lane, Longsdon, Staffs but some concern was expressed about the large size of the proposed stable building.

With regard to 09/00232/FUL Erection of Outbuilding at Brampton, Sutherland Road, Longsdon, there appeared to be an anomaly with the application. The actual drawing and the application form describe the development as Proposed Garage & Garden Store. It was felt that the proposed building was far too elaborate to be classed as a garage and garden store. The proposed development is within a conservation area and a previous application on the same site was refused permission. Councillors wished to object to the proposal.

124/8. Orders for Payment.

It was unanimously agreed that the following items be paid:-

125/8. Public Comments.

There was no business under this item.

126/8. Any Other Business.

The Clerk reported that the Council’s internal auditor had offered to collect the final accounts for last year, for audit on 24th. April 2009. Councillors agreed that he be employed again this year and his offer be accepted.

A question was asked about the whereabouts of the Bank Mandate form. The Clerk offered to investigate.

A discussion took place on the amount of large commercial vehicles being parked overnight on the layby on the A53 near the parish boundary with Endon. It was agreed to speak to the Police about the problem and monitor the situation.

It was reported that the road gullies around the parish had been cleaned.

127/8. Date of Next Meeting.

The next meeting of the Council will be held on Thursday 30th. April 2009 at The Rez Country Café in Sutherland Road, Longsdon at 7-30p.m.

The Chairman thanked Councillors for their attendance and duly closed the meeting.