Minutes of Meeting held in The Rez Country Café on Thursday 20th. August 2009.

Present: Councillor R. Dawson (Chair)

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

District Councillor N. Hawkins.

Martin Chadwick from the Beat the Cold Organisation.
One Member of the Public.

37/9. Apologies for Absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor L. Bills.

38/9. Declarations of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest at this point.

39/9. Presentation by Martin Chadwick of the Beat the Cold Organisation.

Martin Chadwick of the Beat the Cold organisation explained how his organisation, with funding from central government, Staffs. Moorlands District Council and others, administered a scheme to offer free and discounted insulation measures to residents in parishes. Leaflets were printed and then delivered to every household in the parish. This was followed up by visits from officers giving advice on insulation, heat saving measures etc. These could be offered at greatly discounted prices with free installation in certain cases. He gave Councillors examples of the literature which had been used in other parishes.

Councillors unanimously agreed that the scheme should be promoted in Longsdon and asked Mr. Chadwick to set the process in motion.

The Chairman thanked Martin for his presentation.

40/9. Chairman’s Address.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

41/9. Public Comments.

There was no business under this item.

42/9. Minutes of Last Meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 2nd. July 2009 had been circulated. It was agreed that they be signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record.

43/9. Matters Arising.

Information had been received from British Waterways regarding the damage to the canal bridge in Denford Road. The organisation was carrying out urgent engineering work elsewhere at present but had promised to repair the damage after the urgent work was completed.

There was nothing to report on the removal of the Himalayan Balsam on the canal towpath. British Waterways was undergoing a re-organisation and the matter was being passed to another area. The original complainant had been informed.

Three further repetitious letters had been received from the owner of the pond area in School Lane. It was agreed to reply, after the usual perusal of the letter, to answer the main points in the letters and mention documentation and photographs which had been produced to the Council. It would also be pointed out that the Council’s main efforts were to preserve the pond area for the benefit of parishioners but it had appeared to have failed in this respect. It would also be pointed out that the Council had completed its obligations by producing all the information which had been requested and that no further correspondence would be entered into.

Proctors Nursery had completed the planting of the village tubs and an account for the agreed amount had been received. A letter had been sent to Mrs. D. Kent thanking her for offering to continue planting the tub adjacent to the Memorial Hall.

New replacement oak rails had been obtained for the seat in Sutherland Road. These were now being treated with preservative and Councillor volunteers would assist the Clerk in fixing same.

The Chairman pointed out that there were different standards of grass cutting along the A53 due to differing urban and rural areas. This was in answer to a query raised at the last meeting.

He also reported that new signs regarding width limits had been erected to give information on Park Lane and Denford Road.

He offered to contact the Council’s bank to check if the signing mandate had been completed.

The Clerk reported an approach from Endon Parish Council asking for support for additional double white lines on the A53, in Longsdon parish, near to the layby on the boundary between the parishes. The County Councillor for the Endon area had offered to arrange a meeting with Staffs. County Council which could also incorporate Longsdon Council’s request for additional double white lines near to The Wheel public house. It was agreed that such a joint meeting would be advantageous.

It was reported that:

letter had been sent to Staffs. County Council objecting to the closure of Footpath No. 24.

reply had been received giving frequency of grass cutting in Leek Old Road.

the large weeds on the footpath near to the old New Inn had been reported to Clarence and removed.

the payment for the final instalment from the S.M.D.C. lengthsman scheme had been received.

44/9. Correspondence.

Information received under this item was:

on Multi-Agency Problem Solving Group with protocol and Reporting Form.

Consultation on Revised Statement of Gambling Policy from Staffs. Moorlands District Council.

on Annual Canvass of the Register of Electors – notices posted on notice boards.

Staffs. Parish Councils’ Association Newsletter – September 2009.

request for support from Vitalise (Essential breaks for disabled people and carers) – no action.

request for support from MENCAP – no action.

on Improving our Service to our Customers from Lloyds T.S.B. Bank plc.

45/9. Planning Matters.

A planning application had been received and had been distributed to Councillors because of the time scale involved. Councillors agreed to forward no objections in principle, subject to normal planning guidelines, to Application 09/00655/FUL Front Dormer Extension at Wyndene, Leek Road, Longsdon.

The following planning application was considered 09/00702/FUL Field Access & Hardstanding at Denford Road, Longsdon and it was agreed to object to the application in principle on the grounds that the gates already erected should be sited further back from the highway to allow vehicles to park in front of the gates before entering and to give increased turning space to reduce damage to the opposite grass verge.

A reply had been received from the Planning Authority regarding the establishment of a touring caravan site in Devils Lane. It stated that the complaint was now closed but the numbers on site should be monitored by the Parish Council. It was agreed that this be done.

It was reported that the Enforcement Department of Staffs Moorlands District Council had also closed the case of the re-roofing of the outbuildings at the old New Inn public house. A letter to be sent on this matter.

The owner of the land on which the large stables had been erected had been contacted but they were still on site. It was agreed to contact the Planning Authority on the matter.

46/9. Orders for Payment.

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

47/9. Public Comments.

There as no business under this item.

48/9. Any Other Business.

It was reported that a new bus stop sign had been fixed to the new bus shelter as requested but it now obstructed the view of approaching buses. This to be reported to Staffs. County Council.

There was an inspection chamber cover missing from a concrete chamber adjacent to the footpath near the new bus shelter. This to be reported to the appropriate authority.

The Chairman reported that he had been asked to display notices about the closure of a public footpath.

He had checked the authenticity of the notices which were proved not official and they had now been removed.

49/9. Date of Next Meeting.

The next meeting of the Council will be held on Thursday 1st. October 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.