Minutes of Meeting held in The Rez Country Café on Thursday 1st. October 2009.

Present: Councillor R. Dawson (Chair)

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

District Councillor N. Hawkins.
Six Members of the Public.

50/9. Apologies for Absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor C. Taylor.

51/9. Declarations of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest at this point.

52/9. Chairman’s Address.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

53/9. Public Comments.

District Councillor Hawkins gave the meeting a report on an attempt to facilitate affordable housing on some development proposals which were in her councillor area. There had been no action on the matter and the problem could now possibly be forwarded to the Ombudsman.

54/9. Minutes of Last Meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 20th. August 2009 had been circulated. It was agreed that they be signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record.

55/9. Matters Arising.

Advertisements for organisations in the village were being collated and would be forwarded to the Beat the Cold organisation to be printed on the rear of its promotional card to be delivered to every household in the parish.

British Waterways was still carrying out urgent engineering work in other areas and had not been able to commence the repair work to the damage to the canal bridge in Denford Road.

It was agreed to contact Proctors Nursery to ask them to carry out winter planting of the village tubs.

The replacement rails had been fitted to the public seat in Sutherland Road. Thanks were expressed to the Councillor volunteers and the Clerk for fixing these.

The Chairman had contacted the Council’s bank regarding the signing mandate and had been informed that this had been completed.

The Clerk reported that Endon Parish Council had been informed of this Council’s support for additional double white lines on the A53 near to the lay-by on the boundary between the parishes. The Chairman, Vice Chairman and Endon Parish Councillors had attended a joint meeting with County Councillors and Staffs. County Council where the matter was discussed together with the request for additional double white lines near to The Wheel public House. The County Council representatives felt that the present lines appeared adequate but promised to re-assess the situation in both locations.

While at the meeting mention was made of the new signage which was erected to restrict lengths and widths of vehicles attempting to travel along Denford Road & Sutherland Road (Park Lane). Large vehicles were still using the roads and reports were given of roadside walls being demolished and of a bus being stranded on the hump backed canal bridge. The County Council offered to monitor the situation.

Mention was also made of the possibility of the speed camera at the top of Ladderedge being re-sited on Leek Road near to St. Chad’s Church. This would be investigated.

Councillors Sargeant and Taylor had attended the last meeting of the Staffs. Moorlands Parish Aseembly and copies of notes made at the meeting had been distributed to all Councillors. The meeting had been in the format of an “issues clinic” with questions asked mainly regarding planning.

Various e.mails had been received from Staffs. County Council re the closure of Footpath No. 24. It was agreed to check whether a recent planning application for a manege had affected the area.

It was reported that:

the agreed letter had been sent to the owner of the pond in School Lane.

the bus stop sign at the New Inn had been re-sited.

the missing inspection chamber cover had been reported and barriers had been erected.

56/9. Correspondence.

A letter setting out details of a Neighbourhood Highway Team scheme had been received from the Cabinet Member for Highways at Staffs. County Council.

Notice of construction of hard standing areas at the bus stops on the A53 at Dunwood Lane and Honeysuckle Lane had been received from Staffs. County Council Information received under this item was:

Introduction of New Alliance Senior Management Team – High Peak Council & S. M. D. C.

request for up-date on the Council and Village Hall details from Moorlands Together – to be completed.

dates of three events for Staffs. County Council’s “Beyond the Bin” campaign.

invitation to subscribe to Staffs. Playing Fields Association – no action.

notice of meeting of the Leader Programme from Staffs. Moorlands C. & V. S. – 7th. October 2009. Clerks & Councils Direct – September issue.

57/9. Planning Matters.

The following planning application was considered and it was agreed to forward no objection, subject to normal planning guidelines to:

09/00890/FUL Side Extension & New Porch at Lindon, Limes Avenue, Longsdon.

The following planning application was considered: 09/00879/FUL Demolition of Public House and Erection of Three Detached Dwellings at the New Inn Leek Road, Longsdon. Council business was suspended to enable members of the public to express their opinions on the matter. Afterwards it was agreed that there were no objections, in principle but wished to put forward the following points:-

There has certainly not been enough effort to sell the original property which has deliberately been cannibalised in order to show the images which have been submitted with the application and also to reduce its saleability.

The Council feels that this site would be ideal for affordable housing rather than the expensive buildings which are proposed.

Should this application be approved there is a possibility that it could be a forerunner of further housing on adjacent sites which are in the ownership of the applicant.

The majority of dwellings in the vicinity are each on large sites but this proposal represents a much higher density of dwellings on this site.

The numbers of caravans on the touring caravan site in Devils Lane was continuing to be monitored.

Letter had been sent to the Enforcement Department of Staffs Moorlands District Council regarding the closed case of the re-roofing of the outbuildings at the old New Inn public house. .

Letter had also been sent to the Department regarding the large stables which had been erected on land between Micklea Lane & Denford Road. A reply had been received pointing out that the matter would be investigated.

58/9. Orders for Payment.

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

59/9. Public Comments.

There was no business under this item.

60/9. Any Other Business.

After some discussion on the recent visit by the community highways team it was agreed to write to the County Council asking for the continuation of the periodic highway discussion meetings.

61/9. Date of Next Meeting.

The next meeting of the Council will be held on Wednesday 4th. November 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.