Minutes of Meeting held in The Rez Country Café on Wednesday 4th. November 2009.

Present: Councillor R. Dawson (Chair)

Councillors T. Beastall, L. Bills, J. F. Sargeant, C. E. Taylor & S. R. Weston.
District Councillor Norma Hawkins.
Three Members of the Public.

62/9. Apologies for Absence.

There were no apologies declared.

63/9. Declarations of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest at this point.

64/9. Chairman’s Address.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting. He reported that he had obtained the wreath for the Remembrance Sunday and would be attending the service.

65/9. Public Comments.

There was no business under this item.

66/9. Minutes of Last Meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 1st. October 2009 had been circulated. It was agreed that they be signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record.

67/9. Matters Arising.

It was reported that British Waterways had been re-organised with the area office now at Fazeley and the repair work to the damage to the canal bridge in Denford Road was still awaited.

In spite of the new signage which had been erected to restrict lengths and widths of vehicles attempting to travel along Denford Road & Sutherland Road (Park Lane). large vehicles were still causing damage to property in the Park Lane area. It was agreed to write to Cheddleton Parish Council to publicise the fact that Longsdon Parish Council had been in discussions with the County Council on the matter.

It was reported that:

advertisements for organisations in the village had been forwarded to the Beat the Cold organisation.
Proctors Nursery had been asked to carry out winter planting of the village tubs.
letter had been sent to the County Council regarding the periodic highway meetings.

68/9. Correspondence.

A request for financial assistance had been received from Staffordshire Women’s Aid, a registered charity. It was agreed that no action be taken at this stage.

Information received under this item was:

request for up-date on the Council and Village Hall details, from Moorlands Together – sent.

consultation document on the Staffs. Moorlands District Council’s Corporate Plan.

Rural Focus from Rural Services Community.

69/9. Planning Matters.

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

09/00986/FUL Installation of Solar Panels at Longsdon Memorial Hall, Leek Road, Longsdon.

With regard to Application No. 09/1020/FUL Single Storey Side Extension at Upper Dales, Dunwood Lane, Longsdon there were no objections, subject to normal planning guidelines, but the following points should be put forward:

Public Footpath No 24 runs adjacent to this dwelling and it is conveniently not shown on any of the plans.

A planning Application No. 07/01016/FUL submitted in August 2007 for proposed stables and manege also conveniently failed to show Footpath No. 24. This was approved without any mention of the footpath running through the site.

There is a proposal that this footpath be closed but the Parish Council has objected most strongly that the footpath should not be closed. However, at the present time, the footpath is actually blocked off by a large fence.

While having no objections to the Side Extension there should be no further interference with this footpath than there is at present.

At this point District Councillor Hawkins reported that she had spoken with the Countryside Officer of Staffs. Moorlands District Council and he had asked for copies of the correspondence regarding the proposed / illegal closure of the footpath. It was agreed that copies be sent.

A further letter in reply had been received from the Head of Development Services regarding the large stables which had been erected on land between Micklea Lane & Denford Road. It stated that further investigation was warranted and the matter had been passed to the Enforcement Department.

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

The Chairman reported that a large unauthorised pond was being constructed in Devil’s Lane. It appeared that Staffs. Moorlands District Council had already ordered the work to cease.

70/9. To Receive a Report from the District Auditor.

The report stated that there were no matters which needed to be brought to the attention of the Council but it

had suggested that the Council’s Risk Assessment Policy be reviewed. Councillor Sargeant had studied the policy and passed his opinion to Councillors. It was agreed that as the policy was only formulated in May of this year, it be continued in its present form but re-assessed on its anniversary.

The Clerk distributed up to date balances of the Council’s finances, verified by current bank statements, to

all Councillors present. The Clerk pointed out the paltry sums of interest received on the Business Instant Access Account and suggested that a One Year Fixed Term Bond account be opened with Leek United Building Society at 3.25% interest rate. After some discussion it was agreed that the sum of £3,000 – 00 be transferred to such an account with the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Councillors Sargeant & Taylor to be the signatories. The details and forms to be completed at the next meeting.

71/9. Orders for Payment.

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

72/9. Public Comments.

A member of the public again raised the matter of the proposed housing development on the Old New Inn site. This was noted but it was pointed out that the Council had already sent in its objections.

A further point raised was the dangerous parking of cars on a blind bend in Dunwood Lane near its junction with Honeysuckle Lane. Councillor Taylor offered to report the matter to the police.

73/9. Any Other Business.

It was reported that the edge of the carriageway in Honeysuckle Lane, opposite “Four Winds”, had again been eroded and was a danger to traffic. It was suggested that hazard warning posts could be required and it was agreed to contact Staffs. County Council about the matter.

A report was also given on the change of use of a business premises in Leek Road, Longsdon. While there had been no complaints to date the situation would be monitored

74/9. Date of Next Meeting.

The next meeting of the Council will be held on Thursday 17th. December 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.