Minutes of Meeting held in The Rez Country Café on Thursday 8th. April 2010.

Present: Councillor R. Dawson (Chair)

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

Three Members of the Public.

1/10. Apologies for Absence.

Apologies for absence were received from District Councillor N. Hawkins.

2/10. Declarations of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest at this point.

3/10. Chairman’s Address.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked Councillor J. Sargeant for his report on the last meeting of Staffs. Moorlands Parish Assembly which had been circulated to all Councillors.

4/10. Public Comments.

There was no business under this item.

5/10. Minutes of Last Meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 4th. March 2010 had been circulated. It was agreed that they be signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record.

6/10. Matters Arising.

Letter had been sent to the Secretary of Longsdon Memorial Hall asking for a representative to attend this meeting but as he had resigned the letter had been passed to the Chairman. At this point councillor L. Bills declared a personal interest in this matter and explained that she had joined the Management Committee of the Memorial Hall. She stated that she did not wish to be involved as a “go-between” between the Parish Council and the Committee but wished to serve the community. She answered questions about the Management Committee to the best of her ability.

It was proposed and seconded that a grant of £400 – 00 be forwarded to the Committee for the benefit of the Rose Queen’s event and flowers for the occasion. This was agreed by a MAJORITY decision.

It was agreed to write to the Committee pointing out the lost opportunity to attend the Parish Council meeting and asking again for more details of the financial situation at the Memorial Hall.

The Chairman reported on his enquiries into the erection of the large stables on land between Micklea Lane and Denford Road. Further enquiries were being made by Staffs. Moorlands District Council Planning Officers and it appeared that planning permission would need to be applied for.

The report on the last meeting of the Moorlands Parish Assembly had been circulated and a report had been received on the feedback from the Parish Assembly consultation.

A letter had been sent to British Waterways regarding the damaged canal bridge in Denford Road. A reply had been received acknowledging the situation and promising to urgently resolve the issue of the ownership of the bridge with Staffs. County Council.

An e.mail had been sent to Staffs. Moorlands District Council Planning Dept. regarding the roofing material on the outbuiding of the old New Inn. A reply stated that the matter was in abeyance due to the expected submission of a further scheme for the site.

It was reported that there was some fly tipping taking place on the site and it was agreed to monitor the situation.

Copies of correspondence between Endon Parish Council and County Council Gill Heath had been received regarding the requested double white lines on the A53 near to the sewage works at Endon. Her reply stated that only three projects could be prioritised each six months but would be included in the next review. It was agreed to write to her to ask why only three projects could be tackled every six months when it appeared that there were thirty four projects to clear at present.

It was reported that:

the questionnaire on a Parish Plan had been completed and returned.

letter of thanks had been sent to the local man for his help with snow clearing.

final accounts for lengthsman schemes had been submitted to Staffs. Moorland D.C. and Staffs. C. C.

7/10. Correspondence.

An e.mail had been received from County Councillor G. Heath stating that the Highways Community

Team would be visiting the parish on 16th. & 17th. April 2010 and asking for a list of jobs for them to do.

It was suggested that the cleaning of road signs, checking ditches in Honeysuckle Lane and road

gullies etc adjacent in Leek Road ( the cause of water cascading across the A53 carriageway), clearing of overgrowth on footpaths each side of the A53 from Ladderedge to the old New Inn, and removal of an old sign post at the junction of Micklea Lane and Sutherland Road should be submitted.

Information received under this item was:

invitation to join Staffs. Parish Councils’ Association in the sum of £181 – 00 – no action.

invitation to support Campaign to Protect Rural England (& Annual Report) – no action.

Credit Card scams, unwanted telephone calls & bogus e.mails, from Staffs. County Council.

Rural Focus – 21st. & 28th. March 2010 from Rural Services Community.

Clerks & Councils Direct – March issue.

8/10. Planning Matters.

The following planning application had been circulated to all Councillors for consideration due to the time scale involved:

10/00056/FUL Single Storey Side Extension at Cross Trees, Leek Road, Longsdon, Staffs. Moorlands.

The following observations were submitted:

There were no objections, in principle, to an extension on the site but concerns were expressed about the

size of the proposed development. The proposal must surely exceed permitted development limits and

would appear to be a compete bungalow rather than a “Granny Flat”.

Mention was also made of the fact that there appears to be a shared septic tank drainage system already,

without the proposed extension. No plan of the drainage system is mentioned on the drawings.

9/10. Finance Matters.

The Annual Return for the Audit Commission had been received. It was agreed that the normal internal

auditor again be employed to scrutinise the Council’s accounts.

The renewal notice for the Council’s insurance had been received in the sum of £503 – 54.. The Clerk

advised that the Fidelity Insurance cover would need to be increased to meet the Audit Commission’s

guidelines. This would need to be increased from £5,000 – 00 to £8,500 – 00 at an additional cost of

£18 – 08 making a total of £521 – 62. This was agreed.

10/10. Orders for Payment.

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

11/10. Public Comments.

There was no business under this item.

12/10. Any Other Business.

Further fly tipping was reported at the same place in School Lane and also in the old quarry in Leek Old

Road. These matters to be reported to Staffs. Moorlands District Council.

It was reported that the temporary fencing around a missing inspection chamber cover and damaged

stone wall near to be old New Inn had been dislodged. It was also reported that a stone retaining wall

near to the railway bridge in Denford Road was collapsing and causing the carriageway to sink.

Both these matters to be reported to Staffs. County Council.

A report was given that the perspex panel to the notice boards at the junction of Micklea Lane and

Sutherland Road was becoming opaque. This to be investigated and / or cleaned.

13/10. Date of Next Meeting.

The next meeting of the Council will be held on Thursday 27th. May 2010 at The Rez Country Café in Sutherland Road, Longsdon at 7 - 30p.m.