Minutes of Meeting held in The Rez Country Café on Thursday 21st. October 2010.

Present: Councillor R. Dawson (Chair)

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

One Member of the Public.

In Attendance: John Bourne, Clerk to the Council.

62/10. Apologies for Absence.

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

63/10. Declarations of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest at this point.

64/10. Chairman’s Address.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

He thanked Councillors Sargeant and Taylor for their attendance at the last meeting of Staffs.

Moorlands Parish Assembly, notes of which had been distributed to all Councillors.

He thanked the Clerk for carrying out the repairs to the notice board in Sutherland Road.

He reported on the last meeting at the Highways Depot in Leek with various issues being discussed,

including the extension of double white lines in two areas of the A53. He reported that the meeting was

overwhelmed by representatives from other Parish Councils.

The Licensing Officer of British Waterways had reported that the illegally parked boats at Horsebridge

had now been moved.

The problem with the apparently illegal agricultural buildings in Denford Road / Micklea Lane was

continuing but the Planning Officer was now requesting that planning permission be applied for.

65/10. Public Comments.

There were no public comments or concerns at this point.

66/10. Minutes of Last Meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 9th. September 2010 had been circulated. It was agreed that they be

signed by the Chairman a true and correct record.

67/10. Matters Arising.

As reported last month, the Staffs. County Council’s Highways Team was scheduled to visit the parish

on 28th. & 29th. October. A list of items for attention was formulated and would be sent to County

Councillor G. Heath.

The necessary forms to register the Common Land with the Land Registry had been prepared but, as

there were no actual deeds to the land available, the Clerk explained that only a Possessory Title could

be obtained. This could become Absolute after a period of twelve years. He asked Councillors to provide

any evidence of ownership which they could find.

Proctor’s Nursery had re-planted the village tubs for the winter season and his account received. He had

given a verbal quotation of £29 – 00 for a replacement tub, to be sited in Sutherland Road, plus an

additional amount for soil, paving slabs etc. It was agreed that this be ordered for the Spring planting

season.

The new Parish Online service had now been set up and the necessary passwords etc issued. Staffs.

Moorlands District Council had also sent a letter setting out additional features which were

available with the service. A first account had been received for the facility.

Letter had been sent to the Information Commissioner’s Officer setting out the Council’s position

regarding a complaint from a parishioner under the Data Protection Act. A reply had been received

from that office stating that the case would not be proceeded with.

It was reported that:

the notice board in Sutherland Road had had the new polycarbonate viewing panel fixed.

letter had been sent to Staffs. County Council regarding no objections to Footpath No 4 diversion.

68/10. Correspondence.

Letter had been received from the Returning Officer of Staffs. Moorlands District Council setting out the

scale of possible election charges in May 2011 and suggesting that allowances for any charges be

made in the Council’s next budget. These charges could be levied over a period of four years on

request. It was agreed that £250 – 00 be allowed in next year’s estimates for this purpose.

Information had been received from Staffs. Moorlands District Council regarding its plans to roll out its

re-cycling collection services to all rural properties to be in line with the rest of the District.

Information received under this item was:

from Staffs. County Council on winter salt stocks and plans for its distribution etc.

notice of roadshows for Churnet Valley Living Landscape Project – posted on notice boards.

Staffs. Moorlands Local Development Framework – Supplementary Planning Documents.

Sustainable Staffordshire, a Community Council of Staffs. project.

South Staffs. Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment Consultation – no action.

Keep Britain Tidy’s “There no such thing as the dog poo fairy” Campaign – posted on notice boards.

Staffs. Parish Councils’ Association Annual Report & Accounts 2009 / 10.

Rural Focus – 13th. & 27th. September 2010 from Rural Services Community.

69/10. Planning Matters.

The following planning applications were considered and it was agreed to forward no objections, subject to

normal planning guidelines to:

10/00649/FUL Change of Use and Extensions to an Existing Barn to Create a Single Dwelling at

Barncroft, Dunwood Lane, Longsdon, Staffs. ST9 9QW.

Application No. 10/00849/CL-ORO Certificate of Lawfulness for Proposed Single Storey Side Extension &

Two Storey Rear Extension at Millers Dale, School Lane, Longsdon was discussed and noted.

With regard to Application No. 10/00711/FUL New Access (Retrospective) to Land Adjacent to High View,

Sutherland Road, Longsdon concern was expressed as to why another access to the site is needed when

there is already access to the site by an adjacent entrance from the owner’s own drive. It was agreed to

OBJECT to this proposal.

It was also agreed to OBJECT to Application No. 10/00863/FUL Detached Garage at Upper Dales,

Dunwood Lane, Longsdon, Staffs. on the following grounds:

The proposed building is too excessive for the site and by its nature could possibly be turned into living

accommodation at a later date.

There is still an outstanding problem with Footpath No. 24 on the site and no further development should

take place until that is resolved.

The line of the footpath shown on the plan is not the correct official line of the path and is shown as being

diverted. This has been done without permission.

70/10. Orders for Payment.

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

71/10. Public Comments.

There was no business under this item.

72/10. Any Other Business.

It was reported that work had started on clearing vegetation from the currently disused railway line through the parish.

A reported abundance of notices on the pavement on the A53 near to the School Lane junction could be causing obstruction to the footpath and a distraction to drivers. This matter had been reported verbally to the County Council’s local office on numerous occasions. It was agreed to write to the Community Liaison Officer of Staffs. County Council to report the matter officially.

A report was given on flooding on the A53 near to St. Chad’s Church. This also to be reported to the Liaison Officer.

There was still an anomaly with the street name plate signs in Leek Old Road. This to be reported to Staffs. Moorland District Council.

A problem with parking of vehicles by a building site on the A53 was causing some obstruction to the pavement and disruption to passing traffic. The Chairman offered to have a word with the owners of the vehicles.

It was agreed that the usual wreath be purchased for the Remembrance Service at St. Chad’s Church. The Chairman and Councillor Bills would attend the service.

73/10. Date of Next Meeting.

The next meeting of the Council will be held on Thursday 2nd. December 2010 at The Rez Country

Café in Sutherland Road, Longsdon at 7 - 30p.m.