Minutes of Meeting held in The Rez Country Café on Thursday 3rd. February 2011.

Present: Councillor R. Dawson (Chair)

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

District Councillor N. Hawkins.

In Attendance: John Bourne, Clerk to the Council.

87/10. Apologies for Absence.

No apologies for absence were received.

88/10. Declarations of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest at this point.

89/10. Chairman’s Address.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked Councillors Sargeant and Taylor for their attendance at the last Staffs. Moorlands Parish Assembly meeting. He also thanked Councillor Sargeant for preparing a report of the meeting which had been circulated to all Councillors.

90/10. Public Comments.

There were no public comments or concerns at this point.

91/10. Minutes of Last Meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 16th. December 2010 had been circulated. It was agreed that they be signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record.

92/10. Matters Arising.

Letter had been sent to the Public Liaison Officer of Staffs. County Council regarding the possible problem with the length of the double yellow parking restriction lines in Sutherland Road at its junction with the A53 Leek Road. A reply was awaited.

It was reported that the Common Land had now been registered with the Land Registry under a Possessory Title.

The question of the ownership of the bus shelters was again discussed but no firm evidence had been produced. However, one or two references had been found in historical minutes of the Council. It was suggested that these could be reproduced and submitted to the Land Registry as evidence. It was also agreed that the registration of the New Inn land be checked to discover any reference to that adjacent shelter.

It was also suggested that the back minutes of the council should be passed around Councillors, for their perusal, after the new Council was installed in May.

The matter of the abundance of notices on the pavement on the A53 near School Lane had been reported to be reported to the Planning Dept. of Staffs. Moorlands District Council. An e.mailed reply stated that it did not consider the signs had an impact on road safety or public amenity and any action could not be justified..

Advice had been received from the Staffs. Moorlands Electoral Officer regarding the Councillor who had failed to attend a Parish Council meeting for more than six consecutive months from the date of his last attendance. This stated that he was deemed to have ceased to be member of the Council. The Council should therefore inform the Officer officially and a public notice of a vacancy would need to be displayed. It also suggested that a courtesy letter be sent to the Councillor informing him of the decision. These actions were agreed.

It was reported that:

the street names plates in Leek Old Road had been replaced.

official minutes from the last meeting of Staffs. Moorlands Parish Assembly had been received.

the matter of cars causing obstruction on School Lane to be reported to the police.

letter had been sent to British Waterways regarding the bridge in Denford Road.

the leaves had been cleared from the bus shelters.

93/10. Correspondence.

A copy of a letter which had been sent to Staffs. County Council and Moorland & City Railways had been received from an adjacent parishioner. This was an application for a Modification Order for the public footpaths known locally as the Cinderpath which could be affected by the re-opening of the railway line through the district.

A letter from Staffs. Moorlands District Council Electoral Dept. gave notice of a Polling Districts/Polling Place Review 2011. This suggested no change in the current arrangement with Longsdon Church Room being used as at present. It was agreed that this be accepted.

Information on Moorlands Together Action Days had been received from Staffs. Moorlands District Council. This offered to undertake a local project with help from the community. Any suitable items would be considered at the next meeting.

Information received under this item was:

notice of pre-nomination evening for local elections – already posted on notice boards.

notice of Electoral Review of Staffordshire County Council.

offer of informal briefings on Code of Conduct etc. from Staffs. Moorlands District Council.

offer of presentation on the Big Society from Staffs. Moorlands Community & Voluntary Services.

invitation to two events for the forming of the Churnet Valley Masterplan – 4th. & 11th. March 2011.

Community Paths Initiative – Bids for 2011/2012.

invitation to enter the Best Kept Village Competition 2011 – no action

The Great Poppy Week-end on 10th.,11th. & 12th. June 2011.

Rural News Digest – 25th. January & 1st. February 2011 issues from Rural Services Network.

Clerks and Councils Direct – January 2011 issue

94/10. Planning Matters.

Planning Application No. 10/01104/FUL Single Storey Front Extension at Kepellbrucke, Honeysuckle Lane, Longsdon, Staffs. ST9 9QN had been distributed to Councillors, because of the time limits, and it was agreed to forward no objections, subject to normal planning guidelines. This action was ratified.

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

11/00035/FUL Proposed Replacement of Existing Sun-lounge and Creation of New Kitchen and Utility

Space at Dunwood Cottage, Dunwood Lane, Longsdon, Staffs. ST9 9QW.

* With regard to Application No. 10/01092/FUL Horticultural Storage Building at Field No. 8347, Leek Road, Endon, Staffs. it was agreed, by a MAJORITY decision to OBJECT most strongly to this proposal on the following grounds:-

This site was originally intended as a growing horticultural site but has now developed further with polytunnels causing unwarranted intrusion on the landscape, especially with the last planning application which was officially refused permission but due to an error in the Planning Dept. of Staffs. Moorlands District Council permission was incorrectly issued.

The proposed building will further intrude into the open aspect which forms a division between Longsdon and Endon.

The proposed building is too excessive for the site and by its nature could possibly lead to more development on the site including a possible retail sales facility at a later date.

The application points out that the proposed building will replace two existing “unlawful steel lorry containers”. Why have these containers been allowed to remain on the site?

*Councillor Weston declared a prejudicial interest in this application and took no part in the discussion.

95/10. Finance Matters.

It was reported that:

the request for the precept of £3,500 for the year 2011/2012 had been forwarded and acknowledged.

the balance from the Council’s One Year Fixed Rate Bond with Leek United Building Society had been transferred into a new One Year Fixed Rate Bond with the Society.

A statement of transactions in the Council’s accounts to 31st. December 2010 was presented to each Councillor and the balances checked against the various accounts.

96/10 Orders for Payment.

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

97/10. Public Comments.

There was no business under this item.

98/10. Any Other Business.

It was reported that a vehicle was being parked causing obstruction to the footpath in Leek Road. The Chairman offered to speak with the owner.

Mention was made of the vast amount of litter along the main A53 road through the parish. As the Council’s lengthsman was not allowed to operate on this road, the matter to be reported to Staffs. Moorlands District Council.

A street lighting land standard on the A53 had been demolished in a motor vehicle accident and had not yet been replaced. It was agreed to raise the matter with Staffs. County Council.

Mention was made of the continued presence of the unauthorised access to a property in Sutherland Road. This matter to be monitored.

It was reported that a stable block had been erected in Devil’s Lane and also an accumulation of rubbish in the same area. The Chairman offered to investigate both matters.

99/10. Date of Next Meeting.

The next meeting of the Council will be held on Thursday 3rd. March 2011 at The Rez Country Café in Sutherland Road, Longsdon at 7 - 30p.m.