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

Present: Councillor T. Beastall (Chair)

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

In Attendance: John Bourne, Clerk to the Council.

100/10. Apologies for Absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor R. Dawson & District Councillor N. Hawkins.

101/10. Declarations of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest at this point.

102/10. Chairman’s Address.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

103/10. Public Comments.

There were no public comments or concerns at this point.

104/10. Minutes of Last Meeting.

Questions were asked about many points on the minutes of the meeting held on 3rd. February 2011 which had been circulated. These were answered and it was then agreed by a MAJORITY decision that the minutes be signed as a true and correct record. However, the minutes were not signed and the matter was deferred until the next meeting.

105/10. Matters Arising.

A reply had been received from Staffs. County Council regarding the problem with the length of the double yellow parking restriction lines in Sutherland Road at its junction with the A53 Leek Road. This stated that the matter had been discussed at a previous meeting between Parish Councillors and the County Council at Ladderedge depot. The matter had been added to a list for the Joint Parking Committee but currently only four locations during each financial year could be considered.

The Land Registry had been consulted, at a cost of £8- 00, to establish if the bus shelter site at the New Inn was registered. The result showed that the bus shelter site was within the ownership of the total New Inn site.

Evidence was produced that the land for the bus shelter on the opposite side of the road from the New Inn had been donated to the Council by a private individual. CLB File numbers were also produced and it was agreed that the Land Registry be contacted to see if this land could be registered in the ownership of the Council.

A telephone call had been received from the Councillor who had failed to attend a Parish Council meeting for more than six consecutive months. He was informed of the comments of the Staffs. Moorlands Electoral Officer. The agreed courtesy letter had been sent to him.

The Officer had been informed officially and he had sent public notices of the vacancy on the Council which had been displayed on the notice boards.

A reply had been received from British Waterways regarding the damage to the bridge in Denford Road. It confirmed that the bridge had been inspected and they were aware of the damage from the vehicle strike. The fallen stone which had been reported had been due to the freeze / thaw process during the recent cold weather and this was not considered dangerous. The bridge would be subject to monthly inspections as usual.

Letter had been forwarded to Staffs. Moorlands District Council Electoral Dept. agreeing no change in the current arrangement of Longsdon Church Room being used as a Polling Place under the Review 2011. An acknowledgement had been received.

A reminder had been received of the dates for the Churnet Valley Masterplan – 4th. & 11th. March 2011.

Letter had been sent to Staffs. Moorlands District Council regarding the litter along the main A53 road through the parish. A reply stated that there had been a litter pick in the area during the week commencing 1st. February 2011 and another was arranged to take place in the near future.

Staffs. County Council had been contacted about the demolished street lighting lamp standard on the A53. A telephoned reply reported that the standard had been replaced on 13th. February 2011.

It was reported that the CCTV scan on the blocked gully drain on the A53 near to St. Chad’s Church had been arranged.

The Chairman had reported the stable block which had been erected in Devil’s Lane and also the accumulation of rubbish in the same area to the appropriate departments of Staffs. Moorlands D.C.

It was reported that the Council’s lengthsman had requested an increase in his hourly rate of pay. It was agreed that this should rise to £8- 50 per hour.

It was reported that:

the Chairman had contacted the owner of the vehicle causing obstruction to the footpath in Leek Rd.

the lengthsmans invoice for the last quarter had been sent to Staffs. County Council.

106/10. Correspondence.

A demonstration pack of useful items for use in the event of a power cut had been received from Central Networks for the benefit of parishioners. It was agreed that the items be passed on to appropriate members of the public.

A consultation had been received from Staffs. Moorlands District Council regarding proposed Dog Control Orders. Councillors appreciated the motives but felt that the measures were rather excessive and would be difficult to police. The matter was on the agenda for the Moorlands Parish Assembly.

Notification had been received from HM Revenue & Customs of PAYE Implementation on Parish Clerks. Parish Council Clerks could no longer be classed as self employed. It was agreed that the Council be registered for the new scheme.

Notice had been received from Staffs. County Council of re-surfacing work which was due to take place on the A53 by The Wheel public house which could cause disruption to traffic.

Information received under this item was:

notice of next meeting of Staffs. Moorlands Parish Assembly to be held Thursday 24th. March 2011.

consultation on Staffs. Moorlands Local Development Framework Core Strategy & Gypsy Options.

notice of Prince William becoming Patron of campaign protecting playing fields in the UK.

Rural News Digest – 14th. & 21st. February 2011 issues from Rural Services Network.

107/10. Planning Matters.

There was no business under this item.

108/10 Orders for Payment.

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

109/10. Public Comments.

There was no business under this item.

110/10. Any Other Business.

A report was given on the state of the roads in the area. While it was felt that Dunwood Lane, School Lane and Devils Lane were up to an acceptable standard, Gratton Lane was in a terrible state. It was agreed to ask Staffs. County Council what plans there were for this road.

It was also reported that Mr. D. N. Jones, a respected parishioner, had passed away. One or two Councillors had attended his funeral.

A report was given of fly tipping of drain pipes in School Lane near to the water tower. This matter to be reported to Staffs. Moorlands District Council.

A vote of confidence in the Clerk was proposed, seconded and passed by a MAJORITY decision.

111/10. Date of Next Meeting.

The next meeting of the Council will be held on Thursday 21st. April 2011 at The Rez Country Café in Sutherland Road, Longsdon at 7 - 30p.m.