Minutes of Meeting held in The Rez Country Café on Thursday 11th. August 2011.

Present: Councillor J. Sargeant (Chair)

Councillors T. Beastall, L. Bills, R. Dawson, R.P.A. Lovell, C. Taylor & S. R. Weston.

One Member of the Public.

In Attendance: John Bourne, Clerk to the Council.

40/11. Apologies for Absence.

Apologies for absence were received from District Councillor N. Hawkins

41/11. Declarations of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest at this point.

42/11. Chairman’s Address.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting especially Councillor R. Dawson who had recently been incapacitated.

He reported on a traffic accident which had occurred near to The Close in Leek Road which at that point was a straight road.

He had made enquiries about the septic tank in Sutherland Road. This had been done with permission and was being carried out under Building Regulations.

He thanked Councillors Beastall and Weston for their work in moving the flower tub from Dunwood to Micklea Lane. During the time of the move some of the plant bulbs had been stolen.

He also thanked Councillor Taylor for accompanying him to the last meeting of the Staffs. Moorlands Parish Assembly. Copies of the minutes of that meeting had been distributed to Councillors.

43/11. Public Comments.

There were no public comments or concerns at this point.

44/11. Minutes of Last Meeting.

The minutes of the 30th. June 2011 meeting had been circulated and it was agreed that they be signed as a true and correct record.

45/11. Matters Arising.

The Clerk had prepared two application forms for the registration of the bus shelters ready for submission to the Land Registry. Two cheques for the fees would be signed later.

The tax deducted for PAYE from the Clerk’s salary had had to be forwarded to HM Revenue & Customs. A cheque had been signed and sent. This action was sanctioned.

Enquiries had been made to St. John’s Ambulance regarding whether the new Community Transport Minibus service would include Longsdon. This had been confirmed, if the need arose.

Enquiries had been made about the availability of any new edition of The Parish Councillors Guide book. The publication now had been passed to a new publisher and the latest edition, the 20th., had been published in November 2009. There was no further edition planned at the moment. It was agreed to leave the matter in abeyance for the present but the Clerk to contact a former Councillor about the availability of his copy.

A verbal report had been received from Staffs. County Council on the items reported at the last meeting. The collapsed stone wall adjacent to the old New Inn had been fenced off again with temporary barriers and repairs would be put in hand in the future. The inspection chamber cover and the damaged road gully grating, in Gratton Lane and Dunwood Lane respectively, were being attended to.

It was reported that the disused sign post had been removed from Sutherland Road at the junction of Micklea Lane.

Contact had been made with the Community Council of Staffs on Staffs. Self Help Scheme but no return information had been received.

It was reported that:

a report on the wooden stable block in Devils Lane was still awaited.

letter of thanks for the grant had been received from Dunwood Community First Responders.

Get Well card had been sent to Councillors R. Dawson after the last meeting.

the Denford Road street name plate had been renewed.

46/11. Correspondence.

Communication had been received from LEADER in the Peak District Rural Action Zone Co-ordinator asking if the Council wished to appoint a representative to that body. The Clerk had consulted with the Chairman due to the time factor and a reply was sent stating that there was no interest at present. This action was sanctioned A letter had been received from Longsdon Memorial Hall asking for a grant of £500 – 00 towards the purchase of a new cooker for the refurbishment of the kitchen. As the Council’s representative on the Hall’s Management Committee was not present at the time, it was agreed to write to ask for more detailed information of the costs involved.

Information received under this item was:

invitation to join the Britain in Bloom scheme, from the Royal Horticultural Society – no action.

47/11. Planning Matters.

The following planning application had been circulated to Councillors :

11/00524/FUL Single Storey Timber Garden Building for Domestic Use at Greenhills, Leek Road, Longsdon, Staffs.

It was agreed, by a majority decision, to object to the proposal and to forward the same reasons as for the previous application for this building.

Councillor R. Weston had declared a personal interest in the matter and did not forward any comment.

A notice of public participation on application 11/00430/FUL Replacement of a Farm Building at Micklea Farm, Micklea Lane, Longsdon had been received.

It was reported that a renewed application for the Repositioning of a Pole Barn at Stone Bank Farm, Leek Road, Longsdon was expected in the next few days. It was agreed, that on receipt of the application, to forward no objections to the proposal in line with the Council’s comments on the original application.

The Clerk gave Councillors information on planning guidelines for orangery / conservatory extensions.

It was agreed to ask the Planning Department for an update on the situation with the barns in Micklea Lane / Denford Road.

48/11.Administration Items.

The Contract of Employment for the Clerk, together with a Job Description, which had been prepared by the Chairman, was produced. The contract was signed by him, on behalf of the Council, and the Clerk.

A Draft copy of the Standing Orders of the Council was produced. These were generally accepted apart from an amendment that item 1.11.4 be amended to read “quarterly” rather than “the end of each financial year”. A discussion took place on voting procedures at the A.G.M., especially in an election year, and it was agreed to amend this section also.

The Council’s Risk Assessment Policy was perused. It was generally accepted, with an amendment regarding the Clerk no longer being self employed but under P.A.Y.E. requirements

49/11. Finance Matters.

The signed External Auditors Report on the Annual Return had been received from the Audit Commission with no adverse comments or matters which needed to be addressed.

An account showing bank balances etc as at 30th. June 2011 was distributed to all Councillors.

50/11. Orders for Payment.

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

51/11. Public Comments.

There was no business under this item.

5211. Any Other Business.

The Clerk had received a telephone call from a parishioner asking why he had not received any rent for the Council’s notice board attached to his property. After some discussion it was agreed that the Chairman approach him to discuss the matter.

A report was given that the reported loose directional signs near to Stonelowe Farm had not been attended to during the recent work of the Highways Community Team. It was agreed to report these again and also a similar situation near to the Wheel public House.

It was reported that bracken was growing over the public seat in Mickea Lane. This to be reported to the Council’s lengthsman.

Mention was again made of the proliferation of temporary advertising boards sited along the A53 which could cause a distraction to drivers. It was agreed to write to Staffs. County Council asking what was the legal situation with regard to these signs.

53/11. Date of Next Meeting.

The next meeting of the Council will be held on Thursday 29th. September 2011 at The Rez Country Café in Sutherland Road, Longsdon at 7 - 30p.m.