Minutes of Meeting held in The Rez Country Café on Thursday 10th. November 2011.

Present: Councillor J. Sargeant (Chair)

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

District Councillor N. Hawkins.

One Member of the Public.

In Attendance: John Bourne, Clerk to the Council.

67/11. Apologies for Absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

68/11. Declarations of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest at this point.

69/11. Chairman’s Address.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

He reported that the “Longsdon” sign in Sutherland Road had been renewed and also a new grit bin had been sited at the junction of Sutherland Road and Micklea Lane.

In view of the experimental period for signs at the entrances to Sutherland Road and Micklea Lane, limiting the width and length of goods vehicles, he suggested that these should be reviewed soon.

He had also obtained a wreath from the British Legion for the Remembrance Sunday Service.

70/11. Public Comments.

At this point District Councillor N. Hawkins reminded everyone about the Community Conversation Meeting at Endon which involved Longsdon. She mentioned that it was important that information on Longsdon should be given to the meeting. The Clerk reported that posters advertising the meeting had already been posted on the notice boards.

71/11. Minutes of Last Meeting.

The minutes of the 29th. September 2011 had been circulated and it was agreed that they be signed as a true and correct record.

72/11. Matters Arising.

Due to an error in receipt the of a code number for the deduction of PAYE from the Clerk’s salary, there had been an overpayment to the Clerk in September 2011 in the sum of £94 – 10. It was agreed that the next salary payment could be adjusted to correct the overpayment. Consequently, a cheque for £41 – 60 had had to be sent to H.M. Revenue & Customs on 8th. October 2011. This action was sanctioned.

The list of work for the Highways Community Team which had visited the parish during October 2011 had been sent to County Councillor Gill Heath. It was reported that some of the works had been undertaken.

It was noted that the arrangements by Staffs. County Council for the collection of supplies of salt or brine from its depot at Ladderedge had been changed. The notices displayed on the notice boards had been replaced with the amended notices.

The Chairman gave a report on the review of the number of litter bins in the parish. He reported that there were no bins in Dunwood Lane, Gratton Lane, Honeysuckle Lane, Leek Old Road, or Wood Road. Two bins were sited on the A53 by the bus shelters with others in Devils Lane, School Lane/Devils Lane junction, Horse Bridge, Sutherland Road, Micklea Lane and on the canal by Denford Road. It was agreed that these could be classed as being sufficient.

It was reported that:

cheque for the grant to Longsdon Memorial Hall had been forwarded, and a letter of thanks received.

repayment of V.A.T. had been received.

invoice for the lengthmans scheme had been submitted to Staffs. County Council.

the damaged stone retaining wall near to the bus shelter by the old New Inn had been re-built.

73/11. Correspondence.

Letter had been received from Mrs. D. Kent informing the Council that she had replanted the village flower tub outside the Memorial Hall. It was agreed that a letter of thanks be sent to Mrs. Kent. It was also agreed to employ the usual contractor to replant the remaining tubs in the parish with winter plants. A belated invoice for the summer planting had been received from him.

Notice of Public Footpath Extinguishment Order for Footpath No. 24 had been received and acknowledged. This order was reluctantly accepted.

Information received under this item was:

request for financial assistance from Vitalise - Essential Breaks for Carers etc – no action.

Confirmation of Dog Control Orders, as from 1st. June 2011, from Staffs. Moorlands District Council.

Final Recommendations on the Electoral Review of Staffordshire from the Boundary Commission.

notice of work taking place on Cellarhead - Macclesfield overhead electricity lines through the parish.

Public Voice and Confidence in Health & Social Care Service – Consultation from Staffs. C. C.

Community Focus for Ice Busters from Staffs. County Council.

74/11. Planning Matters.

A report was given on a public participation planning meeting held with regard to the replacement barn at Micklea Farm, Micklea Lane, Longsdon. The result was that planning permission had been granted.

Further information had been received from the Planning Enforcement Department giving an update on the situation with the barns in Micklea Lane / Denford Road. Enforcement notices had now been issued on two of the buildings but there was insufficient evidence with regard to the other buildings.

Planning Application No. 11/00991/FUL Siting of Propagation Polytunnel adjacent to Existing Polytunnels at Field No. 8347, Leek Road, Endon was considered and it was agreed, by a MAJORITY decision, that no objections be forwarded subject to the normal planning guidelines.

75/11. Finance Matters.

A quarterly report on the Council’s accounts was circulated to and perused by all Councillors.

The Clerk mentioned that now that there had been an additional flower tub added to the assets list, this should be included in the Council’s insurance cover. It was agreed that the policy could be amended at the next renewal.

76/11. Orders for Payment.

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

77/11. Public Comments.

There was no business under this item.

78/11. Any Other Business.

A further report was given on the collapsing stone retaining wall at Denford Road between the railway bridge and Endon Brook. This to be reported again to Staffs. County Council.

It was pointed out that a new entrance gate being constructed in Denford Road was exempt from planning permission.

It was suggested that the minutes of Council meetings could be displayed in the notice boards earlier than the current time scale.

It was reported that the Sutherland Road street name plate at the junction with Micklea Lane was in a state of disrepair. This matter to be reported to Staffs. Moorlands District Council.

The question of whether the Parish Council should have a web site was to be on the agenda for the next meeting.

79/11. Date of Next Meeting.

The next meeting of the Council will be held on Thursday 15th. December 2011 at The Rez Country Café in Sutherland Road, Longsdon at 7 - 30p.m.