Minutes of Meeting held in The Rez Country Café on Thursday 15th. December 2011.

Present: Councillor J. Sargeant (Chair)

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

One Member of the Public.

In Attendance: John Bourne, Clerk to the Council.

80/11. Apologies for Absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors L. Bills & R. Dawson.

81/11. Declarations of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest at this point.

82/11. Chairman’s Address.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

He thanked Councillor Bills for her attendance at the Remembrance Sunday Service, Councillors Weston & Lovell for attending the Community Conversation meeting at Endon and also Councillor Taylor for his attendance with him at the last meeting of the Moorlands Parish Assembly. A copy of the minutes of that meeting held on 8th. December 2011 was distributed to all Councillors.

He also reported that the village tubs had now been replanted for the winter.

83/11. Public Comments.

There was no business under this item.

84/11. Minutes of Last Meeting.

The minutes of the meeting on 10th. November 2011 had been circulated and it was agreed that they be signed as a true and correct record.

85/11. Matters Arising.

The Chairman gave the meeting various options for the setting up of a website for the Parish Council.

This could be used to publish minutes, agendas, accounts and planning applications etc etc. He also gave details of the costs involved. It was agreed that more discussion should take place at the next meeting.

A discussion took place on the large width restriction signs in the parish used to deter large vehicles from using Park Lane etc. These had been sited for an experimental period and it was felt that they had been a failure. It was agreed to write to Staffs. County Council pointing this out and asking if they could be replaced with the normal weight restriction signs.

Confirmation had been received from Staffs. Moorlands District Council stating that the existing arrangement of the polling place at the Longsdon Church Room would continue.

It was reported that:

payment had been received for the invoice for the lengthmans scheme sent to Staffs. C.Council.

letter of thanks had been sent to Mrs. Kent for planting the village flower tub.

letter had been sent to Staffs. County Council regarding the collapsing wall in Denford Road.

letter had been sent to Staffs. Moorlands D.C. reporting the street name plate in Sutherland Road.

86/11. Correspondence.

Notification of the amount of election expenses for the last elections which would be charged to the Parish Council had been received. There was an option to pay these by annual instalments but it was agreed that these be paid in full.

An invitation to submit a photograph to show the attributes of Longsdon had been received from Staffs. Moorlands Tourist Information Office. It was agreed to investigate the possibility of submitting such a photograph and Councillor Beastall volunteered to help with this.

Information had been received regarding the celebration of Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June 2012. It was agreed to investigate the possibility of siting a Beacon in the parish as had been done in the past.

Information received under this item was:

the current edition of the Electoral Roll.

Publication of Revised Submission Core Strategy for Moorlands Local Development Framework.

Clerks and Councils Direct – November issue.

87/11. Planning Matters.

A Notice of Appeal had been submitted against the Enforcement Notice which had been made on some of the barn buildings in Micklea Lane / Denford Road. It was agreed to write to the Inspectorate to ask for written information on the result of the appeal.

88/11. Finance Matters.

The Council’s 1 Year Fixed Rate Bond with the Leek United Building Society was due to expire on 20th. December 2011. It was agreed that the balance be re-invested into a 2 Year Fixed Rate Bond with the same Society.

It was agreed that the Council’s Business Instant Access Account with Lloyds TSB Bank, which was paying £0 – 01 per month interest should be closed and the balance transferred to the new 2 Year Fixed Rate Bond with Leek United Building Society.

Estimates / Precept for the year 2012 / 2013. The Clerk produced (1) Actual Figures for the Year 2010/11, (2) Estimated Expenditure and end of year balance for the Year 2011/12 and (3) Estimated Income and Expenditure for the Year 2012/13.

After studying the figures produced, it was agreed that the Clerk’s salary remain unchanged, and also, in the light of the current economic climate, the amount of the Precept remain UNCHANGED at £3,500 – 00.

89/11. Orders for Payment.

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

90/11. Public Comments.

There was no business under this item.

91/11. Any Other Business.

The Chairman wished everyone present the compliments of the season and thanked Councillor Bills for the festive refreshments.

92/11. Date of Next Meeting.

The next meeting of the Council will be held on Thursday 2nd. February 2012 at The Rez Country Café in Sutherland Road, Longsdon at 7 - 30p.m.