Minutes of Meeting held in The Rez Country Café on Thursday 2nd. February 2012.

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.

93/11. Apologies for Absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

94/11. Declarations of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest at this point.

95/11. Chairman’s Address.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

He thanked Councillors Beastall, Bills and Taylor, and also District Councillor Hawkins, for attending the meeting with him regarding the Churnet Valley Action Plan.

The action group were supporting Option A of the proposals and advocating least change.

The Clerk reported that he had received an e.mail from the Chair of the Action Group offering to address the Council but he had informed her that some Councillors had already attended the meeting mentioned above and would be reporting to the Council.

The Chairman thanked the Clerk for attending a meeting at Endon regarding extending the double white lines on the A53 near to the parish boundary with Endon.

96/11. Public Comments.

District Councillor Hawkins reminded the meeting of possible funding available under the Councillors’ Initiative Fund. It was agreed to inform the Chairman of Longsdon Memorial Hall of this fact.

97/11. Minutes of Last Meeting.

The minutes of the meeting on 15th. December 2011 had been circulated and it was agreed that they be signed as a true and correct record.

98/11. Matters Arising.

The Chairman again set out the various options for the setting up of a website for the Parish Council.

Alternatives for the actual form of the website were discussed. It was agreed that a website be formulated which could publish minutes, accounts and Councillors addresses etc. A possible limit of £80 – 00 cost was suggested.

It was agreed that a photograph to show the attributes of Longsdon would be chosen for submission to the Staffs. Moorlands Tourist Information Office. Councillor Beastall again offered his help.

Informal enquiries had been made with a local landowner about the possibility of siting a Beacon for the celebration of Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June 2012 and he did not appear averse to the idea. An insurance quotation for such an event had also been obtained but other quotes were to be sought. It was agreed to write formally to the landowner to ask permission for the siting of the Beacon. Details were also given of other events which were planned to be held by other village organisations.

The Clerk gave a report on a meeting between two County Councillors, two Endon Parish Councillors and the Staffs. County Council Community Liaison Officer which he had attended as an observer.

One of the Endon Parish Councillors was requesting an extension to the double white lines on the A53 near to the entrance to the sewerage works at Endon. The County Council Officer reported that an official survey would need to take place. It was also suggested that better visibility was needed at the junction of the main road and the drive to the sewerage works.

It was reported that:

letter had been sent to Staffs. County Council regarding the large length restriction signs.

letter had been sent to the inspectorate regarding the appeal against an Enforcement Order.

invoices for the lengthmans schemes had been sent to Staffs. C. C. & Staffs. Moorlands D.C.

99/11. Correspondence.

Information received under this item was:

reminder of possible extensions to Dog Control Orders from Staffs. Moorlands D.C. – not applicable.

Masterplan Options Consultation Summary on the Churnet Valley Action Plan.

invitation to visit the new Staffordshire Place office of Staffs. County Council.

invitation to enter the Best Kept Village Competition 2012 from the Community Council – no action.

invitation to join Staffs. Playing Fields Association – no action.

invitation to a Stakeholder Workshop on Future Investment from Western Power Distribution.

Guide to Neighbourhood Planning from Campaign to Protect Rural England.

Clerks and Councils Direct – January 2012 issue.

100/11. Planning Matters.

The following planning applications had already been distributed to Councillors due to the time scale and Councillors had agreed to forward no objections, subject to normal planning guidelines:-

11/01202/FUL Refurbishment of Attached Outbuilding to Form Lounge with Bedroom and En-suite Over & Rear Extension to Form Kitchen with Bedroom and En-suite Over at Sunny Bank, Wood Lane, Longsdon.

11/01219/FUL Proposed Rear Extension Forming New Bedroom & Bathroom at Rosebank, Dunwood Lane, Longsdon.

101/11. Finance Matters.

The balance in the Council’s expired 1 Year Fixed Rate Bond with the Leek United Building Society had been re-invested into a 2 Year Fixed Rate Bond with the same Society together with the sum of £240 - 00.

This was the approximate balance from the Council’s Business Instant Access Account with Lloyds TSB Bank which had now been closed.

A quarterly report on the Council’s accounts, up to 31st. December 2011, was distributed to all Councillors.

102/11. Orders for Payment.

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

103/11. Public Comments.

There was no business under this item.

104/11. Any Other Business.

Notification had been received from the administration of the current meeting room that the cost of hire would increase to £25 – 00 from 1st. April 2012. It was felt that this was a large increase and it was agreed to investigate other venues.

It was reported that the bus shelters were in need of a clean out. The Clerk offered to do this.

It was agreed that any business advertisements for posting in the notice boards would only be accepted from local businesses.

A report was given of a possible breach of planning permission on a property in Sutherland Road, Longsdon. This to be reported to Staffs. Moorlands Planning Enforcement Office for an investigation.

105/11. Date of Next Meeting.

The next meeting of the Council will be held on Thursday 1st. March 2012 at The Rez Country Café in Sutherland Road, Longsdon at 7 - 30p.m.