Minutes of Meeting held in The Rez Country Café on Thursday 1st. March 2012.

Present: Councillor J. Sargeant (Chair)

Councillors T. Beastall, L. Bills, R.P.A. Lovell, C. Taylor & S. R. Weston.
Two Members of the Public.

In Attendance: John Bourne, Clerk to the Council.

106/11. Apologies for Absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor R. Dawson.

107/11. Declarations of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest at this point.

108/11. Chairman’s Address.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

109/11. Public Comments.

The administrator of the meeting room addressed the meeting. She pointed out the need to increase the cost of the hire of the room due to increases in utility costs etc. and the setting up of the room for the Council’s use. She asked that consideration be given to continuing with the hire of the room in the light of her explanations. The Chairman pointed out that no decision had been taken on the matter but it would be discussed later in the meeting.

110/11. Minutes of Last Meeting.

The minutes of the meeting on 2nd. February 2012 had been circulated and it was agreed that they be signed as a true and correct record.

111/11. Matters Arising.

The Chairman reported on his efforts for the setting up of a website for the Parish Council. He had provisionally set up a web page with a company which would incur an approximate cost of £50 – 00. He also gave details of the web space available and the amount of usage available. A domain name would need to be chosen and it was agreed that longsdonpc could be suitable. It was also agreed that the final details would be discussed at the next meeting.

Letter had been sent to the local landowner about the possibility of siting a Beacon on his land for the Celebration of Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June 2012. Councillor Lovell reported on a subsequent meeting which he had had with the landowner. The Landowner was keen to help and even suggested that his own public liability insurance could possibly cover the event. It was agreed that the site would be ideal, being away from buildings and in an elevated position on which the beacon could be seen for miles around. It was agreed to register the beacon as a national feature for the Jubilee celebrations. Offers of help in setting up the beacon would be sought. Further details were given of other events which were planned to be held by other village organisations.

Groups within the village were being asked to sponsor flower arrangements which would be displayed in St. Chad’s Church during the Jubilee weekend. Sponsorship of an arrangement was anticipated to cost between £35 – 00 & £40 – 00 and it was agreed that the Parish Council should participate.

Mention was also made of possible funding from the District Councillor’s fund which could be used to purchase a memorial seat for the celebrations. Councillor Bills offered to investigate this matter.

Copies of e.mails which had been exchanged between County Councillors involved in the discussions on the request for an extension to the double white lines on the A53 near to the entrance to the sewerage works at Endon had been received. These showed that the landowner involved had been contacted to try to improve the visibility to the entrance. Another from the Community Traffic Management Officer of Staffs. County Council reported that a recent survey had taken place at the site and the current white lines met the normal criteria for visibility etc.

A reply had been received from Staffs. County Council regarding the large length restriction signs. This pointed out that the signs were a permanent feature and were never temporary. Councillors expressed dissatisfaction with this but it was agreed to continue to monitor the situation with vehicles etc.

The Clerk reported that the bus shelters had been cleaned out but also reported vandalism to the shelter opposite the old New Inn. The end window had been broken and the frame was rotting. It was agreed to write to Staffs. Moorlands District Council requesting repairs to be carried out.

Letter had been sent to Staffs. Moorlands Planning Enforcement Office asking for an investigation into a possible breach of planning permission on a property in Sutherland Road, Longsdon. An acknowledgment had been received.

Councillor Bills gave details of the costs involved with the hiring of Longsdon Memorial Hall for Council meetings. These varied according to the length of meetings and could possibly involve changing the actual day of the meetings to Tuesdays. After some discussion it was agreed, with one abstention, that, due to the difficulties mentioned, meetings be held at the current venue for the present. Thanks were expressed to Councillor Bills and the Memorial Hall Management Committee for their help in the matter It was reported that:

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

112/11. Correspondence.

Information received under this item was:

Highways Winter Operations – Theft of Grit (rock salt), from Staffs. County Council.

Diamond Jubilee Celebrations (advice on street events, tree planting etc.) from Staffs. County Council Advice to Parish Councils on Freedom to Pray from Dept. of Communities & Local Government.

Notice of next meeting of Staffs. Moorlands Parish Assembly – Thursday 8th. March 2012.

Community Paths Initiative – Bids for 2012/2013 from Staffs County Council.

Request for grant from Staffs. Campaign to Protect Rural England – no action.

Notice of Submission of Staffs. & Stoke on Trent Joint Waste Core Strategy Development Plan.

113/11. Planning Matters.

There was no business under this item.

114/11. Orders for Payment.

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

115/11. Public Comments.

There was no business under this item.

116/11. Any Other Business.

A report was given of vandalism which had taken place during a recent night in Denford Road. This had occurred at a number of properties and also stones had been removed from the canal bridge. The culprits had been apprehended and the stones from the bridge had been replaced.

It was reported that various defects to highways recently reported had been resolved.

117/11. Date of Next Meeting.

The next meeting of the Council will be held on Thursday 12th. April 2012 at The Rez Country Café in Sutherland Road, Longsdon at 7 - 30p.m. It was also suggested that the Annual Parish Meeting and the A.G.M. should be held on Thursday 10th. May 2012.