Minutes of Meeting held in The Rez Country Café on Thursday 12th. April 2012.

Present: Councillor J. Sargeant (Chair).

Councillors T. Beastall, L. Bills, C. Taylor & S. R. Weston.

District Councillor N. Hawkins.

One Member of the Public.

In Attendance: John Bourne, Clerk to the Council.

1/12. Apologies for Absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors R. Dawson and R. P. A. Lovell.

2/12. Declarations of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest at this point.

3/12. Chairman’s Address.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting. He thanked Councillor Taylor for accompanying him to the last Staffs. Moorlands Parish Assembly meeting. He was also sorry to hear that Councillor Dawson had again been admitted to hospital.

4/12. Public Comments.

There was no business under this item.

5/12. Minutes of Last Meeting.

The minutes of the meeting on 1st. March 2012 had been circulated and it was agreed that they be signed as a true and correct record.

6/12. Matters Arising.

The Chairman reported that the website for the Parish Council was now up and running but was not yet generally advertised as he wished for final approval from Councillors. Permission for publication of details of individual telephone numbers etc of Councillors was also required. After some discussion it was agreed that the matter be discussed again at the next meeting after further perusal of the website had been carried out.

After further discussions with 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, it appeared that his own insurance may not cover the event. It was agreed that the Parish Council investigate costs for the insurance cover.

The possible purchase of a memorial seat for the celebrations was again discussed with approximate prices and suggested locations. The seat could possibly be inaugurated with the help of the village Rose Queen. This, again, to be discussed at the next meeting.

A short report was given on the negotiations for an extension to the double white lines on the A53 near to the entrance to the sewerage works at Endon, which were still proceeding.

The large length restriction signs were again discussed and it was agreed to write to Cheddleton Parish Council to enquire what efforts that Council had made on the matter.

A telephoned reply had been received from Staffs. Moorlands District Council stating that repairs to bus shelters was no longer its responsibility. It was agreed that further investigations be made.

Reply had been received from Staffs. Moorlands Planning Enforcement Office regarding a possible breach of planning permission on a property in Sutherland Road, Longsdon. This stated that there was insufficient evidence to proceed at present. It was agreed to monitor the situation.

Councillor Bills gave confirmation of the costs involved with the hiring of Longsdon Memorial Hall for Council meetings. The cost for the hire of the hall was a flat rate whatever the length of meetings.

It was reported that:

details of the business carried out at the last Staffs. Moorlands Parish Assembly meeting had been distributed to all Councillors.

the annual returns, together with invoices, for the lengthsmans schemes of Staffs. County Council and Staffs. Moorlands District Council had been submitted.

7/12. Correspondence.

Letter had been received from the Leader of Staffs. Moorlands District Council requesting support from Parish Councils for the suggested introduction of a Staffs. Moorlands postal address and post code rather the current Stoke on Trent addresses. It was agreed to support this proposal.

Details had been received from Staffs. Moorlands District Council of Moorlands Together Spring / Summer Neat & Tidy Events for community groups, individuals etc with help from the District Council.

Information received under this item was:

list of dates for the visit of the Community Highways Team.

invitation for membership of the Community Council of Staffs. – no action.

invitation for membership of Staffs. Parish Councils’ Association in the sum of £183 - 91 – no action.

final date for Submission to Staffs. & Stoke on Trent Joint Waste Core Strategy Policy Framework.

notice of appointment of Examiner at Hearing sessions for the above Waste Core Strategy.

details of Overhead Line Refurbishment from Cellarhead – Macclesfield – Daines.

details of forthcoming changes to the Governance of Staffordshire Policing.

8/12. 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:-

12/00143/FUL Proposed Single Storey Side Kitchen Extension, and Single Storey Side Garage Extension, at Holmfield, Micklea Lane, Longsdon ST9 9QA.

12/00243/FUL Proposed Front Extension & Internal Alterations at Rosebank Cottage, Dunwood Lane, Longsdon ST9 9QW.

A proviso was added to this commenting on whether this further application for an extension, in addition to a recently approved extension, was within the limit for enlarging the property.

Notice had been received from the Planning Inspectorate that the appeal against the Enforcement Order on the stable buildings in Micklea Lane / Denford Road had been dismissed.

Information was given that the Planning Applications Manager would be consulting Parish Councils on whether they wished to receive paper plans with planning applications.

9/12. Finance Matters.

A copy of the Councils annual accounts were distributed to all Councillors. Information on dates of submission of the Annual Return had been received from the Audit Commission. It was agreed that the current internal auditor should again be employed by the Council.

10/12. Orders for Payment.

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

11/12. Public Comments.

There was no business under this item.

12/12. Any Other Business.

District Councillor Hawkins reported that a sum of £280 – 00 from her fund had been awarded to Longsdon Memorial Hall but no further funding was available until 2014. She also gave details of changes to the Standards Board which will come into operation on 1st. July 2012.

Reports were given of dangerous loose guttering at the old New Inn, fly tipping in Old Leek Road and discarded barriers near to Dunwood Hall. These to be reported to the appropriate authorities.

A report was given that most of the country lanes were clear of litter.

13/12. Date of Next Meeting.

The next meeting of the Council, which will include the Annual Parish Meeting and the Annual General meeting will be held on Thursday 10th. May 2012 at The Rez Country Café in Sutherland Road, Longsdon at 7 - 30p.m.