Minutes of Meeting held in St. Chad’s Church Room on Thursday 26th. March 2015.

Present: Councillor J. Sargeant (Chair).

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

District Councillor N. Hawkins.

In Attendance: John Bourne, Clerk to the Council.

80/14. Apologies for Absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

81/14. Declarations of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest at this point.

82/14. Chairman’s Address.

The Chairman thanked Councillor Bills for preparing the meeting room. He reported that there could be a change to the current format of meetings of the Staffs. Moorlands Parish Assembly.

83/14. Public Comments.

District Councillor Hawkins thanked the Council for inviting her to the Council’s meetings and, after some consideration, would be standing for re-election as a District Councillor.

84/14. Minutes of Last Meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 29th. January 2015 had been circulated and it was agreed that they be signed as a true and correct record.

85/14. Matters Arising.

The Clerk had met with a representative of Longsdon Memorial Hall regarding the siting of the exterior case to house the defibrillator. The site had been agreed and the Clerk had fixed the cabinet. All the relevant defibrillator equipment had been delivered to Councillor Taylor who was negotiating with the Ambulance Service about its connection to the system. There had been a series of delays and it was agreed that, should no satisfactory response be received within the next few days, the Clerk should formally write a letter of complaint.

The Dunwood First Responders would help with training and publicity of the machine etc.

The Clerk reported on a communication sent to Staffs. County Council from Royal Mail requesting agreement for the siting of the replacement post box in Sutherland Road. The Highways Superintendant had asked for the Parish Council’s views on the matter. As the siting had already been agreed by Councillors the Superintendant would forward its approval to Royal Mail.

The fly tipping in Denford Road near the old New Inn, repairs required to the bus shelter opposite the old New Inn and the damaged cast iron cover over a water main stop cock in Denford Road had all been reported.

The lengthsman had been asked to move the abundance of litter in the Denford Road area.

The report of possible unauthorised earth moving in Dunwood Lane had been forwarded to the Regulatory Services Dept. of Staffs. Moorlands District Council which had investigated the matter and reported that it was being monitored. This information had been passed to District Councillor Hawkins.

It was reported that:

letter of thanks had been sent to the adjacent landowner for righting the bus shelter.

the new bench seat on the canal towpath had been fixed by the Canals & Rivers Trust.

the quarterly invoice for the lengthsman scheme had been paid by Staffs C. C.

86/14. Correspondence.

Other information received under this item was:

notice of Adoption of the Statement of Community Involvement from Staffs. Moorlands D. C.

invitation to join the Community Council of Staffs. – no action.

The Future of the Churnet Valley Living Landscape Partnership – dates of local meetings.

Community Paths Initiative – Bids for 2015/2016 from Staffs. County Council.

Staffs. Moorlands Parish Assembly Newsletter – Issue 8 January 2105.

M.E. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome leaflets – posted on notice boards, Promoting Independence, Choice & Dignity from Stoke on Trent Clinical Commissioning Group.

Clerks & Council Direct - March 15 Issue.

87/14. Planning Matters.

Due to the time the following planning applications had been distributed to Councillors:

There were no objections, subject to normal planning guidelines, to:

SMD/2015/0104 Erection of Agricultural / Forestry Building and Formation of Associated Hardstanding & Track on Land off Devils Lane, Longsdon.

*SMD/2015/0056 Siting of a Mobile Home – Temporary Dwelling for the Nursery at Proctor’s Nursery, Leek Road, Endon.

*While there were no objections, in principle, to this application, Councillors wished that such a dwelling has an agricultural – user restriction (or agricultural tie) applied to it to ensure that it is only used for the stated purpose. The proposed dwelling is also in the Green Belt.

Councillors discussed the following planning application and agreed to forward no objections, subject to normal planning guidelines, to:

SMD/2015/0121 Single Storey Side Extensions & Alterations at South Bank, Wood Road, Longsdon.

A report was given of a property in Sutherland Road being advertised to let. This was contrary to earlier information that family members were living in the property. This matter to be reported to the Planning Enforcement Department of Staffs. Moorlands District Council.

88/14. Finance Matters.

Notification of the dates of the Annual Audit had been received from the Council’s external auditors. It was agreed to employ the usual internal auditor in the first instance.

An offer to give a quotation for the Council’s insurance had been received from Zurich Insurance. It was agreed that a quotation be obtained from them at the time of renewal.

89/14. Orders for Payment.

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

90/14. Public Comment.

There was no business under this item.

91/14. Any Other Business.

A question was asked about any progress with work to the pedestrian crossing in Leek Road but no progress had yet been made.

Sunken kerb, causing flooding to driveway at Nether Stanlow Farm, damage to grass verges in Leek Old Road and loose direction signs in Leek Road to be reported to Staffs. County Council.

The lengthsman to be instructed to remove growth from in front of the Jubilee seat in Denford Road.

The P. C. C. of St. Chad’s Church to be informed that the heating system was inoperable in the Church Room for this meeting.

92/14. Date of Next Meeting.

The next meeting of the Council will be held at 7-30p.m. on Thursday 14th. May 2015 at St. Chad’s Church Room, Leek Road, Longsdon.

The Chairman thanked Councillors for their past service to the Council and wished them luck in the forthcoming elections.