Minutes of Meeting held in St. Chad’s Church Room on Thursday 30th. June 2016.

Present: Councillor J. Sargeant (Chair).

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

In Attendance: John Bourne, Clerk to the Council.

14/16. Apologies for Absence.

Apologies for absence were received from District Councillor N. Hawkins.

15/16. Declarations of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest at this point.

16/16. Chairman’s Address.

The Chairman thanked Councillor Bills for preparing the room. He also thanked her for delivering the bouquet of flowers for District Councillor Hawkins. He reported that he had had a chance meeting with Councillor Hawkins who had thanked the Council for the flowers and had apologised as she thought that as a result of illness she had let the Parish Council down. The Chairman had refuted the need for an apology.

He also reported a fatality on the A53 in the parish.

17/16. Public Comments.

There was no business under this item.

18/16. Minutes of Last Meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 3rd. May 2016 had been circulated and it was agreed that they be signed as a true and correct record.

19/16. Matters Arising.

The Clerk gave a report on a visit with Councillor Bills to Severn Trent’s reservoir site at the invitation of the site manager. He was very helpful and reported that the “monstrosity” which was an aerating plant did not actually require planning permission but the Council had not received the correct plan for a building in the site.

Councillor Bills then reported on a later residents’ visit to the site when they were assured that some form of screening would be investigated. There could possibly be a problem with noise from the plant and this would be monitored. Councillor Bills was thanked for her information.

The unauthorised advertisement sign attached to the “Longsdon” sign had now been removed and the work involving a traffic cone in Micklea Lane had been completed by Staffs. County Council.

A letter had been sent to the owners of the old New Inn site to ask what progress was being made with possible work on the site. A reply indicated that the whole project was held up awaiting a bat survey.

The blocked road gully grating had been reported to the Council’s lengthsman and also the excessive litter in Denford Road. He had visited Denford Road the following morning to remove the litter but reported that he would need to be there every day to remove the excess.

It was reported that:

the village flower tubs had been re-planted.

20/16. Correspondence.

Information received under this item:

Police ‘Space’ Activities – 25th. July 2016 to 2nd. September 2016.

Notice of Road Closure – Honeysuckle Lane – 4th. August 2016.

21/16. Planning Matters.

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

SMD/2016/0234 Demolition of Existing Conservatory & Erection of a Two Storey Side Extension & Construction of Two Front Dormers at Henshaw Brow, School Lane, Longsdon.

The following plans were discussed and it was agreed to forward no objections, subject to normal planning guidelines, to:-

DET/2016/0031 Change of Use of Agricultural Building to a Dwelling House at The Barn, Devils Lane.

SMD/2016/0372 Proposed Replacement Roof with Raised Ridge Height & Dormers to Form Bedroom with En-suite within the Roof Space at Ladybrook, Micklea Lane, Longsdon.

*SMD/2016/0363 Proposed New Dwelling adjacent to Highfield House at Highfield House, School Lane, Longsdon.

*It would also be noted that the proposed dwelling is within the proposed infill area mentioned in the recently received Preferred Site Options document.

The agreed statement on the preferred site options from Staffs. Moorlands District Council which appeared to show that there was no necessity for allocation of sites as new housing could be accommodated with an amended (extended) infill boundary had been sent in. It had also asked that the infill boundary be extended further to take in Micklea Lane and that part of School Lane (adjacent to the A53 Leek Road) as these areas were part of the village.

One parishioner had approached the Chairman on the matter and was informed that he could not make decisions for the Council and the Clerk had received two requests for a sight of the agreed statement but this was not issued as Councillors had not seen the reply officially.

22/16. Finance Matters.

The Council’s insurance policy had been renewed.

The Councils Annual Return had been sent in and acknowledged.

A letter of thanks had been received from Dunwood First Responders Group for the grant of £600 – 00.

Information had been received from Leek United Building Society asking for confirmation of the Council’s turnover. This had been duly returned.

Purchase Order for the lengthsman scheme had been received from Staffs. County Council.

Confirmation of the lengthsman scheme had been received from Staffs. Moorlands District Council.

23/16. Orders for Payment.

A payment, agreed at the last meeting, had been paid to A. Bridgwood for Agency Work after the late arrival of his invoice. The sum of £55 - 25 was paid on 11th. May 2016.

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

24/16. Public Comment.

There was no business under this item.

25/16. Any Other Business.

It was reported that the A. G. M. of Longsdon Memorial Hall would be held on 19th. July 16 at 7-45p.m.

The lengthsman to be asked to clear some of the overgrown vegetation on the common land.

Matters to be reported to the County Council:

Dangerous concrete inspection chamber in pavement adjacent to the entrance to Stonelowe Hall.

Overgrown trees etc obstructing the pavement South West of the entrance to Stonelowe Hall.

Erosion of edges of tarmac surface in Leek Old Road.

Blocked road gullies on A53 causing flooding at Nearacre, Leek Road.

It was also agreed to write a letter of congratulation to Dr. Shiers, a parishioner, who had recently been awarded the OBE for his work.

26/16. Date of Next Meeting.

The next meeting of the Council will be held at 7 - 00p.m. on Thursday 18th. August 2016 at St. Chad’s Church Room, Leek Road, Longsdon.