Minutes of Meeting held in St. Chad’s Church Room on Thursday 18th. August 2016.

Present: Councillor J. Sargeant (Chair).

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

One Member of the Public.

In Attendance: John Bourne, Clerk to the Council.

27/16. Apologies for Absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor L. Bills & District Councillor N. Hawkins.

28/16. Declarations of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest at this point.

29/16. Chairman’s Address.

The Chairman thanked Councillor Weston for circulating the planning comments on a refused application.

30/16. Public Comments.

The member of the public gave a report on traffic incidents and accidents near to her property which was, she reported, as a result of the high speed of vehicles using the A53 main road. She asked if cameras could be used to check the speed of the vehicles. It was agreed to write to the Police to ask if mobile speed cameras could be used on the road.

31/16. Minutes of Last Meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 30th. June 2016 had been circulated and it was agreed that they be signed as a true and correct record.

32/16. Matters Arising.

The ongoing problem with the blocked gullies in Sutherland Road at the junction with Wood Road had again been reported. After consultation with the Chairman the matter had been passed to County Councillor Gill Heath asking her to take up the matter. This action was sanctioned.

The items from the last meeting had been reported to the County Council however the problem in Leek Old Road could not be detected and would be reported again.

The defective concrete inspection chamber covers at the entrance to Stonelowe Hall, Leek Road had been replaced but some safety fencing had been left on site. This to be reported to British Telecom.

Letter of congratulation had been sent to Dr Shiers on his award of the OBE.

33/16. Correspondence.

An e.mail had been received from Endon Parish Council asking for support for investigating, again, the white line structure around the lay-by at Endon and also asking the Councils opinion on a proposal to ask for the lay-by to be made one-way from a Northerly direction. Councillors felt that as the white lines were reported to be subject to the normal criteria no further action could be taken. However, it was agreed to support the proposal for the lay-by to be made one way but with no right turn at the Northern entrance for traffic travelling from the South. It was suggested that a new additional lay-by could be constructed on the opposite side of the main road to facilitate traffic from the South. Endon Parish Council to be informed of these decisions.

Information received under this item:

Notice of Road Closure – Dunwood Lane – 4th. September 2016.

Clerks & Councils Direct – July 16 issue.

34/16. 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/2016/0399 Removal of Condition 1 relating to a Temporary Period of 18 Months at Dunwood Hall,Leek Road, Longsdon.

The following plan was discussed and it was agreed, by a majority decision, to forward no objections, subject to normal planning guidelines, to:-

SMD/2016/0403 Proposed Single Storey Side Extension at Upper Dales, Dunwood Lane, Longsdon.

35/16. Finance Matters.

The Councils Annual Return had been returned from the External Auditor. There were no comments.

The Completion of Audit notice had been posted on the Council’s website.

An account update for the last quarter was issued to all Councillors.

36/16. Orders for Payment.

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

37/16. Public Comment.

There was no business under this item.

38/16. Any Other Business.

Councillor Lovell gave a report on the A. G. M. of Longsdon Memorial Hall. There were no problems.

Matters to be reported to the County Council:-

Advertising trailer causing an obstruction in the lay-by at Endon.

Stones from grass verges in Denford Road rolling into the road and causing obstruction.

Lengthsman to be asked to paint the bench seat on the canal towpath.

It was reported that the dog waste bin by the bench seat on the canal towpath near Bridge No 4 is damaged and is not being emptied. This to be reported to Staffs. Moorlands District Council.

A report was given of meetings still taking place regarding the future of an ambulance based in Leek. It was agreed to write to Karen Bradley MP, with a copy to the Leader of Staffs. Moorlands District Council, asking that the ambulance remains in Leek.

39/16. Date of Next Meeting.

The next meeting of the Council will be held at 7 - 00p.m. on Thursday 29th. September 2016 at St. Chad’s Church Room, Leek Road, Longsdon.