Minutes of Meeting held in St. Chad’s Church Room on Thursday 29th. June 2017.

Present: Councillor J. Sargeant (Chair).

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

District Councillor N. Hawkins.

One Member of the Public.

In Attendance: John Bourne, Clerk to the Council.

16/17. Apologies for Absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors R. Lovell and D. Sargeant.

17/17. Declarations of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest at this point.

18/17. Chairman’s Address.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and apologised to Councillor Taylor for not being able to attend the last Parish Assembly meeting but thanked him for his attendance.

19/17. Public Comments.

District Councillor Hawkins gave some details of the timetable for the next stage of the Local Plan process.

She was not able to disclose the actual details being put forward but these would be published on 4th. July 2017 and asked for the Council’s comments before the next meeting under the process on 12th. July 2017.

Various comments were given on items of the plan discussed at the Parish Assembly.

20/17. Minutes of Last Meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 3rd. May 2017 had been circulated. It was agreed that they be signed as a true and correct record.

21/17. Matters Arising.

A letter of thanks had been sent to former Councillor Lorna Bills for her service on the Council. The Electoral Office had been informed of the resultant vacancy and the usual notices displayed. Confirmation had now been received that the Parish Council could now co-opt a new member of the Council. It was agreed to publicise the vacancy on the Council’s website and notice boards.

No progress had been made regarding the replacement litter bin to be sited by the canal bridge in Sutherland Road. The Canal & River Trust had offered to install a new bin if the Parish Council purchased one. However, Staffs Moorlands District Council would need to service the bin otherwise it would be removed. At this point it was agreed that no further progress could be made.

A list of the village plant tubs which needed to be replaced had been forwarded to Proctor’s Nursery and these had been replaced. All the tubs had also now been replanted.

The complaints about the solid board safety fencing which had been erected on the old New Inn site which was now obstructing vision for drivers entering or leaving Denford Road and also causing a hazard for pedestrians had been forwarded to Staffs County Council Highways and an acknowledgement received. No further details had been received and it was agreed to contact the County Council again.

A telephone call had been received from St. Chad’s Parochial Church Council, followed by a confirmation letter, that the Church Room would no longer be available for meetings etc. from 30th. June 2017. Enquiries had been made with the Memorial Hall Management Committee but they could not accommodate the Council’s meetings. A further suggestion was to hold meetings at Dunwood Hall and this was agreeable with the owners but they were concerned about the number of events which they could hold at the venue due to planning restrictions.

It was agreed to contact the Planning Department to ascertain whether a small Council meeting would constitute an “event”.

The Wheel public house had a room available but meetings should not take place in licensed premises unless there was no other venue available. It was agreed to hold the next meeting of the Council in the upstairs room at that venue while further negotiations took place.

The starting time of future meetings was discussed and it was agreed to continue with the 7-00p.m. start.

It was reported that:

a reply had been sent to the correspondent regarding the litter bin and the safety fencing at the old New Inn.

the reported damaged Chevron signs on the A53 had been replaced.

22/17. Correspondence.

A letter, together with literature, had been received from the Police & Crime Commissioner regarding the Cyber Security and Cyber Crime Survey. Notices received giving advice on the subject would be displayed on the notice boards.

Other information received was:

Invitation to a Special Event at the National Arboretum on Wednesday 2nd. August 2017.

Invitation to fly the Red Ensign for Merchant Navy Day on Sunday 3rd. September 2017.

23/17. Planning Matters.

There was nothing to report under this item.

24/17. Finance Matters.

It was confirmed that the Council insurance policy had been renewed with Zurich Insurance.

The Annual Governance Statement and the Annual Accounting Statement had been submitted to the Council’s external Auditor.

The Risk Assessment Statement, which the Chairman had produced, was discussed and it was agreed to accept all the details. It was also agreed that the Statement should be reviewed every year.

25/17. Orders for Payment.

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

26/17. Public Comment.

There was no business under this item.

27/17. Any Other Business.

Councillor Taylor informed the meeting that he was planning to leave the area in the near future which would mean him relinquishing his seat on the Council.

Items for report included:

Overgrown grass obstructing vision at the Denford Road junction with A53 – Staffs. County Council.

Overgrown grass over the footpath in Sutherland Road – the lengthsman.

28/17. Date of Next Meeting.

The next meeting of the Council will be held at 7 - 00p.m. on Thursday 17th. August 2017 in the Upstairs Room of the Wheel Public House, Leek Road, Longsdon.