Minutes of Meeting held on Friday 8th. May 2026 in the Longsdon Memorial Hall, Leek Road, Longsdon at 7.00pm.
Present: Councillor J. Sargeant (Chair).
Councillors C. Hogan, D. Hughes, R. Lovell & K. Shaw.
In Attendance: Two Members of the Public.
Rachael Powell - Trustee of Longsdon Memorial Hall.
John Bourne, Clerk to the Council.
1/26 Apologies for Absence.
Apologies for absence were received from J. Cox & S. Dickinson.
2/26 Declarations of Interest.
There were no declarations of interest at this point.
3/26 Chairman’s Address.
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.
4/26 Public Comments.
There was no business under this item.
5/26 Approval of Minutes of Last Meeting.
The minutes of the meeting held on 27th. March 2026 had been circulated, and it was agreed that the minutes be signed as a true record.
6/26 Matters Arising.
(a) Christmas Tree Power Supply.
A further discussion took place on whether the wiring for the Christmas tree lighting point should be overhead or underground to the exterior boundary wall. It was agreed to consult with a qualified local electrician for a suitable solution.
(b) Common Land.
More discussion took place on the matter, and it was agreed to discuss again ideas with the local representative of Staffs. Wildlife Trust.
(c) Longsdon Memorial Hall.
With the help of the trustee of the hall in attendance, the question of a public meeting to inform parishioners of the need for more support for the hall was again suggested. However, it was agreed to help publicise the forthcoming Annual General Meeting of the Management Committee to be held on 5th. June 2026.
7/26 Other Business.
Defibrillator Pads.
The Council had been informed that the Defibrillator Pads had reached their expiry dates.
It was agreed to purchase new pads at an approximate cost of £80-00.
Lengthsman Instructions.
Any instructions to be reported to the Clerk
8/26 Corresponence.
The following had already been distributed to Councillors: - SMDC – Emergency Briefing Screening Session.
Letter from S.P.C.A. to Staffs County Council on Gritting Bins.
Invitation to SMDC Local Engagement Workshop.
Invitation to Haydns Masterpiece – 30th.May 2026.
9/26 Planning Matters.
Application No. SMD/2025 had been superseded and Councillors had been asked to send further objections to the proposals at High View, Sutherland Road, Longsdon.
10/26 Finance Matters.
A copy of the Annual Accounts for 2025/2026 was distributed to Councillors.
No adverse comments were received.
As the Council’s turnover was less than £25,000.00 it was agreed to sign and forward the External Audit Exemption Certificate.
The Annual Governance Statement was approved.
The Annual Accounting Statements were approved.
The Annual Publication documents – Bank Reconciliation & Statement of Significant Variations were approved and signed.
The Internal Auditor’s report was received. She had mentioned one minor issue with an unpresented cheque.
It was agreed to investigate the setting up of internet banking.
TSB Bank had informed the Council that it was merging with Santander Bank.
The Council’s Risk Assessment Policy was reviewed and approved.
Orders for Payment.
It was agreed that the following items be paid:
| Recipient | Amount | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| J. A. Gibson. | £ 108.00 | Litter Picking. |
| £ 36.00 | County Type Jobs. | |
| Zurich Insurance. | £ 410.54 | Insurance Renewal (A slight increase on last year). |
| John Bourne. | £ 411.04 | Clerk’s Salary & Expenses (nett). |
| H. M. Customs & Excise. | £ 88.40 | P.A.Y.E. |
| John Sargeant. | £ 25.00 | Room Hire (Re-imbursement). |
| Longsdon Memorial Hall. | £ 25.00 | Room Hire. |
| Ionos | £ 7.20 | Monthly Charge paid by direct debit 13th. April 26. |
11/26 Public Comments.
There was no business under this item.
12/26 Items for Inclusion in the Agenda for the Next Meeting.
None.
13/26 Date of Next Meeting.
The date of the next meeting was arranged for Friday 26th June 2026 at 7-00p.m.
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Minutes of the Longsdon Parish Meeting held on Friday 8h. May 2026 in Longsdon Memorial Hall, Leek Road, Longsdon.
Present: Chair J. Sargeant. (Chair of the Parish Council).
In Attendance: Councillors C. Hogan, D. Hughes, R. Lovell & K. Shaw.
Two Electors.
Rachael Powell, Trustee of the Memorial Hall.
John Bourne, Clerk to the Council.
1. Apologies for Absence.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J. Cox & S. Dickinson.
2. Approval of Minutes of Last Parish Meeting.
The minutes of the last Parish meeting held on 8th. May 2025 had been circulated, and it was now agreed that they be signed as a true and correct record.
3. Chairman’s Address.
The Chairman thanked each Councillor for giving up their time to attend our meetings this year. Attendance had been very good.
Special thanks to the Vice Chair, the Clerk and the representatives of the Council for taking on the extra responsibilities.
He said that it had been great to have a little spontaneous good humour break out in the meetings from time to time. Such basically serious events are otherwise naturally dull and uninspiring.
It’s now unsurprising that the disgrace of the derelict New Inn continues despite approval for the latest planning application being granted months ago. There seems to be no appetite for removing the eyesore.
It’s also not easy to identify what improvements the Reform County Council have made to our area in its first year. The road surfaces certainly don’t seem markedly smoother. Let’s hope for better this year.
4. To Receive a Report for the Year 2025 / 2026.
Councillor John Sargeant was again re-elected as Chairman with Councillor Richard Lovell re-elected as Vice Chairman at the Annual General Meeting of the Council.
Councillors J. Cox and S. Dickinson were elected as representatives on the Staffs, Moorlands Parish Assembly.
Councillor D. Hughes was elected as the Council’s representative on the Memorial Hall Management Committee.
John Bourne, Clerk to the Council, was appointed as the Responsible Financial Officer.
Estimates for the coming financial year were prepared. Councillors agreed that the precept requirement would be £5,500.00, a slight increase on last year.
The annual accounts of the Council were audited again by the internal auditor. There were no adverse comments from her.
As the Council’s turn-over was less than £25,000 it could be exempted from an external audit. This option was pursued, and the necessary forms would be certified, signed and forwarded to the external auditor.
The Council’s insurance was again renewed with the Zurich insurance company with its quotation being only slightly more than last year.
Due to the Data Protection Regulations the Council again registered with the Information Commissioner in the sum of £52 – 00.
S137 Payments.
The village flower tubs were again planted twice for the summer and winter periods.
The large Remembrance Day poppies were again displayed around the village, but some had disappeared. Additional material had already been obtained for future years.
A Christmas tree was again purchased and was then displayed outside the Memorial Hall on Leek Road during the Festive period. The council paid for an external electrical socket to be installed with the defibrillator cabinet which re-sited slightly during the process. Further adjustments to the socket are still required.
A planning application for the provision of a farm shop on the old New Inn site was eventually approved by SMDC Planning Committee on appeal after original refusal.
A report of a dangerous window on a building at the junction of Leek Road and Sutherland Roads was sent in and the matter dealt with.
Unfortunately, no progress has been obtained regarding the safety of pedestrians using the pedestrian crossing on the A53 Leek Road despite the efforts of the Parish Council.
5. Any Other Business.
There was no business under this item.
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Minutes of Meeting held on Friday 27th. March 2026 in Longsdon Memorial Hall, Leek Road, Longsdon at 7.00pm.
Present: Councillor J. Sargeant (Chair).
Councillors S. Dickinson, D. Hughes, R. Lovell & K. Shaw.
In Attendance: John Bourne, Clerk to the Council.
103/25 Apologies for Absence.
Apologies for absence were received from J. Cox & C. Hogan.
104/25 Declarations of Interest.
There were no declarations of interest at this point.
105/25 Chairman’s Address.
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.
106/25 Public Comments.
There was no business under this item.
107/25 Approval of Minutes of Last Meeting.
The minutes of the meeting held on 6th. January 2026 had been circulated, and it was agreed that the minutes be signed as a true record.
108/25 Matters Arising.
(a) Christmas Tree – New Outdoor Electrical Socket
The position of the electrical socket installed alongside the new defibrillator cabinet was agreed not be ideal for illuminating a Christmas tree in the spot used for the last two years. Discussion commenced on the feasibility of having a mains socket on the stone wall adjacent the pavement. It was discovered that an underground cable would need to be at least 14 inches (36 centimeters) below the surface and enclosed in a conduit. It was felt that the groundwork for this would be prohibitively expensive. It was agreed to consider alternative methods of supplying power for the tree lights, potentially alternative places for the tree and also alternative types of tree which may be lighter and allow loftier locations. This to be discussed again at the next meeting.
(b) Common Land.
A further discussion took place on the matter and it was agreed to discuss ideas again with the representative of Staffs. Wildlife Trust.
(c) Longsdon Memorial Hall.
Information was received that a meeting between a member of the Memorial Hall committee, an interested parishioner and a member of the Council had been arranged for the following Monday. It was agreed to postpone further discussion until any results from that meeting could be reviewed. It was understood that the intention of the hall meeting was to convey assurance that people were willing to help in its management and reduce the strain on the existing very few members.
109/25 Other Business.
Lengthsman Instructions.
Any instructions to be reported to the Clerk
110/25 Correspondence.
The following had already been distributed to Councillors: -
SMDC – Local Government Re-organisation Consultation.
Update from Stoke on Trent City Council.
Invitation to SMDC Chairman’s Charity Ball – 17th. April 2026.
SMDC Dementia Friends Session – 22nd April 2026.
111/25 Planning Matters.
Councillors had been consulted on the following Planning Application:
SMD/2026/0063 Replacement Garage with Gym & New Games Room at Mollatts Wood Road, One adverse comment received. A report was sent in with a majority no objections.
SMD/2026/0051Listed Building Consent for New Windows at Dunwood House Farm.
No objections were received.
112/25 Finance Matters.
Orders for Payment.
Endon Christmas Tree Farm. £120.00.Already paid as agreed.
It was agreed that the following items be paid:
| Recipient | Amount | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| J. A. Gibson. | £ 108.00 | Litter Picking. |
| £ 96.00 | County Type Jobs. | |
| John Sargeant. | £ 25.00 | Room Hire (Reimbursement for January ). |
| Longsdon Memorial Hall. | £ 25.00 | Room Hire. (To be paid by the chair and reimbursed) |
| Ionos | £ 7.20 | Monthly Charge paid by direct debit 12th. January 26. |
| £ 7.20 | Monthly Charge paid by direct debit 11th. February 26. | |
| £ 19.20 | Monthly Charge paid by direct debit 13th. March 26. |
113/25 Public Comments.
There was no business under this item.
114/25 Items for Inclusion in the Agenda for the Next Meeting.
AGAR details, Exemption certificate, Annual governance statement.
115/25 Date of Next Meeting.
The date of the next meeting was arranged for Friday 8th. May 2026 at 7-00p.m.
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Minutes of Meeting held on Tuesday 6th. January 2026 in the Longsdon Memorial Hall, Leek Road, Longsdon at 7.00pm.
Present: Councillor J. Sargeant (Chair).
Councillors J. Cox, S. Dickinson, C. Hogan, D. Hughes, R. Lovell & K. Shaw.
In Attendance: John Bourne, Clerk to the Council.
90/25 Apologies for Absence.
There were no apologies for absence.
91/25 Declarations of Interest.
There were no declarations of interest at this point.
92/25 Chairman’s Address.
The Chairman wished Councillors a Happy New Year and hoped that this would be a good year for all.
He thanked everyone for attending on such a cold, damp evening for the Council’s first meeting in Longsdon Memorial Hall since September 2006. He commented that Clerk John Bourne was first introduced to the Council in this hall at the meeting of August 2006 and the current chair was co-opted on the same evening. It was a rather cold venue back then, conducive to quickly dispatching the business of the evening.
93/25 Public Comments.
There was no business under this item.
94/25 Approval of Minutes of Last Meeting.
The minutes of the meeting held on 20th. November 2025 had been circulated, and it was agreed that the minutes be signed as a true record.
95/25 Matters Arising.
(a) Defibrillator Cabinet & Christmas Tree – Report by the Chairman.
A heated defibrillator cabinet was installed at the Memorial Hall by AEDdonate in a different place from the original, part way around the corner of the hall. A new outdoor mains socket was installed at the same time.
The Vice Chair & Chair concluded that from the new location the wiring for the Christmas tree lights should be overhead and low voltage. Appropriate poles, conduits, and low voltage extension cables were installed.
The Chairman thanked the Vice Chair for ordering the Christmas tree, arranging delivery and assisting with its installation and lighting.
He also thanked the Vice Chair and Councillor Dickinson for their very great help in dismantling and disposal of the tree. Councillor Hughes was thanked for cleaning up the debris from the earlier installation.
The tree and lights were generally agreed to be good and particularly pleasant during the evenings.
(b) Common Land.
A representative of Staffs. Wildlife Trust had met the Vice Chair on site and had forwarded a long list of suggestions for the site. These suggestions to be discussed at the next meeting.
(c) Remembrance Day Poppies.
Three poppies were destroyed by storms whilst being displayed this year. More would be purchased for next year.
96/25 Other Business.
Lengthsman Instructions.
The lengthsman would be instructed to cut back an overhanging hedge in School Lane and to replant the village flower tubs when necessary.
(b) Longsdon Memorial Hall.
Questions were asked about the running of the Hall. Enquiries would be made.
97/25. Correspondence.
The following had already been distributed to Councillors: - SMDC – Proposal to Government on Local Re-organisation.
Road Closure – Dunwood Lane – 20th.January 2026.
Road Closure – Sutherland Road – 20th January 2026.
Planning - Speaking at Committees.
Invitation from New Vic Theatre.
SMDC Chair’s Letter to the Prime Minister.
98/25 Planning Matters.
There was no business under this item.
A report had been received that the SMDC Planning Committee had overruled the Officer’s Recommendations and given approval to the proposed demolition of the old New Inn and the proposed construction of a Farm Shop.
99/25 Finance Matters.
Orders for Payment.
It was agreed that the following items be paid:
| Recipient | Amount | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| J. A. Gibson. | £ 108.00 | . Litter Picking. |
| £ 108.00 | . County Type Job. | |
| John Bourne. | £ 350.10 | Clerk’s Salary & Expenses - Nett. |
| H.M. Revenue & Customs. | £ 88.40 | P.A.Y.E. |
| Longsdon Memorial Hall. | £ 25.00 | Room Hire. |
| Ionos | £ 7.20 | Monthly Charge paid by direct debit 12th. November 25. |
| £ 7.20 | Monthly Charge paid by direct debit 12th. December 25. |
The Chairman offered to pay the Memorial Hall by online banking and be reimbursed at the next meeting. This was agreed.
100/25 Public Comments.
There was no business under this item.
101/25 Items for Inclusion in the Agenda for the Next Meeting.
Common Land Plans.
Underground Cable & Electrical Socket for Christmas tree.
Spares for the Defibrillator.
Longsdon Memorial Hall
102/25 Date of Next Meeting.
The date of the next meeting was to be arranged.
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