PRESENT: Councillors Mycock (Chairman), Bradbeer (Vice-Chairman), Brayford, Mrs. Brayford, Mrs. Deakin, Goodfellow, Mrs. Holmes, Oxby, Shaw and Taylor

IN ATTENDANCE: Borough Councillor Harp, M.J. Manley (Clerk) and 8 members of the public

APOLOGIES: Councillors Bedson, Colclough and Lovatt. Borough Councillor Oldfield.

OTHER NON ATTENDEES: Councillors Bevan and Insley.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

The Annual Parish Meeting being held immediately before this meeting, there were no matters arising from the public consultation opportunity which had not been raised earlier and which were on the Agenda in any event.

23/05 MINUTES

RESOLVED –That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 10th March 2005 having been circulated, be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

24/05 FINANCE

(a) Accounts for Payment

RESOLVED - That authority be given for cheques to be issued in settlement of the invoices shown in the accounts for payment attached as an Appendix to the signed Minutes subject to the addition of a payment to D. Keen in the sum of £35.60.

(b) Parish Office Further to Minute 17/05 of the last meeting, it was reported that plans for a possible office created by an extension to the Meir Heath and Rough Close Village Hall had been received from Messrs. Wood, Goldstraw and Yorath and were circulated. An estimate of the anticipated costs of such a proposal would be available for the next meeting. RESOLVED – That the position be noted.

(c) Requests for Donations

Requests for donations were submitted from Meir Heath Windmill Group and the County Archivist in respect of the Sutherland Papers.

RESOLVED

(i) That a grant of £100 be pledged to the County Archivist in the event of the proposed acquisition of the Papers materialising.

(ii) That the Meir Heath Windmill Group be advised that the Council cannot accede to the request for a further grant to the Meir Heath Windmill Group at this time in view of the decision taken at the last meeting and the provisions relating thereto in the Standing Orders.

(N.B. Councillor Taylor asked for his vote against the pledged offer of a grant to the County Archivist to be recorded.)

(d) Stafford Borough Council

A letter was submitted from the Council enclosing details, for each tax band, a breakdown of the total charges to be levied in the Parish. A copy of this table was given to each Member. The Council also required confirmation that the amount of actual expenditure on concurrent functions exceeded the Borough Council’s allowance of £5585.000 in 2004/5.

RESOLVED – That authority be given for the necessary Certificate to be issued.

25/05 PLANNING

(a) Applications

RESOLVED:-

(i) That no objections be raised to the following applications:-

05/04217 Extension – Mount Pleasant Farm, Hil. 05/04115 Two concrete garages – Aynsley Special School, B.B. 05/04196 Conservatory – Bakers Cottage, Stallington Rd., Ful. 05/03952 Extension – Moss Pit, Moss Lane, Moss Gate. 05/04063 Conversion of existing garage into living accommodation – Fulford Hall Farm, Ful. 05/04188 Conservatory – 34 Blythe Avenue, M.H. 05/04209 Conservatory – 366 Sandon Road, M.H 05/04244 Conversion of agricultural building to form 2 dwellings – Fulford Manor Farm, Ful.

(ii) That objections be raised to the following application for the reasons given:-

05/04089 Detached dwelling – Land adj. 158 Stallington Road, B.B.

(b) Decisions

It was reported that the following application had been approved:-

05/03870 Alterations etc. – Englewood, Fulford Road, Ful. 05/03941 Extension. – 1 Heather Cres., M.H. 05/04005 Vodaphone mast – Whitestone Rd., Streetworks, Meir

It was reported that the following applications had been refused:-

05/03689 Small family gypsy site – Spot Acre Site, Hilderstone Road 05/03836 Agricultural building – Little Fields, Crossgate, Hil

(c) Other Planning Issues

It was reported that an appeal had been lodged by Mr. A. Sayer against the refusal of permission for an agricultural building at Long Lane Head Farm, Long Lane, Fulford

It was also reported that the Borough Council had made Tree Preservation Orders in respect of trees at 35 Grindley Lane, Meir Heath, 216 to 218 Grindley Lane, Blythe Bridge, and further trees at the former Stallington Hospital Site, Stallington

26/05 CORRESPONDENCE AND OTHER MATTERS REQUIRING A DECISION BY THE COUNCIL

(a) Speed Limit – Hartwell Lane, Rough Close

Further to Minute 19/05 of the last meeting, it was reported that a representative of the County Council was prepared to meet Members of the Parish Council and residents and it had been provisionally agreed that such a meeting would be held on Wednesday, 18th May 2005 at 2.30 p.m.

RESOLVED – That consideration of the Council Members to attend this meeting be deferred until the next meeting.

(b) Casual Vacancies

Further to Minute 15/05 of the last meeting, the statutory notice regarding the two vacancies had now been published and the closing date by which electors could call for the vacancies to be filled by election expired on 20th April 2005.

RESOLVED – That if no such requests are received, the Clerk be authorised to invite applications for co-option.

(c) Street Lighting in Balaams Lane, Moss Gate

Further to Minute 94/04 of 9.12.04., further correspondence was submitted from residents of Balaams Lane requesting the provision of a street light outside numbers 19 and 21 Balaams Lane. A letter of support was also submitted from the Community Policeman.

Without prejudice, the Clerk had spoken to the Lighting Division of the County Council who advised that they had now no funds for the provision of additional lights but they would carry out a feasibility study and, if acceptable to the Parish Council, undertake the works providing the Parish Council met the costs involved.

RESOLVED – That the County Council be asked to undertake a feasibility study for the provision of an additional light.

(d) Grindley Lane Playing Field

A letter was submitted from a resident of Sandon Road, Meir Heath whose rear garden extends alongside Grindley Park, explaining in some detail continual problems by users of the football pitch who enter his property to recover balls. He suggested that one set of goalposts be removed.

A letter was also submitted from the Community Policeman supporting the resident’s concerns and suggesting that the goalposts be resited further down the park.

Councillor Taylor also reported that there was a growing problem with motorcycles using the park and he suggested that the boundaries should be properly fenced.

RESOLVED – That the matters be referred to the Grindley Park Management Committee with power to act and in this connection a meeting was arranged for 21st April 2005 at 7.00 p.m..

(e) Bollards in Grindley Lane, Meir Heath

Further to the discussion at the last meeting, Members again considered the problems created by unauthorised bollards alongside highways, particularly on Grindley Lane, Meir Heath.

RESOLVED – That the Area Surveyor be asked for clarification as to what residents were legally entitled to do in respect of the erection of bollards.

The Clerk was asked to include on the agenda for the next meeting, the feasibility of a pull-in being constructed at the top of Grindley Lane, Meir Heath.

(f) Land to the rear of 30B Highview Road, Fulford

Further to Minute 20/05 of the last meeting, it was reported that the Stafford Borough Council had enquired whether the Parish Council had any objections to the sale of part of the open space to the owners of 30B Highview Road, Fulford and in view of the comments made by Members at the last meeting, the Borough Council had been advised that the Parish Council had the strongest objections to such a course of action.

RESOLVED – That the action taken by the Clerk be approved and confirmed.

(g) Highway Works in Fulford

A letter was submitted from the Area Surveyor advising that the proposed works at Fulford Village Green would commence in mid to end May with completion by July.

RESOLVED – That the position be noted.

(h) Stone Police Consultative Meetings

Details of these meetings for the remainder of 2005, which had been received from Staffordshire Police, were circulated to each Member.

27/05 COUNTY AND BOROUGH COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS

Borough Councillor Harp reported further with regard to the open space at the rear of Highview Road, Fulford. It would seem that some residents were seeking an improvement to the walkway and Councillor Harp was advised that if they wished the Parish Council to be involved they write to the Clerk in the normal manner.

28/05 MATTERS OF REPORT AND ITEMS FOR INFORMATION

Receipt of the following correspondence/reports was noted:-

SBC – Civic Amenity Visits 2005/06 SBC – Area Forums – June to Dec. 2005 SBC – County Council Elections SBC – Members Allowances 2005/6 SCC – Meir Heath Area – Dog Fouling SCC – Public Transport News April 2005 Staffordshire Police – Introduction to P.C. Gareth Hilditch CPRE – Fieldwork DEFRA – Partnership in broadband Express and Star – New look Staffordshire Edition Hom3e Office – Passport to Crime Reduction Play Equipment Manufacturers - Catalogues

29/05 URGENT BUSINESS OF WHICH PRIOR NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN

The Council deemed that the following correspondence was urgent and should be considered:-

(a) Footpath 4 - Horses

A Member reported that complaints had recently been received from users of the above footpath that there was a dangerous horse in one of the fields crossed by the footpath. The County Council had been verbally informed.

RESOLVED - That the Clerk be authorised to write to the County Council formally complaining about the horse..

(b) Uttoxeter Road, Blythe Bridge - Parking

A letter was submitted from a resident of Grindley Lane supporting any attempts to introduce parking restrictions adjacent to the Trinity Medical Practice, Uttoxeter Road.

RESOLVED – That a copy of the letter be forwarded to the Staffordshire County Council.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Thursday, 12th May 2005 at Fulford Village Hall.

CHAIRMAN