    |
Meeting Minutes - April 2007
PRESENT: Councillors Oxby (Chairman), Mrs. Bennett, Mrs. Brayford, Brayford, Colclough, Mrs Holmes, Mycock, Mrs. Ralphs, Taylor and Mrs. Wheat. IN ATTENDANCE: County Councillor Parry; Borough Councillor Harp; M.J. Manley (Clerk) and 1 member of the public. APOLOGIES: Councillors Beasley, Bevan, Goodfellow, Insley Lovatt and Shaw Borough Councillor Oldfield.
In submitting his written apologies for this meeting, Councillor Insley had also given notice of his wish to retire from the Council due to his continuing poor health. He thanked the Councillors for their kindness and understanding. The implications of his not submitting a Nomination Paper for the forthcoming elections had been explained to him. The Clerk was asked to send a letter to Councillor Insley thanking him for his services and conveying the Member’s best wishes for a speedy recovery to good health.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Since the Annual Parish Meeting had been held at 7.00pm earlier that evening, there were no matters raised at this opportunity.
24/07 MINUTES RESOLVED –That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 8th March 2007 having been circulated, be confirmed as correct record and signed by the Chairman.
25/07 COUNTY AND BOROUGH COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS County Councillor Parry reported that he was still receiving complaints about traffic noise from vehicles using the A50 and the effects on residents of Blythe Bridge. It was time that pressure was brought to bear to secure an earlier implementation of the resurfacing works but also some additional screening would help alleviate the problems. It was suggested that the imposition of a 50 mph speed limit would reduce the noise. The Clerk was asked to write to the Highways Agency accordingly. He also reported that major disruption would be made to the roads in Blythe Bridge for an improvement to the gas mains and that also Blythe Bridge High School were looking for community representatives on the Board of Governors. Borough Councillor Harp reported that the gypsies at Spot Acre were now appealing to the High Court. The Inspector had not allowed the appeal against enforcement action at The Wood, Stallington Road, Meir Heath and again the problems with the occupants of 54 Birkholme Drive, Meir Heath were now in the hands of the Borough Solicitor. A report was presented on the open spaces at the former Hospital Site at Stallington and plans prepared by Persimmon Homes were presented. It was hoped that providing the Borough Council and the Residents were happy with them, the works would be completed in June.
26/07 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. (b) Appeals for Donation A letter was submitted from the County Air Ambulance requesting consideration to be given to making a donation.
RESOLVED –That in the circumstances a donation of £100 be made to the County Air Ambulance for the current year.
(c) Assistance for the Community Police Officer It was reported that the newly appointed Community Police Officer was in urgent need of transport as it was impossible to satisfactorily undertake his duties on foot. The discussions on the possible joint parish provision of a car did not appear to offer a quick solution and it was suggested that the Council might help with the funding to assist the purchase of a mountain bike. RESOLVED – That in principle the Council will look favourably on the making of a grant of £300 to assist the Police in the provision of a suitable bicycle.
(d) Council Tax 2007/8 A letter was submitted from Stafford Borough Council advising that the Council had now set the Council Tax for 2007/8 and a table setting out for each tax band a breakdown of the total charges to be levied in the Parish was circulated to each Member.
RESOLVED – That the table be noted.
27/07 PLANNING (a) Applications RESOLVED (1) That the action taken in raising no objections (with conditions as appropriate) to the following applications be confirmed:-
(2) That the action taken in raising objections to the following applications for the reasons stated at the meeting be confirmed:- (b) Decisions It was reported that the following applications had been approved:- It was reported that the following applications had been refused:-
(c) Other Planning Issues A letter was submitted from the Staffordshire County Council inviting interested parties to comment on issues to considered in the planning of future development of waste management facilities within the County. The consultation document was available for downloading on the website ; www.staffordshire.gov.uk A letter was also submitted from the Development Plan Manager of the City of Stoke on Trent advising work was commencing on an Inner Urban Core Area Action Plan. The first step in the process was to identify issues to be looked at and a list of topics so far identified were listed. Any further suggestions were welcome. RESOLVED – That the letters be noted.
28/07 CORRESPONDENCE AND OTHER MATTERS REQUIRING A DECISION BY THE COUNCIL (a) Parish Surgeries Further to Minute 2/07 of the Special Meeting held on 8th January 2007, the Council were reminded that weekly Parish surgeries would commence on the week beginning 16th April 2007. The Clerk would be present on Mondays (except Bank Holidays) between 11am and 1pm.
RESOLVED – That the position be noted.
(b) Possible alcohol free zone in Grindley Park, Meir Heath Further to Minute 21/07 (a) of the last meeting, a letter was submitted from Stafford Borough Council intimating that whilst the Council had powers to make an Order, they would first need to be satisfied that nuisance, annoyance or disorder had been associated with the consumption of alcohol in that place. Written evidence was essential. RESOLVED - That a suitable article be placed in the next Newsletter.
(c) Parish Plan Further to Minute 21/07(c) of the last meeting, it was reported that Emma had now completed the first part of the analysis and the Working Party were in possession of most of the data produced to-date. She was in some difficulty in preparing some of the material for the draft Plan itself such as a short history of the Parish of Fulford. RESOLVED – That a meeting of the Working Party be held on a date to be agreed with Councillor Oxby and Emma.
(d) Diamond Tree Plantation, Meir Heath Further to Minute 20/07 (c) of the last meeting, a letter was submitted from the Forestry Commission confirming that in most cases permission to fell trees was generally needed. However there were feeling licence exemptions which were explained to the Members and it would appear that there was no breach of the Regulations in this case. RESOLVED – That the position be monitored (e) Provision of 30mph matrix signs Further to Minute 14/07(a) of the last meeting, a letter was submitted from the County Divisional Highways Manager advising that the sites suggested by the Parish Council had been sent to the Local Traffic Officer for evaluation for the provision of signs for 2007/8. The evaluation for 2006/7 included 63 possible sites but only 9 were funded.
RESOVED – That the letter be noted.
(f) Parish Elections 2007 The Clerk reported that he had now received the Statements of Persons Nominated for each of the four Wards and there would be no contests. Blythe Bridge and Fulford Wards had the required number of candidates; Meir Heath Ward had one vacancy and for the second time running, there were three vacancies for the Rough Close Ward.
RESOLVED – That the position be noted.
(g) Bus Shelter, Sandon Road, Meir Heath Further to Minute 21/07 (b) of the last meeting, the Council accepted that this shelter should be replaced as soon as possible and some thought the shelter should be demolished immediately.
RESOLVED – That the Clerk in consultation with the Meir Heath Ward members be authorised to arrange either for the demolition or temporary repair of the Shelter if needs be and also be authorised to organise a replacement shelter provided the cost does not exceed £4000. 29/07 MATTERS OF REPORT AND ITEMS FOR INFORMATION Receipt of the following correspondence/reports was noted:- 30/07 ITEM(S) FOR THE NEXT MEETING There were no items the Clerk was asked to include on the agenda for the next meeting.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING The next meeting of the Council ( A.G.M.) is to be convened at Fulford Village Hall on Thursday, 17th May 2007 at 7.30pm.
31/07 EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC AND PRESS RESOLVED – That in accordance with the provisions of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 as amended, the public and press be excluded from the meeting in view of the confidential business to be transacted.
32/07 ANNUAL REWIEW OF THE CLERK’S SALARY Further to Minute2/07 of the Special Meeting held on 8th January, Members were reminded that the salary review of the Clerk had not been undertaken as normal at the preparation of the Budget for 2007/8 as discussions were ensuing as to modifications to his Contract of Employment. These negotiations had now been satisfactorily concluded.
RESOLVED That with effect from 1st April 2007 the salary of the Clerk be increased from Spinal Point 25 to Point 26 ie an hourly rate of £10.860. (The Clerk was not present during the discussion or voting on this item)
CHAIRMAN
|
