Meeting Minutes - December '07HELD ON THURSDAY, 13th DECEMBER 2007 AT 7.30 P.M. AT MEIR HEATH & ROUGH CLOSE VILLAGE HALL
PRESENT: Councillors Shaw (Chairman), Mrs. Brayford (Vice-Chairman), Baggaley, Mrs. Bennett, Brayford, Lovatt, Mycock, Oxby, Taylor and Mrs. Wheat. IN ATTENDANCE: Borough Councillors Harp and Oldfield; M.J. Manley (Clerk) and 2 members of the public. APOLOGIES: Councillors Beasley, Colclough, Mrs. Holmes and Mrs. Malvern. County Councillor Parry; Borough Councillor Roycroft. OTHER NON-ATTENDEES: Councillors Bevan, Goodfellow and Mrs. Ralphs PUBLIC PARTICIPATION There were no matters raised at this opportunity. 83/07 MINUTES RESOLVED - That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 8th November 2007, having been circulated, be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. 84/07 COUNTY AND BOROUGH COUNCILLORS' REPORTS It was reported that Borough Councillor Roycroft would be attending the High Court Hearing into the appeal against the Inspector's decision in relation to the Gypsy Site at Spot Acre on 14th December 2007. Reference was made to a recommencement of the procedure for the creation of the new Stafford Development Framework and it was the intention of the Borough Council to have greater Parish Council participation in the exercise this time around. Stafford had not faired very well in the announcement of next year's Government grant. It was also reported that Joe Scully had been promoted and left the Authority. 85/07 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 Open Spaces Society seeking additional financial assistance in connection with their campaign 'Greens Get a Second Chance'. RESOLVED - That no action be taken. (c) Budget 2008/9 - Finance & General Purposes Committee - 3.12.07 A copy of the minutes of a meeting of the Finance & General Purposes Committee held on 3rd December 2007 was circulated to each Member. The meeting dealt with the customary review of salaries and contract payments and the Committee recommended a budget and precept for 2008/9. RESOLVED - That the report be received and the recommendations contained within the minutes of the Committee (a copy of which is appended to the signed Minutes) be accepted and adopted. 86/07 PLANNING (a) Applications RESOLVED:-
(1) That no objections be raised to the following applications:-
(2) That objections be raised to the following application for the reasons stated at the meeting:-
(b) Decisions It was reported that application 07/09167 for the formation of a new driveway off the main highway at the rear of the car park adjacent to The Cottage, Stallington Road, Blythe Bridge had been withdrawn. It was reported that the following applications had been approved:-
It was reported that the following applications had been refused:-
(c) Other Planning Issues Correspondence was submitted from Stafford Borough Council
A verbal report was given on discussions with the Borough Council over the removal of trees from a woodland near to the Nursing Home on Hilderstone Road, Meir Heath Correspondence from the City of Stoke on Trent Council concerning the Adopted Statement of Community Involvement as part of their creation of a Development Framework was noted.
87/07 CORRESPONDENCE AND OTHER MATTERS REQUIRING A DECISION BY THE COUNCIL (a) Items notice of which was given at the last meeting As instructed at the last meeting, the Clerk included the following matters on the agenda for this meeting and the topics were then discussed by members:-
RESOLVED:- (1) That a letter be sent to the elected Mayor of Stoke on Trent City Council strongly opposing the possible closure of Aynsley School since this is the only facility for special needs in the southern end of the City and it provides a multitude of special needs. The Mayor is also to be advised that, in the event of the City Council proceeding with closure, the Council would be interested in opening negotiations for the retention of the new building on the adjacent fields, which is within the Stafford Borough area, for community purposes. (2) That the Stafford Borough Council be requested to take immediate action to secure the much needed improvement to the gardens of 54 Birkholme Drive, Meir Heath.
(b) Parish Plan Further to Minute 81/07 of the last meeting, it was reported that, following a meeting of the Working Group on 28th November 2007, Emma Beaman had been asked to make minor adjustments to the text of the Parish Plan documents following which quotations would be sought for the printing of the final copies. RESOLVED - That the position be noted. (b) Bus Shelter at Stallington Further to Minute 81/07 of the last meeting, it was reported that the manufacturer of the wooden shelters had announced that it would not be possible to provide a shelter until the late Spring. RESOLVED - That in the circumstances, a UPVC shelter be provided from Garrick Outdoor Shelters, the same dimensions as that recently provided at Sandon Road, Meir Heath. (c) Noise on the A50 The Clerk reported receipt of an email from the Clerk to Draycott Parish Council advising of action taken in consultation with Checkley and Forsbrook Parish Councils to endeavour to get some reduction in the noise levels from traffic on the A50. This exercise included the raising of a petition and the Parish Council were invited to participate in the campaign. RESOLVED - That the offer be accepted and copies of the petition circulated within the Blythe Bridge and Saverley Green areas. (d) Provision of Matrix Signs Further to Minute 81/07 of the last meeting, a letter was submitted from the Divisional Highways Manager advising that none of the sites in Fulford Parish has achieved a sufficiently high priority in the 2007/8 Programme. The criteria for the provision of vehicle activated signs is currently being reviewed however. Reference was made to an address by Richard Whittle to the Parish Area Forum which intimated that there may be some opportunity to secure matrix signs. RESOLVED - That Mr. Whittle be contacted and his observations invited. (e) Parking on Verges Further to Minute 81/07 of the last meeting, a letter was submitted from the Divisional Highways Manager advising that to some degree the answer to the problem was in the hands of the householders themselves. The work required to physically prevent vehicles could involve a large number of closely spaced marker posts which would be both unsightly and was not cost effective. RESOLVED - That the letter be noted.
(f) Footpath 11 Consideration was given to a suggestion made by the Rambler's Association to divert part of Footpath 11 at Fulford and the Council's views were invited. RESOLVED - That the consideration be deferred until the next meeting.
88/07 MATTERS OF REPORT AND ITEMS FOR INFORMATION Receipt of the following correspondence/reports was noted:-
89/07 ITEM(S) FOR THE NEXT MEETING The Clerk was asked to include on the agenda for the next meeting:-
DATE OF NEXT MEETING The next meeting of the Council is to be convened at Meir Heath & Rough Close Village Hall on Thursday, 10th January 2008 at 7.15 p.m.
CHAIRMAN
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