Meeting Minutes - July 2007
PRESENT: Councillors Shaw (Chairman), Mrs Brayford (Vice- Chairman), Baggaley, Beasley, Bevan, Mrs. Bennett, Brayford, Lovatt, Mrs. Malvern, Mycock, Oxby, Mrs. Ralphs, Taylor and Mrs. Wheat.
IN ATTENDANCE: County Councillor Parry, Borough Councillor Roycroft, M.J. Manley (Clerk) and 3 members of the public. APOLOGIES: Councillors Colclough, Goodfellow and Mrs. Holmes, Borough Councillor Harp
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Further to the discussion at the last meeting, the resident from Green Close, Blythe Bridge asked for a progress report following his concerns about the playing of ball games on the small area of open space in that road. There was nothing to report on a scheme for utilising this open space land for car parking. Councillor Mrs Malvern advised that the possible area of unused school playing field adjoining Springcroft School was owned by Stoke City Council and could not be brought into use without considerable drainage works being carried out. Reference was made to discussions with the Parish Council and Stafford Borough Council and Stoke City Council some six years ago and the Clerk was asked to again contact the Borough Council to ascertain whether the land could be brought into use for the playing of ball games
Further to the discussion at the last meeting, a resident expressed concerns about the continuing problems of anti-social behaviour and speeding in the Adamthwaite Drive area of Blythe Bridge. A meeting had been arranged between Members of the Parish Council, officers from the Youth Offending Service for Staffordshire, the local County Councillor, the police and local residents on 19th July 2007 at which it was hoped that a co-ordinated response to all the problems might be secured. On the question of possible traffic calming, County Councillor Parry was asked to press the Highways Department to come foreword with proposals.
50/07 MINUTES
RESOLVED -That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 14th June 2007 having been circulated, be confirmed as correct record and signed by the Chairman.
51/07 COUNTY AND BOROUGH COUNCILLORS' REPORTS
County Councillor Parry reported that if the Council so wished he could possibly arrange for a meeting of the Stone Neighbourhood Consultative Police Committee to be held in the Parish in the near future. The Council welcomed this possibility. The speedwatch scheme had been launched and was working in Saverley Green but additional volunteers were urgently required for the scheme to be extended within the Parish. He referred to a bad accident on the A50 recently and intimated that he was trying to secure the help of Bill Cash, M.P. to get improvements carried out to this road. Reference was also made to the announcements about the impending closure of Creda and the many issues which the appropriate authorities needed to address.
Borough Councillor Roycroft reported that the appeal against the decisions of the Planning Inspectorate with regard to Gypsy Site at Spot Acre would now be held in the High Court on 14th December 2007
52/07 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 Members were reminded of the earlier discussions on the plight of Fulford United Football Club who had lost property and equipment in June through acts of vandalism. The Secretary of the Club had been in contact with the Clerk and the most pressing immediate problem was getting the two pitches cut and maintained for the start of the season and for the growing months of 2007 and the Council had been asked for help. It was considered that this could be best achieved with a financial donation.
RESOLVED -That the Council agree to make an immediate donation of £400
53/07 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
It was reported that an appeal had been lodged against the refusal of planning permission for the erection of a dwelling at 21 Grindley Lane, Blythe Bridge.
54/07 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 matter on the agenda for this meeting and the topics were then discussed by members:-
RESOLVED - That the Area Highways surveyor be again asked to take appropriate measures to overcome this problem
(b) Revised Model Code of Conduct
Further to Minute 39/07 of the 17th May 2007, a copy of the revised model Code of Conduct was circulated to each Member. Parish Councils had until 1st October to adopt the revised code but after that time councils that had not adopted the code would be covered by it automatically. The advice of the Standards Board for England was to adopt the revised code unamended although it was pointed out that paragraph 12(2) may be in conflict with the Council's standing orders
RESOLVED - That further consideration be given to the matter at the next meeting
(c) Parish Office
Further to Minute 2/07 of 08.01.07, the Parish Office had been in use now for some ten weeks and a review of the numbers using the facility was undertaken. It's use by the general public was very poor and the Clerk asked to be relieved of this duty. Members felt that the Parish Newsletter had just been delivered with the details of opening arrangements published therein and therefore the arrangements should remain at least for the next month or so.
RESOLVED - That further consideration be given to the matter at the next meeting.
(d) Representative on the Fulford Village Hall Management Committee
Further to Minute 47/07 (d) of the last meeting, a letter was submitted from the Chairman of the Fulford Village Hall Management Committee pointing out that under the Trust Deeds for the Village Hall the appointment of a representative from the Council could only be made at any time one month before the Annual General Meeting which is held annually in April. The appointment of Councillor Brayford therefore was not effective until April 2008.It was reported that this interpretation had not applied in the past. RESOLVED - That the reaction of the Village Hall Management Committee be received with disappointment but that it be pointed out to that Committee that their actions have led to a situation whereby the Committee will not have a representative now on the Parish Council until 2008, Councillors Oxby and Colclough not being permitted to discuss or vote on any matters relating to the Hall.
( N.B. Councillor Oxby was required to leave the room for this item and took no part in the voting or discussion thereon) (e) Propose Bus Shelter at Stallington
Further to Minute 47/07 (c) of the last meeting, the Clerk reported that he had received the quotation for the construction of a base from MSW Contractors but not yet from the County Highways.
RESOVED - That position be noted (f) Blythe Bridge Railway Station
Further to the discussion at the May meeting, the Clerk reported receipt of an e-mail from the Clerk to Forsbrook Parish Council intimating that that Parish Council were continuing to have discussions with Faye Lambert, Community Rail Project Officer and were committed to spending £500 on improving the flower bed on the train station platform. She supplied details of Central Trains Adopt a Station Scheme but of course Central Trains will no longer be the franchise operators from November 2007. RESOLVED - That the response be noted
(g) Draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan for Staffordshire
The Clerk reported receipt of the above document on which the Staffordshire County Council were inviting comments before the end of August 2007. The offer of Councillor Taylor to peruse the document and report at the next meeting was gratefully accepted.
55/0 MATTERS OF REPORT AND ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
Receipt of the following correspondence/reports was noted:-
56/07 ITEM(S) FOR THE NEXT MEETING
The Clerk was asked to include the following matters on the agenda for the next meeting:-
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Council is to be convened at Fulford Village Hall on Thursday, 9th August 2007 at 7.15pm.
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