Meeting Minutes - March 2006

PRESENT: Councillors Oxby (Vice-Chairman), Bevan, Beasley, Colclough, Goodfellow, Mrs. Holmes, Lovatt, Mycock, Shaw and Taylor

IN ATTENDANCE: M.J. Manley (Clerk) and 6 members of the public

APOLOGIES: Councillors Bedson, Mr. and Mrs. Brayford, Mrs. Wheat, Borough Councillors Harp and Oldfield

OTHER NON ATTENDEES Councillor Insley

105/05 ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN AND RESIGNATIONS

It was reported that Councillor Bradbeer had resigned from the Council with immediate effect. It was also reported that Councillor Mrs. Deakin had also tendered her resignation with immediate effect.

RESOLVED:-

(i) That Councillor Martin Oxby be elected Chairman of the Council for the remainder of the municipal year.

(ii) That Councillor Barry Shaw be elected Vice-Chairman of the Council for the remainder of the municipal year.

(iii) That the resignations of Councillors Bradbeer and Mrs. Deakin be received with regret and that the Clerk be authorised to commence the statutory procedure to fill the vacancies.

(N.B. Councillors Oxby and Shaw took the necessary Declarations of Acceptance of Office.)

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Reference was made to the inquiry into the appeal against the refusal of planning permission for a gypsy site at Hilderstone Road, Spot Acre to be held on 14th March 2006. Parish Councillors were urged to attend the inquiry in a personal capacity.

With reference to the concerns with regard to vehicular access to the industrial site, particularly with regard to the Panelco Factory raised at the last meeting, an email received from Councillor Parry was raised. The Council were advised that W. Cash M.P. would support the extension of the speed limit along Grindley Lane and the Clerk was authorised to write and seek that support.

Two members of the public attended and spoke about the Bird in Hand public house at Hilderstone. Before seeking planning permission, plans were outlined which were to include the demolition of the pub (not in green belt but within Hilderstone Parish) but to include the building of three to four houses on the pub car park (within green belt and within Fulford Parish). It was suggested that a joint meeting be held with Hilderstone Parish Council and in this connection the Councillors for the Fulford Ward together with Councillors Lovatt, Mycock and Taylor were authorised to attend and extend an invitation to Councillor Parry.

106/05 MINUTES

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 9th February 2006, having been circulated, be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

107/05 COUNTY AND BOROUGH COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS

Although there was no representative from the Borough Council present, the meeting was informed that the appeal against the refusal of planning permission for the erection of 16 flats at Grindley Lane, Blythe Bridge had been dismissed.

108/05 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.

(b) Concessionary Fares

Further to the discussion at the last meeting, further details were submitted on revisions to the concessionary fares which will be implemented with effect from 1st April 2006. It was expected that a letter would shortly be received from the Borough Council but the issue of a full fare pass for a period of up to ten years made the Parish Council’s scheme for the issue of supplementary travel tokens redundant.

(c) Requests for donation

A letter requesting financial support was submitted from Mr. David Wright of Sandon Road who attached a quotation for the refurbishment of 4 No. cast iron highway milestones within the Parish. The estimated cost was £180.

Further to Minute 24/05 of April 2005, a letter was submitted from the County Archivist intimating that the County Council were now moving towards the completion of the purchase of the Sutherland Papers by the deadline of 31st March 2006. Accordingly, she asked for the release of the already pledged grant of £100.

RESOLVED:-

(i) That a donation of £180 be made for the refurbishment of the milestones.

(ii) That authority be given for the agreed donation towards the purchase of the Sutherland Papers to be released.

(d) Local Council Review Subscription Renewal

A letter was submitted from the Subscriptions Administrator advising that the Council’s subscription to the Local Council Review expires on 31st March 2006. Details were given of the new subscriptions.

RESOLVED – That authority be given for the subscription to be renewed for a period of one year.

109/05 PLANNING

(a) Applications

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

05/05490 Replacing of roof etc & extensions – 45 Kingfisher Crescent, Ful. 06/05847 Extensions – Barclay, Windmill Hill, R.C. 06/05926 Conversion of barn into 2/3 residential units – Long Lane Head Farm, Long Lane, Hil. 06/05943 Conservatory – 13 Sutherland Crescent, B.B. 06/05967 Extension – 4 Hollies Drive, M.H.

(ii) That objections be raised to the following applications for the reasons stated at the meeting:-

06/05948 The retention & improvement of an access, retention of hardstanding & installation of an LPG tank – The Wood, Stallington Road, M.H. 06/05958 Conversion of office building into self contained flat – Tudor View, Meadow Lane, Ful.

(b) Decisions

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

05/05621 Extensions – 56 Grindley Lane, M.H. 05/05634 Erection of dormer bungalow – Land at Common Lane, M.H. 06/05676 Alterations and extensions – Coutts Cottage, Leadendale Farm, M.H. 06/05715 Resubmission of refusal- Extensions – 130 Stallington Road, B.B.

It was reported that application no. 05/04965 for the demolition of existing dwelling and the construction of 6 flats at 218 Grindley Lane, Blythe Bridge had been withdrawn.

(c) Other Planning Issues

There were no other planning issues raised at this meeting.

110/05 CORRESPONDENCE AND OTHER MATTERS REQUIRING A DECISION BY THE COUNCIL

(a) Proposed Parish Office

Further to Minute 100/05 of 9th February 2006, a summary was given of the tenders received for the project. The total cost of the lowest to date being in the sum of £83,911.25 plus VAT. A grant from the Award for All Lottery of £5k. had been received and when the results of the other applications for grant had been notified, it was proposed to convene a meeting of the Joint Committee with the Meir Heath & Rough Close Village Hall Management Committee.

(b) Mr. D. Keen - Handyman

A letter was submitted from Mr. D. Keen terminating the maintenance contract with effect from 31st March 2006.

RESOLVED – That the termination be received with regret and that notice inviting applications for a new contractor be placed on the Noticeboard and website.

(c) Appointment of Committees/Working Parties

Arising from the resignation of Councillors Bradbeer and Mrs. Deakin from the Council referred to earlier in the Minutes, consideration was given to the effect in relation to the representation on Committees/Working Parties.

Generally, it was accepted that there was no need to take any consequential action since the Annual General Meeting of the Council was to be held in May but it was decided to merge Rough Close with Meir Heath for the consultation on planning applications leaving Councillor Shaw as the Planning Co-ordinator.

(d) Complaints – Meir Heath

A letter of complaint was received from a resident of Hilltop Crescent about the amount of litter by the hairdressers and Spar shop and requesting the reinstatement of a litter bin.

Through the general enquiry form on the Council’s website a resident asked for the replacement of play equipment in Grindley Park. The Clerk was authorised to respond, in the short term, on the lines now indicated pointing out that the equipment had been removed at the behest of adjoining residents, that the safety surface had been severely damaged but to point out that the recent inspection carried out on the existing wooden frames contained no evidence of problems with that apparatus.

RESOLVED:-

(i) That the Borough Council be asked to provide a litter bin outside their shop premises.

(ii) That consideration to the provision of play equipment on Grindley Park be formally considered at the next meeting.

(e) Concerns – Blythe Bridge

A letter was submitted from the occupier of Rose Cottage, Stallington Grange, Grindley Lane seeking the Council’s support following representations made to the Environmental Health Department of the Borough Council regarding the increasingly intrusive activities at the Panel co Factory off Grindley Lane, Blythe Bridge. In particular, the Environmental Health Department have been asked to assist in resolving problems experienced with noise from the factory.

A letter was also submitted from the occupant of 12 Adamthwaite Close, Blythe Bridge on behalf of several residents drawing attention to parking problems in the area and requesting land at the top end of the Close to be made available for additional car parking facilities. The land concerned was owned by the Borough Council.

RESOLVED – That support be given to the residents of Stallington Grange in requesting the Environmental Health Department to investigate the complaints and the request from the occupant of Adamthwaite Close be referred to the Borough Council for attention.

(f) Stafford Partnership Plus

An invitation was submitted to appoint representatives to attend the ‘State of the Borough Debate’ in Stafford on 13th March 2006. There were no volunteers to attend.

(g) Fulford Village Green

Further to Minute 93/05 of 12th January 2006, it was reported that some Councillors and the Clerk had held a site meeting with Joe Scully, Parks and Open Spaces Development Officer at Stafford Borough Council on 6th March 2006 and he had agreed to arrange for suitable wooden posts to be erected around the perimeter of the Village Green in place of the existing posts which were generally in a poor condition. He had also agreed to arrange for the trees adjacent to the footpath on Borough land between Highview Road and Baulk Lane, Fulford to be cut back.

The Clerk was asked to try and arrange a meeting with Mr. Scully at the Village Green, Saverley Green to attend to problems experienced at this location.

(h) SPCA Advisory Notes

Issue No. 104 was circulated at the meeting.

(i) Parish Website

Further to the discussion at the Special Meeting of the Parish Council held on 23rd February 2006, consideration was given to the arrangements for the day to day management of non public documents on the Council’s website.

RESOLVED - That the day to day management of such articles be delegated to the Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and Councillor Beasley

N.B. THIS RESOLUTION WAS REFERRED BACK FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION AT THE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 13.04.06 BEFORE THE MINUTES WERE CONFIMED AS A CORRECT RECORD

111/05 MATTERS OF REPORT AND ITEMS FOR INFORMATION

Receipt of the following correspondence/reports was noted:-

SBC – Members Digest SBC – Civic Amenity visits SCC – Minerals and Waste Development Framework – Public Examination SCC – Public Transport News SCC – Sustainable Staffordshire Environment Agency – Be prepared for flooding Stone & District Crime Prevention Panel – Meeting 15.03.06 CPRE - Fieldwork Parish Newsletter – In this connection Cllr. Taylor reported that Mr. D Keen was no longer willing to deliver the Newsletter. Subject to further enquiries being satisfactory, it was agreed to offer the contract to Mrs. J. Shaw of Blurton and pay the sum of £300 for the delivery of the March issue

112/05 ITEM(S) FOR NEXT MEETING

Other than the item already referred to in the Minutes with regard to play equipment, there were no other items to be included on the Agenda for the next meeting.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Thursday, 13th April 2006 at Meir Heath and Rough Close Village Hall at 7.15 p.m.

113/05 EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC AND PRESS

RESOLVED – That in accordance with the provisions of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 the public and press be excluded from the meeting in view of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted.

114/05 CONFIDENTIAL MINUTES

RESOLVED – That the Confidential Minutes of a Special Meeting of the Council held on 23rd February 2006, having been circulated, be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

115/05 PARISH PLANS

Further to Minute 79/05 of 10th November2005, consideration was given to a proposed questionnaire prepared following a meeting of the Working Party held on 5th February 2006. The Clerk also tabled a proposed application for grant to be made to the Staffordshire Community Council completed by the former Chairman of the Council.

RESOLVED:-

(j) That the proposed questionnaire be referred to the Staffordshire Community Council for observations before further consideration by the Council.

(ii) That the application for grant be now submitted in the amended form to the Staffordshire Community Council.

CHAIRMAN