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Meeting Minutes - March 2007
PRESENT: Councillors Oxby (Chairman), Shaw (Vice- Chairman), Beasley, Bevan, Brayford, Colclough, Mrs Holmes, Insley, Lovatt, Mycock, Taylor and Mrs. Wheat.
IN ATTENDANCE: County Councillor Parry; Borough Councillors Oldfield and Roycroft, M.J. Manley (Clerk) and 7 members of the public.
APOLOGIES: Councillors Mrs Bennett, Mrs Brayford, Goodfellow and Mrs. Ralphs. Borough Councillor Harp.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Mr. Phillip Allen addressed the meeting and announced the launch of a new community First Responder scheme under the control of Staffordshire Ambulance for Fulford, Hilderstone, Meir Heath and surrounding areas. If successful a car would be sited on Fulford Village Hall and Mr. Allen was asked to contact the Village Hall Management Committee on this aspect. The Parish Council were asked for their support to the initiative which was readily given.
Residents expressed their concerns about litter, speeding cars and anti-social behaviour in the Adamthwaite Drive area of Blythe Bridge. The residents were advised of the Council’s deliberations on the matter at the meeting held on 11th January 2007 but it was agreed to request the Borough Council to provide a dog bin close to the Green Close area.
Concerns were raised at the redevelopment of the former Texaco Petrol Filling Station in Meir Heath. Residents enquired whether it was permissible to remove trees and bushes but County Councillor Parry was confident that no encroachment was made onto County Council land. The County Councillor was asked to ensure that steps were taken to ensure that the open grassed amenity area in front of the premises was not used for car parking etc. and that perhaps a bench and planter should be provided.
17/07 MINUTES RESOLVED –That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 8th February 2007 having been circulated, be confirmed as correct record and signed by the Chairman.
18/07 COUNTY AND BOROUGH COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS
County Councillor Parry thanked the Council for their support over the launch of the Speedwatch Scheme. Kerb dropping had been undertaken in parts of Blythe Bridge but he was not too sure that the right areas had yet been tackled. He hoped that parish partnership funding would be used to tidy up areas and offered LMS support for amenity planting in Meir Heath.
The Borough Councillors reported that the problems with the occupants of 54 Birkholme Drive, Meir Heath was now in the hands of the Borough Solicitor. A report was given on The Wood, Stallington Road, Meir Heath.
19/07 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 Stafford and Stone Branch of the Citizen’s Advice Bureau requesting consideration to be given to making a donation
A letter was also submitted from the Treasurer of Fulford Village Hall Management Committee requested financial assistance towards the purchase of new tables and chairs for the Village Hall
RESOLVED – (1) That a donation of £50 be made to the CAB for the current year.
(2) That a donation of £1500 be made to the Fulford V.H.M.C. toward the costs of new tables and chairs.
(NB. Councillors Oxby and Colclough declared their interest in Fulford VHMC and left the room during the discussion and voting thereon. Councillor Shaw took the Chair temporarily)
(c) Appointment of External Auditor
A letter was submitted from the Audit Commission advising that Mr. Michael Newbury would continue to act as the external Auditor for the Council in respect of the financial year 2006/7. It was probable that there would then be a competitive tendering process for the next 5 year period throughout the County. RESOLVED – That the position be noted.
20/07 PLANNING
(a) Applications
RESOLVED - That the action taken in raising no objections (with conditions as appropriate) to the following applications be confirmed:-
(In respect of Application 07/07902, a letter from the occupant of 19 Balaams Lane opposing the proposals was read and noted)
(b) Decisions
It was reported that the following applications had been approved:-
(c) Other Planning Issues
A Member raised concerns at the continuing loss of trees in the Diamond Woodland in Meir Heath. He had contacted the Borough Council who had confirmed that the trees were not the subject of Tree Preservation Orders but the works may need to be sanctioned by the Forestry Commission. The Clerk was asked to write to the Commission and seek clarification.
21/07 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 (Minute 16/07), the Clerk included the following matters on the agenda for this meeting and the topics were then discussed by members:-
RESOLVED –
(1) That the issues of increased traffic and the possible cycle lane be referred to the County Area Surveyor when he addresses the Annual Parish Meeting on 12th April 2007; (2) That authority be given for laurel plants to the value of £50 to be purchased and planted on the boundary of the High View Play area near to Nos.22, 24 and 26; (3) That the Borough Council be asked to advise on the full implications of the possible creation of an alcohol free zone in the Park.
(b) Bus Shelter – Stallington
Further to Minute 14/07 (b) of the last meeting, it was reported that the County Council had still not yet given permission for the shelter to be erected on their land. The Chairman reported that he was satisfied as to the quality of the materials to be used by Fenton’s .
A member reported that the shelter at Sandon Road, Meir Heath should be replaced as soon as possible.
RESOLVED - That the possible replacement of the bus shelter at Sandon Road be included on the agenda for the next meeting.
(c) Parish Plan
Further to Minute 14/07(c) of the last meeting, it was reported that over 900 completed forms had been returned to Emma for analysis to date. She was in some difficulty in preparing the analysis in view of the wide variation in responses to some of the questions between the various wards of the Parish and expressed the need for some guidance.
RESOLVED – That the situation be referred to the Working Party with power to act and in this connection the group agreed to meet at 7.30pm in the Parish Office at Meir Heath & Rough Close Village Hall on 21st March 2007.
(d) Proposed provision of play equipment at Grindley Park, Meir Heath
Further to Minute 14/07 (d) of the last meeting, an up-dated quotation from Wicksteed Leisure was submitted for the provision of the play equipment in the total sum of £62,288.00 although it included the of the fun run fitness trail which the Council had asked to be deleted. RESOLVED – That without prejudice applications be made to as many grant making bodies/organisations as possible to establish the level of financial aid which may be made available to the Council in this matter. (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) Stallington Hospital Development
Further to Minute 11/07 of the last meeting, letters were submitted from both the Borough Council and Persimmon Homes both confirming that at the draft stage of the preparation of the s106 Agreement for the site, it was agreed that the developer would not offer the open spaces for adoption by the Borough Council. A company called Greenbelt have been appointed with responsibility for the ongoing maintenance of the development.
RESOLVED – That the position be noted and information sought as to viability of Greenbelt.
(g) Annual Parish Meeting
Further to Minute of 8th February 2007, consideration was given to the arrangements for the Annual Parish Meeting on 12th April 2007.
RESOLVED – That the Annual Parish Meeting commence at 7.00pm with the normal Parish Council meeting following on immediately thereafter or at 8.00pm whichever is the earlier.
(h) Calor Village of the Year
A letter was submitted from the Community Council of Staffordshire drawing attention to the Calor Village of the Year Competition that they were organising this year throughout Staffordshire open to villages with a population of less than 5,000.
RESOLVED – That the matter be noted.
(i) Revised County Social Services Policy
As a consequence of the published new draft strategy of the County Council entitled “Changing Lives”, a consultation seminar was being organised on 20th March 2007 at 6.30pm at Stone Railway Station to which the Council had been appointed to send one delegate.
RESOLVED – That Councillor Shaw be authorised to attend and if cannot attend for any reason, Councillor Colclough be so authorised.
(N.B. The County Council subsequently cancelled this consultation because application had been made to the courts to challenge the County Council’s plans to close its care homes and until this case is determined the County Council must not carry out any steps relating to this programme)
22/07 MATTERS OF REPORT AND ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
Receipt of the following correspondence/reports was noted:-
23/07 ITEM(S) FOR THE NEXT MEETING
There were no items the Clerk was asked to include on the agenda for the next meeting although if there was sufficient time a member suggested that a possible change to the long practiced custom in relation to the rota for the appointment of Council Chairman might be debated.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Council is to be convened at Meir Heath & Rough Close Village Hall on Thursday, 12th April 2007 immediately following the Annual Parish Meeting that evening.
CHAIRMAN
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