Meeting Minutes - May 2005
PRESENT: Councillors Bradbeer, Brayford, Mrs. Brayford, Colclough, Mrs. Deakin, Goodfellow, Insley, Lovatt, Mycock, Oxby, Shaw, and Taylor. IN ATTENDANCE: Borough Councillor Oldfield; M.J. Manley (Clerk) and 3 members of the public APOLOGIES: Councillors Bevan, Bedson and Mrs Holmes. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Members of the public enquired as to the current position of the gypsies following the refusal of planning permission for the site at Spot Acre. It was understood that the appropriate Committee of the Borough Council had authorised the service of an Enforcement Notice but did the Members, on the Parish Council, know the current position. It was explained that the Borough Council did not normally keep the Parish Council fully informed of actions such as this but it was accepted that the Borough Councillors, in their monthly reports, should comment on this issue in particular. In the event of their non attendance, Borough Councillors would be asked to submit a written report to each meeting. In the meantime, the Clerk would write to the Borough Council and ascertain the position on the gypsy site. 30/05 ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN One nomination having been received, it was RESOLVED That Councillor John Bradbeer be elected Chairman of the Parish Council for the ensuing year. Councillor Bradbeer thanked the Members for the honour conferred upon him and paid tribute to the contribution made by the retiring Chairman, Councillor Richard Mycock. He thought the Parish Council should remain progressive and forward looking. Councillor Mycock thanked both the Members and the Clerk for all their assistance and support during his period of office. The statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office was taken. 31/05 ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN One nomination having been received, it was RESOLVED That Councillor Martin Oxby be elected Vice-Chairman of the Parish Council for the ensuing year. The statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office was taken.
32/05 MINUTES RESOLVED -That the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 14th April 2005, having been circulated, be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. 33/05 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, subject to the addition of a cheque for payment to A.J. Philpott & Sons Limited in the sum of £37.60 for building materials. (b) Appeals for Donation Appeals for donations were received from Age Concern, the Stafford & Stone Citizens Advice Bureau and the Open Spaces Society in respect of an appeal for threatened urban pathways. In connection with the CAB, the appeal was in particular reference to proposals to move offices within Stone and it was alleged that the Bureau was in financial difficulty as a particular consequence of no financial support from Stone Town Council. The Clerk reported on discussions with Stone Town Council following the last meeting when a £50 general donation had been made by this Council. RESOLVED (i) That a donation of £50 be made to Age Concern. (ii) That further information be sought from Stone Town Council as to the situation with regard to the possible relocation of offices by CAB. (iii) That no action be taken on the request for a donation from the Open Spaces Society. (c) Parish Office Further to Minute 24/05 of the last meeting, it was reported that Messrs. Wood, Goldstraw & Yorath had now prepared an estimate for an extension to the Meir Heath & Rough Close Village Hall to provide a Parish Office and extension to the meeting room at a cost of £83,267. It was evident that there could be substantial savings realised with modifications to the plans. RESOLVED That a Working Party be appointed to consider the advantages and disadvantages to the community of such a facility and report back to the Parish Council. The composition of this Working Party was determined later in the meeting.
(d) Fulford Village Hall Management Accounts The accounts for the Management Committee for the year ended 31st March 2005 were submitted. Income for the year was £14,884; expenditure £11,488 giving a net surplus of £3,396, an increase of some £300 on the previous year. (e) Letters of Thanks Letters of thanks for donations were received from the CPRE and the County Archivist. 34/05 APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES/WORKING PARTIES AND REPRESENTATIVE ON OUTSIDE BODIES (a) Committees/Working Parties RESOLVED That the following be appointed for the ensuing municipal year:- Finance and General Purposes Committee Councillors Bedson, Mrs. Brayford, Lovatt and Taylor. Chairman and Vice-Chairman ex officio Grindley Park Management Group Councillors Oxby and Mrs. Brayford plus all Members from the Meir Heath Ward Parish Newsletter Working Party Councillors Mrs. Brayford, Mrs. Deakin, Lovatt, Mycock, Oxby, Shaw and Taylor. Mr. P. Barnes Constitutional Working Party Councillors Bradbeer, Mycock, Oxby and Shaw. Parish Office Working Party Councillors Bradbeer, Brayford, Mrs. Brayford, Colclough, Goodfellow, Lovatt, Oxby and Taylor. Planning Co-ordinators Councillor Mycock Blythe Bridge Councillor Colclough Fulford Councillor Shaw Meir Heath Councillor Bradbeer Rough Close (b) Representatives on Outside Bodies RESOLVED That the following representatives on outside bodies be appointed for the ensuing year:- Fulford VH Man. Committee Councillor Mycock Meir Heath & Rough Close VH Man. Committee Councillor Goodfellow Springcroft Primary School LEA Governor Councillor Mycock Fulford Primary School LEA Governor Councillor Colclough Meir Heath Primary School LEA Governor Councillor Goodfellow SPCA Stafford Area Committee Councillors Mrs. Brayford and Mycock Sustainable Staffordshire Councillor Illsley 35/05 PLANNING (a) Applications RESOLVED:- (i) That no objections be raised to the following applications:- 05/04295 Conservatory The Retreat, Moss Lane, Moss Gate 05/04308 Conservatory 2 Midway Drive, B.B. 05/04318 Extension 14 Field Close, B.B. 05/04322 Replacement of existing workshop & garage, 23 Hilderstone Rd., M.H. 05/04375 Conservatory 31 Golborn Ave., M.H.
(ii) That objections be raised to the following applications for the reasons stated:- 05/0435 Use of car park for motor cycles etc. Old Hospital Car Park, Stallington Rd., Stallington 05/04383 Conversion of existing garage to a dwelling 124 Stallington Rd, B.B. 05/04406 Garage & accommodation The Old Vicarage, Ful. (b) Decisions It was reported that the following applications had been approved:- 05/03989 Single storey extensions 25 Birkholme Drive, M.H.
05/04127 Extension Mount Pleasant Farm, Hilderstone It was reported that the following applications had been refused:- 05/03913 Detached dwelling 35 Grindley Lane, M.H. 05/04089 Detached dwelling 158 Stallington Rd., B.B. 05/04196 Conservatory Bakers Cottage, Stallington Road, Ful. 05/04062 Certificate of lawful use Parkside Farm, Hilderstone Rd., M.H..
(c) Other Planning Issues It was reported that the Borough Council had now confirmed without modification the Tree Preservation Order in respect of trees at 216, 218 & 220 Grindley Lane, Blythe Bridge. A further consultation document on the Boroughs Statement of Community Involvement had been received and the Council were happy to leave it to the discretion of the Chairman if was felt necessary to comment further.
36/05 CORRESPONDENCE AND OTHER MATTERS REQUIRING A DECISION BY THE COUNCIL (a) Casual Vacancies Further to Minute 26/05 of the last meeting, it was reported that notices inviting applications had been posted for the two casual vacancies, the closing date being 11th May 2005. As a result, an application for the Blythe Bridge Ward had been received from Mrs. S. Wheat of 1 Portland Close, Blythe Bridge and for the Fulford Ward an application had been received from Mr. T.J. Beasley of Stallington Hall Farm, Stallington Road. RESOLVED That both Mrs. Wheat and Mr. Beasley be co-opted onto the Council for the period expiring in May 2007. (b) Speed Limit Hartwell Lane, Rough Close Further to Minute 26/05 of the last meeting, it was agreed that the Chairman and Councillor Mrs. Deakin, together with any other Councillor who could make it, would attend as representatives of the Parish Council at the site meeting on 18th May 2005. (c) Grindley Lane Playing Field It was reported that a meeting of the Working Party had been held on 21st April 2004. Members decided that to move the goalposts or to remove one set was not a feasible solution to the problem but they did authorise a quotation to provide fencing along the Grindley Lane boundary of the football area and to extend the existing fencing adjoining the garden of No. 335a Sandon Road. Quotations were also being sought for the provision of fencing along the boundary with the adjacent undeveloped land to try and prevent unauthorised use of the playing field by motor cyclists. In this connection, the Council agreed, in principle, to make byelaws for the playing field. RESOLVED That the action of the Working Party be approved and confirmed. (d) Pull-in at Grindley Lane, Meir Heath In view of traffic problems at particular times of the day, it was agreed to ask the County Council to investigate the feasibility of constructing a pull-in along the top of Grindley Lane, Meir Heath outside the Post Office. (e) Dog Fouling, Fulford Further to Minute 19/05 of 10th March 2005, Councillor Oxby enquired as to the success of the notices painted using stencils on the pavements of certain roads in Meir Heath encouraging dog owners to clear up any fouling by their dog. It was indicated that it was too early to comment but nevertheless it was agreed to try the experiment in Fulford Road, Fulford. (f) Village of the Year An invitation was submitted from the Community Council of Staffordshire to participate in this community based competition for Staffordshire villages with less than 5,000 population. RESOLVED That the Council decline the invitation. (g) Trafalgar Weekend A report was given on publicity received for taking part in the Trafalgar Weekend which takes place from 21st to 23rd October 2005. It was felt inappropriate for the Council to take a lead in the commemoration but they would support any local initiative taken by the Church or other voluntary bodies. 37/05 COUNTY & BOROUGH COUNCILLORS REPORTS Borough Councillor Oldfield reported on the enforcement action proposed by the Borough Council against the now unauthorised use of land for a gypsy site at Spot Acre. The Council again reiterated their views for monthly reports referred to earlier in these minutes 38/05 MATTERS OF REPORT AND ITEMS FOR INFORMATION Receipt of the following correspondence/reports was noted:- CPRE Annual Report SCC Street Lighting, Balaams Lane Moss Gate SCC- Erection of Bollards SCC-Public Transport News SBC Members Digest SBC Annual Plan 2005/6 DEFRA Administration of Parish Plan Grants Sustainable Staffordshire Newsletter Parish Newsletter - Update 39/05 URGENT BUSINESS OF WHICH PRIOR NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN (a) Street Lighting at Birch Grove, Meir Heath Councillor Shaw reported that, as a result of the County Council Improvement Programme, there was now not a street lamp in Birch Grove when previously there had been one at its junction with Blackwell Drive. It was agreed to seek clarification from the County Council. (b) Blythe Lodge Opening of New Lift An invitation was extended to all Members to attend a small ceremony to formally open a new lift at Blythe Lodge on 8th June 2005 commencing at 10.30 a.m. NEXT MEETING The next meeting of the Council is to be convened at Meir Heath & Rough Close Village Hall on Thursday, 9th June 2005 at 7.15 p.m.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.45 p.m.
CHAIRMAN
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