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Meeting Minutes - May '06
PRESENT: Councillors Brayford, Mrs. Brayford, Colclough, Goodfellow, Mrs Holmes, Mycock, Oxby, Shaw, Taylor and Mrs Wheat IN ATTENDANCE: Borough Councillor Harp; M.J. Manley (Clerk) and 5 members of the public APOLOGIES: Councillors Beasley and Lovatt. OTHER NON-ATTENDEES: Councillors Bevan and Insley PUBLIC PARTICIPATION There being an Annual Parish Meeting immediately before the Council meeting, there was no public participation session prior to the Council meeting. However, during the Annual Parish Meeting, the Chairman, Councillors and Clerk were thanked for all their support offered during the appeal for the gypsy site which it was understood had been disallowed by the Secretary of State and the present occupants given three months notice to vacate the site. However, written confirmation was still awaited. Members of the public stressed that it was necessary to keep a very watchful eye on the situation and it was hoped that the Borough Council would keep the Parish Council fully appraised of developments. A Member of the Windmill Group had thanked the Council for their continued financial support and hoped that they would appoint a Trustee in the near future to promote the project which was to include a twenty five year Lease of the facility. It was agreed that the Staffordshire Police should be asked to provide a quarterly report on crime statistics and a breakdown of the statistics, if possible, by Ward. 1/06 ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN One nomination having been received, it was RESOLVED That Councillor Martin Oxby be elected Chairman of the Parish Council for the ensuing year. Councillor Oxby thanked the Members for the honour conferred upon him and then the statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office was signed 2/06 COUNCILLOR JOHN BEDSON The Clerk formally reported the death of Councillor John Bedson on 22nd April 2006. Members had stood for a minutes silence in tribute and as a mark of respect at the commencement of the Annual Parish Meeting. Members and the Clerk paid tribute to the contribution made by Councillor Bedson for the benefit of residents of the Parish and indicated that he would be sorely missed. RESOLVED That the Clerk be authorised to declare the vacancy after consultation with Stafford Borough Council. 3/06 ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN One nomination having been received, it was RESOLVED That Councillor Barry Shaw be elected Vice-Chairman of the Parish Council for the ensuing year. The statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office was signed.
4/06 MINUTES RESOLVED -That the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 13th April 2006, having been circulated, be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. 5/06 COUNTY & BOROUGH COUNCILLORS REPORTS Borough Councillor Harp referred again to the decision taken by the Secretary of State with regard to the appeal against the grant of planning permission for the gypsy site at Spot Acre. The Borough Council would be seeking a complete reinstatement of the land to its former condition. He also referred to further discussions with the Planning Officers with regard to The Wood, Stallington Road, Meir Heath and he would keep Members informed of progress. There was still no real progress to report on the Untidy Site Notice of 54 Birkholme Drive, Meir Heath. He also intimated that the Borough Council were prepared to provide fully planted flower troughs but the Borough Council would not meet the costs of maintenance and watering. The Meir Heath Ward Members were asked to liaise with Councillor Harp on possible locations within Meir Heath. 6/06 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) Receipts & Payments 2005/6 A summary of the Annual Receipts and Payments for the financial year 2005/6 was presented, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member. RESOLVED That the Receipts and Payments Schedule for the year 2005/6, a copy of which is attached to the signed Minutes, be adopted and signed by the Chairman. (c) Purchase of Broadband The Clerk referred to the provisions of his Contract of Employment with regard to the payment of the telephone and asked the Council to consider making a financial contribution towards the provision of internet broadband. RESOLVED That the Council make a 50 per cent contribution towards the monthly fee for the provision of a suitable broadband package. (d) Fulford Village Hall Management Accounts The accounts for the Management Committee for the year ended 31st March 2006 were submitted. Income for the year was £14924; expenditure £11,561 giving a net surplus of £3,363. (e) Bank of Scotland The Council noted a letter received from the Specialist Deposit Services Division of the Bank of Scotland but did not wish to make any changes to their current arrangements with regard to deposit accounts at the present time. 7/06 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 Bevan, Mrs. Brayford, Colclough, 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, Lovatt, Mycock, Oxby, Shaw and Taylor. Constitutional Working Party Councillors Mycock, Oxby and Shaw. Parish Office Liaison Group Councillors Mrs. Brayford, Lovatt, Oxby and Taylor. Parish Plans Working Party Councillors Beasley, Colclough, Lovatt, Mycock and Mrs Wheat
Parish Council Website Management Group Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Councillors Beasley and Taylor
(b) Planning The Council gave consideration to formalising the procedure for submitting comments to the Borough Council on applications for planning permission. RESOLVED (1) That authority to offer comments on applications for planning permission be delegated to the Clerk with power to act but only after securing the comments of the respective Ward members and that in the event of there being equally divided opinions, the applications be brought before the full Council for comment. (2) That the following Members be appointed liaison officers for collating Members comments on applications for planning permission:-
(c) 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 Councillors Colclough and Oxby Stone Crime Prevention Panel Councillor Mrs. Brayford 8/06 PLANNING (a) Applications RESOLVED:- (i) That no objections be raised to the following applications:- 06/06101 Extension The Willows Care Home, 90 Uttoxeter Road, B.B. 06/06169 Conservatory Garage - Charkris, Hartwell Lane, R.C. 06/06177 Detached house Fair Oaks, Hilderstone Rd., M.H. 06/06278 Renewal of permission for one dwelling- Beechcroft, Windmill Hill, R.C. 06/06377 Bedsit & extension Lothrien, Uttoxeter Rd., B.B..
(ii) That objections be raised to the following applications for the reasons stated:- 06/06250 Single storey sun room extension The Wood, Stallington Road, M.H. 06/06288 Formation of new vehicular access and turning area & removal of tree 158 Stallington Rd, B.B. 06/06310 Rear extension and dormer conversion 46 Grindley Lane, M.H. (b) Decisions It was reported that the following applications had been approved:- 06/05926 Conversion of barn into 2 res. Units Long Lane Head Farm, Hil. 06/05943 Conservatory 13 Sutherland Cres., B.B. 06/06049 Extension 15 Kingfisher Cres., Ful. 06/06051 Conversion of stables into 6 residential dwellings The Stable Block, Stallington Hall. 06/06052 Alterations & extensions Fulford Manor Farm, Fulford Dale 06/06057 Alterations to approved scheme Detached outbuilding at the entrance to Stallington Hall It was reported that the following applications had been refused:- 06/05967 Extension 4 Hollies Drive, M.H. 06/06120 Two storey extension Frandoran, Windmill Hill, M.H.
(c) Other Planning Issues It was reported that further issues and options papers for Development Plan Document Number 4 and the site- specific allocations and policies documents had been received. The Borough Council invited comments on these documents by 15th June 2006. The Clerk was asked to obtain further copies of the documents and Councillors Colclough, Mycock and Shaw were authorised to examine the reports and make recommendations to the Council at its next meeting. (N.B. It was greed for these members would meet on 5th June 2006 at Fulford Village Hall at 7.30pm) A copy of the draft statement of community involvement for the Stoke-on-Trent Local Development Framework had also been received and the Council offered no comments thereon. 9/06 CORRESPONDENCE AND OTHER MATTERS REQUIRING A DECISION BY THE COUNCIL (a) Casual Vacancies Further to Minute105/05 of 09.03.06, it was reported that Stafford Borough Council had notified the Clerk that 10 electors had not requested that the two vacancies in the Rough Close Ward be filled by the election procedure and therefore notices inviting applications had been posted for the two casual vacancies, the closing date being 19th May 2006. RESOLVED That action taken be noted. (b) Proposed Parish Plan Further to Minute 120/05 of the last meeting, the Chairman and the Clerk reported on the meeting of members with the Chief Executive of the Staffordshire Community Council at Fulford Village Hall on 27.04.06. As a result it was felt that the questionnaire drafted in February 2006 would need further examination and in this connection the Community Council were proposing to let the Council have use of Village appraisals computer software produced by Gloucester University. Meanwhile the Community Council had also given a grant towards the production of a Plan of £2300. RESOLVED That the Parish Plans Working Party be asked to meet as soon as possible and draft a revised questionnaire for distribution throughout the Parish.
(c) Grindley Lane Playing Field Playing equipment Further to Minute 120/05 of the last meeting, it was felt that the possible provision of new equipment should be first considered by the Grindley Park Working Group and it was agreed that a meeting of the Working Party be held on 22nd May 2006 at 7.30p.m. on site.. (d) Meir Heath Windmill Group Further to Minute 118/05 of the last meeting, a letter dated 14th April 2006 from the Secretary of the Group was circulated to each Member. The Group were negotiating a long term lease of the Windmill from the Brewery and enquired if the Council would consider becoming partners in the project. Alternatively, a Councillor could be appointed a Trustee. RESOLVED That the Group be advised that, whilst not wishing to prejudice the possible success of the project in any way, the Council has substantial reservations about becoming trustees or formal partners in the project. It would be possible for a Councillor to be selected for the Group as a representative of the Parish Council but not as a trustee.
(e) Parish Newsletter - Deliveries Further to Minute 120/05 of the last meeting, it was reported that there was now only one applicant for the position, namely Graham Wheat, who had made a formal application and would be seen by the Parish Newsletter Working Group who were given delegated powers to appoint.
(f) Litter picking Further to Minute 120/05 of the last meeting, consideration was given to the overall position of litter picking in the Parish. RESOLVED That the Chairman be asked to have an informal discussion with Mrs. Freeman and report back in due course. (g) Bird in Hand Inn, Hilderstone Further to the public participation business at the Council meeting on 09.03.06, when the new owner outlined draft proposals for the possible redevelopment of the site, a letter was submitted from Hilderstone Parish Council advising that whilst they were prepared to have a joint meeting with the owner, they generally welcomed the proposals and as such they were of the opinion that a joint meeting was somewhat superfluous. The owner was in any event preparing detailed plans for the submission of a planning application. RESOLVED That the position be noted.
10/06 MATTERS OF REPORT AND ITEMS FOR INFORMATION Receipt of the following correspondence/reports was noted:- SCC Staffordshire Minerals & Waste Development Framework Statement of Community Involvement SCC-Public Transport News SBC Members Digest SBC Walk Wise Staffs ETC.- Consortium of Infrastructure Organisations William Cash, M.P. Speed limit extension on Grindley Lane SPCA Training in Chairmanship skills Parish Newsletter Update
11/06 ITEM(S) FOR THE NEXT MEETING A member asked that the matter of public footpaths be included on the agenda for the next meeting. 12/06 EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC AND PRESS RESOLVED That pursuant to 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. IN PRIVATE 13/06 HANDYMAN Further to Minute 120/05 of the last meeting, the Clerk reported that at the informal meeting of the Council on 27.04.06 he had reported that two contractors had expressed interest in this work and the Chairman and Vice-Chairman together with Councillors Mycock and Taylor had been asked to interview them and assess their suitability. This they had done on 08.05.06 and the Chairman reported the findings of the Members. RESOLVED (1) That the action taken be approved and confirmed; (2) That the contract be awarded to Mr. D. Wheat of Meir Heath at the agreed rate of £186 per calendar month. (N.B. Councillor Mrs. Wheat declared an interest in this matter and left the room during the discussion and voting thereon) NEXT MEETING The next meeting of the Council is to be convened at Meir Heath & Rough Close Village Hall on Thursday, 8th June 2006 at 7.15 p.m.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 10.20 p.m.
CHAIRMAN
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