    |
Meeting Minutes - September '06
PRESENT: Councillors Oxby (Chairman), Shaw (Vice-Chairman), Mrs. Brayford (part), Goodfellow, Mrs. Holmes, Lovatt, Mycock, Mrs. Ralphs, Taylor and Mrs. Wheat. IN ATTENDANCE: Borough Councillor Roycroft; M.J. Manley (Clerk) and 2 members of the public. APOLOGIES: Councillors Beasley, Mrs. Bennett, Bevan, and Brayford. Borough Councillors Harp and Oldfield. OTHER NON-ATTENDEES: Councillors Colclough and Insley CASUAL VACANCIES It was reported that Mrs. Joy Bennett had signed the statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION A member of the public brought to the attention of the Council a letter circulating to the residents adjoining St. Francis Church to confirm that a developer had been approached to purchase land adjoining the Church for development. The P.C.C. are very short of money. Originally it was understood that the developer wanted to erect 10 dwellings but the latest proposal was for 5 units. The Council intimated that they were powerless to intervene at this stage but would await the submission of a planning application. Councillor Mrs Bennett in submitting her written apologies referred to a request for help for a resident of West View, Rough Close who was experiencing flooding from land at the rear of her property. The land concerned is owned by Stafford Rural Homes and Councillor Mrs Wheat agreed to take up this complaint. Matters also raised by Mrs Bennett concerning the Rough Close Common were referred to the Stafford Borough Council as custodians of the Common for attention. 35/06 MINUTES RESOLVED –That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 10th August 2006, having been circulated, be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. 36/06 COUNTY AND BOROUGH COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS A report was given on the judicial review of the appeal against the decision taken by the Secretary of State following the refusal of planning permission for the gypsy site at Spot Acre held on 4.09.06. The matter was deferred for 21 days for more paperwork to be submitted. Concerns about the poor condition of the children’s play area at Highview Road, Fulford had been raised with the Borough Council. 37/06 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. Members were pleased to note the contents of a letter sent to the Chairman by the P.C.C. of Fulford Church thanking the Council for their continuing financial and practical support. (b) Appeals for Donation Further to the discussion at the last meeting, it was reported that the North Wales, Shropshire & the Staffordshire Borders Fundraising Office of Marie Curie Cancer Care did not after all cover the Fulford Parish and therefore the Community Fund raising Officer of the correct Branch would be asked to make a formal application for grant The Chairman reported that the residents of Post Office Terrace, Fulford had expressed the hope that the Parish Council would reinstate a programme of planting bulbs for springtime flowering. RESOLVED – That the Chairman be authorised to purchase 4 large bags of mixed bulbs for planting in each of the four Wards of the Parish 38/06 PLANNING (a) Applications RESOLVED:- That no objections be raised to the following applications:- (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 Correspondence was submitted from Stafford Borough Council in which it was confirmed that the Statement of Community Involvement had been adopted by the Council on 26.07.06. A copy of Tree Preservation Order No. 407 of 2006 in respect of further trees at Yew Tree Cottage, 50 Grindley Lane was noted A letter was submitted from the Borough Planning Enforcement Officer advising that the occupant of a temporary mobile home on the site of 34 Grindley Lane, Meir Heath would not require planning permission whilst building works on the site were taking place. It was agreed to remind the Enforcement Officer about concerns over possible unauthorised works at 57 Hollies Drive, Meir Heath and also at 41 Golborn Avenue Further documentation from the Stoke on Trent City Council regarding the promotion of their Development Plan in respect of affordable housing was noted. 39/06 CORRESPONDENCE AND OTHER MATTERS REQUIRING A DECISION BY THE COUNCIL (a) Stallington Hospital Site-Kick about area A Member expressed his concerns at the apparent delay in handing over the areas of open spaces on this site even though many of the houses and apartments were occupied and therefore residents were paying community charge. RESOLVED – That Persimmon Homes and Stafford Borough Council be contacted to ascertain the position. (b) Blythe Bridge Railway Station A Member who was a regular user reported on the very poor condition of this Station which was situate in Forsbrook Parish. It was appearing quite neglected. Network Rail owned the facility but Central Trains were legally responsible for its maintenance. It had not really had any attention for some time. Reference was made to the “Adopt a Station Scheme” but although Members were sympathetic and were in principle willing to support any reasonable proposal, in view of the location of the Station, it was RESOLVED – That the views of Forsbrook Parish Council be sought in the matter. (c) Provision of Bus Shelter at Stallington Further to Minute 25/06 of 13.07.06, a letter was submitted from the County Divisional Manager raising no objection in principle to the siting of a new shelter in Stallington Road but wanted details and a plan of the proposed site before works were undertaken. RESOLVED – That the Chairman and Councillor Mycock be authorised to agree a suitable site after discussion with local residents. (d) Stafford Borough Partnership An invitation was submitted to attend this year’s A.G.M. to be held in Stafford on 18.09.06. There were no volunteers to attend. (e) Community Council of Stafford An invitation was submitted to appoint delegates to attend the Council’s A.G.M. to be held on 20.09.06. There were no volunteers to attend. (f) Appointment of School Governors An letter was submitted from Staffordshire County Council advising that a vacancy existed for a Local Education Authority Governor at both Meir Heath and Springccroft Primary Schools. RESOLVED – That no nomination be made for Meir Heath but that Councillors Mrs. Brayford and Mrs.Ralphs (if appropriate as a parent with a child at the school) be nominated for Springcroft. 40/06 MATTERS OF REPORT AND ITEMS FOR INFORMATION Receipt of the following correspondence/reports was noted:- SCC – Highway safety issues SCC - Public Transport News SCC – Booklet ‘Changing Lives SCC – Watchdog News SCC - Seasonal fittings to Lampposts Staffs. Fire – Free electric blanket testing Sustainable Staffordshire – Seminar 17.10.06 SBC – Members Digest SBC – Civic Amenity Visits SBC – Parish Forum 21.09.06 Stafford & Rural Homes – Tenant consultation event Stone & District Crime Prevention Panel – Meeting 27.09.06 C.P.R.E. - Fieldwork Staffs. Playing Fields – Annual Report 2005/6 Staffs. P.C.A. – Autumn training programme Parish Newsletter – Update Parish Plan – Update Play equipment – Update 41/06 ITEM(S) FOR THE NEXT MEETING The Clerk was asked to include on the agenda for the next meeting – Repairs to roads and pavements DATE OF NEXT MEETING The next meeting of the Council is to be convened at Meir Heath & Rough Close Village Hall on Thursday, 12th October 2006 at 7.15 p.m. 42/06 EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC AND PRESS RESOLVED - That in accordance with the provisions of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960, as amended, the public and the press be excluded of the remaining business in view of the confidential nature thereof. IN PRIVATE 43/06 PARISH OFFICE Further to Minute 30/06(d) of 10.08.06 the minutes of a meeting of the Finance and General Purposes Committee held on 4th September 2006 at Fulford Village Hall were tabled at the meeting, a copy of which is appended to the signed Minutes. A letter was submitted from the Secretary of State giving loan consent to borrow up to £50,000 for the extension of the Meir Heath & Rough Close Village Hall incorporating the Parish Office. RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting be adopted and the recommendations made therein be accepted
(N.B. Councillor Shaw and the Clerk left the meeting for the discussion and voting on this item)
CHAIRMAN
|
