SHENSTONE PARISH COUNCIL

 

Serving Little Aston, Shenstone, Stonnall, Shenstone Wood End, Lynn, Parish Council Office 25C Main Street Shenstone WS14 OLZ
Tel: 01543 481 947
e-mail: <admin@shenstone-staffs.gov.uk >
web: www.shenstone-staffs.gov.uk

APPROVED MINUTES OF FULL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY 11^th JUNE 2019 SHENSTONE VILLAGE HALL

1. Register of members in attendance.

Cllrs David Salter, Sheila Beilby, David Thompson, Stuart Jones, John Branch, Mick Cox, Gail Nicholls, Val Owen, Nicky Macdonald, Nick Smith, Nicki Gobran, Kelly Harrison. County Cllr David Smith. PCSO Andrea Horsnall. Mrs Lesley Edgley. Mrs Rita Hancocks.

Mr Graham Jarvis (Shenstone Playing Fields) & Mr Carl Meah (Sutton Rangers Football Club)

2. Acceptance of apologies

        Cllr Neil Perry.  District Cllr Elizabeth Little.

3. Public Participation. Members of the Public are invited to address Council for a maximum of 15 minutes.

Mr Graham Jarvis of Shenstone Playing Fields Management Committee explained that Sutton Rangers Football Club are taking over the running of the club house and have funding for internal and external improvements as well as some grounds maintenance.

Mr Carl Meah, Manager of Sutton Rangers, stated that he hoped the improvements would appeal to the whole village and attract more visitors to the Pavilion Club. Funding from the F.A will be confirmed in 3-6 months and then facilities will be improved to F.A standard as well as being made accessible to the disabled.

Mr Jarvis commended Mr Meah without whom Shenstone Pathfinders would not be able to continue.

Cllr Salter confirmed that Council had agreed in principle to put forward an application for a certificate of lawfulness for the Pavilion but that detail of timescale was required. Mr Meah confirmed more detail would be confirmed but he expected no longer than twelve months.

Cllr David Smith encouraged them both to check the website on Weds 12^th June when applications for County Council Community Fund grants open.

Cllr Jones asked if any improvements to the play area are planned and Mr Jarvis said they were not at the moment.

Cllr Thompson encouraged the Club to publicise opening times to attract visitors and consider outside seating if their licence allows.

RESOLUTION: Council voted unanimously to support an application for a certificate of lawfulness.

PCSO Andrea Horsnall briefed Council on the Police Surgeries which are being taken to the communities and being held in the library, the local store in Stonnall, and at Creative Plants Garden Centre amongst others. There will be a crime update meeting very soon in Stonnall focusing on cybercrime.

There are no issues of concern with young people. The large green bin which was parked without permission in Stonnall has been moved.

The Junior Cadets programme has been completed in Shenstone but is ongoing in Stonnall & Little Aston.

Residents of Stonnall have received in the post details of a free social network organisation called Nextdoor which they should be wary of as users are required to give a lot of personal information. A smart alert will be sent out across all areas.

PSCO Steve Smith will shortly be taking possession of an electric bike courtesy of Creative Plants to improve mobility between Wards.

Cllr Thompson asked if the departure of Marisha Place would affect patrols but PCSO Horsnall confirmed that the position she had held will have no impact on the existing dynamic patrol strategy.

4.Declarations of interest & agree blanket dispensations.   Members should consider whether they should partake in any discussion or vote on matters on the agenda unless they have a dispensation.

None.

5.To accept and confirm minutes of the last Full Council meeting on Tuesday May 14^th 2019

        Accepted and confirmed.

4. Clerks report on outstanding matters from minutes May 14^th 2019:

The Clerk read to Council an email from Mr John Tiernan of Heritage England requesting a public meeting to assess the strength of support for the Old Tower restoration project. Council agreed that this meeting should take place and to fund the costs of holding the meeting & publicising it.

RESOLUTION: Proposed Cllr Salter, seconded Cllr Thompson & carried unanimously.

A resident has emailed the Clerk to advise that West Midlands Trains (WMT) intend to start charging for parking at Shenstone Station from July 1^st. The Clerk has investigated & this is indeed the case though no notification from WMT has been received. Cllr David Smith said he has written a letter of complaint to WMT as they had agreed to do nothing until discussions with Staffordshire Highways had taken place. He stated that County are trying to bring forward the waiting lines planned works to avoid the “chaos” that is otherwise expected. There is a meeting on Thursday with Highways where Cllr Smith will establish a date.

The Clerk will share this information with residents. Cllr Smith also said that he hoped some commuters will now be put off completely by the parking charge & not travel to the village at all.  Cllr    Thompson suggested Cllr Salter also write to WMT on behalf of Parish.

5. To receive reports from District and County Councillors.

Cllr Smith had no further comments to add other than to welcome new & returning Councillors.

Cllr Salter stated that the Peace Woodland is now open in Beacon Park and well worth a visit.

6. Finance: Transactions for approval & financial position as at 11^th June 2019.

Nat West Current account £955.00. Nat West business reserve £59,098.27. Nat West liquidity account (ring fenced funds for cemetery) £160,585.45.  Unity Bank £155,465.68. Total £378,306.92.

In line with our standing orders the Precept sum of £182,000 is being moved over from the Unity account to the business reserve.

May transactions & June transactions to date were all shared with Council.

Feedback & recommendations from Finance, Legal, Health & Safety Committee is Tues May 28^th

RECOMMENDATION: The Committee recommend that Full Council consider public meetings to assess opinion on a new cemetery for Shenstone which is likely to be outside the village but within the Parish, if at all. Also that a referendum then takes place. This will allow Council to judge public opinion before committing funds.   Council were unanimously in favour of this recommendation with Cllr Thompson highlighting the next Neighbourhood, Planning & Property Committee meeting as the ideal place to agree wording and structure the plans. To extend cemetery space remaining, this will include a considering changing burial regulations so that internments at St Johns are cremated remains only.

There was a very brief discussion re the response from Lichfield District Council regarding our request for planning advice on the possible development site in Stonnall. Cllr Cox voiced concerns about the objection but Cllr Thompson suggested that this issue be discussed, if necessary, after the public meetings.

RESOLUTION: Recommendation proposed by Cllr Thompson, seconded by Cllr Jones & agreed.

RECOMMENDATION: The Committee recommend that Council retain Alan Toplis as internal auditor for 2019/20.

RESOLUTION: Proposed by Cllr Beilby, seconded by Cllr Salter & unanimously agreed.

RECOMMENDATION: The Committee recommend that Council approve the costs of erecting the new noticeboards once approval for placement has been received. £425.00 per noticeboard + VAT.

RESOLUTION: Proposed by Cllr Beilby, seconded by Cllr Nicholls & agreed.

RECOMMENDATION: The Committee recommend that Council approve the cost of erecting a new bin £250.00 + VAT and its addition to the cleaning/emptying contract. £228.20 per annum.

RESOLUTION: Proposed by Cllr Beilby, seconded by Cllr Nicholls & agreed.

RECOMMENDATION: The Committee recommended that Council consider contributing towards a Parking Buddies initiative proposed by PCSO Steve Smith once costs established & grant permission to proceed.

RESOLUTION: Council agreed to support the initiative but no sum approved until exact costs are known.

7. Planning applications

Approve planning applications received in last month and update on any objections/ developments.

All approved. Cllr Thompson pointed out the resubmission of a revised application for 22 Lincoln Croft, Shenstone which is much reduced in scale & in keeping with the Neighbourhood Plan.

Confirm next Neighbourhood, Planning & Property Committee Meeting is Tuesday June 25th at 5.30pm Lichfield District Council Offices, Frog Lane, Lichfield. To be followed by Lichfield District Parish Forum.   

8. Review and approve Standing Orders.

Reviewed and approved.

9. Agree interview format & set date for vacant Councillor positions.

After some discussion it was agreed that the three candidates will be interviewed by a panel of seven Councillors at a date to be agreed. Cllr Branch requested the Clerk minute his dissatisfaction with this decision.

10. Date of next meeting: Tuesday 9^th July 2019 Stonnall Youth & Community Centre.