S.P.C. Minutes March 2019

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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 COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY 12th MARCH 2019

SHENSTONE VILLAGE HALL at 7.15pm.  

  1. Register of attendance:

Cllr David Salter (Chair), Cllr Mick Cox, Cllr Rita Hancocks, Cllr Charles Fordham, Cllr Gail Nicholls, Cllr Nicola Macdonald, Cllr Nick Smith, Cllr Neil Perry,  Cllr Sheila Beilby, Cllr Jean Wilson, Cllr   Val Neale, Cllr Stuart Jones

Shirley O’Mara (Parish Clerk & RFO).

Richard Armitage, Nicki Gobran, Lisa Deeming, Eileen Kibbler, Bev Peters, Simon Skinner, Rosie Power & Tony Power. Jenny Simpkins, Jenna Wills & Natalie Gatfield.

 178. Apologies were received from:

Cllrs David Thompson & John Branch. District Cllrs Elizabeth Little & Joe Powell. County Cllr David Smith.

179. Declarations of Interest on agenda items.

Cllr Jean Wilson in item 187 & Cllr Nicola Macdonald in Item 188.

180. To accept & confirm minutes of the last Full Council meeting on Tuesday 12th February 2019.

Confirmed & signed.

181. Clerks report on outstanding matters from minutes Tuesday 12th February 2019.

Update on request for bench at the top of Churchill Rd. Overall there have been six responses from residents regarding a bench- two in favour & four against. Council voted with the following outcome. RESOLUTION: Council voted unanimously against the request for a bench with two abstentions from Cllrs Hancocks & Jones.

  1. Public Participation.

Items 187 & Items 188 were brought forward.

Item 187- Little Aston closure of public right of way- application to front action group.

Mrs Nicki Gobran addressed Council on the subject of an application for an order under Section 53(2) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for the naming of a Public right of Way from Forge Lane, Little Aston to Little Aston Lane.

Over 377 local signatures have been gathered from residents in support of the application which would preserve this important footpath used regularly by many parents taking children to school. (Full background documentation attached). Mrs Gobran requested on behalf of these residents that Parish Council support their action and front the application in an official capacity. Cllr Jean Wilson stated that she could not support the application enough. Cllr Cox proposed Council fully support and submit the application which was seconded by Cllr Perry and unanimously agreed by Council. RECOMMENDATION: Council submit the application with immediate effect.

Item 188- St Peters Little Fishes proposal for Youth & Community Hut, Stonnall

Cllr Salter began by stating that the Parish Council has no influence over either Little Fishes or Stonnall Youth & Community Centre and that the proposal was a matter for the management committee. Cllr Cox stated that a meeting was planned for Weds 13th March to discuss a timetable to address the proposal. Cllr Macdonald stated that the approach had been made to Council because the Management Committee had rejected a proposal in the past, reaffirming that this was a very different proposal under different circumstances.

Mrs Jenna Wills spoke for Little Fishes outlining their history, the needs of the group and the detail of the current proposals. She also addressed in turn each of the Management Committees objections from the pas proposal- all of which are either no longer relevant or can be resolved.  She stressed the importance of community, the importance of working together and the advantages Little Fishes would bring to the Youth & Community Centre by increased income, using the centre for 4.5 days a week 38 weeks a year when there is no other demand, making improvements to the building that others will benefit from, provide a cleaner and have closer relationships with the Youth & Community Committee who would benefit from Mrs Wills 12 year experience in bid writing.

Cllr Beilby asked if the group could afford thirty hours to which the answer was yes and to the question would this be a permanent arrangement Cllr Macdonald stated that at this point they were unsure.

Cllr Salter stated that he believed Mrs Wills had made a very compelling case to which Cllrs Jones and Nicholls agreed though Cllr Perry felt that Little Fishes were prioritising their own needs to the detriment of other users.

Mrs Wills sought assurance that if the Management Committee refused the proposal there would be appeal options.

Cllr Salter explained that County Council would be the next option though Cllr Beilby said that Parish Council would be happy to mediate with the Management Committee.  Mrs Wills said that she would be delighted to attend the meeting on Wednesday which Cllr Cox, as a member of the Management Committee & Council, agreed would be a good idea.

  1. To receive reports from District & County Councillors.

Cllr Salter stated that the free boiler replacement offer ends 31st March.

  1. Finance.

Current position as at 12th March 2019.

Nat West ring fenced funds for cemetery: £140,259.47

Nat West current account: £970.00 Nat West Reserve: £3096.71 Unity account: £101,680.51/

The Clerk explained that forecasting expenditure for the rest of March is around £20,000. Council agreed that £20,000 should be moved to ring fenced funds to cover unspecified election expenses and neighbourhood planning.

RESOLUTION: £20,000 to be moved from Unity account to Nat West ring fenced funds.

Details of February and March transactions were shared with Council (attached).

Next Finance, Legal, Health & Safety Meeting May 28th 2019 at 5.30.

  1. Planning- consider all planning applications received.

No discussions- applications attached.

Lichfield District Local Plan Allocations Consultation- next steps.

Cllr Salter read an email from Cllr Thompson in his absence. This was to thank everyone for their work with the   distribution of the information packs as well as “Save our Shenstone” and to approve Council’s response submission

to Lichfield District Council DC. RESOLUTION: Council unanimously voted to support the submission.

Cllr Thompson stated that this is the start of a long process affecting all three communities. This is a general,           strategic start however by September it will start to become more precise. Members to note the future potential of the three NP’s to influence the final location of any growth that we may be required to accommodate at the end of it all.

Cllr Neale commented that many residents had found the document too wordy & hard to make sense of. Cllr Salter agreed that it was difficult to understand unless you already had a grip of the subject & Cllr Beilby found it too Shenstone focused. Cllr Perry stated that he believed it was the best that could be done in the time.

A discussion was had regarding the poor circulation of the Lichfield Mercury with the Clerk charged with arranging an additional delivery to the Parish office for circulation in Stonnall.

Cllr Wilson commented that in her view the public meeting was dreadful and really disappointing as Lichfield District Council had poor responses to questions with nothing to tell us. Cllr Nicholls agreed.

Little Aston Primary School – application for certificate of lawfulness

Cllr Salter thanked Council for supporting the submission of the objection to this application. The determination date is not known.

  1. Little Aston Recreation Ground- problem parking.

Cllr Salter requested, on behalf of Little Aston Recreation Ground Management Committee, Councils approval to investigate employing an independent parking enforcement company in response to the irresponsible and dangerous parking that is becoming increasingly problematic.

RESOLUTION:  Cllr Salter proposed, Cllr Perry seconded and the approval was unanimous.

187 & 188. Pulled forward to earlier in the meeting

  1. Old Tower Day.

The launch of the Shenstone History Trail is Saturday 16th March. Running alongside an event to draw community focus to the Old Tower restoration project, events are scheduled between 10.00-12.00. 140 pupils from Greysbrook School have taken part in a homework project to build a tower with all models on display on Saturday. 14 winners will each receive a £10.00 book token and a large Easter egg with all participants rewarded with a smaller egg.

Events include brass rubbing, a quiz, an exhibition of the tower and the opportunity to see the bell tower.

  1. Update on the speed survey on the Birmingham Rd, Shenstone.

Staffordshire Parish Council Association bulletin 21st Feb re parking enforcement

The results of the speed survey recently conducted on Birmingham Rd indicate there is some speeding but not as prolific as expected. It is very disappointing, however, that the company failed to erect the cameras where specified and that data does not cover the full 24/7 over seven days.

Cllr Perry stated that with a recorded average speed in mid-30’s and very little recorded incidents over the past years we need to take care with how we proceed from here as an argument could be made to revert to the original 40mph limit. Also said that he supported the suggestion of extending the 30mph limit back past St Johns Hill.

The Staffordshire Parish Council Association issued a bulletin on the 21st Feb re parking enforcement being deferred to Parish level and asked for feedback. The Clerk has duly completed the survey.

  1. Amendments to Stonnall Village Hall constitution signing of documents.

These amendments were duly signed by the Chairman.

  1. Grant application- Stonnall Best Kept Village

A Councillor led grant application was submitted by Cllr Cox to support the Stonnall’s entry to the “Best Kept Village” competition. RESULTION: The grant of £320.00 was unanimously agreed.

  1. Stonnall Parish Noticeboard:

– new 3 panelled noticeboard requested. £1090.00 + VAT.

Cllr Beilby requested a new, larger noticeboard for Stonnall. After some discussion it was agreed that all three wards should have a larger noticeboard if necessary and the existing boards be used elsewhere in the villages.

RESOLUTION: Clerk to order new boards.

  1. Lammas Land- overhanging trees from private land. Update.

The Clerk is in communication with a landowner regarding some trees which overhang the brook and some of the pathway on the Lammas Land.  Further update after investigations.

  1. Update on Employment Meeting 5th March 2019

Cllr Salter read the recommendations of the Employment Committee which met on March 5th.

  • That the Clerk receives the NALC recommended pay rise of £500.00 effective April 1st.
  • That a panic alarm is installed in the Parish office and the Lone Worker policy implemented.
  • That the Lengthsman receive a salary increase from £10.00 to £11.00 with effect from April 1st.

RESOLUTION: all unanimously agreed.

  1. Dog walking in Lower Lawn Cemetery- complaint & request for signage.

A complaint has been received of a dog trampling on a recent grave in the Lower Lawn Cemetery.

RESULTION: Council voted to put up “Dogs must be kept on leads” signs. Clerk to arrange.

  1. Election- Councillors are asked to confirm intentions.

Cllr Salter explained to potential candidates the importance of completing paperwork accurately and on time. He thanked those who he knew to be not standing again for all of their work and that they would be a great loss to the

Council. Cllr Fordham, who confirmed he would not be standing again, confirmed that he would still be available to Council for any advice regarding insurance for which Cllr Salter thanked him.

  1. Shenstone Festival.

The Clerk was charged with investigating costs involved in producing this year’s festival programme after which a donation of up to £100.00 will be made in support.

  1. Communication database.

To improve the communication of key messages and village news across the wards, Cllr Perry suggested building a database of emails so that e-bulletin newsletters can be sent out regularly, as well as the normal newsletters.

GDPR will be an issue but the Clerk will monitor.

RESOLUTION: Council agreed that this was a good idea and the Clerk will start to build database and consents.

  1. Date of next Full Council meeting:

Tuesday 9th April 2019 Stonnall Youth & Community Centre 7.15