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 SEPTEMBER 10^th 2019  7.15pm LITTLE ASTON VILLAGE HALL.

 Register of members in attendance.

Cllrs David Salter, David Thompson, Neil Perry, Gail Nicholls, Nicola Macdonald, Val Neale, Nicki Gobran, Kelly Harrison, Lesley Edgley, Darryl Godden.  County Cllr David Smith. Shirley O’Mara (Clerk/RFO).

Cllr John Branch joined the meeting at approx. 8.20.

Mr Simon Clifton (Stonnall resident)             

30. Acceptance of apologies.

Cllrs Sheila Beilby, Stuart Jones, Nick Smith, Mick Cox, John Branch for early part of the meeting, District Cllr Elizabeth Little       

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

None.

32. Declarations of interest .Members should consider whether they should partake in any discussion or vote on matters on the agenda unless they have a dispensation.

None – all items covered by approved blanket dispensations.

33. To accept and confirm minutes of the last Full Council meeting on Tuesday July 9^th 2019

Approved and signed.

34. Clerks report on outstanding matters from minutes July 9^th

All action points from July meeting completed. Cllr Salter reported that a temporary bench costing £50.00 has been put in place on the grass land at the junction of Richard Cooper Road/Footherley Lane. This has received great feedback from residents and no negative comments.

35. To receive reports from District and County Councillors.

County Cllr David Smith addressed a number of agenda items as follows:

Item 39. Request for a dropped kerb in Richard Cooper Road to aid disabled residents.

Cllr Smith said he would be happy to pursue this for Council if approved & raised again the subject of a survey across the wards to assess disabled access at key points.  RESOLUTION: Council voted unanimously to fund the dropped kerb at £1000.00 & to complete the survey as a walk around with Cllr Smith. Cllr Perry will cover Shenstone, Cllr Gobran Little Aston & Cllr Nicholls Stonnall.

Item 41. HGV issues on Mill Lane, Shenstone. Cllr Smith is looking at improving enforcement with the Police. Cllr Edgley has received an email of concern from a resident regarding the violation of the  7.5 ton limit for heavy vehicles using Mill Lane as a short cut either to or from the A5 to A5127. Cllr Salter stated that despite numerous phone calls and emails as well as involving Christopher Pincher MP, there has been no response from Highways England which is a disgrace.

Cllr Smith said that he is looking at improving signage and white lines.

Item 46. Change of gateway position: Quote for extension of 30mph speed limit on Birmingham Rd, Shenstone circa £10,500. Details of this quotation were shared as well as the opportunity to save costs by completing this order at the same time as Cartersfield Lane. Cllrs Perry, Godden & Edgley all expressed their support and a vote was passed to approve this proposal.

RESOLUTION: Council unanimously approved the proposal for a change in gateway circa £9,500.

Item 47  Stonnall Youth & Community Centre – consider offer  for transfer of ownership for £1.00  

Cllr Smith apologised that no formal notification has been received from County. As no notification or detail has been received this item is adjourned until a later Full Council meeting.

Cllr Smith also spoke on the consultation regarding parking restrictions around Shenstone station and will approve it if Council are supportive. Cllrs Perry, Edgley & Thompson have all commented on the proposal in writing which have been shared with John Parkes, Amey Engineer. The Clerk will now forward these to Cllr Smith who stated he believes that the proposal will solve one problem but create two others- namely where the overflow cars will park and the impact the restrictions will have on residents themselves.

Cllr Smith would like to agree dates for demonstrating radar cameras and agree suitable locations.

Pot holes are currently being addressed Pinfold Hill Island to Wall Island, remedial work being done in Park Lane especially around the large hump and Birmingham Rd is being resurfaced. Cartersfield Lane has been done.

Cllr Salter asked if there is a date for the 30mph repeater signs in Lynn Lane. Cllr Smith said there is not but he will chase.

Cllr Perry raised the issue of the trees along the rail track in Admiral Parker Drive. Cllr Smith said there has been no response from the rail company regarding a timetable of works to allow any action to be scheduled.

Cllr Salter briefed Council on a meeting to be held at the Garrick Theatre on Oct 7^th re the future of Friary Grange, Lichfield.

It is Heritage weekend in Lichfield 14^th/15^th September with many attractions of interest.

36. Finance: Transactions for approval & financial position as at 10^th September 2019.

Details of transactions to date were shared with Council. The Clerk stated the financial position as:

Nat West Current account £940.00. Nat West Business Reserve account £133,171.44

Nat West Liquidity Account (formerly ring fenced funds) £160,811.01. Unity account £43,791.04.

Total funds £338,713.49.

The Clerk reiterated the point from the last Finance meeting that with this kind of balance and with the expenditure required this financial year, next year we must move from receipts and payments accounting to income and expenditure.  Cllr Salter read all of the main items from the Finance meeting which was held    since last Full Council including the completed external audit  receipt & detail from Mazarrs.

Cllr Gobran suggested it would be a good idea to brain storm ideas re what funds could be used for.

The Clerk agreed but said this should be separate to Full Council with ideas brought forward to Council rather than the meeting being the forum for discussion. Cllr Thompson agreed this would be a good idea and Council could look at the big ticket assets and coordinate potential big investments.

It was agreed that a meeting in October should focus on an expenditure strategy.

Cllr Thompson also said that Council may wish to consider no increase in the 2020/21 precept.

37. Planning applications

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

The Clerk updated Council that the application for gates on Little Aston Park had been refused. Cllr Salter said that he understood LAPRA will appeal the decision. Cllr Salter also said that he will ask District to share details of licencing as well as planning applications.

The Clerk requested that the next Neighbourhood Planning & Property Committee Meeting scheduled               

             for Tuesday September 24^th at 5.30 either be prepped early or postponed to a later date due to her upcoming leave.  Cllr Thompson, as chair of the Committee, said that a week later would be acceptable and this was agreed by Council.

Next Neighbourhood Planning & Property Committee Meeting Tuesday Oct 1^st 5.30pm Parish Office.  

38. Consider quote to replace plastic panels in Bus Shelters.

Cllr Salter shared a quote with Council for plastic panels to replace the old & damaged panels in four bus shelters- three in Shenstone and one in Little Aston.  RESOLUTION: Council voted unanimously to accept the quote of £763.32 + VAT & £60.00 delivery. Clerk will order and the fittings will be done by the          Lengthsman.

39. Consider drop kerb in Richard Cooper Road £1000.

Covered under Item 35.

40. Consider request for a bin on Footherley Lane.

The Lengthsman has reported a lot of litter in Footherley Lane & feels a bin may improve the situation.

Cllr Salter said he has concerns as this is likely to be drive through littering in which case a bin will not help. Cllr Perry suggested that we monitor how much litter is dropped between now & a future meeting date and then reconsider. Clerk will reschedule the item for November & monitor the situation via the Lengthsman.

41. Mill Lane, Shenstone- H.G.V traffic issues.

Covered under Item 35.

42. Councillors contact information- update on .gov email addresses.

Cllr Gobran spoke of her concern of the dangers of sharing personal data such as home addresses, personal emails and phone numbers with risks including cyber bullying, trolling and hacking. She stressed the importance of managing risk and safeguarding both self and family. She asked why this information should be shared and what value or purpose it has as well as proposing that Council move forward very quickly with .gov email accounts.

Cllr Thompson stated that he agreed with the move to change emails but that he felt it was important to be accessible to the electorate and had never had any cause for concern with only three communications from residents over five years, all important and justified.  It was generally accepted that the sharing of         information is a matter of personal choice. Cllr Edgley said that the move to .gov emails would assist with email housekeeping and improve data protection.

Council are asked to advise the Clerk how they wish to be referred to in their .gov email. i.e. Cllr Smith @, Cllr Fred Smith @, Fred.Smith @, etc.

43. Replacement of Beech Tree in St Johns Churchyard.

Following the removal of a dead beech tree in St Johns Cemetery, Council are reminded by the Tree Officer at Lichfield District Council that another tree must be planted as a replacement. Cllr Salter explained that Creative Plants of Shenstone have offered to donate for free a 6ft ready grown pendula.

44. Little Aston Recreation Ground Lease- update

No further action can be taken at this point as documents are awaiting correction at the Land Registry.

45. Update on Newsletter

Feedback has been very good. Cllr Salter reported delivery problems in parts of the Parish which the Clerk will address.

46. Item 46. Change of gateway position: Quote for extension of 30mph speed limit on Birmingham Rd.

Covered under Item 35.

47. Stonnall Youth & Community Centre – consider offer for transfer of ownership for £1.00  

Covered under Item 35.

48. *THE FOLLOWING ITEM WAS DISCUSSED UNDER PUBLIC BODIES (Admissions to Meetings) ACT 1960

SECTION 1 –MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL BE EXCLUDED.

SYCC Management Committee: to consider the appointment of a Council committee to investigate a complaint received in respect of the SYCC Management Committee. This item was held in confidence and no detail of the complaint was disseminated or discussed.  Due to the position of the Council in respect of its association with the SYCC, Council Members agreed, by           majority decision (8 in favour, 3 abstain) that, in fairness to all parties an investigation into the complaint should be made.

That having been determined, a small committee of Council Members, none of whom have any interest or involvement, past or present with SYCC, was appointed to carry out the investigation. The findings of the committee and the subsequent decision of the Council will be announced to all parties in due course.

Cllr Perry requested that it be noted that in his view any investigation that takes place should be conducted by an independent party with appropriate experience and qualifications. However, the Clerk has been fully advised by the legal departments of the Society of Local Council Clerks, Lichfield District Council & Staffordshire Parish Council Association on the correct procedure and protocol for any investigation and that this was being followed

49. Date of next meeting: Tuesday 8^th October 2019 7.15 Shenstone Village Hall.