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 meeting held on Tuesday Jan 9^th at Little Aston Village Hall.

142 Register of members in attendance

Cllrs Gail Nicholls, Phil Whitehouse, Ruth Graham, Mick Cox, Val Neale & Dino D’Ambrosio, (Stonnall), Cllrs David Salter (Chair), Stuart Jones, Lesley Edgley ,Simon Fisher, David Thompson, Christopher Callow, Leona Leung (Shenstone), Cllr Stuart Harrison & Cllr Emma Scothern (Little Aston). County Cllr David Smith.

Mr Nick Power, Mr James Hately, Mr James Macdonald, Mr Mike Ward: Stonnall residents.

Shirley O’Mara (Clerk).

143 Acceptance of apologies.

None

144 Public Participation.

Members of the public are invited to address Council for a maximum of 15 minutes.

Mr Nick Power, Mr James Hately, Mr James Macdonald, Mr Mike Ward of St Peters Close addressed members regarding the Jan 2^nd recurrence of flooding from Stonnall Playing Field.

Much appreciation was expressed by the residents for the work completed in 2020 which has been highly effective. However, such was the volume of water coming across the farmers field, made worse by the ground around the skate park mound being broken down by walkers, that water in a great volume fans out and runs into the garden at the side of where the remedial work has taken place. There is the suggestion that the drainage ditch by the skate park be extended to address the issue further up the field and also install a drain in the depression near the culvert. County Cllr Smith suggested that a site meeting with County Council Flood Officers & Parish be arranged. This offer was much appreciated by residents.

RESOLUTION: County Cllr Smith to action a meeting as soon as possible.

145 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:

Cllr Salter expressed a non-pecuniary interest in Item 155.

146 To accept and confirm minutes of the last Full Council meeting on Tuesday 12^th Dec 2023

Duly accepted & signed.

147 Clerk’s update on outstanding issues from last meeting.

• Set date to review Green policy. Clerk requested any Member wishing to participate in the review emails her to arrange a meeting.

• Offer of Wall Parish Council flagpole. RESOLUTION: Members voted to unanimously accept the kind offer of a flagpole with investigations into ownership of the land outside the Parish Office where the pole would be situated ongoing.

• Stonnall Community Centre have managed to rearrange schedules so that they are able to accommodate the Parish Council meetings in April & September.

148 To receive reports from District and County Councillors.

County Cllr Smith stated that Lichfield South business park has planning permission coming up in January including a £100,000 offer from the applicant to relocate the two bus stops outside.

District Councillor Whitehouse said that plans for the redevelopment of Lichfield city centre continue with the introduction of parking information boards displaying car park space availability.

District Councillor David salter had prior to the meeting shared his update. Link to update.

149 Finance.

Current financial position & transactions for approval as of 9^th Jan 2024. Link to Financial transactions spreadsheet

Nat West Current Account £905.00. Nat West Business Reserve £54,078.70.

Nat West Liquidity Account ring fenced funds for earmarked projects £95,036.40.

Unity Bank Account £60,247.03

Agree Precept for 2024/5. The Clerk shared with Council an update on spending to the end of Dec 2023 & a forecast for the rest of this financial year.

After discussions it was agreed that the existing ring-fenced funds need to be addressed at the next Finance meeting with Cllr Whitehouse expressing the opinion that Council needs to be clearer on what it wants to achieve, Cllr D’Ambrosio agreeing that the funds held need to start being spent on identified areas of need and Cllr Thompson agreeing that a review is necessary as is the need to progress spending.

RESOLUTION: It was unanimously agreed that there is no justification for an increase in the existing £182,000 precept and the request should be submitted for this amount accordingly.

Update on Community Grants. 20 applications have been received with several more expected before the closing date on Friday.

Next meeting of Finance, Legal, Health & Safety Committee Tues Jan 23rd, 2024, at 5.30 pm Shenstone Community Library.

150 Planning.

Link to planning applications spreadsheet

• Cllr Thompson asked that the Clerk track the commitment of Lichfield Planning to provide the agreed traffic management plan associated with the planning application 23/01004 Raikes Lane.

• An objection is being prepared re application 23/01390: installation of an illuminated sign in Burnett Road.

• Cllrs Thompson & Salter to liaise re the Foden Close planning inspectorate procedure.

151 Neighbourhood Plan refreshes: (Cllr Thompson) update & next steps from three Wards.

Also Council to consider approving an application to Locality for a grant from Government funding for Stonnall to carry out its review of the current Neighbourhood Plan (Cllr Whitehouse).

Cllr Thompson briefed members on actions to date re Shenstone & Little Aston reviews. Navigus are doing data collection and GIS mapping. Meetings are imminently scheduled to look at draft revisions.

Cllr Whitehouse said that the Stonnall Working Group are excited to discover that additional funding is available and is willing to complete paperwork if Parish approves submission.

Cllr Nicholls asked what the additional funding would be used for when there is already £11,000 allocated for the Stonnall Plan. Cllr Whitehouse stated that this was new information from Locality & if there is government funding on offer then Parish should apply for it, with the existing £11,000 used wisely on other projects. Cllr Graham agreed asking why Council would turn down free money.

Cllr Nicholls expressed concern that the funds are for something specific and asked for more clarity.

Cllr Thompson explained that whilst a government funding application was technically possible, However all expenditure would need to be verifiably defrayed by March 31^st. He was also unsure that the Navigus had planned or had the capacity to deliver the work required because of existing commitments. An application for the next financial year covering most of the expenditure that Stonnall will incur would make more sense. Cllr Thompson quoting an email communication he had received that day from Locality identifying the government’s intention to continue funding beyond 23/24.

Cllr Whitehouse said that Cllr Nicholls seemed to be implying there was some kind of hidden agenda or special project that the Stonnall Group had in mind and that accusation is not true: the group would find out what residents need and proceed from there.

He added, that in the light of the new information from Cllr Thompson, he would take this to the next meeting of the group on Jan 17^th. He would present the two options to the group.

Cllr Cox asked why Stonnall was excluded from grant funding originally. Cllr Thompson responded by confirming that as set out in his Sept report to Council that it was because Stonnall already held the £11,000 for the neighbourhood plan review. Cllr Cox asked if there were any enquiries to Locality to see if the £11,000 was relevant as according to Locality the existing funds were written off; therefore, if no enquiry was made an opportunity for additional funding was missed. Again, Cllr Thompson reiterated that no bid was made for Stonnall as Stonnall had 11k of funding already in place.

After some discussion the proposal was made as follows: RESOLUTION: Council agreed in principle that the Stonnall Neighbourhood Planning Working Group, if they decide to do so at their 17^th Jan meeting, apply through Council to Locality for additional grant funding but are aware that the funds have a 31^st March expenditure deadline. If the group decide to wait until the new financial year, the request comes back to Council in April.

Majority approved with one abstention.

County Cllr Smith, in his capacity as Chair of the Stonnall Group, said that they are very concerned about the census data provided as it now gives a total combination of Little Aston & Stonnall as a single ward. Cllr Salter said it is the responsibility of the Parish Council to define the boundary line of each neighbourhood plan area and that by using the electoral registers, which are still separate, information should be calculable.

152 Update on Heat Networks Development Unit (HNDU) bid for government funding by LDC/South Staffs Water Ltd.

Cllr Thompson had prior to the meeting asked that three documents be circulated to members detailing the HNDU bid for government funding link to documents. The application is now being scrutinised. If approved, work to commence later in 2024 into 2025.

153 Lammas Land Boundary incursion: update & next steps

The Clerk shared with Council confirmation that the Parish Council Insurance cover does allow for the legal action to pursue the Lammas Land boundary incursion but that the use of a Solicitor appointed by the Insurers is recommended.

RESOLUTION: Council voted unanimously to approve the action with a newly appointed Solicitor.

154 Consideration of options for a defibrillator in Smarts Avenue Phone Box: From £1595 to £2245.00.

The Clerk gave an update that following an application for grant funding to DHSC Community AED Grant Team in October, she had received confirmation that day that the application had been successful with an offer of £750 to be match funded for the supply of a fully automatic defibrillator and heated cabinet. RESOLUTION: Council voted unanimously to approve the match funding of £750 & thanked Cllr D’Ambrosio for his efforts in initiating the Smarts Avenue defibrillator project.

155 Consideration of Community Support Project funding for Doctors Lane resurfacing; minimum £5220.00 (Cllr Salter).

Cllr Salter began by explaining that he was presenting this case for consideration after being approached by residents of Doctors Lane & had supplied considerable background information to Members via email. A discussion followed where Cllr Nicholls, Cllr Cox, Cllr Whitehouse and Cllr Thompson expressed concerns that this is a project that Council should not be involved with, that it could set a precedent for other claims for assistance on unadopted roads, that the expenditure of taxpayers money cannot be justified and that there are other implications if the work does go ahead such as problems with drainage. County Cllr Smith strongly advised against approving works as Council would be taking on the liability- County have no interest at all.

Cllr Jones expressed his concern that Doctors Lane does not even function adequately as a footpath as it is not safe for the residents, many elderly, who live in Barnes Rd & Doctors Lane & use the footpath to access the village centre.

RESOLUTION: Council voted in the majority to refuse the application.

Cllr Thompson commented that these types of application should come to Council through the Finance or Neighbourhood Planning Committees rather than direct to save time at Full Council meetings.

156 Church Road Footpath leading to St Peter’s Church.

Cllr Whitehouse, after being approached by several Stonnall residents, raised the subject of the overgrown pavements from Church Rd to St Peters Church and the danger that they cause by residents having to walk in the road. Council was reminded that this problem has been ongoing for several years and there is an ongoing dispute regarding the wall which is at great risk of falling. For that reason, that part pf the pavement cannot currently be addressed but the Clerk will contact Lichfield District Council with regard to the rest of the area.

RESOLUTION: Clerk to contact Lichfield District Council

157 Approve change of May Parish Council meeting from 14^th to 7^th May.

Cllr Salter asked Members to hold both dates as Lichfield District Council may be moving their meeting to the 7^th leaving the 14^th free for Parish. Confirmation shortly.

Ahead of the meeting the chair shared the Lichfield crime round up report provided by T/Chief Inspector 5383 Karen Green

158 Next meeting of Full Council Tues 13^th Feb 2024 at Shenstone Community Library 7.15pm.