Approved minutes of meeting of Full Council held on Tuesday March 12^th, 2024, at Shenstone Community Library.

178 Register of members in attendance

Cllrs David Salter (Chair), Lesley Edgley (Vice Chair), Gail Nicholls, Phil Whitehouse, Ruth Graham, Mick Cox, Simon Fisher, David Thompson, Dino D’ Ambrosio, Stuart Harrison and Christopher Callow.

Representatives of other organisations.

County Cllr David Smith. Mr Adrian Walters, Chair of SCAR and one other member of SCAR

2 x Stonnall residents representing St Peter’s School, Stonnall Parents’ Group (SPSPG)

PCSO Racheal Orwin- Lichfield Police.

Officers of the Council

Shirley O’Mara (Clerk and RFO)

Pam Salter (Minute Clerk)

179 Acceptance of apologies.

Cllrs Stuart Jones, Emma Scothern, Leona Leung.

180 Public Participation.

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

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

PCSO Orwin reported on the number of calls to the police for Shenstone, Stonnall and Little Aston for burglaries, car crimes and anti-social behaviour.

There have been speeding concerns in Shenstone. Speed watch training is available. Police engagement events have been held at Dobbie’s Shenstone and Shenstone Community Library.

Cllr Whitehouse asked if Council could be kept updated regarding previous incidents and issues particularly regarding protestors at UAV in Shenstone. PCSO Orwin then left the meeting.

Mr Adrian Walters, Chair of SCAR briefed Council as follows:

• A successful meeting with Walsall Borough Council on Thursday 22^nd Feb following presentation of an over 1700 signature petition re Chester Rd/Lazy Hill traffic concerns.

• They are working with the Stonnall working group on the neighbourhood plan refreshes.

• Would like the group to collaborate closely with Council & share knowledge.

Cllr Salter thanked Mr Walters and echoed the sentiment of close & collaborative working.

With the agreement of Members, the relevant section of agenda item 186 was brought forward.

Representatives from the St Peter’s School parents group explained that due to grant funding direct to the school being unavailable, they would like to apply for funding towards projects that they are looking to undertake which will be of benefit not only to the pupils but also the wider community. Cllr Nicholls noted that the Finance Committee had recommended looking at a request again from the point of view of the parent group but emphasised that a request must not be for maintenance as the school was already in receipt of public money for this under the school budget. Cllr Callow asked if directions could be given so the applicants have a clear view of what they need to do.

This approach was welcomed by Members and the Clerk offered to meet with the applicants to help with formulating the application.

Cllr Thompson asked that, following this application, clearer Parish Council guidelines need formulating. Cllr Nicholls responded that this was already underway.

The representatives then left the meeting.

181 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

182 To accept and confirm minutes of the last Full Council meeting on Tuesday Feb 13^th, 2024

Duly approved & signed.

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

• Defibrillator, Smarts Avenue update: The defibrillator has been delivered to the office and installation by an approved electrician will be arranged. Council asked for thanks to Cllr D’ Ambrosio for all his work in progressing this initiative to be minuted.

• Shenstone Playing Fields Committee Meeting update: the planned meeting between representatives of the PC and SPFMC has been unable to take place yet due to mutually convenient dates being unavailable. Clerk to pursue.

• The retirement of Cllr, Val Neale: Cllr Salter asked whether there had been any indication of a celebration within the village of Stonnall which the PC could support. None was known. Cllr. Salter said that he would work with the Clerk to arrange a gathering of current and past Members as a show of appreciation for Val’s 30 + years of service.

• Request for keyboard from Stonnall Players: Costings are now in. Resolution: Support the request, Clerk to purchase.

• The Traffic Group had held its first meeting immediately prior to this Full Council meeting where it had a presentation from SCAR.

• The Annual Parish meeting date has been set for 17^th April. The Clerk explained the premise of the APM for new members. Venue to be confirmed but it will probably be held in Shenstone.

184 To receive reports from District and County Councillors.

To receive reports from District and County Councillors

County Cllr David Smith referred to Val Neale’s retirement and confirmed that she was currently unwell.

The spoke of the very positive response from Walsall District Councillors to the situation on Chester Road and offered his congratulations to SCAR on their input.

He observed that the demonstrations at the UAV engines factory were based on false information.

Traffic matters. Cllr Smith asked that he be involved as soon as possible with the Traffic Task Group.

Cllr Thompson noted that the information from the locations of the traffic survey which the PC had funded was presented in a different format to the rest of the survey and would prefer the same layout going forwards.

Cllr Thompson also expressed his opinion that the way the Parish Council have managed the Drone Factory issues over the last three years has been neutral and fair.

District Councillor Whitehouse referred to the meeting of 27^th Feb with the Leader of LDC Cllr Pullen particularly noting the strong financial position LDC are in.

185 Planning.

Review & consider all planning applications received to date. Link to the planning applications spreadsheet.

Cllr Thompson said that there was little to report. Applications were still taking a long time to action.

He was pleased with Cllr Pullen’s comment that the District Council are focussing on the employment of high-quality planning officers.

The Clerk said that applications were taking around 8 weeks to process although some were still outstanding from July.

Cllr Salter reported that the Planning Department had been catching up on enforcement and that delays were often due to the applicant making changes to applications under the guidance of the case officers and re-submitting.

Next meeting of Neighbourhood Planning & Property Committee Tues May 21^st, 2024, at 5.30 pm Shenstone Community Library.

186 Finance.

Current financial position & transactions for approval as of March 12^th, 2024.

Link to the financial transactions spreadsheet

Link to Master Transactions spreadsheet

Nat West Current Account: £905.00

Nat West Business Reserve £54,211.97

Unity Bank Account: £9,115.95

Nat West Liquidity Account ring fenced funds for earmarked projects: £95,553.68.

Cllr Whitehouse asked for clarity on payments for gritting. The Clerk explained that there was an established contract detailing where gritting would take place & under what conditions.

The Clerk was asked for clarification on the Austin Prince Payroll entry.

She explained that this was the company who looked after the Clerk’s salary.

Asked whether this also applies to the Lengthsman, the Clerk explained that he is paid by the Clerk following instruction of the payroll company.

The Clerk also asked Council to note that the hours of the subcontracted Lengthsman were e higher in the last week & next as he has covered extra hours to manage deliveries of the magazines and neighbourhood plan flyers due to her illness and workload.

The Clerk reported that she had undergone an Income/Expenditure training session with Parkinson Partnership earlier in the day.

She has to resubmit figures for the previous 2 years with an early audit date of the 8^{th of} April.

Re-consideration of St. Peters School Application: – trim trail & path refurbishment-£2722.00. Already dealt with under public participation.

Next meeting of Finance, Legal, Health & Safety Committee Tues April 23rd, 2024, at 5.30 pm Parish Office.

187 Neighbourhood Plan refreshes;

update & next steps Shenstone & Little Aston (Cllr Thompson) & Stonnall (Cllr Whitehouse).

Cllr Thompson and Cllr Harrison briefed the Council on progress so far. Preparations are underway for the public exhibitions which take place in Little Aston on Monday 18^th March and in Shenstone on Tuesday 19^th March.

Cllr Whitehouse noted that, although the Neighbourhood plans for Stonnall had a different deadline to Shenstone and Little Aston and were not so advanced, they were well underway.

188 Update on Heat Networks Development Unit bid for government funding by LDC/South Staffs Water Ltd.

Cllr Thompson reported the success in gaining a £148,000 Government grant to conduct an in-depth investigation and feasibility study following the success of the initial investigations and the gaining of the full support of Lichfield District Council and South Staffs Water.

189 Lammas Land Boundary incursion: update & next steps

The solicitors had studied all the provided evidence but determined that it was insufficient to warrant immediate action as the balance of probability of a win was unfortunately not strong enough. He is however open to further evidence being submitted including witness statements from persons present at the time of the alleged incursion.

190 Update from Employment Committee: consideration of a Minute Clerk for ad hoc duties.  

Following Cllr Jones’ employment assessment meeting with the Clerk, it was agreed that assistance at certain times with taking minutes from the Staffordshire Parish Clerks pool would help to ease the Clerk’s increasing workload and also free her to act more effectively in her capacity as Legal and Financial Officer at meetings without the distraction of taking minutes.

Mrs Pam Salter, herself a fully qualified Clerk with Wall PC, was in attendance as a minute Clerk as a ‘trial-run.’

191 Update on the Thermal Camera Loan Scheme

Cllr Thompson reported that he had successfully used the camera at his home and that the take up of use had proven very positive with no ‘down-time.’ Unfortunately, it can only be effectively used to show insulation issues during the winter months when the heating is on in the house, and it is cold outside. It was confirmed that the camera is available to residents in all Wards. Its availability will be advertised in the Autumn edition of the newsletter. Cllr Whitehouse was interested in the take up from Stonnall residents- this is not known exactly but they are welcome to use it.

192 Consider change of date for Parish meetings set for 9th July and 10 December as they conflict with Full Council meetings at Lichfield District Council.

This had been proposed by Cllr Whitehouse because these dates conflict with Full Council meetings at Lichfield District Council which three current members are also required to attend. Some members felt that that as the dates of Parish Council meetings are circulated so far in advance and with everyone already working around them to manage other commitments, holidays, etc it would be difficult to rearrange. Also, with the imminent resignation of one Parish/District member the clash only affects two Councillors.

Following discussion, it was determined by a 7 – 3 majority that the dates should not be changed.

193 Next meeting of Full Council Tuesday 9^th April, Stonnall Community Centre 7.15pm.