Parish Council Meeting February 2023

1. Present – Cllr J Turner (Chair), Cllr B Wright, Cllr E Edmonds, Cllr K Lillistone, Cllr M Shermer, Cllr S Ratcliffe, Cllr M Flower, Cllr J Mountney, Borough Councillor S Sankey (ESBC) and Julie Sadler (Clerk)

Apologies: Cllr K Stratton

4 Members of the village attended the meeting.

2. The Minutes of the Meeting held on 9^th January 2023 –The minutes were agreed by all as a true record of the meeting. Cllr Turner (Chair) signed and dated the minutes.
3. Declaration of Interest – Cllr Turner informed the meeting that she knew someone associated with RJS Pavers one of the companies who are submitting a quote for the work to be done on the War Memorial.
4. Adjournment for Public Participation

The following issues were raised by Borough Councillor Steve Sankey –

1. The Maltings Uttoxeter – Cllr Sankey confirmed that the consultation was now taking place for The Maltings in Uttoxeter. Further information can be found on this link. https://www.eaststaffsbc.gov.uk/burton-town-regeneration-programme/regeneration/uttoxeter-masterplan
2. Share Prosperity Funding – Cllr Sankey confirmed that £750,000.00 funding was available for rural communities. The criteria for this has yet to be set but Cllr Sankey promised to keep the parish council up to date. Action Cllr Sankey.
3. Budget – Cllr Sankey confirmed that the ESBC would go up by £5.00 per household, SCC would go up by 5% and the Police would go up by the maximum amount.
4. Dog Poo Bag dispenser – Cllr Sankey confirmed that one had been ordered for Denstone. The clerk confirmed that on instruction from the Parish Councillors she put in a request for 4 dog poo dispensers with ESBC on the 15^th August 2022 for the following areas, 1 at either end of the alleyway from Marlpit lane to Alton Road, 1 on the fence post at the field entrance at the college drive and 1 outside the primary school on Oak Road but had received no confirmation of this. Cllr Sankey asked that the clerk contact Mike Hovers (ESBC) regarding this and copy Cllr Sankey in on the email. Action Clerk

Cllr Turner confirmed that there was a problem again in the village with dog poo not being picked up especially on College Road. It was agreed Cllr Turner would put up a poster on either a lamppost or telegraph post close by the area concerned. Action Cllr Turner

3. Traffic in the village – Cllr Ratcliffe informed the meeting that he had received several complaints regarding the increase in traffic and the speed of the traffic going up and down College Road to Denstone College. It was especially busy around 4pm when the prep school finished. It was agreed that after half term the community speed watch team would carry out some sessions between 3.30pm and 4.30pm. It was also agreed that a traffic count would also be done for Cllrs Edmonds and Shermer to take to the next meeting with Denstone College. Action Cllr Shermer and Edmonds

The issue was also raised about getting speedbumps in the village, however it was agreed that this would need the backing of the SCC. It was agreed that the Parish Council would await the outcome of the feasibility study due to be carried out by the SCC before taking any further action with this.

1. Street lamp – it was raised that a tree was covering one of the street lamps on College Road. Cllr Turner agreed to get the lamp number to enable the clerk to report to SCC. Action Cllr Turner and Clerk
2. Traffic on Stubwood Lane – Cllr Ratcliffe informed the meeting that JCB now have a night shift, and this has increased the number of cars going up and down Stubwood Lane and therefore raised again the issue of closing Lady Meadow Bridge. It was a unanimous decision by the councillors to not take any action on this until after the SIDs had been installed as it is felt that this would only bring more traffic into the village.
3. Blocked Gully – a member of the public reported a blocked gully outside The Croft on College Road. Clerk to report to SCC. Action Clerk

5. Matters Arising/Clerk’s Report
   1. Correspondence Received –
      1. Boundaries meeting 16^th February – the clerk reminded the councillors of the zoom meeting that was happening in case anyone wished to attend.
      2. International Women’s Day – Cllr Turner informed the meeting that if any female member of the Parish Council were interested in doing a 15 second video of their achievements as a parish councillor there was the facility to do so. No councillors present were interested.

• Nominations Packs – the clerk informed the meeting that Nomination packs will be sent to the clerk around Friday 10 March. The clerk will bring these to the meeting on the 13^th March. Nominations open on Monday 20 March 2023. Receipt of nominations is up to 4pm on Tuesday 4 April 2023. All nomination papers must be submitted in person. One person can deliver all the nomination papers. It was agreed that all councillors would complete their nominations within a week of receiving them and pass them to Cllr Mountney. Who would scan them all in and send them to the ESBC. The originals would then be passed to Cllr Shermer to deliver by hand.

1. Voting ID – the clerk informed the meeting that anyone voting at the Borough Elections in May will need proof of ID. Further details of this can be found on this link https://www.eaststaffsbc.gov.uk/elections/voter-id

1. War Memorial – Cllr Turner updated the meeting regarding the position with a quote for the work on the war memorial. She confirmed that Cllr Edmonds had requested a quote from MJD, this would arrive in the next couple of days so we would have 2 quotes for the next meeting.
2. Contribution from the Village Hall – the clerk informed the meeting that she had invoiced the village hall for the £200 contribution for the work carried out by the Lengthsman.
3. New Lengthsman – the clerk informed the meeting she had received 2 applications for this position. It was agreed that the current Lengthsman and councillor Wright would meet up with one of the applicants. Clerk to pass on the lengthsman’s telephone number so this can be arranged. It was also agreed that the wage of the Lengthsman would be increased in line with the national living wage from the 1 April 2023. Action, Cllr Wright, and Clerk.
4. Tom Boden Memorial Sports Trust License – Two copies were signed and dated by the chair and would be sent to the Trust for signature. Action Clerk

6. Planning (Permitted & Refused are decisions by ESBC)
   1. P/2022/01466 – Erection of a single storey rear extension, extension to existing garage, canopy, and solar panels to form home office, exterior material changes including cladding of dwelling, driveway resurfacing, and installation of solar panels – Upper Croft, Oak Road, Denstone, Staffs ST14 5HT – No objections raised by the Parish Council.
   2. NP review for Cllrs to vote on next steps – Cllr Turner informed the meeting that two public engagements had taken place in the village hall and they were very well attended by approximately 50 people from the village.

The next stage was to send the draft policies to the ESBC. Cllr Ratcliffe raised a couple of issues regarding the policies and councillor Turner agreed to make the necessary changes before the policies were sent.

Cllr Turner informed the meeting that 13 days consultancy work had been carried out amounting to £7150.00. The Parish Councillors agreed for this to be paid to Urban Vision for the work carried out.

1. Reinstatement of field adjacent to the Oak Road Development – Cllr Edmonds is concerned that the current correspondence with ESBC seems to relate to a different issue. He would therefore draft an email to be sent to the ESBC. This was agreed by the Parish Councillors. Action Cllr Edmonds

7. Highways – Cllr Shermer
   1. SIDS – the clerk informed the meeting that hopefully the SIDs would be installed within the next week. Also, the two extra fittings had now arrived, and the clerk had received the invoice from DSK. Cllr Turner stated once the SIDs were installed the clerk is to contact JCB to arrange a photo shoot. Action Clerk
   2. Potholes – Cllr Turner raised that there were two potholes outside the farm shop. One in the centre of the road and one at the side. Cllr Turner agreed to take photos of them both and send them to the clerk to report to SCC. Action Cllr Turner and Clerk

Cllr Wright informed the meeting that there was another traffic meeting with Alton Towers on the 24^th February 2023. Cllr Shermer agreed to attend. Cllr Wright to pass on further details. The issue was also raised regarding the recent documentation regarding access only to various lanes. The councillors were reminded that the consultation ended on the 15^th February.  Action Cllr Wright

8. Denstone College Liaison – Cllr Edmonds
   1. Hedge – Cllr Edmonds confirmed that Denstone College had agreed to cut the Hedge free of charge. Excellent results.
   2. Stile – The clerk informed the meeting that SCC will provide a stile kit for Denstone College to repair the stile. Excellent results.
   3. Cllr Edmonds advised the meeting that there would be another meeting with the Head of Denstone College in the Spring term. Date to be arranged.
9. Green Spaces – Cllr Wright
10. Staffs Way – Cllr Wright informed the meeting he has completed the necessary form for the short cut, but he feels that it will be a long process.
11. Liaison – Cllr Shermer
    1. Village Hall – Cllr Shermer confirmed that the village hall was ploughing ahead with the fund raising for the new cladding. She also confirmed that the village hall did not want to lead on the Kings Coronation Celebration in May.
12. Play Area – Cllr Flower/Cllr Lillistone
    1. Funding for the play area – Cllr Flower confirmed that he had not heard anything regarding funding for the play area fencing but he would chase Sara Botham regarding this. He confirmed that the Tom Boden Memorial Sports Trust raised that it would be best if the work being carried out by the trust on the toilets and the work on the play area by the Parish Council could be done at the same time. This was agreed by the parish councillors as long as the work was done sooner rather than later. Cllr Flower confirmed that as he is on both committees he would keep everyone informed. Action Cllr Flower
    2. Play Area Report – Cllr Flower confirmed that he was checking the play area on a weekly basis. The clerk asked for the details to be sent to her once a month. Cllr Flower confirmed that he was going to use a new template to send the report to the clerk. Action Cllr Flower
13. Miscellaneous
    1. Dog Bins on Old Railway Line – The clerk to contact Sue Ratcliffe to ask her for an invoice and to remind her that John Etherington was no longer checking the bins on the railway line. This was only agreed to be done during covid. Action Clerk
    2. Denstone Diary – Cllr Edmonds confirmed that the diary would be completed towards the end of May and be circulated around the village in June. The diary was fully funded by the advertising.
    3. Notice Board – Cllr Edmonds asked that a letter of thanks be sent to Philip for repairing the noticeboard in the village. This was unanimously agreed by all. Action Clerk
14. Finance – Cllr Ratcliffe
    1. Online Banking – the clerk informed the meeting that Cllrs Flower and Shermer were now set up for online banking. The clerk informed the meeting that this could not be used until the Financial Regulations had been updated. A revised copy of this would be sent out before the next meeting. The clerk also stated that she would contact all payees whose bank details she did not have. Action Clerk
    2. Precept – Cllr Turner stated that the precept for 23/24 would be £15,500.00. Which is what it was in 21/22. A decrease of 7% on last year. The councillors agreed that due to the current climate this was the best thing to do. This of course will be readdressed next year.
15. Payments – To approve the following payments: Proposed by Cllr Ratcliffe and seconded by Cllr Edmonds. The cheques were signed by Cllr Shermer and Cllr Flower and distributed by the clerk. Action Clerk
    25. Lascombe Consulting – Website – pay for January 2023 = £25.00 [LGA 1972 s142 & 144]
    26. Clerk’s pay for January 2023 (Made by Standing Order) = £453.37 [LGA 1972 s112]
    27. Clerk’s expenses January 2023 – £7.60
    28. J Etherington – Cleaning Village Hall toilets January 2023 = £40.00
    29. N Power – January 2023 – Electricity – £23.76
    30. Russ Whitehurst – Lengthsman January 2023 = £50.00
    31. Tom Boden Memorial Sports Trust License =£50 + Tom Boden Memorial Sports Trust Contribution to cleaning of bin = £50 Total Cheque for £100.00
    32. DSK Engineering Ltd – 2 brackets for the remaining SIDs = £120.00 + VAT £24.00 = £144.00

       items for Future Agenda

1. Defibrillator
2. Skip on College Road

• Kings Coronation – Volunteering Day

 Date of next meeting: Monday 13^th March 2023 at 7pm in the Village Hall Denstone.