Parish Council Meeting March 2025

Minutes of Denstone Parish Council Meeting 10th March 2025 at 7.00pm

1. Present

Cllr Mountney (Chair), Cllr Wright, Cllr Shermer, Cllr Ratcliffe, Cllr Oldroyd-Clarke and Julie Sadler (Clerk)

There were 8 members of the public present at the meeting.

Apologies Cllr Edmonds, Cllr Stratton, Cllr Turner, Cllr Flower and Borough Councillor Steve Sankey (ESBC).

2. To receive declarations of interest – None.
3. To approve the minutes of the 10^th February 2025. The minutes were approved and agreed by all as a true record of the meeting. A copy will be signed at the next meeting. Action Clerk
4. Adjournment for public participation

Nothing was raised.

5. Councillors Accountabilities

It was agreed that Cllr Wright would take on the role of Alton Towers and Cllr Mountney would take on the role of Green Spaces. The Clerk will update the Accountabilities document and send a revised copy to all councillors. Due to the number of apologies at the meeting this would be put on the agenda for next month for further discussion. Action Clerk

6. Matters Arising/Clerk’s report
   1. Correspondence Received
      1. Car park sign – the clerk read out an email from a member of the village requesting the Parish Council purchase and install a car park sign for the small car park near to the church. It was unanimously agreed that because the land was not owned by the Parish Council they would investigate further before a decision was made. Clerk to contact Sue Robins regarding the ownership of the land. In the meantime it was agreed that the clerk would update the member of the village accordingly. Action Clerk
   2. Railway Line Fence – The clerk informed the meeting that she had not heard anything further regarding the fence. It was agreed that the clerk contact the ranger asking if there is any timeline for the tenders. Also, the clerk was to ask if the Parish Council repaired the fence themselves would they be refunded as this has been going on for over a year now.  Action Clerk
   3. Street Light on Jardines Lane – The clerk informed the meeting that a site visit was held with Eon, Cllr Shermer and herself. Eon confirmed that they were happy to reinstall the lamp post close to its original position. It was unanimously agreed that the Parish Council would pay for this installation. Clerk to contact Eon and move this forward. It was also agreed that the clerk would contact the Parish Council’s insurance company to ask if a claim was made would it have an impact on next year’s premium? If not then it was agreed that the clerk would claim on the insurance. Action Clerk
   4. Domain Change – The clerk confirmed that she had received confirmation that the application has been approved to register denstoneparishcouncil.gov.uk for an initial period of 5 years. All councillors have agreed to have their email addresses changed. It was agreed that the clerk would move this forward and report back to the councillors. Action Clerk
   5. Alton Towers Meeting – Cllr Wright confirmed that he had attended the meeting. Most of the discussion was regarding speeding and heavy traffic. However, he did raise concerns regarding the litter in Denstone. It was agreed by Alton Towers that previously it was thought too dangerous to pick up litter but they would readdress this and report back to us. Cllr Wright confirmed that the meetings would continue the next one being in approximately 2-3 months.
   6. Date of the Annual Meeting – it was unanimously agreed that the Annual meeting would be held prior to the Parish Council meeting on the 14^th April 2025.
7. Planning (Permitted & Refused are decisions by ESBC) – Cllr Turner
   1. P/2024/01266 – Demolition of existing garage and porch to facilitate the erection of two storey front and single storey front and side extensions, canopy to the front elevation, installation of first floor side windows, alterations to the fenestrations, rendering of all elevations and demolition of shed – Jarrah, Alton Road, Denstone, Staffordshire, ST14 5DHm – No objections from the councillors.
   2. P/2024/01303 – Continued use of former paddock land for staff car parking – Denstone Hall Farm Shop, Main Road, Denstone, Staffordshire. ST14 5HF – No objections from the councillors.
   3. P/2025/00053 – Erection of a single storey rear/side extension and external flue pipe – Orchard House, College Road, Denstone, Staffordshire, ST14 5HR – No objections from the councillors.
   4. NP Review – Cllr Shermer confirmed that there is no further update. Conversations are still taking place between Thomas Deery and Urban Vision.
8. Highways – Cllr Shermer
   1. Feasibility Study – Cllr Shermer confirmed that a meeting is scheduled for the 26^th March at 10am between Cllr Shermer, Cllr Turner, the Clerk, Richard Rayson SCC – Strategic infrastructure Manager, Kayleigh Lees – Community Highways Technical Support Officer and Sam Griffiths Community Highways Officer for our area.
   2. Data Collection B5031 decision – It was agreed that this would also be discussed at the above meeting. Cllr Shermer agreed to look at dates and send to the clerk. Cllr Ratcliffe agreed to send closure dates for JCB. Action Cllr Shermer, Cllr Ratcliffe and Clerk.
   3. Potholes – no further potholes to report.
9. Finance
   1597. VAT return – the clerk confirmed that she had sent a VAT return for the value of £1597.00 to HMRC. This has yet to be paid.
10. Policies
    1. Review Code of Conduct Policy – The clerk sent out a draft copy of the code of conduct policy prior to the meeting. This was unanimously approved. This would now be put on the website. Action Clerk
11. Village Hall
12. Survey – The clerk went through the survey during the meeting and comments were made by the councillor. It was agreed that the clerk would send it to the village hall on behalf of the Parish Council. Action Clerk
13. Miscellaneous
    1. Denstone Meadow – In the absence of Cllr Edmonds the clerk informed the meeting that hedge laying work was carried out over the weekend 8th and 9th March and will carry on the this coming weekend also.
    2. Broadband – Cllr Mountney confirmed that there was no further update even though the cabinets had been installed. It could be up to a year before it has any impact on the village.
    3. Tom Boden Memorial Sports Trust License – Both copies of the license were signed and dated by Cllr Mountney. One copy of the license will be given to Cllr Flower to return to the .treasurer of the Tom Boden Memorial Sports Trust. Action Clerk
    4. Tom Boden Memorial Sports Trust Bin Contribution – it was unanimously agreed by the councillors for the Parish Council to make the contribution of £60 towards the compost bi
14. Payments – To approve the following payments:

The clerk went through the payments individually. The payments were proposed by Cllr Ratcliffe and seconded by Cllr Oldroyd-Clarke and agreed by all. The payment that was listed on the agenda for Npower was not to be paid as the clerk had checked the account and there wasn’t one due. All payments below would be processed online by Cllr Shermer and Cllr Flower. All invoices would be signed and would be returned to the clerk once actioned in accordance with the Financial Regulations.

25. Carolyn Hinton – Website – pay for February 2025 = £25.00 [LGA 1972 s142 & 144]
26. Clerk’s pay for February 2025 (Made by Standing Order) = Net Pay £550.63[LGA 1972 s112]
27. HMRC – Clerk – Tax – February 2025 – £134.40
28. Stuart Smith – Lengthsman – £40.25
29. Tom Boden Memorial Sports Trust Licence £50 and contribution to bin £60 total = £110.00
30. Denstone Village Hall – Hire of Hall and Cleaning of Outside Toilet – £90.00

items for Future Agenda

1. V E Day Celebrations 80^th Anniversary – Cllr Mountney gave a brief update on celebrations that were being arranged by the RBL. Further information would be given at the next meeting.
2. Benches on the Railway Line

Date of next meeting – The date of the next meeting will be 14^th April 2025 at 7.00pm in the Village Hall Denstone. This will include the Annual Meeting as well as the Parish Council Meeting.

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