www.denstonevillage.org.uk

clerk@denstoneparishcouncil.gov.uk

Minutes of Denstone Parish Council Annual meeting held on Monday 11^th May 2026 at Denstone Village Hall, College Road, Denstone, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, ST14 5HR.

Attendees: Cllr Shermer (Chair), Cllr S Owen, Cllr A Oldroyd-Clarke, Cllr S Ratcliffe, Cllr E Edmonds, Cllr M Flower, Cllr B Wright and J Sadler (Clerk)

6 members of the village present.

1. Election of Chairman for 2026/27

Cllr Edmonds proposed that Cllr Shermer take on the position of Chair, this was seconded by Cllr Owen. The motion was agreed by all. Cllr Shermer accepted the position.

2. Election of Vice Chairman for 20226/27

Cllr Shermer stated that Cllr Mountney had informed her that she would be prepared to resume the position of Vice Chair if no one else wanted the position. Cllr Shermer proposed that Cllr Mountney remain as Vice Chair this was seconded by Cllr Owen.

Cllr Shermer stated that she would be chair for 1 year and it would then be reviewed again. As Chair, Cllr Shermer stated that she would like to thank Jessica Turner for all her hard work over the past years as chair. This was agreed by all.

3. Declarations of Acceptance of Office

Cllr Shermer signed and dated the declaration of acceptance of office form. This was witnessed by the clerk. As Cllr Mountney was not present at the meeting the declaration of acceptance of office of Vice Chair would be signed at the next meeting.

4. To note Apologies for Absence

The clerk confirmed apologies from Borough Cllr Steve Sankey, County Councillor Gary Hales and Cllr Mountney

5. Declarations of Interest and Dispensations

No declarations of Interest were raised. The clerk asked to receive all outstanding Register of interest forms as soon as possible.

6. Minutes of Parish Council meeting held on 7^th April 2026

The minutes of the meeting held on the 7^th April 2026 were proposed by Cllr Oldroyd-Clarke, seconded  by Cllr Edmonds and agreed by all members as a true record of the meeting. These were signed and dated by Cllr Shermer (Chair)

7. Public participation

Nothing was raised.

8. Councillor Vacancy

The Clerk informed the meeting that the ESBC had not received any offers from 10 members of the parish to take over the council. Therefore, a new councillor will be co-opted by the Parish Council. The clerk put up a poster of the vacancy on the website and all notice boards in the village inviting applications for the position. If anyone is interested, please contact the clerk on the above email address. Stating name and contact details and why they would like to join the Parish Council. All applicants will be invited to the next meeting. If there is more than one applicant then the councillors will take a vote.

9. Matters Arising/Clerk’s report
   1. Correspondence Received
      1. The clerk informed the meeting that she had received an email from a member of the village about people cycling on the pavements. The councillors agreed that the clerk write back to the parishioner with contact details for the PCSO as this was not an issue for the Parish Council. Clerk agreed that she would also email the PCSO on behalf of the Parish Council. Action Clerk
      2. The clerk informed the meeting that she had received information from All Saints School updating the Parish Council regarding the fence. This was sent to all councillors before the meeting. The Councillors agreed that the school had listened to the issues raised by the parishioners and members of the council and responded accordingly. The Parish Council would like to thank the school for this.

• Foot bridge off the railway line – Cllr Wright confirmed that this is not a public right of way as yet. However, it is currently waiting to be designated as a public right of way. Until the decision is confirmed the Parish Council cannot take any action. Clerk to inform Cllr Sankey of this. Action Clerk

1. Flowers in the village – Cllr Edmonds stated that Sue Edmonds had offered to do the flowers in the village again this year if required by the Parish Council. This was agreed by all. It was not sure if the plot opposite the Tavern would be included, the clerk is currently writing to the owner. However, Sue will put pots of flowers outside the bus stop, the fountain and the war memorial.
2. Invitation – The clerk informed the meeting that she had received an email from the office of Jacob Collier MP inviting Parish Councillors to a discussion regarding Local Government reorganisation. This will take place on Wednesday 5^th June at 5pm via teams. Cllr Shermer stated that she would check her diary and if possible would like to attend. Cllr Owen agreed to attend with her. Action Cllr Shermer Cllr Owen and Clerk.

1. Railway Line Leak – the clerk informed the meeting that she had not heard anything further from the ranger. However, Cllr Flower had visited the track with a member of the village. They had dug 2 test holes to locate the pipe but they were just full with water so it’s pretty impossible to find. The parishioner who is a retired Civil Engineer surveyed the pipe years ago before the playground was built and he has a concern whether when the fixed bin was put in, it was put through the pipe hence creating the leak.
   Also, if the “fall” of the pipe, which he believes starts at the manhole by the entrance and heads towards the bridge, is very shallow, then a blockage is quite possible and would easily backup. As also reported previously, the ditch towards the bridge which the pipe runs into is overgrown and water is backing up. The water can’t get away. This definitely needs cleaning out, something I understand that used to be done on a regular basis.
   Also now knowing where the pipe starts, the other action would be to put a camera down to understand what is going on. Cllr Shermer thanked Cllr Flower and the member of the village for looking at the problem. Cllr Flower agreed to put together a map and some information and would send this to the clerk who would pass this onto the ranger and copy in Cllr Hales. Action Cllr Flower and the Clerk.
2. Extra Defibrillator – Cllr Ratcliffe stated that he was still waiting to hear the outcome of the requested funding from the JCB. It was agreed that the Parish Council would wait until the next meeting before discussing this further.
3. Footpath – Oak Road – the clerk informed the meeting that she had heard from SCC stating that the issue of the footpath had been passed onto the Maintenance Management Team. The clerk confirmed that she would continue to chase this. Action Clerk
4. Insurance – It was agreed that the clerk would contact the insurance company again and ask that they change the Teenage Recreation area to £5000 which would cover replacement of the 2 benches and the covered seating area if required. The Parish Council did agree payment of up to £1996.12 if required and this would be paid outside of the meeting. Action Clerk

10. Planning (Permitted & Refused are decisions by ESBC) – Cllr Shermer
    1. P/2025/01221 – Land South of College Road Denstone – Appeal against the refusal of permission in principal application for the erection of up to 9 self-build dwellings – appeal reference 6006486 – The clerk informed the meeting that she checked the state of the appeal on appeal portal and it stated that it was awaiting a site visit. Cllr Shermer agreed to contact Urban Vision regarding this update. Action Cllr Shermer.
    2. P/2026/00304 – Crown lift branches overhanging road by up to 5.2 metres from ground level, Crown lift branches overhanging footpath by up to 3 metres from ground level and crown reduction by up to 3 metres to the side overhanging the lawn of three Copper Beech trees (T1, T2 & T3 of TPO 259) – Tom Boden Memorial Sports Trust. Bowling Green College Road Denstone. The clerk confirmed that this application had been agreed by ESBC.
11. Highways – Cllr Oldroyd-Clarke
    1. Potholes – the clerk confirmed that she had reported all the potholes on the main road.
    2. Feasibility Report – Cllr Oldroyd – Clarke confirmed that he had not heard anything further from SCC regarding this but he would continue to chase. Action Cllr Oldroyd-Clarke
    3. Data B5031 – the clerk informed the meeting that she had sent several emails asking for the data but as yet had not heard anything further from SCC. She would continue to chase. Action Clerk
12. Playground – Cllr Flower
    1. Cllr Flower confirmed that the play area checks had been completed and sent to the clerk. Cllr Shermer thanked Cllr Flower for all the work he does on the play area.
13. Village Hall – Cllr Shermer
    1. Cllr Shermer stated that there was nothing to report. The next village hall committee meeting is on the 14^th May so she will update the Parish Council at the next meeting.
14. Finance
    1. Parish Council Data Audit – the clerk informed the meeting of the changes that were taking place regarding Audit this year. The main issue is that it is mandatory that all Parish Council email domains should be .gov.uk. Denstone changed their email addresses last year so do comply with this. The Data Audit document had only been sent out to councillors on the 11^th May so this will be addressed again at the next meeting. Action Clerk
15. Miscellaneous
    1. War memorial – Cllr Edmonds confirmed that he has not spoken to the stone mason as yet regarding the stone for the war memorial. However on looking at the war memorial it appears that it needs repointing so he will discuss this with the stone mason at the same time and ask him for a quote as it hasn’t been done for at least 10 years. The lengthsman has cleaned the war memorial recently so thanks to him for his hard work.

Also the lengthsman noticed that the fountain needed repointing so maybe this could be included in the quote. Cllr Edmonds also stated that some work needed doing on the path outside the fountain. Cllr Shermer agreed to help Cllr Edmonds and possibly the lengthsman. Action Cllr Shermer and Cllr Edmonds.

1. Bus Shelter repairs – the clerk informed the meeting that she had contacted a member of the village regarding having the stone bus shelter repaired but had not received a reply as yet. Cllr Oldroyd-Clarke stated that he had contacted someone to do the tiles on the wooden bus shelter. It was agreed that he would pass the details of the work man onto the clerk to contact them about the stone bus shelter. Action Cllr Oldroyd-Clarke and Clerk

Cllr Shermer thanked Cllr Oldroyd-Clarke for all his work done on the noticeboards and wooden bus shelter.

1. Denstone Wildlife Meadow – Cllr Edmonds confirmed that event with Nick Mott and the children from Denstone College was extremely successful and enjoyed by all.

Cllr Edmonds informed the meeting that he had some of the trees on the meadow looked at by a surveyor. Once the report was received, he would update the Parish Council. If any work needed doing we would look at contacting Dave Green.

It was raised by a member of the village that the tree on the green with the bench on the grass near Cllr Wright needed the lower branches removing. It was agreed that this would be done by a couple of the councillors and the parishioner.

16. Payments – To approve the following payments

Cllr Shermer went through the payments individually. The payments were proposed by Cllr Ratcliffe, seconded by Cllr Owen and agreed by all. All payments would be processed online by Cllr Shermer and Cllr Flower. All invoices would be signed and would be returned to the clerk once actioned

25. Carolyn Hinton – Website – pay April 2026 £25.00 [LGA 1972 s142 & 144]
26. Clerk’s pay for April 2026 (Made by Standing Order) = Net Pay £577.71 [LGA 1972 s112]
27. HMRC – Clerk – Tax – April 2026 – £144.40
28. Clerk Employee National Insurance – April 2026 – £45.77
29. Clerks expenses – Travel – April £9.00
30. Clerks expenses Stationery – £18.20
31. N Power March 2026 – £52.38 and April 2026 £40.62 Total £93.00
32. Lengthsman – April 2026 – £148.45

1. items for Future Agenda

Date of next meeting – Monday 8th June 2026 at 7.00pm in the Village Hall Denstone.