Parish Council Meeting December 2024

Draft Minutes of Denstone Parish Council Meeting 9^th December 2024 at 7.00pm

1. Cllr Turner (Chair), Cllr Edmonds, Cllr M Flower, Cllr Wright, Cllr Stratton, Cllr Mountney, Cllr Ratcliffe and Julie Sadler (Clerk)

There were 12 members of the public present.

Apologies: Cllr Shermer and Borough Councillor Steve Sankey (ESBC)

2. To receive declarations of interest – None.
3. To approve the minutes of the 11^th November 2024. The minutes were approved and agreed by all as a true record of the meeting. They were signed and dated by Cllr Turner (Chair)
4. Adjournment for public participation

Nothing raised.

5. Matters Arising/Clerk’s report
   1. Correspondence Received –
      2025. Councillor Resignation – The clerk informed the meeting that she had received a letter of resignation from Cllr Naylor. She had duly notified the ESBC regarding this and was awaiting the formal document that needed to be published. Once the formal documentation was received this would be put on the noticeboards and the website. After which the vacancy would be advertised. This would be after the meeting in January 2025. Action Clerk
      2026. Drains – Cllr Turner informed the meeting that the Parish Council were still awaiting a date for the work on the drains. However in the meantime David Boden has passed on the number for the flood line to register for updates of the floods. He has also shown the owner of the Tavern and Cllr Mountney how to unblock the drain that causes problems for the Tavern.
   2. Railway Line Fence – the clerk informed the meeting that she had still not received anything further regarding the fence. She also agreed to chase Cllr Sankey to see if he had received a response. Action Clerk
   3. Railway line – This has been reported to Severn Trent and we are awaiting a response. Clerk to chase. Action Clerk
   4. Street Light on Jardines Lane – the clerk confirmed that she had written to all the residents in Jardines Lane and was awaiting a response.
   5. War Memorial Hedge and the Oak tree (Corner of College Road) – Cllr Turner confirmed that the Parish Council had received 3 quotes to carry out the work on the War Memorial Hedge and the Oak tree. It was unanimously agreed to accept the quote from D Green Specialist tree care, clerk to advise. Action Clerk
   6. Domain Change – the clerk informed the meeting that she and Cllr Shermer attended a meeting on moving onto a domain of .gov.uk Both Cllr Shermer and the clerk would like to go to the next meeting before any decision was made by the Parish Council. This was unanimously agreed. Action Clerk
6. Planning (Permitted & Refused are decisions by ESBC) – Cllr Turner
   2024. NP Review – Cllr Turner confirmed that the Parish Council is in continuous correspondence with the ESBC and the next meeting is scheduled for the 19^th December 2024. There will be a further update at the next meeting in January.
   2025. Roberts Green – Cllr Turner informed the meeting that the application for turning the land back into agricultural land had been withdrawn as it was not required.

Cllr Turner said that the Parish Council and members of the village had a few options.

1. Continue to monitor how the land is used going forward.
2. Submit a request to make the land a Community Asset. Cllr Turner informed the meeting this needs 21 members; these can be anyone from the village. The Parish Council unanimously agreed to this and Cllr Turner agreed to take this forward but it would require 21 people in total. A number of residents in the village said that they would join in with this too. David Boden said that he would also raise this with the Sports Trust at their next meeting. Action Cllr Turner.
3. Highways – Cllr Shermer
   1. Feasibility Study – the clerk informed the meeting on behalf of Cllr Shermer – Cllr Shermer had heard from Richard Rayson (SCC) and was in the process of arranging a meeting with him. Further update at the next meeting. Action Cllr Shermer
   2. Data Collection B5031 decision – The clerk informed the meeting that this item will also be discussed at the meeting with Richard Rayson. Action Clerk
   3. Potholes – Cllr Turner informed the meeting that the road was eroding away on College Road near the junction to Narrow Lane. She volunteered to send pictures to the clerk to report this to SCC. Action Cllr Turner and Clerk.
   4. Extended Warranty on SIDs – the clerk informed the meeting that further information had come to light regarding the warranty of the SIDS. The cost would be £400 per year for the 3 year contract therefore costing £1200 in total. The councillors therefore agreed not to take on the warranty but to put money aside in the budget every year for the SIDs should a repair or replacement be necessary.
4. Green Spaces
   1. Footpath – Cllr Wright confirmed that nearly 2 years ago he applied for the unofficial footpath from TaylorMade to the railway line to be made official. Unfortunately he heard nothing so he applied to the planning officer at Bristol and he is awaiting an outcome. Cllr Turner thanked Cllr Wright on behalf of the Parish Council for moving this forward.
5. Play Area – Cllr Flower
   2024. Play area inspection – the clerk confirmed that the inspection would take place w/c 9^th December 2024. As soon as the report arrives this will be forwarded to all councillors. Action Clerk
6. Finance
   1. Precept 2025/26 – the budget was gone through by the councillors during the meeting and it was unanimously agreed that the precept would remain at £20,000.00 again this year. Clerk to inform the ESBC once the appropriate documentation received. Action Clerk
7. Miscellaneous
   1. Bins – Cllr Mountney requested a bin be placed by the post box on the approach to Prestwood and also near the kissing gate on Oak Road. Clerk to chase as already requested. Action Clerk
   2. Future Parish Council Meeting dates – it was unanimously agreed that Parish Council meetings would continue to take place on a Monday evening. Clerk to contact the Village Hall. Action Clerk
   3. Service for Lengthsman’s equipment – The cost of the service was unanimously approved by the councillors. The lengthsman would inform TaylorMade to carry out the work.
8. Payments – To approve the following payments:

The clerk went through the payments individually. The payments were proposed by Cllr Stratton and seconded by Cllr Wright and agreed by all. The payment for S Edmonds would be made by cheque. The cheque was written by the clerk and signed by Cllr Flower and Cllr Stratton at the meeting. All other 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 for November 2024 = £25.00 [LGA 1972 s142 & 144]
26. Clerk’s pay for November 2024 (Made by Standing Order) = Net Pay £550.63 [LGA 1972 s112]
27. HMRC – Clerk – Tax – November 2024 – £166.40
28. N Power – Electricity – November 2024 – £53.96
29. Stuart Smith Lengths man – November 2024 – £26.83
30. Sue Edmonds – Plants in the tubs – £81.50
31. ON ENERGY SOLUTIONS LTD (HIGHWAYS LIGHTING) – £133.02

1. items for Future Agenda
   1. Denstone Meadow

Date of next meeting: The date of the next meeting will be 13^th January 2025 in the Village Hall Denstone.

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