Parish Council Meeting March 2026

Denstone Parish Council Meeting Minutes

www.denstonevillage.org.uk

Draft Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 9^th March 2026 at Denstone Village Hall, College Road, Denstone, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, ST14 5HR. The meeting commenced at 7pm

Attendees: Cllr Turner (Chair), Cllr Shermer, Cllr Mountney, Cllr Wright, Cllr Owen, Cllr Oldroyd-Clarke, Cllr Ratcliffe, Cllr Edmonds, Cllr Flower Borough Cllr Steve Sankey and J Sadler (Clerk)

6 members of the village present.

Cllr Turner gave an update on the public participation rules as there were some new visitors at the meeting.

1. Apologies County Councillor Gary Hales
2. To receive declarations of interest – None
3. To approve the minutes of the 9^th February 2026 – The minutes were proposed by Cllr Owen, seconded by Cllr Wright and approved by all as a true record of the meeting. These were signed and dated by Cllr Turner (Chair).
4. Public Participation
   1. A member of the village asked if there was an update on fibre being installed in the village. Cllr Turner asked Cllr Sankey for an update, he stated that the only thing that he knew was that a lot of work is being done in April. Cllr Turner asked if he could find a further update for the next meeting. Action Cllr Sankey
   2. Cllr Sankey raised the issue of the water on the railway line. He stated that he had received many complaints from members of the village as this issue has been going on now for some considerable time. The clerk informed the meeting that she had contacted the ranger prior to the meeting for an update but as yet had not received anything further. However, she would chase again and copy in Cllr Hales. Cllr Turner stated that she would like to make members of the village aware that the Parish Council have contacted a number of organisations to try and establish where the leak is coming from including Severn Trent Water and Staffordshire County Council which includes the ranger. A number of documents have been sent off including maps of the drainage. So the Parish Council are doing as much as they possibly can to try and resolve the issue. Action Clerk
   3. Car parking in the village – Cllr Sankey raised the issue of the problems with parking in the village. Cllr Turner made him aware that this again has been on the agenda for a number of months and once again the Parish Council are doing as much as they can. They have spoken to the PCSO Sean Elliott and the County Council. They have also looked into purchasing some land close to the village Hall which turned out to be not possible. Cllr Turner has now drafted a document to put on parked cars asking them not to park on the pavements. These will now be printed and given to the councillors and some left in the Tavern for people to use. Clerk to print and laminate and bring to the next meeting. Cllr Sankey also raised the issue of a college bus parking on the pavement. If seen in the future then take a photograph and send it to the college. Also, Cllr Sankey raised the issue of cars racing around the islands near Rocester, this has been reported to the Police. Action Clerk
5. Matters Arising/Clerk’s report
   2026. Correspondence Received – The clerk informed the meeting that she had received an email from HMRC stating that the National Living Wage was to increase from the 1^st April 2026. It was agreed that as the Parish Council pay the lengthsman the NLW his wages would be increased accordingly. Action Clerk
   2027. Parking in Denstone – See 4c.
   2028. Railway Line Leak – See 4b.
   2029. Extra Defibrillator – The clerk confirmed that she is still waiting to hear from AEDdonate. She will chase. Action Clerk
   2030. Drones in Stubwood – The clerk confirmed that she had heard from JCB stating that the drones were nothing to do with JCB.
   2031. New Food Waste Bins – The clerk stated that the new food waste bins would commence w/c 30^th
   2032. Pruning of the Oak Tree on College Road and cutting of the Laurel Hedge – The clerk had received a quote for the pruning of the oak tree and cutting of the Laurel hedge from David Green. The cost would be £360. This was unanimously agreed by the councillors. The Clerk stated that she had been given a provisional date of the 25^th March 2026 for the work to be carried out. Action Clerk
   2033. Notice boards – The clerk informed the meeting that she had heard from the insurance company and they required the cost to replace the noticeboards before adding to the insurance. An estimate has now been provided of £7500. The clerk will pass this onto the insurance company. In the meantime Cllr Oldroyd Clarke volunteered to stain the noticeboards and the bench. It was unanimously agreed. Cllr Turner thanked Cllr Oldroyd-Clarke. Action Cllr Oldroyd-Clarke and Clerk
6. Planning (Permitted & Refused are decisions by ESBC) – Cllr Turner
   1. Urban Vision – The clerk informed the meeting that an invoice had been received from Urban Vision for the work they carried out earlier in the year. The cost of the work is £500 +VAT. Payment was agreed by all.
7. Highways – Cllr Shermer
   1. Potholes – There are 2 potholes on College Road, Cllr Turner agreed to send pictures to the clerk for reporting. Cllr Oldroyd-Clarke agreed to send pictures of potholes on the main road to the clerk for reporting. Action Cllr Turner/Cllr Oldroyd-Clarke and Clerk
   2. Feasibility Report – Cllr Turner, the clerk and Cllr Hales met with an Engineer from Amey and 2 members of SCC to discuss the Feasibility Study. It was provisionally agreed that Speed humps would be placed on College Road from the mini roundabout to Narrow Lane and on Oak Road from just past the school to Stubwood Hollow. However, this would be finalised when the feasibility study was carried out which could take up to 6 months. Also, whilst in the village SCC stated that they would look into the new footpath that had recently been installed on Oak Road. Clerk had recently chased regarding this issue and was informed that it had been referred to the Maintenance Management and Legal team. The clerk will keep everyone updated. Action Clerk
   3. Data B5031 – The clerk reminded the councillors that the speed and volume count would take place from the 20 – 27^th
8. Playground – Cllr Flower
9. Cllr Flower informed the meeting that all checks were up to date on the play area.
10. JCB
    2026. Liv Golf 2026 – The clerk informed the meeting that she had received confirmation from CB that LIV Golf UK returns to JCB in July. The main change this year is that it will run over 4 days (23-26 July), rather than 3 days, playing 72 holes, instead of 54 in previous years.  JCB has reviewed and consolidated all feedback received from the local community on the 2025 event and will be channelling that feedback and learning into LIV’s planning for the 2026 event. JCB will start sharing further details on plans for the 2026 event with the parish council and local community during Spring 2026. The clerk will keep all updated. Action Clerk

Cllr Turner stated that she would write to JCB and introduce the new chair along with Cllr Oldroyd-Clarke who is taking over the accountabilities for JCB after the meeting in April. Action Cllr Turner

10. Village Hall – Cllr Shermer
    1. Cllr Shermer informed the meeting that the AGM for the village hall will be held on the 19^th March at 10am in the village hall. All are welcome.
    2. Invoice for cleaning outside toilet and hire of the hall – this invoice was unanimously agreed.
11. Miscellaneous
    1. War memorial – Cllr Edmonds agreed that the colour of the stone was correct for the war memorial. Cllr Turner agreed that she would contact the stone mason and ask him for a quote for the stone. The work will be carried out by MJD. Action Cllr Turner.
    2. Councillor Accountabilities – The clerk sent out the revised accountabilities sheet prior to the meeting. Cllr Turner briefly went through the document and a couple of items were added. Clerk to make the final revisions and send out the amended version to the councillors. Action Clerk
    3. Annual cost for Secure emails – The clerk informed the meeting that the first annual bill was received for the cost of the secure emails. This was unanimously agreed.
    4. Denstone Meadow – Cllr Edmonds informed the meeting that he had met with Nick Mott at Denstone Meadow. He informed Cllr Edmonds of the City Nature Challenge that was taking place from 24^th – 27^th If people want to take part click City Nature Challenge It allows Cities around the world to collaborate and to share observations of nature in the 2026. There is also the Inaturalist app which allows you to find out what a plant is called by just taking a picture. Nick also offered to come down later in the year to talk about what lives in the soil. Cllr Edmonds suggested contacting the college to see if they were interested in sending groups of pupils down to the meadow. It was agreed that this was a good idea. Cllr Edmonds volunteered to contact the college. Action Cllr Edmonds
12. Payments – To approve the following payments

Cllr Turner went through the payments individually. The payments were proposed by Cllr Oldroyd-Clarke, 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 February 2026 £25.00 [LGA 1972 s142 & 144]
26. Clerk’s pay for February 2026 (Made by Standing Order) = Net Pay £577.71 [LGA 1972 s112]
27. HMRC – Clerk – Tax – February 2026 – £144.40
28. Clerk Employee National Insurance – February 2026 – £45.77
29. Clerks expenses – Travel – £9.00
30. Lengthsman – February 2026 – £23.00
31. HAGS-SMP Ltd – Turtle Handle- £90.00
32. Open Strike – Secure email accounts – £200.00
33. Village Hall – Cleaning of toilet =£130 and hire of hall £15.00 total =£145.00
34. Npower – Electricity 1^st February to 28^th February 2026 £53.91
35. Urban Vision Enterprise CIC – Planning and NP support – £500 =VAT =£600

1. items for Future Agenda

Nothing was raised

Date of next meeting – April 7^th 2026 at 7.00pm Village Hall Denstone. This will include the Annual Meeting at 7pm followed by the Parish Council Meeting at 7.15pm.