Annual Parish Council Meeting May 2025

Minutes of Denstone Parish Council Meeting 12^th May 2025 at 7.00

1. Attendees: Cllr Oldroyd–Clarke (Chair), Cllr E Edmonds, Cllr M Flower, Cllr K Stratton, Cllr M Shermer, Cllr Ratcliffe, Cllr Wright, Borough Councillor Steve Sankey and J Sadler (Clerk) Apologies – Cllr Turner and Cllr Mountney

7 members of the village present

2. Election of the Chair – the clerk asked if there were any proposals for the position of chair Cllr Shermer proposed that Cllr Turner remain as Chair and this was seconded by Cllr Stratton. Cllr Turner was not present at the meeting but had confirmed that she would be happy to continue as chair if proposed. Therefore Cllr Turner was elected as chair. Due to her absence it was agreed that the Declaration of Acceptance of Office would be signed by Cllr Turner at the next meeting.
3. Election of the Vice Chair – Cllr Oldroyd-Clarke took over the meeting and asked if there were any proposals for the position of Vice Chair – Cllr Edmonds proposed that Cllr Mountney remain as Vice Chair and this was seconded by Cllr Oldroyd-Clarke. Cllr Mountney was not present at the meeting but had confirmed that she would be happy to continue as Vice Chair if proposed. Therefore Cllr Mountney was elected as Vice Chair. Due to her absence it was agreed that the Declaration of Acceptance of Office would be signed by Cllr Mountney at the next meeting.
4. To receive declarations of interest – None.
5. To approve the minutes of the 14^th April 2025 – The minutes were approved and agreed by all as a true record of the meeting. These were signed and dated by Cllr Oldroyd-Clarke (Chair).
6. Adjournment for public participation – A member of the public asked if anyone had seen the workmen cleaning the drains near Denstone Farm shop and had managed to speak to them. Cllr Flower stated that he had seen them but not to talk to. The clerk informed the meeting that drains were on the agenda later in the meeting.
7. Matters Arising/Clerk’s report
   1. Correspondence Received
      1. CRTB – Cllr Shermer confirmed that the parish council had received a letter stating that the nomination was unsuccessful. However it was unanimously agreed that a further letter would be sent by Cllr Shermer on behalf of the parish council commenting on all the issues raised. A copy of this letter was sent to all councillors prior to the meeting. Action Cllr Shermer
      2. Liv Golf Event – the clerk confirmed that she had received further information from JCB stating that the park and ride for the event this year would be held at Darley Moor near Ashbourne.

• Roberts Green – Footpath 15 – The clerk confirmed that she had received a consultation document of the proposed change in the footpath. The Parish Council had no objection to this. It was agreed that a copy would be placed on the website. Cllr Stratton also raised the issue that the style was broken. Clerk to write to the land owner. Action Clerk

1. Carparking space facing Denstone Farm Shop – The clerk informed the meeting that she had contacted a member connected to the church but had not received a response as yet. A member of the parish who was at the meeting agreed to send the clerk contact details for the church warden. Clerk to contact once received. Action Clerk
2. Carparking on the railway line – Cllr Shermer confirmed that a member of the public had raised the idea of people being able to park on the railway line. Cllr Ratcliffe stated that this had been suggested a long time ago. Clerk to contact the clerk at that time for any information. Action Clerk However, in the meantime it was agreed that Cllr Shermer and Cllr Oldroyd would meet with the member of public to discuss the issue further. Cllr Shermer to arrange meeting. Action Cllr Shermer.

1. New County Councillor – the clerk informed the meeting that a new County Councillor had been elected on the 1^st The clerk would contact Cllr Gary Hales and invite him to the next meeting. Action Clerk
2. Railway Line Fence – The clerk informed the meeting that she had received a further update from the ranger stating that the fence should be completed by the end of July.
3. Railway Line Leak – Cllr Sankey confirmed that he had received information from Severn Trent confirming that they have done several tests and there are no issues with their lines. Cllr Flower stated that he had started to look at the planning application PA/26916/005 but there is a lot of information. It was agreed that Cllr Flower and Cllr Wright would look at this information. The clerk would write to the environmental agency and also talk to the previous clerk. Action Cllr Flower, Cllr Wright and the clerk
4. Street Light on Jardines Lane – the clerk informed the meeting that she was still waiting further information from Eon.
5. Drains – College Road – Clerk to chase – Action Clerk
6. Drains – B5032 – update – Clerk to chase – Action Clerk
7. Domain Change – It was unanimously agreed that all councillors would be up and running with their new domain emails by the June meeting. It was once again agreed that the Parish Council would defer payment to Open Strike until this was actioned.
8. Insurance Renewal – The clerk informed the meeting that the insurance was up for renewal. The clerk had received a quote from Zurich and it was less than last year’s even though we had made a claim. It was unanimously agreed that the parish council would accept the quote and payment would be made.

8. Planning (Permitted & Refused are decisions by ESBC) – Cllr Turner
   1. P/2025/00312 – Listed Building application for the erection of single storey extension to the existing care home building(s) to provide 11 No. additional bedrooms – Barrowhill Hall Care Home, Barrowhill, Rocester, Staffordshire, ST14 5BX – No objections raised.
   2. P/2025/00141- Erection of single storey extension to the existing care home building(s) to provide 11 No. additional bedrooms – Barrowhill Hall Care Home, Barrowhill, Rocester, Staffordshire, ST14 5BX – No objections raised.
   3. NP Review – Cllr Shermer confirmed that the parish council is still waiting to hear from
9. Highways – Cllr Shermer
   1. Potholes – nothing to raise
   2. Feasibility report – Cllr Shermer confirmed that she had received an email from SCC stating that unfortunately, they have not got a date for the site visit at present. They have yet to brief the new Member for Uttoxeter Rural on the previous study and explain the current situation, once this has happened they will be able secure a date with the Engineer for the site visit.
   3. Speed Data – It was agreed that the data already sent out by SCC which was taken last year was of no use. It was therefore agreed that the clerk would write to SCC and ask for the data to be taken either week commencing 5^th July or 31^st August for 7 days. Action Clerk

Cllr Flower volunteered to collect some more current data from the SIDs at Stubwood. The clerk informed the meeting that one of the SIDs at Stubwood had been turned to the side. Russ Whitehurst volunteered to ask a member of the public who lives in Stubwood to turn it back if at all possible.

10. Playground – Cllr Flower
    1. Outstanding Work – Cllr Flower informed the meeting that there were still some jobs that need to be done on the play area which had been pointed out at the last report made in December. He asked that the item be left on the agenda for the next few meetings. Action Clerk
11. Village Hall – Cllr Stratton
    1. Nothing to update.
12. Finance
    1. National insurance charges – the clerk informed the meeting that due to changes in the rates of NI for employers the Parish Council will now have to start paying NI contributions for the clerk.
    2. Increase in Tax – The clerk informed the meeting that her tax code had changed to BR (Basic Rate) which had slightly changed the amount of tax payable by the Parish Council.
13. Miscellaneous
    1. Benches on the Railway Line – Cllr Wright informed the meeting that this was ongoing and asked that it be put on the agenda for the next meeting. Action Clerk
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. All payments below apart from the one for Open Strike which is being withheld until the domain is sorted 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 April 2025 = £25.00 [LGA 1972 s142 & 144]
26. Clerk’s pay for April 2025 (Made by Standing Order) = Net Pay £550.63 [LGA 1972 s112]
27. HMRC – Clerk – Tax – March 2025 – £137.60
28. HMRC – Clerk Employee National Insurance – April – £40.69
29. Stuart Smith – Lengthsman – April 2025 – £109.86
30. Village Hall – Hire of Hall/Cleaning of toilet – £100.00
31. SPCA – Annual Subscription – £317.73
32. Open Strike – Domain Change – £325.00 – not paid
33. Insurance Renewal Zurich – £1797.14 (last year £1854.09)

1. items for Future Agenda
   1. Denstone Village Show 2026

Date of next meeting – The date of the next meeting will be 9^th June 2025 at 7.00pm in the Village Hall Denstone