Draft Minutes of Denstone Parish Council Meeting 10^th November 2025 at 7.00pm

1. Attendees: Cllr Turner (Chair), Cllr Shermer, Cllr Oldroyd-Clarke, Cllr Mountney, Cllr Ratcliffe, Cllr Wright and J Sadler (Clerk)

Apologies – Cllr E Edmonds, Cllr M Flower, Borough Cllr Steve Sankey and County Councillor Gary Hales.

7 members of the village present.

2. To receive declarations of interest – None
3. To approve the minutes of the 13^th October 2025 – The minutes were approved and agreed by all as a true record of the meeting. These were signed and dated by Cllr Turner (Chair).
4. Public Participation – It was raised by a member of the public that the grit bin is once again fully functional. Thank you to Cllr Flower for his help with sorting this out.
5. Councillor Vacancy – The clerk informed the meeting that she had followed the correct procedure and advertised for the position. The parish council had only received one application and that was from Stuart Owen. Mr Owen was at the meeting and stated why he wanted to join the council. A vote was taken and it was unanimously agreed that Mr Owen would be co-opted onto the council. He was invited to join the councillors by the Chair. Clerk to send appropriate form to Mr Owen. Action Clerk.
6. Matters Arising/Clerk’s report
   15. Correspondence Received – the clerk informed the meeting that she had received a letter from the school which she had distributed to all the councillors prior to the meeting. Two members of staff were present from the school at the meeting. They informed the meeting that the school were looking to obtain funding to increase the nursery numbers from 7 to 15. Their intention is to knock down the conservatory at the school and replace it with adequate facilities for the additional places. The councillors gave their full support to the school. Also councillor Oldroyd-Clarke asked if it was possible to use the school carpark during the Christmas light switch on in the village. The school agreed and also suggested parking on the playground, for a small donation to the school. Action Cllr Oldroyd-Clarke.
   16. Parking in Denstone – the clerk informed the meeting that she had contacted the PCSO regarding this but as yet had not received a response. The clerk would chase this. Action Clerk
   17. Railway Line Leak – the clerk informed the meeting that she had heard nothing further from the ranger, Councillor Sankey or Councillor Hales. So would chase again. Action Clerk
   18. Extra Defibrillator – The clerk informed the meeting that a site visit had been made. Mr Yates was at the meeting and stated that it was possible to install it in front of his property, however it would be better to have it installed on a lamppost. Cllr Ratcliffe agreed to forward a picture to the clerk where he had seen this done so the clerk could follow this up. Cllr Turner agreed to send a picture of the lamppost where it could be installed if agreed. Action Cllr Ratcliffe, Cllr Turner and Clerk
   19. Picnic Benches – Railway Line – The clerk informed the meeting that this was now completed. Cllr Turner thanked all who helped on behalf of the Parish Council. They were, Cllr Shermer, Cllr Oldroyd – Clark, The Wainwrights and County Councillor Hales for the funding towards the cost of the new benches.
   20. Manhole Cover College Road – The clerk informed the meeting that this is moving along and hopefully will be sorted by the next meeting.
7. Planning (Permitted & Refused are decisions by ESBC) – Cllr Turner
   1. P/2025/01221 – Permission in Principle application for the erection of up to nine self-build

Dwellings – Land South of College Road Denstone – Cllr Turner informed the meeting that the NPMG had met with the Parish Council’s planning consultant and a letter of   objections for the application was put together. This was sent to all councillors prior to the meeting. It was an unanimous decision by the councillors that they agreed with the objections and that the letter be sent to East Staffordshire Borough Council. Action Clerk.

1. NP Review – Cllr Turner informed the meeting that the document had now been approved by committee and there will be a referendum which will take place in the village on the 4^th A polling card will be sent to all members of the village and the majority votes wins. Regarding the Neighbourhood Plan, it was agreed by the councillors that the clerk put a link to the website page in the minutes. Please see https://denstonevillage.org.uk/your-parish-council/neighbourhood-plan/

Cllr Turner informed the meeting that a leaflet would be sent out prior to the referendum.

from a local group in the village called Denstone Matters, nothing to do with the Parish Council

8. Highways – Cllr Shermer
   5031. Potholes – The clerk informed the meeting that she had reported the pothole at the junction of College Road with the B5031.
   5032. Feasibility Report – Cllr Shermer informed the meeting that she and the clerk would be meeting with Kaleigh Lees (SCC) along with an engineer on the 3^rd December at 8.15am to look at the congestion and parking issues in the village. Cllr Turner stated that she would join Cllr Shermer and the clerk. Action Cllr Shermer, Cllr Turner and Clerk
   5033. Data B5031 – The clerk informed the meeting that the traffic count did not take place week commencing 13^th It was now scheduled for this week. It was agreed that the clerk contact SCC and cancel the traffic count due to Alton Towers now being closed. This will now be done next year. Clerk to bring it back to the agenda in February. Action Clerk
9. Playground – Cllr Flower
   1. The clerk informed the meeting that one of the pieces of play equipment had lost its handle. Cllr Flower is looking into having this repaired. Action Cllr Flower.
10. Village Hall – Cllr Shermer
    1. Cllr Shermer informed the meeting that there had been a subcommittee meeting at the village hall where she had raised the question of Cllr Oldroyd-Clarke standing in to represent the Parish Council if she was not available. The village hall agreed that yes he could. Cllr Shermer also discussed at the village hall meeting the idea of the village hall getting their own gardener and no longer contributing to the Parish Councils lengthsman once a year. This was also agreed by the village hall and by the Parish Council.
11. Finance
    1. External Audit letter – the clerk informed the meeting that she had now received a revised letter from the internal auditor. This will be published on the website. The completion notice of the audit will also be published on the website and the noticeboards. Action Clerk
    2. Precept – The clerk informed the meeting that she will issue all the documents prior to the next meeting to enable the councillors to discuss the precept at the next meeting.
12. Miscellaneous
    1. Bench outside the old shop – there is nothing further to discuss on this subject.
    2. War memorial – the clerk informed the meeting that she had heard from the insurance company and there was nothing that the Parish council needed to do regarding the up keep of the war memorial. With regards to the stone work of the war memorial it was agreed that this item would be put back on the agenda to discuss when Cllr Edmonds was present.
13. Payments – To approve the following payments:

Cllr Turner went through the payments individually. The payments were proposed by Cllr Oldroyd-Clarke and seconded by Cllr Ratcliffe. All payments would be processed online. The online payments were set up by Cllr Shermer and authorised by Cllr Flower. All invoices would be signed and would be returned to the clerk once actioned.

25. Carolyn Hinton – Website – pay for October 2025 = £25.00 [LGA 1972 s142 & 144]
26. Clerk’s pay for October 2025 (Made by Standing Order) = Net Pay £577.71 [LGA 1972

s112]

178. HMRC – Clerk – Tax – October 2025 – £178..20
179. HMRC – Clerk Employee National Insurance –October 2025 – £71.16
180. N Power – 1^st September 30^th September 2025 – £48.79
181. Stuart Smith – Lengthsman – October 2025 – £168.76
182. TaylorMade – Lengthsman’s equipment £698.00 including VAT
183. AEDdonate – cost of electrician for extra defibrillator – £45.00 + VAT = £54.00

1. items for Future Agenda
2. Accountabilities
3. War memorial

Date of next meeting – Monday 8^th December 2025 at 7.00pm Village Hall Denstone