Parish Council Meeting September 2024

Minutes

1. Cllr Turner (Chair), Cllr M Flower, Cllr Naylor, Cllr Wright, Cllr Ratcliffe, Cllr Stratton, Cllr Mountney, Borough Councillor Steve Sankey (ESBC)and Julie Sadler (Clerk)

There were 10 members of the public present.

Apologies: Cllr M Shermer, Cllr E Edmonds

2. To receive declarations of interest – Cllr Flower 6B and Cllr Mountney 5A
3. To approve the minutes of the 11^th July 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
   1. College Minibus – It was raised by a member of the public that the College buses are still going up Narrow Lane – Clerk to contact the college – Action Clerk
   2. It was raised that the footpath to Roberts Green is now impassible. See item 6b.
   3. Orchard on the Railway line – it was raised that some people are picking all the fruit and leaving nothing for others. It was agreed that a temporary poster asking people to leave something for others would be prepared by the clerk. Then further discussions would be had at the next meeting for a permanent sign to be put up. Action Clerk
   4. Outside Toilet – The condition of the outside toilet was raised but this was agreed by the councillors to discuss this out of the meeting. Action Clerk
5. Matters Arising/Clerks Report
   1. Correspondence Received –
      1. Royal British Legion – Eugene Moriarty introduced himself as the new chair of the Royal British Legion for the area. Mike Mountney was also introduced as the secretary. The Parish Council thanked them both and all others involved for keeping the branch going. It was unanimously agreed that the Parish Council would continue to support the British Legion and purchase a wreath for £50 for remembrance Sunday. It was agreed that the clerk would ask Cllr Edmonds if he would lay the wreath as usual. Action Clerk.
      2. Website – it was unanimously agreed that the Parish Council would keep the Domain Name for the website. This would cost £27.99. Action Clerk
   2. Drains – The clerk informed the meeting that she had still not heard anything from Cllr Philip Atkins regarding this. Cllr Steve Sankey confirmed that he would contact Cllr Atkins. Clerk to also chase. Action Cllr Sankey and Clerk
   3. Railway Line Fence – The clerk agreed to continue to chase. Action Clerk
   4. Alton Towers Meeting – Clerk to ask Russell Whitehurst to attend the meeting on the 25^th Cllr Stratton to check her availability also and let the clerk know if she was free.

The clerk raised that she had received an email regarding the meeting from Croxden Parish Council. It was agreed that the Parish Council would also issue an item for the agenda of reducing the speed limit on Alton Road. Action Clerk

252. External Audit – the clerk informed the meeting that she had received the report from the external auditor. No issues were raised by the external auditor, the report and the completion notice will be published on the website and the noticeboards. It was unanimously agreed to pay the £252.00 invoice from Fovers Mazars. Action Clerk
253. Revised Complaints Procedure – the clerk issued a revised complaints procedure prior to the meeting. It was unanimously agreed that this would be adopted. Clerk to put on the website. Action Clerk

6. Planning (Permitted & Refused are decisions by ESBC) – Cllr Turner
   1. Bank House Farm Appeal – Clerk confirmed that there was no update as yet but she would continue to chase. Action Clerk
   2. P/2024/00843 – Play area to be returned to agricultural use – Roberts Green, Oak Road, Denstone, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, ST14 5HT

This application was discussed at length by several members of the public stating how disappointed they were about the possibility of the land being turned back into agricultural land. This is widely used by the older children in the village. Cllr Turner explained that there had been a lot of feedback on social media so she had contacted Urban Vision and they supplied the following information which she read out at the meeting.

The application is contrary to National, Local Plan and Neighbourhood Plan policy, by virtue that the proposed development would result in the loss of open space and pitch facilities in the village.

The NPPF 2023 makes clear in paragraph 88d that decisions should enable the retention of accessible local services, including open space.  This is the largest open space facility within the village used regularly by families, older children, and people who walk their dogs on the area.

Policy CFOS2 Open Spaces in the Made Denstone Neighbourhood Plan states:

“Open spaces and recreation facilities will be protected from development that detracts from the use of these areas as open spaces and recreation facilities. Proposals which would reduce the quality or quantity of these facilities will only be permitted if the open space, building or land is surplus to requirements or replacement facilities of an equivalent or better standard are provided in a suitable location or the development is for alternative sports and recreation provision, the needs for which clearly outweigh the loss.”

There is no reason to depart from National and Neighbourhood Plan policy to enable the loss of open space which would result from the proposed development.

The Parish Council unanimously agreed that this should be submitted on behalf of the Parish Council as their objection.

Mr. Boden agreed that he would have the alleyway cleared to Roberts green. It was also agreed that a link to the website would be put on Denstone Matters Facebook page so members of the public could see the Parish Councils objection and if they wish use the wording themselves should they wish to object to the application. Cllr Sankey also agreed to ask for the application to be submitted to committee.

1. P/2019/01489 – Cllr Turner confirmed that there was no further update just that the application was going back to committee.
2. NP review update – Cllr Turner thanked Cllr Shermer for her work in gaining technical support from Locality. This work has already started and it was voted unanimously to send letter to ESBC as reviewed.

7. Highways – Cllr Shermer
   1. Feasibility Study – In Cllr Shermer’s absence Cllr Turner confirmed that that as yet there was no further update.
   2. Data Collection B5031 decision – It was agreed that the clerk would ask SCC to carry out the speed data collection from 25^th October to 1^st Action Clerk
   3. Potholes – nothing raised.

8. Liaison – Cllr Stratton
   1. Village Hall
      1. Cllr Stratton raised that there are still some numbers available on the 49’s Club. If anyone is interested see https://denstonevillagehall.weebly.com/49-club.html
      2. Parking – it was agreed that the clerk would contact the member of the public who is parking on the village hall carpark and inform them that they have not given permission to park by the Parish Council as it is not theirs to give. Action Clerk.

• Outside Toilet – see item 4d.

1. Christmas Lights – Cllr Stratton confirmed that the Christmas lights would be switched on this year on the 17^th November. The starting time will be earlier than passed years.

9. Play Area – Cllr Flower
   1. Update of Actions on Play area report – Cllr Flower would like to give thanks to Scott, Dave and all others for the work they did on the play area. Virtually all of the actions have been done from the action plan.
   2. Roundabout – Councillor Flower confirmed the School playground Company have confirmed that the roundabout will be repaired by the end of the month.
10. Green Spaces – Cllr Wright
    1. Staffs Way – nothing to raise at this time.
11. Miscellaneous
    1. Carved Tree – Cllr Ratcliffe confirmed that JCB had visited the tree and had confirmed that if it was moved it would fall apart. It was therefore unanimously agreed for JCB to if possible cut the tree in half and mount the good half. Cllr Ratcliffe to go back to JCB. Action Cllr Ratcliffe.
    2. Volunteers – please see item 9a
    3. War Memorial – Clerk to chase RTS with regards to jet washing the paving. Working group scheduled for the 12^th and 13^th October to tidy up before remembrance day.
    4. Toilets – see item 4d.
    5. Car Scheme in the village – it was unanimously agreed that Cllr Turner would contact Roy. Clerk to put item on the next agenda. Action Clerk and Cllr Turner.
    6. Hedge – Memorial and Play area – it was agreed to put this on the next agenda.
    7. Stream behind the shop – Cllr Mountney agreed to contact Mr Plant regarding cleaning out the gully behind the shop. Action Cllr Mountney.
    8. Denstone Show – Cllr Flower confirmed that there was no reaction regarding the show poster asking for a new committee to come forward. Therefore it was unanimously agreed that the Parish Council would hold the money raised from the previous show for a period of three years. After that time it would be decided what to do with the funds. Cllr Flower to go back to the previous show committee. If agreed the funds would be transferred to the parish council account. Action Cllr Flower.
12. Payments – To approve the following payments:

Cllr Turner went through the payments individually. The payments were proposed by Cllr Ratcliffe and seconded by Cllr Wright 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.

50. Carolyn Hinton – Website – pay for July & August 2024 = £50.00 [LGA 1972 s142 & 144]
    398. Clerk’s pay for July and August 2024 (Made by Standing Order) = Net Pay  £398.92 [LGA 1972 s112]
    399. J Sadler Clerks expenses stationery – £21.26
    400. HMRC – Clerk – Tax – July 2024 – £95.40 and August £95.60
    401. Laptop bag – Julie Sadler – £26.39
    402. J Etherington – Cleaning Village Hall toilets July £40 & August 2024 £40 = £80
    403. N Power – Electricity – July 2024 – £43.21 and August 2024 £43.42 total = £86.63
    404. Stuart Smith Lengths man – July & August 2024 £265.46
    405. Forvis Mazars LLP – External Audit – £252.00

items for Future Agenda – nothing was raised.                 

Date of next meeting:  Monday 14^th October at 7.00 pm in the Village Hall Denstone.

Closed Meeting

1. Clerks hours – it was unanimously agreed to increase the clerks hours from 71/2 to 10 hours per week with effect from the 1^st October 2024. Standing order to be increased accordingly and actioned on line.

The meeting closed at 9.15pm