Minutes of Denstone Parish Council Meeting 8^th September 2025 at 7.00pm

1. Attendees: Cllr Turner (Chair), Cllr E Edmonds, Cllr M Flower, Cllr Ratcliffe, Cllr Wright, Cllr M Shermer, Cllr Mountney, Borough Cllr Steve Sankey, County Councillor Gary Hales and J Sadler (Clerk)

  Apologies – Cllr Oldroyd–Clarke

9 members of the village present.

2. To receive declarations of interest – None
3. To approve the minutes of the 14^th July – 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. Speaker from Royal British Legion

A member of Denstone Royal British Legion informed the meeting that due to recent changes in the guidance the local RBL groups cannot organise the event surrounding the Remembrance Service. This has to be done by the Parish Council. He confirmed that the RBL would still deal with the fund raising and the obtaining of wreaths. Cllr Turner proposed that the Parish Council sponsor the event. This was agreed by all. It was also agreed that the Parish Council would contribute £50.00 for a wreath and Cllr Edmonds would lay the wreath on Remembrance Day.

5. Adjournment for public participation
   1. Complaint regarding Road Closure – A member of the public informed the Parish Council that a complaint had been made regarding the road closure for part of College Road on the 19^th They wanted to confirm that all procedures with regards to the closure of the road had been followed correctly. A copy of the documents was given to the Parish Council at the meeting.
   2. Footpaths – A member of the public informed the Parish Council that the hedge outside Heywood Hall was overgrown. Kieran from the Tavern volunteered to raise it with the owners. Thanks were given to Keiran by the Parish Council.
   3. Drains – A member of the public informed the Parish Council that the drain outside the church had now been repaired. It has also been confirmed that the fountain in the village is not sourced from the drains under College Road.
   4. Cleaning the brook – Cllr Mountney confirmed that she would ask Gary Plant if he would clear the brook. Action Cllr Mountney
6. Matters Arising/Clerk’s report
   1. Correspondence Receive
      1. Resignation – The clerk informed the meeting that she had received a resignation from Cllr Stratton. Cllr Turner would like to pass on her thanks on behalf of the Parish Council for all the work Cllr Stratton has done. Clerk to inform the ESBC and start the procedure to recruit another councillor. Action Clerk. Cllr Shermer volunteered to take over the role of representing the Parish Council at Village Hall meetings.
      2. Manhole Cover – A member of the village raised the issue that the manhole cover at the bottom of the steps on College Road keeps popping up and is very dangerous. It was agreed that the clerk would contact SCC regarding this. Action Clerk

• Thank you – the clerk informed the meeting that she had received a thank you from the church for the Parish Council’s Contribution for the mowing of the lawns.

1. Leak on the Railway Line – The clerk informed the meeting that she had heard from the Ranger, he stated that he had finally got in touch with South Staffs Water and they sent someone out to do a check. They are happy that the water main is not the issue, as they cannot detect a leak and their main runs on the opposite side to the pool of water. He also confirmed that he has rung Severn Trent who will be visiting in the next 5 days, as they say they do have sewer pipes in the area, and so will check their infrastructure. In the meantime, he has sent a team out to put down some stone to allow better access through the wet part of the track. The clerk confirmed and the councillors agreed that this is just covering what has already been done and the clerk was therefore to go back to the ranger and stipulate this.  Cllr Sankey asked if a copy of the minutes highlighting this issue could be put on Denstone Matters as he has received a number of concerns from the members of the village. This was agreed. Action Clerk
2. Carved Tree update – The clerk informed the meeting that she had received a report from David Green stating that the tree carving has decayed too much for it be saved. However some of the carvings of the animals maybe salvageable. Given this information it was unanimously agreed by the councillors that the whole tree needed to be removed and disposed of. David Boden who was at the meeting agreed to do this free of charge. The Chair thanked  Mr Boden on behalf of the Parish Council.

The Oak Tree on College Road – Mr Boden raised the issue of pruning the Oak tree again and the laurel next to the war memorial early next year. This was unanimously agreed by the Parish Council. Clerk to obtain 3 quotes for this. Action Clerk

1. Railway line Fence – keep clear signs – Cllr Edmonds obtained the signs and installed them. Cllr Edmonds to provide an invoice for the next meeting. Cllr Turner thanked Cllr Edmonds for carrying out this work. Action Cllr Edmonds

With regards to access for the owners of the property on the track. It was agreed that this was not the responsibility of the Parish Council. However, Councillor Turner agreed to talk to the owners. Action Cllr Turner

1. Extra Defibrillator – the clerk informed the meeting that she had checked the British Heart Foundations website and found the cost of the defibrillators to be pretty much the same as AEDdonate. It was therefore, agreed that the clerk would discuss a site visit for the third defibrillator with AEDdonate. Action Clerk
2. Light on Jardines lane – the clerk informed the meeting that the new lamp post had now been installed and she had received a letter of thanks from a member of the village who lives on Jardines Lane.
3. Picnic Benches – Railway Line – It was agreed that the clerk would order 2 brown heavy duty picnic benches for the railway line. The clerk would inform Cllr Mountney of the date of delivery of the benches so that the old benches can be removed prior to that date. Cllr Shermer volunteered to be present for the delivery of the new benches if she is available. Action Clerk and Cllr Mountney.

7. Planning (Permitted & Refused are decisions by ESBC) – Cllr Turner
   1. NP Review – Cllr Turner informed the meeting that there was no further update at present.
8. Highways – Cllr Shermer
   1. Potholes – Cllr Shermer informed the meeting that she had spoken to the workman repairing the sink hole outside the Tavern. They informed her that they will need to build the walls back up, put steel sheeting on the top, concrete over it and then tarmac. They are also encountering supply issues so it will take a lot longer than first imagined.

The work man also stated that he had looked at a couple of other issues further up college road. It was agreed that the clerk would chase these with SCC. Action Clerk

1. Feasibility Report – Cllr Shermer informed the meeting that though she had sent further emails regarding this she had not heard anything from SCC since 13^th Cllr Shermer will continue to chase and copy in County Councillor Hales. Action Cllr Shermer
2. Data B5032 – the clerk informed the meeting that she had still not heard anything further regarding the data from SCC. The councillors had now agreed that this would now have to take place next year. Clerk to contact SCC. Action Clerk

Cllr Hales informed the meeting that there is some funding available on the SCC website. Clerk to check if available for the cost of one of the benches. Action Clerk

9. Playground – Cllr Flower
   1. Cllr Flower confirmed that all the checks were up to date, these would be sent to the clerk. Item to be kept on the agenda. Action Cllr Flower.
10. Village Hall –
    1. Cllr Shermer stated that there was nothing further to update from the village hall.
11. Finance
    1. External Audit – clerk confirmed that she had been contacted by the external auditor regarding the reserves, this was sorted and she is awaiting the final confirmation.
12. Miscellaneous
    1. War Memorial – Fountain and gardens – it was raised that the gardens needed tidying before Remembrance Sunday. This will be discussed in the closed meeting.
    2. Best Kept Village – Cllr Turner raised that she had been asked by a member of the village if the Parish Council would pay to enter the village into the competition next year. It was suggested that if this was done the villagers would pull together with no further work from the Parish Council. It was agreed by the councillors to pay for the entrance fee and the clerk to provide a poster for Denstone Matters informing the village that it had been entered. Action Clerk
    3. Keep clear signs – this item was discussed in point 6d.
    4. Cleaning the stream in the village – this item was discussed in point 5d.
13. Payments – To approve the following payments:

Cllr Turner went through the payments individually. The payments were Proposed by Cllr Ratcliffe  and seconded by Cllr Flower. All payments would be processed online apart from the payment to Cllr Edmonds this was paid by cheque at the meeting. 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.

50. Carolyn Hinton – Website – pay for July & August 2025 = £50.00 [LGA 1972 s142 & 144]
51. Clerk’s pay for July and August 2025 (Made by Standing Order) = Net Pay £1101.26 [LGA 1972 s112]
52. Julie Sadler – Travel July & August 2025 – £9.00
53. Julie Sadler – Stationery – £28.57
54. HMRC – Clerk – Tax – July 2025 – £137.60
55. HMRC – Clerk – Tax – August 2025 – £137.60
56. HMRC – Clerk Employee National Insurance – July 2025 – £40.69
57. HMRC – Clerk Employee National Insurance – August 2025 – £40.69
58. N Power – February – 31^st July 2025 – £241.70
59. EON – Energy Solutions Ltd New Post Jardines Lane – £1300.46 + VAT = £260.09 Total £1560.55
60. Stuart Smith – Lengths man – July & August 2025 – £247.25
61. Royal British Legion – Remembrance Wreath – £50.00
62. Edward Edmonds – Payment for Padlock and Chain for Railway line gate – £44.38

1. items for Future Agenda

Beds behind the war memorial

Closed Meeting

• Clerks Pay increase – it was unanimously agreed to increase the clerks pay in line with the recent pay award. The clerk would be awarded back pay of £169.25 for the period 1.04.25-30.09.25 and the standing order would be changed from 1^st October. Action Cllr Flower and Cllr Shermer.
• Administration – this was discussed and agreed by the councillors. Action Clerk

Date of next meeting – Monday 13^th October 2025 at 7.00pm Village Hall Denstone