Parish Council Meeting September 2026

www.denstonevillage.org.uk

clerk@denstoneparishcouncil.gov.uk

Draft Minutes of Denstone Parish Council meeting held on Monday 14^th September 2026 at Denstone Village Hall, College Road, Denstone, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, ST14 5HR.

1. Attendees: Cllr M Shermer (Chair), Cllr S Owen, Cllr J Mountney, Cllr E Edmonds, Cllr M Flower, Cllr S Ratcliffe, Cllr N Moult, Borough Councillor Steve Sankey and J Sadler (Clerk)

3 members of the village present.

           Apologies – Cllr Oldroyd-Clarke, Cllr Wright and County Councillor Gary Hales

2. Declarations of Interest – None
3. Minutes of Parish Council meeting held on 13^th July 2026

The minutes of the meeting held on the 13^th July 2026 were agreed by all members as a true record of the meeting. These were signed and dated by Cllr Shermer (Chair)

4. Public participation
   1. Overgrowing hedge – It was raised again regarding the overgrown hedge on College Road, the clerk informed the meeting that she had already written to the landowner but would chase this issue again. The overgrown hedge on Rowan Close was also mentioned, Cllr Moult agreed to have a word with the landowner. Action Clerk and Cllr Moult.
   2. School
      1. Cllr Sankey informed the meeting that the new fence for All Saints School would soon be installed in the next few weeks. Planning permission was not required as it is covered by committed development.
      2. Cllr Sankey also confirmed that the school had recently received their Ofsted report. The councillors asked for a link to the report to be included with the minutes of the meeting. All Saints CofE Academy Denstone – Open – Find an Inspection Report – Ofsted

• Cllr Sankey confirmed that the school intake numbers were low and asked that the Parish Council support the school when looking at planning applications. Cllr Shermer stated that the Parish Council would always continue to support the school in every way that they could.

1. Broadband – Cllr Sankey stated that there had been no further update on broadband in the area: however, he would continue to look into this. Action Cllr Sankey. Cllr Flower mentioned that all analogue telephones would be disconnected in January 2027, this would affect some people in the village. Cllr Shermer stated that they should contact their provider for more information regarding this. Cllr Flower agreed to find out more about this. Action Cllr Flower
2. SIDS – Cllr Moult stated that he had received information that the installation of SIDs for Parish Councils would be available again from next month.
3. Asset list – The clerk sent out the asset list for the Parish Council prior to the meeting and Cllr Edmonds and the lengthsman have given some new information to add. Clerk will update the list and send it to the councillors for confirmation before sending it on to the insurance company. Action Clerk

5. Matters Arising/Clerk’s report
   1. Correspondence Received
6. Denstone College – The clerk informed the meeting that she had received a complaint from a member of the village stating that they had an issue with a driver from the college. They had also contacted the College and had received a response from the head teacher. This email had been sent out to all councillors prior to the meeting. Cllr Shermer confirmed that she is arranging a meeting with the head teacher in the next couple of weeks to discuss this and other issues. In the mean time it was agreed that the clerk would go back to the member of the village and suggest that they contact the PCSO regarding this matter. Also Cllr Shermer did point out that the Parish Council had requested a feasibility study for the village and even agreed to pay for it but were still waiting for further information from the SCC. Action Cllr Shermer and Clerk

It was also raised by a member of the council that the amount of traffic had increased on a Saturday and Sunday going to and from the college. Cllr Moult said he would try and do some community speed watch at a weekend, Cllr Owen said that he would be happy to join. Action Cllr Moult.

645. Quote for Denstone Meadow – The clerk informed the meeting that she had received a quote from D Green to chop the tree down to the stump on the meadow. The cost of this would be £645.00. It was unanimously agreed that the payment would come out of the Denstone Meadow fund. Cllr Edmond agreed to let Mr Green know. Action Cllr Edmonds.
     1. Railway Line Leak – The clerk informed the meeting that she had recently sent a further picture of the algae to Tim Cleary regarding the leak on the railway line but as yet not received a response. Cllr Moult confirmed that he would be meeting with Cllr Hales in the morning and would raise this issue again. Action Clerk and Cllr Moult.
     2. Extra Defibrillator and contribution – the clerk informed the meeting that latest model of the solar panel defibrillator was not appropriate for the suggested location on Marlpit lane. Cllr Edmonds asked why we couldn’t have one on a pole like on the website. It was agreed that this would be looked into further and Cllr Edmonds would forward this onto the clerk to chase. Cllr Shermer stated that the village hall was going to contribute all the raffle takings from all the funding shows that are taking place in the village hall. Thank you very much to the village hall for their contribution. Cllr Flower also confirmed that the Denstone Committee confirmed that the profit from the last Denstone Show could also be contributed to the defibrillator. Action Cllr Edmonds and Clerk
     3. Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) – update – Cllr Shermer confirmed that this would now be reviewed and not take place until 2028 at the earliest if at all. The local elections would take place next year as normal and we await further information on LGR.
646. Planning (Permitted & Refused are decisions by ESBC) – Cllr Shermer

No planning applications to discuss at this time.

7. Highways – Cllr Oldroyd-Clarke
   1. Pot Holes – nothing to raise at this time.
   2. Feasibility Report – Cllr Oldroyd-Clarke stated via email that he had not received any further update on this. However, we would continue to chase this. Action Cllr Oldroyd-Clarke.
   3. Data B5031 – The clerk informed the meeting that she had heard from SCC and they wanted us to confirm where the data collection point was to take place and suggested dates. It was agreed that the collection point would be between the two entrances to Hawthorn Close on the B5031 and if carried out this year it would need to take in the dates of 9 -11^th October if this was not possible then it would need to be April 2027. Clerk to respond to SCC as soon as possible. Action Clerk
8. Playground – Cllr Flower
9. Inspection – Cllr Flower informed the meeting that the inspection of the playground is up to date, and he thanked Cllr Owen for his help with this.
10. Tennis Club – Cllr Flower informed the meeting that the tennis club are having the tennis pitch resurfaced in the next couple of weeks. It was agreed that when necessary whilst this is taking place the playground would be closed. Action Cllr Flower
11. Village Hall – Cllr Shermer
    1. Cllr Shermer informed the meeting that there would be several funding events taking place at the village hall in the next few weeks. These were Denstone Players Variety show 25^th and 26^th September, Friday 16^th October – A 60’s Murder Mystery by “The Whodunnit Players” including a pie and peas supper, Friday 30^th October an Autumn Visual Quiz and not forgetting on Sunday 15^th November the Christmas Lights Switch on. For more information please visit the Village Hall website https://www.denstonevillagehall.co.uk
12. Miscellaneous
    1. War memorial – Cllr Edmonds explained the comments of the stone mason and he confirmed that he would go back to Julian for a date when the work could be done as the quote was agreed at the July meeting. Action Cllr Edmonds.
    2. Denstone Meadow – Please see item 5a (iii).
    3. Remembrance Wreath – it was unanimously agreed that the Parish Council will donate £50 to the Royal British Legion for the remembrance wreath. Cllr Mountney agreed to sort out the logo for the wreath. Action Cllr Mountney
    4. Jubilee Bus Shelter – Cllr Moult agreed to contact the resident who originally built the bus shelter to see if he could repair the roof. Action Cllr Moult
    5. Stone Bus Shelter – it was agreed that the clerk would contact Gary Plant to see if he could repair the roof of the stone bus shelter. Action Clerk
    6. Bin – Cllr Owen volunteered to look at the bin outside the Jubilee Bus shelter and move it if possible to a more stable area. Action Cllr Owen.
    7. Thank you – Cllr Shermer thanked Sue Edmonds for all of the work she had put in to create the beautiful planters in the village. They have been so attractive throughout the summer enhancing the centre of the village. Cllr Shermer also thanked the team of people who regularly watered all of the planters. This was agreed by all.
13. Payments – To approve the following payments

The clerk went through the payments individually. The payments were proposed by Cllr Edmonds, seconded by Cllr Ratcliffe and agreed by all. The payment to Sue Edmonds of £104.40 would be made by cheque. The cheque was written by the clerk at the end of the meeting and signed by Cllr Shermer and Cllr Flower. All other 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 July and August 2026 £50.00 [LGA 1972 s142 & 144]
51. Clerk’s pay for July and August 2026 (Made by Standing Order) = Net Pay £577.71 [LGA 1972 s112]
52. HMRC – Clerk – Tax – July 2026 – £144.40
53. HMRC – Clerk – Tax – August – £144.40
54. Clerk Employee National Insurance – July 2026 – £45.77
55. Clerk Employee National Insurance – August – £45.77
56. D Green Tree Care Ltd cutting of the lilac tree – £120.00
57. N Power – July 2026 and August £44.09 + £40.62 total £84.71
58. Stuart Smith – Lengthsman – July and August 2026 – £227.72
59. Stuart Smith – Lengthsman Part for mower – £7.80
60. Village Hall – Hire of hall £10 June and July and Cleaning of the outside toilet June 1^st to 31^st August – £140 – total £150.00
61. Sue Edwards – £104.40 – compost and growth compound for the village pots.
62. Cllr Shermer – Roundup spray for lengthsman – £29.69
63. Julie Sadler – Clerk back pay April 2026 to 31^st August 2026 – £180.30

1. items for Future Agenda

Nothing was raised

Cllr Shermer thanked all the visitors for attending the meeting and asked that they leave for the closed meeting.                                                           

Closed Meeting

• Clerks pay increase backdated to April 2026 – the clerk sent all the documents out before the meeting regarding the pay increase for the clerk. It was unanimously agreed that the clerks wage would increase to LC2 SCP 20. The back dated pay was agreed and the change in standing order was signed by Cllr Shermer and Cllr Flower

Date of next meeting – 12th October 2026 at 7.00pm Village Hall Denstone.