BROWN EDGE PARISH COUNCIL.
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Monday4th. December 2017 at Brown Edge Village Hall, School Bank, Brown Edge, Stoke on Trent.
Present: Councillor A. Basnett (Chair).
CouncillorsG. Cooper , C. Holdcroft, L. Lea (also District Councillor),N. Owen, J. Sherratt,
Turner, S. Turner P. Woodward
County Councillor K. Flunder.
District Councillor C. Jebb.
NineMembers of the Public.
132:17. Apologies for Absence.
Apologies for absence were received from CouncillorsJ. Shufflebotham (Illness) & D. Spooner
(Family Commitments).
133:17. Statement from the Chairman.
The Chairman reported that as there had been difficulties in accessing The Church House for the November meeting and also for the Special November meeting, he had made the decision to hold this meeting in the Village Hall. This action was sanctioned
The venue for future meetings would be discussed later on in the agenda.
134:17. Adjournment of Meeting for Public Participation.
A member of the public thanked the Council for Council for providing the refreshments in the
Village Hall after the Remembrance Sunday Service in St. Anne’s Church.
County Councillor’s Report.
County Councillor Flunder gave details of the County Council’s approved decision on subsidised
bus journeys, Option 1, which means that 96% of all bus journeys will still be able to be made but
Dial-a Ride system will no longer be subsidised.
District Councillors’ Reports.
District Councillor Jebb reported that Staffs. Moorlands Councilplanned to review the CCTV system in the New Year. This could affect the camera on the corner of Sandy Lane.
In July it was reported that there were more than 1,000 empty properties in the Moorlands area in July. If this number could be reduced it would relieve the pressure to build new homes in the Green Belt.
The Disabled Facilities grant budget had been doubled to £2.1 million but because of delays in processing applications more people could not be helped.
135:17. Declarations of Interest.
Councillor Basnettdeclared an interest in matters pertaining to the Holly Bush Inn.
Councillor Lea declared an interest in planning matters.
Councillor Owen declared an interest in maintenance matters.
136:17. Confirmation of Minutes.
The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 6th. November2017 had been circulated.After an amendment to show that a planning application discussed at that meeting belonged to an absent Councillor but other members were entitled to vote on it, theywere duly approved and signed as a true record.
137:17 The minutes of the special meeting of the Council held on 20th. November 2017 had been circulated. They were duly approved and signed as a true record.
138:17. Matters Arising.
An electrician had been employed to connect the light and column for the playing fieldand also to provide a supply for the Christmas lighting. This action was sanctioned.
As he had been contacted at very short noticed it was agreed that a letter of thanks be sent to the firm involved.
It was agreed that Councillors view the light in the playing field to see if there was enough illumination and to discuss the matter again at the next meeting.
A request from Brown Edge Carnival Committee for the siting of a stone with a memorial plaque to late Chairmanof the Committee and former Parish Councillor, Margaret Boon in the Playing Field had been received This was agreed.
The Committee had also purchased the Christmas tree and other tree lights and had arranged a special event for the switching on of the lights. This had turned out to be a tremendous event and thanks were expressed to everyone concerned.The Committee asked if the Parish Council could contribute financially towards this expenditure. This matter to be discussed at the next meeting.
A letter had been received from the Girl Guide Division Commissioner commenting on the clash of times with the Guides / Parish Council meetings in the Church House. She also suggested that the Guides could possibly meet with the Parish Council in order for them to understand what the Parish Council is and the role that it plays. It was agreed to write a letter of thanks for her reply and pointing out that there was no upset with the actual Guides and agreed to meet with the Guides in the near future.
The question of the venue for future meetings was then discussed. At this point Councillors N. Owen & P. Turnerdeclared an interest in the Village Hall and took no further part in the discussion.
It was agreed, by a majority decision, that Council meetings be held in the Village Hall for the near future.
A request from a local florist asking for permission to display an advert in the cemetery notice board was again discussed. It was agreed that advertising in the Council’s notice boards should not be accepted.
The photo shoot for the presentation of the cheque from the Making a Difference Charity organised by NISA Retail had taken place for the promised publicity.
It was reported that:
the Matrix sign in Breach Road and the overgrown verge at Lingfield Avenue had been dealt with.
139:17. Other Matters Reported for Discussion.
It was agreed that the process of registering the footpath on land at Bank End should commence.
A request had been received from St. Anne’s School to ask if it could plant hedging plants in the Playing Field to replace some which had been cut down. This was agreed subject to advice from the Council’s contractor.
A report was given of a complaint about water from the new cemetery entrance lying at the entrance to an adjacent property. The Clerk reported that a planning officer had telephoned asking for information on the matter as he had received a complaint. The Clerk suggested that Staffs. County Council should be contacted to carry out work to eliminate the ponding outside the property. This was agreed.
140:17. Reports & Actions.
The Cemetery Recorder reported that there had been oneheadstone fee.
The Contracts & Maintenance Committee had met at the allotment site to assess the problem with the drainage on the allotment site. A price for investigating the problem had been requested but had not yet arrived. It was agreed to discuss the matter at the next meeting.
Councillor P. Turner reported that he had not attended the last meeting of the Moorlands Area Parish Assembly which had been an informal get together.
Councillor P. Turner, Chair of the Neighbourhood Planning Committee,reported that three members of the Committee had resigned namely Philip Rushton and Maureen & John Perry but requests to join the Committee had been received from Dave Hunt & Neil Hargreaves and subject to the Council’s approval they would be asked to complete the Register of Interests and Acceptance of Office forms. A training session to familiarise them with our Standing Orders and Code of Conduct would be arranged before the next meeting of the Committee on 14th. December.
This action was agreed.
The housing needs analysis report from AECOM had not yet been received due to a delay in obtaining specific data for Brown Edge as the District Council did not have this information.
Following the special meeting of the Council on 20th. November 2017 the short list criteria approved by this Council had been sent to our Consultants who had recommended that some amendments be made in the format and layout so that there was transparency in how the criteria was going to be applied to be fair to all landowners. These were now put to the Council for approval. The amended criteria were approved.
These will be going out for consultation as soon as possible.
Independent volunteers will be asked to undertake appraisal of sites. This analysis will be scrutinised by AECOM to ensure that the assessment has been done independently. Another application will be made tomorrow (the eighth application for support so far) to enable this to happen. An up to date timetable has been issued to SMDC so that it can budget for our referendum.
141:17. Planning.
The following planning applications were considered and it was agreed to forward no objections, subject to normal planning guidelines, to:
SMD/2017/0606Proposed Access Gate on Landbetween Nos. 2 &12 High Lane,Brown Edge.
SMD/2017/0676Proposed Single Storey Extension to Private Dwelling at 3 Ivy Cottages,
Tongue Lane, Brown Edge.
SMD/2017/0692Addition to Rear Extension at Clewlows Bank House, Hill Top, Brown Edge.
SMD/2017/0746 Two Storey Side Extension at 6 Sunnyside Cottage, St. Anne’s Vale, Brown Edge.
With regard to Application No. SMD/2017/0792The Proposed Remodel of an Existing Detached 4 Bedroom Property at Highfield, Chapel Lane, Brown Edge, it was agreed, by a majority decision, to OBJECT to this application on the following grounds:
The design is not in keeping with surrounding properties.
This should be classed as Skyline Development which would be totally intrusive.
142:17. Finance.
The Council’s One Year Fixed Term Bond with the Leek United Building Societyhad been set up.
The new electricity contract for the Playing Field supply with British has been set up.
It was reported that British Gas intended to install a Smart Meter at the Lawn Cemetery.
A refund of £12,076 – 90 V. A. T. for 2016/2017 had been received from HM Revenue & Customs.
Information had been received that Mazars LLP had been appointed as the External Auditor for five financial years from 2017/18 to 2021/22.
A notice of Change of Terms from Nat. West Bank had been received.
A review of the Clerk’s and Cemetery Recorder’s salaries was due, as per Standing Orders. It was agreed that a small committee meets and reported back to the next meeting.
143:17. Orders for Payment.
It was agreed that the following items be paid:-
Adrian J. Mason. £ 80 – 00. Litter Picking Fee.
Holly Bush Kitchen.£ 100 – 00.Remembrance Sunday Refreshments.
British Gas.£ 26 – 92. Cemetery Electricity Supply.
144:17. Correspondence.
The Chairman reported on a message received from the Chair of Endon Parish Council about a roadside advertising board in Breach Road asking if we would remove it. The Chairman explained that the board was actually on County Council land and as the board did not belong to us he was not going to remove it.
Information had been received from the Police & Crime Commissioner which suggested that Parish Councils could co-ordinate to purchase interactive speed signs at a bulk rate. It was agreed to contact his office on the matter to firstly obtain approximate costs of the signs.
The changes to subsidised bus journeys by Staffs. County Council had been finalised. Over 96% of all bus journeys will still be able to be made, as per the County Councillors report. It was agreed to ask the County Council to keep the Parish Council informed of any future changes in the Brown Edge area.
A list of new bus services which D & G buses had introduced to replace some services which were being withdrawn by First Potteries. It was agreed that these be published on the Council’s website.
Other information received under this item was:
Invitation to visit the new Samaritans branch in Leek on Wednesday 13th. December 2017.
Nat. Soc. of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners – Allotment & Leisure Gardeners magazine.
Civic Voice – request for donation to protect Conservation Areas – no action.
145:17. Matters to be Discussed on Notice.
There was no business under this item.
146:17. Matters for the District Council.
There were no items for the District Council.
147:17. Matters for the County Council.
There were no items for the County Council.
148:17. Items to be raised at the Next Meeting.
Lighting in the Playing Field.
Registration of Public Footpath on Land at Bank End.
Clerk’s and Cemetery Recorder’s Salaries.
149:17. Items for the Website.
D & G Bus additional services.
150:17. CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS.
After a resolution was approved to exclude the public due to the confidential nature of the business to be discussed, Councillors were given an update on the current position with the Holly Bush Car Park.