MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF STANDON PARISH COUNCIL HELD AT ALL SAINTS SCHOOL, STANDON ON MONDAY 14th NOVEMBER 2016 AT 7.30 PM

Present: P Banks(Chair), , J Jones, P Jones, J Mann, S Mather, A Williams.

B Cllr J Pert : D Wright ( Clerk)

16.60  Apologies.

Cllr J Baskerville, B Cllr P J Jones, C Cllr F Chapman

16.61  Declarations of Interest. None.

16.62  Minutes

The minutes of the meeting of 12th September had been circulated previously. The minutes were approved and signed by the Chair.

16.63  Matters arising.

a)  The hedge along Mill Lane has been cut. Although cutting the hedge along Mill Meece had been requested, the Borough Council visited and felt it did not need attention. The gulley in Church Lane has been dug out and blasted, however there is another gully further up which needs doing. An order has been raised to clear the grips but the backlog of work means that it will take at least 60 days before the work is carried out. Clearing of drains used to be done as a routine but they are now only done as an emergency.

b)  No further sighting of the Camera Van.

16.64  Planning

The following application has been approved..

Application # / Address / Details
16/24667/HOU / 4 Gorse View, Maer Lane, Standon / Two storey side extension, single storey rear extension & replacement garage.

The following application is pending consideration.

Application # / Address / Details
16/25188/OHL / Overhead Line adjacent Orchard House, Hall Lane, Cotes Heath / Upgrade existing overhead line to 3 phase to enable new connection, increase in pole height

16.65  Finance

The accounts for the year to 14th November 2016 were presented.. The second instalment of the precept had been received. Two cheques, each of £72 had been paid by the Chairman between meetings to PJS Landscapes covering grass cutting at Standon Pools. The Council approved the Chairman’s action.

The current account balance was £531.42 and the Reserve Account was £14,376.27

The following accounts for payment were approved

Hall hire- All Saints School £ 20.00

Clerk’s Salary(Oct-Nov)less tax £ 198.66

Inland Revenue –PAYE £ 132.44

Stafford Borough Council-AmenityVisit September £ 115.00

EON Lighting –maintenance charges £ 75.96

Grant Thornton – Audit fees £ 120.00

Adstorm - Webhosting £ 180.00

£ 842.06

The accounts for payment were approved and signed by the Chairman and the Clerk as the Responsible Financial Officer. The cashbook balance is now £-310.64 .

A transfer of £1000 will be made from the Reserve account to the Current Account giving a net figure of £ 689.36.

16.66  Special Items : Parish Projects

a)  Preparatory stages for adding new signage in the village. The Chairman has written to the County and requested the process for signs and installation. It will take some time and will probably be phased over 3 ~ 5years due to cost

b)  Pool enhancement: The drain will be reinstated and the roadway built up so that there is less silting. Some more trees will be removed. It is intended to provide post and rail fencing at the start of the pool as a safety scheme. A lifebuoy and case will be sited at the far end of the path.

c)  The second pool was actually dry when inspected. Consideration will be given to removing some trees so that it can be filled. A price from a local contractor has been requested for the work on the two pools.

d)  It was suggested that the person who might construct the Duck House could come and talk to the children at the Primary School and help them with their design.

16.67  Correspondence

Staffordshire County Council - Pothole report

Community Council -Smart Meters

Staffs Parish Council Association – Annual report and notice of AGM

Pensions Regulator – Automatic enrolment

16.68  Borough Councillors Report

Two bins have been installed at Cranberry. The Council will pay for the bin and an emptying charge of £5 a time. Small grants are available from VAST for community projects of £200 ~ £1000 Meant for small voluntary sector organizations and small grass roots organizations.

There is a 10 year gap in life expectancy between the worst and best wards in the Borough. The Borough is promoting Healthy Homes. 22000 homes have been surveyed looking for Category 1 hazards, mainly trips and falls. Looking at Heating, Premature Winter Deaths and Fuel Poverty. Grants or loans are available.

HS2: Consultation invited. The route is going through Yarnfield and it is now proposed to put a Maintenance yard at Yarnfield. A proposal for dealing with traffic is a suggested additional Motorway Access, probably only for HS2 use.

NHS Sustainable Transformation Strategy. Last year’s deficit on Health and Social Service was £158 million and would rise to £580 million if nothing is done. Work will have to be more efficient rather than cutting costs and preventative actions will be needed. Consultation is now going on and everyone should get involved as it will affect how Health Care will look in 5 years time.

16.69  Items raised by Councillors

The state at Moorfields has very bright lights and smelly bonfires.

16.70  Next meeting

Monday 9th January 2017

All Saints School, Church Lane, Standon at 7.30 pm.

This meeting will consider the proposed budget and set the precept for 2017-18

The meeting was declared closed at 8.45 pm.

Minutes of Parish Council Meeting 14th November 2016 Page 2 of 2