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Shenstone Parish Council

A FITTING MEMORIAL TO SIR RICHARD
Sir Richard Cooper did much for the people of Shenstone village and it is very fitting that a building dedicated to the enjoyment of the local community should be named after him. Originally a gentlemen's reading room the Richard Cooper Room was once the only village hall in Shenstone Village, venue for the Saturday night party and the starting ground for many a romance. It has now been superseded by the new hall built in the 1960's, but the Richard Cooper Room remains, well used and well loved.
The room plays host to the Women's Institute, the Gardening Guild, Cycling club, Watercolour Painting Classes and a Bingo night. With a purpose built stage and fully equipped kitchen, this cosy wood panelled hall is the ideal venue for your party, clubroom or occasional meeting. Plans are in hand to renovate the entrance to the hall in order to reflect the quality of the accommodation inside. The Richard Cooper Room can be booked by contacting Mrs K. Taylor on 01543 481421.

LAMMAS LAND ACCOLADE
The Lammas Land in Shenstone has been the recipient of an Award from the Council for the Protection of Rural England in recognition of the work carried out there. May we offer a big thank you and well done to the management committee for all their efforts. We are indeed fortunate to have such a lovely piece of land for residents to enjoy.

SHENSTONE PLAYING FIELD
Much has been improved at Shenstone Playing Field over the past two years and it is now a facility to be proud of. The children's play area, relocated from the Lincoln Croft end, is well used, and when funds are available the safety matting will be upgraded. In the meantime the bark, which meets European Safety Standards requirements, will by topped up as necessary. Plans continue for an all-weather football pitch to be located alongside the village hall. This is an expensive project and the committee are working hard to obtain funds through as many grant sources as possible. When completed it will form an asset to the children of the village and the local school as well as generating much needed income for the Playing Field. It is intended to lay a footpath around the perimeter of the field connecting Lincoln Croft, the Pavilion Club and the Village Hall. This, together with a ramp access to the field from Barnes Road is expected to be completed this year.

SHENSTONE VILLAGE HALL
Did you know that if you are a Shenstone resident you can get a discount on hall bookings - call 01543 481504 for details

NEW OR OLD FOR LITTLE ASTON?
Negotiations by the Parish Council, in conjunction with the Trustees and the Lichfield Diocese, the owners of the land, have lead to a long term lease being offered by the council. The Trust's Solicitors and the Council's Solicitors are currently in negotiation.
Extensive consultations with the Little Aston Centre Management Committee, Little Aston residents and regular users of the current facility will now take place in order to discuss the way forward. It is estimated that a new hall would cost in excess of £500,000 and the council would seek a substantial part of that from external funding. Refurbishment or a staged development is another option.

There will be more information available at the Public Forum on 29 October where you can also give your ideas and opinions to the Chair of the Parish Council and Little Aston ward councillors.
Your views are invited on what facility is required and the best way of achieving it. Contact the Clerk at the council offices, e-mail or write with your views.

LAND AT FORGE LANE - UPDATE
The issues surrounding the open land adjacent to the recreation ground at Forge Lane in Little Aston rumble on.
The Southern Area District Plan designated the land in Forge Lane, Little Aston for recreational use. Shenstone Parish Council and Little Aston Recreation Ground Association have been actively pursuing the acquisition of this additional land. There are a number of complex and sensitive issues that must be addressed before progress can be made.
Shenstone Parish Council is still very much aware that there are no public recreational facilities in Shenstone Woodend and are seeking, with co-operation of Lichfield District Council, to negotiate for a suitable site.

STONNALL VILLAGE HALL
A £16,000 refurbishment has been completed including a newly designed kitchen, lounge and entrance hall, with new cupboards, sink, cooker, microwave oven, worktop surfaces, serving trolley and new floor tiling.
Improvement work of the Hall's drainage system has been carried out to the requirements of the Health and Safety Executive.

STONNALL YOUTH HUT
A provisional agreement for a 28 years lease of the premises is awaiting final signatures. A peppercorn annual rent will allow Stonnall village to completely re-furbish the facilities.

SHENSTONE PAVILION CLUB
The Club is located on the Playing Fields at Shenstone and has been in existence since 1980. Prior to that, the building, which has always been known as "The Pavilion" was originally constructed by local volunteers led by the late Bob McDonald of Pinfold Hill in the mid 1960's.
However by the late 1970's it had fallen into a poor state and the Joint Sports Venture, originally led by Stephen Leppard, was formed by the Playing Fields Committee to refurbish the building and include a social room and bar. This was achieved by 1980, the main work being carried out by Mick Mullan.
The Club has since had many alterations and is now a very pleasant place to relax. The membership, which is reasonably priced at £3.50 per annum, consists mainly of members of the local Football and Cricket teams and social members from the village. The Club has a Pool table and boasts two darts teams playing on both Wednesdays and Fridays and a Thursday night domino team. The main room is ideal for parties and is available for hire. The Club has regular Blues/Jazz nights on the first Saturday of the month, Country & Western nights on alternate Sunday nights and hopes to have a Folk Music Night every third Saturday of the month from September onwards.
New members are always welcome and the Club is open seven days a week from 6.00 pm each day and 12.00 noon on Saturdays and Sundays.

SHENSTONE PATHFINDER FOOTBALL CLUB
The Club was formed in 1968 and has been playing in the village since 1974. Originally a Sunday Morning team, they now have two Saturday teams, one playing in the first division of the West Midland League and one in division 6 of the Birmingham AFA. They still compete in the Lichfield and District Premier Division on Sunday Mornings.
They have also been hosts to St George Warriors junior Football Club since 1995, and from this season will have their own Junior teams playing at under 12 and under 13 on the Playing Fields on Saturday mornings.
To accommodate all the teams the Club also rent a pitch next to South Staffs Freight Terminal on Lynn Lane. They have been helped tremendously over many years by local companies such as South Staffs Freight Services and would welcome any involvement with other companies who might wish to help an amateur organisation to continue providing sporting facilities for athletes of all ages.

STONNALL & LYNN PLAYING FIELDS
Work will soon commence on a new surface and installation of new storage facilities.

MAKE THIS A PARISH TO BE PROUD OF
We are indeed fortunate! We live within sight of green fields, in pleasant rural surroundings but within striking distance of the city! Sadly, there are two complaints that are voiced over and over again. Dog mess and vandalism! Both of these spoil our enjoyment of public areas and cost you money! The Parish Council has to bear the costs of cleaning dog litter from footpaths and of repairing equipment and property damaged by vandals. This means that there is less money available to pay for the things we need within the Parish. So, be a good citizen, take your dog litter home with you or put it in a dog litter bin. Put a stop to vandalism, maybe then we can have more facilities for young people within the villages. Take a pride in your community to make it the best!

LAW & ORDER
The Budget has allowed for an extra 100 new officers in Staffordshire over and above those lost through natural wastage. A Tidal Shift pattern, increasing numbers at high crime time and reducing them at off peak periods, has also released 250 extra officers onto the "beat". These are to be used as Community Policemen and commenced on the 5th August. Their photographs, names, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses are to be posted on lampposts and sign boards around the Parish and a community policeman will be dedicated to each Ward of Lichfield District Council. The Police will provide details to the Parish Council of crime figures in the area and attend meetings wherever possible. A local response team will also be available targeting known offenders and crime hotspots.

WET! WET! WET!
The Parish Council works in conjunction with the Highways Department to ensure that our roadways are kept in good condition. We have previously acted in individual instances, but with winter fast approaching it would be nice to get our roads clear of flood hazards. If you are aware of a location that is affected by flooding due to blocked drain, gully or ditch please contact the Clerk before the end of September so that we can pass the information on to the appropriate authorities.

Calling all School years 7,8 and 9

"The Vibe"
A non-alcoholic bar

Serving 7.30 pm to 9.00 pm
at St. John the Baptist Church Hall
Shenstone.

commencing 12th September
and then every two weeks
Pool Table - Table Tennis - Music - Disco

More information - 01543 480286

It is intended that this Newsletter willbe distributed twice yearly in the spring and autumn.

SHENSTONE RELIEF IN NEED CHARITIES
This Charity originates in 1623 when Richard Ruggeley left lands in the Ancient Parish of Shenstone with instructions that the rent ensuing from it be used for the relief of the poor people of the Parish.
Over the years this charity was expanded firstly by William Smith, Barber Surgeon of London in 1720 for the apprenticeship of "one poor boy", followed by Grenada Brown of Stonnall, Gratiana Coliere of Shenstone in 1801, and Yardley's bequest to twelve poor women of the parish in 1841. More recently Rowland Fryth, Lord of the Manor and Freeholder of the Township of Footherley left land at Radley Moor, the rents from which were also used for the poor of the Parish and lastly, Richard Greisbrook in 1926, a great champion for the education of the children of the Parish. Bequest Boards detailing the generosity of these good people can be seen at the parish churches of each of our three wards.
Today, the Charity is still in existence. Six of the twelve Trustees are nominated by the Parish Council, two by the Urban District Council of Aldridge-Brownhills, three co-opted members and the Ex-Officio Trustee who is the Vicar of St.John the Baptists Church in Shenstone.
It has ceased to make annual disbursements to the elderly, but remains for those who can demonstrate a need and for the support of youth initiatives within the Ancient Parish of Shenstone. Any enquiries should be addressed to John Mason on 01543 374364.

LICHFIELD DISTRICT TREE STRATEGY
Ian Thompson, Director of Planning, LDC stated that £19,000 had been spent on tree planting over the past few years and a further £30,000 was earmarked over the next 3 years. Planting trees can be difficult in older communities because of the shallow siting of conduits and narrow pavements. However, as long as the right tree is selected there are always opportunities. Trees are available for the Parishes, who will be encouraged to plant, but it must be borne in mind that trees need a great deal of care and watering in the first 5 years. Also if small trees are planted, and small trees settle in better than larger specimens, they are more susceptible to vandalism. Landowners can be advised of suitable trees for the location and size of land.

LOCAL PLAN EMPLOYMENT ISSUES
Lichfield is required to provide 185 hectares (425 acres) of new employment land ensuring that the allocations contribute to a diverse land portfolio. This is expected to create 38,000 new jobs within the District and reduce the outflow of workers to the West Midlands.
Overall unemployment within the District is 2%. Currently only 175 hectares of employment land is available and there is the choice of finding more land or reducing the target figures. There are few sites in rural areas because of the green belt, but the Lichfield District Council is looking to using existing farm buildings for small industrial usage. Three new redevelopment sites are being considered in Lichfield - The City Wharf, Birmingham Road and the Victoria Hospital site. There will be public consultation meetings in September with exhibitions in various locations. All responses will be considered before the draft local plan is prepared.

ROUND AND ABOUT
We still suffer the delays and inconvenience of the roadworks connected with the M6 Toll Road.. The Parish Council has regular meetings with Chris Jackson of CAMBBA so if you have any concerns or problems associated with the work, let us know. We will happily take it up on your behalf. On a happier note hasn't the traffic island at Blake Street crossroads made a big difference to the traffic flow! Shenstone Parish Council has worked tirelessly over a period of years to bring this to fruition along with the traffic islands currently under construction at the A452 Chester Road/Little Aston Road crossroads. We apologise for any delays you are experiencing on your journeys during this time, but the increased safety and improved traffic flow should more than justify the inconvenience.

YOUR PRECEPT
The 'Precept" is the part of your Council Tax levied on behalf of the Parish Council and detailed on your Council Tax statement. The precept set for 2002-2003 is partly based on the following:

" The number of properties we own or have an interest in.
" Improving recreation facilities in the Parish.
" Capital projects
" Improving the living environment and appearance of the Parish.

This years Precept is set at £98,000, in real terms your Precept came down by 2.2%. This sum will be spent in the following broad categories:

*The deficiency in income over expenditure is due to earmarked funds carried over from the previous financial year being used latterly.

It should be noted that reimbursed expenses incurred by Parish Councillors in the course of their duties are minimal.

FINANCIAL CONTROL, PLANNING AND TRANSPARENCY

Over the last few years, the Finance Committee has introduced tighter procedures and controls to ensure compliance with ever more stringent requirements. The Finance Committee continues to monitor and recommend policy and do the detail work for setting the Precept. We have introduced computer based accounts management software, and done a lot to streamline the finances of the Council and make them more understandable. The Chair of Finance also carries out unofficial audits prior to a formal internal audit through Lichfield District Council. All formal audits look at finances, financial risk and the legality of the actions of the Parish Council itself.
All accounts and audit papers can be viewed by members of the public at reasonable times, at the Parish Offices at Shenstone, as indeed can all papers dealing with the Council's business and that of it's sub-committees. The 2000-2001 accounts and Auditors letter are also available on the Council's web-site.

STONNALL POUND

Long abandoned history has been rediscovered, using local talent and Heritage Lottery funding. This recipient of a Council for the Protection of Rural England award will have a new pictorial notice board installed within weeks.

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