Approved Minutes from Full Council Meeting of Shenstone Parish Council held on11^1h March 2020; at Little Aston Village Hall at 7:15pm

119. Register of members in attendance:

Cllrs Val Neale; David Thompson; David Salter; John Branch; Nicki Gobran; Lesley Edgley; Mick Cox; Nicola Macdonald; Gail Nicholls; Kelly Harrison; Sheila Beilby. County Cllr David Smith.

Members of the public: Mr Nick Power & Mr James Hateley.

Clerk: Shirley O’Mara

120. Acceptance of apologies. 

Cllrs Stuart Jones, Neil Perry, Darryl Godden & Nick Smith.

121. Public Participation. Members of the Public are invited to address Council for a maximum of 15 minutes:

Mr Power & Mr Hateley were both attending regarding the recent flooding in Stonnall. Mr Power expressed his thanks both to Council & to the South Staffs Flood Team as well as Mr Ron Nicholls of Stonnall for all their help and support so far. Mr Hateley added his appreciation and explained how worrying & stressful both the floods have been. Mr Power briefed Council on the meeting that has been held with the South Staffs Flood Team, Cllrs Beilby & Salter & County Cllr Smith which has identified a decent fix. There has also been a subsequent meeting with residents. Ideally, action will be taken sooner rather than later.

Cllr Salter briefed Council on the proposal that work to install gravel boarding and fencing is pre funded by the Parish Council with all likelihood of it being reimbursed once the South Staffs Flood team’s business case is approved and signed.

Cllr Gobran asked if the gravel boards will be adequately sealed & Cllr Salter confirmed yes.

County Cllr Smith shared the view that the work should be done soon both to spare Mr Hateley the worry of a further incident but also the greater risk in not doing so.

Cllr Cox queried maintenance costs going forward. Mr Power stated that he believed residents would participate. Cllr Salter asked members to vote on this issue. RESOLUTION: Cllr Salter proposed that Council prefund the work to install gravel boards & fencing up to £5000 (£6000 Inc. labour) which will most likely be reclaimable. This was seconded by Cllr Nicholls & unanimously approved

122. Declarations of interest. Members should consider whether they should partake in any discussion or vote on matters on the agenda unless they have a dispensation:

None.

123. To accept and confirm minutes of the last Full Council meeting on Tuesday 11^th February 2020:

Signed and approved

124. Clerks report on outstanding matters from minutes Tues 11^th February 2020:

None

125. To receive reports from District and County Councillors:

Cllr Smith reported that the flooding in the area is still causing problems. There is extensive work planned in Little Aston which will limit access to the Village Hall, issues with mud on the roads in Cartersfield Lane & Cranebrook Lane into Hilton.

126. Finance: Transactions for approval & financial position as Feb 11th 2020

Financial transactions spreadsheet

Unity Bank £21,556.55 Nat West current £915.00 Nat West Res £83,266.37

Nat West Liquidity £161,501.32. This account is earmarked funds to cover the potential Stonnall Youth & Community Centre rebuild, cover unknown legal costs of management agreements & associated investigation as well as revised Neighbourhood Plans. It was agreed that £25,000 would be moved from the Nat West Business Reserve account to the main Unity account to cover the costs of the community grants.

Community Grants: RESOLUTION: Council unanimously approved 19 applications totalling £22,370.26. (Full details attached). Two applications were unanimously declined.

RESOLUTION: Council approved the change of energy supplier for the Parish Office to SSE to save £68.00 per year.

RESOLUTION: Council unanimously approved a payment of £1000.00 to Nicholas Bagley for work on Parish Office accounts ledger as well as a £250.00 annual retainer.

RESOLUTION: Council voted unanimously to spend up to a maximum of £2,000 to refurbish the Parish Council Office & redecorate. Also the purchase of a first aid box.

127. Planning applications:

PROPOSED DIVERSION OF PUBLIC FOOTPATH SHENSTONE NO 1R/2579 – LITTLE ASTON SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS Cllr Edgley had raised some questions but Cllr Thompson said “As the alternative path is created to the “reasonable satisfaction of LDC” and “is to be 1.5 meters wide and made of grass” it is not an alternative rural area path diversion that we would want to object to even if it is now to run closer to the brook. 

Cllr Salter confirmed that Staffs CC are placing an objection regarding the access to the proposed development next to Shenstone Station. This needs to be monitored.

128. Lengthsman audit:

Details of all jobs to date were shared. Cllr Nicholls gave excellent feedback on behalf of Stonnall residents. 

129. Stonnall Youth & Community Centre Working Group – update.

The Group are planning to meet on 24^th March at 5.00pm prior to the scheduled Neighbourhood Planning & Property Committee Meeting. An agenda will follow shortly. Plans for the Public Meeting on 28^th March will also be agreed.

130. Dog fouling concerns:

A Shenstone resident has complained to the Clerk about the increase in dog fouling in the village. It was agreed that this is a major concern across all villages. Cllr Salter asked Councillors to share details of any particular problem areas as he is working on this issue at District Council.

The Clerk has ordered a number of signs warning of penalty notices.

An article on the problem will feature in the next Parish Magazine.

131. Parish Council Facebook page.

Cllr Macdonald made the proposal to start a Parish Council Facebook page. Assisted by Cllr Harrison, it would feature all parish notices, news of meetings and events, etc & allow us to reach members of the community who we perhaps are not communicating with currently. RESOLUTION: unanimously approved. 

132. V.E Day celebrations.

The Clerk asked for ideas re how to mark VE Day 8^th-10^th May. Cllrs to share suggestions.

133. April newsletter:

Councillors are asked to consider articles for submission by end of March: It was agreed to include a feature on the community grants, the dog fouling problem, the launch of our Facebook page & more unsung heroes.

134.Date of next meeting :

14th April 2020 at Shenstone Village Hall at 7 :15pm:

At the close of the meeting Council discussed in accordance with The Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 Sec 1 (2) to approve responses to both the Complainant & Stonnall Youth & Community Centre Management Committee regarding issues recently under investigation. Cllr Neale read a personal statement and a vote was taken.

RESOLUTION: Unanimously approved to send final draft letters to the Council Solicitor prior to sending to named parties.