S.P.C Minutes November 2019

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SHENSTONE PARISH COUNCIL

 

Serving Little Aston, Shenstone, Stonnall, Shenstone Wood End, Lynn, Parish Council Office 25C Main Street Shenstone WS14 OLZ
Tel: 01543 481 947
e-mail: <admin@shenstone-staffs.gov.uk >
web: www.shenstone-staffs.gov.uk

APPROVED MINUTES OF FULL COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY 12th NOVEMBER at 7.15pm STONNALL YOUTH & COMMUNITY CENTRE

 

  1. Register of members in attendance.

Cllrs David Salter, Sheila Beilby, Lesley Edgley, Stuart Jones, John Branch, Nicki Gobran, Darryl Godden,  David Thompson, Val Neale, Mick Cox, Neil Perry, Nick Smith, Gail Nicholls, Nicola Macdonald.  Shirley O’Mara-Clerk.

Members of the public: Mrs Mary Jones & Mr Roger Gardner – Shenstone Village Hall Committee.

  1. Acceptance of apologies.

Cllr Kelly Harrison, District Cllr Elizabeth Little, District Cllr Brian Yeats.       

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

Mrs Mary Jones & Mr Roger Gardner addressed Council to request funding towards the refurbishment of the disabled toilet at Shenstone Village Hall. Mrs Jones read the attached document in full to explain why the work is necessary and what actions need to be taken.

Cllrs Gobran & Smith asked about the existing flooring. Mrs Jones explained there is vinyl currently but it is not hygienically fit for purpose. Cllrs Salter & Gobran asked about costings. Mrs Jones explained that they have had a quote from the builder who recently installed the new kitchen of approx. £10,000 but she will be looking at getting at least three quotes in total. Cllr Gobran asked at what point the decision to upgrade the toilets was made. Mrs Jones said it was whilst the kitchen installation was in progress. Cllr Gobran asked about existing funds  with the response that there is money in the bank and bookings have increased since the kitchen was    done costing £32,000 of which £15,000 was grants.  Cllr Gobran then asked why that much was spent on the kitchen. Mrs Jones said it was to achieve gold standard. Cllr Thompson asked if there was compliance with disability legislation and Mr Gardner said yes.

Cllr Salter explained that no decision could be made re grants this evening but that the Village Hall committee should proceed with quotes and submit a grant application by the January 3rd deadline.

Mrs Jones & Mr Gardner thanked Council for their time & attention.

  1. 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.

  1. To accept and confirm minutes of the last Full Council meeting on Tuesday 8th Oct 2019.

Minutes approved and signed.

  1. Clerks report on outstanding matters from minutes Tues 8th October 2019.

No matters to report on.

  1. To receive reports from District and County Councillors.

District Cllr David Smith briefed Council on a traffic regulation order for parking issues around Shenstone Station. He said that a preliminary stage consultation document had gone out to residents looking at two stages 1) introduce restrictions in phase 1 whilst assessing the impact of these changes and looking at the effects of any displacement 2) The order remains live for 18 months so that phase 2 can be implemented at any time. However, Council reported that the letter in question has only gone to residents of Footherley Road. Also, Cllr Salter read the letter to Council and it is clear that the letter is in no way a consultation document and does not indicate to residents that they have the opportunity to respond or how.

Cllr Smith said that it was a proposal but he had not written or read the letter.

Cllr Perry expressed frustration and confusion about what was happening and the fact that we seem to be in the same place now as two years ago. Cllr Thompson wholeheartedly agreed. He stated that there is consensus for phase one with automatic spill over so phase 1 & 2 together seems to be the most popular and sensible option.

Cllr Thompson will be drafting a response to a complaint received from a Footherley Rd resident re his views on the traffic enforcement & perceived lack of communication.

Cllr Perry asked if the Phase 1 consultation already completed was still valid and Cllr Smith said that it was. He stated that the implementation would be sooner rather than later, “by February it will be in place”.

Cllr Edgley asked about the actual placing of the signage but Cllr Smith said this could not be altered.

Cllr Thompson said that Council intend to respond to the order regarding this issue and the fact that the order impacts on residents’ ability to park outside their own homes on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Cllr Perry asked if Cllr Smith would object to a meeting request being put forward to discuss the whole issue with the Staffs Engineer & Tim Heminsley. Cllr Smith had no objection but stressed the importance of not delaying the process further.

Cllr Smith also spoke regarding flooding in Newark Avenue/Royston Close, Little Aston which is under investigation. The flooding issue in Little Aston Lane appears to be identified with the issue being dealt with reasonably quickly.

S.C.A.R partnership in Stonnall in process. Cllr Salter asked about progress for designs in Shenstone with Cllr Smith confirming white gateway signs. Cllr Salter asked for confirmation as to where they were going exactly. Also, when will they be implemented? Cllr Smith said March/April possibly.

Cllr Branch mentioned the recent serious accident on the Birmingham Rd and the problems with Pinfold Hill roundabout.

Cllr Smith said that the recent radar sign demonstration had been well received. Cllr Nick Smith said that he disagreed, that they did not work at night and too expensive.

Cllr David Smith also confirmed that speed bumps will not be installed by Staffs County. Cllr Nicholls reported that contrary to this new speed bumps have just been put in place in Norton Canes.

Cllr Smith will investigate traffic issues on the A461 Barracks Lane & Cartersfield Lane.

Cllr Cox asked if Cllr Smith wished to comment on item 72- consider ownership of Stonnall Youth & Community Centre for £1.00- Cllr Smith said that he was meeting next week with the Property Director at Staffs County Council and would raise it then.

Cllr Salter briefed Council on the polling station review which is due this week and the garden waste label scheme for 2020 which has just been launched. He also reminded Council of the importance of adhering to Purdah regulations up to the Dec 12th election.

  1. Finance: Transactions for approval & financial position as at 12th November 2019

Nat West Current Account: £930.00.  Nat West Business Reserve Account: £123,215.10

Nat West Liquidity Account: £161039.53. Unity Account: £47,282.99.

Total available funds- £332,467.62.

Update on Finance meeting Tues Oct 29th including the following recommendations:

  1. To approve request from Little Fishes to use 2018/19 grant for storage of equipment.

RESOLUTION: Proposed Cllr Gobran, seconded Cllr Nicholls & unanimously approved.

  1. Consider request for replacement tree outside Edwards Rest, Stonnall

Further investigation required.

  1. Consider request for additional grant funding approx. £300.00 for Shenstone Christmas Market.

RESOLUTION: Proposed Cllr Perry, seconded Cllr Jones & unanimously approved.

  1. To approve Christmas lights purchase for Stonnall up to £300.00

RESOLUTION: Proposed Cllr Branch, seconded Cllr Gobran & unanimously approved.

  1. To approve the Committee’s recommendation that there is no increase in the Precept in 2020/21.

In response to a question from Cllr Thompson, the Clerk explained that by holding the current Precept figure without increase would mean a £7,000 loss of potential income but that there is enough in reserve funds to justify the decision. RESOLUTION: This decision was approved by all on Council with the exception of Cllr Nick Smith.   

  1. With regard to the ring fenced funds formerly for a cemetery, Committee recommends re ring fencing towards Stonnall Youth & Community Centre potential building work, professional fees related to setting up management agreements and possible revised/new neighbourhood plans.

The Clerk explained the justification for this thinking. RESOLUTION: unanimously approved.

Also to consider expenditure from the business reserve account for Ward specific projects to be agreed.

Cllr Thompson read the following suggestions for additional grant funding which was a result of the brain storming session of the Finance, Legal, Health & Safety meeting in October.

The Lammas Land- path refurbishment or extension. Up to £13,000.

RESOLUTION: Approved in principle quote dependent. Proposed. Cllr Thompson, seconded Cllr Gobran.

Majority approved.

Shenstone Village Hall- toilets require refurbishment as does the conference room. £4,000.

RESOLUTION: Await more detail following earlier presentation.

Shenstone Library: repaint & align disabled parking space £250.00.

RESOLUTION: Proposed Cllr Nicholls, seconded Cllr Gobran & unanimously approved.

Richard Cooper Room- £1,000 for structural integrity report.

RESOLUTION: Proposed Cllr Thompson, seconded Cllr Edgley & majority approved.

Stonnall Playing Fields- 40 metres of bow top metal fencing: £6,000

RESOLUTION: It was agreed that this issue should be immediately resolved and an emergency grant agreed.

RESOLUTION: Emergency grant paid on submission of quote

Replacement mini roundabout: £2,000- no longer required.

Outdoor table tennis table: £3,500. Further investigation required.

Stonnall St Peters Church- complete paving on footpath: £1,000

RESOLUTION; it was agreed that Cllr Beilby would submit a Councillor led grant application.

Stonnall Youth & Community Centre: £1,000 for full structural survey.  

RESOLUTION: Proposed Cllr Salter, seconded Cllr Thompson & unanimously approved.

Little Aston & Stonnall- CCTV for main shops areas & The Grove: £5,000.

Cllr Gobran explained at great length the thinking behind the application and answered several questions from Council. Cllr Salter said that as there was resistance to approval in principle there should be more investigations. Cllr Gobran encouraged Council to share questions and concerns with her directly and will report back at the next Council meeting.

Little Aston Village Hall – general decoration & improvements to windows & décor in rear meeting room:  £5,000. The Clerk reported this sum would also include some new play equipment.

RESOLUTION:  Agreement in principle pending further detail.

  1. Planning applications

 Approve planning applications received in last month and update on any objections/ developments. 

Cllr Salter drew attention to the recent planning application on the former Ash & Lacey site in Shenstone.  

Cllr Thompson spoke regarding the Lichfield District Council Local Plan Preferred Options Review which he has had the opportunity to examine.  There is reason to be cautiously optimistic: it details growth outside the green belt, the industrial growth area for Shenstone has gone and 153 homes identified. Little Aston & Stonnall fall under the designation of wider rural areas- 566 homes between 2018-40, of which 366 are identified.  Cllr Thompson stressed the importance of refreshing our neighbourhood plans next year.

Next Neighbourhood Planning & Property Committee Meeting Tuesday November 26th 2019.     

  1. Stonnall Youth & Community Centre – consider offer for transfer of ownership for £1.00

Nothing to report.      

  1. The Lammas Land- consider alternative use for 2018/19 community grant

Rather than using the grant for fencing as requested the Lammas Land Committee would now like to use the grant for the purchase of evergreen trees. RESULTION:  Proposed Cllr Gobran, seconded Cllr Beilby & majority approved.

  1. To discuss possible ways to be more informed about parish news. Explore ways to upskill parish councillors

Cllr Edgley briefed Council on a meeting between herself & Cllr Gobran where, as new Councillors, they explored ways to improve knowledge and understanding of Council issues and procedures.  The opportunity to take advantage of the skills and experience of everyone around the table by sharing knowledge and specialisms would be beneficial to everyone. There was some discussion on how this could work and it was agreed that everyone will contribute subject ideas via her .i.e. planning, finance, trustees and how they work, as well as identifying what works well for Council currently and what could be improved on.

Cllr Beilby suggested that it could be useful to look at our committees and how they are put together.

  1. December newsletter

Progressing well. Cllr Thompson to provide a planning update & hopefully there will be a Shenstone Station update also.

  1. Date of next meeting:

Tuesday 8th December Little Aston Village Hall at 7.15pm.