S.P.C Minutes October 2018

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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 OCTOBER 9th 2018 at 7.15

 STONNALL YOUTH & COMMUNITY CENTRE

 

90. Register of members in attendance.

Cllrs David Salter, Sheila Beilby, Rita Hancocks, David Thompson, Mick Cox, Neil Perry, Gail Nicholls, Val Neale, Charles Fordham, Stuart Jones & Nicola Macdonald.  Shirley O’Mara- Clerk.

District Councillor Joseph Powell

Mr Peter Palmer and Mr Victor Palmer of Burnett Road, Streetly.

91.  Acceptance of apologies

 –Cllr Tim Cox, Cllr John Branch, Cllr Jean Wilson.

County Councillor David Smith.  District Councillor Elizabeth Little

  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.

Cllrs Beilby & Nicholls in item 105.

  1. 93. To accept and confirm minutes of the last Full Council meeting on Tuesday 11th September 2018

 Duly approved & signed.

  1. Clerks report on outstanding matters from minutes Tuesday 11th September 2018

(i) Centenary benches- benches are now in place in Shenstone & Little Aston. Stonnall bench will be fitted on Oct 10th. Cllr Salter advised that the Richard Cooper Room Management Committee is happy for the wall behind the Shenstone bench to be painted so that it stands out more. Council voted for this work to take place as long as it is completed by the Lengthsman. (ii)Community Clear up Day Part 2 – another very successful day at St Johns assisted by volunteers and members of the Rapid Relief Team.  (iii) Update on grant application from Shenstone Rainbows for two collapsible tables.  There is insurance in place at St Johns Hall but Mrs Lawrence is reluctant to make a claim as Rainbows had borrowed the chairs.  RESOLUTION: Council voted unanimously to support the grant application of £248.50 in full. (iv) Consider further evidence in support of a bench at the top of Churchill Rd, Shenstone- deferred to November meeting.

  1. Public Participation.

Mr Peter Palmer and Mr Victor Palmer of Burnett Rd, Streetly attended the meeting to speak regarding the

Licencing & Consents Appeals Committee hearing re X0 Lounge, Thornhill Road , Streetly. A licence has been granted to allow alcohol to be served Monday-Sunday inc Bank Holidays from 09.00am to 1.30am and closes at 2.00am. Also to play music up to 11.00pm.  Mr Peter Palmer stated that the applicant has

provided inaccurate information regarding the proximity of residential properties & that they are actually much nearer and likely to be adversely affected. It is requested that the Parish Council support a planned planning objection by the residents of Burnett Road at the appropriate time.  Cllr Joseph Powell also requested that Council provide support and voiced his own backing of any objection.

The impact of speeding & parking in Burnett Road was also raised & Cllr Salter suggested a community

speedwatch scheme may be a way forward & suggested the PCSO be informed. ACTION: done.

 

 Cllr Cox, on behalf of Mrs Valmae Hassell, thanked Council for their support of the Stonnall Best Kept Village competition.

  1. To receive reports from District and County Councillors.

Cllr Powell advised that there would very shortly be more information released regarding Friarsgate. Also, the proposed  housing development of the Wyevale site on Chester Rd has been refused.

Cllr Salter announced that under new National Planning Policy Framework guidelines anything less than a five year local plan or a two year neighbourhood plan will have reduced value. A review will not be sufficient, the plan will need to be drawn up again. This will be discussed in detail at the next meeting of the Neighbourhood, Planning & Property Committee on Oct 30th at 5.30 in the Parish office.

Cllr Salter informed Council that County Cllr David Smith has concluded the latest traffic survey. The findings will soon be forthcoming & shared in the Winter newsletter.

A representative from Stonnall Councillors was requested to sit on the monitoring body for the Shire Oak Quarry. Cllr Gail Nicholls volunteered.

Cllr Smith would also like to conduct an air quality survey. Cllr Salter proposes this takes place outside schools as the results, if negative, may give more weight to any argument for restricted parking at the gates.    

  1. Finance- current position as at Oct 9th 2018.

The Clerk shared the current position of accounts:  Unity Bank £177,541.59

Nat West main account £1,000. Nat West Business Reserve (earmarked funds for cemetery) £143,079.00

Paperwork has been submitted to open a Liquidity account as per Full Council’s instruction in September.

The Clerk shared details of September transactions (attached) & October transactions to date     

  1. Planning applications inc clarification of conditions re appeal decision 17/00513/COU Land south side of Gravelly Lane, Stonnall.

The Clerk shared all planning applications to date (attached) & highlighted that application 17/01056 for 2 St Johns Hill has been refused.

Cllr Cox presented a motion to Council re appeal decision 17/00513/COU. The motion asked that Council contact Lichfield District Council requesting confirmation of how it will monitor its adherence to detailed conditions, specifically the number of “residential dependents” and their relationship to the applicant & clarification on the weight of commercial vehicles allowed to be kept on site.  Cllr Thompson fully endorsed the motion and this was unanimously agreed in the vote that followed.  RESOLUTION:  ON behalf of Council, the Clerk to submit request in writing:  ACTION: DONE.

  1. Lengthsman Update.

Stephen Crane started as Lengthman on September 25th. To date he has completed a full assessment of all the stones in St Johns  upper lawn cemetery and compiled a report for consideration by Council which was commended.   A copy of schedule of works was shared with Council as well as the audit of work identified in the recent Ward assessment.  A very large number of jobs have been completed and feedback is extremely positive. The Clerk commented that one of the benefits noted so far is the speed of response – being able to deal with calls quickly and effectively.      

  1. Parking- update on Shenstone & Stonnall Parking issues

Cllr Perry briefed Council on recent discussions with County Cllr David Smith re parking problems around Shenstone Station.  Following a meeting with West Midlands Trains, Cllr Smith had agreed to stall the planned public consultation pending the outcome of a customer survey WMT were  to conduct. As there has been no response from WMT, Cllr Perry requested that a deadline be put forward whereby the consultation wouldstart whether the survey was part of discussions or not. This was agreed by Cllr Smith. However, Cllr Smith informed Cllr Perry on 6th October that the consultation will now take place irrespective of any involvement from WMT. Cllr Perry intends to visit all residents in Admiral Parker Drive requesting they participate in the consultation.

Cllr Neale expressed concern about the number of vehicles that park at the junction of Wallheath Crescent & Wallheath Lane pointing out that an accident is inevitable.  Cllr Salter suggested that photos be taken of the vehicles & licence plates noted which should then be shared with the PCSO who can respond.   

The Clerk shared feedback from a Shenstone resident regarding the height of the greenery on Pinfold Hill Island as it is making visibility difficult & also the request for an improvement in signage around the turning on Pinfold Hill to Lincoln Croft.  Council pointed out that both issues are Highways matters & the Clerk should refer them accordingly. ACTION: DONE

  1. A5127 speeding & Stonnall Safer Roads Partnership grant

Cllr Salter stated that it was too late to submit an application but that he hopes the information from the traffic Survey may prove useful. We could as a Parish Council also invest in our own small traffic monitoring system.

  1. St Johns cemetery- consider tenders for tree repairs and action.

Following the submission of the tree survey by Gareth Hare at Lichfield District Council, tenders were sought for the repair work.  Three tenders were considered from Tonks Tree Surgeons, Calder Tree Services & Lichfield Tree Works. After assessing the content & pricing, votes were taken & the tender was unanimously awarded. RESOULTION:  The contract is awarded to Tonks Tree Surgeons.

  1. New Cemetery- actions from Lichfield District Council Planning response and consider re-use of old cemetery ground.

All discussions deferred to Neighbourhood Planning & Property Committee Meeting Oct 30th.

  1. St Johns lower lawn cemetery- consider name markers for unmarked graves.

The Clerk will investigate the cost of having small name markers made for those currently unidentifiable graves in the Lower Lawn Cemetery.

  1. Consider & approve quotes for new dog fouling signs in Stonnall.

New signs to replace old & inaccurate dog fouling signs in Stonnall are required. RESOLUTION: Council voted to accept the quotation- proposed by Cllr Hancocks & seconded by Cllr Salter.

  1. Grant Request from Shenstone Brownies.

A grant request has been made for £258.65 to support the new Brownie pack in Shenstone.

RESOLUTION: Council voted unanimously to support the application after proposal from Cllr Hancocks which was seconded by Cllr Perry.      

  1. Christmas Lights

Council requested three quotes for the installation of lights in Little Aston.  The Christmas Plus quotation was discussed at the last Council meeting, the second was not forthcoming & the third, from Protech, was presented.   RESOLUTION: Council voted to accept the quotation from Protech but that Cllr Salter would speak with them immediately to clarify minor details of installation.

  1. Publication Scheme- sign & adopt.

Duly signed & adopted.

  1. Date of next Full Council meeting:

 Tuesday 13th November Little Aston Village Hall 7.15.