Approved minutes of Full Council meeting held on Tuesday Nov 9th, 2021, at 7.15pm Shenstone Village Hall.

90. Register of members in attendance.

Cllr David Salter, Chairman (Shenstone Wood End), Cllr David Thompson, Cllr John Branch, Cllr Lesley Edgley, Cllr Stuart Jones & Cllr Rita Hancocks  (Shenstone)
Cllr Sheila Beilby, Cllr Gail Nicholls, Cllr Mick Cox, Cllr Val Neale, Cllr Nicola Macdonald (Stonnall)
Cllr Nicki Gobran & Cllr Kelly Harrison (Little Aston).
Shirley O’Mara (Clerk)
PCSO Andrea Horsnall & PCSO Rachela Orwin.
Mr Phil Whitehouse of Stonnall.

91. Acceptance of apologies.

Cllr Neil Perry, Cllr Nick Smith. County Cllr David Smith. District Cllr Joe Powell.

92. Public Participation.

Members of the public are invited to address Council for a maximum of 15 minutes.

PCSO Horsnall gave the following update:

• Car crime increasing in the area. Residents are advised to ensure vehicles are locked with no valuables left inside. Vans with equipment should park with rear doors against a wall.

• Anti-social behaviour reported outside Fox & Hounds, Shenstone & Lammas Land.

• Reports of issues at St Johns Church & in the sensory garden at Trinity but nothing seen as yet.

• Fly tipping in Cranebrook Lane, Stonnall

• Issues with badly behaved parents outside the school in Little Aston. A letter is going to all parents re parking.

• Police clinics will resume shortly under careful monitoring

• Junior Cadets starting at Greysbrooke soon with St Peters & Little Aston shortly.

• Speedwatch in Stonnall is still pending approval to re-start & in Shenstone there is no activity currently due to a lack of organiser.

Mr Phil Whitehouse of Stonnall asked Council for assistance regarding dealing with trees & a fence in unknown ownership in Garnet Close, Stonnall. Both the trees & the fence need attention, but it is not clear who responsibility lies with. After some discussion it was agreed that a site visit would be arranged to establish the facts with research to follow. It was made clear by Cllr Salter that neither the trees nor the fence are a Parish responsibility but we will assist with trying to find a solution.

93.  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:

Cllr Salter, Cllr Beilby & Cllr Nicholls in item 97 as on Recreation Ground/Playing Field Committees.

94. To accept and confirm minutes of the last Full Council meeting on Tuesday 11^th Oct 2021

Duly approved & signed.

95. Clerk’s update on outstanding issues from last meeting:

Right of Way Stonnall Playing Fields to Church Lane: attempts to contact the PDSA who own the adjoining field have been made but no communications as yet. The quote from J.E.Thompson for £4338.54 inc VAT has been approved & the work will start shortly.

Shenstone Village Clock: repairs completed on 28^th Oct at a cost of £700.00 +VAT

Response re Footherley Rough. Letter received from the landowner stressing he has no interest in entering into any kind of lease agreement re this area of land.

96. To receive reports from District and County Councillors.

Cllr Salter drew attention to the use of CO2 test metres at Lichfield District Council.

It was agreed that these would be very useful in meetings & that one should be purchased to try out at a cost of £118.80 inc VAT. Clerk to progress.

97 Finance.

Current financial position & transactions for approval 9^th Nov 2021 link to transactions spreadsheet

Unity Bank £148,300 Nat West current account £905.00 Nat West Business Reserve £53,315.96. Nat West Liquidity Account Ring fenced funds for ear marked projects £162,386.02.

Agree Precept 2022/23. Cllr Thompson proposed that the Precept should be held at £182,000 with no increase despite Government forecasts indicating an increase is required.

RESOULTION: Council were unanimous in supporting this proposal: no increase in Precept request.

Adoption of revised Financial Regulations. Duly approved & adopted.

Recommendations from Finance, Legal Health & Safety Committee Tues 26^th Oct 2021 at 5.30 via Zoom.

Recommendation: Approval & adoption of revised Community Grant Policy. RESOLUTION: With one small amendment to item 12 (attached) the policy was duly signed & adopted.

Recommendation: Approval & adoption of revised Community Grant application form.

RESOLUTION: Duly approved & adopted

Recommendation: Following confirmation of £16,827.79 in CIL funding, the Finance Committee recommend the use on playground/recreation equipment in all three Wards.

£6,345.98 of CIL funding received in April is still to be spent this financial year.

RESOLUTION: After discussion it was unanimously approved that the full CIL income to date for this year financial year should be split between Shenstone Playing Fields, Stonnall Playing Fields & Little Aston Recreation Ground.

Cllr Thompson then briefed Council on the Rural Energy Relief Fund which offers grant funding for feasibility studies into the infrastructure requirements for renewable energy. This would cover homes, retail, industry & schools. Cllr Thompson asked for Council approval to take part in this audit. RESOLUTION: Unanimously approved.

98 Planning.

Approve planning applications received in last month and update on any objections/ developments including Planning Application 21-01661-FUL Little Aston & 21/01523 Cartersfield Lane, Stonnall.

link to planning applications spreadsheet

• Update on Richard Cooper Room. RICS Survey scheduled for Nov 18^th.

• Update on Lammas Land boundary incursion enquiries. Cllr Thompson briefed Council on the extensive investigations to date. It was agreed that the further step of a legal challenge was not the best option. Instead, Council will now formally fund the assembly of all the Lammas Land/Millbrook individual key land registry boundaries. We will also compile a photographic record of each boundary interface to further protect the current positions into the future.

• Westgate Practice: ongoing closure of surgery. Review response from Westgate & next steps. Following Councils letter to the Practice challenging its reasons for the ongoing closure a very hardball response was received. Christopher Pincher MP has since sent a separate letter to a senior practice partner 

It was agreed that the current lack of service to residents is way below an acceptable standard and likely to worsen over the coming months.

• Lammas Land path loop: update from Lammas Land Committee & next steps.

Cllr Jones reported that the loop has been approved with work due when the weather/ condition of land allows.

Next meeting of the Neighbourhood, Planning & Property Committee Meeting Tuesday Nov 23^rd Shenstone Library at 5.30pm.

99. Stonnall Youth & Community Centre: update on transfer of lease.

Lease transfer progressing with conclusion hopefully before Christmas.

100.  Lammas Land: request to consider quote for additional mowing. Actual quote pending.

RESOLUTION: Council unanimously agreed to add the cost for the additional mowing to the annual schedule of works.

101.  Garnet Close, Stonnall: trees requiring attention on unadopted land.

Dealt with under public participation.

102.  Friends of Shenstone Tower: consider action to make safe 4 x grave plots around construction area.

As it is the duty of Council to maintain the graveyard at St Johns this work must take place. The Clerk is investigating with local stonemasons how this work can be done safely. RESOLUTION: Unanimously approved.

103. Shenstone Playing Fields: issues with dogs off the lead.

Following receipt of an email from a lady resident who encountered a dog off the lead whilst pushing her baby buggy, members discussed at length whether dogs should be kept on a lead on playing fields. It was agreed that a notification reminding owners that they have the responsibility to keep dogs under control as well as a reminder about the penalties for dog fouling should be included in the next newsletter.

104.  Confirmation of details for Remembrance Sunday & update on poppy project.

The Remembrance Service on Sunday 14^th Nov is scheduled to take part in the usual form next Sunday.

The Poppy project initiated by Mary Jones has raised £2050 formally but with at least £90 in late donations. The poppies have been very well received & appreciated by all.

They will be taken down from Nov 15^th & kept for re-use next year.

105.  Lengthsman vacancy from March: agree & approve next steps.

It was agreed that a job advert will appear in the Dec newsletter.

106.  Stonnall Christmas Tree; request to purchase 6ft Christmas Tree & decorations.

After much discussion the following was agreed. RESOLUTION: Council will purchase a 6ft tree which will be erected by the Lengthsman and existing lights held by the Council will be used.

107.  Stonnall bus shelters: request for battery operated fairy lights in bus shelters.

RESOLUTION: No purchase will be made.

108.  Shenstone Christmas market update inc request for music licence £112.00. RESOLUTION:

Music licence purchased but cost added to existing grant funding which will be either used as a start up fund next year or returned to Council from profits if no market in 2022.

109.  H.M. The Queen Jubilee 2022 celebrations.

Councillors are requested to consider how celebrations should be marked in their Wards. A beacon costing £490.00 could be purchased for lighting at the top of Shenstone Tower.

110. December newsletter. Councillors are requested to consider articles for the next newsletter with a focus on what has been achieved by the Parish this year.

111. Next meeting of Full Council Tuesday Dec 14^th, 2021, 7.15pm Shenstone Village Hall

07.12.21