Approved Minutes of S.P.C. Meeting held on 12th July 2022 |

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 the meeting of Full Council held on Tuesday July 12^th 2022 at Stonnall Community Centre at 7.15pm

46 Register of members in attendance.

Cllr David Thompson (Acting Chair), Cllr Neil Perry, Cllr Stuart Jones, Cllr Lesley Edgley (Shenstone), Cllr Sheila Beilby, Cllr Gail Nicholls, Cllr Val Neale, Cllr Mick Cox (Stonnall), Cllr Kelly Harrison (Little Aston).

47 Acceptance of apologies.

County Cllr David Smith. District Councillor Elizabeth Little. Cllrs David Salter, Rita Hancocks & Nick Smith.

48 Public Participation.

Members of the public are invited to address Council for a maximum of 15 minutes. None

49 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

50 To accept and confirm minutes of the last Full Council meeting on Tuesday 14^th June 2022

The minutes were approved & signed

51 Clerk’s update on outstanding issues from last meeting:

Update on vehicle options for Lengthsman.

In support of the suggestion that Council consider the purchase of a new electric van for use by the Lengthsman, at a cost of c12k against the cost of a second-hand petrol van, there is no MOT, no petrol costs and would be in line with Lichfield and the council there have called a climate emergency. Cllr Nicholls asked for a cost benefit exercise with the internal auditor Alan Topliss suggested.

Cllr Jones, in agreement with Cllr Nicholls, stated that it was about much more than a van; it was a statement of the direction in which the Council is going & represents what the Council stands for.

The electric van, whilst only used 2 days per week by the Lengthman, could be used by others; scouts, guides, other Parishes by being loaned out. Badged up properly it would send out a message worth paying.

Cllr Edgley said that she thought c£12k was an awful lot of money for a self-employed Lengthsman to use only two days per week & should Council perhaps not just pay more so that he could purchase his own.

Cllr Cox & Cllr Perry then discussed the need for all encompassing insurance and queried the expected load of the van, pointing out that the Clerk could be prosecuted if the load exceeds the limit.

Cllr Jones said he agreed it was not a viable option if the van was only used two days a week, but that Council need to look be creative and look at the bigger picture.

Cllr Perry stated that not everyone supports the green agenda and suggested that the low turnout of residents for the recent Bioregional presentations is reflective of this. He said that Council should provide for the whole parish and not point them in a direction that we favour.

There was a challenging interjection from Cllr Perry

Cllr Jones said that personally he did not wish to force anyone, but that Council should lead by example, however limited.

Cllr Beilby said that residents may feel with the cost-of-living crisis that spending c£12k is hard to justify.

Cllr Perry said that leasing for a month as a test and putting the findings of that would be useful in any assessment.

Cllr Nicholls said Council should focus on the positives of electric being clean with zero emissions.

RESOLUTION: Council voted unanimously to complete a cost/benefit analysis for future consideration.

Purchase of a permanent bench to replace the temporary bench at the top of Richard Cooper Road/bottom of Holly Hill.

RESOLUTION: After considering options, Council voted unanimously to purchase a Marmax bench for £394.00 + VAT.

The Clerk has not yet heard back from PIckerings Solicitors re Lammas Land boundary investigations but will chase.

52 To receive reports from District and County Councillors.

None.

53 Finance.

Current financial position & transactions for approval as of 12^th July 2022. Please use this link to access the financial transactions spreadsheet.

NatWest Current Account £905.00. Natwest Business Reserve £53,330.95. Natwest Liquidity Account £112,533.83 of which £110,000 ring fenced funds for agreed projects. Unity Account £216,458.16. Total: £383,227.94

All transactions to date approved.

Consideration of request from Shenstone Tennis Club for £3,000 for a community grant to put an electricity junction box into the courts.

RESOLUTION: unanimously approved.

54 Planning.

Approve planning applications received in last month and update on any objections/ developments. Please use this link to access the planning applications spreadsheet.

Recommendations from the Neighbourhood, Planning & Property Committee Meeting: Weds 6^th July 2022 at 4.30pm Parish Office.

RECOMMENDATION: that County Cllr David Smith lead on the Stonnall Neighbourhood Plan review in conjunction with Parish Council as there are clearly areas that overlap.

The Clerk briefed Council on a conversation with County Cllr Smith held on Monday 11^th July where Cllr Smith pointed out that the Stonnall plan, whilst being a long way off, would be Stonnall led with very little overlap with Parish & that it required sensitivity. Cllr Beilby asked if County Cllr Smith has to lead & Cllr Nicholls stressed that the whole village must be involved with a professional advisor brought in.

Cllr Beilby agreed.

RESOLUTION: Council voted unanimously to ask County Cllr Smith at the September meeting for clarification of how Stonnall intends to take the updating of the Neighbourhood Plan forward.

Cllr Thompson confirmed that Shenstone & Little Aston will tender for professional advice in late 2022 after confirmation of the Lichfield District Local Plan in the Autumn.

Following the submission of a grant request from Shenstone Tennis Club for £3,000 towards lighting installation the following recommendation was made. RECOMMENDATION: On the basis that the Committee of the Tennis Club have so successfully fundraised much of the funding required, the Committee recommend Full Council approval for the full amount. COVERED UNDER ITEM 53.
There have been calls from concerned residents about cyclists cutting through the Church Close to Main Street right of way at speed with repeated incidents of near accidents. After discussion the Committee made the following recommendation. RECOMMENDATION: to purchase and erect “Cyclists dismount” signs for erection at both ends of the right of way and then monitor the situation.

RESOLUTION: Signs purchased at a cost of £25.00 following the recommendation & ratified at Full Council.

55 Financial Risk Register: due for review July but pending Auditor input. Delay until October.

56 Resignation of Cllr Nicky Macdonald. Unanimously accepted.

57 Applications for vacant Councillor positions in Shenstone Ward & Stonnall & Little Aston Ward. Three vacant positions in total: third position may not be filled until after July 25^th.

The Clerk briefed Council on the overall position which is that the position in Shenstone previously held by Cllr Branch & the position in Stonnall & Little Aston previously held by Cllr Gobran have been through due process and the casual vacancy notices have resulted in three applicants. The resignation of Cllr Macdonald is currently pending with a closing date of July 25^th at Lichfield District. If there are no calls for an election, then it too can be advertised & applied for.

All applicants to date are aware that interviews for selection will need to be held in August with the Chair, Vice Chair & Employment Committee.

58 Consideration of Councillor led grant submitted by Cllr Nick Smith for £1500 towards £5000 roof repairs at Footherley Working Men’s Club.

Cllr Smith was not in attendance, but Council agreed to consider an application once the appropriate form is completed & once ownership of the building is established. To be progressed by Cllr Smith.

There then followed a discussion on ceilings for grants & it was agreed that limits need to be set in the standing orders & applications updated accordingly. RESOLUTION:

Review standing orders in September.

59 Consider installation of handrail next to Parish noticeboard in Little Aston.

RESOLUTION: After discussion it was agreed to agree in principle subject to a ceiling of £500.00 as long as the rail is upright & does not lean in any way.

60 Blocked drains on Barnes Rd, access to Village Hall & Playing Fields.

Consideration of £675.00 + VAT quote.

RESOLUTION: Council deferred this decision pending a review of actions to date.