Approved minutes of Full Council Meeting Tuesday July 11th at Shenstone Community Library, Shenstone at 7.15pm

49 Register of members in attendance

Cllr Lesley Edgley– Acting Chair (Shenstone), Cllrs Gail Nicholls, Val Neale , Mick Cox, Ruth Graham & Dino D’Ambrosio (Stonnall), Cllrs Stuart Jones, David Thompson, Christopher Callow, Simon Fisher(Shenstone), Cllr Emma Scothern & Stuart Harrison ( Little Aston).

County Cllr David Smith.

Shirley O’Mara (Clerk). PCSO Andrea Horsnall

50 Acceptance of apologies. Cllrs David Salter, Phil Whitehouse & Leona Leung.

51 Public Participation.

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

PCSO Andrea Horsnall shared the number of crime reports between 11^th June & 11^th July:

Shenstone 76, Stonnall 11, Little Aston 32.

PCSO colleagues have been present at Little Aston Party in the Park and will be at Stonnallbury on Saturday. There have also been Junior Cadets at Little Aston School & St Peters.

Cllr Graham mentioned drug activity involving a taxi company in Stonnall- PCSO Horsnall said there have been no reports and urged anyone with concerns or information to call 101.

Cllr Cox confirmed he will be attending the Community Speedwatch HQ meeting on July 22^nd as will Cllr Whitehouse & the Chair of SCAR.

Cllr Scothern asked how volunteers can put themselves forward for Speedwatch. PCSO Horsnall confirmed that details are on the Parish website.

Cllr Harrison mentioned problems with parents parking opposite keep clear signs on Forge Lane outside the school. PCSO Horsnall is aware of the issue and is looking into this and the problem of idle engines.

In relation to a speeding enquiry received by Cllr Salter, Cllr Edgley read an email response on his behalf: Link to email

52  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

53 To accept and confirm minutes of the last Full Council meeting on Tuesday 13^th June.

Duly approved & signed

54 Clerk’s update on outstanding issues from last meeting.

Office flagpole: the Ukrainian flag which has been flying for some time outside the Parish Office has been removed by an unknown person. The Parish Council will seek to establish the exact ownership of the land on which the flagpole stands & also seeks the opinion of local residents re the issue.

Grass verge parking on Lynn Lane: Highways have confirmed that it is not possible to place bollards on the verge to prevent parking but the issue of exact ownership of the land in question is being investigated.

Staffs County Council officers’ explanation of traffic data: covered under Item 55

Malkins Coppice: no communications from South Staffs Water yet.

Newsletter distribution: The Clerk confirmed the distribution of the newsletters was almost complete with delivery assistance from several Councillors.

Re matters arising from minutes, Cllr Thompson briefed members on research completed by Cllr Salter into the village gateway signs for Birmingham Road at the entrance to Shenstone Village. Funding was approved at a previous meeting (4K) but a much more cost-effective solution has been found which can be presented to Council in September. In the meantime,

Permission to approach Highways for approval is sought. RESOLUTION: Unanimously approved.

Cllr Cox pointed out that as part of the standing orders review, which is currently ongoing, Council should be aware that Stonnall Community Centre is unlikely to be available for Parish Meetings on Tuesdays in the future due to a block booking. Therefore, an alternative venue needs to be found or meetings need to be on an alternative evening – which would assist those on the Council who also hold District Council positions and will have clashes.

Cllr Thompson said he would be very loath to move from the well-established previous and existing year commitment to second Tuesdays and pointed out that Cllr Slater had identified a maximum of three full council LDC and SPC meeting clashes & Cllr Nicholls pointed out that all the recently appointed Councillors, as well as those appointed in the previous selection process, were asked about availability & confirmed they were available on second Tuesdays. No further action.

Item 59 was at this point brought forward. It was agreed that the letter from Christopher Pincher should receive a response requesting that any data held be shared. RESOLUTION: unanimously agreed to write to Mr Pincher.

55 To receive reports from District and County Councillors.

County Cllr Smith welcomed the new Parish Council members.

He confirmed an extra £3million for highways repairs in addition to the current budget and has prioritised the following: Birmingham Road Roundabout between columns E1 & E2, roundabout from Watford Gap heading to Little Aston, the centre carriageway junction with Clarence Rd and the left hand lane heading up towards Rosemary Hill Rd from Birmingham Road towards Railway bridge, Pinfold Hill, island at Barracks Lane.

Cllr Smith is holding a meeting on Sept 5^th with all Parish Councils to discuss County strategy following the recent traffic surveys.

Cllr Nicholls asked Cllr Smith about the overgrown hedges on Church Rd- Cllr Smith will be sending a letter to the landowner highlighting their liability. Funds are allocated to deal with legal matters and County are working closer with farmers to look at hedges & ditches.

Re the ongoing concerns about the dangerous junction at Lazy Hill/Chester Rd, Walsall Council say that the accident record their does not justify action. Cllr Smith does not accept this but says it is very difficult to know what to do. He will look at feedback from the consultation that is going on now.

Cllr Thompson asked Cllr Smith about the planned meeting on 5^th Sept: he stated that despite paying for part of the traffic survey and repeatedly asking for a meeting with Officers to explain the data over several months. The meeting on offer is highly reduced- with only three non District Council members of Council invited. All Parish Council members wish to understand the data with traffic & speeding as it is a hugely high priority.

Cllr Smith stated that Officers are limiting attendance as they do not want a room full of people and the meeting cannot be repeated.

Cllr Thompson argued that as Parish have paid for some of the survey there should be the opportunity for all to discuss the findings. Cllr Smith said that Parish had paid for the data not the presentation of it.

Cllr Thompson said that representation will be made to the C.E.O of Staffs County. Cllr Smith said the 5^th Sept meeting is all that is on offer so it’s “that or nothing”.

Cllr Scothern asked if the meeting could be recorded with Cllr Smith responding that the presentation could be shared later. Cllr Callow explained that “recorded” meant taped or streamed. Cllr Smith said he could not see the benefit of that. Cllr Smith said he was talking about the PowerPoint only.

Cllr Cox asked what the cost would be for Officers to arrange a separate meeting. Cllr Smith said there is not a willingness to do that.

56 Finance.

Current financial position & transactions for approval as of 11^th July 2023. Link to Financial transactions spreadsheet

Includes update on outstanding Community Grant funds still to be paid.

Nat West Current Account £905.00. Nat West Business Reserve £53697.28. Nat West Liquidity Account ring fenced funds for ear marked projects £93,573.07. Unity Bank £178,453.66.

Community Grants funding still held pending support documentation £10,848.00.

Next meeting of Finance, Legal, Health & Safety Committee Tuesday Sept 26th, 2023, at 5.30 pm Shenstone Community Library.

Cllr D’Ambrosio asked if there is a time frame for spending the ear marked funds. The Clerk explained that auditors are keen to see some funds spent but more importantly, if held, they are held for a very clear purpose such as neighbourhood plan refreshes.

57 Planning.

Approve planning applications received in last month and update on any objections/ developments including Foden Close and Chester Road monopole applications, neighbourhood plan letter to Lichfield District Council regarding a meeting re progression of our reviews. Link to planning applications spreadsheet

Foden Close covered under item 60.

Meeting arranged with Patrick Jervis of LDC to discuss the deferred Local Plan & the three Shenstone Parish Neighbourhood Plan’s next steps.

Next meeting of Neighbourhood Planning & Property Committee Tuesday July 25^th at 5.30pm Parish Office

58 Lazy Hill/Chester Rd dangerous junction: update on actions. Covered under item 54.

59 Letter from Christopher Pincher, M/P re traffic. Consideration of response. Covered under item 54.

60 Lammas Land Boundary incursion: feedback from solicitor & consideration of next steps.

Cllr Thompson briefed new members on the background of this issue. After discussion the following resolution was made. RESOLUTION: Unanimously agreed to instruct Pickerings to share the fully redacted boundary report & photographs with residents. Meanwhile, await further clarification from Zurich Insurance re legal cover.

61 Trees in Lower Lawn Cemetery: report of roots damage to Wall in Eastridge Croft.

Consideration & next steps. A report from Tonks Tree Surgeon confirms trees in the cemetery are damaging the boundary wall of this residence with underground roots and also overhanging branches blocking light. RESOLUTION: Unanimous decision to refer matter to Lichfield District Council tree officer for advice and next steps.

62 The Heat Networks Delivery Bid for Detailed Feasibility Funding.

Cllr Thompson briefed new members on the background of this issue. The next meeting of the Working group is Wednesday 26^th July. The Parish Council proposed bid for detailed feasibility study funding to the governments BEIS Heat Network Development Unit by the December deadline is based on LDC being the lead applicant however 66% of the study funding from BEIS and 33% of the study Funding from South Staffs Water with no funding needed from the District Council who are resource lean.

63 Next meeting of Full Council 12^th Sept Stonnall Community Centre 2023 7.15pm