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 Tuesday 14th February 2023 at Stonnall Community Centre at 7.15pm.
item detail
204 Register of members in attendance
Cllr David Salter – Chair (Shenstone Wood End), Cllrs Sheila Beilby, Gail Nicholls, Mick Cox, Duncan Gleig & Phil Whitehouse (Stonnall), Cllrs Stuart Jones, Lesley Edgley, David Thompson, Neil Perry (Shenstone).
Shirley O’Mara (Clerk). PCSO Andrea Horsnall.
205 Acceptance of apologies.
Cllrs Val Neale, Leona Leung, Rita Hancocks, Nick Smith.
County Cllr David Smith.
Public Participation.
Members of the public are invited to address Council for a maximum of 15 minutes.
PCSO Andrea Horsnall briefed Council with the following data:
Calls to Police between 10/1/23 and 14/02/23.
Shenstone 124 calls to the Police
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Vehicle crime 5
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Burglaries- 1
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Anti-social behaviour 4
Stonnall 13 calls to the Police
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Vehicle crime 1
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Burglaries- 1
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Anti-social behaviour 1
Little Aston 35 calls to the Police
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Vehicle crime 1
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Burglaries 6
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Police clinics at the Library in Shenstone and outside Dobbies Garden Centre were well attended.
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Speedwatch up & running again. There will be a push for more volunteers soon.
206 Cllr Gleig asked if there are any incidents of moped/motorcycle thefts.
PCSO confirmed none.
Cllr Whitehouse said that it would be good to share more success stories with PCSO Horsnall agreeing & would try to get more feedback. Cllr Whitehouse also stressed the importance of sharing the “Smart Alert” initiative with residents. It was confirmed that this was being promoted locally with posters & an article in the Parish Magazine.
Cllr Nicholls raised the issue of the very dangerous junction at Lazy Hill/Chester Road where there are regular serious incidents including fatalities. Cllr Edgley shared these serious concerns. However, as the road is not under Staffordshire jurisdiction it would need a cross county initiative to address. Clerk to research.
Cllr Thompson enquired as to his question at a past meeting as to whether police administration support is available if paid for. PCSO Horsnall said all such requests need to go through the Chief Constable.
207 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 David Salter re item 218.
208 To accept and confirm minutes of the last Full Council meeting on Tuesday 10th Jan 2023
Duly signed & approved
209 Clerk’s update on outstanding issues from last meeting:
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Lammas Land investigation into boundary incursion. Update.
Pickerings have written to the resident again requesting contact by Feb 14th.
No indication of any contact so far but Clerk to chase on the 15th.
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Lammas Land looped path works. Cllr Jones reported that the looped path has been finished, opening up a previously inaccessible area & looking fantastic. The contractor has made an offer to complete a further 200m of path to create an all access loop at a greatly reduced price of £13,000. This offer is only available for a very short period.
After some discussion the following resolution was made. RESOLUTION: Agree in principle to the works to take advantage of this special offer to create what will be
a great addition & benefit to walkers/wheelchair users/buggies. However, sign off of funds is delayed until March Full Council. Unanimously approved.
Cllr Jones confirmed following a question from Cllr Perry that there is a map but it would need extending accordingly & republishing.
210 To receive reports from District and County Councillors.
None.
211 Finance.
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Current financial position & transactions for approval 14th Feb 2023 Link to Financial Transactions spreadsheet
Nat West Current Account £905.00. Nat West Business Reserve £53,470.34, Nat West Liquidity Account Ring Fenced Funds for ear marked projects £92,940.13, Unity Account £105,115.74. No questions re transactions.
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Consideration of recommendations from the meeting of Finance, Legal, Health & Safety Committee Tuesday 7th Feb 2023
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Lengthsmen : RECOMMENDATION: To approve and adopt both contracts, back dated to date of issue.
RESOLUTION: Both contracts were unanimously approved for adoption. However, a query was shared on behalf of the Senior Lengthsman regarding a tax issue. Cllr Gleig, in his capacity as a HMRC expert, will meet to discuss but it is the unanimous decision of the Council that there should be no further changes made to the employment contract.
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Community Grants: RECOMMENDATION: Approval of applications – Link to applications spreadsheet
4 applications for Little Aston, 1 for Footherley, 7 for Stonnall & 16 for Shenstone. Total expenditure: £46,792.32.
RESOLUTION: all recommendations unanimously approved.
However, there were applications from Shenstone Playing Fields & Shenstone Village Hall re a drain survey on Barnes Rd. Council agreed to pay one third of the cost as long as each community group meets a third each from their own funds.
212 Planning.
Approve planning applications received in last month and update on any objections/ developments including Foden Close, Shenstone. Link to planning applications spreadsheet.
The application for a detached garage at 9 Foden Close was returned to the LDC Planning Committee on 6th Feb for deliberation following the discovery of errors within the officer’s presentation at its first hearing in January.
Opposition was presented by the affected neighbour and by David Salter in his capacity as District and committee Ward Member. Both reported many serious breaches of various policies within Lichfield District’s own Local Plan, the National Planning Policy Framework and our own Neighbourhood Plan.
Strong evidence of precedent was dismissed by the planning officer, as was the issue of the red outline on the submitted plan not being accurate.
No comment or reasoning was given by the officer about the policy contraventions.
There followed a lengthy (30+min) recess whilst the Planning officer, the Legal officer and the applicant withdrew and held private discussions about land ownership and the serving of notice. At recommencement, due to time, the committee were deprived of their chance of questioning and debating and were taken straight to the vote which went in favour of approval.
The affected neighbour is submitting an official complaint and is seeking legal advice in respect of a judicial review. The application is also being recalled for an unprecedented third hearing as more errors have been discovered.
Cllr Thompson & Cllr Gleig briefed Council on their recent very successful meeting with SSI Services Ltd. they have worked internally and have found a solution to the Shenstone Pumping Station both extracting heat from the water and also continuing to provide tap water (iii) they have worked up an alternative option, an ambient loop network; this is less costly and less disruptive than the Bioregional Option 1 and can be phased (iv) they have got a range of pragmatic ideas and experience about phasing, starting with the Lynn Lane sector first (v) Richard Canning their ground source heat lead wants to meet the Working Group at a future date to explain and discuss further. Cllr Gleig reiterated that this is a very positive news story.
Consideration of recommendations received from the meetings of the Neighbourhood, Planning & Property Committee Meeting Tuesday 24th Jan and Tuesday 7th Feb.
RECOMMENDATION: Following a review of the Risk Assessment & Risk Management Policies, the recommendation is for Full Council to approve and adopt. RESOLUTION: Approved & adopted.
RECOMMENDATION: Following the receipt and review of a tender from Lichfield District Council for the grounds maintenance of St Johns Upper & Lower Lawn Cemeteries, the recommendation is for Full Council to approve the tender . RESOLUTION: Approved & adopted as a three year contract.
213 Elections 2023.
Letters from Lichfield District Council have not yet been sent out but a cut off point for nominations is confirmed as 4.00pm on 4th April 2023. Candidates must take the relevant papers to District personally.
214 Staffs County Council Traffic Survey:update on access to data from locations identified & findings.
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Resident email re the signalised junction between A4026 Little Aston Lane; B4138 Rosemary Hill Road; A4026 Blake Street and Clarence Road. Cllr Salter shared the details of this resident’s communication with Council & will also share with County Cllr David Smith.
Details of the traffic meeting on Fri 10th Feb were also shared- attached. Link to meeting notes document.
Cllr Thompson raised the recently circulated email re Village gateways as a speed mitigating measure. Clerk will investigate further.
215 Street Lighting: feedback on research into alternative supply.
Nothing to report.
216 Newsletter: update on articles.
Everything on track for completion Feb 15th.
217 The Coronation: discussion re event celebrations & grant funding.
RESOLUTION: Residents will be invited to apply for grant funding for street parties as per the 2022 Jubilee. No amounts are set pending presentation of applications at the April meeting.
218 Consideration of Town Crier for Shenstone.
RESOLUTION: Unanimously approved that David Salter will take the position of Town Crier for Shenstone. No costs to Parish.
219 in accordance with the provision of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, Section 5 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations and Paragraphs 2, 3 and 7 of the Council’s Access to Information Rules, the public and press be excluded during consideration of the following item:
Protests in Shenstone & occupation of Malkins Coppice: review & discussion of confidential report. Following detailed review of the confidential reports & the options detailed Council made the following unanimous resolution:
RESOLUTION: Council will with immediate effect seek a meeting with South Staffs Water re the lease of Malkins Coppice. The decision is that no other actions justify the use of public money.