Draft minutes of meeting of Full Council held on Tuesday April 9^th 2024, at Stonnall Community Centre.

194 Register of members in attendance

Cllrs David Salter (Chair), Lesley Edgley (Vice Chair), Stuart Jones, Gail Nicholls, Phil Whitehouse, Mick Cox, Simon Fisher, Dino D’ Ambrosio, Emma Scothern, Stuart Harrison, Christopher Callow and Leona Leung.

Representatives of other organisations.

County Cllr David Smith- Staffordshire County Council

PCSO Andrea Horsnall (arrived 8.10pm).

Officers of the Council

Shirley O’Mara (Clerk and RFO)

195 Acceptance of apologies.

Cllrs David Thompson & Ruth Graham.

196 Public Participation.

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

PCSO Horsnall briefed Council on the latest incidents reported to Police:

Shenstone: 76 incidents, Stonnall 13 & Little Aston 30.

The protests at UAV are proving very challenging despite some advance knowledge of when they are scheduled – they often start earlier than expected & there are also “pop up” protests which are unknown in advance. The escalation of protests mirrors the situation in the Middle East with Officers making every attempt to keep the roads open but ultimately maintaining public safety as the priority.

The police are currently taking impact statements from residents and businesses affected.

Cllr Callow asked if there was a special operation looking at vehicle crime in the area. PCSO Horsnall said that she will investigate but that it is a County & National issue, with theft of tools from vehicles as well as theft of vehicles on the increase.

197 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

198 To accept and confirm minutes of the last Full Council meeting on Tuesday March 12th, 2024.

Duly approved & signed.

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

• Defibrillator, Little Hay. Grant funding of £750 has been secured through London Hearts with the Parish Council match funding. Delivery and installation soon.

• Revised Community Grant application for Shenstone Tennis Club £936.00 scoreboard, windbreak, solar lighting, Kollectable. RESOLUTION: Unanimously approved.

• Revised Community Grant application for St Johns Hall £1500.00.

The Clerk shared with Members additional information re the application detailing a damaged window which is the main area of concern as well as the shortage of available funds to the Hall Committee. RESOLUTION: Unanimously approved on condition that the other funds required to complete the work are secured.

• Cllr Salter briefed Members on resurfacing of Doctors Lane. It has now been established that whilst the Lane is unadopted it is actually owned by Lichfield District Council who have passed responsibility to Staffs County Council.

• Cllr D’Ambrosio asked the Clerk if the representatives of St Peters School have been in touch re a potential grant application. The Clerk had requested that they contact her after Easter but has not heard from them as yet, she would encourage them to contact her to progress. Cllr D’Ambrosio to pursue.

200 To receive reports from District and County Councillors.

County Cllr David Smith briefed Council on Planning Application 24/00359 for the conversion of an existing building to a drive-thru restaurant. Highways have concerns that if approved this would pose an increase safety risk with an increase in traffic at the junction.

Cllr Whitehouse pointed out that the planning paperwork incorrectly states that the location is Muckley Corner when it is Barracks Lane.

District Councillor Whitehouse shared with members details of the Lichfield District Council strategic plan up to 2050 which includes several issues which will affect Parish.

He also shared safety concerns raised with him by the Managers of Shire Oak Quarry regarding youths entering the potentially extremely dangerous site. The Police have been consulted & the uniformed groups notified. Cllr Whitehouse will also engage with St Peters School.

A date has been arranged with PCSO Andrea Horsnall to meet residents of Stonnall at a mobile police surgery on Friday 19^th April at 5.00pm starting outside the shops in Main Street.

Cllr Salter updated Council on a meeting held last week with UAV Managers, the Police, the Leader & the C.E.O of Lichfield District Council re the ongoing & escalating protests outside the U.A.V Factory. There is growing concern at the escalation on all levels as well as the likelihood of counter protests.

201 Planning.

Review & consider all planning applications received to date. Link to panning applications spreadsheet. 

Cllr Jones asked if a planning application for a property in Richard Cooper Rd had been approved- Clerk to check.

Cllr Salter briefed Members on a planning application to convert a field in Little Hay into a dog exercise area. Although within the Parish Ward of Shenstone Woodend, the site is covered by the District Ward of Bourne Vale. It has been called in by District Member Cllr. Brian Yeates as there have been a lot of local objections.

Next meeting of Neighbourhood Planning & Property Committee Thurs April 18^th, 2024, at 10.00am Parish Office.

202 Finance.

Current financial position & transactions for approval as of 9^th April 2024. Link to Financial transactions spreadsheet

Nat West Current Account: £905.00

Nat West Business Reserve £54,272.27

Unity Bank Account: £1,123.00

Nat West Liquidity Account ring fenced funds for earmarked projects: £95,788.24.

Cllr Whitehouse asked for clarification re burial payments as they are often different. The Clerk explained this is because requests differ: some are for interment only, some include a stone, etc. Full details are on the website.

The Clerk is awaiting confirmation of access to online banking. Once complete £15,000 will be moved from the ring-fenced funds to cover the Navigus bills to date, leaving £10,000 in ear marked funds for neighbourhood planning as agreed by Council at previous meetings.

The internal audit is scheduled for Weds 10^th April.

£5,663.52 of CIL funding has just been confirmed relating to the development at Shenstone Moss between Oct-March.

Next meeting of Finance, Legal, Health & Safety Committee Tues April 18^th at 11.00, 2024, at the Parish Office. As both the Neighbourhood Planning Meeting & the Finance meeting are focusing on the Burial Authority Review & fees for St Johns Cemetery both meetings have been moved to accommodate.

203 Neighbourhood Plan refreshes;

update & next steps Shenstone & Little Aston (Cllr Thompson)

& Stonnall (Cllr Whitehouse). Cllr Saler, in the absence of Cllr Thompson, explained that the initial public consultation meetings have been held in Little Aston & Shenstone with good feedback from each. Feedback is now being compiled & next steps to be discussed at a meeting on Monday.

Stonnall Neighbourhood Plan progresses well with the Working Group having several subgroups including Roads, Community Centre & Community Buildings. They met with Navigus on 19^th March & have received feedback on existing policies as well as looking at demographics.

The opportunity to apply for a grant from Localities is not yet available online.

Next meeting of the group is 15^th May & all are welcome.

204 Update on Heat Networks Development Unit bid for government funding by LDC/South Staffs Water Ltd.

No discussion.

205 Consideration of Emergency Grant Application from Stonnall Community Centre for a replacement projector: max £1101.00.

Cllr Cox gave the background behind the purchase of a replacement projector which is used by the Cinema Club & other users of the Community Centre. Whilst not all members agreed that the application met the criteria of an emergency, after some discussion it was majority agreed that the purchase was necessary, and that Council would provide some funding. RESOLUTION: Council to provide 66% of grant funding.

206 Church Rd, Stonnall: ongoing concerns.

Cllr Whitehouse explained the ongoing problems with the overgrown footpath on Church Road which, whilst not a Parish responsibility, is still an issue for several residents. After some discussion it was agreed that the Parish Council needs to officially raise it with County.

207 Pinfold Hill to Millbrook Public Right of Way: consideration of resurfacing.

It was acknowledged that the right of way needs attention and should be referred to the Community Footpath Initiative Scheme. Clerk to pursue.

208 To consider resignation of Cllr Leona Leung.

Cllr Leung shared her reasons for offering her resignation which was accepted by Council. Cllr Salter, on behalf of all Members, thanked her for her contribution & wished her well for the future.

209 Next meeting of Full Council 7^th May 2024 at Shenstone Community Library 7.15pm.