BREWOOD AND COVEN PARISH COUNCIL
WITH
BISHOP’S WOOD AND COVEN HEATH
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL HELD IN THE COUNCIL
OFFICES,
PRESENT:
M. Alden-Court, Cllr A. Ball, Mr F. Barrett,
Mrs J. Carr, Cllr I. Clay, Mr D. Evans, Mrs D.M. Holmes, Mrs K.A. Holmes, Mrs
J.C. Jeffries, Mr G. Martin, Mrs A.Y. Millward, Mr M. Webb, Mr I. Westwood.
APOLOGIES:
Mrs L.E.
Jones – holiday, Dr R.C.H. Taylor – holiday, Cllr M. Hampson – prior meeting.
In the absence of the Chair and the
Vice-chair, Cllr I. Clay was nominated and seconded to Chair the meeting.
MINUTES:
The
minutes of the meeting of the Council held 11 October were approved as being
accurate records and duly signed.
DECLARATIONS
OF INTEREST:
Cllr
Section
17 of the Crime and Disorder Act, 1998 places a duty on local authorities to
consider the crime and disorder implications when exercising its functions and
to do all that it reasonably can to prevent crime and disorder in its
area. Unless otherwise stated it was not
considered that the resolutions moved herein would have any adverse impact for
the purposes of the Crime and Disorder Act.
240.
PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION
The
Chairman moved that the meeting be adjourned for a period of no more than
fifteen minutes to allow any elector of the parish or his/her representative to
raise or question any issues appertaining to proper parish council business.
Cllr A. Ball raised his
concern that the application intended to change the
Mrs J.C. Jeffries raised
her concern at the speed limit in force on the
Mr F. Barrett reported
that he rented the Poor’s Land and stable block at Coven Heath but the stable
block was often difficult to access due to flood water. He requested that he be
allowed to construct a concrete plinth in front of the stable block (12’ x 12’)
at his own expense. Photographs of the problem were circulated at the meeting.
241.
POLICE REPORT
The Council received the written Police report.
MATTERS ARISING:
154** Public Conveniences,
It was resolved that payment be made once the outstanding painting had been completed.
288** Coven Changing Rooms. Letter
received from Nicol Thomas confirming their appointment as Employers Agent for
the development of the new changing rooms in Coven and confirming the charge to
date was £75/hour for five hours work for their preparation of Cost Estimate
No. 1.
Matter of report.
347** Buildings – Proposal
for New Development. A meeting of the Buildings Committee had been
arranged for 2.30pm on Monday 29 October. Clerk’s report referred.
Matter of report.
135* i54
Development. Letter received from Ancer Spa, development, regeneration and planning
consultants with regard to the exhibition to be held at Fordhouses Cricket Club
in
Matter of report.
256* Notification of
Change of Premises Licence Holders. Email received from the Staffordshire Parish
Councils’ Association enclosing the reply from NALC. Copy circulated to members
prior to the meeting. Clerk’s report referred.
It was resolved that the matter be deferred
to the next meeting of the Council.
167. Bishop’s Wood Playing
Field. The Clerk confirmed that two messages had been left for Mr M. Blackstock
to confirm receipt of this Council’s application to Roseclaim for a grant from
the V2007 Festival. No reply had been received.
It was resolved the Clerk write to Mr M. Blackstock of Roseclaim seeking confirmation of having receiped the Council’s letter.
188. Parish Photograph. SPCA sought a
picture of our parish which showed a well known landmark or an attractive view
to compile a slide show. Deferred from the meeting of 13 September. Photographs
of St Mary and St
The matter be deferred to the
next meeting of the Council to consider more appropriate photographs
representing the Parish.
204. Non-domestic Rates –
Matter of report.
226. Mr I. Gough, Brewood Playing
Fields. The Chair and Clerk would be visiting the site on
the Chair’s return from holiday.
Matter of report.
CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED:
Letters, reports, and e-mails had
been received from:
242. Staffordshire County Council with
regard to Public Footpath 37 (from School Lane, Coven to Rainbow Alley)
advising that as the funds allocated to the Community Footpaths Initiative 2007/2008
were limited, the proposed scheme would be inspected with a view to improving
the surface from the Rights of Way Maintenance Budget.
Matter of report.
243. Staffordshire Police with regard
to the Watling Police Authority Consultative Committee meeting held at
Essington Community Centre on 18 October with the Committee meeting at 6.00pm
followed by the Public meeting at 7.30pm. As previously minuted, Dr R.C.H.
Taylor attended on behalf of Mr M. Webb. Copies of the minutes of the previous
meeting were forwarded to Dr Taylor and Mrs J.C. Jeffries, the Councils other
representative. Mr M. Webb proposed that he stand down as representative of the
Parish Council and that Dr Taylor represent the Parish Council in his place. It
had been brought to our attention that only one representative of this Council was
permitted to attend the Committee meetings at 6.00pm.
It was resolved that Dr R.C.H.
Taylor replace Mr M. Webb as the Council’s representative and that Dr Taylor,
subject to availability, attend representing this Council at future closed
(6.00pm) meetings of the Consultative Committee. In Dr Taylor’s absence Mrs
J.C. Jeffries would attend.
244.
Fields in Trust, previously the National
Playing Fields Association, giving notice that membership subscriptions would
be raised from £25 to £35 in 2008 and enclosing the Fields in Trust Newsletter.
Matter of report.
245. Staffordshire County Council with regard to
Footpath no. 1, Jacob’s Ladder. The footpath had been inspected and
arrangements made for repairs to be made to the surface of the path prior to
the stone-walled section. The overhanging vegetation along the path where the
new fencing had been installed was to be cut back to enable people to walk in
the centre of the path. Finally, the County Council would seek quotes from
contractors for improvement to the surface between the two gateways of the
stone-walled section of the path. The Reverend Clive Burgess had been informed
of the proposed work.
It was resolved the Clerk write
to Staffordshire County Council thanking them for attending to this matter.
246. Society of Local Council Clerks with regard to
a press release from the Standards Board for England detailing the availability
of a range of online Code of Conduct fact sheets.
Matter of report.
247.
Campaign to Protect Rural England thanking this
Council for their grant of £25.
Matter
of report.
248. South
Staffordshire Citizen Advice Bureaux thanking this Council for their grant of
£26.25.
Matter
of report.
249. CORRESPONDENCE CIRCULATED:
Reports
and Agenda for the meeting of South Staffordshire Council’s Health and Scrutiny
Scrutiny Panel held 18 October.
Reports
and Agenda for the meeting of South Staffordshire Council’s Regulatory
Committee held 16 October.
Reports
and Agenda for the meeting of South Staffordshire Council’s Community and
Environmental Services Scrutiny Panel to be held 25 October.
Brewood Civic Society copy
correspondence to South Staffordshire Council – planning application
07/01019/OUT.
Staffordshire Police
“saferstaffs” newsletter.
250. COUNTY COUNCIL REPORT:
The Council
received the report of County Councillor R. Roberts who circulated and expanded
on a written report concerning service pipe repairs in Shop Lane around 10
December; plans to resurface the footway along the length of Horsebrook Lane from
no. 42 on both sides of the road to no. 49; Brewood traffic congestion
problems; i54 - Brewood Road; The Orchard – double yellow lines; Coneybere
Gardens – condition of road surface; Birchcroft – footway and manhole cover;
Coven BKV sign.
It was resolved that Cllr Roberts would ask
that Mr D. Wright contact residents of The Orchard to discuss the access
problems and the request for extended double yellow lines. It was further
resolved that a site visit with Cllr Roberts, Mr D. Wright, a representative of
the Housing Association and interested Members of the Parish Council be
arranged to further investigate the options for Coneybere Gardens with regard
to the condition of the road.
251. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT:
In the
absence of the Chair, Mrs L.E. Jones, no report was received.
252. FINANCE REPORT:
The
Council received the finance report from Cllr I. Clay, in the absence of the
Head of Finance Dr R.C.H. Taylor, and resolved the following matters:
·
the
financial summary for the month of October be approved
·
the Budget and Project list for
Q1 2007/2008, as circulated prior to the meeting, be received
·
the quote for a new Council Chain
of Office to be dated from the millennium to include 20 new links, the Jewel to
be refurbished, a silver restraining chain and the replacement of the bottom
central chain link with a new link to be engraved appropriately to include ‘Coven’
at a cost of £1,1164 (excluding VAT) plus the cost of engraving at either 32p
or 21p per letter be approved. Clerk’s report referred. The design and breakdown of the quote
from Vaughtons was circulated to Member’s during the meeting.
·
Council
considered the quote from Mr V. Thwaite for the erection and removal of Coven
Christmas Lights at a cost of £3,250 excluding any extras for replacement bulbs
etc. that arose. Coven Christmas Lights held funds in the region of £2,000 and
the Parish Council grant stood as £2,250. M. Alden-Court recommended that
Council give consideration to contracting the work out to an agency in future
years. It was resolved a decision on the
quote be deferred awaiting confirmation from Mr Thwaite that he would be able
to comply with the Health and Safety requirements forwarded by Staffordshire
County Council, the Chair and Head of Finance be given emergency powers to
approve the quote subject to a satisfactory response and M. Alden-Court to also
be contacted on the matter.
·
the annual subscription to the
Open Spaces Society at a cost of £30, due from 1 November 2007, be approved.
·
a donation to The Royal British
Legion, Brewood and District Branch, for the Remembrance Parade wreaths be
approved to the value of £100. Cost to manufacture is £16.50 and the Council would normally
receive 6 wreaths giving a total cost to manufacture of £99.
·
Council
considered the excess hours over contracted hours worked by the Assistant Clerk,
35 hours, over the period of August to October largely due to increased
workload as a result of Clerk’s additional work to complete the Football
Association grant application, problems with the PCs and printer and staff holidays
impacting on time critical tasks. Excess hours worked by the Clerk have/will be
offset in normal working hours. It was
resolved the excess hours of the Assistant Clerk be paid at a cost of £327.25
before deductions.
·
the proposal to replace the Car Scheme
PC, screen and printer with equipment and software from Dell at a cost of
£728.20 exclu. VAT with 5 year next business day on-site support be approved. This solution would allow this
equipment and system of support to be assessed on a PC which was not critical
to the running of the Council.
Mrs K.A. Holmes left the meeting.
253. PLANNING:
The Council received the planning report
from the Head of Planning, Mrs D.M. Holmes, and approved the planning
applications received as set out in the attached schedule. Cllr
Cllr R. Roberts left the meeting.
Communities and Local Government
with regard to the appeal by Persimmon Homes against South Staffordshire
District Council’s failure to determine planning application reference
06/00638/OUT land south of Featherstone village, east of Brookhouse Lane,
Featherstone. The timetable for a decision had been moved to 14 February 2008,
the target date for decisions on the other cases.
Matter of report.
The Planning Inspectorate with
regard to the appeal by Mr J. Lee at The Bungalow, Rock bank,
Matter of report.
254. CLERKS REPORT:
The
Council received the written report of the Clerk, Mrs D.E. Drury. The Clerk
further reported that Environmental Health representatives from South Staffordshire
Council had contacted local residents in Bishops Wood with regard to the
dumping of garden rubbish on the bridle-way from
255. DISTRICT
COUNCIL REPORT:
The Council received the report
of Cllr I. Clay who reported on the training sessions held for District
Councillors over the past two months, the postponed appeal by Mr Dunne, housing
in
The Chairman moved
the suspension of Standing Order 44 to allow the completion of business.
ANY OTHER MATTERS OF REPORT:
256. Remembrance
Day. The Council
had been advised that we would be receiving an invitation to attend the Parade
from the Royal British Legion,
It
was resolved
257. Rescission
of Previous Resolution.
Mrs K.A. Holmes had indicated that she wished to speak on this matter.
It
was resolved the matter be deferred to the next meeting of the Council.
258. Any
Other Matters of Report.
M. Alden-Court reminded Members that any matters they required to be included on
the agenda of a standard meeting of the Council needed to be made available to
the Clerk on the Friday preceding the meeting scheduled for the following
Thursday. A report with regard to the NALC conference attended in May would be
made available for the next meeting of the Council.
Matter
of report.
There being no further business the meeting
closed at 9.35pm.
CLERK’S REPORT FOR THE MEETING HELD 25TH
OCTOBER 2007
256.
Notification of Change of Premises
Licence Holders
The
Vice Chairman had asked that, subject to NALC being in agreement, a copy of the reply from its Policy Officer
be forwarded to the Chairman of the Licensing Committee.
Possible
Re-development of the Council Offices
The meeting with the Conservation Officer,
David Burton-Pye, and John Round, Architect had been confirmed for 2.30pm
Monday 29 October at the Council Offices.
Members of the Building Committee had been advised.
Standing Orders
Review Sub Committee
The meeting had been arranged for 1.00pm
Monday 29 October.
Chairman’s Chain of
Office
The representative from Vaughtons visited
the office on Tuesday and had e-mailed the quotation and alternative design as
tabled.
The first option as proposed by Jan Jeffries
(the addition of a second row of twenty links and, “something at the bottom to
include Coven”) would cost a total of £1,280.14 plus the cost of engraving at
either 32p or 21p per letter.
The cost of the second option as proposed by
the Vice Chairman (a new chain to be dated from the millennium with a larger
central link to be engraved appropriately to include Coven) £1,111.64 plus the
cost of a display board for the old chain of £119 plus the cost of the engraving as quoted
above.
I have queried why the links were hung
vertically rather than horizontally as on the existing chain. I was advised
that the names would still be engraved horizontally which meant that on the
links hanging on either side of the chain the engraving was facing the correct
way.
Campaign to Protect
Rural
Peter Wakeham had passed on an invitation to
a meeting to be held at 7.30pm on Thursday 1 November at Wombourne Civic Centre. This was the first of a number of such
meetings and one of the topics for discussion would be to highlight the
pressures on the Green Belt in the south of the County. It was anticipated that the talk and question
and answer session would last an hour and would be followed by a finger buffet.
Numbers were required. There was no charge.
Footway Resurfacing
at
We had received notice from Staffordshire
Highways that it was intended that the footway resurfacing works at Horsebrook
Lane would be commencing on 5 November and it was anticipated that the work would
take approximately five weeks to complete.
Although access to affected frontages would be maintained some
disruption would be inevitable.
Sandy Lane Public Conveniences
The
six month period was up at the end of this month and the Contractor was
pressing for payment of the balance of £4,448.96. He had accepted that there was a patch of
render that needed to be repainted and he had promised that this would be done
in the immediate future. I had also
reported that the bulb in the toilet for the disabled had been replaced twice
and I asked for the wiring to be checked.
The Council’s permission to pay the outstanding sum on completion of
these jobs was requested?
Staffordshire Parish Councils’
Association Additional Module for New Councillors - Communication and Town and
Country Planning
The
above training session had been arranged for 7.00pm to 9.00pm on 15 November
and would be held at the Walton Room, Stafford Borough Council offices. The cost was £20 for the 1st delegate with 2nd
and 3rd delegates charged at £10. Those wishing to attend to please
advise the Clerk as numbers were required as soon as possible.
Staffordshire Parish Councils’
Association Training Course – Bidding for Funding
A
training session on the above subject has been arranged for 7.00pm – 9.00pm on
Thursday 22 November at Rooms 9/10 Peel Buildings. Course fees were £20 for 1st delegate
with 2nd & 3rd delegates charged at £10. Numbers were required as soon as possible.
Parking Problems in Brewood
David
Evans had e-mailed a report on traffic problems which he would like considered
prior to the meeting with the Highway engineers. It arrived too late for inclusion in the
agenda for this meeting but I had tabled copies to enable members to study his
proposals prior to the next meeting.
A
resident of Newport Croft had called at the office today to register her
concern that twice in the last six days she had been confronted by large 4 x 4
vehicles that had mounted the pavement in front of her. Although she opposed the one-way system for
Meeting of the Staffing Committee
In view
of the Single Status Agreement we needed to have a meeting of the Committee to
look at the Contracts of Employment for the manual workers.
Christmas Lighting
It
appears that more vigorous conditions were being imposed with regard to the
installation of Christmas Lighting. I had
handed copies of the information forwarded from Staffordshire County Council to
the local contractor who would go through the requirements and report back to
Council.