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
Cllr A.
Ball, Mr F. Barrett, Mrs J. Carr, Cllr I. Clay, Mr D. Evans, Mrs D. M. Holmes,
Mrs L. E. Jones, Mr G. Martin, Dr R.C.H. Taylor, Mr M. Webb, Mr I. Westwood.
APOLOGIES:
Apologies
were received from M. Alden-Court (illness), Mrs K.A. Holmes (illness), Mrs J.
C. Jeffries (family commitment), Mrs A.Y. Millward (holiday).
MINUTES:
The
minutes of the meetings of the Council held 9 October and the Staffing
Committee held on 23 October were approved as being an accurate record and duly
signed.
DECLARATIONS
OF INTEREST:
Mrs L.E.
Jones declared a personal and pecuniary interest in item 212, Coven Memorial
Hall seeking a reduction in annual licensing fees and indicated she wished to
speak during public participation. Mrs
Jones, Dr R.C.H. Taylor and Mr I. Westwood declared a personal interest in item
213 Coven Heath Community Association with regard to the Trustees of the Dole
Charity. Mrs D.M. Holmes declared a personal interest in item 183 Hedgerow
notification,
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 to be moved herein would have any adverse impact for the
purposes of the Crime and Disorder Act.
208.
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.
Mrs
L.E. Jones regarding item 212 Coven Memorial Hall seeking Parish Council
support in obtaining a reduction in licensing fees. Mrs Jones asked for verification of the fact
that the licensing fees were set by parliament. She pointed out that Village
Halls were manned by volunteers and received very little in the way of
grants. Cllr M. Hampson stated that
District Council were bound by the terms set by the Government and must
therefore collect the fees as stated, however they were trying to obtain
support in order to go back to Government with the view that Village Halls were
the hub of the community and should be entitled to a reduction in fees.
It
was resolved that the matter be deferred until the next meeting in order for
more information to be gathered and for copies of correspondence to be
circulated to all Members.
Mrs
D.M. Holmes regarding item 183 Hedgerow notification. Mrs Holmes raised her concern that heavier
traffic would use
It
was resolved that the Clerk contact South Staffordshire Council with regard to
the condition the roads were being left in.
209. COUNTY COUNCIL REPORT:
The planning decision on the
Waste to Energy proposal was to be taken at the County Council Planning
Committee meeting on Thursday 6th November 2008. Mr F. Barrett raised his concern with regard
to lorries from the site tipping soil in Coven Heath. Cllr Clay stated that planning permission was
needed to tip the soil but that it had not been granted in this instance by
District Council. Cllr Roberts agreed to look into this matter further
particularly as local residents had not been advised this work was to start.
The County Council had granted
£3million to the police to provide, for the next 18 months, 38 additional
Community Police Support Officers and 16 Youth Workers. The service would cover the whole county.
Fire and Rescue Service – On
approval of the preferred bidder the build of ten new stations would commence,
to include community facilities. The
total PFI amounts to £46million. Cllr
Roberts stated that contractors would be responsible for the maintenance of the
building for 25 years before the stations were handed over to the fire
authority.
Cllr Roberts reported that he had
received a report from Nathaniel Lichfield regarding housing requirements and,
as a result of the increased figure for new development, the Planning
Partnership for the West Midlands had been advised that they may no longer be
able to maintain their policy to stop outward migration and should review the
Green Belt if necessary.
Cllr Roberts was asked about
progress on repairs to the road at
210. POLICE
REPORT
Council received the
Police report from PCSO A. Price, who stated that due to staff changes there
would now be an increased Police presence in the Parish. PC Matt Smith would now be the new Police
Officer for Brewood, Coven and surrounding villages and PCSO Price would also
cover Brewood, Coven and surrounding villages. He reported that a recent
incident in Brewood that had involved a helicopter and a large police presence
had been due to a missing person who was subsequently found. He provided a new
non-emergency telephone number and voice mail number.
MATTERS ARISING:
288** Coven Changing Rooms.
The project was now progressing,
full details provided in the Clerk’s report. In summary R. A. Edwards had
confirmed they would take site possession on 10 November and a pre-construction
meeting with the contractor, project manager and Coven Changing Rooms Committee
had taken place on 29 October. Sunset
Close residents had already received letters from the contractors advising them
of forthcoming work.
Matter
of report.
347** Buildings – Proposal
for New Development. Awaiting details concerning the ownership of Church
House. Matter of report.
347** Buildings
– Scout Hut and Youth Club Provision.
A meeting of the newly formed Working Group
was scheduled for 10 October to bring together the necessary skills to draw up
outline plans – the representatives on this group would change as the work on
the business plan progresses. A meeting of the Steering Group was scheduled for
23 October, Mr M. Webb attended on behalf of the Parish Council. Email also
received from Cllr M. Hampson forwarding the report of the Participatory
Workshop held at the Jubilee Hall in September (to be tabled at the meeting)
and a further update was also received from Cllr Hampson. Cllr Hampson reported that the Barnfield
Sandbeds area was being considered as a possible site for youth services. A site visit to discuss the matter was
scheduled for 12 November with County Council representatives, planners, the
Director of Regeneration and officers from South Staffordshire Council’s
Landscapes Department.
Matter
of report.
72* / 151* Traffic
Management. Awaiting detailed drawings of the recommendation to construct two
‘build-outs’ in
It was
resolved the Traffic Management Committee would meet on 17 November at 10.00am.
The Clerk to follow-up the matter of the bollard outside the Admiral Rodney and
confirm the list of requests for double-yellow lines that had been put on file with
Mr Keeling of Area Highways.
Cllr R. Roberts left the
meeting at 8.35pm.
205*/250*
Matter of report.
217* Proposals for a
Matter of report.
307*
324* Portable Flashing
Speed Warning Signs. Clerk to follow up with Mr Keeling in the light of
information obtained from a Town Council who had successfully implemented a
system. Report enclosed. Letter also received from Brewood Civic Society
enclosing an article from The Times with regard to the benefits or otherwise of
road-side speed indicators (SIDs) – this correspondence will be tabled at the
meeting. A report with regard to Staffordshire County Council’s policy on SIDs
and the effectiveness of SIDs elsewhere in the Parish was circulated prior to
the meeting.
It was resolved that the recommendations of the report be approved, that the Clerk write to Area Highways:
·
seeking a definitive statement
with regard to their policy appertaining to Parish Councils sourcing and
running their own SIDs
·
recommending that either County
change their policy to meet the requests of Parish Councils or that a programme
of availability be agreed where-by a Parish can have an agreement that on x
occasions in a 12 month period County will install up to two SIDs at any of
several previously agreed locations that we deem to be of areas of community
concern
·
recommending that, assuming the
latter is a workable solution, then County also fund additional SIDs to support
this scheme
·
listing specific ‘areas of
community concern’ that this Council would want to be considered as agreed
locations.
No further ‘areas of community concern’ were raised.
377* Affordable Housing. Awaiting
the outcome of the Housing Needs Survey and replies from Ms U. Bennion with
regard to the interpretation of ‘Local Connection’. Essington Parish Council
had phoned to say they understood it to mean that anyone with a family
connection to someone already living in the village can obtain accommodation
under ‘Local Connection’.
It was resolved the Clerk contact Mr J. Lawrence seeking clarification as to when the report would be available.
408* Croft House, Coven. Further to the reply received from Mr D.
Burton-Pye, Cllr M. Hampson had forwarded a reply received from the Principal
Enforcement Officer at South Staffordshire Council – Clerk’s report referred.
Cllr Hampson said he would continue to pursue the matter and was thanked for
his assistance. Council resolved to keep the matter on the agenda. Clerk’s report referred.
Matter of report.
56. Bus Shelter, The Parade, Coven. The shelter had
been erected on 24 October and Members reported that it had already been very
well used. Further to the query raised at the previous meeting the budget
set-aside for the bus shelter was £3,500 as stated.
Matter of report.
58. The Bront. Clerk to seek quotes for the required tree works and path; support of Coven residents to be sought to form a community support group for the Bront; suitable grant opportunities and support from other organisations to be sought for implementing the Woodland Management Plan including display boards. Guidance also offered by Mr H. Medlicott. Clerk’s report referred.
Matter of report.
61. BT Review of Red Phone Boxes. Awaiting the
outcome of the BT review of the phone boxes at Ivetsey Bank Road in Bishops
Wood and Deansfield Close in Brewood (BT insist on still including Heath Park
in Ball Lane at Coven Heath). Should BT decide to remove the Bishops Wood kiosk
then the Clerk to endeavour to arrange to adopt the kiosk – no action to be
taken at this stage.
Matter of report.
63. Bench,
It was resolved the Clerk contact South Staffordshire Housing Association requesting the license be changed to refer to a metal bench and the Clerk investigate the cost of the supply and installation of a new bench.
74. Reduction of Green Bus
Service. Letters to be sent to Mr D. Kidney MP, Sir P. Cormack MP, the
Department of Rural Affairs and the Department of Transport stating that the
responses received to date had been unsatisfactory and the Environment Agency
to also be appraised of the matter. The Clerk had written to Blymhill and
Weston Under Lizard Parish Council and Lapley, Stretton and Wheaton Aston
Parish Council seeking their support to make a joint effort to resolve the
matter.
Matter of report.
101. Staffing
Committee. The Council received the report and recommendations of the Staffing
Committee following the meeting held 23 October.
It was resolved that the recommendations of the Staffing Committee meeting held on 23 October be approved.
102. Access to Council
Offices, Hand Rail. Awaiting written confirmation from South
Staffordshire Council that planning approval is not required (ref. Conservation
Area).
Matter of report.
114. Locality 2 Forum Meeting. Letter
received stating that the buffet would now commence at 5.45pm with
presentations from officers from 6.15pm. An agenda had been provided comprising
of Transport Review, Social Care and Health Update and Locality Delivery Plans.
If any key issues were to be raised that were not on the agenda then notice was
required in order that relevant officers may be present. An invitation had now
been extended to all Members to attend if they wished.
It was resolved the Clerk inform
117. Waste 2 Energy Site. Letter received
from Mr P. Sanders raising his concern at the impact of traffic accessing the
site particularly as traffic would not be allowed to travel along the A5. He
also drew attention to other projects proposed for the area that would also
significantly increase traffic on the A449. Copy circulated prior to the
meeting. Clerk’s report referred.
It was resolved that the Clerk reply
to Mr P. Sanders explaining that the Cllr Roberts had reported on this matter and
that there were no plans for traffic to travel along the A5 other than for the
very short distance from the motorway to the Vicarage Road turning and that
affordable housing referred to properties for both the purchase and rental
market.
135. Application for Premises
Licence - Coopers Fine Foods, 4 The Parade, Coven.
Dr R.C.H. Taylor reported with
regard to the matter raised by Mr D. Evans, reference the licensing hearing.
Letter also received from South Staffordshire Council confirming the decision
to approve the licence application. Member’s
were satisfied that all parties concerned had appreciated that Mrs Holmes had
not been representing Council’s views at the hearing.
175. South Staffordshire
Council Open Space Strategy. Draft for consultation which detailed their thinking about how the vision for open
space might become a reality and the mechanisms for achieving this. At
the last meeting of the Council there was nothing specific to report with
regard to the consultation. Following further correspondence from Mr H. Jones
of South Staffordshire Council expressing the importance of feedback from the
Parish Councils a response to the 10 questions raised was drafted and returned,
with the approval of the Chair of Council, Dr R.C.H. Taylor. Matter of report.
183. Hedgerow Notification,
Matter of report.
190. Street Light,
Junction of
Matter of
report.
194. Communities and Local
Government Consultation Paper ‘The Making and Enforcement of Byelaws’. The
paper invited views on the proposed new procedure which would enable local
authorities to make certain byelaws without the need for scrutiny by the
Secretary of State and about proposals for a new enforcement regime for
byelaws. The paper was again tabled at the meeting. Comments were invited by 20
November. The paper was also available via the internet:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/byelaws. The Clerk
reported that having read the document it did not seem appropriate for Council
to respond.
Matter of report.
285* Composting Site,
It was resolved the Clerk follow the matter up with South Staffordshire Council.
301* Road
Matter of report.
CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED:
Letters, reports, and e-mails had
been received from:
211. The Royal British Legion, Brewood
and District Branch inviting Members to join the Legion at this year’s
Remembrance Day Parade and Service. The parade would assemble on the car park
at the Branch H.Q. in
It
was resolved that the representatives of the Council to lay wreaths would be:
St Mary and St Chad’s, Brewood - Dr R.C.H. Taylor; St Mary’s, Brewood - Mrs D.M.
Holmes; Methodist Church, Brewood - Clerk to deliver to Mrs B. Batham of Timber
Grove; St Paul’s, Coven - Mr F. Barrett; St John’s, Bishops Wood - Mr I.
Westwood.
212. South Staffordshire Council inviting the Chair and partner to the
Service of Remembrance which would take place in the Council Chamber at 10.30am
on 11 November with light refreshments after. Dr Taylor is unable to attend.
Clerk to confirm
It
was resolved Mrs D.M. Holmes would attend on behalf of the Council and lay a
wreath in the absence of the Chair.
213. Mrs J. Gibbins, Secretary of Coven Memorial Hall seeking the
support of the Parish Council to obtain a reduction in annual fees paid to
South Staffordshire Council in respect of licensing of premises for the sale of
alcohol and entertainment under the Licensing Act 2003. Copy enclosed.
It
was resolved that the matter be deferred to the next meeting of the Council
when all related correspondence will have been circulated to Members.
Cllr M. Hampson left the meeting.
214. Coven
Heath Community Association with regard to the Trustees of the Dole Charity.
Copy circulated prior to the meeting. Mr
F. Barrett read from the last minutes of the Association where this matter was
raised. Mrs L.E. Jones, Dr R.C.H. Taylor and Mr I. Westwood then left the room
while the matter was discussed, having previously been asked to remain while Mr
Barrett read from the minutes.
It
was resolved that the Clerk reply explaining that the matter had been discussed
at length by the Council, that advice had been sought from the Charity
Commission and Staffordshire Parish Council’s Association and that as a result
this Council understood the basis on which Parish Councillors serve as
Trustees. Access to the said correspondence to be made available in the Council
Office if representatives of the Association wished to read it. Mr M. Webb
abstained from voting.
215. Mr A. Monkton advising this Council of the fine (£3,200) he would
have incurred had he erected scaffolding to paint
Matter
of report.
216. SPCA invitation to the Annual General Meeting and Conference on 15
November at 10.30am in the Council Chamber,
It
was resolved the Clerk reply to the SPCA the M. Alden-Court would attend, cost
of lunch (SPCA to invoice the Council) and travelling expenses to be
reimbursed.
217. Community Council of Staffordshire enclosing the judges comments
from this years
It
was resolved that the Clerk forward copies to the three committees and Brewood
Civic Society (request received). Council approved that the Brewood BKV Group
take up their concerns with the Community Council.
218. Letters received from the Friends of St John’s First School and
219. E.on Energy Services with regard to the need to apply for a
licence to attach seasonal decorations to street lights.
It
was resolved that the Clerk forward copies of the letter to the four lighting
committees.
220. Mr S. Dores, Senior Arboricultural Officer, South Staffordshire
Council with regard to the information forwarded to this Council concerning TPO
applications and CA notifications. He advised that these were not formal
consultations, there being no requirement in current legislation or in the
Council’s Constitution to formally consult with parish councils, but that the
Council was happy to consider any representations Members may wish to make in
the allotted timescales. It was further noted that there was a formal
consultation requirement for hedgerow removal notifications. Matter of report.
221. South Staffordshire Council Inter Parish Games Presentation
Evening at Wombourne Civic Centre on 14 November. Tickets are £4 each.
It
was resolved that Dr R.C.H. Taylor would attend the presentation if he was
available and would notify the Clerk if a ticket was required.
222. West Midlands Regional Strategy, Phase Two
Revision update. The correspondence referred to the concerns of the Regional Assembly with regard
to proposals to set even higher housing targets. The report was tabled at the
meeting.
Matter
of report.
223. Staffordshire Council inviting this Council
to register for their on-line planning consultation system ConsulteeAccess. This system would enable the
Council to enter planning recommendations directly into their planning system
but not at this stage access applications. Clerk’s report referred.
It was resolved the Clerk reply
accepting the recommendation.
224. Staffordshire County Council with regard to
consultation events planned on issues and options for the Staffordshire and
Stoke-on-Trent Waste Core Strategy and The Staffordshire Mining Core Strategy.
The nearest event for this Council was at the South Staffordshire Council
Offices in Codsall on 4 November between 10am and 4pm.
Matter
of report.
225. SSCVA Community Action Network meeting at
There
were no Members available to attend this meeting.
226. NALC consultation on Parish Council’s experience of petitions.
Reply required by 7 November.
It
was resolved that the Clerk reply as appropriate.
227. NALC seeking views on
proposals to extend the right to time off to people serving in a wide range of
civic roles and consideration of non-regulatory ways to encourage people to
take on roles in third sector organisations. The consultation comprised of 12 questions
relating to this matter. Replies required by 19 December. A copy of the
consultation document was available at
www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/timeoffconsultation.
No
Members wished to respond.
228. NALC seeking views on
proposals designed to enable local people to participate in decisions that
affect their day-to-day lives; to hold to account those who exercise power in
their locality; and to facilitate the work of those democratically elected to
represent their communities. The consultation comprised of 13 questions
relating to this matter. Replies required by 30 October.
Matter
of report.
229. Natural
230. SPCA training programme to February 2009. Copy enclosed.
There
were no Members wishing to attend.
231. Staffordshire County
Council seeking to recruit and train Clerks to School Governing Bodies in
It
was resolved that the opportunity be advertised on Parish notice-boards.
232. Sheila Latham, Brewood Tennis
Club, Clerk’s report referred.
It
was resolved Dr R.C.H Taylor would attend on behalf of the Parish Council.
233. SPCA, notice of the West Midlands
Rural Conference, Clerk’s report referred.
No
Member’s indicated that they wished to attend.
234.
SPCA, notice of the ‘West Midlands Quality
Parish Councils Local Leadership 2020’, Clerk’s report referred.
No
Members indicated that they wished to attend.
CORRESPONDENCE CIRCULATED:
Agenda and reports for the
meeting of South Staffordshire Council’s Regulatory Committee held on 14
October 2008.
Agenda and reports for the
meeting of South Staffordshire Council’s Executive Meeting held on 14 October
2008.
Agenda and reports for the
meeting of South Staffordshire Council’s Direct and Support Services Scrutiny
Panel held on 15 October 2008.
Agenda and reports for the
meeting of South Staffordshire Council’s Health Scrutiny Panel held on 16
October 2008.
Agenda and reports for the
meeting of South Staffordshire Council’s Community and Environmental Services
Scrutiny Panel held on 21 October 2008.
Agenda and reports for the
meeting of South Staffordshire Council to be held on 28 October 2008.
Agenda and reports for the
meeting of South Staffordshire Council’s Partnership and Strategic Services
Scrutiny Panel to be held on 30 October 2008.
Community Council of
Staffordshire – Annual Report 2007 – 2008.
Your Staffordshire –
Staffordshire County Council newsletter.
Open Spaces Newsletter.
Minutes of the meeting held 20
October. Copy correspondence from Brewood Civic Society to South Staffordshire
Council Planning – St Mary’s Hall Kiddemore Green Road, St Mary and St Chad’s
First School, 12 The Pavement, 13 Church Road, Dean House 11A Dean Street.
FIT Focus – Fields in Trust
Newsletter.
235
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT:
The
Chair, Dr R.C.H. Taylor had nothing to report.
236. FINANCE REPORT:
The
Council received the Finance Report from the Head of Finance, Mrs L.E. Jones
and resolved the following matters:
·
The Financial Summary for the
month of October be approved.
·
The Budget and
Project Lists for Q2 2008/2009 be received.
·
The recommendations of the Budget
Sheet Report as circulated prior to the meeting be approved.
·
The financial investments of the
Parish Council were considered. Clerk’s report referred. It was resolved the
investments remain as they currently stood.
·
The annual sub. to the Open
Spaces Society at a cost of £30 be approved.
·
The quote to re-seed the small
and large goal areas at
·
The quote to soil and turf the
aerial runway mound at Coven Playing Field at a cost of £184 including VAT by
·
That winter bedding for the
Parish Council troughs and planters be ordered up to a cost of £100 exclu. VAT.
237.
PLANNING REPORT:
The Council received the Planning Report
from the Head of Planning, Mrs D.M. Holmes and considered the planning
applications received as set out in the attached schedule.
Cllr A. Ball and Cllr
The Chairman moved
the suspension of Standing Order 44 to allow the completion of business.
238. CLERKS REPORT:
The
Council received the written report of the Clerk and resolved that:
·
Snowdrops
be planted at
·
A
quote be sought to trim back the branches of the Cherry Tree to the side/rear
of the Council Offices and the work be undertaken with some urgency to avoid
damage to the phone wires.
·
A
quote be sought to trim the hedge at
The
Clerk also reported with regard to the septic tank at Bishops Wood Village Hall
which had been leaking over the skateboard park for some months. Having had the
septic tank emptied it still continued to leak so the Village Hall Management
Committee arranged for some ground works to be undertaken. This highlighted
damage to one of the soak-away pipes caused when the skateboard park fencing
had bee erected by contractors. Although this was then repaired the matter was
not resolved. The Committee have now been advised that the soak-away some
meters below the skateboard park need reinstating and this work was in the
process of being undertaken. Mr I. Westwood requested members to consider
offering financial assistance if it was requested by the committee.
Finally the Clerk reported that
an email had been received from a 16 year old, Jamie, who lived in Brewood
offering to work with the Council on a voluntary basis. The Clerk has already
invited him to a future meeting of the Council.
It
was resolved the Clerk follow-up the possibility of setting up a Youth Council
with Jamie’s support.
239. DISTRICT COUNCIL REPORT:
Cllr. I. Clay reported that he
had attended a seminar on ‘Predisposition and Predetermination or Bias and the
Code of Conduct’. As a result of this seminar he stated that when planning
applications are being discussed at Parish Council meetings in future, he would
leave the room so that when the matters were discussed at District Council, he
could speak and vote on the matter without being considered prejudiced.
Cllr Clay also stated that he had
been informed that the SSDC had signed an agreement with Staffordshire County
Council to deliver on street parking enforcement from February 2009.
Discussions had also been held on
Emergency Powers in case of a major disaster in the area, such as flooding and
atomic waste spillage.
Cllr Clay reported that SSDC had
no money invested in banks in
ANY OTHER MATTERS OF REPORT:
240.
Street Signs,
It
was resolved
There being no other business the
meeting closed at 9.40pm.
Clerk’s Report for the
Meeting to be Held 30 October 2008
288** Coven Changing Rooms The
loan for £48,000 has been received from the Public Works Loans Board, the first
repayment is due 14 April 2009. The Football Foundation has now provided
written confirmation that our preferred contractor R.A. Edwards with Tender C
is acceptable. As a result written confirmation has been sent to the Leon
Beards the project manager that R.A. Edwards can now be awarded the contract.
408* Croft House, Coven. Update received from Cllr M. Hampson forwarding
a reply he had received from the Principal Enforcement Officer at South
Staffordshire Council which stated that ‘Unfortunately we would not be
justified at this time in taking formal action against this property, in the
form of a s215 (Tidy up) Notice. However, if the property or the grounds get
substantially worse then we will be happy to review this situation and advise
accordingly.’ Cllr Hampson states that he will continue to press for a
clean-up. Matter of report.
58 The
Bront I am in contact with
63. Bench,
117. Waste
to Energy Site, Four Ashes.
· Letter received from
Staffordshire County Council advising this Council that the application is to
be considered by the Planning Committee on 6 November. A representative of this
Council is invited to speak for up to 5 minutes although they recommend the
Parish Council’s consulted appoint a single representative. If we wish to speak
then County must be notified by 3 November. Information included in the letter,
summarising the nature of the responses from the Parish Councils, suggests they
have not received confirmation of this Council’s recommendation to approve the
project made on 12 June. I have subsequently written to County copying the
letter dated 13 June and noting it was within the original consultation period.
· Complaint received from Mr Fred
Barrett following the tipping of earth from The Dell at Four Ashes on to
grazing land near the canal bridge off the A449. This involved large, eight
wheel lorries travelling up and down the A449 every 10 minutes for several days
during the middle of October. Work has presumably started at The Dell although
neither the Parish Council or Mr Barrett had been informed and when enquiries
were made at County no one could confirm what was happening. Members’ views.
212. Licensing of Premises
Email forwarded from Cllr M. Hampson with regard to details received from Mr D.
Pattison, Head of Legal and Licensing Services at South Staffordshire Council.
Mr Pattison states ‘The fees under the Licensing Act 2003 are set by Parliament
in the Licensing act (Fees) Regulations 2005. They are therefore set centrally
and not by this [Sth Staffs] Council.
There is an exemption from the annual fee of £180 in relation to the provision
of regulated entertainment at church halls, chapel halls or premises of a
similar nature. If, however, the licence also authorizes the use of the
premises for the supply of alcohol or the provision of late night refreshment,
the standard annual fee is required for those activities.’ The full reply from
Mr Pattison will be copied to Mrs L.E. Jones and Mrs J.Carr.
222. ConsulteeAccess This system will not be as
easy as now as I have been simply emailing our planning sheet after meetings
but it is ‘the way to go’. Recommended
resolution: Council to agree to using the system as described.
URGENT
CORRESPONDENCE
Sheila Latham, Secretary to
Brewood Tennis Club inviting a representative of the Council or the Playing
Fields Committee to attend their A.G.M. which will be held on Tuesday 11
November at the Royal British Legion in
Shop Lane at 8.00pm. Members’ views.
SPCA – notice of the West
Midlands Rural Conference to be held on Wednesday 12 November at Bromsgrove
(day time). There is no charge. Members
wishing to attend to notify the Clerk during the meeting.
SPCA – notice of the ‘West
Midlands Quality Parish Councils Local Leadership 2020’ event on Friday 28
November 2008 at the Government Office West Midlands, 5 St Philip’s Place,
FINANCE
Council
Financial Investments
– the second precept payment has now been received as has the loan from the
PWLB. This means there is in the region of £185,000 in the Council’s savings
account. This is brought to Members attention in the light of emails received
over the last two weeks from the SPCA regarding the current financial climate.
NALC are working to ensure that any support given to Local Authorities from
Government is also given to Town and Parish Councils – a questionnaire in
support of this has been supplied by NALC which I will complete. As yet there
are no financial guarantees if savings are under threat for Local Authorities
and it is currently believed this is unlikely to change. Members’ to consider whether they would like the Clerk to make any
alternative arrangements for the Council’s savings.
Winter Bedding Can Members approve spending up
to £100 for planting up the Council troughs etc for winter.
Flowering Bulbs The order has now arrived from
South Staffordshire Council. The following are available for the Council
handyman to plant out around the Parish: 3x25kg nets of mixed daffodils, 2,000
winter flowering crocuses, 2,000 spring flowering crocuses and 1,000 snowdrops.
Could Member’s indicate where they would
like any bulbs planted.
Tree Work The work on the Council Oak Tree
on the corner of
Hedge,