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Minutes September 2018

IPSTONES PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 26 September 2018 at 7.00p.m. in the Blore Suite at Ipstones Memorial Hall 

PRESENT:       Councillors Philip Barks, Heather James, Linda Malyon (Chair), Sandy Richards,

Andrew Stevenson, Patrick Stimpson & John Williams.  The Clerk, 1 x Reporter

and 1 Member of the Public.

APOLOGIES:  Councillors Mycock & Shuttleworth

DISPENSATIONS:  None Received 

DECLARATION OF INTEREST:  It was agreed to take as they arise.

On proposal by Cllr James and seconded by Cllr Stevenson it was agreed that the minutes for the meeting held on Wednesday 29th August 2018 as being a true record.  This was agreed unanimously.

 109/18.   MATTERS ARISING:

  1. Hedge at Foxt Community Area: Cllr Stimpson said that he will ask the hedge cutter to cut the hedge.
  2. Parking, Froghall Wharf: There was no update for this.
  3. Tree, Shay Lane (which is entwined round a BT wire): Cllr Malyon said she will check if the tree is in the field or on the verge.
  4. New Grid for Belmont Road: It was noted that this has now been installed and it was agreed to send a thank you letter for doing the work so quickly.
  5. Hole round grid on Brookfields Road: It was noted that this has not been repaired yet and agreed to chase up on it.   
  6. Meeting regarding the Bus Services: It was noted that the Bus Company has not yet responded.
  7. Policer/Fire Service Commissioner: It was noted that Mr Ellis will be attending a meeting on Wednesday 7th November 2018 at 7.30p.m. in the Blore Suite.  It was agreed to put notices up.  
  8. Foxt Bank: It was reported that the ‘slip’ on Bank is getting worse and agreed to ask if it can be treated as urgent.

110/18.  PLANS:  The following planning applications had been received: – 

                SMD/2018/0487  Provision of gates to perimeter walling of Churchyard at

St Mark’s Church, Foxt. As the parish council had submitted this application on

behalf of the Church Council it was agreed the only response to be made would be

that members have no objections to the application.

SMD/2018/0504  Retrospective permission for a barn, workshop and storage unit,

together with parking for two vehicles, a mobile home (in connection with the

agricultural use of the land) and associated hard standing and infrastructure at

Balls Paddock, Ashbourne Road, Bottomhouse.  Following discussion it was

proposed by Cllr James and seconded by Cllr Malyon to object to the application

for the following reasons: – That it is an inappropriate development; that the land

is unsuitable for a business; that the access to the field is unsuitable; that the land

is for agricultural use and there has not been a change of use application; that the

development would be unneighbourly; that there are no services such as

sewerage, water or electricity on the site; Members were also opposed the name

given to the field and wondered if they are currently paying Council Tax on the

land which is being used for business use. This was agreed unanimously.

                 SMD/2018/0548  Front and side extension at Sunridge, 3 Belmont Road, Ipstones

Following discussion it was proposed by Cllr James and seconded by

Cllr Stevenson to support this application.  This was agreed unanimously.

SMD/2018/0592  Retrospective consent for additional roof lights, first floor

mezzanine infill and structural opening to Grade II listed barn conversion at

The Barn, Belmont Road, Ipstones.  It was agreed unanimously to support this

application and to state that members believe the Barn should be left as it is

currently and to mention that it is not the Barn that is listed but the ‘Gin’ outside.

111/18.  CORRESPONDENCE 

  1. Police Commissioner’s Office re Invitation to Parish Council Meeting: An e-mail confirmed that Mr Ellis is available to attnd a meeting on 7th   It was agreed that the meeting should commence at 7.30p.m.
  2. T H re Pot Holes on Whitehough Lane and overgrown trees/shrubs on Park Nook Road: Cllr Barks declared a personal interest is this item as T H is a family member. The e-mail was read out and it was noted that the potholes along Whitehough Lane have now been repaired.  However, T H suggested that she thought that the Lengthsman could trim the trees/shrubs if the County Council can’t.  Following a discussion it was agreed all though members believe that it is the responsibility of the County Council on this occasion to ask the Lengthsman to take a look and see if he thinks it is a job he can tackle on his own then to pay him for the extra hours it would take. A member of the public present informed the parish council that he had a chainsaw that the lengthsman could borrow if he needed to.  The Clerk raised concerns about the Lengthsman working with a chainsaw if he is working on his own.  Cllr Malyon volunteered that she wouldn’t mind being around if/when the work is carried out (if a chainsaw is to be used). It was agreed that if it is too big a job for one person then to seek quotes from some local Tree Surgeons then decide what to do.        
  1. Well Street Medical Practice: A reply had been received from the Practice Manager and was read out.  Cllr Malyon said she has heard that the Doctors will meet with a few Councillors but not an open meeting.  Cllr James suggested that it would be better to leave arranging a meeting until after the results of the survey are in.
  2. Community Council of Staffordshire: It was with sadness that it was noted that the Community Council of Staffordshire had closed.  Some of the work they did will be carried out by other organisations.
  3. SMDC, Democratic & Community Services re: World War One Centenary – Ringing of Church Bells: Details of the e-mail were noted and it was agreed to pass to Ipstones & Foxt Churches.
  4. CPRE Staffordshire re Tree & Hedge Planting: Details of this were noted.  Cllr Stevenson took the letter so he could check with Staffordshire Wildlife if they need any trees in Swineholes wood.
  5. Carnegie UK Trust re New report remaking Towns after Brexit: this was noted.
  6. Lengthsman’s Reports (July & August): Details of these were noted.      
  7. Royal Mail re Scams: this was noted and the poster is to be displayed on the Noticeboard.
  8. SMDC re Planning Approval Query: the reply was read out and details noted.
  9. Other circulars, notifications and Newsletter etc

                       SPCA – Weekly Bulletins 

112/18.  RISK ASSESSMENT FOR LENGTHSMAN:  After consideration and consulting the

Lengthsman it was proposed by Cllr James and seconded by Cllr Barks to adopt the

Risk Assessment for the Lengthsman and to check if the quote obtained earlier in

the year for training is still valid and to enquire if they can do a short training

session just for mowing for the Volunteers.  This was agreed unanimously.

It was agreed to adapt the Risk Assessment for the Volunteers and prepare one for

the Clerk.

113/18.  GDPR:  The Clerk reported that she is still working on this and asked if she could

purchase a lockable cabinet to keep the Cemetery Books in.  It was proposed by

Cllr James and seconded by Cllr Richards that the Clerk can purchase a lockable

cabinet.  This was agreed unanimously.

114/18.  LEEK HOSPITAL:  Cllr Malyon explained that the Working Party who are trying to

keep the Hospital open want to get all the parishes involved.  It was agreed to write

and thank them for all the hard work they are doing to keep the Hospital open and

that Ipstones PC fully support them and to let us know if there is anything we can

do to help.

115/18.  Pre- Annual Inspection of Play Equipment:  On going through the Inspection

report for last year it was agreed that the Play Equipment should be cleaned.  A

member of the public present said he would mention it to someone he knows who

may be able to clean the Play equipment.  Cllr Stimpson said he will arrange for the

hedge to be cut. 

116/18.  CONCLUSION OF ANNUAL AUDIT:  The Annual Return had been returned from

the External Auditors and it was noted that the comments for Section 2 – External

Auditor report 2017/2018 stated: – ‘on the basis of our review of

Sections 1 & 2 of the Annual Governance and Accountability return, in our opinion

the information in Sections 1 & 2 of the Annual Return is in accordance with proper

practices and no other matters have come to our attention giving cause for concern

that relevant legislation and regulatory requirements have not been met’.

The Chairman thanked the Clerk for preparing the Annual Accounts and Return.

117/18.  HIGHWAYS:  The following matters were discussed and it was agreed to chase up

on the following matters that have previously been reported: – 

  1. Stones on verge near White Chimneys
  2. Pot Holes in Brookfields Road
  3. Foxt Bank – the slipping of the road is getting worse
  4. Edge of Road between the Lime Kilns and the A52
  5. Grit Piles – Cllr Malyon said she has spoken to the County Council about this
  6. Wall Cart Lane – the Clerk reported that a letter has been sent to the person responsible for the wall.

New items to be reported are: – 

  1. Walls on both sides of Johnny’s Bank at Foxt – stones have fallen into road – Cllr Stimpson agreed to make enquiries as to who is responsible for the walls.
  2. Pot Hole near the Manor House in Foxt
  3. It was agreed to ask the Lengthsman to rake out grooves that have appeared in PFP 102 during recent heavy rain and to strim the access to PFP 4.

118/18.   ANY OTHER BUSINESS DEEMED URGENT 

  1. Memorials for new Cremated Ashes Plots: the Clerk had received a query over the size of the memorials for the new cremated ashes section. It was noted that a standard size is either 20” wide x 18” front to back (the adopted size had been 14” front to back).  It was agreed to amend the size of memorials for the new cremated ashes section to 20” wide x 18” front x 4 “ high at the back.
  2. Request for a metal ‘forget me knot’ mounted on a metal stick for a grave in non-lawn section. The Clerk had received a verbal request for this.  There were no objections to this.
  3. Dead ConiferTree on the green at Foxt: It was noted that some Foxt Residents would like to remove the tree.  Members have no objections to this as the tree is dead.

119/18.   ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT: – The following accounts were agreed for payment: –                

  £
Lengthsman’s Payment for September (Net) 182.16
Lengthsman’s Expenses – mileage 23 miles @ 0.45p 10.35
Clerk’s Salary (net) 630.00
Clerk’s Expenses inc. Ink Cartridges 30.50
L Malyon – to reimburse from Chairman’s Allowance for Gift for a 90th Birthday  

40.70
M Emery – Mowing 700.00
Staffordshire Farm Supplies Ltd – goggles for Lengthsman 8.96
Ipstones Memorial Hall – rent for Doctor’s Branch Surgeries

May and June

  

165.00
Ipstones Memorial Hall – rent for 2 x meetings 40.00
Mazars LLP – Annual Audit Fee 240.00
Woodward’s Printers for printing Survey Sheets for Survey on Doctors Branch Surgeries  

50.40

  ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 

 It was agreed that an item under Any Other Business Deemed Urgent

is to be treated as CONFIDENTIAL 

The date of the next meeting was set for Wednesday 24 October 2018

at 7.00p.m. in the Blore Suite at Ipstones Memorial Hall

 

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