IPSTONES PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 21 August 2019 at 7.30p.m. at Foxt Village Hall
PRESENT: Councillors Leslie Jackson, Heather James, Linda Malyon (Chair), Howard Mycock, Andrew Stevenson, Patrick Stimpson, Alison Vaughan and John Williams
APOLOGIES: None received
DISPENSATIONS: None received
DECLARATION OF INTERESTS: it was agreed to take as they arise.
On proposal by Cllr Stevenson and seconded by Cllr Williams it was moved that the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 31 July 2019 as being a true record. This was agreed unanimously.
85/19. MATTERS ARISING
- Local Bus Services – there was nothing to report.
- Bus Shelters – It was agreed to let the Lengthsman have the cleaning solution for cleaning the Bus Shelters.
- Rain damage to PFP 102: It was agreed to forward a photo to the Leader of the SCC, the Cabinet Support Members for Highways, County Councillor Heath and the Local Highway Engineers, along with a letter stating that the parish cannot afford to keep paying for repair work to the bridle path and that the 3 grids on Church Lane should be emptied on a 6 – 8 week cycle to prevent them becoming blocked and causing the problem. To also ask the Rights of Way Department about what type of surface would be most suitable for the bridle path.
- Various Locations re ‘Water on the Roads’: The Clerk said that these issues have been reported but that there had been no response yet.
- Grant to St Leonard’s First School ‘Forest School Project’: An invoice had been forwarded to the parish council by the School (not due for payment until October). But the Clerk advised that she thought it would be better to give the grant to the School and for them to pay invoices relating to the project from the grant. It was agreed to arrange for a cheque to be issued to the School in September.
- Barley Road Play Area: The Clerk reported that the Lengthsman has said the he catches himself of the low branches when mowing/strimming. It was agreed to advise him to chop off any offending branches.
- Bridge and steps at Mill Dam: Cllr Malyon said she had made enquiries and been advised that we would need to go through the County Council regarding this. It was agreed to write to the Rights of Way Department.
86/19. PLANS: the following applications had been received: – Cllr Jackson declared a personal interest in planning application numbers SMD/2019/0390 & SMD/2019/0394 Hermitage Farm
SMD/2019/0390 Listed Building Consent for the insertion of six doorways on rear (north) elevation, including reinstatement of three former (blocked up) openings; removal and/or repositioning of internal partition walls on ground floor; removal of attached (unlisted) modern farm sheds to rear and 12 no, car parking bays; re-creation of stone retaining walls at Holiday Cottage, Hermitage Farm, Froghall. Cllr James proposed to support approval of this application. This was seconded by Cllr Mycock and carried with 7 voting in favour.
SMDC/2019/0394 Demolition of three agricultural (storage/cattle) sheds and creation of enclosed garden areas to serve the cottages in the adjacent stone barn conversion, together with creation of 12 bay car park with access track, manoeuvring area and stone retaining walls at Hermitage Farm, Froghall. It was proposed by Cllr James to support this application. This was seconded by Cllr Mycock and carried with 7 members voting in favour.
SMDC/ 2019/0446 & (0447 Listed Building Consent) proposed landscaping adjacent to Hetty’s Tea Room including construction of brick and stone tables and bench seats at Hetty’s Tea Shop, Froghall Wharf. Following a discussion, in which several concerns were raised it was proposed by Cllr Malyon and seconded by Cllr Jackson to support approval of the application. This was not carried as three members voted in favour but 4 members voted against. A second proposal was made by Cllr Williams and seconded by Cllr James to object to the application due to using public space for a private enterprise. This was carried by 4 votes in favour and 3 against.
SMD/2019/0475 Proposed erection of a detached house including change of use of the site from agricultural to domestic use at Land adjacent to Stonewall, Foxt Road, Foxt. Following discussion, it was proposed by Cllr Stevenson and seconded by Cllr Stimpson to support approval of the application. This was agreed unanimously.
SMD/2019/0483 Conversion of existing barn into two-bedroom dwelling at Brandon House Farm, Town End road, Foxt. It was proposed by Cllr Mycock and seconded by Cllr James to object to the application due to it being an overdevelopment of the site and that there would only be one access for the Farmhouse, the Bungalow and the Barn. This was carried with 5 members voting in favour and 2 members abstaining.
Cllr Stevenson declared a prejudicial interest in the following application SMD/2019/0489) and left the room.
SMD/2019/0489 Conversion of existing redundant barn into a two-bedroom dwelling at Park Green Farm, Foxt Road, Foxt. It was proposed by Cllr Stimpson and seconded by Cllr Williams to support approval of the application. This was carried with 7 in favour.
87/19. CORRESPONDENCE
- Staffordshire Moorlands Parish Assembly: The dates of future meetings had been received.
- SMDC re Mayfair Avenue Green Space: An e-mail from SMDC advised that the land appears to have little value or potential to be used for anything else and in principle they have no objection in transferring the land to the parish council. The e-mail went on to say that they have just completed a strategic land review and are in the process of analysing the results and presenting the outcomes to Cabinet – and if the parish council wish to pursue transfer of the land they would consider the request alongside this report in case that this exercise flags up that the land has some value. It was mentioned that if a transfer of land was made, they would have to consider whether to place TPO’s on the large trees within the boundary of the land. It was agreed to reply that the parish council are interested, but to point out that the trees, being mainly sycamore are of little value and don’t need TPO’s.
- SMDC Tree Officer re Dead Tree at Froghall: Advised that the current status with the Scc is listed as ‘Fault Categorised by inspector – awaiting works to fix fault’. It was agreed to chase up with the County Council on this.
- SCC re Bollards for Pavement near to the entrance to the Bolton’s Site: It was noted that there is a work instruction to install 10 flexi bollards and that the work would be done as soon as resources allow.
- SCC & County Councillor Heath re Name Signs for Berkhamsytch: An e-mail had been received and asked if it is known where the previous name signs had been sited and advised that the parish council would to pay for the signs. It was thought that the signs were near to the Forge and just before the Country Kitchen. It was agreed to enquire how much the signs would cost.
- VCSE: Details of the date of upcoming forums had been received.
- SMDC re Review of Polling Places in the Staffordshire Moorlands: details of this were noted and members agreed they are happy with the existing arrangements.
- Lengthsman’s Report (July): Details of this were noted.
- Other Notifications/Bulletins/Newsletters etc
The Pension Regulator – Re-declaration dates
SPC Assc – Weekly Bulletins – 01/08; 08/08 &15/08
CPRE – Summer 2019
CPRE – Countryside Voice – Summer 2019
88/19. REPORT ON SITE VISIT TO FOXT COMMUNITY PLAY AREA: The following issues were raised: –
- Hedges – Cllr Stimpson said he would get someone different to cut the hedges and sort someone out to cut the parts that the machine couldn’t reach.
- Dips in the ground – Cllr Stimpson said he will see if he can find someone to fill these dips with soil.
- Rabbits – no one was sure how to stop rabbits from getting into the area.
- Moles – there was only a couple of mole hills near the bottom the area – it was agreed to monitor this, and it gets worse to arrange for a mole catcher to visit.
DAMAGE TO PFP 102 had been dealt with in Matters Arising
89/19. NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE CLINICAL COMMISSIONING GROUP: Cllr Malyon advised members that the District Council have put ‘a vote of No Confidence’ for the North Staffs CCG following inadequate rating made by the CQC. The Chairperson moved that to write a very strong letter to the Chief Operating Officer stating that the parish council have no confidence in their dealing with the consultations over the local hospitals and in their ability to make important decisions in the health care provisions for the people of North Staffordshire. And to add that members feel seriously mislead over the dealings with the future of the local hospitals and that it are the most vulnerable people in our communities who are suffering and that the closure of beds in local hospitals is causing bed blocking at the Royal Stoke Hospital. It was agreed to forward copies of the letter to the Leek Post & Times and to the Minister for Health. This was agreed unanimously
CLIMATE CHANGE/POLUTION this was deferred to the next meeting.
90/19. HIGHWAYS: The following matter were discussed: –
- Signpost ‘stump’ on corner by St Leonard’s Church, Ipstones: it was noted that the signpost had broken off, but the base of the pole is sticking up and is jagged and dangerous. It was agreed to report to the County Council.
- Speed Limit on A52 at Froghall: Cllr Stevenson said he thought that with the number of pedestrians walking across the bridge when there are events on at the Churnet Valley Railway it would be better if the speed limit was reduced to either 30 mph or 40mph. It was agreed to ask the County Council.
- Streetlight on path to Church Meadow – it was agreed to report that this light is out.
- Foxt Bank: It was agreed that we need to keep the pressure up as the bank is slipping badly and that most grids are blocked or higher that the road surface so don’t drain the water away which adds to the problem.
- Foxt Road, Froghall Wharf (Between A52 & Lime Kilns): Cllr Stimpson reported that the trees on the right as you come from the A52 are overgrown and force higher vehicles to the centre of the road. It was agreed to write to the owners of the land where the trees are situated.
91/19. ANY OTHER BUSINESS DEEMED URGENT:
- Community facilities in Fire Stations: Cllr Malyon reported that she understands that the Commissioner for Police & Fire & Rescue is getting rid of ‘community facilities’ in Fire Stations. It was agreed to write to the Commissioner and advise him that members disagree with discontinuing with community facilities in local communities.
- School Christmas Market: Cllr Malyon reported that the District Council are not going to provide the Market Stalls free of charge this year and the cost to the School would be £400. She said she has £300 in her District Councillor pot which would leave them £100 short and she asked members if the parish council would consider donating the shortfall. It was suggested that Cllr Malyon try bargain with the DC to see if they will bear some of the costs.
- Foxt Mower: Cllr Stimpson reported that this had gone in for some repairs
92/19. QUARTERLY ACCOUNTS REPORT: Members had each received a copy of this. The Bank reconciliation was checked against the Bank Statements. It was agreed to accept the report as a true record.
93/19. ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT: The following accounts were approved for payment: –
| £ | |
| Lengthsman’s Monthly Payment (Net) | 191.00 |
| Lengthsman’s Expenses – Mileage & fuel for strimmer | 27.10 |
| Clerk’s Salary (net) | 630.00 |
| Clerk’s Expenses | 3.44 |
| M Emery – Mowing | 700.00 |
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The date of the next meeting was set for Wednesday 18 September 2019
at 7.30p.m. in Foxt Village Hall