IPSTONES PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 18 September 2019 at 7.30p.m. at Foxt Village Hall
PRESENT: Councillors Leslie Jackson, Linda Malyon (Chair), Brian Snow, Andrew Stevenson & John Williams
APOLOGIES: Councillors Heather James, Howard Mycock, Patrick Stimpson & Alison Vaughan
GUEST: Mark Walchester (Officer over Ipstones, Cheadle & Longnor Fire Stations)
DISPENSATIONS: None received
DECLARATION IF NTERESTS: To be taken as they arise
94/19. OLD FIRE PUMP: The Chair welcomed Mr Walchester who had come along regarding the future storage of the Old Fire Pump. Mr Walchester explained that due to changes being made in some Fire Stations it may be necessary for the Old Fire Pump to be moved out of the Leek Fire Station as they may need the space to store equipment from other Fire Stations. He said that there is no room at Ipstones Fire Station. Cllr Jackson said he thought that the Common Good Trust may be looking into getting a grant to renovate the Garage and if so the Old Fire Pump could be stored there. It was agreed to write to the Chair of the Common Good Trust and ask if he will call a meeting asap and if he would invite Mr Walchester to the meeting. It was also agreed to ask the Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue & Crime if he has a ‘pot of money’ for community projects. Cllr Jackson mentioned that the Heritage Lottery as it is intended to make a museum of the Garage as could also display other small items from Ipstones. Cllr Stevenson said he is concerned the Old Pump could deteriorate if it is kept in a building with no heat. It was suggested that it could be ‘cling filmed’/sprayed with ‘WD40’ and checked on a monthly basis. It was agreed that the Garage would have to be made watertight and secure. Cllr Snow agreed to look at the garage with a builder to see how much work is likely to be needed to make the Garage waterproof. Later in the meeting Cllr Williams said he thought that there should be a back-up plan for temporary storage of the old pump, if needed, and that there is somewhere at Blythe Bridge where Containers can be hired (in case have to move the Old Pump before Garage is ready, or another suitable place is found) and he will make enquiries about this.
It was proposed by Cllr Stevenson and seconded by Cllr Jackson to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 21 August 2019 as a true record
This was agreed unanimously.
95/19. MATTERS ARISING
- Local Bus Services: Cllr Jackson reported that Cllr Ralphs had attended a meeting at Kingsley but still had several other Town/Parish Councils to visit.
- Damage to PFP102: It was noted that there had been no response from the County Council regarding this. It was noted that someone has cut through the ‘tape’ that the Lengthsman had put up and that people are walking on the path. It was agreed that this could be dangerous if people attempt to walk along the path in the dark. It was agreed to ask if the path can be officially closed until repair works can be done and to chase up on what help the County Council is able to give toward the repair of the path, which is actually their responsibility as the parish council don’t have the resources to keep paying out when it gets damaged due to grids not being emptied. Cllr Snow said that the grids are still blocked solid.
- Berkhamsytch Signs: It was noted that there had been no response to how much the signs would be likely to cost. It was also suggested that if the signs do go ahead that the locals may know the location of the previous signs.
- Foxt Community Area re Hedges and levelling up the area: It was agreed to ask Cllr Stimpson if he has looked into this.
- Facilities at Community Fire Stations: It was noted that there had been no response from the Commissioner for Police, Fire & Crime about this.
- Foxt Bank: It was reported that the Bank is moving by the day and the cracks in it getting bigger. It was agreed to write every month with copies to Cllrs Fisher & Heath.
- School Christmas Market: Cllr Malyon reported that the District Council won’t budge on the charges for hiring the stalls. Cllr Malyon said that she has £300 left in her District Councillors pot which she will give toward the cost of hiring the stalls. Cllr Jackson said he didn’t think that all the stalls were used last year to which Cllr Malyon replied that things are better organised for this year’s event. Following discussion, it was proposed by Cllr Stevenson and seconded by Cllr Jackson to donate the sum of £100 under S137 Miscellaneous payments, as a one-off donation, toward the cost of hiring the stalls for the Christmas Market this year. This was agreed unanimously.
96/19. PLANS: The following applications had been received: –
SMD/2019/0518 listed building consent for proposed replacement snack bar adjacent to a grade II listed barn. Freestanding, single storey, flat roofed, timber framed building with horizontal timber cladding including covered stepped access to an existing modern building, new ramp within redundant enclosure and dormer to existing building for new disabled access at Peak Wildlife Park, Ellastone Road, Winkhill. It was proposed by Cllr Snow and seconded by Cllr Jackson to support approval of this application. This was agreed unanimously.
DET/2019/0029 Prior approval for a proposed change of use of agricultural building to 1 dwelling house at Higher Parkhead farm, Dog Lane, Ipstones Edge. It was agreed unanimously to support approval of this application.
97/19. CORRESPONDENCE
- County Councillor Fisher re ‘Grit Bins’: It was noted that the County Council will be gritting up to 2500 km of roads and filling more that 2800 grit bins. It said that 2300 grit bins and piles would be topped up as necessary and the remaining 500 once at the beginning of the winter. It was agreed to write and ask that all grit piles be topped up.
- Evergreens, Ipstones Edge: An e-mail had been received asking if the parish council have any objections to them putting wooden clad on the front of their gate with wooden animals to decorate in keeping with the local area and theme of farmland.
It was agreed that the parish council have no objection to this.
- SCC re Planning Application SM19.19/07/1141 Remodelling of existing golf course to improve on-site water management, accessibility and player safety through the importation of engineering materials to regrade and reprofile part of the existing golf course with construction of a new attenuation and irrigation ponds, erection of an associated pump house and proposed landscaping and tree planting at Whiston Hall Golf Club, Black Lane, Whiston: The Clerk reported that they have notified Ipstones as a neighbouring parish who may be affected by extra HGV’s travelling to the Golf Course. It was agreed to respond that if the application is approved to ask for a condition that HGV’s travelling to the site do not use the route through Ipstones as the road through the village is not suitable for large numbers of HGV’s. to also ask if the content of the loads is likely to be contaminated and will they be monitoring this.
- North Staffordshire Clinical Commissioning Group: It was noted that there has been no response to the letter sent other than a copy of their Annual Assessments 2019 report.
- Lengthsman’s Report (August): details of this were noted.
- County Councillor Heath re ‘Dead’ Tree near Canal Cottages: The e-mail advised that she has passed the parish council’s letter to the relevant department and hopes to get a quick reaction.
- Other Correspondence, bulletins, Newsletter etc
SMDC – Local Plan – Additional modifications – can now be viewed on their Web Site. Leek Fire Station – notice that Community Rooms are available for hire ICO – Fact Sheet for Councils: the use of personal email addresses and devices Manchester Airport Future airspace – consultation SPCA – Weekly Bulletins – 22/08; 29/08; 05/09 & 12/09 Clerks & Councils Direct – September Issue CPRE – Campaigns Update 2019
98/18. 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 2018/2019 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’.
Other matters not affecting our opinion which we draw to the attention of the authority: ‘In undertaking the review of the 2018/2019 Annual Governance and Accountability Return it came to our attention that in 2019 the Council has not met the requirements of the 2015 Regulations to provide electors with a period of 30 working days, including the first 10 days of July, to inspect the accounts. The notice was corrected in July 2019, but this was after the period had already started. The Council should ensure that in 2019/2020 the comply with the Regulation and respond no to the relevant assertion in its Annual Governance Statement’ the Clerk explained that the inspection period on the notice was for 31 days rather than 30 days and had included the first 10 working days in July.
99/19. CLIMATE CHANGE/POLLUTION: Several ideas were made; – planting trees; putting bird/bee boxes up and not leaving cars ‘idling’. It was agreed to discuss fully when more members are present.
100/19. REMEMBRANCE DAY WREATHS & POPPY APPEAL: The Clerk reported that the Remembrance Day Services are to be held on 10 November, but had not had details of the times yet. It was proposed by Cllr Snow and seconded by Cllr Stevenson to donate the sum of £250 under section 137 miscellaneous payments) to the cost of the parish council wreaths with any left over to go to the Poppy Appeal. This was agreed unanimously.
101/19. HIGHWAYS
- One-way Road, Foxt: Cllr Williams reported that he has witnessed 3 vehicles travelling the wrong way down the ‘one-way’ section of the road in Foxt. It was agreed to ask the County Council if they can improve the signage. To also ask if they can remove the broken white lines at the start of the one-way section as people seem to get confused and take the other road.
- Parking at Froghall Wharf: it was reported that vehicles have been seen parking past Hetty’s Tea Rooms, by the bridge and up past the bend. It was noted that the area is very popular with walkers who leave the vehicles at Froghall Wharf – there is not always that many people in the Tearooms. It was agreed to write to County Councillors Fisher, Deaville & Heath to ask if extra parking can be created on the existing Car Park – as there is space to do this, as the parking on the road is becoming dangerous.
- Verges, Church Lane: Cllr Stevenson reported that he thought that the verges on Church Lane had not been mown at all this year. It was thought that the mowers had been seen in the parish in last couple of days – so Cllr Stevenson agreed to give it a day or two and if the verges are not mown to let the Clerk know.
- ‘Double Bend’ sign on B5053 approach to Ipstones from Froghall: Cllr Stevenson reported that this sign is overgrown by a bush. It was agreed to report to Highways.
- Pothole near 23 High Street: It was noted that this pothole is becoming worse and a hazard to cyclists. It was agreed to chase up on this.
- ‘Froghall Road’ Name Sign (opposite Shop): Cllr Jackson thinks that this sign is falling down/in need of repair and will check and let the Clerk know.
- Overgrown Trees, Park Lane: Cllr Malyon reported that she had received a complaint that trees/bushes along Park Lane are overgrown and catching on larger vehicles. Cllr Snow agreed to look before any letters are sent out.
102/19. ANY OTHER BUSINESS DEEMED URGENT
- Cllr Stevenson reported that he has had quite a few people ask when the accounts for the Memorial Hall are going to be published. It was agreed to write to the Treasurer and ask if parish council can have a copy of the latest audited accounts and how much is ‘ring fenced’ for the play equipment.
103/19. ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT: The following accounts were agreed for payment: –
| £ | |
| Lengthsman’s Pay (Net) | 191.00 |
| Lengthsman’s Expenses – mileage 38 miles @ 0.45p | 17.10 |
| Clerk’s Salary (net) | 630.00 |
| Clerk’s Expenses inc Ink Cartridges | 14.97 |
| Mazaars – Annual External Audit Fee | 240.00 |
| Staffordshire Farm Supplies Ltd – Marking tape to cordon off PFP 102 & repair to Foxt Mower |
54.72 |
| M Emery – Mowing | 700.00 |
| D W Banks – Domain, SSL Secure Hosting & Security for website | 185.00 |
| St Leonard’s First School, Ipstones – donation under S137 (Misc Payments) – toward Forest School Project |
1000.00 |
| Ipstones & Foxt Royal British Legion – for parish council wreaths with any remaining going to Poppy Appeal – under S137 (misc payments |
250.00 |
The date of the next meeting was set for Wednesday 30 October 2019 at 7.00p.m. at Foxt Village Hall if available otherwise in the Blore Suite at the Memorial Hall