BRERETON AND RAVENHILL PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Annual Parish Council meeting held at the Parish Hall, Ravenhill Park, Brereton, on Tuesday, 14th May 2019.
Present
Councillors TA Jones [Chairman], K Ansell, Mrs P Ansell, Ms L Bolas, Mrs. DM Easton, R Easton, PA Fisher, Mrs W Fisher, Mrs G Harvey, JC Harvey, DR Johnson and GN Molineux.
An apology for absence was received from Councillor Miss IJ Brown.
Mr PG Davies, the Parish Clerk, was also in attendance.
- APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN
RESOLVED
That Councillor TA Jones be appointed Chairman for the ensuing year.
- VOTE OF THANKS TO PAST CHAIRMAN
The Parish Council placed on record its thanks to Councillor R Easton for the excellent manner in which he had undertaken his duties over the past twelve months.
- DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
No declarations were given at the commencement of the meeting.
- APPOINTMENT OF VICE-CHAIRMAN
RESOLVED
That Councillor Mrs P Ansell be appointed Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.
- MINUTES
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the meeting held on 2nd April 2019, be approved and signed as a correct record.
- COUNCILLOR GERALD MOLINEUX
The Parish Council extended their congratulations to Councillor Gerald Molineux on being elected to the District Council.
- DONATIONS
The Parish Council noted that the following donations had been received:-
Mr Nigel Perrin – £60.00
Mr Laird-Graham – £250.00
RESOLVED
That letters of thanks be sent to both parishioners for these very generous donations.
- POLICE MATTERS
No Police were present at the meeting.
- CANAL IMPROVEMENT SCHEME
The Chairman reported that he and the Clerk had attended a meeting at Lichfield District Council when representatives from the Canal and River Trust [CRT] and County Council were also present. The meeting had shown that some progress was being made and it was hoped the work to the towpath would be completed in this calendar year. The Chairman had provided an Agreement between the Parish Council and the CRT to supplement the Main Agreement which had been drafted by Lichfield District Council. The Clerk sought authority for this Agreement and the Main Agreement to be signed by the Chairman and Clerk on behalf of the Parish Council.
The Parish Council was pleased to note that the representative from the County Council had given a firm indication that funding would be available to introduce Real Time Information Boards on bus stops along the 825 bus route in the parish.
RESOLVED
That the Chairman and Clerk be authorised to sign the necessary documentation to facilitate progress with the canal towpath scheme.
- ANNUAL AUDIT – GOVERNANCE STATEMENT 2018/2019
The Clerk had circulated the Annual Governance Statement for 2018/2019.
RESOLVED
That the Statement, as submitted, be formally approved and the Chairman and Clerk be authorised to sign the document on behalf of the Parish Council.
- ANNUAL ACCOUNTING STATEMENTS 2018/2019
The Clerk had circulated the Annual Accounting Statements 2018/2019.
RESOLVED
That the Statements, as submitted, be formally approved and the Chairman and Clerk be authorised to sign the documents on behalf of the Parish Council.
- INDISCRIMINATE PARKING
The Clerk circulated an email and enclosure from Duncan Rollo, the Vulnerability Hub and Partnership Manager. He had undertaken to investigate the obstruction in Redbrook Lane and report back to the Parish Council.
The Parish Council noted a page from the County Council’s website setting out how the responsibilities for parking enforcement were shared between the County Council and the Police.
- ROAD SAFETY FUNDING
Members noted that following liaison with the Clerk, Councillor PA Fisher had submitted the Parish Council’s bid for funding under this scheme.
- FLAGS
The Chairman indicated that he would welcome individual sponsorship to enable the Parish Council to fly flags to mark national and organisational days.
- LOCAL BUS SERVICES
The Community Transport and Communications Officer of the County Council had forwarded the Parish Council’s comments on local service changes to the team responsible. They had undertaken to respond to the Parish Council in due course.
- DOCUMENTATION
The Clerk tabled the following documentation for circulation to Members:-
- Police Report – 1st March to 4th April
- Pension Fund – Employer Focus
- CCAONB – Management Plan 2019 – 2024
- CCAONB – GRANT APPLICATION
The Parish Council noted that a grant application had been submitted to the CCAONB for the provision of a new Information Board on the Brereton and Ravenhill Way. The bid was in the sum of £500 and, if approved, would require a similar amount of match funding.
RESOLVED
That, if the application is approved, the Clerk be authorised to seek match funding from Brereton Million.
- HS2
Members noted that Liz Davis and Mark Warrilow from HS2 had agreed to attend the July meeting of the Parish Council. They would provide information on jobs and apprenticeships for local people and contracts for local businesses.
- FENCING – CANNOCK CHASE
The Clerk reported that he had received an email from Claire Jones expressing concern about proposals by Staffordshire County Council to fence off significant areas of Cannock Chase and introduce cattle. She considered that the free roaming of cattle would put the safety of walkers at risk.
Members acknowledged that safety was paramount but, nevertheless, concurred with the County Council that some limited fencing to accommodate cattle was appropriate as this had proven ecological benefits.
The Parish Council would adopt a watching brief and keep this matter under review.
- PEDESTRIAN ACCESS ISSUES: A513 AND A51
The Clerk reported the contents of an email from Alexadra Jakeman expressing serious safety concerns regarding pedestrian access on both Armitage Road and Main Road, Brereton. Photographs showing the extent of the inadequacy of the footpaths for pedestrians were circulated at the meeting. Members concurred fully with the sentiments expressed in the email and it was:-
RESOLVED
That the Clerk write to Mark Keeling at the County Council outlining the concerns set out in the email and requesting that urgent action is taken to remedy the situation.
- STANDING ORDERS AND FINANCIAL REGULATIONS
Copies of the current Standing Orders and Financial Regulations had been circulated.
RESOLVED
That the Standing Orders and Financial Regulations, as submitted, be formally endorsed.
- TERMS OF REFERENCE OF COMMITTEES
The Clerk had circulated the Terms of Reference of the Committees of the Parish Council.
RESOLVED
That subject to the title of the Parish Hall Management Committee being changed to Parish Hall and Property Management Committee, the Terms of Reference, as submitted, be formally approved.
- APPOINTMENTS OF MEMBERS TO COMMITTEES
RESOLVED
That the following Members be appointed to the Committee listed below:-
Planning Committee
Councillors PA Fisher, Mrs WE Fisher, JC Harvey, DR Johnson, TA Jones and
GN Molineux
Parish Hall and Property Management Committee
Councillor K Ansell, Mrs P Ansell, Ms L Bolas, Mrs DM Easton, R Easton, Mrs G Harvey, JC Harvey and DR Johnson
Finance and Management Committee
Councillors K Ansell, Mrs P Ansell, Ms L Bolas, Mrs DM Easton, R Easton, Mrs G Harvey,
and JC Harvey
Neighbourhood Development Plan Steering Committee
Councillors Mrs DM Easton, R Easton, Mrs G Harvey, JC Harvey, DR Johnson and
TA Jones
- APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO SERVE ON OUTSIDE BODIES AND LOCAL CONTACTS
RESOLVED
That the following Members be duly appointed-
| Power Station Site – Liaison Committee | Councillors: K Ansell,
Mrs P Ansell, PA Fisher and GN Molineux
|
| Chase Rail Promotion Group | Councillor TA Jones
Councillor Mrs P Ansell [substitute]
|
| Brereton and Ravenhill Heritage Committee | Councillors: K Ansell,
Mrs P Ansell, Mrs DM Easton, R Easton, Mrs G Harvey, JC Harvey and TA Jones
|
| Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – Parish Liaison Meeting
|
Councillor Mrs W Fisher |
| Parish Contact for Local Public Transport Issues | Councillor TA Jones
|
| Parish Contact for Environmental Issues | Councillor R Easton
|
| Standards Committee – Cannock Chase District Council
|
Councillor PA Fisher
|
| Amazon – Liaison Group | Councillors: R Easton and
PA Fisher
|
- STANDARDS REGIME
The Report of the Clerk on the Standards Regime was duly noted by the Parish Council.
The Clerk circulate ‘Register of Members Interests’ Forms which had to be completed and returned to the Clerk within 21 days.
- MEDIA POLICY
Members noted the current Media Policy of the Parish Council.
RESOLVED
That the Media Policy, as submitted, be endorsed.
- CCTV POLICY AND PROCEDURE
Members noted the current CCTV Policy and Procedure.
RESOLVED
That the Policy Document, as submitted, be endorsed.
- INSURANCE SCHEDULE
The Clerk had circulated a copy of the Parish Council’s insurance portfolio.
RESOLVED
That the document be noted and approved and the Clerk be authorised to pay the annual insurance premium.
- GENERAL DATA PROTECTION AND INFORMATION POLICY
The Clerk had circulated these documents for formal approval by the Parish Council.
RESOLVED
That the documents, as submitted, be formally approved and adopted.
- PLANNING COMMITTEE
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 2nd April 2019, be approved.
- PARISH HALL AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the Parish Hall and Property Management Committee held on 3rd April 2019, be approved.
- FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the Finance and Management Committee held on 3rd April 2019, be approved.
- DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The Parish Council had previously agreed that the next meeting would be held on
4th June 2019.
- CIVIC SERVICE
The Chairman indicated that following discussions with the Reverend George, it was his intention to hold a Civic Service on a Saturday in either September or October.
- PUBLIC FORUM
A parishioner present at the meeting made reference to the discussions of the Parish Council relating to highway issues and the lack of progress by the County Council. Members emphasised that they would continue to pursue the County Council on any matters brought to its attention by parishioners.
________________________
[Chairman]