26 Feb 2019

Parish Council Minutes Feb 2019

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BRERETON  AND  RAVENHILL  PARISH  COUNCIL

 

Minutes of a Parish Council meeting held at the Parish Hall, Ravenhill Park, Brereton, on Tuesday, 5th February 2019.

 

Present

 

Councillors R Easton [Chairman], K Ansell, Mrs P Ansell, Mrs DM Easton, PA Fisher,                     Mrs W Fisher, TA Jones and GN Molineux.

 

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Miss IJ Brown, Miss C Harvey,

Mrs G Harvey and Mrs R Harvey.

 

District Councillor D Foley was also present.

 

Mr PG Davies, the Parish Clerk, was also in attendance.

 

  1. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

No declarations were given at the commencement of the meeting.

 

  1. MINUTES

 

RESOLVED

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on 8th January 2019, be approved and signed as a   correct record.

 

  1. HEDGE CUTTER

 

The Chairman reported that he had finalised negotiations for the purchase of a mechanical hedge cutter for use by the Parish Council.  A company in Italy had donated £100.00 towards its purchase.

 

The Parish Council placed on record its thanks to the Chairman for securing this additional item of equipment at a very competitive price.

 

  1. POLICE MATTERS

 

The Chairman welcomed Sarah Wainwright [Cannock Chase NPT Commander] and John Bloomer [Chief Financial Officer] to the meeting.  A copy of a letter from Amanda Milling, MP, regarding Police resources in Staffordshire had been circulated.

 

After both attendees had outlined their roles with Staffordshire Police, Members raised the following matters:-

 

  • The need for the Commissioner and the Police Force to secure Section 106 monies, as previously documented by the Parish Council. Reference was made to a significant number of houses being built on the Power Station site and the need for the Police to secure its share of Section 106 monies from this site as the development had significant implications for local policing.

 

  • Concern was expressed at the reduction in neighbourhood policing within the parish.

 

  • Reference was made to the lack of prosecutions for criminal damage, a subject which the Parish Council had raised with both the Police Commissioner and the local MP.

 

 

 

  • The Parish Council would like to see the Police Post at the Parish Hall occupied on a more regular basis.

 

The Police responded by advising that the use of Section 106 funding was currently under review.  Sarah Wainwright outlined action being taken by the Police, in liaison with other agencies, in carrying through restorative justice for young offenders.  She noted the Parish Council’s comments regarding visible policing and also the Police Post at the Parish Hall.

 

Councillor Fisher thanked the Police for acting speedily and efficiently with a recent incident at the Castle Public House.

 

The Chairman thanked both Sarah Wainwright and John Bloomer for attending the meeting.

 

  1. MARTIAL ARTS CENTRE – STATE OF WALL

 

The Parish Council noted that the Martial Arts Centre was for sale on the open market.  The Clerk had sent the Agents acting for the current owners, a copy of his earlier letter regarding the state of the wall.  A response was awaited.

 

  1. POWER STATION SITE – COMMUNITY PLANNING

 

The Clerk undertook to send a reminder to Mr Charles Campion of JTP, who had promised to provide examples of live/work zones elsewhere in the country.

 

  1. CANNOCK CHASE AONB – NEW MEMBER TEAM

 

The Clerk reported that the two new employees at the Cannock Chase AONB had accepted the Parish Council’s invitation to attend the April meeting of the Parish Council.

 

  1. FUNDRAISING FOR POCKET PARKS

 

Councillor Jones advised that due to the tight timetable, it had not been possible to consult            with residents prior to submitting a bid in respect of St Michaels Green and, as a result, no       further action had been taken.

 

  1. DOCUMENTATION

 

The Clerk had tabled the following document for circulation to Members:-

 

  • Transforming the Trent Valley – Newsletter

 

  1. SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITIES

 

The Clerk circulated an email from Vicky Rowley [Commissioning Manager – Public Health and Prevention – Staffordshire County Council].  She was part of a team looking to better understand current activity in Brereton and Ravenhill, concerning social care and health support.  Vicky had specifically enquired as to whether the Parish Council could advise on any physical spaces in the community that people might use for information/signposting.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Commissioning Manager be advised of the following spaces potentially available for signposting:-

 

 

 

 

  • Parish Council Notice Boards
  • Co-op, Redbrook Lane
  • Brereton Library

 

  1. SCOPE AND CHILDREN’S AIR AMBULANCE

 

Correspondence had been received from these organisations who were looking for new locations for their recycling banks.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Charities be advised to investigate the following locations:-

 

  • Rugeley Town Station Car Park
  • Brereton Social
  • Car Park – Ravenhill Park

 

  1. HERITAGE ASSET PROTECTION

 

Following the Freedom of Information request made by the Parish Council, the District     Council had confirmed that there had been no occasions within the last five years on which      the Authority had exercised its statutory powers to protect heritage assets.

 

RESOLVED

 

That in thanking the District Council for its response, the Authority be encouraged to look at the Historic England publication, ‘Stopping the Rot’.

 

  1. BEST KEPT VILLAGE COMPETITION 2019

 

The Parish Council considered an invitation to participate in the Best Kept Village Competition 2019.

 

RESOLVED

 

That no action be taken.

 

  1. CANAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

 

The Clerk reported that discussions were ongoing with Lichfield District Council regarding the Agreement for the Canal Improvement Project.

 

The Parish Council noted the current position in relation to the negotiations and it was

 

RESOLVED

 

That if a favourable response is not received from the District Council, the Clerk arrange a meeting with its officers with a view to finalising all outstanding matters.

 

  1. COMMEMORATION – 2018 – 100th YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF FIRST WORLD WAR

 

The Clerk displayed a small WW1 beacon which had been donated to each Town and Parish Council in Cannock Chase by the District Council to mark the above.  It was a replica of the large beacon used on 11th November 2018.

 

 

 

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Parish Hall Management Committee be requested to investigate the provision of a secure cabinet to hold the commemorative beacon.

 

  1. BRERETON TRAFFIC DATA

 

The Clerk had circulated data on speed and volume of traffic on Redbrook Lane and Birch Lane.  The information and analysis had been compiled by the County Highways Department.

 

Members remained concerned regarding the following:-

 

  • the indiscriminate and dangerous parking in the vicinity of the Co-op, Redbrook Lane;
  • speeding remained a major problem in both roads and the information which provided ‘average’ speeds did not give a true reflection of many vehicles that were travelling at high speeds.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the further views of Mark Keeling be sought.

 

  1. PLANNING COMMITTEE

 

RESOLVED

 

That the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 8th January 2019, be approved.

 

  1. PARISH HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

 

RESOLVED

 

That the minutes of the Parish Hall Management Committee held on 9th January 2019, be approved.

 

  1. FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

 

RESOLVED

 

That the minutes of the Finance and Management Committee held on 9th January 2019, be approved.

 

  1. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

 

The Parish Council had previously agreed that the next meeting would be held on

5th March 2019, at 7.30 pm.

 

  1. PUBLIC FORUM

 

The Chairman adjourned the Parish Council meeting to allow the public to address the meeting.  The following matters were discussed:-

 

  • the possible imposition of a one-way system in Oak Tree Road, Heather Close, Beeches Road, The Green, etc. The Chairman with Councillor Fisher, Molineux, Mrs P Ansell would investigate the feasibility of the proposal and update the Parish Council at the next meeting;

 

 

 

  • cars parking on the footpath in Lodge Road. The Chairman had already referred this matter to County Highways;

 

  • there was some doubt as to the precise number of houses to be built on the Power Station site and this would require clarification as the scheme progressed. Reference was also made to the possibility of solar panels being provided on all properties to be built on the site;

 

  • a resident, supported by the Parish Council, emphasised the need for more employment on the Power Station site;

 

  • District Councillor Foley raised eight questions, two of which related to the Neighbourhood Development Plan and grit bins, which were answered at the meeting. The remaining questions would be answered in a detailed response from the Clerk.

 

 

 

 

 

______________________

[Chairman]