20 Mar 2019

Parish Council Minutes Mar 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 March 2019.

 

Present

 

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

 

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Miss C Harvey and Mrs R Harvey and

District Councillor D Foley.

 

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. COUNCILLOR MRS R HARVEY

 

The Parish Council noted that Councillor Mrs R Harvey was unable to attend meetings due to illness.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Clerk arrange for a card to be sent to Councillor Mrs R Harvey expressing the best wishes of the Parish Council for a speedy recovery.

 

  1. MINUTES

 

RESOLVED

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on 5th February 2019, be approved and signed as a correct record.

 

  1. HEDGE CUTTER

 

The Chairman reported that the new mechanical hedge cutter had been purchased and was now available for use by the Parish Council.

 

The Clerk reminded Members that any publicity relating to this acquisition must involve the two County Councillors who had donated funds towards its purchase.

 

  1. POLICE MATTERS

 

The Clerk circulated a letter from the Head of Environment and Healthy Lifestyles giving the District Council’s response to the Parish Council’s request for a High Court injunction to be taken out against those individuals responsible for anti-social behaviour and criminal damage in Ravenhill Park.  The injunction would prohibit named individuals from entering the park.

 

The Parish Council noted that the District Council, in collaboration with other agencies, would continue to consider all options and powers available to ensure that the most appropriate action was taken against those responsible for causing anti-social behaviour.

 

Members expressed concern with the contents of the letter, particularly the comments relating to CCTV and the lack of evidence and it was

 

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Clerk write to the District Council setting out the Parish Council’s concerns and requesting the Authority’s further views.

 

  1. CANAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

 

The Parish Council noted that Councillor TA Jones and the Clerk had met representatives of Lichfield District Council to finalise the wording of the tripartite ‘grant agreement’.  Councillor Jones had also drafted a separate Agreement between the Parish Council and the Canal and River Trust and despite the Clerk having sent one reminder no response had been received.

 

RESOLVED

 

  1. That the action taken be approved and confirmed.
  2. That the Clerk send a further reminder to the Canal and River Trust, with a copy to Margaret Beardsmore.
  3. That in the absence of the Clerk, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman be authorised to sign documentation on behalf of the Parish Council.

 

  1. WHARF ROAD

 

To meet concerns from Members regarding inconsiderate and indiscriminate parking, it was

 

RESOLVED

 

  1. That the Clerk write to County Highways requesting that they investigate the following:-

 

  • The introduction of a Road Traffic Regulation Order to prevent parking on the north-west side of Wharf Road [the Rugeley side] from the A460 to the nursery and at the junction of Wharf Road with Hindley View;

 

  1. That the Clerk send a copy of the letter to the Police drawing their attention to cars obstructing the highway in Wharf Road, which could ultimately result in emergency vehicles being unable to gain access along the road to nearby properties and the station.

 

  1. BRERETON TRAFFIC DATA

 

The Clerk reported that Mark Keeling, the Community Infrastructure Liaison Manager, had undertaken to pass on the Parish Council’s concerns regarding parking in the vicinity of the Co-op in Redbrook Lane, to the County Enforcement Team.

 

In terms of the data, he advised that this showed good compliance with the speed limit [85% compliance].  Both the Highway Authority and the Police used this percentage as a benchmark.  Mr Keeling undertook to check the data to ascertain whether the survey picked up the HGV element.

 

A copy of the email received from Mr Keeling was circulated at the meeting.

 

The Parish Council remained concerned with the problems associated with HGVs having to manoeuvre past other vehicles along Redbrook Lane.  The situation was particularly difficult at the junction of Redbrook Lane with Main Road where signs/bollards had been damaged.  The problems were further exacerbated by many vehicles being regularly parked near this particular junction, making access even more difficult.

 

 

The Parish Council would continue to press for adequate employment land to be provided on the Power Station site for both new businesses and businesses that wished to expand and did not have space to do so on their current site.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Clerk convey the foregoing views to the Community Infrastructure Liaison Officer.

 

  1. DOCUMENTATION

 

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

 

  • Staffordshire Pension Fund – Employer Focus

 

  1. TREES ON MAIN ROAD EMBANKMENT

 

The Parish Council noted that following a site meeting with Mr M Keeling, County Highways, his attention had been drawn to the height of the trees in the garden of            181 Main Road.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Clerk again write to Mr M Keeling requesting him to take whatever action he considered suitable to secure the cutting back of the trees which were a potential danger to the highway.

 

  1. TOPPING AND LOPPING OF TREES – SEABROOK ROAD

 

The Parish Council noted the circumstances which had prevented the owner of a property in Seabrook Road from cutting back or removing high trees in his garden.

 

Members of the Parish Council undertook to make a site visit to the property to ascertain what further action, if any, could be taken.

 

  1. BIRCH LANE – FIRE

 

Councillor PA Fisher made reference to a fire which had gutted a property in Birch Lane.  Councillor Fisher, together with the local postman, had managed to rescue two dogs from the blazing building.

 

RESOLVED

 

  1. That the Parish Council place on record its thanks to Councillor PA Fisher for the action he had taken in rescuing the two dogs.
  2. That the Clerk write to the Post Office informing them of the very brave action taken by postman Mr Martin Rogers [and his colleague, Josh] in helping to rescue the two dogs from the building.
  3. That the Clerk send a suitable letter to the former occupiers of the property expressing the sympathy and support of the Parish Council.

 

  1. WALL – MARTIAL ARTS CENTRE – WHARF ROAD

 

The Clerk reported that no response had been received from the Agents acting for the current owners regarding the state of the wall at the Martial Arts Centre.

 

Members remained concerned regarding the dangers associated with potential collapse of the wall which was currently overhanging the highway and it was

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Clerk write to County Highways acquainting them with the position and requesting that they take appropriate action to secure the proper reinstatement of the wall.

 

  1. ROAD SAFETY FUNDING

 

District Councillor Foley had drawn the Parish Council’s attention to a sum of £200k being made available for road safety schemes in the County.  Applications for funding could be submitted between 1st March and 30th April 2019.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Clerk liaise with Councillor PA Fisher in resubmitting the Parish Council’s bid for road safety measures in Redbrook Lane, with letters of support from the Police, County Council and the District Council.

 

  1. POWER STATION SITE – EXHIBITION

 

The Clerk reported that JTP would be holding a public exhibition at the Parish Hall on     22nd March 2019, between 12.00 noon and 1.30 pm and 4.30 pm and 6.30 pm.

 

The Clerk also undertook to send a further reminder to JTP regarding the request for them to identify other parts of the country where “live/work” had been adopted.

 

  1. WORLD BOOK NIGHT 2019

 

Members noted that the Parish Council’s application for copies of a World Book Night title had, on this occasion, not been successful.

 

  1. PLANNING COMMITTEE

 

RESOLVED

 

That the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 5th February 2019, be approved.

 

  1. PARISH HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

 

RESOLVED

 

That the minutes of the Parish Hall Management Committee held on 6th February 2019, be approved.

 

  1. FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

 

RESOLVED

 

That the minutes of the Finance and Management Committee held on 6th February 2019, be approved.

 

  1. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

 

The Parish Council had previously agreed that the next meeting would be held on            2nd April 2019, at 7.30 pm, followed by the Annual Parish Meeting.

 

  1. PUBLIC FORUM

 

Following a question from a member of the public, the Parish Council indicated the action it was taking in respect of the “live/work” element of the proposals on the Power Station site.

 

Members were keen to ensure that the proposals for the site which, at first glance, looked like employment might well turn out to be almost entirely non-employment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

______________________

[Chairman]