25 Apr 2021

Parish Council Meeting Minutes April 2021

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BRERETON  AND  RAVENHILL  PARISH  COUNCIL

 

Minutes of a Parish Council meeting held on line on Tuesday, 6th April 2021.

 

Present

 

Councillors TA Jones [Chairman], Ms IJ Brown, Mrs DM Easton, Alderman R Easton,

PA Fisher, D Johnson, Mrs L Johnson and GN Molineux.

 

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors K Ansell, Mrs P Ansell, Mrs G Harvey and

J Harvey.

 

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 2nd February 2021, be approved and signed as a             correct record.

 

  1. COUNCILLOR MRS G HARVEY

 

RESOLVED

 

That in accordance with Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972 [as amended], the absence due to illness of Councillor Mrs G Harvey, be approved for a period of three months.

 

  1. PROVISION OF BENCH IN MEMORY OF FORMER COUNCILLOR

HAZEL SOUTHWELL

 

RESOLVED

 

That arrangements be made for the bench situated in the tennis court to be refurbished/

renovated and re-sited with a suitable plaque in memory of former Councillor Hazel Southwell.

 

  1. BUS SERVICE 826

 

The Parish Council noted that Service 826 would be diverted during off-peak times from the Brereton Road along Coulthwaite Way, Setterfield Way, Talbot Road, Birch Lane, Coalpit Lane and on to Main Road, Brereton, then continuing to Armitage, Handsacre, Hanch and Lichfield.  Off-peak journeys returning from Lichfield towards Stafford would operate in reverse, ie from Main Road, Brereton, along Coalpit Lane, Birch Lane, Talbot Road, Setterfield Way, Coulthwaite Way to Brereton Road, then to Rugeley and Stafford along its normal route.

 

The D and G Bus Company had not yet finalised the exact times or dates of its introduction but it would provide an hourly service off-peak Monday to Saturday.  The Company would be providing new bus stop locations on Coalpit Lane and Birch Lane.

 

The Company would monitor service 826 along with all other bus services across Cannock Chase at regular intervals and they hoped that the frequency would return to half-hourly as patronage increased.

 

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Parish Council maintain a watching brief on this service provision.

 

  1. POLICE MATTERS

 

The Police, who were not present at the meeting, had advised as follows:-

 

  • off-road motorbikes – the Police were aware of this issue and were increasing patrols;
  • breaches of Covid rules – the Police encouraged anyone aware of breaches to report them as soon as possible in order that appropriate action could be taken.

 

  1. WORLD BOOK NIGHT 2021

 

The Parish Council were disappointed to learn that the Parish Council’s application had not been successful.

 

  1. GATEWAY SIGNS

 

The Clerk reported that the Strategic Community Infrastructure Manager of the County Council had advised that he had discussed various options with Councillor A Dudson for the provision of gateway signs.  Councillor Dudson had indicated that he would consider a similar project to the one introduced in Longdon as part of his Local Community Fund.  He was, however, giving priority to Armitage Road in the current financial year but had agreed to list the gateway features on a forward programme.

 

  1. CANNOCK CHASE AONB SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FUND

 

The Clerk had circulated details of this fund which was now open for applications.

 

The Chairman invited Members to inform the Clerk of any projects they considered suitable for this grant funding.

 

  1. STAFFORDSHIRE PARISH COUNCILS’ ASSOCIATION

 

  1. Membership

 

Members considered an invitation from the Association for the Parish Council to take up membership by paying a subscription of £604.00.

 

RESOLVED

 

That no action be taken.

 

  1. Best Kept Village Competition

 

The Clerk reported that due to Covid restrictions, the Best Kept Village Competition 2021 had been cancelled.

 

11,       LITTER – CANAL IN THE VICINITY OF ARMITAGE ROAD

 

The Clerk reported the contents of an email from a local parishioner expressing concerns about the amount of litter and dog excrement on the canal towpath in the vicinity of Armitage Road.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Clerk write to both the District Council and the Canal and River Trust requesting

 

them:-

 

  • to provide an adequate supply of dog bins and arrange for them to be emptied regularly; and
  • to take measures to prosecute offenders.

 

  1. LAND OFF COLLIERY ROAD

 

The Clerk reported on an email received from a parishioner regarding what appeared to be unauthorised development in the vicinity of the old Brereton Colliery Pay Office.  He also made reference to the possibility of the bridleway running southwards from Slade House to Startley Lane being obstructed.

 

RESOLVED

 

  1. That the Clerk write to the County Council regarding a potential obstruction along the bridleway referred to above.

 

  1. That the Clerk also write to Development Control at the District Council requesting them to investigate whether there was any unauthorised development taking place in the vicinity of the old Brereton Colliery Pay Office as described in the email from the parishioner.

 

  1. SECTION 106 MONIES – LEA HALL SITE

 

Members considered a letter from the District Council regarding the possible re-allocation of Section 106 monies of £21,000.00 to refurbish the tennis court managed by the Parish Council in Ravenhill Park.

 

The Parish Council stressed the importance of securing this money for Brereton and Ravenhill as the tennis court in Ravenhill Park was the only such public facility serving Brereton and Ravenhill and Rugeley.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Clerk liaise with Alderman R Easton and Councillor PA Fisher in obtaining a fully costed scheme and a bill of works for submission to the District Council.

 

[During the discussion on this item, the Chairman left the meeting for a prior engagement.  In the absence of the Vice-Chairman, it was

 

RESOLVED

 

That Alderman R Easton be appointed Chairman for the remaining part of the meeting.

 

  1. CANNOCK CHASE LOCAL PLAN

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Clerk remind Members of the deadline of 30th April 2021 for the submission of comments on the Cannock Chase Local Plan.

 

  1. PLANNING COMMITTEE

 

RESOLVED

 

That the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 2nd February 2021, be approved.

 

 

  1. PARISH HALL AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

 

RESOLVED

 

That the minutes of the Parish Hall and Property Management Committee held on

3rd February 2021, be approved.

 

  1. FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

 

            RESOLVED

 

That the minutes of the Finance and Management Committee held on 3rd February 2021, be approved.

 

  1. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

 

The Parish Council had previously agreed that the Annual Parish Council Meeting would be held on 4th May 2021.

 

  1. PUBLIC FORUM

 

There were no matters raised by the public in attendance at the meeting.

 

 

 

______________________

[Chairman]