9 Jul 2019

Parish Council Minutes June 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, 4th June 2019.

 

Present

 

Councillors TA Jones [Chairman], K Ansell, Mrs P Ansell, Ms L Bolas, Mrs DM Easton,       Alderman R Easton, PA Fisher, Mrs W Fisher, Mrs G Harvey, JC Harvey and GN Molineux.

 

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Miss IJ Brown and DR Johnson.

 

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 14th May 2019, be approved and signed as a       correct record.

 

  1. ALDERMAN RAY EASTON

 

The Parish Council placed on record its congratulations to Councillor Ray Easton on being

made an Alderman by a unanimous decision of Cannock Chase District Council on          29th May 2019.  It had given Councillor PA Fisher great pleasure in nominating Councillor Easton to become an Alderman.  The title had been bestowed in recognition of his forty years loyal service to the people of Brereton and Ravenhill.

 

In his reply, Alderman Easton thanked the Parish Council for its support.

 

  1. POLICE MATTERS

 

No Police were present at the meeting.  The Clerk circulated the Police Report for the period 1st May to 4th June 2019.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Clerk write to the Police to express the Parish Council’s concern at the lack of a Police presence at recent meetings and he also seek their comments as to why the Police post at the Parish Hall was not being properly utilised.

 

  1. CANNOCK CHASE LOCAL PLAN

 

The Chairman introduced, and welcomed Mr G Watson, Planning Services Manager at

Cannock Chase District Council.  Mr Watson addressed the Parish Council on the Cannock Chase Local Plan Issues and Options Document.  He highlighted the following:-

 

  • the new Local Plan would set out a list of policy priorities up to 2036;

 

  • housing – the District Council was being expected to provide 284 new dwellings per annum, making a total of 5,112 over the total plan period. This was effectively Option 1 and was likely to represent a minimum requirement.  Other options were as follows:-

 

  • Option 2 – extra 500 units
  • Option 3 – extra 1,500 units
  • Option 4 – extra 2,500 units

 

  • being cognisant of the National Planning and Policy Framework, priority would be given to brownfield sites but due to limited availability, it was inevitable that some green belt sites would have to be considered in order to meet the targets;

 

  • policies were in place to reflect all the different sectors of housing, including LA provision and rented accommodation;

 

  • employment – 30 – 67 hectares had been identified for inclusion in the Local Plan. This was a reduction from the 88 hectares which had originally been earmarked.  There would be a major review of retail provision during 2020;

 

  • reference was also made to the following documents, all of which were out for consultation:-

 

  • Sustainability Appraisal Report and Habitat Regulations Assessment Scoping Report;
  • Infrastructure Delivery Plan
  • Local Plan updated evidence base.

 

Comments were requested prior to the 8th July deadline.

 

At the conclusion of the presentation, there was an opportunity for questions, a resumè of which is set out below:-

 

  • there was an urgent need for a new school and a doctor’s surgery on the Power Station site. Mr Watson concurred with this view and assured the Parish Council that discussions were ongoing with both the County Council and health authorities.  He did confirm that a new primary school would be built on the site;

 

  • Members expressed their disappointment at the lack of employment land being provided on the Power Station site. Maximisation of employment opportunities was essential and the disproportionate balance between housing and employment was totally unacceptable.  Genuine and realistic employment opportunities must be a key requirement of the development;

 

  • the Parish Council was pleased that 500 houses in Lichfield District on the border with Cannock Chase would count towards the housing targets. Members felt

 

strongly that the same should apply to the housing off Wolseley Road [Stafford Borough] which were not being counted in the same way despite the residents

utilising all facilities in Rugeley and Brereton.

 

The Chairman thanked Mr Watson for attending the meeting.

 

  1. POWER FOR ALL GROUP

 

The Chairman introduced, and welcomed, Angie Cooney to the meeting.

 

Ms Cooney circulated a Questionnaire which was being made widely available, encouraging the public to identify the needs of the local area.  She would be seeking clarification from the Managing Director at Cannock Chase District Council as to the current

position in respect of the Power Station site and the action taken in allocating Section 106

monies in the District.  Ms Cooney would copy in the Parish Clerk to her emails to foster more collaborative working as the venture moved forward.

 

 

 

  1. LOCAL BUS SERVICES

 

The Clerk circulated an email from the County Council giving their response to the concerns expressed by the Parish Council on the withdrawal of local services and the lack of information on the shuttle to Stafford Hospital.

 

Members considered that information on the hospital shuttle could be made available to users of the 825 service and the signage changed from ‘H’ to hospital to more clearly identify its availability

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Clerk, in conveying the foregoing views to the County Council, request posters on the ‘hospital’ shuttle for the Parish Council’s notice boards and he also request a supply of timetables for the 825 service and the Brereton Circular.

 

  1. HS2

 

The Parish Council noted that the representatives from HS2 would now be attending the September meeting of the Parish Council.

 

  1. BRERETON AND RAVENHILL CANAL SCHEME

 

The Chairman referred to the unacceptable delays still being experienced with the Canal and River Trust.  Despite assurances previously given on timescale, these had not been met and the Agreement with the Parish Council had still not been signed.

 

Reference was also made to only part of the towpath within the parish being improved with the Section 106 monies.  Members wondered whether the delays had contributed to this situation.

 

RESOLVED

 

  1. That the Clerk express to the Canal and River Trust the Parish Council’s deep concern about the delay and ask that they send the Parish Council a copy of their internal complaints procedure.

 

  1. That Amanda Milling, MP, be acquainted with this most unsatisfactory situation.

 

  1. ARCH STREET

 

The Clerk reported the contents of an email from a resident of Arch Street expressing concern at [i] the indiscriminate parking of vehicles, and [ii] drivers travelling in the wrong direction along this one-way street.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Clerk bring this matter to the attention of the Police.

 

  1. HOUSE TO HOUSE COLLECTIONS

 

Members noted the contents of a consultation document received from the District Council in respect of house to house collections.

 

Councillor PA Fisher would be seeking clarification on certain aspects of the proposals at a forthcoming meeting at the District Council.

 

  1. CHASE LINE

 

The Chairman outlined examples of a very poor level of service being provided on the new Chase Line.  Services were being cancelled, others turned back at Hednesford, with many trains being delayed.

 

Reference was made to passengers being told at the last moment that trains would turn around at Hednesford.  This was too late to avoid passengers [some disabled] having to make a substantial walk between two platforms at Hednesford and too late for passengers to arrange to be met at Hednesford when the train arrived.

 

The Chairman explained that he had travelled extensively by train throughout Europe and, with the exception of Serbia, had never experienced such a bad service as that which existed in parts of Britain.

 

The Parish Council concurred that if this level of service continued, the franchise given to West Midlands Railways should be revoked.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the foregoing views be conveyed to West Midlands Railways, with a copy being sent to Amanda Milling, MP.

 

  1. APPLICATION FOR PUBLIC FOOTPATHS AND BRIDLEPATHS

 

The Chairman reported that it would be appropriate for the Parish Council to seek formal approval to designate parts of the Brereton and Ravenhill Way as a public footpath and other sections as bridlepaths.  Brereton and Ravenhill Way had been in use for well over twenty years and formal designation to ensure its inclusion on the Definitive Map would be appropriate.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Clerk request the necessary forms from the County Council.

 

  1. CIVIC SERVICE

 

The Chairman reported that he was continuing to liaise with the Reverent George on the date for the Civic Service.

 

  1. PLANNING COMMITTEE

 

RESOLVED

 

That the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 14th May 2019, be approved.

 

  1. PARISH HALL AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

 

RESOLVED

 

That the minutes of the Parish Hall and Property Management Committee held on 15th May 2019, be approved.

 

  1. FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

 

RESOLVED

 

That the minutes of the Finance and Management Committee held on 15th May 2019, be approved.

 

 

  1. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

 

The Parish Council had previously agreed that the next meeting would be held on 16th July 2019, at 7.30 pm.

 

  1. PUBLIC FORUM

 

A new member from Hednesford Town Council had attended the meeting to ascertain information on procedures and the conduct of business.

 

 

 

 

______________________

[Chairman]