Minutes of a meeting of Shobnall Parish Council

held at the Princess Street Training Education and Enterprise Centre, Princess Street, Burton upon Trent on Monday 17 February commencing at 7.19pm

Present

Councillor Shilton (in the Chair)

Councillors Asghar, Dennis (Minutes), Dittmer, Donlon and Yousaf

In attendance

County Councillor Clarke

ESBC Councillors McKiernan and Walker

Public Forum

The Public Forum was attended by at least 14 residents to highlight their concerns of the limited communications from ESBC during the consultation period for the extension of the Selective Licensing and the lack of opportunity to meet and discuss their concerns.  The parish council confirmed that the scheme was not part of the remit of the parish council but it recognised the concerns of residents and were willing to highlight these to ESBC:

• Request for an additional consultation event(s) meeting to be arranged for residents/landlords – the Princess Street Training Centre is a possible venue.
• Meeting noted that ESBC were not contacting the landlords that the scheme would impact.
• To facilitate and improve the promotion of the date(s) of any consultation events organised by ESBC the parish council would put these on its website.
• Why are only private landlords being targeted and having to pay for the license? The meeting noted that there is a shortage of accommodation and the private landlords are providing the shortfall in provision.  It was noted if any other product was being used or purchased the same standards of quality would be expected to be provided by all to everyone.
• Meeting noted that there are standards and regulations that a landlord must comply with and this was not questioned. However, the proposed licensing being put in place for private landlords only raises questions as to why all landlords are not being measured in the same way.
• There is no protection for the landlords when their tenants do not look after the property.
• The license would be an additional financial burden to providing much needed accommodation within the area.
• The selective licensing is per property.
• There are existing measures in place for tenants to raise their concerns to ESBC regarding their accommodation.
• What staffing does ESBC have in place before the start of the introduction of the selective licensing and now?  Does ESBC have the staffing in place with the correct knowledge to facilitate this to justify the cost of the scheme?
• What are the findings since the scheme was introduced in another area of Burton?
• Why are the current areas being selected for the selective licensing and what are the facts and figures to support this?
• How many complaints have ESBC received for all tenants within Burton on Trent and how have these been resolved?
• Does ESBC provide evidence of the survey they carry out as part of the selective licensing scheme?
• Why is the scheme so expensive?

Agreed That ESBC be asked to respond to the above comments/queries and confirm whether an additional consultative event(s) will be arranged as requested.

2019-20/146       Apologies

Councillor Hoare

Mary Danby, Parish Clerk

2019-20/147       Declarations of interest

None declared.

2019-20/148       Written applications for dispensations under the Localism Act 2011

None were received.

2019-20/149       Updates to Councillors’ Register of Interest Forms

No updates were notified.

2019-20/150       Minutes of the Council meeting held on 20 January 2020

Resolved             That the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2020 be approved and signed as an accurate record.

2019-20/151       Matters arising from the previous meeting

                                Public Forum 18 November 2019

Derby Street property – use as a faith school. The Planning Enforcement Officer had reported that he had conducted enquiries and can confirm that there are students who attend the address to receive assistance with their study of the Islamic book, the Koran. However, the level of activities does not require the benefit of planning permission and there is no breach of planning regulations.

2019-20/142.4    Kingfisher totems

ESBC’s Communities, Open Spaces & Facilities Manager had responded saying: “Unfortunately, the totems had become rotten and a safety risk. Not sure what we could have consulted the PC other than to inform them, which I accept was perhaps on oversight on our part.”

A further email had been sent to the Manager asking for the totems to be returned to the parish council so that they might be cut down and fixed to, say, concrete plinths and reinstalled to their original locations. The Manager had responded saying that Unfortunately, the totems were beyond repair and had been disposed of.

Councillors noted that the part buried within the ground had rotted and the totems had been removed for safety, however they expressed disappointment that they had been destroyed rather than offered back to the parish council to salvage the top parts.

2019-20/139       Planning Matters

For information: It was noted that Ofsted have been given additional powers to deal with unregulated schools.

2019-20/152       PCSO’S report

None of the PCSO’s were available to attend the meeting and a report had been provided which was circulated at the meeting.

2019-20/153       Borough Councillors reports

Councillor McKiernan reported that three applications had been received for her Community Fund with one being successful – BACT to receive money for equipment to help support fitness for people with prostate cancer.

Councillor Walker highlighted enforcement work taking place over three days in the parish.  Councillor Yousaf said that for future events it would be nice to be able to highlight areas within the parish that should be targeted for a clean-up.

Agreed That the Clerk email this suggestion for the next visit and additionally ask if areas are covered by three days for the enforcement action or do some areas receive five days?

Flooding in the area has meant that about five homes have had to be evacuated in Price Court.

2019-20/154       County Councillor’s report

Councillor Clarke had visited the area with Highways.  They had looked at areas on Edwards Street and Princess Street where double yellow lines could be erased to improve parking provision.  They also looked at the corner of Albert Street and Princess Street again, but the agreement was that the dropped kerb must stay as at the junction the road and kerb are level to stop parking there.

The removal of the yellow lines will cost £4,000 so Councillor Clarke will highlight all the areas that need yellow lines to be removed within his area and do the whole lot as one job.  The process will take about four months in total taking into consideration the planning and consultation process.

Councillors discussed the number of seemingly abandoned cars parked near junctions, it was also noted that even following numerous calls the cars are still there and it may be only when the MOT and tax have expired will any action be taken.

Councillors noted again the issue for rail users trying to park to catch a train and that there is no parking now on at the railway station forecourt.

2019-20/155       Financial matters

2019-20/155.1    Schedule of Payments

Resolved             That the above payments be approved and that the documents be signed following the meeting.

2019-20/155.2    Bank reconciliation               

 Resolved             That the above was a true record.

2019-20/156       2019/20 Budget as at 31 January 2020

Resolved             That the Budget report showing receipts and payments as at 31 January 2020 be received and noted.

2019-20/157       Shobnall Parish Council website

It was noted that there had been 20 visits to the website in the 30 days to 07 February 2020.

2019-20/158       Planning matters

2019-20/158.1    Planning Applications

None had been received for consideration.

2019-20/158.2    Planning decisions

Resolved             That the notified planning decisions be received and noted.

2019-20/159       The Local Government Boundary Commission for England:

Consultation on ward boundaries for East Staffordshire Borough Council

Resolved             That no comments be submitted as no changes were proposed for ESBC’s representation of the Shobnall Ward.

2019-20/160       Kingfisher Project

Councillors were informed that a meeting had been held with Dawn Maddin, Trent & Dove Housing to discuss the Kingfisher Project. The council is to be included in future correspondence. The meeting had discussed the potential to improve the area of the Kingfisher project that was within the parish and further develop other areas along the canal as identified in the report carried out on behalf of the project by Dr Scott Jones.

2019-20/161       The Link Park (Minute No. 2019-20/144 refers)

Quotations were presented for the council’s consideration. Councillors noted the communication from Bloomin’ Gardens regarding the poor state of the equipment following the vandalism that has taken place. Allotments had been suggested for this area, but the quality of the land may be an issue with this. Councillors confirmed that the area was to have equipment removed for safety and the area levelled and reseeded and that The Link Park can be reviewed when funding becomes available.

Resolved             That Bloomin’ Gardens quotation be accepted in the sum of £4,150.00 plus VAT.

2019-20/162       To receive questions from Councillors and reports from representatives

Councillors noted that a high proportion of the children within the Parish attend the Paget High School.  There is a unique small animal farm and community orchard at the school which is used for educational purposes as well as for the community. A project is being undertaken to look at how this asset can be maintained and sustained over the next five years, as a self-funded project, and the Parish may be asked for support with this.

2019-20/163       Correspondence and circulars

2019-20/163.1    SPCA: Weekly Bulletins had been forwarded to all Councillors.

2019-20/163.2    ESBC: Invitation to speak at the Planning Committee

Councillor Dennis reported that an invitation had been received to speak on Planning Application No. P/2019/00297 (Land off Forest Road).

2019-20/164       Items for next meeting

None raised.

Date of next meeting

Monday 16 March 2020 commencing at 7.00pm at The Princess Street Training Enterprise Centre, 25-28 Princess Street, Burton on Trent DE14 2NW.

The Meeting closed at 9.05 pm

Signed …………………………………………………….

Date ……………………………………………………….