Minutes of a meeting of Shobnall Parish Council

held at Brook House, Shobnall Road

on Monday 20 June 2022 commencing at 7pm

Present

Councillors Asghar, Dennis, Dittmer, Donlon and Shilton

Also present

ESBC Councillor McKiernan

Mary Danby, Clerk

One member of the public

Public Forum

A member of the public reported that he had recently witnessed an attempted suicide on the Shobnall footbridge over the A38. He asked if there was anything that the council could do to improve the safety of the footbridge to prevent this happening in the future.

Councillors said that the council had previously worked with the PSCO and he had secured the signs currently on the Shobnall and Claymills bridges. Agreed that a request be made to Highways England that consideration be given to see a higher railing installed on the Shobnall bridge, or other appropriate measures, to prevent people climbing over the side of the bridge.

19. Apologies

None, all Parish Councillors were present.

20. Declarations of Interest and receive written applications for dispensations under the Localism Act 2011

                None had been received.

21. Minutes

Resolved             That the Minutes of the meeting held 16 May 2022 be approved as an accurate record.

22. Matters arising from the previous meeting

None raised.

23. County Councillor’s report

A report had not been received from Councillor Asfar.

24. Borough Councillors’ reports

Councillor McKiernan reported that the Unity Park project was going well and quite a few children attend each week. Vandalism is continuing to happen and a meeting had taken place with the Police to see what can be done; a further meeting was due to take place on 22 June which Parish Councillors were encouraged to attend.

Councillor Hamid said that he would liaise with the Mosque Committee to arrange a meeting with Councillor McKiernan with a view to the Princess Street Community Centre being used to offer facilities for young people in the evening.

25. Financial matters

25.1        Schedule of payments

                Resolved             That the above payments be approved.

25.2        Bank reconciliation at 31 May 2022 

                 Resolved             That the above was a true record.

25.3        Earmarked Reserves (EMRs) 

Resolved             That the EMRs be agreed.

25.4        Actual income and expenditure to 31 May 2022

Resolved             That the report be noted.

26. Planning matters

26.1        Planning applications 

26.2        Planning Decisions

                Resolved             That the report be noted.

27. Website

It was noted that there had been 168 visits to the website in the 30 days to 13 June 2022.

28. Grant Aid application

Resolved             That the grant aid application in the sum of £87.26 submitted by Councillor McKiernan on behalf of the Unity Park project for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations be approved.

29. Proposed installation of benches at Dallow Lock

Councillor Shilton reported on a site meeting he had attended with representatives of the Canal & River Trust to assess whether the council could apply for permission to install a bench(es) on the triangular grassed area between ESBC and SPC’s noticeboards. The Trust said that they did not see a problem with the request in principle but they needed to confirm the actual area they were responsible for; they also highlighted that there was Sky cabling running through the area. The Trust had subsequently confirmed that they do not own the land looked at during the site meeting. Councillors were of the opinion that ESBC were the likely landowners.

Councillor Dennis asked that consideration also be given to installing one or two seats on the pedestrian route adjacent to the former Imex Centre from Moor Street to Shobnall Road.

Agreed That:

1. The council seek confirmation of the landowner of the preferred area at Dallow Lock and that permission be sought to install 2 No. metal benches
2. The council seek confirmation of the landowner of the pedestrian route adjacent to the former Imex Centre and that permission be sought to install 2 No. metal benches
3. Quotations be sought for the supply and installation of the above benches

30. Staffordshire County Council Levelling Up Fund: Round 2 bid information

The County Council had written requesting comments and support for its Levelling Up Fund round 2.

Agreed That the County Council be advised that the council was aware that Burton is one of the worst in the country for air pollution and it would like to see measures put in place to reduce the pollution.

31. Allotments (for information)

The Clerk advised the council that two requests had been received via email seeking information on taking an allotment plot in the Parish. Both enquirers were advised that the council did not operate any allotment sites in the Parish and they had been provided with contact information for allotment sites in Burton.

Resolved             That, as previously agreed, the council has been unable to identify a suitable site in the Parish to enable negotiations to be progressed to provide an allotment. The Clerk was requested to inform future enquirers of this decision and to continue to provide contact information for allotment sites in Burton.

32. Councillors’ questions

None raised.

33. Correspondence and circulars

33.1        SPCA

The SPCA’s weekly Bulletins had been circulated to all Councillors.

33.2        Highways England

The A38 Traffic Management Bulletins had been circulated to all Councillors.

34. Items for the next meeting

None raised.

Date of next meeting

Monday 18 July 2022 commencing at 7pm at Brook House, 18 Shobnall Road, Burton upon Trent DE14 2BA.

The Meeting closed at 8.40pm