NOTES of a Meeting of Shobnall Parish Council

held at the Princess Street Training Education and Enterprise Centre, Princess Street, Burton upon Trent on Monday 18 March 2019 commencing at 7.00pm

PRESENT

Councillor Dennis (in the Chair)

Councillors Donlon and Shilton

In attendance

Mary Danby, Clerk

PUBLIC FORUM

No members of the public were present

The Chair declared the meeting inquorate and explained that the business as set out on the agenda could not be formally considered, however Councillors agreed to informally consider the agenda and recommendations were made for retrospective approval at the next meeting of the council.

2018-19/164       APOLOGIES

Councillors Dittmer, Hoare and Yousaf.

2018-19/165       Declarations of interest

None declared.

2018-19/166       Minutes of the Council meeting held on 18 February 2019

Deferred to the next meeting of the council.

2018-19/167       Matters arising from the Council meeting held on 18 February 2019

                                2018-19/140 and 116    Kingfisher Trail: Totem Poles

The Clerk had received a response sent on behalf of the Chairman of the Kingfisher Project which confirmed that the structures were not owned by the Project. It was suggested that the council should liaise with ESBC regarding the suggestion that ESBC/SPC split the future maintenance/removal costs 50/50.

Deferred to the next meeting of the council.

2018-19/127       Princess Street Training Centre

Councillor Dennis reported that she had contacted Princess Street Training Centre and they informed her that they originally set out to provide activities for locals but to remain sustainable most of their business comes from hiring out the rooms.  The rooms are hired by various organisations, e.g. an organisation providing health care training.  Most of the organisations arrange and advertise the courses themselves.

There is a web page (http://www.princesstrainingcentre.org.uk/activities/) advertising the venue and some of the courses they have offered.  The web page is not maintained directly by the people in the office. Councillor Dennis asked about advertising the courses and they say they get a lot of footfall through and that people do come in to see what is available, there is a registered day nursery on the 1^st floor (Little Bright Stars Pre-School) and the fact organisations bring their own attendees to the course.

Princess Street Training Centre is registered as a Charity.

2018-19/148.2    Staffordshire Commissioner for Police Fire Crime

Staffordshire Police response to the council’s Freedom of information request had been circulated to all councillors.

2018-19/148.4    Branston Walking Group             

Councillors were provided with a details of Shobnall Parish footpaths. It was agreed that the council should walk each footpath and report back to a future meeting.

2018-19/168       PCSO’S REPORT

PCSO Leadley had provided a report via email which would be forwarded to all councillors.

2018-19/169       Financial matters

2018-19/169.1    Schedule of Payments

                                AGREED               That the above payments be made and that they be retrospectively approved at the next meeting of the council.

2018-19/170       HS2 Phase 2a West Midlands to Crewe

                                Staffordshire County Council’s HS2 Manager had contacted the council to make councillors aware of some HS2 information relevant to Shobnall. A Bill is currently passing through parliament for the West Midlands – Crewe section of HS2, known as Phase 2a. HS2 Ltd recently made some amendments to this (known as an additional provision) and these amendments are open to consultation until 29 March 2019. It is also possible to formally petition the changes.

One of the changes was the new Parkgate grid connection, running from Newlands Lane in Colton to Newborough. The County Council notes that HS2 Ltd are planning to use the B5017 via Shobnall to access the Parkgate construction site. The busy period for this will last three months and include up to 38 HGV movements per day. This equates to 4 per hour between 8am to 6pm, which is 2 each way per hour. There was no indication of what the non-busy times will look like though will likely be substantially lower. The busy period was said by HS2 Ltd to be a ‘reasonable worst-case scenario’.

As the Highways authority, the County Council is required to approve routes where there are more than 24 HGV movements per day, although it is only able to refuse on very limited grounds within the Bill and can be overruled by the Secretary of State in the event of a disagreement.

AGREED               That the following comment be submitted via the County Council (to be retrospectively approved at the next meeting of the council):

Shobnall Parish Council suggest that the A50–A515 route could be used as an alternative to the B5017. The suggested alternative route is not a built-up area and will therefore not have the same impact on residents, particularly as the B5017 route is narrow as well as having on road parking making Forest Road even more restricted for the anticipated increase in traffic.

2018-19/171       THE LINK PARK

• The Clerk reported that she had met on site with PCSO Julia Wells who had explained the difficulties the police face in policing the site.

• The Clerk was requested to gather information on the following options for councillors to consider at the May meeting of the council:

• Return the site to grass, with only robust metal picnic benches/seats and litter bins provided
• Concept designs for the refurbishment of the site including replacement play playground equipment and inclusive fitness equipment
• Quotation for land drainage of the former BMX track
• Quotation for additional bollards

• The Clerk was requested to source information from the County Council on youth provision in the Ward and whether there was any scope for the council to provide funding towards such a facility.

2018-19/172       REQUEST FOR FILING CABINET PUCHASE

The Clerk requested that the council purchase a lockable four-drawer filing cabinet to store the council’s documentation, the cabinet will be held by the Clerk for ease of use.

AGREED               That the Clerk be authorised to purchase a pre-owned lockable four-drawer filing cabinet at a cost not exceeding £84 plus delivery and VAT. (Decision to be retrospectively approved at the next meeting of the council.)

2018-19/173       Planning matters

2018-19/173.1    Planning applications

No comments were made on the above planning applications.

2018-19/174       Correspondence and Circulars

2018-19/174.1    SPCA Weekly Bulletins had been received and circulated to all councillors.

2018-19/174.2    WPS Insurance Brokers and Risk Services

Councillors were informed that WPS have recently launched a new Crime & Cyber policy at a cost of £250 plus IPT per annum.

It was agreed not to take up the offer of the additional policy – to be retrospectively approved at the next meeting of the council.

2018-19/175       STAFFING MATTERS

AGREED               That the Clerk be permitted to carry forward 15 hours accrued annual leave to the 2019/20 holiday year.

Date of next meetings

Two meetings will be taking place on Monday 15 April 2019:

Annual Parish Meeting commencing at 6.30pm, followed by the Parish Council meeting at the Princess Street Training Education and Enterprise Centre.

The Meeting closed at 8.30pm