Minutes of a virtual meeting of Shobnall Parish Council

held on Monday 15 March 2021 commencing at 7.00pm

Present

Councillor Dennis (in the Chair)

Councillors Dittmer, Donlon, Hoare and Shilton

In attendance

County Councillor Clarke

ESBC Councillor McKiernan

One member of the public

Mary Danby, Clerk

Public Forum

No questions or comments were put to the council.

2020-21/167        Apologies

Councillor Asghar

2020-21/168        Declarations of interest

None declared.

2020-21/169        Written applications for dispensations under the Localism Act 2011

None were received.

2020-21/170        Updates to Councillors’ Register of Interest Forms

None were received.

2020-21/171        Minutes

Resolved              That the Minutes of the meeting held on 15 February 2021 be approved and signed as a true record.

2020-21/172        Matters arising from the previous meeting

None raised.

2020-21/173        County Councillor’s report

Councillor Clarke reported that:

• The County Council had received a £20.3m grant for air quality schemes. Three areas had been chosen for air quality monitoring: Newcastle under Lyme, Burton upon Trent and Cellarhead.

• Outwoods Street, from Dallow Street/Belvedere Road – there had been several accidents and the railings need to be repaired. A resident had approached him and the MP – Councillor Clarke has raised the issue with the County Council and was waiting for an officer to visit the area.

• Bridgewater Road is unadopted and residents had reported parking issues. Councillor Clarke said that Bellway can apply for the road to be adopted; alternatively, they could put up ‘Private Land’ notices which could be managed by a security company on their behalf.

• A councillor asked what changes were to be made to the Wellington Street roundabout (this had been reported in the Burton Mail)? Councillor Clarke had no information, but he said that he would consult with Staffs Highways and relay the information to the parish council.

2020-21/174        Borough Councillor’s report

Councillor McKiernan reported that:

• The Weighbridge Inn tenant had reported that people were leaving rubbish and human excrement in the car park. Councillor McKiernan had spoken with the Police and ESBC’s CCEOs, CCTV had been put up and the area is being monitored four times a day.

• Steps were being taken to provide a Vaccination Centre in Princess Street before Ramadan.

• The Library’s move to the Market Hall is being discussed in the Council. A public consultation will be held on the proposal and Councillor McKiernan encouraged the parish council to respond when the opportunity arises.

• The Lawns Farm development had been approved by the Planning Committee, but she was concerned about the access – it seemed that the roundabout was not going to be put in by the developer. Councillors noted that the parish council had not been informed of this change and the Clerk was requested to contact ESBC for clarification.

2020-21/175        Financial matters

2020-21/175.1    Schedule of payments

Resolved              That the above payments be approved.

2020-21/175.2    Bank reconciliation as at 28 February 2021

Resolved              That the above was a true record.

2020-21/175.3    Earmarked Reserves (EMRs) as at 28 February 2021

The Chair asked that councillors consider ideas on how The Link Earmarked Reserve should be used – to be discussed at the next meeting.

Resolved              That the information be noted.

2020-21/176        Actual income and expenditure as at 28 February 2021

Resolved              That the report be noted.

2020-21/177        Funding request

A request had been received from a local PCSO for £2,000 to be granted for a Speed Indicator Device (SID) to be located on the right hand bend where Dallow Street meets Belvedere Road. (See also Minute No. 2020-21/174.)

Councillors were not convinced that a SID would be an effective solution at the identified location. The council accepted that there are concerns regarding the accidents that have happened and the impact that this has on residents but felt that the railings need to be replaced with a more robust barrier to provide improved protection for pedestrians and property.

AGREED                That the PCSO be advised of the above.

2020-21/178        Website

                                Resolved              That the report be noted.

2020-21/179        Planning matters

2020-21/179.1    Planning applications

Resolved              That the following observations be submitted to ESBC:

2020-21/179.2    Planning decisions

Resolved             That the notified planning decisions be received and noted.

2020-21/180        Councillors questions

2020-21/180.1    Councillor Dittmer reported that the noticeboard on the BACT Centre’s wall was damaged and the doors cannot be locked.

AGREED                That:

1. Bloomin’ Gardens be requested to remove the noticeboard as soon as possible.
2. Consideration be given at the April meeting to replacing all the current wooden noticeboards with metal ones.

2020-21/180.2    Councillor Hoare reported that the window cleaner, Saul Edwards, had quoted £100 per visit to clean the Dallow Lock murals and information board (Minute no. 2020-21/164.3 refers).

RESOLVED           That Mr Edwards be engaged to clean the murals and information twice a year (Spring and Autumn) at a cost of £100 per visit and that he be requested to also clean the council’s noticeboard (located in the car park).

2020-21/180.3    Councillor Dennis informed councillors that she was standing down from the parish council at the end of April. The council will need to inform ESBC to commence the process to fill the vacancy.

2020-21/181        Correspondence and Circulars

2020-21/181.1    Staffordshire Parish Councils’ Association (SPCA)

The SPCA’s weekly newsletters have been circulated to all Councillors.

It was noted that the Government were currently looking to reintroduce face to face council meetings after 07 May 2021, it was also noted this would only be possible if the community venues were permitted to open at that time. The Clerk was asked to contact the Princess Street Training Centre to provisionally book the large meeting room for the council’s scheduled May meeting.

2020-21/181.2    Highways England

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

2020-21/181.3    Police report

Agreed                  That the report be noted.

2020-21/182        Items for next meeting

No items were raised.

Date of next meeting

Monday 19 April 2021 commencing at 7.00pm via Zoom.

The meeting closed at 8.46pm

Signed …………………………………………………….

Date ……………………………………………………….