Minutes of the Meeting of Shobnall Parish Council

held at Brook House, Shobnall Road on Monday 19 July 2021

commencing at 7pm

PRESENT

Councillor Dennis (in the Chair)

Councillors Asghar, Dittmer, Donlon, Hoare and Shilton

In attendance

County Councillor Afsar

Borough Councillors McKiernan and Walker

PCSO Wells

Mary Danby, Clerk

PUBLIC FORUM

No members of the public were present.

Police

PCSO Wells reported that she and her colleagues had been called to reports of anti-social behaviour on Shobnall Fields. They had also been made aware of drinkers using the area around the Weighbridge Inn as a toilet – this has now ceased.

Councillor Shilton raised the issue of complaints from residents that motorcycles were being ridden through the Sawmill Way estate – PCSO Wells undertook to investigate these complaints.

ESBC Councillor Walker referred to complaints he had received regarding damage being caused at Unity Park. PCSO Wells said that she was aware of the issues referred to, but she undertook to speak to the resident for information.

37. Apologies

None, all Parish Councillors were present.

38. Declarations of Interest

Councillor Donlon declared a non-prejudicial interest in Minute No. (Grant Aid application by the Horninglow Community Learning Centre – she is a Centre user).

39. Written applications for Dispensations under the Localism Act 2011

None had been received.

40. Updates to Councillors’ Register of Interest Forms

None were received.

41. Minutes

Resolved        That the Minutes of the meeting held on 04 May 2021 be approved as an accurate record.

42. Matters arising None raised.

43. County Councillor’s report

Councillor Afsar reported that:

§  Consultation re TR59/20 Albert Street, Princess Street, Cross Street and Duke Street

• Introduce No Waiting at Any Time on Albert Street and Princess Street (Burton Upon Trent)
• Introduce No Waiting between the hours of 8am and 7pm on Monday to Saturday Inclusive on Cross Street (Burton Upon Trent)
• Remove No Waiting at Any Time on Princess Street, Cross Street and Duke Street (Burton upon Trent)

The closing date for comments on the Order was 28 July 2021.

• He said that he continues to be contacted by residents about the poor condition of the roads and he encourages people to report the issues on the County Council’s online reporting tool.
• He referred to the Town Deal Board’s Project G (Towpath improvements) and said that of the 822 comments submitted, a total of 543 were in support of the proposal.
• Consultation on the proposed relocation of the Library had commenced on 19 July – details were available on the County Council’s website.
• CCG: Gordon Street is the main surgery of concern; another meeting is being arranged for the end of August. He urged people to report their issues/complaints to the CCG so that these can be investigated.
• Crime: Anti-social Behaviour had been reported at Unity Park and Shobnall Fields which the PCSOs/foot patrols had responded to.
• Covid cases are rising, and he said that caution still needs to be exercised, testing needs to be done regularly and the vaccination opportunities need to be accepted.
• Community Speed Watch (CSW): He had provided information to the council via the Clerk and asked that this be an agenda item for the next meeting of the council. The council agreed to the request and Councillor Dennis asked who would pay for the insurance cover for volunteers– Councillor Afsar undertook to find out and report to the next meeting.
• The Community Fund scheme had opened – County Councillors each have £2,500 to distribute to groups and organisations in their Divisions.

44. Borough Councillors’ reports

            Councillor Walker reported that:

• He had spoken with the Shobnall Street resident (Minute No. 32.4 refers) and the issue appears now appears to be resolved.
• A resident had contacted Enforcement and Environmental Health regarding the jitty from Waverley Lane to Shobnall Street (overflowing bins, weeds, etc).
• Proposed relocation of the Library: This will be discussed at a meeting of the council on 26 July when motions opposing the move will be discussed.

Councillor McKiernan reported that:

• Cricket: She referred to Councillor Afsar’s comments at the previous meeting when he had said that he had been asked for a cricket pitch to be provided in one of the parks. She had spoken with Neal Brown, Shobnall Leisure Centre who had said that there is no room for a pitch on Shobnall Fields; Mr Brown said that pitches were available at Eton Park and Anglesey.
• The play equipment damage had been valued at £25,000 and a claim was being processed through the insurers.
• Unity Park: She said she would speak with Michael Hovers, ESBC to set-up a meeting with the PCSOs, ESBC and the community.
• A motion she had submitted to make Burton plastic free would be discussed at ESBC’s council meeting on 26 July.

45. Financial matters

45.1     Schedule of payments 

Resolved        That the above payments be approved.

45.2     Bank reconciliation as at 30 June 2021 

 Resolved        That the above was a true record.

45.3     Earmarked Reserves (EMRs)

 Resolved        That the information be noted.

46.       Actual income and expenditure as at 30 June 2021

Resolved        That the report be noted.

47. Link Park

Councillors considered the draft Deed of Surrender – it was noted that text had been omitted from Para. 3.2.

Agreed            That the County Council be requested to amend the Deed of Surrender to enable it to be approved for signature at the September meeting of the council

48. Funding requests

48.1     Shobnall Primary School

Resolved        That a grant of £500 be agreed as a contribution towards the creation of a sensory garden.

48.2     Horninglow Community Learning Centre

Resolved        That a grant of £430 be agreed towards the Centre’s annual running costs.

48.3     Equal Support Opportunities

Resolved        That the council is unable to support the ESO’s proposal to develop a Holistic Centre on the Link Park as it is of the opinion that the proposed development on an open public space would be contrary to the Shobnall Neighbourhood Plan.

49. Grant Aid form (Minute No. 29 refers)

            Resolved        That the revised form and guidance be approved.

50. Replacement noticeboards (Minute No. 30 refers)

            Deferred to the next meeting of the council to enable further quotations to be sought based on the type of noticeboard currently installed by Branston Parish council.

51. Street Naming for proposed residential development at Lawns Farm, Shobnall Road (Minute No. 35.4 refers)

            Resolved        That the following street names be submitted to the developer:

            Abbot

Wulfric

Wyatt

52. Defibrillator provision (Minute No. 36 refers)

            Agreed            That:

• A public consultation be undertaken asking residents to suggest locations where defibrillators might be installed in the Parish so that these could be considered at the next meeting of the council.

• Further information be put to the next meeting of the council, including costs of defibrillators, replacement batteries and pads, servicing, training etc.

53. Proposed children’s competition

Deferred to the next meeting of the council.

54. Website

There had been 52 visits to the website in the 30 days to 12 July 2021.

55. To consider planning matters

55.1     Planning applications 

55.2     Planning decisions

            Resolved  That the planning decisions be noted.

56. To receive questions from Councillors

56.1     Shobnall Court

Councillor Shilton reported that a fence panel(s) was missing from the boundary of Shobnall Court and the pavement raising a health and safety concern for pedestrians as there is a gap in the fence.

Agreed            That the property owner be contacted and requested to replacement the fencing panel(s).

57. Correspondence and Circulars

57.1     Staffordshire Parish Councils’ Association (SPCA): The weekly Bulletins had been circulated to all Councillors.

Councillor Dennis referred to the Bulletin dated 15 July and asked that Councillors ensure that they copy the Clerk on emails they send on Parish Council business from their personal email addresses.

57.2     Highway England: The A38 Traffic Management Bulletins had been circulated to all Councillors.

57.3     Staffordshire County Council: The Coronavirus updates had been circulated to all Councillors.

Date of next meeting:

Monday 20 September 2021 at 7.00pm at Brook House, 18 Shobnall Road, Burton upon Trent DE14 2BA.

The Meeting closed at 9.10pm

Signed …………………………………………………….

Date ……………………………………………………….