Minutes of a meeting of Shobnall Parish Council

held at Brook House, Shobnall Road

on Monday 15 January 2024 commencing at 7pm

Present

Councillor Pennicott, Chair

Councillors Dittmer, Donlon, Hoare and Shilton

Also present

ESBC Councillor McKiernan

Neil Brown, General Manager, Shobnall Leisure Complex

PCSO Worden

Mary Danby, Clerk

Public Forum

PCSO Worden said that there was nothing of note to report, in general there had not been a lot over the last month or so.

Councillors referred to a resident’s campaign regarding parking on the corner of Shobnall Street and Waverley Lane. PCSO Worden said the Police can only deal with an obstruction in an emergency or obstructions on the highway, he said that Staffordshire Police do not have the power to deal with parking offences, this power lies with the County Council’s Civil Enforcement Officers. He said that his colleague, PCSO Katie Fellows was in discussions with a County Council Officer regarding highway issues and he would make this issue known to them.

Councillors asked if there was a leaflet to inform people of the correct place to report issues. PCSO Worden said there was no such leaflet, but he would pass the suggestion to the Comms Team for consideration.

ESBC Councillor McKiernan said that she had been contacted by Trent & Dove tenants regarding noise and bullying issues and that bricks had been thrown at windows. PCSO Worden said that the Police are aware of these issues and they are working with Trent & Dove to resolve the situation.

Councillors referred to vehicles mounting the kerb on the Shobnall Road when children are going to school. PCSO Worden said he would make this issue known to PCSO Fellows for discussion with her County Council contact.

Neil Brown, General Manager, Shobnall Leisure Complex

Mr Brown advised that the replacement floodlighting project had secured half of the funding from Everyone Active and they were talking with ESBC regarding the remaining funding.

Mr Brown said that they were looking to upgrade the paddling pool. He said that the plant and pool were okay, the pool simply needs to be repainted – this would be done by Everyone Active. He explained that the concern lies with a drop between the astroturf and the edge of the pool which is a trip hazard and there are areas which are lifting and stones are being thrown into the pool. He said that three redundant wooden posts in the astroturf will be removed as they are rotting.

He explained that whilst Everyone Active is responsible for the pool, it is not responsible for the astroturf. He said he was requesting financial assistance from the Parish Council to replace the astroturf, adding that two quotations had been sourced one in the sum of £16,000 plus VAT and the other in the sum of £18,000 plus VAT. He said that the second quotation would be his preferred option as it would see the astroturf installed onto a concrete base. Mr Brown said he would be happy to approach ESBC for contributory funding towards replacing the astroturf.

If funding was secured, Mr Brown said that that the two-week install would be done in the Spring, ready for opening in May. He concluded by saying that the pool is open to everyone during the season and it is therefore open to community use.

Councillors thanked Mr Brown for attending the meeting and said that he would be advised of the decision on the request for financial assistance in due course.

54. Apologies for absence

None, all Councillors were present at the meeting.

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

            None were received.

56. Minutes

Resolved         That the Minutes of the meeting held on 18 December 2023 be approved as an accurate record.

57. Matters arising

Bench: The Clerk reported that the County Council had received no objections to the proposed installation of a bench on the pedestrian walkway from Moor Street to Shobnall Road and the Licence had been received for signature. It was noted that no works could be commenced until the engrossed Licence had been returned by the County Council.

Resolved         That:

• Councillor Pennicott sign the Licence on behalf of the Parish Council, witnessed by ESBC Councillor McKiernan.
• Quotations be sought to install the bench and apply for the Permit to Dig on behalf of the Parish Council.
• Once the Permit to Dig has been approved, 1 No. King’s Coronation bench be ordered at an estimated cost of £1,777.00 plus VAT.

58. County Councillor and Borough Councillor reports

ESBC Councillor Walker had sent an email apologising for his absence, adding that:

• Things were quiet in Shobnall from his side.
• He had called in planning applications, as requested by the Parish Council.
• £23,000 had been secured for the Princess Street Education Centre.

ESBC Councillor McKiernan reported:

• ESBC had been awarding grants, including the Ward Enhancement Programme (WEP). The WEP funding is from the Government’s UK Prosperity Grant and it is available for anyone to apply for funds for anything that enhances the Ward.
• Cabinet has given its support for the Bass House regeneration project and ESBC is working with brewers and the University to provide an experience for visitors rather than a museum.
• Consultation on the Market Hall was due to commence.
• Environmental work on the Washlands had been completed, the path and walkways are to be done.
• A stretch of 5¹/₂ miles of towpath will be resurfaced and widened between Branston Water Park and the Dove Aqueduct. Part of the project is being funded by the Government’s Towns Fund and is being delivered by the Canal and River Trust in partnership with ESBC. Additional money from the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Transforming the Trent Valley scheme will pay for enhancements to wildlife habitat along the canal.
• ESBC’s Boosting Business Programme offers capital and revenue grant support to support new and existing SMEs business expansion and development plans. The intention is that the grant helps with business growth and therefore will not help with general running costs of the business.

59. Financial matters
    • Schedule of payments

Resolved         That the above payments be approved.

59.2     Bank reconciliation at 31 December 2023 

     Resolved         That the above was a true record.

59.3     Earmarked Reserves (EMRs) at 31 December 2023

Resolved         That the EMRs be agreed.

60. Receipts and payments up to 31 December 2023 and draft 2024/25 budget

Councillors discussed the 2024/25 draft budget and agreed that a balanced budget should be sought, further discussion took place on whether a 5% or 6% increase on the precept should be agreed.

It was noted that ESBC had confirmed that the Council Tax base had increased due to the influx of new housing in the Parish, this meant that a precept of £39,445 (a 6% increase on 2023/24) would see no change in the Council Tax (Band D £18.78).

Resolved         That:

•  The report be noted
• The 2024/25 budget be approved (Attachment 1 – see financial information on website)

61. 2024/25 Precept declaration

Resolved         That a Precept of £39,445 be declared on ESBC.

62. Planning matters

62.1     Planning applications 

63. Equal Opportunities Service (ESO): Ward Enhancement Programme

The ESO had contacted the Parish Council explaining that that their request for support at the November 2023 meeting had not made it clear that they were not seeking financial assistance – they were seeking the Parish Council’s support for a project within the Ward.

Resolved         That the Parish Council declined to give its support to the application as it was felt that the project was over-ambitious and would not be financially viable. Councillors were also aware that there are empty buildings owned by the Borough Council in Burton which could be utilised to provide the services proposed by ESO rather than developing a new facility.

64. 2024 Meeting schedule

Resolved         That the Parish Council will meet on the following dates at Brook House, 18 Shobnall Road, Burton on Trent DE14 2BA:

Monday 15 January

Monday 19 February

Monday 18 March

Monday 15 April (Annual Parish Meeting and Annual PC meeting)*

Monday 20 May

Monday 17 June

Monday 15 July

Monday 16 September

Monday 21 October

Monday 18 November

Monday 16 December

All meetings with the exception of 15 April will commence at 7pm. *The Annual Parish Meeting on 15 April will commence at 6.30pm and will be followed immediately by the Annual Parish Council meeting.

65. Shobnall Leisure Complex (see also Parish Forum (pages 21 and 22))

Resolved         That the Parish Council is willing to match funding from ESBC for the replacement astroturf project and that the Parish Council supports the General Manager’s preferred option (£18,000 plus VAT). The offer is made on the proviso that the Parish Council would be permitted to install 2 No. robust, vandal-proof metal benches in the area around the paddling pool, such benches would have a logo on them saying that they have been provided by the Parish Council. Mr Brown to be asked to liaise with Mike Hovers, ESBC regarding match funding the project, and that he inform the Parish Council of the outcome of those discussions in due course.

66. Councillor’s questions/reports

66.1     Councillor Shilton referred to ongoing parking issues and suggested that the Parish Council could look to create parking spaces for people to park. He referred to the redundant factory site at the rear of 6-14 Shobnall Street and asked that the landowner be approached to ask if they would be willing to sell the land for use to provide parking for residents. Agreed that the landowner be identified and approached as set out above.

66.2     Councillor Pennicott referred to the Traffic Management Plan on the B5017 Shobnall Road that had been commissioned by the Parish Council in 2017 to accompany the Neighbourhood Plan and he asked if the survey could be repeated given the influx of new housing since the original survey had been  published. Agreed that quotations be sought to repeat the Shobnall Road traffic survey and that an air pollution survey be included this time.

66.3     Councillor Hoare said that she had been contacted by a member of the public expressing concern regarding the Shobnall field bridge over the A38 and the number of incidents from the bridge and asking what could be done to make the bridge safer. Councillors referred to a recent email stream which had included a response to the MP from National Highways setting out the proposed safety measures for the bridge. Agreed that the email be forwarded to the member of public for her information.

67. Correspondence and circulars

67.1     SPCA

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

Date of next meeting

Monday 19 February 2024  commencing at 7pm at Brook House, 18 Shobnall Road, Burton upon Trent DE14 2BA.

The meeting closed at 9.25pm