Minutes of Meeting held on Friday 12th. October 2026 in the Longsdon Memorial Hall, Leek Road, Longsdon at 7.00pm.
Present: Councillor J. Sargeant (Chair).
Councillors S. Dickinson, C. Hogan, D. Hughes, R. Lovell & K. Shaw.
In attendance: J. Bourne, Clerk to the Council.
28/26 Declaration of Interest.
There were no declarations of interest at this point.
29/26 Apologies for absence.
Apologies for absence were received from J. Cox.
30/26 Chairman’s Address.
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.
31/26 Public Comments.
A lengthy email had been received from parishioners. This was dealt with under Matters Arising (a).
32/26 Approval of Minutes of Last Meeting.
The minutes of the meeting held on 21st. August 2026 had been circulated. Under item 23/26 it was agreed to substitute the word “advised” for the word “instructed”. It was then agreed that the minutes be signed as a true record. .
33/26 Matters Arising.
(a) Sutherland Road Junction.
A lengthy email had been received from parishioners regarding the dangerous egress of traffic leaving Sutherland Road and joining the A53 Leek Road, Longsdon.
A recap of some of the many requests for improved road safety measures made to the County Council was read out. It included speed awareness signs, re-siting the existing speed camera, extending white lines, a 30mph speed limit through the village, a roadside mirror and larger signs for the pedestrian crossing.
The email received suggested that a Formal Junction Safety Assessment be undertaken, that to be an engineering assessment rather than simply an officers view. It also suggested requesting the evidence behind any previous decisions not to act.
After a very lengthy discussion it was agreed to ask the County Highways Department for these, together with details of what surveys have been undertaken at the junction
It was also suggested that a public meeting could be held to discuss any answers received.
(b) Christmas Tree Power Supply.
Two quotations had been received for the underground electricity supply cable for the Christmas tree.
One from AB Construction in the sum of £775.00 + V.A.T. for excavation, laying a 3 inch duct pipe to receive an electric cable, back filling and re-instatement of the surface.
A further quotation of £402.75 was received from the electrician for installing the necessary cable and the external connections.
It was agreed to accept both the quotations and to get the work ordered and done.
(c) Common Land.
No report was received but it was agreed that an annual check on the land should be undertaken.
(d) Remembrance Day Poppies.
The Chairman reported that three new poppies had been made with materials costing £28.50 + VAT.
(e) Condition of Notice Boards.
It was reported that the condition of the notice board in Sutherland Road was causing concern. There was ingress of water which needed notices to be attached inside a plastic folder and also the plastic windows were becoming obscured. A new notice board could cost approx. £350.
In the first instance an attempt would be made to replace the window and alleviate the water problem.
(f) Internet Banking.
Internet banking had been arranged with TSB Banking, the Council’s bank. It was agreed that two signatories would be needed to authorise any transactions.
34/26 Other Business.
A resident had asked the Council for assistance in getting a culvert under the A53 onto his land inspected again by the County Council. It had become blocked by tree roots two years ago and the inspection is requested to ensure the roots have not regrown. The County Council would be contacted.
35/26 Correspondence.
The following had already been distributed to Councillors: -
SMDC Local Plan Review.
LGR Announcement.
Dunwood Lane Road Closure – 13th. November 26.
Phoenix Singers Autumn Concert – 10th. October 26.
36/26 Planning Matters.
It was reported that the old New Inn had now been demolished.
37/26 Finance Matters.
A copy of the quarterly Bank Account details was distributed to Councillors.
38/26 Orders for Payment.
| Recipient | Amount | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| J. A. Gibson | £96.00 | SMDC Agency Work. (Litter Picking). |
| £96.00 | County Council Work. | |
| John Bourne. | £406.35 | Clerk’s Salary & Expenses. (Nett). |
| H.M. Revenue & Customs. | £88.40 | P.A.Y.E. |
| John Sargeant. | £25.00 | Room Hire (Re-imbursement). |
| Longsdon Memorial Hall. | £25.00 | Room Hire. |
| Ionos. | £7.20 | Paid by Direct Debit 13th. September 2026 |
| £7.20 | Paid by Direct Debit 13th. October 2026. |
It was agreed that all the items be paid.
39/26 Public Comments.
There was no business under this item.
40/26 Items for Inclusion in the Agenda for the Next Meeting.
Regular report from the Memorial Hall.
41/26 Date of Next Meeting.
The date of the next meeting was arranged for Friday 20th. November 2026 at 7-00p.m.
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Minutes of Meeting held on Friday 21st. August 2026 in the Longsdon Memorial Hall, Leek Road, Longsdon at 7.00pm.
Present: Councillor J. Sargeant (Chair).
Councillors D. Hughes, R. Lovell & K. Shaw.
In Attendance: John Bourne, Clerk to the Council.
15/26 Declarations of Interest.
There were no declaration of interest at this point.
16/26 Apologies for absence.
Apologies for absence were received from J. Cox & S. Dickinson & C. Hogan.
17/26 Chairman’s Address.
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.
18/26 Public Comments.
There was no business under this item.
19/26 Approval of Minutes of Last Meeting.
The minutes of the meetings held on 8th. May 2026 & 26th June 2026 had been circulated and it was agreed that the minutes be signed as a true record.
20/26 Matters Arising.
(a) Christmas Tree Power Supply.
Expert advice had been sought. It had recommended that the supply cable to the tree should be underground. An estimate for the work involved was awaited.
(b) Common Land.
It was reported that the sign for the land had collapsed. This to be investigated.
(c) Longsdon Memorial Hall.
It was reported that the AGM of the organisation had gone well and was well attended.
(d) Defibrillator Pads.
The new Defibrillator Pads had been obtained at a cost of £70-00 + VAT. The Chairman had fitted these and The Circuit, a national organisation, had been informed that the machine was ready for use.
(e) New Flower Tub.
The lengthsman had had to replace one of the village flower tubs.
21/26 Other Business.
It was reported that the main A53 through the village had been re-surfaced.
A report was given of a dangerous crumbling concrete inspection chamber cover in the pavement on the main road near to the church. This to be reported to BT/Open Reach.
22/26 Correspondence.
The following had already been distributed to Councillors: -
SMDC Call for Sites.
SMDC Smoke Control Area.
LGR Decision.
23/26 Planning Matters.
A report was given that the owners of the old New Inn had been requested to demolish the building within a certain time scale.
24/26 Finance Matters.
(a) The end of year account details and the Notice of Public Rights had been published on the website. There were no responses received.
(b)The Chairman reported that he had set up internet banking with TSB Bank and had actually produced a bank statement for the evening’s meeting. He suggested that more of the Council’s signatories should sign onto the account’s internet banking. Councillors Hughes, Dickinson & Lovell were suggested.
(c) A copy of the quarterly Bank Account details was distributed to Councillors.
(d) Accounts to be paid-
1. Cheques made out for last meeting – never signed or presented.
| Recipient | Amount | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| J. A. Gibson | £ 96.00 | . SMDC Agency Work. (Litter Picking). |
| £ 72.00 | . County Council Work. | |
| £ 142.00 | . New Flower Tub, Compost, Plants & Planting. | |
| John Bourne. | £ 84.00 | . British Heart Foundation (Re-imbursement). |
| John Sargeant. | £ 25.00 | . Room Hire. (Re-imbursement). |
| Longsdon Memorial Hall. | £ 25.00 | . Room Hire. |
| Ionos. | £ 7.20 | . Paid by Direct Debit 13th. May 2026. |
| £ 7.20 | . Paid by Direct Debit 13th. June 2026. |
2. Payments for this meeting.
| Recipient | Amount | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| J. A. Gibson. | £ 168.00 | . SMDC Agency Wok (Litter Picking). |
| £ 24.00 | . County Council Work. | |
| £ 125.00 | . Supply Paint & Paint Bus Shelters. | |
| Information Commissioner. | £ 52.00 | . Data Protection Fee. |
| John Sargeant. | £ 25.00 | . Room Hire. (Re-imbursement). |
| Longsdon Memorial Hall. | £ 25.00 | . Room Hire. |
| John Bourne. | £ 371.18 | .Clerk’s Salary & Expenses. (Nett.) |
| H. M. Revenue & Customs. | £ 88.60 | . P. A.Y. E. |
| Ionos. | £ 7.20 | . Paid by Direct Debit 13th. July 2026. |
| £ 7.20 | Paid by Direct Debit 13th. August 2026. |
It was agreed that all the items be paid.
25/26 Public Comments.
There was no business under this item.
26/26 Items for Inclusion in the Agenda for the Next Meeting.
None.
27/26 Date of Next Meeting.
The date of the next meeting was arranged for Friday 16th. October 2026 at 7-00p.m.
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Minutes of Meeting held on Friday 8th. May 2026 in the Longsdon Memorial Hall, Leek Road, Longsdon at 7.00pm.
Present: Councillor J. Sargeant (Chair).
Councillors C. Hogan, D. Hughes, R. Lovell & K. Shaw.
In Attendance: Two Members of the Public.
Rachael Powell - Trustee of Longsdon Memorial Hall.
John Bourne, Clerk to the Council.
1/26 Apologies for Absence.
Apologies for absence were received from J. Cox & S. Dickinson.
2/26 Declarations of Interest.
There were no declarations of interest at this point.
3/26 Chairman’s Address.
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.
4/26 Public Comments.
There was no business under this item.
5/26 Approval of Minutes of Last Meeting.
The minutes of the meeting held on 27th. March 2026 had been circulated, and it was agreed that the minutes be signed as a true record.
6/26 Matters Arising.
(a) Christmas Tree Power Supply.
A further discussion took place on whether the wiring for the Christmas tree lighting point should be overhead or underground to the exterior boundary wall. It was agreed to consult with a qualified local electrician for a suitable solution.
(b) Common Land.
More discussion took place on the matter, and it was agreed to discuss again ideas with the local representative of Staffs. Wildlife Trust.
(c) Longsdon Memorial Hall.
With the help of the trustee of the hall in attendance, the question of a public meeting to inform parishioners of the need for more support for the hall was again suggested. However, it was agreed to help publicise the forthcoming Annual General Meeting of the Management Committee to be held on 5th. June 2026.
7/26 Other Business.
Defibrillator Pads.
The Council had been informed that the Defibrillator Pads had reached their expiry dates.
It was agreed to purchase new pads at an approximate cost of £80-00.
Lengthsman Instructions.
Any instructions to be reported to the Clerk
8/26 Corresponence.
The following had already been distributed to Councillors: - SMDC – Emergency Briefing Screening Session.
Letter from S.P.C.A. to Staffs County Council on Gritting Bins.
Invitation to SMDC Local Engagement Workshop.
Invitation to Haydns Masterpiece – 30th.May 2026.
9/26 Planning Matters.
Application No. SMD/2025 had been superseded and Councillors had been asked to send further objections to the proposals at High View, Sutherland Road, Longsdon.
10/26 Finance Matters.
A copy of the Annual Accounts for 2025/2026 was distributed to Councillors.
No adverse comments were received.
As the Council’s turnover was less than £25,000.00 it was agreed to sign and forward the External Audit Exemption Certificate.
The Annual Governance Statement was approved.
The Annual Accounting Statements were approved.
The Annual Publication documents – Bank Reconciliation & Statement of Significant Variations were approved and signed.
The Internal Auditor’s report was received. She had mentioned one minor issue with an unpresented cheque.
It was agreed to investigate the setting up of internet banking.
TSB Bank had informed the Council that it was merging with Santander Bank.
The Council’s Risk Assessment Policy was reviewed and approved.
Orders for Payment.
It was agreed that the following items be paid:
| Recipient | Amount | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| J. A. Gibson. | £ 108.00 | Litter Picking. |
| £ 36.00 | County Type Jobs. | |
| Zurich Insurance. | £ 410.54 | Insurance Renewal (A slight increase on last year). |
| John Bourne. | £ 411.04 | Clerk’s Salary & Expenses (nett). |
| H. M. Customs & Excise. | £ 88.40 | P.A.Y.E. |
| John Sargeant. | £ 25.00 | Room Hire (Re-imbursement). |
| Longsdon Memorial Hall. | £ 25.00 | Room Hire. |
| Ionos | £ 7.20 | Monthly Charge paid by direct debit 13th. April 26. |
11/26 Public Comments.
There was no business under this item.
12/26 Items for Inclusion in the Agenda for the Next Meeting.
None.
13/26 Date of Next Meeting.
The date of the next meeting was arranged for Friday 26th June 2026 at 7-00p.m.
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Minutes of the Longsdon Parish Meeting held on Friday 8h. May 2026 in Longsdon Memorial Hall, Leek Road, Longsdon.
Present: Chair J. Sargeant. (Chair of the Parish Council).
In Attendance: Councillors C. Hogan, D. Hughes, R. Lovell & K. Shaw.
Two Electors.
Rachael Powell, Trustee of the Memorial Hall.
John Bourne, Clerk to the Council.
1. Apologies for Absence.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J. Cox & S. Dickinson.
2. Approval of Minutes of Last Parish Meeting.
The minutes of the last Parish meeting held on 8th. May 2025 had been circulated, and it was now agreed that they be signed as a true and correct record.
3. Chairman’s Address.
The Chairman thanked each Councillor for giving up their time to attend our meetings this year. Attendance had been very good.
Special thanks to the Vice Chair, the Clerk and the representatives of the Council for taking on the extra responsibilities.
He said that it had been great to have a little spontaneous good humour break out in the meetings from time to time. Such basically serious events are otherwise naturally dull and uninspiring.
It’s now unsurprising that the disgrace of the derelict New Inn continues despite approval for the latest planning application being granted months ago. There seems to be no appetite for removing the eyesore.
It’s also not easy to identify what improvements the Reform County Council have made to our area in its first year. The road surfaces certainly don’t seem markedly smoother. Let’s hope for better this year.
4. To Receive a Report for the Year 2025 / 2026.
Councillor John Sargeant was again re-elected as Chairman with Councillor Richard Lovell re-elected as Vice Chairman at the Annual General Meeting of the Council.
Councillors J. Cox and S. Dickinson were elected as representatives on the Staffs, Moorlands Parish Assembly.
Councillor D. Hughes was elected as the Council’s representative on the Memorial Hall Management Committee.
John Bourne, Clerk to the Council, was appointed as the Responsible Financial Officer.
Estimates for the coming financial year were prepared. Councillors agreed that the precept requirement would be £5,500.00, a slight increase on last year.
The annual accounts of the Council were audited again by the internal auditor. There were no adverse comments from her.
As the Council’s turn-over was less than £25,000 it could be exempted from an external audit. This option was pursued, and the necessary forms would be certified, signed and forwarded to the external auditor.
The Council’s insurance was again renewed with the Zurich insurance company with its quotation being only slightly more than last year.
Due to the Data Protection Regulations the Council again registered with the Information Commissioner in the sum of £52 – 00.
S137 Payments.
The village flower tubs were again planted twice for the summer and winter periods.
The large Remembrance Day poppies were again displayed around the village, but some had disappeared. Additional material had already been obtained for future years.
A Christmas tree was again purchased and was then displayed outside the Memorial Hall on Leek Road during the Festive period. The council paid for an external electrical socket to be installed with the defibrillator cabinet which re-sited slightly during the process. Further adjustments to the socket are still required.
A planning application for the provision of a farm shop on the old New Inn site was eventually approved by SMDC Planning Committee on appeal after original refusal.
A report of a dangerous window on a building at the junction of Leek Road and Sutherland Roads was sent in and the matter dealt with.
Unfortunately, no progress has been obtained regarding the safety of pedestrians using the pedestrian crossing on the A53 Leek Road despite the efforts of the Parish Council.
5. Any Other Business.
There was no business under this item.
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Minutes of Meeting held on Friday 27th. March 2026 in Longsdon Memorial Hall, Leek Road, Longsdon at 7.00pm.
Present: Councillor J. Sargeant (Chair).
Councillors S. Dickinson, D. Hughes, R. Lovell & K. Shaw.
In Attendance: John Bourne, Clerk to the Council.
103/25 Apologies for Absence.
Apologies for absence were received from J. Cox & C. Hogan.
104/25 Declarations of Interest.
There were no declarations of interest at this point.
105/25 Chairman’s Address.
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.
106/25 Public Comments.
There was no business under this item.
107/25 Approval of Minutes of Last Meeting.
The minutes of the meeting held on 6th. January 2026 had been circulated, and it was agreed that the minutes be signed as a true record.
108/25 Matters Arising.
(a) Christmas Tree – New Outdoor Electrical Socket
The position of the electrical socket installed alongside the new defibrillator cabinet was agreed not be ideal for illuminating a Christmas tree in the spot used for the last two years. Discussion commenced on the feasibility of having a mains socket on the stone wall adjacent the pavement. It was discovered that an underground cable would need to be at least 14 inches (36 centimeters) below the surface and enclosed in a conduit. It was felt that the groundwork for this would be prohibitively expensive. It was agreed to consider alternative methods of supplying power for the tree lights, potentially alternative places for the tree and also alternative types of tree which may be lighter and allow loftier locations. This to be discussed again at the next meeting.
(b) Common Land.
A further discussion took place on the matter and it was agreed to discuss ideas again with the representative of Staffs. Wildlife Trust.
(c) Longsdon Memorial Hall.
Information was received that a meeting between a member of the Memorial Hall committee, an interested parishioner and a member of the Council had been arranged for the following Monday. It was agreed to postpone further discussion until any results from that meeting could be reviewed. It was understood that the intention of the hall meeting was to convey assurance that people were willing to help in its management and reduce the strain on the existing very few members.
109/25 Other Business.
Lengthsman Instructions.
Any instructions to be reported to the Clerk
110/25 Correspondence.
The following had already been distributed to Councillors: -
SMDC – Local Government Re-organisation Consultation.
Update from Stoke on Trent City Council.
Invitation to SMDC Chairman’s Charity Ball – 17th. April 2026.
SMDC Dementia Friends Session – 22nd April 2026.
111/25 Planning Matters.
Councillors had been consulted on the following Planning Application:
SMD/2026/0063 Replacement Garage with Gym & New Games Room at Mollatts Wood Road, One adverse comment received. A report was sent in with a majority no objections.
SMD/2026/0051Listed Building Consent for New Windows at Dunwood House Farm.
No objections were received.
112/25 Finance Matters.
Orders for Payment.
Endon Christmas Tree Farm. £120.00.Already paid as agreed.
It was agreed that the following items be paid:
| Recipient | Amount | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| J. A. Gibson. | £ 108.00 | Litter Picking. |
| £ 96.00 | County Type Jobs. | |
| John Sargeant. | £ 25.00 | Room Hire (Reimbursement for January ). |
| Longsdon Memorial Hall. | £ 25.00 | Room Hire. (To be paid by the chair and reimbursed) |
| Ionos | £ 7.20 | Monthly Charge paid by direct debit 12th. January 26. |
| £ 7.20 | Monthly Charge paid by direct debit 11th. February 26. | |
| £ 19.20 | Monthly Charge paid by direct debit 13th. March 26. |
113/25 Public Comments.
There was no business under this item.
114/25 Items for Inclusion in the Agenda for the Next Meeting.
AGAR details, Exemption certificate, Annual governance statement.
115/25 Date of Next Meeting.
The date of the next meeting was arranged for Friday 8th. May 2026 at 7-00p.m.
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