Minutes of Meeting held on Thursday 30th. January 2025 in the Upstairs Room of the Wheel Public House, Leek Road, Longsdon at 7.00pm.

Present: Councillor J. Sargeant (Chair).

Councillors J. Cox. S. Dickinson, D. Hughes & R. Lovell.

In Attendance: John Bourne, Clerk to the Council.

One Member of the Public.

01/25 Apologies for Absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors C. Hogan & K. Shaw.

02/25 Declarations of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest at this point.

03/25 Chairman’s Address.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

04/25 Public Comments.

The member of the public present raised an issue with a planning application for a project in School Lane. However, as the Council had never received any notification of this it could not comment. Councillor Cox, as District Councillor offered to look into the matter. The member of the public also raised concern over the roadway edge collapsing adjacent Lyme House farm, Dunwood Lane. This to be reported to Staffordshire county council.

05/25 Approval of Minutes of Last Meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 12th. December 2024 had been circulated, and it was agreed that the minutes be signed as a true record.

06/25 Matters Arising.

Christmas Tree.

The Chairman thanked the working party for helping to dismantle the tree etc.

(b) Pedestrian Crossing.

The Clerk reported that, for the second month, no reply had been received from Staffs. County Councillor Mark Deaville for his comments on the issues raised regarding the crossing.

It was agreed to forward the Council’s disappointment at the lack of a reply.

A further discussion then took place on the possible reduction of the 40mph speed limit to 30mph on Leek Road. This together with the possible installation of speed awareness strips and possible satellite coverage. More information would need to be obtained.

07/25 Other Business.

(a) Lengthsman’s Instructions.

The Council’s lengthsman would be reminded of the instruction to paint the seats in School Lane and Devils Lane.

(b) Storm Damage.

A report was given of branches of trees outside St. Chad’s Church in Leek Road being blown over onto the pavement which then had to be removed. It was agreed to contact the Parochial Church Council to suggest pollarding of the trees.

(c) The old New Inn Site.

It was agreed to contact SMDC regarding the untidy and dangerous state of the old New Inn. The. exterior hoardings were rotting and collapsing leaving the access to the property open. The roof was in a dangerous state and it was reported that trees were growing in the interior of the building.

(d) Public Footpath in Sandy Lane.

A complaint had been received of members of the public being refused access to a supposed public footpath in Sandy Lane. However no official public footpath was shown on the footpath maps. It was suggested that legal action could be pursued to see if a Right of Way had been established.

(e) Lack of Road Gritting.

A report was given that no road gritting had taken place on Micklea Lane during the recent wintry conditions. This matter to be raised with Staffs. County Council.

(f) Memorial Hall Management Committee Meetings.

Councillor Hughes, the Council’s representative on the Memorial Hall Committee had not yet received an invitation to a meeting of the Committee. The Management Committee to be contacted. It was suggested that the Memorial Hall be invited to publish their programme of events on the Council’s website.

08/25 Correspondence.

The following had already been distributed to Councillors:-

In Touch Newsletter from S.M.D. C.

Information for Parishes from S.M.D.C.

Road Closure Notices for Devils Lane & Dunwood Road.

Making Effective Planning Representations.

Moorlands Climate Action Autumn Newsletter.

Have Your Say on Costs of Polce & Fire & Rescue Services.

Notice of Footpath No. 9 Diversion.

National Holocaust Memorial Day.

S.M.D.C. Chairman’s Charity Ball.

Clerks & Councils Direct – January 25 Issue.

09/25 Planning Matters.

There was no business under this item.

10/25 Finance Matters.

(a) More information of signatories on the Council’s bank account was still required.

(b) Quarterly Update on the Council’s Account.

An update was distributed to Councillors.

(c) To Determine the Amount of Precept Required for the Year 2025/2026.

Figures for this year and estimates for next year were studied and it was resolved that the precept required remains the same as this year - £5,250,00.

(d).Orders for Payment.

It was agreed that the following items be paid:

11/25 Public Comments.

There was no more business under this item.

12/25 Items for Inclusion in the Agenda for the Next Meeting.

Speed limit and possible speed awareness strips in Leek Road, Longsdon.

13/25 Date of Next Meeting.

The date of the next meeting was arranged for Thursday 20th. March 2025 at 7.00pm in the upstairs room of the Wheel Public House, Leek Road, Longsdon.