Minutes of Meeting held in St. Chad’s Church Room on Thursday 10th. December 2015.

Present: Councillor J. Sargeant (Chair).

Councillors T. Beastall, R. P. A. Lovell, D. Sargeant & S. R. Weston.

District Councillor N. Hawkins.

In Attendance: John Bourne, Clerk to the Council.

54/15. Apologies for Absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors L. Bills and C. Taylor.

55/15. Declarations of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest at this point.

56/15. Chairman’s Address.

The Chairman thanked Councillor Taylor for presenting the Council’s wreath at the Remembrance Service and also for attending, with him, the last meeting of the Moorlands Parish Assembly. He also thanked Councillor Bills for opening the meeting room.

57/15. Public Comments.

District Councillor Norma Hawkins gave a brief report on the proposed sites under the Core Strategy Scheme. It was noted that there were none on the A53 Leek Road.

58/15. Minutes of Last Meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 15th. October 2015 had been circulated and it was agreed that they be signed as a true and correct record.

59/15. Matters Arising.

A letter had been received from the Planning Enforcement Department of Staffs. Moorlands District Council regarding the issue with the property in Sutherland Road setting out the Moorlands Council position after its investigations. It was agreed that it appeared that no further action could be taken.

The invoice from the Canals & Rivers Trust for the new bench on the canal towpath had been sent to the C.V.L.L.P which had acknowledged receipt. The grant would now be processed.

The problem with the blocked gullies in Sutherland Road which were causing water to cascade into the entrance of Wood Road, a private road, and washing away the surface of the road had been reported to Staffs. County Council. The problem had now been solved. The resident had been kept informed and she had sent a letter of thanks.

County Councillor Heath had been contacted with regard to the lighting globes on the pedestrian crossing on the A53. An acknowledgement had been received.

A letter had been sent to the local Police Inspector regarding the speed of vehicles on the A53.

A telephoned reply stated that the signs and camera would be inspected and the mobile speed camera could be employed.

A letter had been sent to the owners of the old New Inn site requested hedge cutting on the overhanging hedge in Denford Road. A reply stated that the work would be carried out (had been done) and gave details of future works on the actual old New Inn building etc.

It was again reported that the damaged bus shelter opposite the old New Inn had still not been repaired by Staffs. Moorland District Council’s contractors. A further letter would be sent pointing out the extensive damage and the Health & Safety issues.

It was reported that:

the water problem in Leek Old Road had been resolved.

the large pothole in School Lane had been repaired.

the overhanging trees and vegetation on the A53 had been cut back.

60/15. Correspondence.

Information had been received from Staffs. Moorlands District Council Senior Planning Officer giving the Parish Council an opportunity to discuss the responses to the Site Options under the Core Strategy Scheme. Councillors had been informed and a meeting at Leek had been arranged for Tuesday 15th. December 2015 at 11-00am.

Other information received under this item:

details of changes to recycling and rubbish collections over the Christmas period.

Highway Winter Operations from Staffs. County Council.

Clerks & Councils Direct – November 15 issue.

61/15. Planning Matters.

The following plans had been distributed to Councillors due to the time scale and they had agreed to forward no objections, subject to normal planning guidelines, to:-

SMD/2015/0667 Erection of Timber Garage at Kapelbrucke, Honeysuckle Lane, Longsdon.

SMD/2015/0634 Outline Planning Permission, with all matters reserved for the Erection of Two Dwellings on Land adjacent to “Whitehaven” Leek Road, Longsdon.

With this application, while agreeing in principle, it was felt that one dwelling on the site would be better than two in order to be in keeping with the surrounding properties. Concern was also expressed about access onto the A53 Leek Road, which would be on a dangerous bend.

The following plan was discussed and it was agreed to forward no objections, subject to normal planning guidelines, to:-

SMD/2015/0740 Conversion of Attached Outbuilding to Form Part of Existing Dwelling, Two Storey Front Extension and Construction of a Porch at Sunny Bank, Wood Road, Longsdon.

A letter had been sent to Staffs. Moorlands District Council Senior Planning Officer regarding the two new sites proposed for development in School Lane as they were not shown on the original plan which the Council had discussed. It pointed out that these sites would again amount to possibly large numbers of houses which would not be in keeping with the current layout of Longsdon. It was, again, emphasised that the Council could look favourably on infill and/or ribbon development in School Lane.

It was reported that Proctor’s Nursery had appealed against the refusal of planning permission for the siting of a mobile home – temporary dwelling at the Nursery in Leek Road, Endon.

62/15. Finance Matters.

Notice had been received from Leek United Building Society that the Council’s One Year Fixed Term Bond would mature on 29th. December 2015. It was agreed to invest the maturing funds in a new Two Year Fixed Rate Bond with the Society.

63/15. Orders for Payment.

It was unanimously agreed that the following items be paid:-

64/15. Public Comment.

There was no business under this item.

65/15. Any Other Business.

It was reported that the brown direction signs on the post on the A53 opposite the old New Inn were again moving around. This matter to be reported to Staffs. County Council.

Mention was made of the disappointing sound system in St. Chad’s Church, Longsdon which did not do justice to a recent important funeral service. This matter to be passed to the Parochial Church Council.

66/14. Date of Next Meeting.

The next meeting of the Council will be held at 7 - 00p.m. on Thursday 4th. February 2016 at St. Chad’s Church Room, Leek Road, Longsdon. Further provisional dates were given as 24th. March 2016 and 12th. May 2016.