Minutes of Meeting held on Thursday 20th. March 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, R. Lovell & K. Shaw.

In Attendance: John Bourne, Clerk to the Council.

County Councillor K. Flunder.

14/25 Apologies for Absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor C. Hogan & D. Hughes.

15/25 Declarations of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest at this point.

16/25 Chairman’s Address.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting, especially County & District Councillor Keith Flunder who is currently Cabinet Support Member for Highways (Operations North). Thanks were also expressed to Councillor Cox for extending the invitation to him.

He gave a report of a road traffic accident which had occurred some days ago on the A53 Leek Road very close to the pedestrian crossing.

17/25 Public Comments.

There was no business under this item.

18/25 Approval of Minutes of Last Meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 30th. January 2025 had been circulated, and it was agreed that the minutes be signed as a true record.

19/25 Matters Arising.

(a) Roadway Edge Collapse in Dunwood Lane.

The Chairman had reported this matter to the County Council but it had already been reported so he had added the Parish Council’s name to the report.

(b) Pedestrian Crossing.

The Clerk reported that the long-awaited reply from Staffs. County Councillor Mark Deaville had been received. It re-iterated previous comments received from the County Council’s Community Highways Manager.

At this point County Councillor Flunder gave a long account of various options and procedures which could be followed to help with the situation, including speed surveys and providing statistics to support upgrade requests etc.

He also outlined the proposed changes to the Local Government structure. (Devolution).

Councillor Flunder was thanked for his input, and he then left the meeting.

A discussion then took place on the need to set up a Community Speed Watch system and how it could be established. This matter to be an item on the agenda for the next meeting.

(c) Winter Road Gritting Programme.

The County Council had been approached about the lack of road gritting in Micklea Lane. Information received was that the existing gritting programme could not be extended to cover additional areas without reductions to the existing programme which was highly unlikely.

(d) Storm Damage.

St. Chads Parochial Church Council had been contacted about the tree branches being blown over from the Church area onto the footpath on A53 Leek Road. A reply stated that the matter would be discussed at the next meeting of that Council but stated that lack of funding would be a problem and asked if there were any community grants available.

After some discussion and due to the fact that the Parish Council had always supported the Church previously, it was agreed to offer a grant up to a maximum of £250.00 for the completed pollarding work. It was suggested that they should also apply to Staffs Moorland District Council for funding.

(e) The old New Inn Site.

SMDC Planning had been contacted regarding the untidy and dangerous state of the old New Inn. A reply stated that the site would be inspected.

(f) Public Footpath in Sandy Lane.

A report was received that the members of the public could not legally be refused access onto the unmade Sandy Lane and it was a civil matter.

(g) Memorial Hall Management Committee Meetings.

The Management Committee had been contacted about why Councillor Hughes, the Council’s representative on the Memorial Hall Committee, had not yet received an invitation to a meeting of the Committee. No reply had been received.

20/25 Other Business.

(a) Lengthsman’s Instructions.

The Council’s lengthsman reported that the painting of the seats in School Lane and Devils Lane was in progress.

(b) Dangerous Window.

A report was given of a dangerous window in a building at the junction of the A53 Leek Road & Sutherland Road. Photographs of the window would be taken and then submitted to the Chief Planning Officer.

21/25 Correspondence.

The following had already been distributed to Councillors:-

In Touch Newsletter from S.M.D. C. – Spring Edition.

Cancer Bus Tour – Dates.

Clerks & Councils Direct – March 25 Issue.

22/25 Planning Matters.

The following Planning Applications had already been distributed to Councillors, due to the time scale. No objections were received.

SMD/2024/0460 Construction of Building at Little Longsdon Farm, City Lane, Longsdon.

SMD/2025/0069 Stable Doors on Land at School Lane, Longsdon.

23/25 Finance Matters.

(a) More information of signatories on the Council’s bank account was still required. However, it was agreed to forward information already obtained.

(b) Precept Request.

This had been sent in and acknowledged.

(c) Orders for Payment.

It was agreed that the following items be paid:

24/25 Public Comments.

There was no more business under this item.

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

Community Speed Watch System – Public Participation..

26/25 Date of Next Meeting.

The date of the next meeting was arranged for Thursday 8th. May 2025 at 7.00pm in the upstairs room of the Wheel Public House, Leek Road, Longsdon.