Minutes of Meeting held in the upstairs room of The Wheel on Thursday 4^th July 2019.

19/19. Apologies for Absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor R. Lovell.

20/19. Declarations of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest at this point.

21/19. Chairman’s Address.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting. He reported that all the Financial Details of the Parish Councils’ accounts had been published on the Council’s website in accordance with the Exemption Certificate.

22/19. Public Comments.

District Councillor Hawkins gave full details of planning applications which were expected to be received shortly.

23/19. Minutes of Last Meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 9^th May 2019 had been circulated and it was agreed that they be signed as a true and correct record.
The minutes of the Special Finance meeting held on 27^th June 2019 had been circulated and it was agreed that they be signed as a true and correct record.

24/19. Matters Arising.

Letter had been sent to the Police, with a copy to County Councillor Heath, regarding the dangerously parked car near to the junction of the A53 and Sutherland Road. This had now been re-located.

The new bus shelter had eventually been fixed after some delivery problems. An invoice for the work was now awaited. It was agreed that, rather than wait to pay the invoice at the next meeting in September, the Chairman and the Clerk could arrange payment if the invoice was for the quoted amount.

Staffs. Moorlands District Council’s Environmental Dept. had been contacted for its views on the very unsightly plot of land in Sutherland Road. A reply stated that the Dept. did not consider the plot unsightly and, therefore, could not issue a Community Protection Notice. In view of reports of Himalayan Balsam on the site it was agreed to review the situation again in a months time.

A letter had been sent to the Canal & River Trust regarding the deteriorating steps leading to the canal towpath at Horse Bridge. A reply stated that the matter would be investigated.

25/19. Correspondence.

Information had been received from West Midlands Ambulance Service asking for the Council to register its defibrillator on a new national register. This was agreed but it was decided that the machine should be checked, in the first instance, to ensure that it was in good working condition. A local volunteer would be contacted for the check. Also received was information from London Hearts Charity stating that it could help with the supply of further defibrillators. It was agreed to contact the Holly Bush Inn at Denford to see if it agreed to one being sited in its area.

Other information was:

• Recruitment of Independent Advisors to Staffordshire Police.
• Notice of next meeting of Staffs. Moorlands Parish Assembly – Thursday 18^th July 2019.
• Clerks & Councils Direct – July 19 issue.

26/19. Planning Matters.

The following plan had already been distributed to Councillors due to the time scale:

• SMD/2019/0318 Change of Use of Land for Recreational Camping including the Erection of Eight Camping Pods and an Ancillary Building in Sutherland Road, Longsdon.

Objections to this application received from Councillors and sent in included:

• Inappropriate development in the Green Belt.
• Dangerous access onto Sutherland Road creating extra traffic at dangerous A53 junctions or via narrow Park Lane.
• Amenity building sited on flood plain.
• No employment opportunities or benefits to the village.

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

• SMD/2019/0335 Single & Two Storey Side Extension, Rear Porch Extension, Detached Double Garage & Driveway, including Replacement Vehicular Access with Existing Access Stopped Up & Existing Outbuildings Demolished at Wood Vale, Sutherland Road, Longsdon.

27/19. Finance Matters.

The Council’s Exemption Certificate from an External Audit had been sent in by Recorded Delivery.

Confirmation had been received from Staffs. Moorlands District Council that its lengthsman’s scheme was being continued in the current year.

28/19. Orders for Payment.

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

29/19. Public Comment.

There was no business under this item.

30/19. Any Other Business.

The Clerk reminded Councillors that no decision had been made on the re-planting of the village tubs. It was agreed to ask the normal contractor to carry out the work as usual.

A report was given on an acrid odour which was smelt on Friday afternoons in the vicinity of St. Chad’s Church in Leek Road. It was agreed to report this to Staffs. Moorlands District Council’s Environmental Health Dept. for investigation.

A further report was given of tree branches / hedges encroaching onto Devils Lane near to Rowley Gate causing danger to traffic. This matter to be reported to Staffs. County Council Highways Dept.

31/19. Date of Next Meeting.

The date of the next meeting of the Council was arranged for Thursday 5^th September 2019 in the upstairs room of the Wheel public house, Leek Road, Longsdon.