Minutes of Meeting held Thursday 27th. August 2020 Remotely via Zoom.

 01/20. Apologies for Absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor T. Beastall & District Councillor N. Hawkins.

 02/20. Tribute to the late Councillor Richard Weston.

The Chairman reported that it was with deep sorrow that he pay tribute to Councillor Richard Weston who sadly passed away on the evening of Friday 3rd. April 2020.

As a Councillor Richard was always a voice of reason, considerate to his fellow parishioners and eager to help. His impeccable attendance record and his reliably sound judgment will be sorely missed. Richard was well known, highly regarded and respected in the community. We are all the poorer for losing him.

 03/20. Chairman’s Address.

The Chairman thanked everyone for joining this virtual meeting explaining that it was being hosted on the free version of the Zoom platform which restricts the length of the meeting to 40 minutes. A large portion of the comprehensive agenda was actually to report on and document events and actions taken since the last meeting.

He thanked Councillors for responding and commenting on the planning applications which had been circulated by email. He also thanked the Vice Chair for his consideration and approval of the cheques that had been signed and reported on the agenda. This had kept the Council functioning whilst unable to have a face to face meeting.

The nub of tonight’s meeting was financial, seeking the Council’s approval of the Annual Accounts and agreement to send in the Certificate of Exemption to Mazars LLP. 

 04/20. Public Comments.

 There was no business under this item.

 05/20. Minutes of Last Meeting.

 The minutes of the meeting held on 6 th. February 2020 had been circulated and it was agreed that they be signed as a true and correct record.

 06/20. For Report.

The Electoral Office of Staffs. Moorlands District Council had been informed of the vacancy for a Parish Councillor to replace Councillor Weston. The normal procedure had been applied and the Parish Council had now received permission to co-opt any parish elector. It was agreed that the vacancy be advertised with a view to discussing the matter at the next meeting.

The dilapidated bus shelter opposite the old New Inn had been demolished by Staffs. Moorlands District Council.

The village flower tubs had been re-planted after consultation with Councillors. 

 07/20. Planning Matters - For Report.

Plans Already Distributed & Commented on by Councillors.

(a) The following plans attracted no objections:

• SMD/2020/0210 Single Storey Side Extensions, Single & Two Storey Rear Extensions; Replacement Single Storey Bay to Principle Elevation at Sunnycroft, Wood Road, Longsdon.
• SMD/2020/0268 Variation of Condition 1 of SMS/2018/0698 on Land adjacent to Whitehaven, Leek Road,
• SMD/2020/0335 Proposed Rear Extension & Conversion of Roof Space to Living Accommodation, Dormer Window to Front at Imperial, Denford Road, Longsdon.

(b) The following plans were objected to:

• SMD/2020/0031 Retrospective Application for the Retention of Replacement Stables at Micklea Farm, Micklea Lane Longsdon.
  The current building on the site bears no resemblance to the photographs of the former building on the site.
  Why are there no drawings of the current building on the site?
  The current building is a more permanent structure with double skinned insulated walls which is much, much different from the photographs produced of the former building.
  The current building is on a different site to the original “stable” block.
  The site is within the green belt with no special circumstances for development.
  The structure of the new building would lend itself to future human habitation.
  
  
• SMD/2020/0313 Change of Use of Garage to Holiday Accommodation at High View, Leek Road, Longsdon.
  The grounds for objections were:
  The building would appear to be too small for the proposed use.
  If approved it could be used as a permanent building at a later date.
  There would be an increased amount of traffic entering and exiting the site from the A53 Leek Road at a dangerous location including possible confusion with the adjacent Memorial Hall.
  
  
• SMD/2020/0405 Certificate of Lawfulness to Establish the Use of Annex as Accommodation Permanently for Dependants at High View, Sutherland Road, Longsdon.
  The comments made were:
  Councillors would wish to know whether there has ever been an application for change of use from garage to living accommodation in the first place. In which case the annex should never have been living accommodation in the first place. In any case the annex should never be sold as a separate dwelling.

(c) The following plans attracted no objections in principle but with provisos:

• SMD/2020/0117 Erection of Dwelling, Alterations to Existing Vehicular Access, Construction of Car Parking Spaces on Land to the side of Ridgeway House, Leek Road, Longsdon. (Two Submissions).
  No solid or liquid waste should be allowed to enter the water course adjacent to the rear boundary to ensure that no further flooding which previously occurred which affected an adjacent property.
  The application also states that foul drainage will be disposed of into a public sewer. There are no public sewers in the village of Longsdon. Does this make the application invalid?
  
  
• SMD/2020/0220 Proposed Alterations & Extensions to Existing Garage Block at Holdenby, Denford Road, Longsdon.
  Councillors would not wish the complex to become a self contained domiciliary unit.
  
  
• SMD/2020/0211 Proposed Replacement of Conservatory with Orangery & Link Section to Garage at Churnet Croft Cottage, Wood Road, Longsdon.
  Mention was made of the impact of the visual appearance. 

 08/20. Finance Matters.

(a) For Report.

• The Precept Requirement for 2020 / 2021 being £5,000.00 had been accepted by Staffs. Moorlands District Council and the first half payment had been received.
• The S. M. D. C. Lengthsman Payment for the final half year 2019 / 2020 had been received.
• After the retirement of the previous Internal Auditor employed by the Council a new Internal Auditor, Karen Wright, had been appointed after consultation with the Chair & Vice Chair.
  
  

(b) Cheques Paid Out after Approval from the Chair & Vice Chair.

• 9 th. April 2020. J. A. Gibson. £ 160.00  Agency Work.
• 9 th. April 2020. Smith of Derby. £ 280.00  Maintenance of St. Chad’s Clock.
• 11th May 2020. Zurich Municipal. £ 352.52  Insurance Renewal.
• 15th. August 2020. Information Commissioner. £ 40.00  Data Protection Fee.

(c) Orders for Payment.

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

• John Bourne. £ 560.00  Clerk’s Salary – Two Quarters (nett).
• John Bourne. £ 32.20  Clerk’s Expenses.
• H. M. Customs & Excise. £ 140.00  P. A. Y. E.
• J. A. Gibson. £ 483.95  Agency Work + Painting of Seat.
• Karen Wright. £ 60.00  Internal Audit Fee.

(d) Annual Accounts.

• *Comments from the Internal Auditor were read to the meeting.
• *The Annual Accounts 2019 / 2020 – audited by the Internal Auditor were approved.
• *The Annual Internal Audit Report was received.

(e) *The Certificate of Exemption for the Council was approved for submission to Mazars LLB.

(f) *Section 1 Annual Governance Statement 2019 / 2020 was approved.

(g) *Section 2 Accounting Statement 2019 / 2020 was approved.

*Explanation for Variations from last year and Bank Reconciliation were approved.

As the meeting was held virtually all the documents marked * had already been distributed to Councillors for their perusal before the meeting. 

 09/20. Any Other Urgent Business.

The Chairman had explained earlier that the meeting was limited in time due to using the free version of Zoom. He reported that the actual cost for unlimited length meetings was £12.00 per month. After some discussion it was agreed to sign up for the cost in preparation for the next meeting.

Information regarding legislation coming into force on 22nd September and affecting the Council’s website had been received. The Chairman offered to review the website examining the degree to which it complied with the legislation and to report back at the next meeting.

 10/20. Date of Next Meeting.

 The date of the next meeting of the Council was arranged for Thursday 8^th October 2020 virtually hosted on Zoom.