Minutes of Meeting held Thursday 26th November 2020 Remotely via Zoom.

21/20 Apologies for Absence.

Apologies for absence were received from District Councillor N. Hawkins.

22/20 Declarations of Interest

Declarations of interest in Item 7 of the agenda were received from Councillors D. & J. Sargeant.

23/20 Chairman’s Address.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting including new Councillor Carole Hawthorne. She had signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

He gave a report on the efforts to restructure the Council’s website. There had been more progress with two new formats but more were needed.

24/20 Public Comments.

There was no business under this item.

25/20 Approval of Minutes of Last Meeting.

The minutes of the virtual meeting held on 8th October 2020 had been circulated and it was agreed that they be signed as a true and correct record.

26/20 Matters Arising.

Letters of thanks had been sent to the applicants for the vacancy for a co-opted Parish Councillor.
The Electoral Office of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council had been informed of the co-option of Carole Hawthorne onto the Council.

Copies of correspondence, to date, on the demolished bus shelter had been circulated. Staffordshire Moorlands District Council had refused a grant for a replacement suggesting that, as it was on County Council land, that Council should be approached. It was agreed to contact County Councillor G. Heath on the matter.

The Clerk reported that a cheque for £20.00 had been forwarded to the Leek Branch of the Royal British Legion as a donation in lieu of the purchase of a Remembrance Wreath.

Copies of correspondence, to date, on the forwarded complaints etc to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council regarding the dangerous condition of the old New Inn. No satisfactory answers had been received. It was agreed to contact Karen Bradley M.P. to try and enlist her help with the matter.

A report was given that the lengthsman had cleared the entrance to the Common Land on Leek Road. The encroachment of vegetation on to pavement in Leek Road had been reported to Staffordshire County Council.

A report was given that Dunwood First Responders was still operating but with only one responder. Courses for others had been put on hold due to the situation with Covid 19 virus.

27/20 Other Business.

A resident in Sutherland Road had asked the Council’s permission to lower the height of a tree opposite her residence. She had agreed to bear the cost of the work. As this was outside the remit of the Parish Council it was agreed to contact Staffs Moorlands Tree Officer.
Councillors D. Sargeant & J. Sargeant declared a personal interest in this matter and took no part in the discussion.

28/20 Correspondence.

Information had been received regarding Staffordshire Police Smart Alert. This had been distributed.

Doulas Macmillan Hospice had also forwarded information on its work and this had been forwarded to Councillors. It was agreed to make a donation of £100.00 to the Hospice.

A request for support for a Feasibility Study on the possible opening of the railway line through the Parish had been received from Sybil Ralphs, Leader of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council. Due to the timescale Councillors had been consulted and had agreed not to support the Study.

29/20 Planning.

There was no business under this item.

30/20. Finance Matters.

(a) For Report.

• The refund of V. A. T. from 2019 / 2020 had been applied for.
• An account update to 31st October 2020 had been circulated to Councillors.
• A question was asked about the large balance in the account. It was explained that there was a possible
  purchase of a new bus shelter, all the benches would need to be attended to in the Spring etc. etc.

(b) Bank Account Mandate.

• It was agreed that the Bank Account Mandate be amended to show Carole Hawthorne in lieu of the
  deceased Richard Weston.
  It was also agreed that the Clerk’s name also be registered on the mandate to assist with any enquiries on
  the account.

(c) Orders for Payment.

 It was agreed that the following items be paid:-

• John Sargeant (Chairman).  £5.99 Paid to Ionis for Website.
• John Sargeant (Chairman). £14.39 Paid to Zoom – Monthly Charge.
• J. A. Gibson. £150.00 Agency Work incl. Bus Shelter & Common Land.
• Proctor’s Nursery. £243.36 Planting of Village Flower Tubs.
• Douglas Macmillan Hospice. £ 100.00 Grant.

Comments were made, however, about the poor standard of the plants in the tubs with a report that one tub had been missed entirely.
The actual order for the planting was given late due to there being no meetings but Proctors would be approached about the matter.
It was reported that a private individual had planted some flowering plants in the tub in Sutherland Road.
It was agreed to write a letter of thanks to her.

31/20 Public Comments.

There was no business under this item.

32/20 Items for Inclusion in the Agenda for the Next Meeting.

Arrangements for Future Remembrance Sundays.

33/20 Date of Next Meeting.

The date of the next meeting was arranged for Thursday 14th January 2021 at 7- 0 pm virtually hosted by Zoom.