Minutes of Meeting held on Thursday 1st. December 2022 in the Upstairs Room of the Wheel Public House, Leek Road, Longsdon at 7.00pm.

Present: Councillor J. Sargeant (Chair).

Councillors T. Beastall. S. Dickinson, R. Lovell & K. Shaw.

In Attendance: John Bourne, Clerk to the Council.

One member of the Public.

53/22 Apologies for Absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor C Hogan & District Councillor N. Hawkins.

54/22 Declarations of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest at this point.

55/22 Chairman’s Address.

The Chairman thanked everyone for their attendance at the meeting.

He thanked Councillor Shaw for enquiring which meeting he should attend tonight as this meeting clashed with the Parish Assembly meeting. With one unfilled vacancy on the Council and apologies for absence, it could have meant that there would not be a quorum if both our representatives attended the Parish Assembly meeting.

56/22 Public Comments.

There was no business under this item.

57/22 Approval of Minutes of Last Meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 29th. September 2022 had been circulated and it was agreed that the minutes be signed as a true copy.

58/22 Matters Arising.

(a) Remembrance Sunday.

The Remembrance Poppies had been displayed by the lengthsman and had been taken down by the Chairman who reported that the majority were still in good order and could be displayed next year if it was chosen to do so.

(b) Memorial Seat.

A discussion took place on the choice of a site for the seat. It was agreed that it could be sited at the junction of Footpath No 16 and the limestone track from Leek Old Road down to the canal. It was agreed to write to the assumed land owner for his permission.

The construction company working near to the suggested site had again intimated it would be prepared to supply the concrete base for the seat.

(c) Seat in Sutherland Road.

It was reported that the oak bars for the seat had been delivered but the cost of the bars had increased to £300.00 + V.A.T. due to additional planing and shaping. Thanks were expressed to the Chairman for taking delivery and then fitting the bars to the concrete seat supports.

(d) Road Safety on A53 Leek Road, Longsdon.

A reply had now been received from the Technical Support Officer of Staffs. County Council on the promised enforcement action which had been taken. This listed two visits by the mobile camera van with the number of offences committed but did not give the locations. This matter to be monitored.

(e) HM Queen Elizabeth II 1926 – 2022.

Notices had been placed on the Council’s website and notice boards asking parishioners for their ideas on how best to commemorate the late Queen but no suggestions had been forthcoming. After a brief discussion it was agreed to place a brass plaque on the seat in Sutherland Road stating that this Coronation Seat had been refurbished in memory of her late Majesty.

(f) Website Contract.

The contract had now been transferred to the Council and the fees for the contract were now being collected from the Council’s bankers by direct debit.

The Chairman reported that there was more work to be done to transfer the domain name and the mailbox to the Council.

59/22 Other Business.

Village Flower Tubs.

It was agreed to ask the Council’s lengthsman to winter plant the village flower tubs.

60/22 Correspondence.

The following had already been distributed to Councillors – Invitation from Leek Town Mayor to Autumn Events.

Autumn Newsletter from Moorlands Climate Action.

Notice of road closure of Denford Road on 16th. January 2023.

Application for Premises Licence for Leek Show at Dunwood Fields.

Copies of Clerks & Councils Direct Magazine had been received.

61/22 Planning Matters.

The following planning application had been distributed to Councillors due to the time frame but no comments were received- SMD/2022/0573 Variation of Condition 3 in relation to SMD/2022/0166 at Stone Barn Farm, Sutherland Road, Longsdon.

62/22 Finance Matters.

(a) The two £100.00 fines imposed by H. M. Revenue & Customs had been rescinded and this had been confirmed by two later confirmation letters.

(b).The Re-enrolment and Re-declaration of the Council as an employer had now been confirmed by The Pensions Regulator.

(c) An update account of the Council’s finances was distributed to Councillors.

(d) The setting up of an interest earning bank account was deferred.

(e) Orders for Payment.

It was agreed that the following items be paid:

63/22 Public Comments.

There was no business under this item.

64/22 Items for Inclusion in the Agenda for the Next Meeting.

There was no business under this item.

65/22 Date of Next Meeting.

The date of the next meeting was arranged for Thursday 26th. January 2023 at 7.00pm in the upstairs room of the Wheel Public House, Leek Road, Longsdon.

The Chairman gave thanks for the Festive Refreshments and wished everyone the Compliments of the Season.