Minutes of Meeting held on Thursday 10th. August 2023 in the Upstairs Room of the Wheel Public House, Leek Road, Longsdon at 7.00pm.

Present: Councillor J. Sargeant (Chair).

Councillors J. Cox, C. Hogan, D. Hughes & R. Lovell.

In Attendance: John Bourne, Clerk to the Council.

27/23 Apologies for Absence.

Apologies for absence were received from S. Dickinson & K. Shaw.

28/23 Declarations of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest at this point.

29/23 Chairman’s Address.

The Chairman thanked the Clerk, reporting that the Financial Data for 2022/2023 had been published on the Council’s website to meet with the Local Audit & Accountability Act and to conform to the Small Authorities Transparency Code. The Notice of Public Rights had been published both on the website and the notice boards.

He had reported the pothole in Sutherland Road and when this had been filed with the County Council various others in the road were also marked for repair.

He reported that there appeared to be a large volume of hardcore or rubble deposited on a field adjacent to the old New Inn. An interim report on the planning application to create a Farm Shop & Car Park on the site didn’t seem favourable to the proposal. We may need to monitor activity there.

He reported that he was unable to furnish the resident of Limes Avenue with any more information about the owner of the field behind her property however District Councillor Cox reported that she had been able to obtain the requested address and that work had commenced to resolve the water ingress issue. The chairman thanked her for her efforts.

30/23 Public Comments.

There was no business under this item.

31/23 Approval of Minutes of Last Meeting.

Minutes of the meeting held on 22nd. June 2023 had been circulated and it was agreed that the minutes be signed as a true copy after a slight amendment to the quoted address of Councillor Jo Cox.

32/23 Matters Arising.

(a) Declaration of Office.

All the remaining elected Councillors had now signed the Declaration of Office.

(b) Memorial Seat.

The Council’s lengthsman had agreed to fix the new seat but the work had been delayed by the inclement weather.

(c) A thank you letter had been sent to the Clerk of Brown Edge Parish Council thanking her for her assistance with the arrangements for the Council’s Internal Audit.

It was reported that the Internal Auditor had agreed to undertake the work again next year.

33/23 Other Business.

(a) White Lines & Speeding on the main A53 Leek Road, Longsdon.

A report was given of the continued speeding of vehicles on the main A53 Leek Road through the village and it appeared that the 40mph warning sign opposite the old New Inn was not always operational.

It was also pointed out that the current white lines on this road, adjacent to The Wheel public house, could encourage overtaking at that point by vehicles travelling towards Leek while approaching the adjacent crossroads and pedestrian crossing thereby causing a dangerous situation. It was agreed to contact a County Council representative on both of these matters.

(b) Himalayan Balsam

A report was received of a clump of Himalayan Balsam growing in the main road verge near to Honeysuckle Lane. It was agreed to ask the lengthsman to remove it before it went to seed.

34/23 Correspondence.

The following had already been distributed to Councillors:-

Staffs. Moorlands District Council’s List of Funding Opportunities – 129 pages.

Staffs. Moorlands Climate Action Newsletter.

A letter had also been received from Karen Bradley M.P. giving information on possible funding for the provision of a defibrillator. A reply had been sent that the Parish Council already administers its own machine. It was agreed, however, that notices should be published on the Council’s website and notice board giving parishioners notice of its existence.

35/23 Planning Matters.

The following planning application had been received for discussion:

SMD/2023/0363 Proposed First Floor Side Extension & Re-model of Existing Dwelling at Grange Barn, Dunwood Lane, Longsdon.

It was agreed to forward no objections to this application.

36/23 Finance Matters.

(a) An up-to-date Financial Statement was distributed to Councillors.

(b) Purchase Order from Alliance.

After the anomaly which occurred last year with the payment of the £400.00 for the lengthsman scheme, a purchase order for the current year had been received with notice that the payment would be transmitted forthwith.

(c) Orders for Payment.

It was agreed that the following items be paid:

37/23 Public Comments.

There was no business under this item.

38/23 Items for Inclusion in the Agenda for the Next Meeting.

There was no business under this item.

39/23 Date of Next Meeting.

The date of the next meeting was arranged for Thursday 28th. September 2023 at 7.00pm in the upstairs room of the Wheel Public House, Leek Road, Longsdon.