Minutes of Meeting held on Thursday 14th. December 2023 in the Upstairs Room of the Wheel Public House, Leek Road, Longsdon at 7.00pm.

Present: Councillor J. Sargeant (Chair).

Councillors J. Cox, S. Dickinson, D. Hughes, R. Lovell & K. Shaw

In Attendance: John Bourne, Clerk to the Council.

One Member of the Public.

66/23 Apologies for Absence.

No Apologies for absence had been received.

67/23 Declarations of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest at this point.

68/23 Chairman’s Address.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

He gave details of the tragic death of a man on the canal towpath near to Sutherland Road. Police officers were investigating.

69/23 Public Comments.

There was no business under this item.

70/23 Approval of Minutes of Last Meeting.

Minutes of the meeting held on 9th. November 2023 had been circulated and it was agreed that the minutes be signed as a true copy.

71/23 Matters Arising.

(a) No reply had yet been received, in spite of a reminder which had been sent after the last meeting, regarding the issue with the white lines on the A53 Leek Road together with possible problems with the speed indicator sign. It was agreed to contact the County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways again to express concerns regarding no replies.

If a reply was still not received it was agreed to contact the local M. P. Karen Bradley for her assistance in the matter.

(b) Tree Preservation Order No.SM.327 (Park Lane).

A letter had been sent to the District Council objecting to this particular Tree Preservation Order but a reply had asked for further details of the Parish Council’s objections. These would be forwarded.

(c) Visibility Issue.

The Police had been contacted regarding the vehicle which was causing visibility problems for traffic emerging from Sutherland Road onto the main A53 road and people using the adjacent pedestrian crossing. The vehicle now appeared to have been moved to a better position. Contact would try to be established with local police personnel in order to keep an eye on the situation.

(d) Material for Poppies.

It was agreed to purchase further materials for the production of more Remembrance Poppies for future years.

72/23 Other Business.

The Local Councillor’s Grant form had been submitted to assist with the painting of the wooden bus shelters.

Further Community Grants were available and it was agreed to investigate the prospect of upgrading the pedestrian crossing to a Pelican crossing. Advice to be obtained from Staffs. County Council with the help of such a grant.

It was agreed to ask the Lengthsman to tidy up the bus shelter adjacent to the Memorial Hall.

73/23 Correspondence.

The following had already been distributed to Councillors:-

Grants for Young People.

Hedgehog Highway Project.

Staffs. Energy Efficiency Project.

Grants for Rural Communities.

Road Closure Notice for Denford Road.

Road Closure Notice for Honeysuckle Lane.

Have Your Say – Policing and Fire & Rescue.

Engagement with Community Survey.

74/23 Planning Matters.

The following planning application had been received for discussion:

SMD/2023/0599 Proposed Garage to Serve Dwelling Approved Under Previous Application at Stone Barn Farm, Sutherland Road, Longsdon.

It was agreed to forward no objection to this application.

75/23 Finance Matters.

(a) Orders for Payment.

It was agreed that the following items be paid:

76/23 Public Comments.

There was no business under this item.

77/23 Items for Inclusion in the Agenda for the Next Meeting.

Possible Provision of a Parish Christmas Tree for Future Years.

78/23 Date of Next Meeting.

The date of the next meeting was arranged for Thursday 8th. February 2024 at 7.00pm in the upstairs room of the Wheel Public House, Leek Road, Longsdon.