Minutes of Meeting held on Thursday 24th. October 2024 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.

66/24 Apologies for Absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor C. Hogan.

67/24 Declarations of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest at this point.

68/24 Chairman’s Address.

The Chairman reported that he had displayed the Remembrance Poppies around the village.

Thanks were expressed.

69/24 Public Comments.

There was no business under this item.

70/24 Approval of Minutes of Last Meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 29th. August 2024 had been circulated and it was agreed that the minutes be signed as a true copy.

71/24 Matters Arising.

Christmas Tree.

Contact had been made with a local garden centre which had quoted £140.00 for the supply of a 12ft. high tree with a £20.00 charge for removal after the occasion. It was agreed that this be accepted.

It was also agreed that the scheme, including the purchase of solar lighting, should go ahead within a maximum spend of £300.00.

The Memorial Hall had been contacted officially for permission to site the tree over the Festive Season and this had been agreed verbally.

The Council’s insurers had replied about sufficient insurance cover for the tree. Cover would only be for an artificial tree but public liability insurance would be in force.

Pedestrian Crossing.

The Clerk reported on the issues with the pedestrian crossing which had been reported to Staffs. County Council’s Community Highway Manager. These included a report by an Endon resident which stated that the beacons of the crossing were not working. The manager had replied that the problem would be inspected when a member of staff had returned from annual leave. At this the Chairman had checked the crossing and found that the beacons were flashing but one was faded in colour giving the impression that it was not flashing. This problem, together with an issue of overhanging adjacent trees obscuring this beacon for traffic approaching from Leek was reported to the Highway Manager. No action has been forthcoming.

Also mentioned to him was the suggestion that LED attachments to the beacons would be beneficial, as had been installed in adjacent Authority’s areas. A reply to this was that “The County’s Lighting Team” was not in favour of such a scheme. It was agreed to contact County Councillor Deaville who is Cabinet Member for Strategic Highways to ask for the reason for this and to give him the history of the above reports.

72/24 Other Business.

Lengthman’s Instructions.

It was reported that he Council’s lengthsman had painted the metal bus shelter adjacent to the Memorial Hall and would be painting the public seat at the junction of School Lane & Devil’s Lane.

73/24 Correspondence.

The following had already been distributed to Councillors:-

S.M.D.C. Chairman’s Curry Night.

Info on Beatrice Charity.

Cheddleton Top Lock 13 Event.

Pheonix Concert in Aid of Cancer Research.

Customer Survey from Police, Fire & Rescue.

Road Closure Notice for Dunwood Road.

Statement on Devolution.

Cheadle Lights Switch on Event – 16th. November 2024.

Information had been received from the Douglas MacMillan organisation. The last grant from the Council to them was £100.00 in 2020. It was agreed to issue a grant of £200.00.

74/24 Planning Matters.

There was no business under this item.

75/24 Finance Matters.

The additional information of signatories on the Council’s bank account would now be forwarded to T.S.B.

(b) Orders for Payment.

It was agreed that the following items be paid:

76/24 Public Comments.

There was no business under this item.

77/24 Items for Inclusion in the Agenda for the Next Meeting.

There was no business under this item.

78/24 Date of Next Meeting.

The date of the next meeting was arranged for Thursday 12th. December 2024 at 7.00pm in the upstairs room of the Wheel Public House, Leek Road, Longsdon.