ECCLESHALL PARISH COUNCIL – ENHANCEMENTS AND PRESERVATION COMMITTEE – Wednesday, 1^st October, 2025

 DRAFT

A meeting of the Enhancements and Preservation Committee was held on Wednesday, 1^st October 2025 at Eccleshall Community Centre, after the Highways and Transport Committee meeting, at 9.00pm.

  Present were:-

Councillor R. Langford (Chairman)     Councillor G. Dale

Councillor D. Hill                                     Councillor C. Wilkins

Councillor C. Ryan-Bloor                      Councillor P. Jones

Mrs S. J. Worden (Clerk)

No members of the public

  1).    Apologies:-

Apologies were received from Cllrs. Perren, Reid, Taylor and Hall.

2).    Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 13^th August 2025:-

The minutes, which had previously been noted by the Council, were agreed and signed.

3).   Asset inspections:-

• Members received an updated report. Recent inspections from Cllr. Hill will be added and reported for work as required.

4).   Refurbished BT boxes:-

It was noted that the current use of the washpits box as an information point for the Save Eccleshall campaign is very effective.

5).   Croxton Play area and Outdoor Gyms:

• Inspection Reports:

The latest inspection was completed on the 22^nd August, and the site received a Low-Risk status, with no areas of concern. Mr. Sheard is looking into costs for a specialist tool to undertake some minor work to the multiplay unit.

6).   Biodiversity Enhancements:

• A date of the 21^st November at 7.30pm has been agreed between the Scouts and Cllr. Langford, to plant the English bluebell bulbs near the toilets and on the Eyeswell – the Scouts will provide tools and lighting. Details will be finalised at a meeting on the 11^th Members would like to provide something to thank the Scouts for their work – Cllr. Hill is looking at options and will advise accordingly.
• The Clerk has promoted the i-Naturalist app on social media and the noticeboards and will include it in the council winter newsletter. The app allows users to record flora and fauna in their community, which will help to populate the database held by Staffs Ecological Record and inform areas for protection.
• Information on local areas of biological importance has been provided by Staffs Wildlife Trust and passed to our planning consultant.
• Holy Trinity Church has agreed to site a swift box at the church – there are specialist tower box designs for this use, and they also have a live video feed of the tower that can be shared. Cost can vary between £70 and £300 depending on the design. Cllr. Mifflin is going to cost up other habitat boxes for consideration.
• The voucher scheme for the provision of hanging basket kits is ongoing with the Ecclian Society.
• The next meeting of the biodiversity working group is on the 1^st December, 6.30pm at the Kings Arms.

7).   Beech Road Community Park:

• The Clerk has asked the resident to check deeds in relation to the ownership of the boundary trees as there appears to be other boundary structures that imply the trees are outside of the Beech Road boundary. We are awaiting a response.
• The Clerk has requested an initial survey and quote for a replacement boundary fence where the existing fence has deteriorated and is awaiting a response.
• The Clerk has undertaken a review of inspection costings with three other inspection providers, to ensure value for money. It was resolved to continue with HAGS for the operational inspections, and Wicksteed for the annual inspections, and add Beech Road to the rota.
• The next working group meeting is yet to be arranged, to progress the planting project and discuss any other issues arising.

8).   Provision of goalposts:

Members considered the possibility of providing a goalpost on the Jubilee field, as the committee are conscious that there is limited play provision for older children.  It would need to be a fixed unit, low maintenance, and it was noted that nets could not be left in place permanently due to wear and tear, and the danger of hedgehog entanglement. The Clerk was tasked with asking the football club for their input and to report back.

9).   Stone Road Cherry Tree:

G-Tec (Lengthsman) have removed the dead columnar Cherry tree along Stone Road near the Burgage – it was noted that there was no obvious reason that it did not flourish after planting. It may have been planted at the wrong time of year, or not received the initial care required.

Based on this, it was agreed to procure a replacement tree of a similar starting size (around 5ft), with stakes and ties and ask the Lengthsman to plant. A budget of approximately £100 was agreed. The clerk will look to purchase a tree from a local supplier.

10).  To consider and approve the quotations for Christmas trees, lighting installation and cherry picker hire:

It was resolved to recommend approval of the quotations as follows:

• £2359 ex VAT for the supply of Norway Spruce trees, quantities 71 x 4.5ft trees, 1 x 25ft tree and 1 x 20ft tree, including delivery and installation. There is the possibility of a donation for the 20ft tree, so the quote will be reduced accordingly if this is confirmed.
• £228.22 ex VAT for the supply of cherry pickers for light installation and removal.
• The cost is to be confirmed for the installation and removal of lights on the two large trees, but this will be brought to the main council meeting for approval.

11).  Elford Great Crested Newt Pool Project

Staffs Wildlife Trust has confirmed that their involvement in the newt pond project has now ceased. It is now very unlikely that this project will be undertaken, but the Clerk was provided with the contact details for the newt partnership lead group, to confirm this.

12).  Lengthsman Scheme

Tidying works in Croxton have been completed, as well as strimming around overgrown milestones, and strimming around the bench at the Blurtons Lane junction, and sticker removal in the High Street will be completed in the next week.

It was resolved to recommend approval of the quotation of £650 for pavement digging off works between the washpits and Kerry Lane, from the Highways maintenance budget.

13). To consider future activities and agree a budget for the financial year 2026/27

• It was agreed that the Climate Change group would require a budget of around £900 to incorporate the various activities planned.
• The main projects and enhancements budget will be set at £5,000. A separate budget line will be created for Beech Road maintenance, now that the formal lease is in place.

14). Correspondence:

• There have been reports of overgrown hedges that are encroaching pedestrian access or across roads. It was resolved to write to the respective owners to request their support in cutting back the hedges. The areas of concern are:
  • hedge near the Old Vicarage, Church Street
  • hedge on Main Road, Croxton
  • hedge on Croxton Lane, Croxton

11).  Items for next meeting:-

Any items for consideration to be sent to the Clerk.

12).  Date of Next Meeting:-

December 3^rd, 2025, following the Planning Committee meeting.

There being no further business, the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 9.50pm.