Minutes of the Meeting of Eccleshall Parish Council held on 20^th April 2022

A meeting of Eccleshall Parish Council was held at Broughton Parish Rooms on 20^th April 2022 at 7.30pm. This meeting was followed by a meeting of the Planning Committee at 9.15 pm.

48/22). Present were:-    

Councillor P. Jones  (Chairman)           Councillor L. Dale

Councillor R. Taylor                              Councillor J. Jones

Councillor G. Dale                               Councillor S. Perren

Councillor A. Reid                                Councillor C. Wilkins

Councillor B. Delanchy                         Councillor S. Mifflin

Councillor D. Hill                                  Councillor R. Langford

Councillor J. Leather

Mrs Beverley Partridge (Assistant Clerk)

One member of the public

Borough and County Councillor J. Pert.

49/22.)  Apologies were received from Cllrs. Kean, Amos and PCSO Higgins.

50/22). To consider Declarations of Interest and Councillor requests for dispensation relating to      items on the agenda.

Cllr Debbie Hill declared an interest in item 9 of the agenda concerning the watering contract and would take no part in the discussions or voting regarding this matter.

51/22). Public Participation:

Mandy Johnson- Barlow spoke to the Council about her plans for a monthly ‘market for makers’ which she wishes to expand along Eccleshall High Street. The Council expressed their support in any way that they can.

52/22). To approve the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on March 16^th, 2022

The minutes, which had been previously circulated, were agreed and signed.

53/22). Report from the Borough Councillor, County Councillor, and police representatives

County Councillor Pert provided a verbal report. Updates included:

• A Critical incident had occurred in the previous week at Royal Stoke Hospital due to staff absences because of Covid infections.
• Covid cases at the hospital are now reducing in numbers, with an understanding of cases having peaked at Easter.
• Pavement resurfacing was completed at the end of March. Gullies have also been cleared on Blurtons Lane and work is continuing on the gullies along Stafford Road
• On 21 April, Cllr Pert will be sleeping outside to raise funds for League of Hospital Friends as part of the ‘Sleep out to kit out’ initiative. Cllr Perren is also involved with the event.
• Much work is being carried out in the Housing team at Stafford Borough Council. A 2 million pound grant has been awarded to the Borough Council to be used for housing de-carbonisation and a central Government Housing and Homelessness grant of 650K has also been received.
• Meetings have taken place on bus service re-organisation which is work in progress, and more information will be available in May.
• An Eccleshall resident is interested in donating some plants to the Parish.
• There have been 39 expressions of interest to assist Ukrainian refugees in the Stafford Borough and visas are coming through slowly.

Cllr. Peter Jones provided a verbal report. Updates included:

• Cllr Jones attended his monthly surgery on 16 April
• He also attended the Borough Council meeting on 18 April and will be attending the Borough Auditing Accounts Committee on 20 April.

54/22). To consider any request by councillors regarding committee membership.

It was resolved to appoint Cllr. Debbie Hill onto the Traffic Management Committee.

55/22). Committee Updates:

  Traffic Management

• To note the minutes of the meeting held on the 6^th April 2022.
• To approve the recommendation to write to the Co-Op to consider Eccleshall as a pilot location for installation of EV points in the car park
• To approve the recommendation to support Slindon residents by lobbying the County Council for completion of outstanding road safety measures.
• To approve the recommendation to write to the County Council to support the ‘20’s Plenty’ initiative in suitable areas within the parish.
• To note the action to reply to Cllr. Pert to express thanks for the pavement works on the Newport Road.

Footpaths:

• To provide an update on the Borough Council bench to bench walks project.

Cllr. Taylor advised the Council that the leaflets which were being produced by the Borough Council were still delayed due to an unfilled officer vacancy. Cllr. Taylor expressed her frustration that the leaflets were expected in February or March, but little progress had been made by the Borough Council. This was disappointing especially in view of all the work that had been done in the Parish, especially by Cllr Wilkins.

It was resolved that the Clerk writes to the Borough Council to obtain a progress update on the graphics and printing of the leaflets.

It was agreed that Cllr. Taylor would meet with Cllr. Wilkins to decide on the way forward and whether the Parish Council could print the leaflets instead, should this be necessary.

• An update on the Circular walks project was provided which is ongoing and will be completed in the Autumn.

Enhancements:

• The minutes of the meeting held on the 6^th April 2022 were noted
• To was resolved to approve the recommendation to refurbish the two bus shelters on Castle Street.
• It was resolved to approve the recommendation to site a memorial bench on Elford Heath.
• It was resolved to approve the recommendation to appoint RH Traffic Management for the supply of lights during the painting of the Elford railings
• It was resolved to approve the recommendation to purchase a set of retaining frames for the Eyeswells BT Box.
• It was resolved to approve the recommendation to appoint Wicksteed as the annual inspectors for the outdoor gym.
• It was resolved to approve the recommendation to register the new allotments Oak tree as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy.
• It was resolved to approve the recommended course of action for the Ash tree located on the Hartlands Road Jubilee playing field.
• It was resolved to approve the recommendation to write to resident to cut back hedge to improve visibility on Stafford Street/Newport Road junction.
• It was resolved to approve the recommendation to receive the donation of a memorial bench, once it is refurbished by the current owner and a mutually agreeable location is found.

It was further resolved to agree to purchase four rhododendron plants, the cost of which having been previously approved by the Council. Cllr L. Dale to liaise with the Clerk to arrange the purchase at a maximum cost of £150.00.

Policy and Resources:

No updates to report.

Events:

The minutes of the committee meeting on the 6^th April 2022 were noted.

An update on the Jubilee project was provided:

• Thirty events will be taking place across Eccleshall and Croxton.
• The programme will appear on the website: eccleshallplatinumjubilee.co.uk
• More marshals are required across the four days of events and all Members were asked to attend to assist in any way they can .
• Cllr L. Dale also to contact the WI to ask for more volunteers.

A discussion took place about display boards that would be particularly useful for Parish Council events, such as the Community Forum.

It was resolved to purchase a display board at a cost of £208.80.

56/22). EV charging points

A discussion took place on the installation of EV charging points in Eccleshall, but no vote took place on a resolution for the Climate Change Working Group to consider how to install EV charging points in the Parish.  Members felt more information was required and the item was deferred.

It was resolved that the representative from Ubitricity would be invited to a future meeting

It was resolved that Cllr. Debbie Hill would join the Climate Change working group and further Members were invited to join also.

57/22)  To consider the quotations and options for the Bloom watering contract

It was resolved to approve the quotation of £5700 (no VAT) from Perrys for the Bloom watering contract from 31 May to 17 September 2022 (with an extension of 1 – 2 weeks depending on weather conditions at extra charge).

It was resolved that the Clerk would write to the Borough Council asking whether there had been an error in drawing up the quotation and pointing out that another neighbouring Council had not received a similar price increase.

58/22). To receive an update on the planned works to the water pipes at Eccleshall Allotments and to consider  approval of the Allotments Society suggested course of action and associated costs.

Following a visit from Severn Trent Water to the boundary of the allotments site, no issues with the water pressure were identified by the water company, even though some allotment holders are still experiencing extremely poor water pressure from a number of the taps on site.

It was resolved that Cllr Perren to liaise with the Allotments Group and report back at the next meeting on the best way forward. The Allotment Association suggested that a water survey could be undertaken by Severn Trent at a cost of approximately £150.00.

   Cllr. Pert left the meeting at 8.45pm.

59/22).  An update was received regarding a reflection space being created at the church which would be jointly funded with the Council.

This could be the installation of a new wooden seat or seat and the planting of a tree.

It was resolved that quotations for a seat would be sourced and considered at the next meeting with a view to considering that the costs of the project would be shared between the Parish Council and Holy Trinity Church.

60/22).  The Parish Council considered any ways in which it may support initiatives with regards to the Ukrainian crisis.

It was not known yet whether any refugees were being welcomed by residents in the Parish.

 It was resolved that the Clerk would invite the  ‘Stafford Welcome Refugees Group’ to the Community Forum in May.

61/22).  An update from the working group regarding the Community Forum was received.

  It was resolved to agree expenditure of up to £100 for drinks and cakes at the event.

62/22).  Clerk’s report, containing liaison representative updates was received.

63/22). Correspondence

No correspondence was received.

64/22). Chairman’s Report:-

Cllr Peter Jones attended the funeral of Bev Thompson on 31 March at Holy Trinity Church and attended a number of Jubilee Working Group meetings.

65/22). Financial Matters 

    To accept the Financial report and bank reconciliation to end March 2022:

     It was resolved to accept the financial summary, which includes the bank reconciliation up to and including 31^st March, 2022.

Payments made since the last full Council meeting were received and noted as follows:

To approve accounts for payment March 2022:-

Authorisation was sought for payment of the following accounts:

All were in favour and the cheques were signed accordingly.

66/22). Items / Date and Venue for next meeting:-

The next meeting of the Parish Council is scheduled for 18^th May, 2022, at Eccleshall Community Centre at 7.30pm. Agenda items can be forwarded to the Clerk for consideration

There being no further business, the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 9.12pm.