Minutes of the Meeting of Eccleshall Parish Council held on

18^th June 2025

A meeting of Eccleshall Parish Council was held at Offley Hay Village Hall on 18^th June 2025 at 7.30pm. This meeting was followed by a meeting of the Planning Committee at 8.55pm.

  85/25). Present were:-

Councillor R. Taylor (Chairman)                   Councillor G. Dale

Councillor R. Langford                                   Councillor B. Delanchy

Councillor D. Feneysey                                  Councillor S. Kean

Councillor P. Jones                                        Councillor C. Wilkins

Mrs Stacey Worden (Clerk)

Borough Councillor J. Pert

No members of the public

Five representatives from Severn Trent

 86/25). Apologies:

Apologies were received from Cllrs. Perren, Reid, Hill, Gosling, Hall, Mifflin and Ryan-Bloor.

87/25). To consider Declarations of Interest and Councillor requests for dispensation relating to        items on the agenda.

There were no requests to receive, and no declarations of interest were made.

   88/25). Public Participation:

There was no public participation.

   89/25).  To approve the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 21^st May 2025.

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

   90/25).  Update and discussion with Severn Trent representatives in relation to:

Proposed lead pipe replacement project in Eccleshall:

Key points of the update included:

• The lead pipe replacement project covers all areas in the parish (not the whole parish) served by the Croxton borehole. Whilst formal completion date is 2030, it is aimed to complete earlier.
• Replacement of all lead piping will mean that the preventative phosphate dosing of the supply can be turned off – this has both health and cost benefits.
• All work will be in liaison with the County Council to ensure any excavations will be completed prior to road resurfacing schedules, coinciding works requiring traffic management could be piggybacked where possible, and to work alongside any activities to resolve flooding if in the same area. Severn Trent noted the traffic issues in the town centre and the need to reduce the impact of their works on traffic flow and in key periods of the year where events may be running. EPC also noted the housing development proposals and associated disruption that would need to be considered if any were approved.
• There will be ongoing liaison with EPC on planned works, resident communications and support in hosting community events to share updates. Severn Trent are keen to attend existing community events such as coffee mornings to talk to residents who are less likely to engage via social media and the website. The support of EPC will also help to give confidence to residents that the programme is legitimate and at no cost to residents.
• The work will be undertaken on batches of qualifying properties (first batch is approximately two hundred homes) to ensure work is delivered in a timely manner and completed before moving onto another set of properties and directed communications will tie in with these batches.
• Communications will include leaflets, website, community days and residents will receive individual letters when their area is being approached. EPC will include an article in the summer newsletter and Cllr. Jones will submit any articles to the Stone and Eccleshall Gazette.
• Reinstatement works will be agreed with the customer prior to starting any work on their property to ensure they are happy with the plan. Like for like materials will be used, and for areas such as the cobbled High Street, the cobbles will be replaced, with spares ordered in advance to cover any damages.

Ongoing work to address flooding in the town area:

Key points of the discussion/presentation included:

• Most of Eccleshall has two separate systems for foul and surface water dispersal, apart from the estate around the Gaol Butts area. A leading course of system overload is surface water from this area flowing into the pumping station. Severn Trent are encouraging the use of ‘leaky’ water butts in this area, which capture rainwater from roofs and other surfaces, holding it back and releasing it gradually, reducing the immediate flow of water into drains and sewers and the risk of surface water flooding.
• Comprehensive mapping of the town centre area has produced a hydraulic model of Eccleshall. A £3m capital project is being planned to utilise this model to replicate flooding instances and test solutions before implementation.
• Two key areas of work identified to date are:
  • To increase the pipe size where water flows from Castle St. to the river Sow.
  • To reduce the water flow off fields opposite Green Lane. Landowner conversations are ongoing to look at provision of ponds, drainage ditches and use of trees to absorb and release water slowly to avoid system overload.
• The current sewer system has capacity for a further three hundred homes, and should further developments be approved, Severn Trent have a plan to upgrade facilities accordingly. Members noted the use of trucks to ship waste away from the current facility, which was advised to be a short-term operational problem and not indicative of the overall capacity.
• Severn Trent operate a 25 year forward planning model which evolves with potential planning applications, climate change and behavioural changes and proactively watch for these potential applications. If planning development is moving ahead of capacity, there is legislation that can be applied to slow housing build temporarily to ensure infrastructure is in place in time.
• Storm overflow figures were provided for 2024 – Stone Road 67 spills, Treatment Works 130 spills. This was acknowledged as unacceptable by Severn Trent and EPC. Current 2025 figures due to reconfiguration works are Stone Road 1 spill and Treatment Works 16 spills. Severn Trent aim is to reduce to 10 spills by 2045.
• Members asked about clean water supply and the current system capacity. There is sufficient water supply at present for an increase in residents, and more information will be brought to a future meeting.

   91/25). Report from the Borough Councillor, County Councillor, and police representatives:

Borough Councillor Pert provided a report. Updates included:

• Attendance at a resident meeting on Monday 16^th June about the scale of the proposed developments around Eccleshall town centre area. Residents are willing to engage but would benefit from insight and expertise in planning. The next meeting will be held at the Community Centre on the 11^th
• A meeting at the Borough Council was held to understand what policies can be used and will carry weight in the planning decision making process to control the excess of speculative applications. Borough Council planners will be reviewing national application decisions to collate reasons given for application refusals.
• Current Borough Council currently has a 1200 housing shortage before it can evidence a five-year supply. However, by July 2026 a further 1000 houses will need to be approved to meet the next target.
• With regards to the Meecebrook proposal, whilst there has been no formal decision to proceed or scrap the project, there is no further government funding in place to progress this, so appetite would have to be developer led. At present there is no evidence that this is likely to be progressed.

Borough Councillor Jones reported his attendance the Croxton Well Dressing event on the 14^th June.

Cllr. Langford thanked both Councillors for attending the event.

   92/25). Committee Updates:

    Traffic Management:

• There were no updates to report

Footpaths:

• There were no updates to report

Enhancements:

• The minutes of the meeting held on the 4^th June 2025 were noted.

   Policy and Resources:

• The minutes of the meeting held on the 4th June 2025 were noted.
• It was resolved to approve the recommendation to award a grant of £2,000 to Eccleshall First Responders, towards the adaptations required for the new response vehicle.

    Events:

• It was reported that the VE Day evening celebration was very successful.

   93/25). To consider the revised Committee and Sub-Committee Terms of Reference, for approval and adoption:

The Terms of Reference document clearly defines the remit, responsibilities and structure within each committee operates. The proposed revision includes additional delegations that will support a more efficient decision-making process within the committee structure. It was confirmed that the Policy and Resources committee, although responsible for the preparation and scrutiny of the annual budget and precept recommendations, are still required to bring these items to full council for consideration and approval. It was resolved to adopt the Terms of Reference document. As part of the review, it was also resolved to change the name of the Traffic Management Committee to the Highways and Transport Committee, to better reflect its remit.

   94/25). Clerk’s report, containing liaison representative updates.

The Clerk’s report was received and noted.

   95/25). Correspondence

• It was resolved to defer the correspondence in relation to Eccleshall First Responders to the meeting in July, when Cllr. Gosling is in attendance and can also report back on the AGM meeting.

  96/25). Chairman’s Report:-

• The Community Showcase event went very well. Exhibitor feedback will be brought to the meeting in July when a date and venue can be resolved.
• Plans for the literary festival in September are ongoing.
• The Community Lounge Breakfast Club has received grant funding of £1200 to allow it to continue for a further year.

  97/25). Financial Matters

• To accept the financial report and bank reconciliation to 31^st May 2025:

       It was resolved to accept the financial summary, which includes the bank reconciliation up to and  including 31^st May 2025.

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

• To approve accounts for payment June 2025:-

Authorisation was sought for payment of the following accounts:

All were in favour and the accounts will be paid accordingly. Cllrs. Taylor and Jones will process the approvals.

• Refurbishment of Library side gate

It was resolved to approve expenditure of £396.59 from the Library Projects budget to sand down and repaint the library car park gate.

     98/25). To pass a resolution in accordance with Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 to  exclude the public and press for discussion of confidential staffing matters from the Staffing Committee meeting held on 15^th May 2025:

The Clerk left the meeting at this point, returning for the decision.

• Clerks Appraisal: The Council noted the successful completion of the Clerk’s appraisal.
• Consideration of the report and recommendations from the Staffing Committee:

Members considered the recommendations in the staffing report with regards to the Clerks salary review. An evaluation of the council’s functions using SLCC guidelines has established the Clerk role falls within the LC2 substantive salary range. It was resolved to approve the recommendations from the Staffing Committee and increase the Clerks salary point to reflect this, effective from 1^st May 2025.

     99/25). Items / Date and Venue for next meeting:-

The next meeting of the Parish Council is scheduled for the 16^th July 2025, Broughton Parish Rooms, 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 8.55pm.