Draft Minutes:

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday 18^th October 2022

at The Deer Park, Maker Lane, Hoar Cross

Present: Cllrs Bott and Major, Cllrs Mrs Prince, Sherwood and Smith

Miss E Goodwin (Parish Clerk), County Cllr Jessell

Two members of the public were in attendance

• Public Participation

Nothing to report.

2   Apologies

PCSO Leathers

3   Declarations of Interest

Cllr Bott – the request from the PCC for money towards the upkeep of the churchyard.

4    Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Monday 20^th June 2022

The Minutes were agreed as a true representation of the Meeting, and Cllr Bott signed them.

5   Matters arising not covered on the Agenda

The Clerk asked if Cllr Mrs Smith had been able to deliver the Platinum Jubilee mugs; she

has three to deliver.

The Clerk mentioned the overgrown grass by the Hoar Cross sign on the Newborough Road;

Cllr Mrs Smith will ask her husband to strim the grass.

The visit by Smith of Derby to carry out the annual service of the Church clock on Thursday 20^th October is to be postponed; the Clerk is to request if Smith of Derby have a maintenance contract.  Another company, Time Assured, do offer an annual maintenance contract.

6   HS2

The Parish Clerk had forwarded a number of emails to the Parish Councillors.

County Cllr Jessel explained that there are grants available for communities impacted by

HS2; she will find out more information.

7   Planning        Cllr Major

1. a) Applications received P/2022/00762        Conversion and alteration of existing

building to accommodate boilers at Hoar Cross Hall; AMENDED DESCRIPTION AND PLANS.

The Clerk is to email ESBC re concerns about the noise level and disturbance to nearby

residents.

P/2022/00814        Enclosing of East porch, Hoar Cross

Hall; no objections

P/2022/00816        Listed building application for enclosing

of East porch, Hoar Cross Hall and alterations to the external steps;  no objections

1. b) Applications approved P/2020/00941        Erection of an agricultural building on

School Hill, Hoar Cross

P/2022/00395        Erection of a detached double garage

at 2 New Villas, Abbots Bromley Road

P/2022/748           Conversion of existing buildings to form

single dwelling house – The Old Bothy, Maker Lane

P/2022/00764        Application for a Certificate of Lawfulness for the retention of a detached outbuilding/garden room at The Tarns, Roost Hill,

Thorney Lanes

P/2022/00776        Felling of trees at The Spinney

House, St Michaels Drive

P/2022/00893        Erection of a single storey detached

garage at Hunters Barn, Thorney Lanes

1. c) Applications refused            P/2022/00469          Erection of a single storey side

extension at The Old Barn, Abbots Bromley Road

1. d) Other planning matters P/2021/01676         erection of a replacement dwelling, alterations to existing garage and formation of new vehicular access – Chantry Farm,

Thorney Lanes; application withdrawn.

P/2022/00380        construction of a mobile home for

occasional use as grooms accommodation, storage barn and viewing gazebo at Birchwood

House, Abbots Bromley Road.

P/2022/00470       erection of a detached car port with

studio above at The Old Barn, Abbots Bromley Road.

8    Parish Councillors Reports

Highways      Cllr Bott – some potholes have been repaired.

County Cllr Jessell – since April 2022, the inspection of repairs has not been carried out by Amey and County Councillors now have more influence over the work done.  £15m had been given to

Highways for maintenance, but the increase in the price of oil has led to an increase in the

price of tarmac, so an additional £3m has been given.  Additional money has been given for gulley clearing.  The Council are trialling equipment that can make repairs throughout the year, and are looking at making more passing places on narrow lanes.

Environment  Cllr Mrs Prince – nothing to report.

Footpaths     Cllr Mrs Sherwood – there are no problems with the footpaths.  The pond at

Jacksons Bank is flooding; Cllr Mrs Sherwood will find out who the contact at the Duchy is.

9    County Councillor Jessel’s Report

Ben Adams, the Staffordshire Police and Fire Commissioner, had attended the Needwood

Divisional Forum.

Cllr Jessel is planning to arrange a meeting before the end of the year, when she will brief

everyone about the new boundaries; the Council are beginning to formulate the new boundaries

in November, and they will come into effect in 2024.

The Council are extending food vouchers for those having free school meals in half term and the

Christmas holidays.

Warmer Homes Scheme – 500 householders have been helped.

The number of people with Covid is on the increase; there has been an increase in the number

of people in hospital with Covid, but they are not in hospital with Covid.

10   Borough Councillor Beech’s Report

No Report

11  PCSO Leathers Report

This had been circulated to the Councillors prior to the Meeting; the Clerk will forward a copy to

Lynne Bott.

12  Parish Clerk’s Report

The Clerk has opted out of the Pension Scheme for three years

She is meeting Kim Squires from Alan Toplis Associates next week for the half yearly meeting.

She asked if everyone had returned their Register of Interests to Stafford, and asked

Councillors to send their forms to Lynne for inclusion on the website.

The Clerk will meet with Cllrs Bott and Major on Tuesday 15^th November to discuss the Budget

for 2023-2024 and the Precept.

The Meeting dates for 2023 were discussed: Monday 20^th March, Monday 15^th May for the

Annual Meeting and the Annual Parish Meeting, Monday 16^th June, Monday 18^th September

and Monday 4^th December.

13  Finance

The Bank Reconciliation as at 29^th July was approved.

The balances at the end of September were £8369.60 in the Current Account and

£3539.82 in the Business Reserve Account.

Cllr Mrs Prince suggested transferring a sum of money (£3000) to the Business Reserve

Account; Cllr Mrs Sherwood will find out how to transfer the funds.

The request from the PCC for £500 towards the upkeep of the Churchyard was discussed; it was

agreed to ask the PCC Treasurer for a comparison of costs for 2021 and 2022.

It was resolved to pay the following cheques:

Date            Chq     Payee                     Details                   Amount

19^th Sept       884    HMRC                    PAYE                     £132.80

19^th Sept       885    Mrs H Sherwood      plants                    £32.50 incl £5.41 VAT

19^th Sept       886    Deer Park Dairy       room hire                £30.00

19^th Sept       887    Gregson G’works      bench work              £366.00 incl £61.00 VAT

19^th Sept       888    Miss E Goodwin        expenses/salary      £277.20

30^th Sept      SO     Miss E Goodwin        Salary                    £447.85

14   Hedgecutting

It was agreed to keep the information from Jonelle Handford on file.

Cllr Bott will speak to the new manager at The Meynell about tidying up the land opposite

the pub.

15   Correspondence

‘20s plenty for Staffordshire’ Zoom meeting on 25^th October; Cllr Jessel explained that

this was not a County Council initiative.

Dog bag dispenser project; the Clerk will make contact to see how many dispensers will

be provided and where.

Ann Robson Helpline; the Clerk will forward the information to Lynne for inclusion on

the website and in the newsletter; the Clerk will put the advert in the bus shelter.

Opting out of the audit; it was agreed to stay as we are.

Quote from Gregson’s Groundworks re repairing the speed gate near to Jackson Bank; Cllr

Mrs Sherwood will contact Sam re the price.

16   Members points of information

Two members of the public have expressed an interest in the Parish Council; it was agreed the Parish Councillors would invite them to the next meeting.

17   Dates of next meetings: Monday 5^th December, Monday 20^th March to be held at The Deer Park,

Monday 15^th May Annual Meeting and Annual Parish Meeting in the Church, Monday 19^th June, Monday18th September, Monday 4^th December at The Deer Park.