Minutes of the Parish Council Annual Meeting held on Monday 4^th December 2023

at The Deer Park, Maker Lane, Hoar Cross

Present: Cllrs Mrs Smith, Mrs Baxter, Mrs Prince, Mrs Sherwood, Mrs Patterson

Miss E Goodwin (Parish Clerk), County Cllr Jessell, Borough Cllr Ashcroft

• Public Participation

No members of the public had attended the Meeting.

• Apologies

No apologies had been received.

3    Declarations of Interest

There were no Declarations of Interest.

4    Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Monday 18^th September 2023

The Minutes were agreed as a true representation of the Meeting, and Cllr Mrs Smith signed

them.

5   Matters arising not covered on the Agenda

There were no matters arising.

6   Planning – Cllr Mrs Baxter

1. a) Applications received:
2. b) Applications approved:       P/2023/00434 – change of use of land to a mixed use of

agricultural and equestrian for use by horses and erection of a detached stable block and tack

room and construction of vehicular access for private use at land off Becks Lane

P/2023/00713 – formation of outdoor spa garden on roof

terrace of existing spa with associated stairs/lift extension, pergola, log burner and flue,

enclosed cabana loungers, 3 x pools and sauna/wc room at Hoar Cross Hall, Maker Lane

P/2023/00716 – Listed Building Consent for the formation

of outdoor spa garden on roof terrace of existing spa with associated stairs/lift extension,

pergola, log burner and flue, enclosed cabana loungers, 3 x pools and sauna/wc room at Hoar

Cross Hall, Maker Lane

1. c) Applications refused:
2. d) Other planning matters: P/2023/00416 – partial demolition of the former

Abbots Bromley School Buildings, conversion and extension of the remaining school

Buildings to form 60 dwellings, erection of 58 dwellings and garaging and a detached Community Store

P/2023/00417 – Listed Building Consent for the partial demolition of the former Abbots Bromley School Buildings, internal and external alterations to facilitate the conversion and extension of the remaining school buildings to form 60 dwellings

P/2023/00749 – partial demolition of St Mary’s teaching block, sports hall and swimming pool at Abbots Bromley School for Girls

P/2023/00907 – siting of mobile home as grooms accommodation and associated hardstanding including demolition of existing stables at Birchwood House, Abbots Bromley Road (replaced P/2022/00380)

8   Parish Councillors Reports

Highways – Cllr Mrs Patterson had reported four potholes in August, and is still waiting for a

visit from the inspector.

County Cllr Jessell asked Cllr Mrs Patterson to send her the report numbers and she will escalate

them.

Cllr Jessell – there are three categories of road reparir: Category 1 – done within 24 hours; Category 2; Category 3 – do not get done

road inspectors have been in house since April 2023

County Cllrs can request that some potholes are dealt with more quickly

there is a lack of funding

many rural roads do not have a proper foundation

the Council have put forward an extra £15m this year, totalling £87m for road repairs, plus an extra £3m from the Government

the Council have invested in a pothole pro by JCB

from 2024 there will be automated scanning to record defects

Cllr Mrs Patterson asked about the ‘No lorries’ signs on Thorney Lanes, Roost Hill and Dark Lane.

County Cllr Jessell said there had been no consultation or road order; neither Hoar Cross nor

Newborough Parish Councils knew anything about them.

Environment – Cllr Mrs Prince reported the water on the road by the Church – she will check if

there is a blocked drain or a blocked gully and report it to County Cllr Jessell.  There is flooding

at the top of School Hill caused by a blocked culvert.

Footpaths – Cllr Mrs Sherwood has emailed Staffordshire County Council regarding a number of

stiles that maybe dangerous; County Cllr Jessell asked for a copy of the email.

The footpath sign at Ladysmith has been painted over, and the stiles are not as they should be.

County Cllr Jessell will find out if there are some stiles available and she will get someone to fit them; it is not a legal requirement that stiles have access for dogs.

Cllr Mrs Smith has purchased ‘Dogs must be on a lead’ signs to be put on the stiles.

8  County Councillor Jessel’s Report

Cllr Jessell updated the Cllrs about the roads: she recognises that the roads are not in a

good state and will follow up Cllr Mrs Patterson’s report

work on the Branston interchange on the

A38 will begin in February 2024

between four hundred and five hundred houses are  being built at Drakelow, and the increase in traffic is causing problems with the

Bailey Bridge

The Chief Inspector has been recruiting, and Cllr Jessell will organise a meeting with the new

team.

The changes made by the Boundary Commission have gone ahead.

Unlike other local authorities, Staffordshire County Council is not in financial difficulties

because of decisions made earlier.

9  Borough Councillors Report

Borough Cllr Ashcroft introduced herself

10  PCSO Edwards Report

There has been no contact from PCSO Edwards

11   Parish Clerk’s Report

The Clerk had met Kim Squires in October, and all had gone well; Kim was pleased with the

website, and made some suggestions for the Clerk to follow up:

add the Asset Register to the website, including the new ‘tree’ bench

send the expenses to the Cllrs before each meeting

chase up the invoice from ESBC for the election in May; the Clerk did this, and the invoices are with the finance team.  The invoice stands at £2403.88.

Kim suggested increasing the Precept, and to ringfence money to pay for future

elections

12   Finance

Cllr Mrs Sherwood had begun the process to move to Internet banking; Cllrs Mrs Smith

and Mrs Patterson have to sign the paperwork.  James Major has been taken off the

list of signatories.

The bank reconciliation to 20^th November had been circulated to the Cllrs.

It was resolved to pay the following cheques:

Date          Cheque    Payee                                                           Amount

4^th Dec      928         Deer Park Dairy Ltd  Room hire                               £30.00

4^th Dec      929         Time Assured           Church clock repair                £880.00+£176.00VAT

4^th Dec      930         Anthony Bonnick      Tree bench                          £150.00

4^th Dec      931          Kay Bentley              Bouncy Castle                         £195.00

SO         Miss E Goodwin        Salary                                    £447.85

4^th Dec     932          Miss E Goodwin        Salary                                 £83.20

Expenses                                £180.00

4^th Dec     933          HMRC                      PAYE                                       £132.60

4^th Dec     934          Cllrs Mrs Smith       Signs                                       £6.63+£1.33VAT

Food/wine BKV thanks               £79.83+£15.97VAT

13    Precept 2024-2025

Following the meeting between the Clerk and Cllrs Mrs Smith and Mrs Prince, the figures were discussed as the Clerk had made some alterations to the figures.  There was a discussion as to whether an increase to the Precept of £1000 would be too much; the Clerk is to redo the figures showing a £1000 and a £600 increase.

14  Discussion and Ratification of the Financial Policy, Risk Assessment, Standing Orders, Media

Policy, Publication Scheme

The Clerk proposed all of the policies; all were agreed.

There was a discussion regarding GDPR; Cllr Mrs Baxter has set up a Parish Council email address.

Cllrs Jessell and Ashcroft explained that having a Parish Council address keeps personal and Council

mails separate, and offers some protection.

15    Best Kept Village update – Cllr Mrs Smith

Cllr Mrs Smith has received the report from the BKV, and suggestions made were to

include The Deer Park in the judging area

display BKV publicity

include items on the map and BKV points.

Cllr Mrs Baxter commented that more photographs are needed.

16   ‘Discover East Staffordshire’ website – Cllr Mrs Baxter

Cllr Mrs Baxter had attended a National Forest Networking Meeting.  The ‘Discover East

Staffordshire’ website promotes events, places of interest etc; it was agreed to promote

the Church, and Cllr Mrs Baxter will speak to Canon Paul and Rachel Major.

17   Thursday 6^th June 2024 – 80^th anniversary of the D-Day Landings

The Parish Clerk reported that Lesley Prince will be looking at a possible event/celebration

after Christmas.

18    Church clock

The Parish Council has received another invoice from Time Assured for work on the Church clock;

Cllr Mrs Smith will speak to Mrs Major; Cllr Mrs Prince suggested discussing a limit to the

amount of money the Parish Council will pay towards the upkeep of the Church clock.

19    Land opposite The Meynell

It was noted that people are still using this land as a car park; Cllr Mrs Prince suggested speaking

to the Manager and ask that they keep it tidy if they are using it; Cllr Mrs Smith agreed to do so.

20   HS2 Update

The Parish Clerk had forwarded an email in November explaining that HS2 is no longer going

ahead, and explaining what is going on in the background.

21    Correspondence

NatWest bank offering a short term, higher interest account; it was agreed to transfer some money for 35 days.  Cllr Mrs Smith and the Clerk will talk to the bank with regards to the Clerk’s access to the Bank accounts.

Email from the PCC regarding the contribution to the mowing of the Churchyard; Cllr Mrs

Smith will speak to Mrs Major.

22   Members Points of Information

There were no members Points of Information

23    Dates of the next Meetings

Monday 18^th March 2024, Monday 20^th May (Annual Parish Council Meeting/Annual Parish

Meeting), Monday 17^th June, Monday 16^th September, Monday 2^nd December at The Deer Park