WHITMORE PARISH COUNCIL Minutes of the Meeting of Whitmore Parish Council held on 6 th December 2017

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1 WHITMORE PARISH COUNCIL Minutes of the Meeting of Whitmore Parish Council held on 6 th December 2017 Present Cllr Ian Webb (Chairman). Cllrs Corbett, Davies.Hutton, Pedley and Perry. 204/12/17 To receive and approve apologies for absence. Apologies were received and approved from Cllrs Peddie and Harvey, County Cllr Northcott, Borough Cllrs Loades and Panter. Good wishes were expressed to Cllr Peddie following his recent operation. 205/12/17. To receive Declarations of Interest in items on the Agenda None declared 206/12/17. To hold the informal Local forum No parishioners were present;the complaint of a resident regarding parking and intrusive lights in the environment of the lay-by by Station Stores was considered ; it was felt that the Parish Council was unable to offer assistance and the resident should seek help from Environmental Health. 207/12/17. To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 7 th June 2017 The Minutes were approved and signed by the Chairman. 208/12/17. To consider matters arising from the Minutes 171/10/17. Gating of Lymes Rd. This matter was ongoing; further input from Newcastle Borough officials was awaited. 183/10/17 Bus Timetables Despite several queries, no response had been received from Arriva regarding changes in the timetable of the X /10/17 Christmas Arrangements Arrangements had been made with the Sheet Anchor to supply electricity to the Christmas Tree there and also for a supply of electricity to the Christmas Tree on Chapel Green. The Parish Council would erect a board by the latter at the request of the householder who was kindly providing the electricity. The Wayside Nativity had been erected and it was hoped to provide spotlights for the figures. The lights would be switched on as soon as arrangements were completed. In conjunction with the Parish Council, the Sheet Anchor had kindly agreed to host a Christmas Carols event on 17 th December at 5 pm; arrangements for this, including the publicizing of the event were finalized. 193/11/17. Baldwins Gate School Consultation The Clerk had responded to this, on behalf of the Parish Council 193/11/17 Rights of Way Consultation The main local footpaths were considered in detail and it was agreed that the main local footpaths would be walked over the Christmas period to identify areas of particular concern. The Clerk would respond to the Consultation. 200/11/17. Ticket Office. A useful meeting had taken place with a representative from Network Rail, when the Ticket Office was opened up. Network Rail now intended to arrange a full survey of the property, with a view to making it available for commercial letting. It was confirmed that Network Rail would be prepared to grant the Parish Council a 1

2 licence to undertake improvements to the outside of the property as long as the structural integrity of the building was not affected. 193/11/17. Electoral Register. In response to a query from the Clerk, who had requested from the Borough Council a copy of the latest Register of Electors for Whitmore Parish, it was understood that this would not be available until February Staffordshire Smart Alerts. Details of this system( to be put on the website and notice boards. 209/12/17. To receive the Chairman s report Kier Development off Gateway Ave Concerns raised at the recent meeting with Kier s Technical Manager included:- 1. Pedestrian crossing (across the A53)and the need for safety barriers to be installed. This matter (which is of great concern to Whitmore PC, as a safety issue) is ongoing with both Kier and Staffs County Council Highways Engineers being involved in discussions. 2. The opening up of the junction of Gateway Avenue with the A The pathway between the corner of the Kier site into Baldwins Gate (past Station Cottages). Kier s agreement to clean this up and make it into a viable footpath has been taken on board, providing, in due course, an alternative safe route to Baldwins Gate School. HS2a Project At a recent meeting with Sir Bill Cash MP, involving Whitmore PC, Madeley PC and the local Action Group, concerns were expressed that the promised bore holes on the Heath would not be started until at least January, and so the on-cost of the Longer Deeper Tunnel cannot be evaluated until after the Second Reading of the HS2a Bill which is scheduled for this month. Sir Bill undertook to raise these concerns with the Secretary of State. The results of the Government s recent consultation on the Environmental Statement were extremely favourable to the cause for the Longer Deeper Tunnel. A visit to Whitmore from members of the West Midlands Central Council to evaluate the impact of HS2 on the area was expected. Joint Local Plan A meeting had taken place with a Newcastle Borough Councillor and Official to raise various issues arising from the Borough Council s most recent update of the status of the Five year list, which currently stands at 1.8 years, well below the required level of five years. This could have serious implications for the Neighbourhood Development Plan. NDP Councillors and the Clerk had attended a presentation on Regulation 14 which details the various stages of the process that a Neighbourhood Plan will need to go through to be formally adopted and the system requirements associated with each. The Finance Committee would be meeting early in the New Year to consider the Precept and the Budget for 2018/19. Clerk s reports 210/12/17. Financial Matters 2

3 Donations and Purchases Stationery supplies (envelopes, plastic pockets) purchased Payment of Accounts VAT total From Lloyds PC Grant Account 018 Whitmore Village Hall 250 (rent for Steering Group meetings) From Bank of Scotland Account 591 NULBC (supply and planting of Spring plants) 592 Mrs D Burns 100 (fee for organizing Information Day) 593 Staffs Parish Councils Association 20 (Training) 594 Mrs W Kinson Mrs W Kinson (stationery supplies) 596 Cropper Grounds Maintenance Receipts Lloyds Bank Account - 3,641 Grant transferred from Bank of Scotland Account into Lloyds Grant Account Bank of Scotland Account - 1,000 sponsorship received from NUL School. Other Financial Business VAT reclaimed for period , an amount of 1, /12/17. To receive the Clerk s report Correspondence and material received during November as detailed in the circulated Clerk s Report was noted. 212/12/17. Town and Country Planning Note all planning applications which involve a property within our Parish are referred to Whitmore Parish Council for comment. Comment is normally required to be registered within 21 days of notification being issued by the Borough Council. This leadtime is normally ample but can be extended if circumstances dictate. PA17/00853FUL. Lodore House, Baldwins Gate. No objection registered PA17/00898COU.Butterton Grange, Butterton. Whitmore PC supported this extension to an existing business. Registered PA17/00929FUL. Brackens Rise, Madeley Park Wood Drive. No objection registered PA17/00674FUL. Park Manor, Butterton. Permitted PA17/00908COU. HS2 land south of the A53. No objection. Supplementary comments registered PA17/00920FUL. Wild Acres, Manor Rd. No objection registered NB Interest Declared. PA17/00877FUL. Brook Farm Acton. Objection plus request that a new PA be submitted. Registered

4 Group reports 213/12/17. Parish Appearance One of the signs on the Trentham Rd roundabout had been destroyed in a traffic accident; this to be replaced. It was felt that, following inevitable teething troubles, the new Grounds Maintenance Contactors were providing a good service. Regarding the Annual Return necessary to be completed for the Charity Commission, the Chairman of Parish Appearance was to be added as a Trustee of the Recreation Ground. 214/12/17. Neighbourhood Development Plan Project The Draft Policies for the NDP had been circulated to the three Parish Councils for initial consideration and comment and Whitmore Councillors were due to meet to look at these in detail. The timing of the next Parish Newsletter would need to take account of the timescale demands of the NDP, to keep all residents informed of the various stages and deadlines involved. 215/12/17. Community and Engagement The Welcome Pack proposal for new residents had been examined in more detail, with a final version to be ready by March /12/17. Transport and Safety Several matters were ongoing and another meeting with David Greatbach, Staffs County Council, had been scheduled. Due to heavy lorries accessing the Acton Greenway site via Bent Lane and Acton Lane, a formal request had been made to Staffs Highways for a sign on the A53 indicating the way to the site was via the Trentham Road roundabout. 217/12/17. Any other Planning Matters As development had undoubtedly started on the Whitmores, the Clerk would contact the Chief Planning officer again to make enquiries about S106 monies due. 218/12/17. Motions pre-registered by Councillors for debate and vote. None. 219/12/17. Issues pre-registered by Councillors for debate. General Data Protection Regulations. A Report was given on the General Data Protection Regulations which would come into force in May 2018, and would have an impact on the work of the Parish Council. It was agreed that all Councillors would consider the implications of this and a Councillor to be responsible for its implementation would be appointed in the New Year. 220/12/17. To receive Reports from County and Borough Councillors and Officials None were able to be present owing to other commitments. 221/12/17. Any other business (at the Chairman s discretion) A resident had raised the possibility of a defribrillator in Baldwins Gate, as the one in the Village Hall was not always available, eg when the Hall was locked. It was felt that outside the Post Office/Station Stores would be the best site. 4

5 222/12/17. The date of the next Regular Meeting was confirmed as Wednesday 3 rd January 2018 at 7 pm in Whitmore Village Hall. As the chairman was unavoidably absent on this date, the Vice-Chairman would be in the Chair. 5