BRINDLEY HEATH PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL
HELD ON TUESDAY 1 MARCH 2011
AT THE BAPTIST BIBLE COLLEGE, BRINDLEY HEATH

PRESENT: Parish Councillors: P. Adams (Chairman)
R. Turville
K. Baker
D. Cotton
Mrs. I. Higgs
Mrs. D. Grice

CLERK: Mrs. T. Williams (Acting)

1. APOLOGIES:
Apologies were received from J. Wilkes.

2. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
The minutes of the previous meeting held on 18 January 2011 were approved as a true record.

3. MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES
a) Notice Board
The notice board for Brindley Village is too big for the area of wall earmarked for installation. The best option for overcoming this problem was considered to be contacting the original supplier to ask if it could be exchanged for a smaller one.

b) Bower Lane
Cars have started to appear with ‘For Sale’ signs. The situation will continue to be monitored.

c) D.V. Ward – Environmental Issues
Karen Sulway, Environmental Protection Manager has advised that Mr Ward has attended Stafford Magistrates’ Court on two occasions since November 2010. The matter was adjourned on the first occasion in order that the defence could assess the evidence lodged. The second occasion was for a plea to be heard. Mr Ward has pleaded ‘not guilty’ to all charges. A court hearing was due to take place at Stafford Magistrates’ Court, on 23 February 2011. No further information has been made available since the hearing, and it was agreed that the Council would wait to hear the outcome.

d) Kingsley Wood Road
Again no contact has been received from Jaclyn Lake of Natural England. ‘Right to Roam’ has still to be dealt with.

e) Winter Gritting
Mark Keeling, Community Highways Liaison Officer has confirmed that he will arrange for the three existing grit bins in Kingsley Wood Road to be replaced with new larger ones at the end of the winter season.

It was suggested that Mark be asked to leave two of the old bins (those in the best condition) for positioning further up the hill.

It was suggested that a ‘Round Robin’ letter be sent to residents asking them not to use the grit on their drives.

f) British Telecom – Telephone Box at the corner of Kingsley Wood Road
A contract has finally been received by Mr. Young, from British Telecom. He has sent a £1 postal order in payment for the box and is awaiting final documentation.

It was reported that a light in the telephone box has suddenly illuminated, and has been on continuously night and day.

g) Rugeley Quarry
There have been no further reports or complaints about lorries causing problems to motorists at the entrance to the Quarry.

It was reported that there is sand on the road surface of Stafford Brook Road in each direction from the Quarry entrance. The temporary Clerk was asked to write to the Quarry Manager, Mr. Evans, to ask that he arranges for the road sweeper to clear it away.

A discussion took place about trees being cut down, and the mystery surrounding the reason this course of action was necessary.

A meeting will be arranged with the Quarry Manager when Councillor Wilkes is feeling better.

h) Boundary Commission – Electoral Review
Councillor Mrs. Grice reported that Cannock Chase Council has agreed on the second choice, and that Staffordshire County Council has incorporated one or two additional points to its submission on proposals for a new pattern of divisions (these are available for viewing on the Boundary Commission website).

4. CORRESPONDENCE
No new correspondence was available from Mr. Young, and Mrs. Williams had only received one item (not related to planning or SPCA).
• Cannock Chase Council – Letter dated 24 February 2011 from Tony McGovern, Corporate Director. Advising that Declan Hoare (Director of Service Improvement) had left the Council and his responsibilities would be taken on by other officers as the post would not be replaced.

It was agreed the temporary Clerk should look through all paperwork received from Mr. Young (to date) with a view to identifying what is missing. It was also agreed that Mrs. Williams contact Mr. Young directly to make arrangements for collection of the remaining paperwork (to include paying in book and cheque book). A progress report will be given to the next meeting.
Mrs. Williams took possession of a red box file containing some documentation.

5. URGENT BUSINESS
The Chairman reported that the Police have asked for a message to be circulated publicising a spate of break-ins which have occurred in Kingsley Wood Road (x2) and Etching Hill (x5). These may be linked to the presence of gypsies at Stile Cop.

6. CONCERTS IN THE FOREST
No further updates have been received.

7. FORESTRY COMMISSION LAND SALES
The Chairman reported that the consultation on forestry land sales has been scrapped, and there was nothing further to discuss on this issue at the present time.

8. TWO SAINTS WAY
David Pott is leading a project to create a new long distance walking route between Chester and Lichfield. The route runs within the Brindley Heath boundary. He wishes to contact relevant Parish Councils’ to ensure they are given all information about the project, and has offered to attend a future meeting to deliver a power point presentation and answer questions.

Resolved: That the information leaflets received are comprehensive, and a visit from Mr. Pott was not considered to be necessary.

9. PLANNING
Planning comments referred to the District Council (under delegated powers)
No new planning applications have been considered since the last meeting.

Planning Applications Received
CH/10/0403 Land to east of Stile Cop Road, Rugeley
Proposed Woodland Burial Park (Cemetery) with associated buildings, access and car park. Resubmission of CH/09/0345
Resolved: To raise no objections.
CH/11/0052 Holford Equestrian Centre, Cotswold Road, Hednesford
Replacement of existing telecommunications installation with a 20 metre high monopole with 3 antennas and associated equipment cabinets.

Comment – The application was collected on 1 March 2011 after it was spotted on the Brindley Heath list of applications published on Cannock Chase Council’s website. Cannock Chase Council advised that they had posted it (to the correct address) a week earlier but it had not been received. The final date for comments is to be clarified.

Councillor Cotton advised that he would circulate the plans around members of the Planning Committee before forwarding collective comments.

Planning Decisions made by District Council
CH/10/0424 Birchwood, Kingsley Wood Road, Brindley Heath
Refusal (notification received on 10 February 2011)
Information was shared on the District Councils Planning Committee Meeting which considered the Birchwood case. It was noted that organisations/bodies such as AONB and Friends of Cannock Chase had not made any comments or objections to the impact of the development on environment, community and wildlife. It was concluded that these organisations appear to be unsupportive of the geographical areas they manage.
CH/10/0429 Various Locations around Cannock Chase Forest
Express Consent to Display Advertisements (notification received on 25 January 2011)

Other Planning Correspondence
It was reported that the following planning application should be arriving shortly: CH/11/0062 Friars Cottage, Kingsley Wood Road – Retention of front boundary wall.

10. TRANSPORT LINKS
A letter dated 27 January 2011 was forwarded to London Midland highlighting concerns about the rail service from Hednesford Train Station, and the inconvenience caused to passengers when the service is failing to cope with periods of high demand.

An acknowledgement letter dated 1 February 2011 has been received and a full response will be forwarded by London Midland when investigations have been completed.

11. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Nothing to report

12. INVITATIONS TO MEETINGS
Cannock Chase AONB – Next regular Parish Councils’ Meeting will be held on Wednesday 18 May 2011. The venue will be confirmed.

13. REPORTS ON MEETINGS ATTENDED
The Chairman reported that he had attended a meeting with the Planning Services Manager and the Grounds Manager from CCDC, with a view to extending the allotments at Etching Hill. It was agreed that this would be possible subject to the football pitch being moved 7 metres to the North. However it would involve a variation to the lease which could take some time and be costly to achieve. In addition, the Council has refused to continue cutting the grass on the second pitch and marking it out. In order to try and resolve some of these problems, a meeting is arranged for later in the month at the Council Offices to seek a resolution.

Progress on these matters will be reported upon to the next meeting

14. ANNUAL PARISH MEETING AND ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Resolved: That the Annual Parish Meeting and Annual General Meeting be held together on the evening of Tuesday 17 May 2011. The venue will be the Baptist Bible College.

15. STAFFING MATTERS
Resolved: That the temporary Clerk write to the applicants for the post of permanent Clerk, and advise that the appointment would be put on hold until later in the year. Applicants will be contacted again at an appropriate time (proposed by Councillor Baker, seconded by Councillor Cotton and unanimously agreed).
The considerations contributing to this decision are:
• Finalising the collection of paperwork from Mr. Young and amalgamating this with material held by Mrs. Williams
• The year end accounting/audit processes for the financial year 2010/11
• The forthcoming elections in May 2011
The applications were handed to the temporary Clerk.

16. FINANCE
Resolved: That the precept be set at £4000 for the financial year 2011/12.
(A letter was forwarded to Mr Kean, Head of Financial Management at Cannock Chase Council on 14 February 2011, as he had asked to be advised of the precept by this date).

Resolved: To approve the following cheque payments:
200002 Baptist Bible College £ 25.00 Room Hire for meeting on 01/03/11
200003 T. Williams £314.94 £187.74 Salary (4.5 hrs @ £8.344 x 5 wks)
£127.20 Chase Post – Job Advertisement

It was confirmed that an Annual Return to the Audit Commission was undertaken annually.
Mr Young has confirmed that he would look for a second cheque book.

17. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
It was reported by the Chairman and the temporary Clerk that the SPCA have been very helpful on a number of occasions when they have been contacted for advice.

18. ITEMS FOR AGENDA OF NEXT MEETING
Telephone/expenses for Members

19. DATE, TIME AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Council will be held on Tuesday 19 April 2011 at the Baptist Bible College, Brindley Heath. The start time is 7.30pm.

The meeting was closed by the Chairman at 9.05pm