BRINDLEY HEATH PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF MEETING
HELD ON TUESDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2025
AT THE WHITE HOUSE, MARQUIS DRIVE, BRINDLEY HEATH

PRESENT: Parish Councillors: P. Adams (Chairman)
R. Turville (Vice Chairman)
Mrs M. A. Turville
Mrs S. Pearson
A. Pearson
M. Sutherland

IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs T. Williams (Clerk)

1. APOLOGIES
Apologies and reasons for absence were received, accepted and approved under S85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 from Councillor D. Cotton.

Apologies were also received from County Councillor P. Hewitt.

2. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

Member
None Interest
Type

3. POLICE REPORTS
The Council received the Neighbourhood Policing Report for the month of January 2025.

The incidents occurring in Brindley Heath and Etching Hill were categorised as follows:

Burglary – 2, Vehicle Crime – 2, Domestic Incident – 10, Suspicious Incident – 6, concern for welfare – 7, Missing Person – 6, Family Domestic Incident – 6, Suspicious – 4, Harassment – 5, Transport Related Incident – 6, Theft – 2, Road Traffic Collision – 4, Sexual Offences – 1, Anti-Social Behaviour – 1, Public Order – 3, Other Notifiable – 1, Malicious Communications – 2, Drugs – 1, Wildlife – 1.

The Council commented that the vehicle crime figure was lower than expected as they were aware of several vehicle related incidents in the Etching Hill area.

Councillor Sutherland reported on a well-attended residents meeting held at Etching Hill Village Hall where a number of Police representatives (Police team leader, Specialist Crime Unit, and PCSO Carrington) had been present. The groups were looking at running a neighbourhood watch scheme along the lines of a model trialled in Penkridge.

The Council praised the Neighbourhood Policing Team for doing a first-class job in the parish. Officers were visible, helpful and responsive to incidents and issues of concern from members of the public. They attend regular surgeries/community sessions at Tesco Stores in Springfield and Rugeley which are very well received.

The Council again commented on the benefits of Smart Alert and how informative the messages were in communicating important information.

The Council questioned the reason the Cannock and Rugeley LPT Commander was moving on again, expressing disappointment that TCI Mat Walker was leaving.

The Council noted a request from the local policing team to purchase a quantity of faraday pouches to be handed out to residents to reduce further thefts. The community Safety Partnership at Cannock Chase Council had recently funded some pouches but the officers had run out in half an hour.

The Council was in support of the request to acquire Faraday pouches which would be considered later in the agenda.

4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
No members of the public were present.

5. MINUTES OF LAST MEETINGS
Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 26 November 2024 be approved as a correct record.

The draft minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 26 November 2024 were noted.

6. UPDATES FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES
There were no updates.

7. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT/ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Chairman had no report.

8. CORRESPONDENCE

a. Items of Post
County Highways News – New way to report potholes
The Parish Council noted that the County Council’s online ‘Report it’ system had undergone a transformation to make it easier for residents to report highways issues. The new system was said to be more user friendly, giving people the option of having their own account where they could track the progress of their reported issue. People can now report the condition of a whole road, and the language has been made simpler.

Councillor Sutherland talked about how useful he found the ‘MyStaffs’ app (for smart phones) which brings together services provided by Staffordshire County Council and their local district or borough council, with just a tap of a button. Photographs can be uploaded to accompany the online reporting facility, very easily.

The flooding in Brindley Heath Road was raised by Councillor R. and Mrs A. Turville following contact from a resident concerned about the road outside her home continuously flooding after heavy rain. The work was reported but classed as low priority.

The flooding on Rifle Range Corner had recently been attended to.

Information on upcoming roadworks was now being made available and could be viewed on Staffordshire County Council’s website under ‘Roadworks Map’.

Cannock Chase Local Plan 2018-2040 has been submitted to the Secretary of State
The Parish Council noted that the Cannock Chase Local Plan 2018-2040 with its accompanying Policies Map has been formally submitted to the Secretary of State. Cannock Council said it was a significant milestone in the development of the new Local Plan, intended to be a comprehensive 15-year strategy to meet the district’s housing, employment and development needs.

Local Government Reorganisation
The Parish Council noted that the Government had announced a local government reorganisation, outlining plans that would result in Staffordshire County Council and district and borough councils being replaced with a single council. This follows the Government’s vision for simpler, more sustainable local government structures alongside a transfer of power out of Westminster through devolution.

The Parish Council noted a letter from Jim McMahon, Minister for Local Government and English Devolution (dated 16 December 2024), and the SPCA County Officer’s advice that where devolution had taken place elsewhere in England it had often resulted in Parish and Town Councils picking up more responsibilities or taking on local assets from the District/Borough Council.

Councillor Sutherland advised the Council that the County Council was working on its plans for reorganisation.

He suggested that in September or October an appropriate County or District officer be invited to attend a parish meeting to deliver an update/briefing. Councillor A. Pearson advised the Parish Council that the District Council were planning to invite parish councils to a briefing, if there was the opportunity, and Councillor Tony Johnson will be willing to visit parishes.

b. Consultations
Government Consultation on Standards

The Parish Council considered a government consultation seeking views on introducing a mandatory minimum code of conduct for local authorities in England to ensure consistency of approach amongst councils investigating serious breaches of their member codes of conduct, including the introduction of the power of suspension.

The current standards and conduct framework for local authorities (established by the Localism Act 2011) requires every local authority to adopt a code of conduct, the content of which must as a minimum be consistent with the seven Nolan Principles of standards in public life and setting out the rules requiring members to register and disclose pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests. Beyond these requirements, it was for individual councils to set their own local code which may or may not align with the Local Government Association’s model code of conduct and guidance.

Every principal authority must also have in place arrangements under which it can investigate allegations of breaches of its code of conduct but there is no provision in current legislation for a sanction to suspend a councillor found to have breached the code of conduct. Sanctions are limited to less robust measures such as barring members from Cabinet, Committee, or representative roles, a requirement to issue an apology or undergo code of conduct training, or public criticism.

The Council discussed whether the Council should respond to the consultation collectively or whether each Parish Councillor respond individually. It concluded that, as there would be very many opinions to document in response to the thirty plus questions in the survey, it was less cumbersome for each Councillor to respond individually.

Resolved: That Parish Councillors respond individually to the Government’s Consultation on Standards.

9. PARISH WARD ISSUES – CHASE SIDE
Conservation/grazing on adjoining land

The Parish Council noted information supplied by the Cemex Landscape Manager (dated 10 January 2025) on a meeting held between the Senior Restoration and Arboricultural Manager and Graziers of Adjoining Lands. The meeting had taken place with the purpose of discussing the management of cattle and their roaming, and conservation grazing, in the first year on the Adjoining Lands heathland.

Attendees reviewed their plan for containing the cattle within the boundary of the land, which are an important asset to Cemex in the management of the nationally recognised Adjoining lands SSSI and its heathland, currently under a management plan drawn up by RSPB and approved by Natural England.

The grazier reported concerns about dogs being off leads on the land, running and barking at the cattle, and the amount of dog mess not picked up by their owners. They wondered whether the Parish Council would consider having a placement of poo bins at either end of the heathland/Kinglsey Wood Road with some signage.

Parish Councillors expressed disappointment that in the wider areas of Brindley Heath, where County Council cattle were present, the Silver Birch saplings were not under control as the animals didn’t seem to be eating them, and a crew had not been sent to cut them back.

Installation of Dog Bin

The Parish Council agreed that the supply of dog poo bins in the vicinity of the Adjoining Land, around Kinglsey Wood Road, although relatively inexpensive to install (subject to the necessary permissions), would be costly in the long term as there would be ongoing costs in regularly emptying them. As the parish council has no authority or responsibility for either the Adjoining Land or Kingsley Wood Road highway, and did not employ grounds maintenance staff, it could not take the suggestion further.

The Parish Council supported Cemex’s own installation of dog bins on their land, with accompanying notices asking people to pick up and cleanly dispose of their dogs’ poo.

Councillor Sutherland advised the Council that the County had drawn up a legal agreement (which should be ready in April) detailing a framework for regular communication between Cemex and the surrounding community. The Parish Council will be asked to nominate a representative to a residents committee.

The Council reaffirmed that planning conditions already imposed the requirement to communicate with the community, but this had not been introduced or enforced by the County.

10. PARISH WARD ISSUES – BRINDLEY VILLAGE
The following item was considered:

Land off the Rugeley Road

Councillor Peason has not as yet been successful in contacting the Development and Policy Manager for advice on the use of agricultural land for commercial purposes.

11. CANNOCK CHASE
The following items were considered:
Draft Management Plan for Cannock Chase

The fifth edition of the Management Plan setting out Cannock Chase National Landscape’s vision and ambitions for the National Landscape for 2025-2030 (with supporting documents) had previously been circulated and enclosed with the agenda for the meeting (via a link).

The information was noted as the close date for responses was Monday 27 January 2025.

Invitation to help shape a new vision for Marquis Drive, Cannock Chase Country Park

An email from Arkwood Landscape Architects (dated 10 January 2025) informed the Parish council that it was seeking views on behalf of Staffordshire County Council on how the Marquis Drive Visitor Centre could best serve the needs of residents into the future.

Resolved: That the Parish Council respond to a consultation from the County Council if it confirms a call for feedback about the Visitor Centre.

Notification of Cycling Event

The Parish Council noted an email from The Glorious Gravel (dated 24 November 2024) with information about a cycling event taking place at the Tackeroo Campsite on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 March 2025. Assurances were given that the events were not races and there would be no mass start.

Licence extension for Forest Concerts

The Parish Council noted with some disappointment that Cannock Chase Council’s Licensing Committee had approved an application from Forestry England to extend the premises licence for the Forest Concert events at Birches Valley.

The differences with the new application against the premises licence previously held were thought to be:
1. An increase in the number of permitted event days from 4 to 8 per annum within the months of June to September.
2. An increase in the capacity under the Premises Licence from 8,300 to 9,999.
3. To include film exhibitions as a regulated entertainment activity.
4. A revised Event Site Plan for an enlarged footprint (around 20%) to accommodate the additional capacity.
5. To amend some of the existing licence conditions.

12. HONORARY TITLES
Councillor Turville advised the Council that he needed to discuss the Working Group’s proposal with Councillor Cotton who was assisting with some graphic design work. He said he would provide a report to the next meeting.
The Council agreed that a specially convened meeting would be held in May 2025.

13. SPCA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Resolved: To confirm Councillor Sutherland’s nomination to Staffordshire Parish Council’s Executive Committee, Cannock area, for a two-year period from 2024 to 2026.

14. INVITATION TO MEETINGS/EVENTS
The Council noted the following forthcoming (external) meetings with no specific members nominated as Parish Council representatives:

• Support Staffordshire – Cannock Chase District VCSE Forum on Monday 10 March 2025 at 1.30 – 3.30pm. St Stephen’s Church, Bideford Way, Cannock.

• Recruitment to Cannock Chase Climate Change Community Panel. Meetings to take place on Thursday 20 February (McArthur Glen, Cannock), Tuesday 25 February (Hednesford Library) 10am to 12 noon & (Rugeley Community Church Centre) 6pm to 8pm.

15. REPORTS ON MEETINGS ATTENDED
a. To share information on meetings attended:
• Cannock Chase Council’s Church Service to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day on Monday 27 January 2025
Councillor Sutherland attended the church service which was well supported.

16. REPORTS ON MEETINGS ATTENDED
a. The parish representatives to outside bodies gave reports on meetings they had attended:

Slitting Mill Village Hall (M. Sutherland)
Councillor Sutherland advised the Council that all was going very well.

Etching Hill Village Hall (D. Cotton)
Councillor Adams advised the Council that everything was running smoothly at the Hall.

Chetwynd Charity (P. Adams)
Councillor Adams advised the Council that an advert had been published in the newspaper inviting people to make an application if they needed support. He said the students the charity was in existence to support, were not making applications for grants.

Charity for the Recreation Ground (P. Adams & D. Cotton)
Councillor Adams advised the Council that a meeting with Cannock Chase Council had still to be arranged. The recreation ground was otherwise running smoothly.

He said a lot of complaints had been made about people chopping trees down on Etching Hill.

Charity for an Allotment for the Labouring Poor (P. Adams & D. Cotton)
Councillor Adams reported that all the allotments were let and looking very tidy. The hedges had been trimmed and a skip delivered for use by a new allotment holder.

Longdon Cotton Alms-Houses (P. Adams to 2028)
Councillor Adams advised the Council that one property had become vacant. People interested in taking on a tenancy would need to apply to the Longdon Cotton Alms-Houses Clerk.

Cannock Chase Council’s Standards Committee (R. Turville)
No meetings of the Standards Committee had taken place.

SPCA Executive Committee (M. Sutherland)
Councillor Sutherland advised the Council that he had recently attended his first SPCA Executive meeting. He shared the items listed on a lengthy agenda which included lots of policies, and updates from the training officer and health and wellbeing officer (although they were not able to be there in person).

The County Officer provided an update on local government reorganisation, and consideration was given to items for discussion at future meetings. These included budgeting, development of county forums, support to town and parish councils on neighbourhood plans, the development of a young councillors’ network.

17. COUNCILLOR REPORTS
No reports were given on this occasion.

18. CESSATION OF COUNTY EMAIL SERVICE
The Parish Council has received notice from Staffordshire County Council (in an email dated 28 January 2025) that the ITC department has made the decision to stop offering a free email service to parish councils from 31 May 2026.

This decision will affect email addresses with a @staffslc.gov.uk suffix, current domain names taking the form yourname@parishcouncilname.staffslc.gov.uk and their mailboxes.

The Clerk said she would investigate the options for purchasing a new email service.

19. BLEED KITS
The Council considered locations in the parish where publicly accessed bleed kits could be installed.
Following the advice of the Rugeley & District Community First Responders that a suitable location for a bleed kit cabinet would be the White House, Marquis Drive, the Council agreed that this would be the focus for the first installation. One Another Ministries had indicated that it had no objection to the installation of a cabinet on the external wall next to the defibrillator.

Resolved: That the Council support the Rugeley Community First Responders in the purchase of a locked bleed kit cabinet and bleed kit equipment at The White House, Marquis Drive, Brindley Heath.

Resolved: That advice is sought on the process for making the purchase, estimated to be £350.00 for the cabinet and £85 for the bleed kit (excluding VAT). The sum would be funded through the CIL budget with available funds totalling £2651.24.

20. FINANCIAL MATTERS
a) Financial Position of the Council
A breakdown of income and expenditure for the financial year to date was given in the Clerks Report (dated 6 February 2025). The budget statement showed the current financial position of the Council with reserves totalling £13,764.62.

The bank account balance on 2 February 2025 (taken from the bank statement) was £13,764.62 with no unpresented cheques.

Resolved: That the financial position of the Council is noted.

b) Projects for CIL funds
The Council considered projects for CIL funds (in addition to the bleed kits) and agreed that it would like to support the purchase of Faraday pouches for the Police Community Support Officers to distribute to Brindley Heath residents.

SID signs were considered but these are understood to be very expensive and a long process to install.

c) Alternative Banking Options
The Clerk highlighted the disadvantages with the Council’s current banking arrangements which include:
• Payment by cheque is slow and has associated transaction and postage costs.
• The Council operates one account which does not pay interest on the account balance.
• Business account interest rates are low with the current provider.
• Although offering internet banking the service does not offer dual authorisation to maintain the level of control the Council currently operates with.
• The fees relating to the account are comparable with other providers.
Unity Trust Bank provides a tailored service for parish councils with a competitive interest rate on an instant access account paying 2.5%, should the balance be split between a current account and an instant access account.
Given that moving banking providers is a significant task with the requirements for signatory identity management, the Council suggested looking at the matter again in the near future and after seeking advice from Staffordshire Parish Councils Association.

e). To authorise cheques for payment
Resolved: To approve following cheque payments:

100249 One Another Ministries £30.00 Donation for use of room for parish meeting on 26 November 2024

100249 One Another Ministries £40.00 Electricity supply to defibrillator (annual payment for 2024)

100250 HMRC £316.00 Income Tax: October to March 2025
100251 Trudy Williams £1,263.50 Salary: October to March 2025

Resolved: To authorise payment of the cheques listed.

21. ANY OTHER ITEMS FOR INFORMATION AND ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA
No items

22. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Council will be held at The White House, Marquis Drive, Brindley Heath on Tuesday 8 April 2025.
Date……………………………………………………