Meeting 6th November 2023

DRAFT MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

Meeting of the Parish Council
held on Monday 6th November 2023
7.30 pm, at Edingale Village Hall
Members present:
Cllrs Startin (Chair), Baughen, Cliffe, Maskery, Mason, Meikle and Sivieri
Present: Clerk, Mrs Jones, and four members of the public
147/23 To receive and approve Apologies
All Cllrs present. Lichfield District Cllr Bennion had apologised as on holiday.
148/23 To receive any Declarations of Interests No Declarations of pecuniary interest received.
149/23 To approve the draft Minutes of the Meeting of 2nd October 2023 The draft Minutes were approved and signed.
150/23 To adjourn, to hold the public session, to reconvene the meeting. The Chair of Edingale Village Hall Committee explained the background to their request for Parish Council funding for repairs to the equipment in the play park. This followed the receipt of a detailed inspection report showing moderate risk to users of several items including the zip wire and hammock, with an estimated repair cost this year of nearly £1500. The Village Hall had adequate funds due to receipts during the pandemic but these plus income from events were required to pay for hall running costs. Most other local Councils funded their play areas. It was suggested that the Village Hall Committee continue to organise the inspections and arrange repairs and that the Parish Council would contribute an annual sum towards repair costs, to help budgeting. This would be decided later.
It had also been previously suggested that the Parish Council pay for architectural plans for new toilet facilities but this would be too expensive. It was hoped to get a grant for upgrading the cubicles and floors instead.
A question was also asked about the Community Asset nomination. This had been submitted and it was hoped a decision would be made by December.
151/23 To receive the Clerk’s Report
Black Horse Community Asset Nomination – Lichfield District Council had informed the owner of this. Recently the property was being marketed for sale at £450,000. Community groups would have 6 weeks from being informed by the District Council of the sale to notify them if they wished to bid and then 6 months to prepare a case. If no bid was received the property could be sold on the open market. This matter would be on the next agenda when more information should be available.
Path by the church – cleared of moss by volunteers; the Parish Council would send thanks to them on behalf of the village.
30mph signs for Pessall Lane – permission had been given by the landowner to put these on his land and arrangements for fitting were agreed.
Revised bus timetable – displayed on the notice board and website.
Maintenance – Village Gardeners had offered to do an additional final cut in November and this was agreed.
Website – there had been a problem but it was now working correctly.
Remembrance Service – Cllr Sivieri would lay the wreath on behalf of the Parish Council at Holy Trinity Church.
152/23 To consider any Planning matters.
Lichfield District Council had met to discuss the withdrawal of the emerging Local Plan 2040, this had been agreed and consultation was under way. The existing Local Plan still held weight when planning decisions were made.
The Parish Council had earmarked £82.15 CIL payment in April 2023 to be spent on infrastructure and this would be used to contribute to 30mph reminder signs.
153/23 To receive an update on Chetwynd Bridge. There was no further update although negotiations on purchasing land for a new bridge were ongoing. The Parish Council would contact the new MP to ask for her help on obtaining funding for a new bridge.
154/23 To consider contribution to tree surgery costs in Church Lane. The work had been done prior to obtaining other quotes; it was agreed to share half of the cost with Holy Trinity Church at £325.
155/23 To consider ash trees in Harlaston Road. Cllr Mason would discuss with the landowner later this week replacing of the diseased trees on Harlaston Lane, which were suffering from ash die-back. This matter could then be considered on a future agenda. Cllrs raised concerns about a tree near to the bridge at the Scotland Lane junction; this would be shared with Harlaston Parish Council as it was within their area.
156/23 To consider transfer of County Council land next to Village Hall field. Following discussions with the School and a search of the Land Registry title documents it was confirmed that the land belonged to the County Council and would not be transferred to the Academy. The County Council were willing to discuss transfer to the community so conversations between Cllr Mason and County Cllr Alan White would continue, and also with the Village Hall Trustees.
157/23 To consider request for Edingale Parish Council to fund repairs to the play park equipment in future. After discussion of a request from the Village Hall Committee it was agreed that the Council would consider at the next meeting their application for a grant to cover the current repair bill of £1500. RESOLVED future draft annual budgets would propose for consideration the sum of £1000 a year earmarked for repairs.
158/23 To consider Christmas Lights arrangements. It was agreed that as last year a Christmas tree would be purchased and lights installed at the Island, near the School and Blakeways Close. Another set would be purchased for the island.
159/23 To receive Councillors’ Reports. Cllr Cliffe asked about the sale of a property among the Bromford bungalows; the Parish Council had no information on this.
Cllr Meikle reported on the recent presentation of a plaque commemorating Edingale’s success in the Best Kept Village Community competition. Around 20 villagers along with District Cllr Bennion and Parish Cllrs had attended to hear from sponsors Richard Winterton and Jo Cooper. A press release with photos would be sent. Cllr Baughen offered to find out about weather proofing the signs for display.
Cllr Meikle had read the recent Social Progress Report which showed a low ranking for Edingale and asked for Lichfield District Council to asked about actions to enhance the Mease Valley. Cllr Meikle hoped to put forward a plan for a village nature and history trail to a future meeting.
Cllr Sivieri reported on replacing a flag at the school. He would send photos so the potholes at the junction and near the Grange could be reported again by the Clerk.
Cllr Mason had planted the barrels and some villagers had done so too. Village Gardeners would deal with the overgrowing edges of the path through Rowley Close soon. He reminded Cllr Startin about hedge cutting along Croxall Road and the field, which would be done soon, depending on the weather.
160/23 To receive Correspondence
Staffordshire Parish Councils Association weekly bulletins and AGM information
CPRE newsletter
Resident reported water leak
Resident regarding trimming around hedge
Details of events for website
Remembrance Service invitation to Tamworth Hall of Memory.

161/23 To receive a Financial Report
The bank reconciliation stood at £17,019.28.
It was RESOLVED to approve the report. See appendix 1.

162/23 To approve payments on the Payment Schedule.
Staff costs; salary, expenses, pension and PAYE, £424.60
Village Gardeners, mowing, £566.48. CPRE membership, £3
Edingale Village Hall, donation for Seniors meal £700
It was RESOLVED to approve the payments. Cllr Sivieri would authorise these.

Date of next meeting
Monday 4th December 2023. (followed by 8th January 2024)
The meeting closed at 8.55 pm.

Appendix 1 Financial Report, November 2023
(a) Bank Reconciliation Current
Balance bf 9,995.92 Cooperative
less payments 16,802.74 Community Acc.
Plus receipts 23,826.10
Total 17,019.28 17,019.28

Receipt – £600 Best Kept Village prize money

(b) Capital Funds
Cooperative Buckinghamshire Cambridge TOTAL CAPITAL
14 Day account Bond Council Saver
1.63% 3% 1.25%
10,551.06 43,992.01 5,643.91 60,186.98

Received interest
5.4.23 89.04
5.10.23 104.90

(c) Buckinghamshire Building Society Bond due for reinvestment at end November. Forms to complete for the account to add a signatory, to remove Mr Dhillon and change Cllr Maskery’s name on the account.
(d) Next budget to be prepared for discussion and to be approved by end of January; Cllrs to suggest any additional items of expenditure that may be required.
(e) Internal Audit due on 20th November.