Meeting 4th December 2023

DRAFT MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

Meeting of the Parish Council
held on Monday 4th December 2023
7.30 pm, at Edingale Village Hall
Members present:
Cllrs Mason, Baughen, Cliffe, Maskery, Meikle and Sivieri. Cllr Mason took the Chair for the meeting.
Present: one member of the public & Cllr Bennion.
Clerk, Mrs Jones was unable to attend due to flooded roads, Cllr Baughen took notes for the Minutes.
163/23 To receive and approve Apologies
Cllr Startin had apologised as on holiday.
164/23 To receive any Declarations of Interests No Declarations of pecuniary Interests received.
165/23 To approve the draft Minutes of the Meeting of 6th November 2023 The draft Minutes were approved and would be signed at the next meeting.
166/23 To adjourn, to hold the public session, to reconvene the meeting.
Member of public advised he had heard the Bailey Bridge at Walton will be demolished and replaced in 2025. Cllr Mason suggested Mrs Jones could ask Amey how accurate this date was.
Cllr Benyon had 2 items, he left the meeting after raising his two items.
1. The Local Plan has been rejected, Lichfield Council didn’t like the old plan. He has concerns that Lichfield will push housing north of Tamworth. Infrastructure and roads will not be able to accommodate this. He would like all affected Parish Councils to work together and will call people to a meeting when organised.
2. The request for the pub to be an Asset of Community Value has been rejected – he asked for clarification on the decision and the reasons behind it. He asked what we would need to do to resurrect it, or is this matter now closed and unable to be changed. Cllr Mason advised we would be discussing this later in the meeting.
 
167/23 To receive the Clerk’s Report
Christmas lights had been organised and installed.
30mph signs delivered for installation along Pessall Lane.
Website – further documents had been added, ongoing problem with excel files.
Chetwynd Bridge – new MP contacted to ask for support on funding for a new bridge, no reply yet.
Harlaston Parish Council confirmed dangerous tree reported and will make further enquiries.
Invitation to meeting with Police and Crime Commissioner, Harlaston Parish Council.
Potholes near school reported again.
Query sent to Lichfield District Council, any actions on Social Progress Index?

168/23 To consider any Planning matters.
No applications
169/23 To consider transfer of County Council land next to Village Hall field. Cllr Mason had been approached by a project consultant supporting the academy, confirming they have no interest in the land and asking if Cllr Mason wanted details of their contact within the County Council.
170/23 To consider the Black Horse Asset of Community Value nomination. Decision Notice had been received from Lichfield District Council – nomination of Asset of Community Value not accepted; insufficient evidence that a recent non ancillary use of the building furthered the local community in the recent past.
All Cllrs agreed leaflets should be delivered to make villagers aware and invite them to the meeting in January, should they wish to discuss this. Cllr Mason will put a draft wording together and Cllr Maskery will organise the leaflet drop.
171/23 To consider a Village History and Nature Trail. No further action, to carry forward to a future meeting.
172/23 To consider Best Kept Village Competition 2024. Resolved to note the report and send an expression of interest in entering in 2024. Cllr Meikle advised duplicate plaques had been received for display around the village, original to be put up in Village Hall. He will request support for interactive QR codes and more advertising for BKV. He will also speak to Miss Mills to see how the school can be more involved.
173/23 To consider request for a donation towards play park repairs. Request for £1453.50 received from Village Hall Committee. Power – Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 S 19. RESOLVED to approve.
174/23 To consider correspondence regarding Raddle Lane verge. The resident would be asked to report the damage to Staffordshire Highways.
175/23 To consider adoption of gov.uk email addresses and domain name. Cloud Next quote for a .gov.uk domain name £110 + VAT per two years and email hosting £49.99 + VAT per year. RESOLVED unanimously to approve this.
176/23 To approve closure of Cambridge Building Society Account. RESOLVED to withdraw £5643.91 plus interest and close the account.
177/23 To approve investment in Buckinghamshire Building Society bond. RESOLVED to reinvest maturing sum of £45,210.52 plus £5643.91 from Cambridge Building Society account.
178/23 To consider Local Government Services Pay Agreement 2023. RESOLVED to pay the new rate on salary point 24 LC2 and backdate this to April. Add to next meeting agenda to review salary scale.
179/23 To receive Councillors’ Reports. Cllr Baughen reported at least 2 signs displayed in the village advertising O’Neill roofing, but not placed outside property they are working on. Leave for 2 months and if still there request removal.
Cllr Sivieri queried Christmas Tree – were we to use his neighbour’s tree ? – discussed last meeting and confirmed not to do so – but she can remove it to Cllr Startin’s property.
Cllr Meikle – Senior’s Christmas meal was a great success on Sunday 3rd December; Cllr Mason added that 84 beneficiaries accepted a meal, 90 meals served in total to include meals on wheels and helpers.
Cllr Mason – Do we discuss qualifying age of beneficiaries at this meeting – confirmed by Cllr Baughen and Maskery to be discussed at EVH meeting in January.
180/23 To receive Correspondence Staffordshire Parish Councils Association; weekly bulletins Road closure notice; junction of Croxall Road and Catton Road 15/16 January CPRE newsletter Lichfield DC; Changes to access in Lichfield City centre Trent Rivers Trust, flood awareness
181/23 To receive a Financial Report
The bank reconciliation stood at £15,337.88
RESOLVED to approve the report. See appendix 1.

182/23 To approve payments on the Payment Schedule.
Staff costs; salary, expenses, pension and PAYE, £592.31 plus lights £162.99 and signs £247.13 inc. VAT
Village Gardeners, hedges and Christmas tree, £370.00. CPRE membership, £3
Holy Trinity Church, half share of tree surgery £325. A.Mason, plants £29.97

It was RESOLVED to approve the payments. Cllr Maskery would authorise these.

Date of next meeting
Monday 8th January 2024.
Meeting closed at 20.54 pm.

Appendix 1 Financial Report, December 2023
(a) Bank Reconciliation
Current
Balance bf 9,995.92 Cooperative
less payments 18,484.14 Community Acc.
Plus receipts 23,826.10
Total 15,337.88 15,337.88

(b) Performance against Budget to end November
Heading Budget To year end Remaining
Staff costs 4600 3359 1241
Admin 2879 1860 1019
Room hire, taxi, subs etc
Maint. 6921 5542 1379
Grass cutting, trees etc
S137 2400 1600 800
Donations, church, party

(c)
Capital Funds
Cooperative Buckinghamshire Cambridge TOTAL CAPITAL
14 Day account Bond Council Saver
1.63% 3% 2.90%
10,551.06 43,992.01 5,643.91 60,186.98

Received interest
5.4.23 89.04
5.10.23 104.9

Total interest at y/e 193.94 0 0 193.94

(d) Draft Budget
This would be considered at the January meeting.

(e) Internal Audit
Outcomes: Various documents and accessibility statement still not showing on the website – website provider informed.
Emails gov.uk to be progressed.
Asset Register updated to include Solar Panels Battery, insurers to be informed.