Meeting 5th October 2020

 MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

 Meeting of the Parish Council

held on Monday 5^th October 2020

at 7.30 pm, online.

Members present:

Cllr Startin (Chair)

Cllr Cliffe

Cllr Dhillon

Cllr Mason

Cllrs Meikle

Cllr Purkess

Present: Mrs M Jones, Clerk

1.   To receive and approve apologies

Cllr Lacey had apologised as he was on holiday and his apology was accepted. District Cllr Ashley Yeates was unable to attend due to other meetings.

2.   To receive any Declarations of Interest

None received

3.   To approve the draft Minutes of the meeting of 7th September 2020

The Minutes were approved and would be signed by the Chair at the next face to face meeting of the Council.

4.   To adjourn the meeting, to hold the Public Session, to reconvene the meeting.

No members of the public had attended.

5.   To receive the Clerk’s Report

A plan explaining measures to be taken to comply with the website accessibility regulations had been prepared by the Clerk and sent to Councillors.

Cllrs Startin, Purkess and Mason had attended the training session organised by Lichfield District Council on the new draft Code of Conduct. The information had later been circulated to all. Cllr Startin commented that the training had been very useful. The new Code of Conduct would be available shortly following consultation.

Grass cutting – Highways had confirmed they still paid towards verge mowing within the village and invoices had been submitted to them.

Potholes in Pessall Lane had been photographed and reports made to Highways.

A compound had been installed in Blakeways Close for pavement works. Highways’ contractors had apologised for not asking permission and would leave the site tidy.

A press report about Tarmac’s proposals to develop a large garden village at Whitemoor had caused some concern locally. Cllr Yeates had told the Parish Council that this development was not in the current Local Plan and may not be required as a future housing site.

6.   To consider any planning matters

7.   To consider replacement oak tree

It was RESOLVED to plant an oak sapling on the land to the right of Blakeways Close during the Autumn. Cllrs Mason and Meikle would identify a site and Cllr Mason would contact the National Forest or Woodland Trust.

8.   To consider temporary closure of Chetwynd Bridge

Staffordshire Highways would be contacted again to explain the Parish Council’s concerns that the closure would create real difficulty for the people of Edingale, who needed to reach Alrewas for essential services. Highways had confirmed that emergency services had been consulted, and emergency vehicles would be able to proceed through the closed road. Highways would be contacted to ask whether local traffic could use the bridge when no work was taking place, or whether a temporary bridge had been considered, and they would be asked about school transport arrangements.

Cllr Startin said that it had been hoped to build a new bridge but the County Council had said the cost of £14.5 million could not be justified at present. The proposed work would make the bridge safer and preserve the listed structure so there was no objection in principle, just to the length of closure.

9.   To consider parking at Woodyard Drive

Cllr Cliffe had reported concerns by residents that an abandoned vehicle had been left by the bungalows. Bromford Homes were unable to take action. It was RESOLVED that PCSO Costas would be informed.

10.                To consider Remembrance Service

It was unclear whether this service would take place in Holy Trinity this year, due to the pandemic. Cllr Startin would make enquiries, and a wreath would be ordered if required; Cllr Meikle would be willing to lay a wreath.

11.                To consider Christmas Lights

The Clerk would confirm whether the electrician could install the lights as in previous years and another set would be ordered if needed.

The Parish Council was sorry to note that it would not be possible to hold the Seniors Christmas Lunch this year due to the restrictions on numbers of people.

12.                To receive correspondence

Staffordshire Parish Councils Association; bulletins and training details.

Cllr Alan White, Leader of Staffordshire County Council, thanking Parish Councils for their help during the pandemic.

Staffordshire County Council confirming the 40mph limit proposed for the Chetwynd Bridge would be extended to include the bridge over the River Mease.

Lichfield District Council news items; disabled bays to reopen in Lichfield, Friary Grange Sports Centre to re-open, Recycle week, Kickstart scheme information for employers, Visit Lichfield card and map of visitor attractions.

Staffordshire Fire Service: Safety Plan

13.                To receive Councillors’ Reports

Cllr Mason suggested that the contractor should be asked to trim the hedges at Blakeways Close and this was agreed.

Cllr Startin would arrange for the hedges along the hill on Croxall Road to be cut, and also between Moores Croft and the Village Hall field.

Cllr Mason said that Right of Way 2 along Pessall lane was impassable in the central section and Cllr Startin would arrange for this to be cut back too.

Cllr Cliffe asked on behalf of a resident about a large tree in the playing field; it was believed that it was on land belonging to Staffordshire County Council and they should be contacted.

Cllr Meikle had observed a discarded mattress in a ditch on Lullington Road, and would send details to the Clerk so that it could be reported to Lichfield District Council.

The Edingale sign on Lullington Road had been damaged and it was agreed to ask the National Forest whether this and the other village signs could be replaced.

Several residents had contacted Cllrs complaining about the untidy state of a property in Croxall Road; Bromford Homes would be asked to deal with this matter.

14.                To receive the Financial Report

The current account stood at £13198 and the capital fund totalled £68557.

The performance of expenditure against budget for the first half of the year was in line with expectations.

The Annual Governance and Audit Report had been returned by the Auditors (Mazars) with no areas of concern, and the completion of Audit notice had been displayed.

15.                To approve the payments on the payment schedule

It was RESOLVED to approve the payments.

16.                Date of next meeting

Monday 2^nd November 2020 at 7.30 p.m. online. The meeting closed at 8.40