Meeting 6th January 2020

DRAFT MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

Meeting of the Parish Council
held on Monday 6th January 2020
at 7.30 pm at Edingale Village Hall.

Members present:
Cllr Startin (Chair)
Cllr Cliffe
Cllr Dhillon
Cllr Lacey
Cllr Mason
Cllr Meikle
Cllr Purkess

Present: Mrs M Jones, Clerk, Liz Fowler of the Environment Agency and 8 members of the public. The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

1. To receive and approve apologies
None received, all present.

2. To receive any Declarations of Interest
None received.

3. To approve the Minutes of the meeting of 2nd December 2019
The minutes were approved and signed by the Chair.

4. To adjourn the meeting, to hold the Public Session and to reconvene the meeting.
Liz Fowler had been invited to the meeting to advise on how the Environment Agency could assist during flooding around the village. She was a community engagement adviser in the Resilience Team and explained how climate change made flooding events as experienced over the last few months more likely. This was the beginning of a conversation with local people about how the EA could help, as they were responsible for risk management for the main rivers and water courses. They could provide links to other bodies including the County Council, the lead flood authority, who were responsible for the roads, and Severn Trent, who were responsible for sewage. The Parish Councillors and residents explained the problems and disruption faced by residents of Edingale during the recent flood events and discussed with Liz the effects of these events, particularly the difficulties of access to and from Edingale when roads were flooded. It was agreed that a future public meeting would be arranged so that Cllrs and residents could discuss all these issues in detail with various agencies. Liz would provide the Clerk with available dates and a meeting would be arranged and advertised locally.
The Parish Council’s contractor had attended to discuss his proposal to install a wildlife pond on land at Rowley Close. This was not close to or would affect Pessall brook. It would be designed with safety as a priority.
The location and dimensions would be agreed during a site visit to be arranged with Cllr Startin and other Cllrs. Local people would then be consulted before the Parish Council made a final decision on the project.

The Chair of the Village Hall reported back on a successful year. The car park had been refurbished, and thanks were given to the Parish Council for its financial contribution. The Committee were currently consulting on improvements to the toilet facilities. 12 events had already been planned for 2020, including the Open Gardens/Scarecrow event and Summer Show.

A resident commented on news that the Black Horse kitchen had closed.

5. To receive the Clerk’s Report
Website – the new Parish Council website www.edingale-pc.co.uk had been organised by the County Council’s digital team and the Clerk had entered relevant information onto it. This would now go live and residents would be informed. Damaged bridge – Highways had begun repairing the brickwork on the bridge on Croxall road. Local Councillor Training Course – Cllr Purkess would attend the session on 12th February in Stafford. Christmas lights – the Clerk would store the lights and obtain a further set for use at the Black Horse island for next Christmas.

6. To consider any planning matters (a) 19/01575/LBC Croxall Hall; Listed building consent to allow installation of foul treatment plant to replace original septic tank and repairs to listed garden wall and dovecote cupola. RESOLVED No objection. (b) Consultation on Lichfield’s Local Plan. Comments would be sent regarding future bus service provision. Although affordable housing would be beneficial the sewage and water drainage was at capacity.

7. To consider flooding events
It had been agreed to arrange a meeting of various bodies so that residents and Cllrs could discuss the problems and work towards solutions.

8. To consider proposal to construct a village pond
Cllr Startin would arrange a meeting to establish the best location and following that Steve would provide a plan showing the dimensions. Residents would then be consulted. At a future meeting the Parish Council would then have sufficient information to decide whether to go ahead, and whether to contribute financially.

9. To consider the draft budget for 2020 -21
Following discussion of the draft figures it was agreed that sufficient reserves would be available for the following year. The sum requested for the precept would remain at £14,000, with no increase on last year.

10. To receive correspondence
SPCA: bulletins
Lichfield District Council: information on Parish Forum on 7th January; Lichfield gateway site improvement works; Lichfield City Centre masterplan consultation; Christmas bin collections and recycling information; details of prosecution of resident for felling 3 trees with preservation orders.
Rawlett School: consultation on 6th Form provision, this would proceed.

11. To receive Councillors’ Reports
Cllr Mason thanked Cllr Startin for arranging for his contractor to cut the hedges on Croxall Rd and around the corner into Blakeways Close. More work was required when conditions were drier and before March 1st when the work would not be permitted due to bird nesting.
Cllr Lacey asked about the construction of a new gateway in Mill Lane, at Crabtree farm, and asked whether permission should have been obtained from Lichfield Planning or Highways. The Clerk would make enquiries.

12. To receive the Financial Report (a) The bank reconciliation was given; £6413 was in the current account. (b) Capital fund – a Cambridge Building Society form was completed so that Cllr Purkess would be able to act as a signatory. (c) A claim had now been made for repayment of VAT for playground repairs and when received this would be put in the current account to replace the amount spent. The capital fund had been used to fund the repairs excluding VAT. RESOLVED to approve the Financial Report.

13. To approve the payments on the payment schedule Mrs M Jones, salary and expenses £285.12; Acorn Taxis, hire £315.06; Village Gardeners, hedge trimming £150.00; KFL Electrical, Christmas Lights £120.00 RESOLVED to approve the payments.

14. Date of next meeting; Monday 3rd February 2020. 7.30pm
The meeting closed at 9 p.m.