MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

Meeting of the Parish Council
held on Monday 2nd September 2019
at 7.30 pm at Edingale Village Hall.

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

Present: Mrs M Jones, Clerk, and 4 members of the public.

1. To receive and approve apologies
Cllr Dhillon and Cllr Lacey had apologised. The apologies were accepted.

2. To receive any Declarations of Interest
None.

3. To approve the Minutes of the meeting of 1st July 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.
No comments were made by the public present.

5. To receive the Clerk’s Report
Best Kept Village; Edingale had been awarded first place in the small village category and all involved were congratulated. Bromford property; Bromford had informed the Parish Council that they were unable to enter to clear the garden of ragwort for legal reasons. The property was now empty and they would be asked again for the notifiable weeds be removed. Litter signs; Cllr Lacey had kindly organised and put up signs at Edingale Swifts ground asking footballers to take litter home. Road signs at A513 junction; the fallen signs near the railway bridge reported to Highways many months ago had now been replaced. Car parking in Croxall Road; Cllr Startin had mentioned this to the owner who had agreed to move some of his vehicles elsewhere. Bins at Croxall Lakes; the Wildlife Trust would be contacted about installing an extra litter bin. RESOLVED to approve the Clerk’s report.

6. To consider any planning matters
Application 19/00950/FUL Oak Wood Barn; agricultural access. The previous application had been withdrawn and a new one submitted with an alternative access. RESOLVED to object to support the objections of the neighbouring property owners.
19/00556/FUL Black Horse; Demolition and rebuild of outbuilding to form 1 bedroom studio dwelling. A response had been sent stating that the building would be an improvement on the currently dilapidated outbuilding, however there were concerns about access. Highways had objected to parking on their land and poor access close to the junction so approval was unlikely.
Alrewas Quarry; the Parish Council’s objection had been withdrawn following further information received.

7. To consider land in Church Lane
The Land Registry had confirmed the land was unregistered. As the Parish Council wished it to be kept tidy it would be mowed when required, this could be funded under S137, the power to spend money for public benefit.

8. To consider trees on the island near the Black Horse
A quote had been received for trimming lower branches and it was RESOLVED to proceed with this work.

9. To receive correspondence
SPCA bulletins
Lichfield District Council; Friary Grange meeting, electoral canvass, Parish Forum.
Parish Plans information.

10. To receive Councillor’s Reports
Cllr Cliffe asked whether dog fouling stickers could be obtained; the Clerk would contact Environmental Health.
Cllr Mason said that several trees on the Rowley Close and Blakeways Close were thriving and needed lower branches removed. A quote would be requested for this work to be done in the autumn. He also said that various hedges near to the open spaces had grown vigorously over the summer, and the Village Gardeners would be asked to trim these after the mowing season.
Cllr Mason asked that the Village Hall Committee be informed that the Parish Council would make a donation again towards the Seniors Christmas Party. This was in the budget and would be on the next agenda.
Cllr Meikle said that the last Parish Forum had discussed the sharing of best practice. He would attend again and suggested that improved Councillor election forms could be an item under discussion. He was looking forward to entering various classes and attending next week’s Summer Show. He expressed his appreciation of the work done to surface the Village Hall car park.
Cllr Purkess also thanked the Parish Council on behalf of the Committee for the Parish Council’s funding of the car park renovation, which had taken ten years to finally reach completion, so everyone was relieved that it had now been achieved.

11. To receive the Financial Report The bank reconciliation was given. The invoice for the Village Hall car park work had been completed and would be paid from funds which had been transferred from the capital account. An interim VAT reclaim had been done and another would be done shortly to reclaim the VAT from the car park work. It was agreed to remove Mr Wesley as a signatory on the Council’s bank and building society forms and the forms were signed. It was agreed that Cllr Purkess should be added as a Coop Bank signatory. The Audit had been publicised in accordance with regulations. RESOLVED to approve the Financial Report.

12. To approve the payments on the payment schedule Mrs M Jones, salary and expenses £271.32; Acorn Taxis £ 308.88 The Village Gardeners, maintenance £428.12 Lichfield District Council, litter bin £230.32 Falcon Construction, car park renovation £11,712.00 RESOLVED to approve the payments.

13. Date of next meeting; Monday 7th October 2019.
The meeting closed at 8.15 p.m.