Minutes of the meeting January 2025 – Featherstone and Brinsford Parish Council

FEATHERSTONE AND BRINSFORD

PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting

held on Thursday, 23^rd January 2025 at 6.45pm

in Featherstone and Hilton Community Centre

Present: F Beardsmore, R Tucker, J Smith, V Lockley, A Rowe, Z Webb, D Randell,

T Smitheman and J Brindle

Also Present: Two Members of the Public

County Councillor K Perry

District Councillor R Cope

R Young – Clerk to the Council

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Prior to the start of the Meeting, Amanda Hughes (Governor of Brinsford) and Neil O’Connor (Governor of Featherstone) gave details of the development and management of both prisons. Also agreed to enquire about signage and prison drive lineage.

The Chairman thanked both Governors for meeting Councillors. The Clerk to forward the Parish Council’s thanks for attending.

1) COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT

K Perry reported the following:-

Featherstone Lane now open.
No detail available regarding funds from Government.
No update concerning Brookhouse Lane junction.
Member of Public gave details of dispute with SCC regarding hedge, boundary line and problem of tree roots.

2) DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT

R Cope

R Cope mentioned the following:-

Devolution – District Council absorbed by County Council.
Next Election in District in 2027.
Reduced number of members.
Battery Site Planning Application withdrawn (Twenty similar applications across the District).

J Brindle

J Brindle mentioned the following:-

Red, White and Blue Planning Application – Officer had concerns regarding loss of Public House.

Mentioned possible structure of future Council with a Mayor.
Attended Finance Strategy Meeting.
Update regarding Food and Waste proposal.
Devolution Meeting planned.

3) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Member of the Public enquired regarding installation of Defibrillator – To be installed by end of January 2025.

Clarification needed whether Bleed Kit can go into Defibrillator Case.

4) POLICE MATTERS

Chief Inspector Tim Norbury

Police Meeting planned to discuss Policing in Parish.

Police teams to monitor parking with increased visibility where appropriate.

5) APOLOGIES

Apologies for absence were received from D Betts and M Perks.

6) MINUTES

It was proposed, seconded and agreed that the Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on the 12^th December 2024 be approved as a true and correct record.

Resolved: That the Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on the 12^th December 2024 be approved as a true and correct record.

7) DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Councillors R Tucker, J Brindle and T Smitheman declared an interest in all matters relating to Featherstone and Hilton Community Centre.

8) MATTERS ARISING

Ibstock Power Park

Wendy Green, Pollution Control Officer at SSC, to visit site this week. Confirmed the District Council had received several complaints.

Red, White and Blue

The Clerk to notify the District Council that the problem of debris from the site causing a Health and Safety risk on the pathway next to the site.

9) HIGHWAY MATTERS

Disabled Bays

Bay at Opticians not renewed. Clerk to notify M Keeling.

Brookhouse Lane – Potholes

Reference 2317542/2222990 – Clerk to request timescale for potholes repair.

Brookhouse Lane Cycle Path

Clerk to confirm there have been three fatalities and encouraging cyclists onto the road carries risk. Due to history of accidents, could the moss be removed.

Landowners – Cutting Hedges and Clearance of Ditches

Parish Council have no details of Landowners. Could ownership be identified by SCC Legal Department.

Footpaths

Martin Wallace from Homeplus had inspected the footpath from Hilton Road to the Featherstone Medical Centre; was waiting for confirmation from their Legal Department regarding ownership.

10) REPORT – FEATHERSTONE AND HILTON COMMUNITY CENTRE

New Year’s Eve Night went very well. Many thanks to Isla for involvement in the evening.

The Clerk reported he had obtained a grant of £1,094.00 to be used for an energy assessment of the Community Centre. Review to be undertaken on 5^th February 2025.

11) REPORT – FEATHERSTONE FIRST RESPONDERS

No details received.

12) REPORT – HOUSING ASSOCIATION

No matters raised.

13) PLANNING

Planning Applications Received

24/00994/FUL

Erection of Timber Shed to form a Beauty Salon in the rear garden of 22 College Way, Brinsford

Objections as follows:-

Not in keeping with area.
Parking of vehicles.
Roof above fence line (visual impact).
Drainage problem.

46 Cannock Road

Planning Enforcement requested a schedule of work to be received by 31^st January 2025.

14) PARISH LITTER PICKERS AND PARISH MAINTENANCE PERSON

Meeting with Litter Pickers and Parish Maintenance Person to be held on the 17^th February 2025 to review working hours, holidays and working pattern.

F Beardsmore, R Tucker, A Rowe, M Perks and the Clerk to attend meetings.

15) HARVEST GROVE DEVELOPMENT

J Smith mentioned the following:-

Roads completed.
Cleared Car Park – No tarmac.
Football pitch surface to be done in the Spring.
Waste Bins fill quickly.
Landscaping to be finished in March 2025.
Councillors to have Site meeting on 2^nd February 2025 at 1.30pm.
The Clerk confirmed he had requested an update from D Harris (SSDC) and

A Pischocki (SCC).

16) CORRESPONDENCE

SSDC – Social Housing Allocation Policy Consultation. Two hour session at Community Centre. Clerk to check with Claire.
SPCA Bulletin.
SSDC – Civic Dinner – 28^th March 2025 – £40.00 per head.
SSDC – Kath Perry – Proposed Local Government Re-Organisation.
SSDC – Beddie Harris – Section 106 Report, January 2025.
SSDC – Ann Stoker – Locality 3 Meeting.
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board Briefing Papers.
SPCA – Dealing with Sexual Harassment.
South Staffordshire Council Social Housing Allocations Policy Consultation.

17) PARISH MAINTENANCE

Details of small trolley for Litter Pickers to be reviewed at arranged meeting with Litter Pickers.

18) NEW PLAY EQUIPMENT

Brinsford Play Area Re-surfacing – Clerk to arrange Site meeting with A Rowe and supplier.

19) ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

Parish Newsletter – To be reviewed.
Community Gardening Club – Ongoing.
Twinning – A speaker to be invited to the March/April Meeting.
Royal Ordnance Site – No developments.

20) DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Thursday, 13^th February 2025.

21) FINANCE

Precept Requirement 2025-26

The Clerk circulated to Councillors the following:-

Receipts and Payments for the period 1/4/2024 – 31/12/2024.
Forecast to the 31^st March 2025.
Budget Proposal for the year 2025-26.
The Clerk gave a review of the Receipts and Payments, giving explanations for variances.
The Clerk reported he had requested Waterplus to check the Water Meter due to an increase in water charges.

T Smitheman proposed an increase of 12.5% in the Precept for 2025-26.

Counter-proposal of 10% increase.

Vote for amendment

Proposed: A Rowe, Seconded: Z Webb

For 10% – 5

Against 10% – 4

Motion passed

Cheque Payments

It was proposed, seconded and agreed to issue the following cheques:

Date	Cheque No	Details	£
23/01/2025	004081	Netwise UK	528.00
23/01/2025	004082	Jones Skips	0.00
23/01/2025	004083	South Staffordshire Council	709.20
23/01/2025	004084	Clerk’s Expenses	112.75
23/01/2025	004085	Litter Picker	495.73
23/01/2025	004086	Litter Picker	495.73
23/01/2025	004087	Litter Picker	445.93
23/01/2025	004088	Parish Maintenance Person	396.73
23/01/2025	004089	Parish Clerk	1,165.90
23/01/2025	004090	Cancelled	0.00
23/01/2025	004091	Sage Payroll	197.00
		TOTAL:	£4,546.97

It was proposed, seconded and agreed that K Malpass could carry forward one weeks’ holiday to the following year.

Resolved: Agreed K Malpass could carry forward one weeks’ holiday to the following year.