FEATHERSTONE AND BRINSFORD
PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
held on Thursday, 14th November 2024 at 6.45pm
in Featherstone and Hilton Community Centre
Present: F Beardsmore, J Smith, V Lockley,T Smitheman A Rowe, Z Webb, D Betts, D Randell and
J Brindle
Also Present: Five Members of the Public
R Young – Clerk to the Council
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1) COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
- No matters received.
2) DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
- J Brindle
- Attended Planning which included the Battery Storage Facility and Solar Energy.
- Also attended Information Meeting regarding Waste Contracts.
- Reviewed provision of Blue Bin – Advised Parishioners to leave cardboard out in a tidy fashion.
3) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
- Football Facility – Member of the Public wished to register the interest of a Featherstone Football team to use the football pitch adjacent to the Harvest Grove development when available. The Chairman, F Beardsmore, asked if they would agree to join a management committee. This was agreed. F Beardsmore also said there would be a need to have junior teams.
- Members of the Public gave an update regarding boundary and hedge issues with Staffordshire County Council with their homes backing onto Malayan Way.
- Intend to take SCC to Small Claims Court for £5,000.
- Parish Council support residents.
- Height of fencing reviewed including legal limit.
- Maintenance of shrubs planted.
- Need confirmation of ownership.
- Poor communication and management of work by Staffordshire County Council.
4) POLICE MATTERS
- The Clerk confirmed a meeting had been arranged with Chief Inspector Tim Norbury for 5.45pm on Wednesday, 20th November 2024.
- Regarding inappropriate activity at the layby on the A460 – Chris Gracey, Clerk to Hilton Parish Council, confirmed this matter had been taken up with Staffordshire Police.
5) APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were received from R Tucker and K Perry.
6) MINUTES
It was proposed (T Smitheman), seconded (J Smith) and agreed that the Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on the 21st October 2024 be approved as a true and correct record, subject to changing 15) Harvest Grove – 19th November 2024 to 15th November 2024.
Resolved: That the Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on the 21st October 2024 be approved as a true and correct record, subject to the above amendment.
7) DECLARATION OF INTEREST
Councillors J Brindle, M Perks and T Smitheman declared an interest in all matters relating to Featherstone and Hilton Community Centre.
8) MATTERS ARISING
- Website
T Smitheman mentioned the following:-
- Enquiring with Netwise regarding emails.
- Rogue emails sent out in name of F Beardsmore.
- Prison Visits
- Featherstone Prison visit to be arranged – R Tucker to prepare an Agenda.
- Prison Governors
- The Clerk reported the Governors of Brinsford and Featherstone would jointly like to attend a Parish Council meeting early in 2025.
9) HIGHWAY MATTERS
- Meeting with K Perry and M Keeling on 25th October 2024 – Councillors reviewed the meeting report prepared by Councillor J Smith.
Councillors commented as follows:-
- Disabled Parking place by Featherstone Chemist – Clerk to request a timescale.
- Prison directional signs on New Road opposite Prison entrance – Clerk to contact Prison Manager and Cover Parish Clerk.
- Clerk to contact the Prison Authorities regarding white line renewal at the entrance junction with New Road.
- Clerk to enquire with M Keeling regarding traffic calming lines on East Road. Also, is there any date available. The Clerk to bring to the attention of Prison Governors traffic speeds on East Road.
- The Clerk to enquire with K Perry and B Williams in March 2025 regarding funding availability for a one-way system on Featherstone Lane.
- Featherstone Lane – Clerk to write to landowners regarding overgrown hedges.
- Brookhouse Lane Cycle Path – Clerk to enquire with M Keeling regarding progress to remove moss.
- Hilton Road to Medical Centre – Poor mobility access – footpath in need of attention. Clerk to contact the Housing Association.
- Brewood and Coven Parish Council – Clerk to enquire if aware of large pothole by Canal Bridge top of New Road.
10) REPORT – FEATHERSTONE AND HILTON COMMUNITY CENTRE
- New Year’s Event sold out.
- Lighting of MUGA (CAGE).
- J Brindle said at time of installation, residents were not in favour.
- D Betts commented lighting would incur costs with risk of being damaged.
- F Beardsmore gave details of heating for the Nursery and the need to zone the Centre. The Clerk said a request had been submitted to Staffordshire County Council for a heating/energy assessment.
11) REPORT – FEATHERSTONE FIRST RESPONDERS
- Attended three incidents.
12) REPORT – HOUSING ASSOCIATION
- V Lockley to check if branches need to be cut back from Lamppost No. 4 on Hilton Road.
13) PLANNING
- Planning Applications Received
- 24/00887/FUL
Construction and Construction of Micro-Energy Storage Facility.
1-8 Element Court and Land at Hilton Cross Business Park, Featherstone
- Enforcement Appeal
- 21/00022/UNDEV – Featherstone Fish Bar
Appeal Decision
Subject to the Variation, the Appeal is dismissed, the Enforcement Notice is upheld and planning permission is refused on the application deemed to have been made under section 177(5) of the 1990 Act as amended.
14) REVIEW OF PARISH LITTER PICKERS AND PARISH MAINTENANCE PERSON
- Meeting arranged for the 27th November 2024.
15) HARVEST GROVE DEVELOPMENT
J Smith reported as follows:-
- No work on Development.
- Target of 20th December 2024 to complete.
- Lighting Outstanding.
- Virgin Box needs to be moved.
- Road Safety Survey needed.
- Need confirmation that work will be completed as stated.
16) CORRESPONDENCE
- Government Community Match Funded Defibrillator Scheme.
- SSDC – Parish Events.
- SPCA – Sexual Harassment at Work.
- SSDC – Council Taxbase.
- SSDC – Wombourne HWRC Update.
- SSDC – Water Outage – South Staffordshire and Cannock.
- SSDC – Strawberry Lane Annual Bulb Planting.
- SSDC – Parish Summit.
- SSDC – Rought Sleeper Survey.
17) PARISH MAINTENANCE
- SSDC – Planning Enforcement confirmed a Section 330 is to be served on the owners of 46 Cannock Road, Featherstone.
- Cost of small trolley for Litter Pickers – Details with the Chairman.
- Community Centre Defibrillator to be installed by Duane Beckett.
- Play Equipment Repairs – Andy Leighton asked to review replacement parts for installation. Also requested to provide quotation for Fire Doors in the Community Centre.
- Red, White and Blue – Need for Security Fencing due to Health and Security concerns. Planning Enforcement requested to take action.
- Litter Waste Bins in the Parish – Two Waste Bins needed at Harvest Grove.
The Chairman, F Beardsmore, asked Councillors to come to the next meeting with opinion where any litter bins are needed.
- Chapel Car Park being considered for parking.
- D Betts reported he had cut back branches by the Community Centre.
18) NEW PLAY EQUIPMENT
- This matter was ongoing.
19) ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
- Parish Newsletter
- To be reviewed in April 2025.
- Community Gardening Club
- Royal Ordinance Site
- No developments.
20) DATE OF NEXT MEETING
- Thursday, 12th December 2024.
21) FINANCE
- Cheque Payments
It was proposed, seconded and agreed to issue the following cheques:
| Date | Cheque No | Details | £ |
| 14/11/2024 | 004054 | Jones Skip Hire | 392.48 |
| 14/11/2024 | 004055 | HMRC (PAYE) | 536.93 |
| 14/11/2024 | 004056 | Parish Clerk | 1,165.90 |
| 14/11/2024 | 004057 | Litter Picker | 495.73 |
| 14/11/2024 | 004058 | Litter Picker | 495.73 |
| 14/11/2024 | 004059 | Litter Picker | 445.93 |
| 14/11/2024 | 004060 | Parish Maintenance Person | 396.73 |
| 14/11/2024 | 004061 | SPCA Subscription | 529.00 |
| 14/11/2024 | 004062 | Catering Costs | 55.00 |
| TOTAL: | £4,513.43 |