December Minutes 2017

Mar 5, 2018

Minutes of Meeting held on Tuesday, 5th December 2017 at 7.30pm at Cauldon Lowe Village Hall

Attendance:       Dave Cooper (Chairman),  Mike Worthington (SCC), Jean Brindley (Parish Councillor), Elsie Fallows (SMDC), Gary Bendall (Parish Councillor), John Dale (Parish Councillor), Pam Withington-Hyde (Parish Councillor)

1.  PAYE for Jeff Wood – Final payment of £45.10 (Chq. No. 001058).

2. Clerks salary – It was agreed with the amount of workload the Clerk has taken on, she shall get paid £175 for the first 3 months.  This was proposed by Councillor Dale and seconded by Councillor Withington-Hyde.  Votes were unanimous.  Payment of Clerk £100 (Chq. 001057 & £75 001059).

 

  
15. Matters of an Urgent Nature. a.  Defibrillator located at the Cross Inn Pub needs to be inspected as Councillor Allerton is no longer available to do this.  Councillor Dale is to inspect in future.

b. Speed sign outside Faber School is National Speed limited which needs to be reduced.  Clerk to contact Mike Deaville at Highways.  Councillor Dale proposed, Councillor Brindley seconded. Councillor Worthington also said he would follow this up.

c. Report of Chairman – Disabled access at cemetery –  Councillors Allerton, Dale and Cooper met with Nigel Bee from JCB and Martin, consultant surveyor from JCB.

They looked at the plans which in principle were feasible, but the area needs to be levelled out.  It also needs to be concreted to level it all at the bottom of the footpath near the gate.  All levels can be made to be suitable for wheelchair access.

Since meeting, Martin got back to Councillor Allerton and said that they could remove 45 tonnes of soil free of charge. Councillor Allerton is to approach Terry Sellers (contractor).

15 tonnes of aggregate stone from quarry.  Cauldon Lowe quarry. John spoke to Vaughan Evans, quarry manager (07738 133935). At a later stage a letter is to be written to Vaughan, so things can progress and move forward. It was suggested that Councillor Bendall, who has a lorry, could collect stone from the quarry to take to the cemetery, ready for JCB to put aggregate in. Once leveled out – contact Rachel Harrison (secretary) who will get authority for 40sqm Tarmac.  A letter is to be written in due course.

d. Estimates for surveyor – A Planning Application was proposed by Councillor Dale and seconded by Councillor Bendall.  It was agreed unanimously that Councillor Cooper will obtain the planning application with the cost of £400.  Councillors unanimously agreed.  This needs to be done asap as JCB have given us 3 months to carry out the work because thereafter they have other commitments.

  

 

JD

 

 

 

CGW

MPW

There being no further business the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 8.45pm

November Minutes 2017

Mar 5, 2018

Minutes of Meeting held on Tuesday, 7th November 2017 at 7.30pm at Cauldon Lowe Village Hall

Attendance:       Dave Cooper (Chairman),  Mike Worthington (SCC), Richards Lees (Vice Chairman), Ivor Lucas (SMDC),John Allerton (Parish Councillor), Elsie Fallows (SMDC), Gary Bendall (Parish Councillor), Carmen Worthington (Clerk),John Dale (Parish Councillor), Pam Withington-Hyde (Parish Councillor), Jean Brindley (Parish Councillor)

Apologies.
None.

Appointment of Acting Parish Clerk.
In the absence of Jeff Wood, the Chairman welcomed Carmen Worthington, who will be the Acting Parish Clerk for Cotton Parish Council.

Carmen Worthington and Councillor Worthington were asked to leave the meeting whilst her temporary appointment was confirmed by fellow councillors.

Minutes.
The minutes of the meeting of the 3rd October 2017, taken as read were confirmed as a true and accurate record and signed by the Chairman.

Matters Arising.
4.1   Disabled Parking Lines – Clerk to forward contact details of Mike Webb to Councillor Cooper.

4.2   School secretary of Faber School is now parking in the car park.  Clerk to contact Faber school to ensure that her car is not parked outside of the school in future.

4.3   WW1 – Councillor Dale is to forward information to the Chairman.

4.4   Best kept Village – The presentation for Cauldon Lowe was well organised and everyone agreed it was a success.

4.5   Re: Graves – There has been no response from the Birmingham Catholic Diocese. The Clerk is to action this.

4.6   The hedge and bush cutting has been done and Mr Rowlinson will be sending a bill.

4.7   The BT box that was knocked over has been replaced.

4.8   Thanks to Councillor Allerton the bus route has been changed to a suitable pickup point, also thanks to the parents that helped.

Public Question Time.
No members of the public present.

Declaration of Interest.
Councillor Cooper declared an interest in all Planning Matters.

Lengthsman Scheme.
An invoice has been received from the lengthsman for the final cuts.  The invoice was passed around for approval.

Planning Matters.
Applications – Mr & Mrs Mellor – Hayes Gate Farm, Star Bank, Oakamoor –  Proposed Development: Change of use of agricultural building to a dwelling house (Class C3).

Decision– After a lengthy discussion it was agreed by a majority decision to approve the application subject to the possible removal of permitted development rights.

Other Planning Matters 

8.1            Moneystone Quarry – Councillor Dale expressed disappointment that Cotton had not responded in support of the                       ongoing appeal. Councillor Worthington said he was due to speak on the following Tuesday and will mention that                       Cotton Parish Council were supportive of the other Parish Councils.

8.2            Councillor Cooper has informed us that a notice has gone up from the communications development team that                           Open Reach fiber broadband mast will be installed in Cotton.  This will be good for the local community.  The Clerk                   is to write a letter to Open Reach to acknowledge the notice and to point out the important of the installation in the                     village.

Recreation Matters.
Nothing to report.

Burial Matters.
10.1           The Cemetery needs a cut.  The Clerk is to contact H & H Property for a final cut.

10.2           Councillor mentioned that the gate was not shut properly, it was not latched after the bin men had been.                                      Councillors are going to keep an eye on this.

10.3           Councillors discussed if a lottery grant would be possible for the arch as it would benefit the community.  Councillor                    Worthington said that a grant would not be very probable.

10.4           JCB would like to offer help towards the disabled access, Councillor Allerton to discuss this at a meeting he will be                    attending.

Lighting Matters.
Councillor Allerton has reported that there is a light out before Westfields Close (ref no. 5C 75 4(h). The Clerk is to contact EON.

Reports of Representatives.

12.1           Report of Parish Assembly – Councillor Dale and Councillor Fallows attended the Parish Assembly and gave a                          brief update of the meeting which was a local plan update, Council Right of Way, and Councillor Fallows                                    mentioned  the Pub is the Hub.

12.2           Clerk to check AON insurance to see if Cotton have a ‘public liability’ cover for volunteers to carry out work in the                      Parish.

12.3           Councillor Allerton said the service sheets have been printed for remembrance.

The cost of the Wreath is £35 for the RBL. Councillor Fallows said that there was a ‘Code of Conduct’ training day on 14th November, in Leek if any fellow councillors were interested in attending.

Correspondence.

13.1           Karen Bradley MP – Trips to London and Private Tours of Westminster – Letter was read out and passed around.                      Also, poster to be put up on the Notice Board.

13.2           Karen Bradley MP – Advice Surgeries – Letter read out and passed around with  the dates of forthcoming                                  surgeries, to go on noticeboard.

Accounts for Payment.
14.1           H & H Gardening Services – Mowing and Strimming.  Amount: £680.00. Agreed and paid.

14.2           Staffordshire Playing Fields Association – Membership Fee. It was agreed that the Clerk should contact SPFA and                    cancel the subscription of £15.  There was a unanimous vote for this as it is of no benefit to the Council.

Matters of An Urgent Nature.

15.1           The bus shelter at Rue Hill – The Chairman mentioned that the ridge tiles are coming off and it is in a dangerous                         condition.  It was unanimously agreed as this bus shelter was unused, to approach JCB with a view to taking it                           down.

15.2           Councillor Lucas said there is a sign on the floor at the A52 junction by the Cross Public House. Councillor                                Worthington is to action this.

 Date of next meeting.
Tuesday, 5th December 2017 at Cauldon Lowe Village Hall.

There being no further business the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 9.15pm

 

 

 

 

October Minutes 2017

Mar 2, 2018

COTTON PARISH COUNCIL

 

 

 

Minutes of Meeting held on Tuesday, 3rd October 2017 at 7.30pm

at Cauldon Lowe Village Hall

 

 

 

Present:          Dave Cooper (Chairman)

Richards Lees (Vice Chairman)

John Allerton (Parish Councillor)

Gary Bendall (Parish Councillor)

John Dale (Parish Councillor)

Pam Withington-Hyde (Parish Councillor)

Jean Brindley (Parish Councillor)

 

Mike Worthington (SCC)

Ivor Lucas (SMDC)

Elsie Fallows (SMDC)

 

In Attendance: Two members of the public.

 

  1. Public Participation.

There was no public participation.

 

  1. Apologies.

Jeff Wood (Parish Clerk).

 

  1. Declaration of Interest.

Cllr. Cooper declared an interest in any Planning Matters.

 

  1. Minutes of the Last Meeting (Un-Resolved).

Councillors John Dale and Richard Lees pointed out an inaccuracy – they were not present, so the Chairman could not approve and sign them as a true and correct record.

 

  1. Matters Arising from Previous Minutes.

 

  1. Disabled Parking Lines in Moorfields Close.

Two Disabled Bays at Moorfields Close – Cllr. Worthington informed us that Mr Rob Steel was no longer dealing with these issues and that we would now have to speak to Mike Webb.

 

Action – Cllr. Cooper to obtain contact details of Mike Webb from Mike Worthington and contact him with a view to getting the disabled bays priced/ actioned.

 

 

  1. End of World War One (centenary celebrations since cessation of hostilities):  Nothing to report.

 

  1. Best Kept Village.

Cllr. Bendall gave details of Cauldon Lowe having won this competition and the official presentation is to be held at 5:30pm on Tuesday 17th October 2017, at the Millennium Garden, Cauldon Lowe.

 

Action – Cllr Allerton to coordinate/organize the temporary road closure and reflective jackets etc.

 

  1. Lengthsman Scheme.

Nothing to report at this stage and no invoice(s) received.

 

  1.  Planning Matters.

Applications – None.

Decisions – None.

Other Planning Matters –

  1. Weekly lists – circulated to Cllrs. with email facilities.
  2. Dust Emissions at quarries – Nothing to report at this stage.
  3. No response from Birmingham Catholic diocese with regard to St. Wilfred’s Church, Cotton.

 

Action – Cllr. Cooper/ Clerk to contact Birmingham Catholic diocese yet again!

 

  1. Planning Permission received from SMDC regarding entrance arch to Cotton Cemetery.

 

Action – Cllr Cooper to obtain quotes etc for the fabrication and ground-works associated with this.

Action – Cllr. Dale to look into grants for the fabrication and ground-works associated with this.

 

  1. Recreation Matters.

Cllr. Allerton reported some sheep have been entering the playing field in

Cauldon Lowe.

 

Action – Cllr Allerton dealing with this.

 

  1. Burial Matters.

Nothing to report at this stage.

 

  1. Highways Matters.   

 

  1. Cllr. Brindley reported that no action had been taken at the Star Crossroads regarding a camera inspection of the drains.

 

Action – Cllr Worthington was going to look into this on behalf of CPC.

           

 

  1. There has been no correspondence in regard to school children being forced to cross the 60mph A-52 road to catch school buses at the Cross Inn.

 

Action – Cllr. Cooper to liaise with Cllr. Worthington and to look into this on behalf of CPC.

 

  1. Cllr. Lees reported there had been no action at Garston bends on the A-52 regarding the cutting back of bushes overhanging the carriageway and the newly installed illuminated warning sign. Similarly, Cllr. Bendall advised the meeting that the SCC Highways, had also failed to act, with other trees obstructing the footpath on the A-52 near the old St Lawrence’s School at Rue Hill, Cauldon Lowe.  The meeting resolved that the Chairman would contact the contractor Mark Rowlinson and if the work would cost less than £250 that he would have the authority to act on behalf of CPC and order the work be done in the interest of Health and Safety and would then try to recover the costs from SCC.

 

Action – Cllr Cooper to contact Mark Rowlinson over the hedge/ tree flailing works on the A-52 as mentioned above.

 

  1. Cllr. Brindley reported that the BT box outside her home address at the Star Crossroads had been knocked over yet again by a vehicle, but that BT had this in hand.

 

  1. Cllr. Brindley reported that the ‘Secretary’ of Faber School, Cotton was parking her car outside of the school all day despite a new custom-made car-park having been installed which was considered rather dangerous and unnecessary by the sitting of the parish council.

 

Action – The clerk to write to the head of the school in regard to the above.

 

  1. General discussion regarding listed buildings in the parish but no action to be taken currently.

 

 Anticipated NHT and other Projects:

  1. Various potholes (Weekly update now available from SCC).
  2. Algae discolouring signage at Cotton Crossroads.
  3. Damaged Cotton sign on Cotton Lane.
  4. Blocked ditch to Cabbage Hall. Included in report.

 

  1. Lighting Matters.

No issues reported.

 

  1. Reports of Representatives.

Nothing to report at this stage.

 

  1. Historic Buildings Trust.

Nothing to report at this stage.

 

  1. Correspondence.

Nothing to report at this stage.

 

 

  1. Accounts for Payment.

None received.

 

  1. Matters of An Urgent Nature.

Due to the stroke suffered the previous Sunday evening by the current Clerk, Jeff Wood, the sitting of the Parish Council asked that Cllr. Cooper would take up the proposal of Cllr. Worthington to contact Carmen Worthington with a view of her taking up the position of Clerk temporarily, although this might well be a permanent position.

 

Action – Cllr. Cooper to contact Carmen Worthington as requested by the sitting of the council.

 

  1.  Date of next meeting (to be determined) at Cauldon Lowe Village Hall.

 

 

Meeting rose at 8.45pm.

 

 

 

Signed: ………………………… (Chairman)

 

 

Signed:  ……………………………(Clerk)