Parish Council 10 October 2023

BERKSWICH PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of Berkswich Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday 10 October 2023
at 7.30 pm at Walton Village Hall

Present: Cllr Alan Taylor (Chair), Cllr Malcolm Millichap, Cllr Ann Millichap, Cllr Sue Francis, Cllr Tim Luker, Cllr Beverley Hughes, Cllr Michael Norris and Cllr Vicky Campbell.

In attendance: Approximately 40 members of the public and Mrs Sue Fullwood as Clerk.

Cllr Taylor welcomed everyone to the meeting.

1 Public session

(a) Planning Application for Land off Old Croft Road

A member of the public had distributed leaflets around Walton on the Hill inviting people to attend the meeting to discuss the Planning Application for Land off Old Croft Road. Cllr Taylor clarified that the meeting was a regular Parish Council meeting and that the Council had already objected to the proposals and had published the response on the website and publicised this on Facebook. He also clarified that Berkswich Parish Council were not the determining body for the application. Cllr Taylor read the main points of the objection letter to the members of the public.

Person 1 asked whether there was any mileage in proposing more suitable alternative sites. Cllr Taylor responded that he thought the planning application came from the desire to sell the land for as much as possible rather than a need for housing in the area. Cllr M Millichap added that the Council had resisted any attempt to create a Local Plan for Berkswich as there was strength in being part of Stafford Borough’s larger numbers.

Person 2 asked if the Council could contact the owners of the land to let them know the strength of public feeling on the issue. Cllr Taylor replied that the owners would only need to look at the at the number of objections on the Stafford Borough Council (SBC) Planning Portal to see the number of objections and the strength of feelings.

Person 3 asked if there was a way to stop planning applications at the site altogether. Person 4 asked if the Council could apply for a ruling to get assurance that the land would be protected. Cllr Taylor asked if they meant dedicating it as a community asset and said that as a former town planner he was unaware of any legislation that would stop planning applications at the site. Person 4 said that the group should look at how to protect the community with Parish Council support. Cllr M Millichap said that he thought persons 3 and 4 were talking about a Local Plan and he felt that would open up the whole area for developers. He said other parishes had local plans and they had not stopped developments there. Berkswich did not want a separate Local Plan as it would mean we were separated from Stafford Borough. Cllr Taylor said that a Local Plan would not stop development forever and that he felt that Berkswich had sufficient protection in policy terms under SBC.

Person 4 asked if there was any evidence that after so many times of applying that an authority says that is enough, no more applications. Cllr Taylor replied that around 10 years ago the Liberal Democrats had proposed that developers could only have two attempts to gain planning permission and that was it. Anything like that would require a major change in planning law. Cllr M Millichap added that he had never seen anyone succeed in applying multiple times, but that didn’t mean that they won’t in future. The Council and community needed to stay vigilant for further applications.

Person 5 asked what the procedure was for call-in by the Stafford Borough Councillor. Cllr Taylor responded that if an application was called in, it went before the full Planning Committee and that Borough Cllr Edgeller had called this application in. Cllr Taylor thought that the application would go to the November Planning Committee and they usually happened mid-month. Resolved: Clerk to establish the date of the planning committee and inform the community on the Council website and on Facebook. Action: Clerk. Person 5 asked if the meetings were open to the public and Cllr Taylor confirmed that they were, but only one person might be able to speak.

Person 6 asked why the objection letter didn’t comment on the fact that the application was for agricultural land. Cllr Taylor replied that as it was Grade 3 agricultural land he felt that there was no need to mention it.

Person 7 asked how many people should have been notified about the application. Cllr Taylor said that anyone within a 100m area of the centre of the plot of land should have been consulted by SBC. Person 8 added that they had complained to SBC that they had not been consulted, but SBC said that a letter had been sent out.

Person 9 asked if the plans were approved would the Parish Council reconsider a local plan. Cllr Taylor replied that Local Plans only identify areas suitable for development which was not what Berkswich wanted.

Person 8 asked if the government could overrule Stafford Borough Council’s decision eventually. Cllr Taylor replied that there could be a Planning Inquiry where a Planning Inspector would make a decision. The Secretary of State could overrule the Planning Inspector’s decision. The developer could then challenge the decision through the High Court – but it would be cheaper for them to make a new application.

(b) Lorries around The Village

Person 10 asked what had happened since she attended the last meeting to discuss the big lorries going through The Village to the house at the bottom of Kitlings Lane. The lady added that another four lorries that filled the road had reversed down Kitlings Lane on one day in October and one had taken a chip out of the Church wall. Cllr Taylor said that as planning permission had already been given there was nothing the Council could do in this instance, but they could suggest limits on the hours and the weight and size of vehicles used for any future applications. Parish Councillors had walked through the area after the meeting on 5 September and had not seen much damage.

(c) Parking on Old Croft Road at Weekends

Person 11 from Berkswich Football Club stood to address the Council and the public about parking along Old Croft Road. He said he had been there nearly every Saturday for the past 22 years. He had moved some football matches and training sessions to Walton High School, Oakridge Primary and other schools to try to alleviate the problems. The Club had 41 teams, more than ever and sometimes the different leagues put two matches on at the same time. Where possible one of the matches was moved to elsewhere in Stafford. Traditionally a lot of people came on foot or on bikes, but more were travelling further now and coming by car. Cllr Campbell felt that one of the problem areas was the area behind the house on the corner of Oakridge Way. Cars parked there causing a blind spot so people turning either direction from Oakridge Way couldn’t see what was coming from the left. Person 11 said he would give thought to that issue.

Cllr M Millichap said that his proposal would be to put trip rails along that section of Old Croft Road, but Cllr Francis said that would only push the issues further down the road. Person 11 added that problems could be heightened on Sundays as Walton High wouldn’t open the school gates on Sundays, therefore no-one could park there. Cllr Norris asked if there was a reason people were not pushed to park on Victoria Way/Selworthy Drive as they were less busy roads. Person 11 said that there were issues with mud and Cllr Francis felt that people would park over property entrances. Cllr M Millichap asked if the suggestion of creating a car park had ever progressed. Person 11 replied that he could explore the idea with the school, but felt that the school had not been interested last time and there were also environmental issues to consider. Cllr Norris suggested the use of a parking marshall. Person 11 said that it had been tried on a few occasions, but had not been successful. Person 11 agreed to keep in touch with the Council on this issue.

The public session closed at 8.15 pm.

23/114 Apologies – received from Cllr Caroline Pearson as she was away, Cllr Bob Gilson as he was unwell and Cllr Peter Edgeller, Stafford Borough Council. Resolved: all apologies accepted.

23/115 To record Declarations of Interest regarding items on the agenda. Cllrs Malcolm and Ann Millichap declared an interest in item 23/120 as their property was next to the Chicken Run.

23/116 Minutes of the Council meeting held on 5 September 2023 – Resolved: It was agreed that the minutes were a true record of the meeting.

23/117 Remembrance Sunday
i Installation of a railing at the War Memorial
Cllr Taylor had written to the War Memorial Trust to ask advice about a railing but had not received a reply. He would send a reminder. Item to be deferred to the November meeting. Action: Cllr Taylor/Clerk
ii Attendance at Remembrance Services
Resolved: Cllr Taylor to attend the memorial service at Stafford Borough Council and to place a wreath; Cllr M Millichap and Cllr Francis to place a wreath at the Weeping Cross War Memorial. Action: Cllr Taylor
iii Purchase of Wreath(s)
Resolved: Two medium poppy wreaths to be purchased at £19.99 each. Action: Clerk

23/118 Appointment of an AONB Representative
Cllr Luker asked if anyone would like to volunteer for the non-voting role. Resolved: Cllr Luker agreed to complete a submission. Action: Cllr Luker

23/119 Parking at Old Croft Road at Weekends
See item 1(c) on page 2 – parking on Old Croft Road at Weekends

23/120 Grounds Maintenance
i Possible extension of contract
Cllr Norris asked if there were additional places that flower beds and planters could be put around the parish to brighten it up. It was confirmed that the planters around the village were bought for the Best Kept Village project which had stopped years ago and local people including the WI filled them with flowers. Resolved: Cllr Norris to investigate possibilities. Action: Cllr Norris
ii Grounds Maintenance Schedule for 2024
The Clerk had updated the Schedule to include the Chicken Run, the footpath along Main Road and the War Memorial. Resolved: The Chicken Run to move from Hedge Cutting to Strimming for more regular cuts and then schedule agreed unanimously. Action: Clerk

23/121 Benches
i Replacement bench for the corner of The Village
Cllr Taylor had spoken to a member of the public before the start of the meeting who thought that the bench may be repairable. Resolved: Cllr Taylor to meet with a joiner regarding the bench and item to be deferred to the next meeting. Action: Cllr Taylor/Clerk
ii Potential Sites for New Benches
Cllr Norris suggested that some new benches would be nice as he felt there were not many places to sit around the village. Cllr Francis responded that benches often attracted young people to congregate and many people would not want a bench near their home for that reason. Cllr Hughes asked if anyone had raised a need for a bench and it was confirmed that they had not. A bench had previously been considered for outside the chiropractors on The Rise, but there had been a long and potentially expensive process to follow with Staffordshire Count Council as the Highways Authority. Resolved: Clerk to put an article in the Christmas newsletter asking for suggestions for potential sites for benches. Action: Clerk

23/122 Replacement Signs for the Telephone Box
The Clerk had found a website selling signs for telephone boxes with various names. Resolved: Council to consider which name they would like for the telephone box, or if to stay with the original signs. Item to be deferred to the next meeting. Action: all

23/123 Dog Waste Bin near the playground at Bluebell Hollow
A resident had asked about a dog waste bin near the playground at Bluebell Hollow. The Clerk had made enquiries with SBC and they would charge £4.50 +VAT to empty the bin per occasion. Resolved: it was agreed that this was the developer’s responsibility as they still owned the play area.

23/124 Wetpour Repairs at Hollybush Playing Fields Following RoSPA Report
The Clerk has sourced wetpour repair kits following recommendations in the RoSPA report. TGM had agreed to undertake the work over Winter. Resolved: Purchase of wetpour repair kit and use of TGM agreed unanimously. Action: Clerk

23/125 Financial Matters:
i. Draft Budget for 2024/25 – A Finance Committee had been held at the end of September and it had been agreed to present 3 options for Council to choose from. Cllr M Millichap recommended option 3, a 50% increase in the precept. To allow the Council to recoup some of the Earmarked Funds spent over the last few years. Cllr Norris suggested having an increase in the percentage in the high teens over a number of years. Cllr Taylor said that he was prepared to be bold. Cllr M Millichap added that some authorities held millions of pounds in reserves. Resolved: Councillors to consider which proposal they prefer. Item to be deferred to the November meeting. Action: all
ii. Earmarked Funds and General Reserves – linked to budget therefore deferred to the November meeting. Action: Clerk
iii. Internal Auditor for 2023/24 – Resolved: It was agreed to continue to use Black Rose Solutions for 2023/24. Action: Clerk
 
iv. Bank Reconciliation and Expenditure for September 2023 – Resolved: unanimously approved.
v.

vi. Budget Report for September 2023. Resolved: unanimously approved.

23/126 Planning Matters
i Ratification of response to Planning Application 23/37587/OUT Land off Old Croft Road
The Clerk had sent the agreed objection letter to SBC in September and published it on the website. Resolved: the letter which had been agreed remotely was unanimously agreed by the Council.
ii SBC Draft Validation Criteria
Cllr Taylor thought that the SBC Draft Validation Criteria were acceptable and this was unanimously agreed. Action: Clerk

23/127 Reports from other Meetings
i. Environment Group – Cllr Luker, Cllr Taylor and the Clerk had met the FiPL Officer and a teacher from Berkswich Primary School earlier that day at Hollybush Coppice. The teacher confirmed that the larger area had not been used by the school since the lockdowns as the brambles had become overgrown. It was also inconvenient to sign all the children out of school and then back in again afterwards. It was suggested that direct access from the school could be given by moving the fence to create a pathway with a lockable gate at the school end. The FiPL Officer felt that this would be a good bid for a grant and could include woodland management tools and clearing the brambles, etc. He had also suggested a holly hedge along the back of the houses on Holly Drive as security.
With regards to Walton Coppice, the FiPL Officer felt that the one quote received was too high and suggested getting quotes from a tree surgeon for both coppices.
ii. Village Hall Council of Management – Cllr Pearson had sent apologies and therefore couldn’t report on this meeting.

23/128 Agenda Items for the Next Meeting scheduled for Tuesday 7 November 2023 at 7.30 pm in the Bromage Room, Walton Village Hall
Agenda items agreed were: 80th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings; Handrail at the War Memorial; Draft Budget; new bench for the corner of The Village; phone box sign suggestions; and parking issues on Old Croft Road.

The meeting closed at 9:24 pm.