Berkswich Parish Council 2 December 2025

BERKSWICH PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Berkswich Parish Council Meeting held on

Tuesday 2 December 2025 at 7.30 pm at Walton Village Hall

Present:       Cllr Caroline Pearson (Acting Chair), Cllr Tim Luker, Cllr Vicky Campbell, Cllr Ann Millichap, Cllr Malcolm Millichap, Cllr Bob Gilson, Cllr Beverley Hughes, Cllr Sue Francis and Cllr Michael Norris.

In attendance:   Sue Fullwood, Clerk/RFO and one member of the public.

Cllr Pearson welcomed everyone to the meeting.

25/141      Public Session

1. Outline Planning Application 25/41179/OUT for 360 Dwellings at Land to The North of Milford Road

The member of the public asked if the Parish Council had objected to the planning application.  Cllr Pearson confirmed that the Parish Council had submitted their objection letter to SBC before the November meeting, well before the deadline of 19 November. There were still no updates from SBC on the planning portal.

1. Flower Beds on Milford Road

The member of the public asked about progress for the flower beds.  The Clerk confirmed that the company contracted to complete the work had ordered the plants and hoped to start work that week, weather permitting.

1. Phone Box Misuse

The member of the public said that people had been leaving all sorts in the phone box including a lampshade.  Cllr Pearson said that she had not checked it recently, but she would clear it after the meeting.

The member of the public left the meeting at 7.40 pm.

25/142      Apologies – apologies were received from Cllr Alan Taylor due to illness.

25/143      Minutes of the meeting held on 4 November 2025 – agreed unanimously, Cllr Francis expressed gratitude to the Clerk for capturing discussions with so many members of the public.

25/144       Declarations of Interest regarding items on the agenda.  None.

25/145      Clerk’s Report for November 2025

Resolved: the report was accepted unanimously.

25/146      Plans to Rotate the SID on Brocton Lane

The Clerk had asked Highways if they could share the name of other councils that had experience of turning SIDs and they were looking into it.  The Clerk had also asked SPCA to ask other councils directly if they had experience they could share.  Deferred until further information available.  Action: Clerk

25/147      Review of Parish Boundaries

Cllr M Millichap said that due to Local Government Reorganisation and the letter from the SBC Leader regarding the possibility of Staffordshire being split into two unitary authorities, it had occurred to him that Stafford may consider a new Town Council.  This was an ideal opportunity for Berkswich Parish Council to review its own boundaries and to consider, for example, consulting on covering the area to the War Memorial which would increase the parish size considerably.  Cllr M Millichap had written to the SBC Leader as a private individual which he read to the council, proposing a meeting between SBC and BPC.  Cllr M Millichap would share the reply from the SBC Leader when he received it.  Action: Cllr M Millichap.  It was felt that the Parish Council would not want to overstretch itself but needed to be part of the debate and driving change.  Item to be discussed further at the next meeting in February.  Action: Clerk

25/148      Potential Purchase of Village Gateway Signs

Discussions took place on how many and where signs would be located.  Resolved: Clerk to ask for prices for three signs from Signs of the Times.  Action: Clerk

25/149      Problem with Dog Waste

It was noted that the issue with people not picking up after their dog was getting worse again.  Resolved: Clerk to contact SBC to ask for more waste bins, one on The Rise, one on Kitlings Lane near the church and one at the Green Gore Lane/Milford Road junction.  Action: Clerk

25/150      Quotes for Wetpour Repairs

The Clerk had obtained three quotes for repairs to the wetpour at Hollybush Play Area.  Resolved: It was agreed that as PlaySmart had been out to look at the play area, their quote would be more realistic and to go ahead with them.  Action: Clerk

25/151      Potential to Adopt Bluebell Hollow Playground

Taylor Wimpey still had not been in touch regarding the offer.  Item deferred until a response was received.

25/152      Policies

i   IT Policy – NALC had issued a new template policy which had been adapted to suit Berkswich by the Clerk.  Resolved: Agreed unanimously.  Action: Clerk

25/153      Financial Matters

1. Bank reconciliation and expenditure for November 2025 – Resolved: Approved unanimously.

Budget report for November 2025 – Resolved: Approved unanimously.

• Budget and Precept Demand for 2026/27

The Clerk had updated the budget with the 2026/27 tax base confirmed by SBC.  It was questioned whether an increase was necessary and it was agreed that annual smaller increases were better and more consistent than larger increases less frequently.  Resolved: The budget for 2026/27 and precept demand increase of 3.6% were agreed unanimously.  Clerk to confirm precept demand to SBC.  Action: Clerk

25/154      Planning Matters

1. Update from the Chair on Planning Applications for Housing Developments on Unallocated Sites – Deferred as the Chair was not in attendance.
2. Response to planning application 25/41320/HOU at 20 Oak Avenue – it was proposed to object to this application as per previous retrospective applications (20/33581/HOU and 23/37459/HOU) to retain the unauthorised structure. Resolved: agreed unanimously.  Action: Clerk

• Ratification of response to planning application 25/41296/HOU at 18 The Green – Resolved: Due to timescales involved Council had agreed by email that it had no objections to this application and the Clerk had notified SBC on 17 November 2025.

25/155      Reports from other meetings

1. Environment Group

Cllr Luker updated that the plants had been ordered and had arrived.  A purchase order had been placed for works to the trees at Walton and Hollybush Coppices.  Cllr Luker would be setting up a sub-group meeting to work on a FiPL application for bird and bat boxes.

ii       Village Hall Management Committee

Two of the committee members were very diligent in checking the defibrillator regularly and ordering any necessary supplies.  It was agreed that the Christmas decorations in the Hall were very nice and Cllr Pearson would pass on thanks to the relevant members.  Action: Cllr Pearson

25/156      Items for the Agenda for the Parish Council Meeting scheduled for Tuesday 3 February 2026

Items agreed were: Parish Boundaries; Village Gateway signs; Bluebell Hollow Playground (if anything new to discuss).

Cllr M Millichap thanked everyone for their comradeship over the past 12 months and wished everyone a happy Christmas and very prosperous new year.

Meeting closed at 8.20 pm.