Berkswich Parish Council 7 April 2026

BERKSWICH PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Berkswich Parish Council Meeting held on

Tuesday 7 April 2026 at 7.30 pm at Walton Village Hall

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

In attendance:   Sue Fullwood, Clerk/RFO and four members of the public.

Cllr Norris welcomed everyone to the meeting.

26/32        Public Session

1. R&J Aggregates, Milford

Three members of the public remained concerned about unauthorised activities at the yard near The Green, Milford which was used by R&J Aggregates.  They reported that John Langdown and Sarah Locker from SBC had been in touch with them.  Mr Langdown had told R&J that they needed to apply for retrospective planning permission but the residents were concerned over how long it could take.   Ms Locker was a Planning Enforcement Consultant at SBC and had told the residents that the parish council had powers to take enforcement action if they wished to.  Resolved: Clerk to look at powers available to the Parish Council and confirm.  Action: Clerk Cllr M Millichap said that Cllr Taylor, the Parish Council Chair, had visited the site and the Clerk had then written to Planning Enforcement and Environmental Health in support of the residents. Cllr Francis suggested contacting Sir Gavin Williamson MP to draw his attention to the health issues.  Cllr Gilson suggested contacting the press to draw attention to the issue.  Cllr Norris thanked the three residents for attending.

Three members of the public left the meeting at 7.40 pm.

26/33        Apologies – apologies received from Cllr Caroline Pearson and Cllr Alan Taylor due to family illness; and from Cllr Vicky Campbell as she was away.  SCC Cllr Andrew Mynors, SCC/SBC Cllr Ann Edgeller and SBC Cllr Peter Edgeller could not attend as they were at other meetings.

26/34        Minutes of the meetings held on 3 March 2026 – Resolved: Cllr M Millichap proposed a motion that the minutes, in particular item 26/27, should be discussed in a private session at the end of the meeting.  This was seconded by Cllr A Millichap.

26/35         Declarations of Interest regarding items on the agenda – None.

26/36        Clerk’s Report for March 2026 – Resolved: accepted unanimously.

26/37        Review of Parish Boundaries

The Clerk had prepared figures for the number of households in each area being considered for review and the potential precept income.  The Clerk had shared information with Cllr Norris and Cllr M Millichap that day from the Community Governance Review guidance that said that “the principal council (SBC) could refuse a CGR if the principal council is currently conducting a review of the whole, or a significant part of the area to which the petition relates”.  Cllr Norris felt it was worth asking SBC as the worst they could say was “no”.  Cllr M Millichap said that he felt that BPC should make it’s position clear and ask SBC’s advice on how to move forwards.  The Clerk added that she wanted to ensure that all councillors were aware that SBC as the principal council would decide the scope of any review and while BPC could contribute to the consultation the final decision would also be made by SBC.  Resolved: Cllr M Millichap proposed a motion to start liaison with SBC on a CGR to include the triangle from Walton High School between the A34 and A518 so that Berkswich Parish Council would cover to the War Memorial at the top of Radford Bank.  This was seconded by Cllr Norris.  Action: Cllr Norris and Clerk

26/38        Neighbourhood Governance

SPCA had circulated a pack from West Midlands CALCs drawing attention to significant concerns arising from the neighbourhood governance proposals under the EDCE Bill, particularly that local authorities should not rely on local councils to work with neighbourhoods.  Resolved: Cllr Norris proposed that BPC should write to Sir Gavin Williamson MP using the template letter, seconded by Cllr Francis and unanimously agreed.  Action: Clerk

26/39        Purchase of Village Gateway Signs

The Clerk had contacted Highways about potential locations for signs and circulated the response.  Resolved: item to be put in obeyance until discussions on boundary changes were finalised.

26/40        Events

1. Staffordshire Day 10^th Anniversary

SPCA had circulated information asking councils to hold events for Staffordshire Day.  Resolved: Councillors were not interested in holding an event.

1. ii) Berkswich Parish Fete 21 June

Resolved: It was agreed to not have a stall in 2026 and Cllrs Francis and Gilson would report back on how well organised the Fete is this year.  Action: Cllr Francis and Cllr Gilson Cllr Hughes suggested that Council leaflets could be put on the desk where people paid to enter the fete.

26/41        Issues around The Village

1. Speeding

An email had been received from a resident concerned about drivers speeding along The Village.  The Clerk had emailed the Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership who had said that they had no concerns about speeding in this area and the road did not meet the criteria for any action to be taken.  Resolved: No further action. Clerk to respond to resident.  Action: Clerk

1. Dog fouling

The same resident had emailed about dog fouling around The Village.  The Clerk had chased SBC re the larger bins but had no response.  SBC Cllr Peter Edgeller had suggested that BPC should ask dog owners to be more responsible.  Resolved: The Clerk to look into eye-catching signs.  Action: Clerk

• Triangle of Land

The Clerk had obtained further quotes from solicitors specialising in Village Greens.  It was commented that the fees seemed a lot compared to the value of the land to the Council. Resolved: It was agreed not to pursue this issue.

26/42        Policies

                 Resolved: The following policies were agreed unanimously:

1. Training and Development Policy
2. Whistleblowing Policy

• LGA Code of Conduct

1. Grant Awarding Policy
2. Reserves Policy

Clerk to upload the policies to the website.  Action: Clerk

26/43        Financial Matters

1. Bank reconciliation and expenditure for March 2026 Resolved: Approved unanimously.

1. Budget report for March 2026 – Resolved: Approved unanimously.

26/44        Reports from other meetings

1. Environment Group

Cllr Luker updated that the group were looking for a suitable date for a meeting with the FiPL Officer.

26/45        Items for the Agenda for the Annual Parish Council Meeting scheduled for Tuesday 5 May 2026 – None suggested.

Resolved: The public were excluded from the meeting for the next item of business which involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of the Local Government Act 1972 so that the Council could consider confidential business in private.

The Clerk and one member of the public left the meeting at 8.20 pm.

26/34        Minutes of the meetings held on 3 March 2026 – Resolved: It was agreed that the word “unanimously” be removed from the minutes for item 27/26 and a special Confidential Staffing Committee would be set up to discuss the ToR and HR processes.

The Chair closed the meeting at 8.30 pm.