Parish Council 2 April 2024

BERKSWICH PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of Berkswich Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday 2 April 2024

at 7.30 pm at Walton Village Hall

Present:   Cllr Alan Taylor (Chair), Cllr Caroline Pearson (Vice Chair), Cllr Sue Francis, Cllr Tim Luker, Cllr Malcolm Millichap, Cllr Ann Millichap, Cllr Bob Gilson and Cllr Vicky Campbell.

In attendance: Cllr Peter Edgeller from Stafford Borough Council and Mrs Sue Fullwood as Clerk.

Cllr Taylor welcomed everyone to the meeting.

1              Public session

Issues at the Public Toilets near Milford Common

Cllr Edgeller raised an issue which had been raised with both him and the Parish Council by a member of the public regarding the public toilets at Milford.  The toilets have been increasingly targeted by vandals trying to block the pans, and knocking dispensers and more recently tiles from the walls.  It had also been reported that there was sexual activity there in the early hours of the morning with the same vehicles regularly parked outside the block roughly between 1.30 am and 2.30 am.  Cllr Francis asked if the doors were lockable and Cllr Edgeller confirmed that they were.  Cllr Francis asked if the issues were with the male and female toilets and Cllr Edgeller confirmed it was just the male toilets.  People seemed to be parking quite blatantly outside the toilets so local residents could be asked to record registration numbers and report them to the Police.  Resolved: Cllr M Millichap proposed that the Clerk should write to Environmental Health at SBC expressing the Council’s concerns about the toilets, asking them to consider locking the toilets at night and to call upon the Police to investigate the very concerning sexual and antisocial behaviour. Action: Clerk

24/34         Apologies – Apologies were received from Cllr Beverley Hughes as she was away and Cllr Michael Norris as he was tired from travelling.

24/35         To record Declarations of Interest regarding items on the agenda.  None.

24/36         Minutes of the Council meeting held on 5 March 2024 – Resolved: It was agreed that the minutes were accurate.

24/37        Clerk’s Report for March 2024

Regarding item 1a, Cllr A Millichap asked if the Clerk had written to R&J Aggregates.  She replied that the Chairman had asked her not to write to them as the Council had no evidence that the damage was caused by their vehicles.  Resolved: Clerk to write to the company asking for their assistance in the matter.  Action: Clerk

24/38        Local Boundary Commission proposed changes for Staffordshire

The Clerk had been sent the final recommendations for the ward changes and Berkswich was still due to be split between two wards.  Cllr Taylor felt that it was illogical for Berkswich Parish Council to have two County Councillors.  It was almost as though the Commission had not listened to the Council’s response.  Cllr Francis said that if proposals went ahead, the Trent Valley councillor would have about 12 Parish Councils.  Resolved: A further letter would be sent to the Commission reiterating the Council’s concerns. Action: Cllr Taylor/Clerk

24/39         Parish Fete on 16 June

There was a general consensus that attendance at the fete was a good idea and that it raised the profile of the Parish Council.  Resolved: Cllr Pearson agreed to take the lead on organising activities and manning the stall.  Action: Cllr Pearson

24/40        Waste Bin Sites Within the Parish

                The Clerk had asked on Facebook and in the Spring Newsletter if anyone thought there was a need for more waste bins, but there had been no response.  Cllr Luker said that there may be a case for having more regular collections or larger bins as the bin on the way to Jacob’s Ladders was always overflowing.  It was felt that Street Scene responded quite quickly when full bins were reported and that the Parish Council should continue to encourage people to report them to SBC.  No further action.

24/41        Possible Use of Walton Coppice by the Scouts

The Clerk had forwarded a letter from the Scouts requesting the opportunity to use Walton Coppice for periodic nature walks for younger members and den building once a month by older Scouts. Advice had been sought from the SBC ecologist about the possible impact of these uses on the nature conservation purpose of the woodland.  Concerns were raised about birds being disturbed while nesting, the amount and frequency of visits from 9 different groups and possible nuisance to adjoining householders. There were also concerns about setting a precedent for other groups to visit and it seemed like many more children would be using the site than volunteered at the working parties. Resolved: Whilst it was originally thought that it would be a good idea for the Scouts to be able to use the Coppice, on balance it was felt that it was best to decline the Scouts’ request. Action: Clerk

24/42        Planting in the Flower Beds on Main Road

Cllr Campbell suggested that the flower beds on Main Road could use a revamp.  Cllr M Millichap raised concerns that this was a project which hadn’t been budgeted for. It was suggested that B&Q or a supermarket might be interested in sponsoring the flower beds. Resolved: Clerk to ask TGM to come up with a new scheme and provide a quote, either for 24/25 financial year with sponsorship or to be budgeted for financial year 25/26. Action: Clerk

24/43        Potential Grant Application for Speed Warning Beacons at Milford

The Clerk advised that Highways had felt that Milford would not be suitable for flashing beacons, but could be suitable for similar Speed Indication Devices (SIDs) to those near Walton Village Hall. Resolved: Clerk to ask Highways for an onsite meeting to discuss where SIDs could be sited. Action: Clerk

24/44        Data from SIDs on Main Road/Milford Road

Cllr Taylor felt that the data showed that while some vehicles were doing high speeds late at night, there was not a serious speeding problem in that area.  Cllr Francis said that vehicles generally did slow down as they approached the SIDs.  Cllr Francis also felt that some of the vehicles travelling at high speeds could be emergency vehicles. No further action.

24/45        Changing to a .gov.uk Web Domain

Councillors were unsure of the need to transfer to another domain.  Resolved: Clerk to investigate further around the options available and the costs involved.  Action: Clerk

24/46        Financial Matters:

1. Bank Reconciliation and Expenditure for March 2024 – Resolved: The bank reconciliation and expenditure were unanimously approved.

ii     Budget Report for March 2024 – Resolved: the report was unanimously approved.

24/47        Reports from other Meetings

1. Environment Group – Cllr Luker reported that the bulk of the work on the first phase of Walton Coppice was now complete. The group would now be moving onto the Hollybush Coppice application and the school were keen to get started.  Resolved: Cllr Taylor to organise a date to meet at the Barley Mow to complete the Hollybush FiPL application.  Action: Cllr Taylor
2. Village Hall Council of Management – Cllr Pearson reported that the AGM had taken place in March and a new Secretary had been appointed and they were looking for an auditor. The Hall were working with local residents and the Tennis Club to get the top of Green Gore Lane retarmacked.  It had been widely known that a local landowner had been declared bankrupt so it would be wise to keep an eye on planning applications.

• Trent Valley Collaboration Group

The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, had attended the meeting to explain his plans for the future and to discuss communication with Parish Councils.  Highways had attended the meeting and Cllr Pearson had raised the issue of the Grade II listed bridges being damaged by HGVs.  The signalisation of Holdiford Road had begun.  Highways planned to put temporary traffic lights on Baswich Lane to monitor traffic whilst Radford Bank was closed for roadworks. Highways had reassured the Clerk that the works would not affect the War Memorial.  The Acting Chief Executive of the SPCA had attended and said that recruitment for a new Chief Executive was due to start.  The Project Manager from the National Trust had attended to give an update on progress at Shugborough.  The new entrance further along the A513 had been given planning permission.

24/48        Agenda Items for the Next Meeting scheduled for Tuesday 7 May 2024 at 7.30 pm in the Main Hall, Walton Village Hall

Agenda items agreed were: Flower beds on Main Road; SIDs at Milford; Parish Fete; defibrillator grant application; and .gov.uk web domain – this meeting would be the Annual Parish Council Meeting.  The Annual Parish meeting would take place at 7.00 pm in the Main Hall, Walton Village Hall.

The meeting closed at 8:45 pm.