BRIDGTOWN PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting. Wednesday 11th March 2020.
Held at the Bethel Methodist Church, Union Street, Bridgtown.

Cllrs. Peter Kruskonjic, Val Jones, Alison Smith, Matthew Freeman and Kevin Whittaker.

In Attendance:

Clerk, Janine Arm.
Mr Ray Smythe, Parish Council Independent Internal Auditor. PCSO Laura Bainbridge.

1. Apologies received in writing.

No Apologies in writing had been given by Parish Councillors. County Councillor Paul Snape and submitted his apologies.

2. Declaration of Interests on agenda items and consideration if dispensations where appropriate.

No declarations of interests were given.

RESOLVED: Noted.

3. To Approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 8th January 2020.

It was proposed, seconded and agreed to approve the minutes.

RESOLVED: To approve the Minutes.

4. Matters Arising from the Minutes.

No further matters arose not already covered on the agenda.

5. Chairman’s Report.

• Numerous reports of light and noise nuisance from the Honda garage, A34 had been received. It was noted that the flags were making a constant bell like noise. It was also noted that the lights overnight were causing a nuisance to the local residents. It was agreed to write to the garage and ask if the flags could be secured, so they did not make a constant noise and that if possible that the lights were dimmed between dusk and dawn.

RESOLVED: To write to the garage as above.

• Many requests have been made for ‘No Though Road’ signs through the village.

RESOLVED: to ask County Councillor Paul Snape to look at ‘No Through Road’ signs for Church Street, East Street, Union Street and New Street.
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CHAIRMAN ……………………………………………… 487

• There were reports of parking problems from the operation of a car body repair shop in East Street owing to early morning moving the cars in for repair from their land and parking them along the junction with Park Street causing obstruction and restriction of the road.

RESOLVED: To advise the traffic enforcement officers.

• It was reported that in high winds, empty kegs were rolling around causing a noise nuisance at a unit on Longford Road. It was agreed to write and request that they are secured.

RESOLVED: to write and ask that kegs are secured.
5.1 Lack of Lighting on Car Park between Park Street and Walsall Road.

Complaints have been received from residents regarding a lack of lighting on the car park between Walsall Road and Park Street. As there was no lighting on the car park, residents were parking on the road as they did not feel safe.

RESOLVED: It was agreed to write to Walsall Housing Group and ask they consider installing lighting on the car park.

5.2 Consideration of concerns regarding operating hours of local business’

Following complaints regarding operating hours of a dance studio on a residential street, Cllr. Alison Smith reported she had contacted the District Council on 25th February 2020, requesting information on permitted operating hours.

The dance studio claimed that as their operating hours state they can be open until 10pm, their last class could start at that time. Classes finishing after 10pm were disturbing local residents when they left the property. No reply to date has been received from the District Council but the Cllr Smith would be pursuing this matter.

Cllr Smith also reported that she had received an anonymous complaint that staff at a unit on Union Street and Broad Street, were pouring chemicals down the public drain. Seven Trent Water has been asked to look into this issue and an investigation has been actioned by them, but no evidence of pollution had been found.

Additionally, this company did not appear to be adhering to their permitted working hours, often coming in on Sundays and very early Saturdays, also leaving their very noisy fan on overnight. The Chairman advised she was working with the District Council and keeping a diary of their working times.

RESOLVED: Cllr. Val Jones to make enquiries and monitor the situation.

6. Consideration of reports received from the PCSO.

PCSO Laura Bainbridge reported on general police issue in the area. Her report was noted, and she was thanked for attending the meeting.

7. Recreational Areas.

A request had been received to address the broken walkway on the Recreational area between Delta Way and Laburnum Avenue. It was noted that the walkway had been repaired in the past, but had been set alight within a week, leaving a wire mesh covering in a dangerous state.

RESOLVED: To request the District Council to repair the Walkway but to consider replacing with fire proof materials or remove if necessary.

CHAIRMAN ……………………………………………… 488

7.1 The Leighton Memorial Garden.

The area was well maintained and there were no matters of report.

7.2 War Memorial.

The area was well maintained and there were no matters of report.

7.3 Memorial Garden in Union Street.

The area was well maintained and there were no matters of report.

RESOLVED: Noted. 8. Planning.

8.1 Applications for Consideration.

Applications were considered and noted.

8.2 Applications Approved/Rejected by District Council.

Applications approved, rejected or withdrawn would be noted.

9. Correspondence. 9.1 Incoming.

All correspondence of note had been circulated by email and noted.

9.2 Outgoing.

No issues arose that had not already been covered on the agenda.

10. Accounts.
10.1 Accounts for Consideration.

HMRC – Tax and NI contributions (none due this month as overpaid May 2019)

Janine Arm – Clerk pay
Staffordshire Pension Fund ‘SCC Superannuation fund ‘

Staffordshire Pension Fund ‘SCC Superannuation fund

Janine Arm – Clerk Expenses – postage/mileage J Burton Gardening Services
Bethel Methodist Church Hall Hire
Staffordshire Parish Councils Association

TOTAL Expenditure

£0.00

£367.51 £58.53

£58.53

£8.11 £200.00 £20.00

£250.00

£962.68

The following accounts were presented to the Council for consideration. Authorisation of the accounts presented for payment totalling £962.68 was agreed.

RESOLVED: To authorise the payments.

CHAIRMAN ……………………………………………… 489

10.2 Consideration of the current Financial Situation of the Council.

It was agreed that the accounts presented as below, represented an accurate summary of the Council’s accounts. It was proposed, seconded and agreed to accept the accounts.

RESOLVED: To approve the accounts.

10.3 Consideration of adopting new Financial Regulations 2019.

The draft new Financial Regulations 2019 had been circulated. It was prosed, seconded and agreed to adopt the regulations.

RESOLVED: To adopt Financial Regulations 2019.
10.4 Consideration of funding a leaflet highlighting the problem of dog fouling in the area.

It was noted that Dean Cooper, District Council Environmental Health Officer, had managed to secure District Council funding and had circulated over 100 letters to Bridgtown residents regarding dog fouling. Mr Cooper had also advised he was in the process of securing a witness statement for a dog fouling issue in the area. He advised he would be updating Chairman, Cllr. Alison Smith.

The Council was grateful for his work and asked for a letter of thanks to be sent to the Environmental Health Team for all the help that Mr Cooper had given.

RESOLVED: To send a letter of thanks to Environmental Health Team.

A budget of £50 was agreed to produce the Parish Council’s own leaflet for distribution to other areas of the village highlighting the problems and health issues of dog fouling. Cllr. Kruskonjic agreed to get approximately 1,000 leaflets printed ready for distribution.

CHAIRMAN ……………………………………………… 490

RESOLVED: To print approximately 1,000 leaflets for distribution around the village highlighting dog fouling issues.

11. Highways Issues – matters arising for attention.

No issues arose, not already on the Agenda.

12. Consideration of Councillor Vacancy Applications.

After due consideration it was agreed to Co-opt Mr Bob Eccleston

RESOLVED: To Co – Opt Mr Bob Eccleston. 13. Items for Information or Future Agendas.

No further issues for the next agenda, not already mentioned in the meeting. Councillors were advised to make any suggestions for inclusion at the latest one week prior to the next meeting.

14. Date of Next Meeting.

It was agreed that the next Meetings would be. Annual Parish Assembly – 13th May 2020 at 7.00pm. Annual General Meeting 13th May 2020 at 7.15pm.

Members were thanked for their attendance and the meeting was then closed.

CHAIRMAN ……………………………………………… 491