BRIDGTOWN PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting. Wednesday 8th January 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.
County Councillor, Paul Snape
Mr Ray Smythe, Parish Council Independent Internal Auditor

Vice Chairman Kevin Whittaker opened the meeting and welcome all those attending. It was noted that Edward Smith has resigned as a Councillor following his move from the area. He resignation meant that the Council had to elect a new Chairman.
The Council expressed sadness that Mr Smith had moved from the area and was no longer Chairman but acknowledged what a great service he had been to the community since the Parish Council had been created and wished him well.

1. Election of Chairman.

Cllr. Kevin Whittaker Proposed and it was agreed that Cllr. Alison Smith be elected Chairman for the remainder of the term.
Cllr. Alison Smith thanked the Council for their support and accepted the post. She duly signed her Acceptance of Office.

RESOLVED: – Cllr. Alison Smith to be Chairman for the remainder of the term.
2. Apologies received in writing.
No Apologies had been given.
3. Declaration of Interests on agenda items and consideration if dispensations where appropriate. No declarations of interests were given.

RESOLVED: Noted.
4. To Approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 13th November 2019. It was proposed, seconded and agreed to approve the minutes. RESOLVED: To approve the Minutes.
5. Matters Arising from the Minutes.

It was noted:

• Empty waste drums on Bennick Ind Est had now been removed.
• Dog Fouling – Dean Cooper, Environmental health officer, advised that on 11th December he hadconducted a joint patrol together with PCSO Luke Peckett to hand out leaflets to dog walkers, placed

CHAIRMAN ……………………………………………… 482

new dog-fouling signs, and replaced some old ones, on street furniture. He advised he will visit again

in the New Year.

It was noted that dog litter issues were still a very high priority of the Councils concerns as the problem was still escalating. Enquiries would be made with Environment health on a pro forma letter that could be circulated and agreed to put consideration of costs involved in leafleting the village centre with dog litter notices on the next Agenda.

RESOLVED: Consideration of costs involved in leafleting the village centre with dog litter notices on the next Agenda.

No further matters arose not already covered on the agenda.

6. Chairman’s Report.

6.1 Consideration of declaring Councillor Vacancy following the resignation of the Chairman.

The Council formally accepted the resignation of Mr Edward Smith and the District Council would be advised of the vacancy and duly advertised in accordance with local election rules. If an election had not been called for after the statutory time limit the vacancy would be advertised again advising the council would be considering applications for co-option.

Applicants would be asked for brief biographical details and advise why they wish to become a Councillor.

RESOLVED:- To declare the vacancy in accordance with Local Election rules. If no election is called, to advertise the casual vacancy as above.

7. Consideration of reports received from the PCSO.

No reports had been submitted.

8. Recreational Areas.
8.1 The Leighton Memorial Garden.

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

8.2 War Memorial.

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

8.3 Memorial Garden in Union Street.

Although the Parish Council had no responsibility of the Union Street Memorial Park and Gardens it was agreed that in the next year the Council would look at the feasibility and need for a consultation on future needs for the Memorial Park and Gardens.

RESOLVED: Noted.

It was agreed the Clerk would write again regarding the request of the Council to remove the Salvation Army clothes bank as it was being misused.

RESOLVED: Noted.

CHAIRMAN ……………………………………………… 483

9. Planning.
9.1 Applications for Consideration.

Applications were considered and noted.

9.2 Applications Approved/Rejected by District Council.

Applications approved, rejected or withdrawn would be noted.

10. Correspondence.

10.1 Incoming.

The Council had been advised that Galliford Try had suggested names to the District Council for the new housing estate on Walkmill lane. The names included the suggestion of the Parish Council of Cartwright Lane.

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

10.2 Outgoing.

The outgoing post was noted with the following comments

Following the correspondence from Galliford Try regarding the street naming of the new housing estate, the Clerk had written suggesting further options with a local connection. These included their preference for Cartwright Lane.
Edward Way

Wynns Close
Leighton Close.
It was agreed to write again advising the preferred order as above.

RESOLVED: to Advise the Housing developer and the District Council of the preferred choices for street names on the new estate.

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

11. Accounts.
11.1 Accounts for Consideration.

Janine Arm – Clerk pay

Staffordshire Pension Fund ‘SCC Superannuation fund ‘ including arrears

Staffordshire Pension Fund ‘SCC Superannuation fund Janine Arm – Clerk Expenses – postage/mileage
J Burton Gardening Services
Bethel Methodist Church Hall Hire

YESTER HOME LTD. – Ma Pardoe Clue Plaque – as agreed with Bridgtown History Society £400 plus Vat

TOTAL Expenditure

£367.51 £58.53 £58.53

£8.11 £200.00 £20.00

£510.00

£1,222.68

CHAIRMAN ………………………………………………

484

The following accounts were presented to the Council for consideration. Authorisation of the accounts presented for payment totalling £1222.68 was agreed.

RESOLVED: To authorise the payments.
11.2 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.

It was noted that an Invoice had been sent to Jonathan Pritchard in lieu of Christmas Tree costs at which he had agreed to sponsor.

12. Highways Issues – matters arising for attention.

It was noted that parking outside the Bridgtown School was still a safety issues concern. Recently a child had been knocked over crossing the road between parked cars.

Parking outside the park on Lakeside Boulevard was also of concern as children were running across the road without due care. It was agreed to ask if a sign could be put up on the road advising drivers to slow down because of children crossing.

RESOLVED: To request a caution of children crossing sign by the park, on Lakeside boulevard

Vegetation was again overgrowing the footpath on Union Street outside the Bennick Trading Estate. County Councillor Paul Snape had agreed to look into this problem and the Clerk would also report it again to Staffordshire Highways.

CHAIRMAN ……………………………………………… 485

RESOLVED: To report overgrown vegetation on Union Street footpath to Staffordshire Highways. 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 Agenda 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 held 11th March 2020. Members were thanked for their attendance and the meeting was then closed.

CHAIRMAN ……………………………………………… 486