Full Council Meeting Minutes 12th October 2022

BRIDGTOWN PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting.
Wednesday 13th July 2022.
At Bethel Methodist Church

Present:
Cllrs. Val Jones (Chair), Kevin Whittaker (Vice-chairman), Paul Snape, Peter Kruskonjic, Bob Eccleston, Mandy Cook,

In Attendance:
Chris Gracey – Clerk
3 residents

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – No comments

1.Apologies received in writing prior to the meeting.

Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr. Matt Freeman.

RESOLVED: To accept the apologies of above Councillor.

2. Declaration of Interests on agenda items and consideration of dispensations where appropriate.
None

3.To Approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 11th May 2022

3.1 Members discussed the minutes in detail and agreed to the minutes subject to any amendments and corrections, as below:
Cllr. Mandy Cook reported that in the Chairman’s Annual Report it stated that she was elected in November 2021 but it should have been October 2021, this was noted.

This was proposed by Cllr. Peter Kruskonjic, seconded by Cllr.Mandy Cook and carried to approve the minutes.

RESOLVED: MINUTES WERE APPROVED.

4.0 Matters Arising from the Minutes.(Not already on the Agenda)

4.1 None

5.0 Chairman’s Report.

5.1 Jubilee Events – All community events held at the club, church & school, the lighting of the beacon went well & were gladly received by the community.

The beacon, gifted by Cannock Chase District Council to the parish council to commemorate the Queens Platinum Jubilee, has been looking for a home, it was hoped that the school would take it but unfortunately they were unable. The Chairman & Vice-chairman considered the 116 Reserve Centre and they have agreed to take it and display it at the front of the building proposed by the Chairman seconded by the Vice-chairman, show of hands, 4 for, 1 against, 1 abstained, therefore carried.

AED Device – located at the Bethel Church has now been connected at no charge, suitable training will be arranged as soon as possible through Burntwood 1st Responders.

6.0 Consideration of reports received from the PCSO.

6.1 None received – the Chairman will contact the police.

7.0 County Councillor’s Report

7.1 County Cllr. Paul Snape reported that Staffordshire Police have a new Chief Constable Chris Noble, Cannock Chase area will have their own policing unit to include a sargeant & 5 police constables covering the area. Cllr. Paul Snape commented that he will try and get someone from the Cannock unit to attend a council meeting.
7.15pm Two Business members of the community entered the meeting, the Chairman suspended the council meeting to let them speak.

The gentlemen reported that they have operate a restaurant business in Bridgtown for the last 8 years, within the Holiday Inn complex, with the exception of the pandemic lockdown the restaurant has been open on a regular basis. Unfortunately over the last 9 months they have experienced problems with the guests at the hotel, causing a nuisance to their customers and themselves. Due to the problems they have been forced to close. The landlord has changed the locks and they have been unable to retrieve their property, stock and equipment.

Members discussed the problems at the hotel, the Chairman asked the restaurant owner to email all the details and she would contact various parties looking at the hotel and come back to him. She will make contact with Police Inspector Chris Moss.

7.40pm Cllr. Paul Snape tendered his apologies, as he was unwell and left the meeting.

8.0 Recreational Areas.

8.1 The Leighton Memorial Garden – No comments

8.2 War Memorial – No comments

8.3 Bridgtown Memorial Gardens & Play Park in Union Street – The Chairman reported that a volunteer working group has been arranged for Sunday to carryout work at the park, everyone is invited.

8.4 Repair/replacement brickwork quote is being obtained from CCDC, this has been repaired previously and damaged again. Cllr. Mandy Cook questioned the quality of the workmanship. The Chair commented that council standards for repairing public property are usually very high.

8.5 Cllr. Bob Eccleston commented on the knotweed that is growing profusely in the park area, this has been reported to CCDC and needs 5 years continuous treatment to eradicate.

9.0 Ajournment to receive reports from ‘Friends of Bridgtown Park’

9.1 Bridgtown Friends of Bridgtown Park – None present

9.2 Local Community Group Reports – None present

10.0 Planning:
All planning applications have been circulated to Councillors for comment.

10.1 Applications for Consideration

CH/22/0199 Application under section 73 of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990(as amended) to vary conditions No.1 (opening hours), No.2 (use class) to include other uses within D2. Pursuant to planning permission CH/19/0129 Location Mercury House Union Street Bridgtown – Withdrawn 4th July 2022

10.2 Applications Approved/Rejected by District Council –

CH/22/0039 Change of use on first floor from offices/historical centre to one residential appartment @ 264, Stumble Inn, Walsall Road, Cannock, WS11 0JL – approved 11th May 2022
CH/22/0131 Application under Section 73 of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 to vary Conditions No.1 (approved plans) for plans (DWG LBP-ALT-C-02, LBP-ALT-C-04, LBP-ALT-C-07) & Condition No.3 (materials), to allow alteration to entrance doors, roller shutter & bin store removal. Pursuant to CH/21/0399.@ Units 4-10, Lakeside Business Park, Cannock – approved 16th May 2022
CH/22/0073 Removal of 3 nr. 48 panel billboard and replace with 1Nr. LED advertisement board @ Advertising right roundabout junction Walsall Road Cannock WS11 8XR – refused 1st June 2022
CH/22/0194 Prior notification: Change of use from office(Class E) to 2 Nr. Apartments(class C3) @ Poplar Court (4-6) 60 Union Street Bridgtown WS11 0BY- Refused 12th July 2022

11.0 Correspondence – Items of correspondence received during the month are emailed to Councillors, as received and for this month included the following:
11.1 Incoming –
• CCDC Newsround up emailed to council 30th May 2022
• SPCA Bulletin emailed to council 30th May 2022
• CCDC Newsround up emailed to council 30th May 2022
• SPCA Bulletin emailed to council 8th June 2022
• Email from the Chair with details of a book from the History Society donated to the each councillor, delivered by Cllr. Bob Eccleston emailed to council 10th June 2022
• SPCA Bulletin emailed to council 17th June 2022
• CCDC News roundup emailed to council 17th June 2022
• CCDC Cabinet press releases emailed to council 17th June 2022
• Email from resident re: the bus service withdrawal of Nr.1 & Nr.1a emailed to CCDC & SCC 24th June 2022
• SPCA Bulletin emailed to council 27th June 2022
• Email from CCDC with details of a consultation on rented houses work emailed to council 3rd July 2022
• CCDC News Roundup emailed to council 3rd July 2022
• CCDC email with details of the Queen’s Baton Relay emailed to council 6th July 2022
• SPCA Bulletin emailed to council 6th July 2022
• SPCA Welcome Pack for new clerks & councillors emailed to Cllr. Mandy Cook 6th July 2022
• CCDC News Roundup emailed to council 12th July 2022
• SPCA Bulletin emailed to council 12th July 2022
11.2 Outgoing – None

RESOLVED: ALL RELEVANT POST HAD BEEN CIRCULATED AND NOTED.

12.0 Accounts

12.1 Payments for Approval
Date Payee Cheque Nr. Amount VAT Approved/declined
13/07/2022 Bethel Methodist Church (Hall hire 13/07/22) 0102070 20.00 approved
13/07/2022 HMRC Clerk’s June & July PAYE) 0102071 81.40 approved
13/07/2022 C E Gracey Clerk’s salary June & July salary ) 0102072 325.16 approved
13/07/2022 Lewis Pritchard Graffiti Work(Refresh murals in park deposit for materials 0102073 100.00 approved
TOTAL £526.56

RESOLVED: Authorisation of the accounts presented for payment totalling £526.56 was agreed proposed by the Cllr. Val Jones(Chairman) seconded by Cllr. Kevin Whittaker(Vice-chairman) 3 for,1 against, 1 abstained therefore carried.

12.2 Consideration of the Current financial situation of the Council – The financial statements 1st April to 31st May 2022 & 1st April to 30th June 2022 were presented, proposed by Cllr. Kevin Whittaker(Vice-chairman) seconded by Cllr. Peter Kruskonjic and carried.

12.3 Consideration of infrastructure projects update – Quote received for the replacement barriers two outside school,
one outside the flower shop, one outside the funeral directors, Members agreed to accept the quote proposed by Cllr. Peter Kruskonjic seconded by Cllr. Bob Eccleston and carried.

12.4 Consideration of any grant funding application opportunities – Nothing to report

12.5 Consideration of any Grant applications Received – None received

13.0 Highways Issues – No reports from County Council regarding any Highways issues

14.0 To receive reports from Councillors who have attended outside meetings – None
15.0 Queens Platinum Jubilee Celebrations Review – As mentioned in Chair’s Report
16.0 HGV Signage – North Street – New Street – Cross Street

16.1 Cllr. Bob Eccleston will compile a map showing the preferred location for signage.

17.0 Standing Orders – review/approve

17.1 Proposed by Cllr. Kevin Whittaker(Vice-chairman) seconded by Cllr. Peter Kruskonjic and carried

18.0 Data Protection Policy – deferred until the next meeting

19.0 Risk Assessment Policy – deferred until the next meeting

20.0 Adoption of waste bins at Lakeside Boulevard

20.1 CCDC have reported that no adoption will take place until all issues have been addressed by the contractors.

21.0 Painting/Colour Lamp Standards @ North Street & Hanging Basket Holders

21.1 Members discussed the colour of the paint and agreed on 12C39 from the colour chart, the hanging basket holders will be painted in the same colour.

22.0 Replacement of safety barriers as required

22.1 As agreed in item 12.3

23.0 Commemorative plaque for Late David Williams – approved permission from CCDC to fix the plaque in The Leighton Memorial Garden.

23.1 Members discussed the small plaque and agreed to the permission given by CCDC, the size & wording for the plaque will be discussed with the History Society and brought to the next meeting for council approval.

24.0 Communication – Website – Noticeboard – Social Media

24.1 Website – the clerk confirmed that the site it upto date, Cllr. Bob Eccleston commented that his mobile number had changed, the clerk will update the site.

24.2 Noticeboard – Cllr. Bob Eccleston reported that the information on the noticeboard was out of date and still showing the previous clerk’s contact details. He proposed that a member who lived in Bridgtown should have a key seconded by Cllr. Mandy Cook and carried. Cllr. Bob Eccleston would hold a key to the noticeboard and the clerk would forward to him any parish council documents to post on the board including her own contact details.

24.3 Social Media – Cllr. Bob Eccleston asked the clerk to book him a training place on the forthcoming SPCA Training Seminar on Social Media Skills.

25.0 Consideration to change the existing BPC emblem

25.1 Members discussed the present emblem and Cllr. Bob Eccleston proposed an amended emblem with larger lettering of Bridgtown Parish Council, seconded by Cllr. Mandy Cook and carried.

26.0 Approve cost of repairing the brickwork around the flowerbeds at Bridgtown Memorial Gardens & Play Park

26.1 Discussed in item 8.3

27.0 Items for Information or Future Agendas – None

28.0 Date of Next Meeting.

28.1 It was agreed that the next meeting would be Wednesday 14th September 2022

RESOLVED: NEXT MEETING: 14th September 2022

29.0 The Chair thanked everyone for their attendance and the meeting closed at 9.00pm.

30.0 Confidential Items – exclusion of the press and public when applicable.

Signed By Chairman ……………………..
Date ……………………………………….