BRIDGTOWN PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting, commencing 7.30pm, Wednesday 8^th July 2015.

At the Bethel Church, Union Street, Bridgtown WS11 3BY.

It was noted that Patrick Frondigoun had signed his Declarations of Acceptance of Office prior to the Meeting.

Cllr. E Smith welcomed Cllr. Frondigoun to the Council.

Present:         

Cllrs. E. W. J. Smith, A. Smith, M Freeman, K. Whittaker and A. Askew.

In Attendance:

Mrs J. Arm – Parish Clerk.

District Councillor John Kraujalis – Cannock Chase District Council

1. Apologies received in writing.

All members were present.

2. Declaration of interests on Agenda Items and consideration of Dispensations where appropriate.

Cllr. A. Askew (Agenda item 10.1) declared an interest. This Councillors did not participate nor vote on these items.

3. To Approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 20^th May 2015.

• Annual General Meeting.

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

• Annual Parish Meeting.

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

RESOLVED: To approve the minutes.

4. Matters Arising from the Minutes.

No items arose not already covered on the Agenda.

5. Considerations of applications for Casual Vacancy.

It was noted that since the publication of the Agenda, The Electoral Commission had advised that we needed to advertise the vacancy before we could declare a Casual Vacancy. The vacancy had been declared and if an Election is not called, an extra ordinary Council meeting would be called to consider any casual vacancy applications.

RESOLVED: To call an Extraordinary Meeting if the Council were advised it could co-opt a Casual Vacancy.

6. Chairman’s Report:

Cllr. Smith had reported:

Bridgtown History Society advised they would be producing a History Trail around Bridgtown. It was agreed to ask a member of the Society to make a presentation to the Council on this issue.

It had come to the Councils notice that a local book had been published called ‘ ‘Not Just Names – A tribute to the Fallen of Cannock Chase’ The book listed in detail all those names dedicated on the Cannock Chase War Memorials, including Bridgtown. It was agreed to purchase the a book a the cost of £14.95.

RESOLVED: To purchase the book called Not Just Names – A Tribute to the Fallen of Cannock Chase.

It was noted that the Council wished to lease a small piece of land on the corner of North Street and Union Street, where the flagpole was situated. It was hoped at some point to dedicate and rename this area the Leighton Memorial Garden.  District Councillor John Kraujalis agreed to make further enquiries with the District Council Property Services Manager.

It was also noted that this area was in need of cleaning.

RESOLVED: – Cllr Kraujalis had agreed make further enquiries regarding the transfer of land on the Corner of North Street and Union Street.

7. Memorial Gardens and Union Street Play Area and Associated Matters.

No problems had been reported regarding the weekly Play area inspections carried out by the District Council. Cllr. John Kraujalis had agreed to chase up the weekly paper reports and the Annual Inspection Report on behalf of the Council.

RESOLVED: – Cllr. Kraujalis to request that the Annual inspection Reports and the Weekly inspection reports be forwarded to the Clerk for the records.

8. Planning:

No planning applications for note had been received.

• Applications for Consideration.

It was noted that Councillors were considering planning applications and observations would be submitted to Cllr. Smith for comment to the District Council via the Clerk where appropriate.

• Applications Approved/Rejected by Cannock Chase District Council.

Applications approved, rejected or withdrawn were noted.

The incoming post was noted.

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

The outgoing post was noted.

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

• Accounts for Consideration.

Authorisation of the accounts presented for payment as above totalling £644.74 were agreed.

RESOLVED: To authorise the payments.

• Consideration of the Current Financial situation of the Council.

The accounts of the current financial year were presented for consideration. The accounts were accepted as a true reflection of the current financial situation.

RESOLVED: To accept the accounts as above.

11. Consideration of Adopting Pension Policy Guidelines.

It was noted that according to the Staffordshire Pension Fund, the Council should have adopted a Pension Policy Guidelines. A draft of the guidelines had been circulated to all Councillors. It was proposed, seconded and agreed to adopt the Guidelines as presented.

RESOLVED: – To adopt the Pension Policy Guidelines.

12. Community Defibrillator – Consideration of financially supporting campaign for installing a defibrillator in the village.

It was noted that Bridgtown Primary School had contacted the Council regarding supporting their campaign to supply a Community Defibrillator to be housed on the wall of a local business.

It was unanimously agreed to support this campaign and the council agreed to grant any shortfall in funds needed to purchase the cabinet and defibrillator unit and also to sponsor the annual fee for keeping the cabinet on a trickle charge to heat the cabinet. It was noted that this was currently estimated at £15 Per annum.

RESOLVED: To financially support campaign for a community defibrillator and annual cost of heating the cabinet.

It was noted that the Council would consider installing a plaque when the project went ahead.

13. Standing Orders – Consideration of re-adopting.

It was proposed, seconded and agreed to adopt the standing orders as circulated to Councillors.

RESOLVED: – To adopt Standing Orders.

14. Highways Issues – Matters arising for attention.

It was noted that earlier in the year the Clerk had reported to Staffordshire Highways that slabs outside Bethel Methodist Church on Union Street, Bridgtown and also on North Street, Bridgtown, outside United Carpets. It was agreed to seek an update on both these issues.

It was also agreed to report the parking on the corner of Park Street and East Street, as although the Local Police had advised they would keep an eye on the area, inconsiderate and dangerous parking was still an issue. The Clerk would request that double yellow lines be considered on a safety issue.

The Corner of Longford Road and New Street was also a problem and double yellow line would be requested for this area too.

RESOLVED: To request double yellow lines on the Corner of Park Street and East Street.

                         To request double yellow lines on the corner of Longford Road and New Street.

It was agreed the Clerk would report the overgrown hedge on North Street, on the footpath outside United Carpets.

15. Items for Information or Future Agendas.

No issues arose.

16. Date of Next Meeting: 9^th September 2015

Cllr. Smith thanked all those present for their attendance and declared the meeting closed.

Mrs Janine Arm

Clerk to the Council – 23 School Road, Norton Canes, Cannock, Staffordshire. WS11 9SQ Tel. 01543 450181 E-mail.  janine_arm@hotmail.com