MINUTES – SEPTEMBER 2024

Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council of Waterhouses.

Re: Meeting held on Thursday, Sept 19th 2024 at 7.30pm in the sports pavilion, Waterhouses.

Present: Cllr Turner, (Chair); Cllr Stone, (Vice); Cllr Goldstraw; Cllr McCarthy; Cllr Stanmore;

Also present: Mr C Hinton (Clerk);

1. Apologies: Cllr Carr; Cllr Harvey; Cllr Simpson; Cllr Wain

2. Minutes of the last meeting:
The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, August 15th 2024 were confirmed as being a true record and were duly signed by the Chairman.
Proposed: Cllr Goldstraw; Seconded: Cllr Stanmore

3. Matters arising:

Clerk’s report:
The clerk reported that he and Cllr Stone had attended the parish assembly held at Moorlands House on September 12th. This meeting included presentations relating to Rural Policing and Renewable Energy. The latter provided a detailed overview of the government’s policy on the wider use of solar forms and wind turbines etc.
The clerk has joined a group of neighbouring clerks, organised by SMDC, to improve communications at all levels. It is hoped that his will facilitate a better understanding of the needs of the parish and thereby help to bring about greater transparency and improved services.

Lafarge Update:
Cllr Goldstraw had attended the liaison meeting at the plant earlier in the day. He provided a detailed report on the measures being taken by the company to address various operational issues, and the Environment Agency’s corresponding efforts to measure the results. Parishioners are advised to direct their reports to the Environment Agency so that they can be monitored. The company had advised that it will shut down for a longer period in March/April 2025, for perhaps more than 36days. Road closures may be needed during that period.

Pavilion:
The inspection of the electrical system has been completed. The report had found the building to be safe. A list of items recommended for the attention was shared. As these were not deemed to be urgent, It was agreed that these would be considered when finances allow.

Sports Field:
The new fencing has now been installed offering greater security for the area. Work has still to be carried out at the pedestrian gate, to widen the low-level access and to improve the surface beyond the gate. New stop nets are to be installed the following week and new goal posts as soon as possible thereafter.

Playing Fields:
In line with the procurement process agreed with Staffs Moorlands District Council, invitations to tender for the supply of the new equipment had been issued on September 2nd. Responses are required by Monday September 23rd and the council will review the results on Wednesday 25th.
The order for the equipment can then be placed as soon as the final Grant Agreement document has been received from SMDC. The new play area is planned to be completed before the end of this year. The existing play area will also see improvements over the next few months with attention being given to the existing equipment and the drainage of the area. A recent site visit had taken place and a trial drain, along the lower edge of the field, will be laid in the near future.

Allotments:
The clerk will attend the next meeting of the Allotments Association on October 1st
There is currently one plot available.

Lengthsman:
The council discussed the new format of the monthly report, detailing the work being carried out by the lengthsman.

4. Correspondence received:
• NHS Integrated Care Board notices
• Invitation to Peak Park Parishes Day

5. Planning Matters;
• The council received a summary of the decisions recently made by the planning authorities.
• NP/SM/0824/0792 – Meadow End, Back Lane, Calton; – First floor side extension and new porch – the council recorder no objections.

6. Financial Matters:
The latest bank balance was shared with the council. The council was advised of the final report received from the external auditor. This found the council’s accounts and Annual Report to be without issue. This information will be shared on the council’s website and notice boards.
The clerk advised that he will bring to the next meeting, the accounts for the half year and a guide to the likely results that may be seen in the second half of the year. This will help the council to gauge the results of the coming months and in particular, to plan for the significant cash-flow impacts of the incoming grants and corresponding outgoing expenditure.

The following cheques were then requested:
• Clerk; for his work & expenses in August; £903.27
(This includes reimbursement for padlocks; line marking paint and other materials on behalf of the council).
• Caretaker; for his work & expenses in August; £64.75
• Lengthsman; for his work and materials used in August/September; £1,157.50
• Clewlow Electrical; for the inspection and report on pavilion electrical system; £1,320.00
• Mark Harrod Ltd; for the second ‘part payment’ for the new stop nets & goal posts;
– To be issued once the associated grant funding has been received – £1,712.80
• Hillsdale Fencing; for the second ‘part payments’ for the supply and installation of the new fencing for the sports field;
– To be issued once the associated grant funding has been received – £6,735.00 & £304.69.
• Hillsdale Fencing; for an additional pedestrian gate to the sports field; £384.00
• JW Howson; for materials supplied; £16.99
• Roy Harvey; for the excavation of the drainage gulley above the allotments; £294.00
• P. Carr; for the refund of the security deposit for the recent hire of venue; £100.00
• G. Jones; for fuel for lawn mower used in mowing the grass at entrance to sports field; £30.00
• Cllr Stone; for the reimbursement of expenses for gift for parishioner; £22.00
• HMRC; for payment of PAYE for clerk’s salary for August; £172.80
Payment for the above was approved, en bloc. Prop: Cllr Goldstaw; Seconded: Cllr Stone

7. Highways:
Following a request made in October 2023, as a result of the floods seen in the area, Cllr Stone and the clerk met the Flood Risk Planning Team from Staffs County Council on September 18th.
A comprehensive tour of the area surrounding the River Hamps was carried out with much information being shared with them in terms of those areas most at risk of repeat flooding.
The poor state of several bridges was also discussed as was the saturation levels of the fields around the play area and allotments. The team had much data in their possession and promised to consider their findings and report back in due course. They advised that they would also, where possible, give guidance as to how to progress the issues such as the bridges, which were not normally within their remit.

The clerk shared with the councillors a list of the highways issues that had been reported, some of them being very recurring and aged. Councillors were asked to add any new issues and the clerk advised that he hoped to revisit all of these and advise on their status at the next meeting.

8. Any other business:
Cllr Stanmore asked if a bus timetable could be installed at the bus stop on the A523 opposite Crowtrees Farm. Cllr Stone suggested that this request be widened to include other bus stops in the parish. The clerk will request these from the operators.
He will also arrange signs to advise that the bus shelters are not for use as public toilets.
Cllr Stone raised again the deteriorating state of the bus shelter located near to the junction of Common Lane and the A523. It was agreed that this matter should be considered once the council had reviewed it financial position and sets its budgets for 2024/2025.
Cllr. Goldstraw advised of a bush obscuring the view of motorists trying to join the A523 from Bromleyhedge Lane.

9. Date of next meeting: Thursday, October 17th 2024 at 7.30 pm.