MINUTES – JANUARY 2024

Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council of Waterhouses.

Re: Meeting held Thursday, January 18th 2024 at 7.30pm in the sports pavilion, Waterhouses

Present:
Cllr Goldstraw,(Chair); Cllr Turner,(Vice); Cllr Harvey; Cllr McCarthy; Cllr Simpson; Cllr Stone.

Also present: Mr C Hinton (Clerk);

1. Apologies: Cllr Carr; Cllr Stanmore; Cllr Wain.

2. Minutes of the last meeting:
The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, December 14th were approved as being a true and correct record and were signed by the Chairman. Proposed: Cllr Stone; Seconded: Cllr Simpson.

3. Matters arising:
• Clerk’s report:
The clerk reported on the work recently carried out on the track leading to the play area and the allotments. Despite the bitter weather conditions, Cllr Goldstraw and the lengthsman had prepared the surface, before Aggregate Industries had then laid materials, up to the play area. This work has made a significant improvement to the track, for all users, and at virtually no cost to the parish. The council recorded its thanks to Cllr Goldstraw, the lengthsman and to Aggregate Industries. The clerk was asked to write to Aggregate Industries, to thank them for providing the materials and for laying for this.

• Lafarge Update:
The recent issue of plastic debris found near to the Geocycle plant was discussed. The issue was raised with the works on December 28th. The plant responded with a clean-up campaign, along with probable reasons for its occurrence. The very strong winds prevailing at the time were cited as one of the possible causes as these had damaged the litter catchment netting around the site.
The company advised that any other reasons for the issue would also be investigated.
The chairman will attend the liaison meeting on January 31st and will seek further details.

• Playing Fields:
The track leading to the playing fields and the allotments was discussed at length, following concerns raised by a parishioner. These concerns included the potential hazards posed to homeowners living alongside the track and to pedestrians. They cited the increased use of the track by vehicles and the speed at which some of these were driven. The parishioner considered these to be a possible danger to people in their gardens. The risk to persons joining the track, through the path from Dove Way, was also a concern. The parishioner had also sought confirmation of the ownership of the track and where responsibility would lie in the case of such accidents. The parishioner also raised concerns about the risk of flooding as water runs off the improved surface into their gardens. The council agreed to monitor all of the above concerns and listed a number of measures that may need to be considered going forward. These may include: letters to the tenants of the allotments and the grazing field to limit their speed; signage at the entrance to the track to restrict usage and speed; signage to alert all users at the junction of the track and the path from Dove Way and from the play area. If deemed necessary; the possible introduction of speed reduction apparatus at the junction of the path from Dove Way and the possibility of a gate at the entrance to the track itself. The local PCSO would also be asked to monitor the use of the track. The parishioner would be advised of these details, along with confirmation of the council’s ownership of the track. Regarding the potential liability for accidents, the council’s position is that the responsibility would lie with whoever caused these.
In relation to the water, the council will monitor the source, flow and direction of surface water on the track. If problems are identified, an appropriate solution will be sought.
The council was then updated by the clerk in relation to our application for grant funding for the playing field project. He had held recent discussions with Support Staffordshire and had been assured of their support in completing our application. The clerk would pursue this, with the aim of submitting an application by the end of February, or as soon as possible thereafter.
The sub-committee would continue to work on the project details and the chairman would continue to talk to Lafarge, regarding its possible contribution towards the cost of the project.
(The see-saw and swing seats are currently being fixed and the roundabout is under review).

• Pavilion:
The recent gales had damaged the fence alongside the bowling green. Our insurers have been contacted and quotes requested for the repairs needed.
The clerk had started work on a periodic maintenance schedule for the pavilion and had already received guidance re testing electrical appliances and for Legionella etc.
An order for heating oil was discussed and the clerk is to arrange this in the near future.
The camper van had been removed from the car park, after assistance from local police officers. Owners of other vehicles parked there will be similarly pursued.

• Allotments:
As stated above, in relation to the track leading to the allotments, as above, the clerk will write to the tenants to request that all vehicles be driven with care and for drivers to be aware of others.
New Tenancy agreements would be issued by the end of January.
The Allotments Association will hold its AGM in the pavilion on January 31st

• Grazing fields:
The tenders for the grazing fields will also be issued by the end of January.
The North Field is need of repairs to the gate posts and fencing.

• Sports Field:
The planned application for grant funding from the Football Foundation is being prepared. Quotes have been requested for the additional posts that would be needed to protect the Sports Fields from intruders. New stop nets are needed at both ends of the senior pitch.
Staffs County Council are to be requested to install a kissing gate to the public footpath and check whether a gate for the other end of the section is available.
An ad-hoc request to use a small section of the field for a training session on Jan 23rd was approved. Cllr Stone volunteered to facilitate this event.

• Lengthsman:
The lengthsman would be asked when he can complete the lowering of the hedge by the bowling green as this is somewhat overdue as a result of the recent poor weather and other events. He will also be asked to inspect the fence around the North Field for the repair of weak posts.

4. Correspondence received Correspondence received;
• SCC Engagement with Communities Survey – Cllr Turner had submitted his response and he urged colleagues to take the opportunity to submit their individual feedback to the survey.
• SMDC letter re West Midlands Ambulance Service – this had been shared with the councillors.
The clerk is to advise SMDC of recent extensive delays in response times, including an incident where a resident passed away.
• Peak District Letter re: Extension of support scheme for farmers – this had also been shared.

5. Planning Matters;
• NP/SM/1223/1483 – Land west of Common Lane, Waterhouses;
Agricultural building lamb and house sheep fodder and implements
The council agreed that this application should be refused.
• SMD/2023/0607 – Park View Farm, Stoney Lane, Cauldon; Change of use for former Agricultural maintenance and repair workshop to Category B Vehicle maintenance and repair workshop. No Objections were recorded.
• NP/SM/1223/1514 – Middleton Farm, Back Lane, Calton;
To erect a domestic size wind turbine. Cllr Turner declared an interest in this application and took no part in the discussion. No Objections were recorded.
• SMD/2023/0625 – Stoney Rock Cottage, Leek Road, Waterhouses; – Construction of a single holiday let cabin within garden curtilage of Stoney Rock Cottage. No Objections recorded.
• The clerk shared the results of decision s recently made by SMDC & PDNP

6. Financial Matters: The latest bank statements were shared, along with the results for the year to December 2023. The revised draft budget for 2024/2025 was discussed and the precept for the new year agreed. It was agreed that this should rise by £1,000 for the year. This represents an annual increase per dwelling of £1.73 or 3.69%.
The following cheques were requested:
• Clerk, for his work & expenses in December; £648.56
• Caretaker, for his work in December: £46.58
• Lengthsman, for his work & expenses in December; £440.00
• Peak Waste, for waste removal services; £59.34
• Moledover, for pest control services; £90.00
• HMRC for the PAYE on the clerk’s salary; £150.65
Payment for the above was approved, en bloc. Prop: Cllr McCarthy; Cllr Simpson

7. Highways:
• Review of a previous item: Ref: NATTRAN/WM/S247/4875 – Town and country planning Act 1990 – Section 247- Proposed stopping up of highway at land off Duke’s Lane, Winkhill.
The council agreed that it should remove its original reservation as the land owner had stated that he was not disadvantaged by the plan.
• The clerk reported that he had written to the Environment Agency seeking dialogue in relation to the area, centred around the War Memorial, to avert future flooding.
It is hoped that a site visit may be arranged. This may include advice about the falling tree, on the riverside, by Post Office Bridge, and inspections of the other bridges along the river.
• The alterations needed for the footpath at the far end of the Sports Field was discussed. The details of the gate for the top end of the section had been received and a date needs to be arranged to install the gates at both ends of the section at the same time. Signage advising the public of the new route will need to be provided.
• Recent work carried out on Pikelow Lane was noted but this had failed to address the main problem and therefore would need to be re-reported.
• Pot holes on Green Lane, near to the junction with the A523, need to be reported again.
• Pot holes by the bus shelter in Cauldon would also need to reported again.
• The lack of progress re the serious defects at the sides of Back Lane, near to the sub-station was mentioned and the clerk will pursue this matter.

8. Any other business:
Parish defibrillators update – more details have been gathered. Some are still awaited. The final schedule should be completed for the February meeting. The poor state of two of the ex-BT phone boxes within the parish was raised. The possibility of selling these was briefly discussed. No conclusion was reached.
The deteriorating condition of the bus shelter at Calton was discussed again. The issue here is the cost of its renovation and the lack of its perceived usage. No conclusion was reached at this time as feedback from the public may be useful.
Cllr Simpson asked for the bus shelter in Cauldon to receive attention from the lengthsman.
9. Date of next meeting: Thursday, February 15th 2024 at 7.30 pm.