MINUTES – JANUARY 2025

Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council of Waterhouses.

Meeting held on Thursday, January 16th 2025 at 7.30pm in the sports pavilion, Waterhouses.

Present: Cllr Turner, (Chair); Cllr Stone, (Vice); Cllr Carr; Cllr Goldstraw; Cllr Harvey;
Cllr McCarthy; Cllr Wain

Also present: Mr C Hinton, (Clerk); a representative of Cotton Parish Council

1. Apologies: Cllr Simpson; Cllr Stanmore;

2. Minutes of the last meeting:
The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, December 19th 2024 were confirmed as being a true and accurate record, with the exception of a typographical error. The council agreed that the minutes be accepted, subject to its correction. Proposed: Cllr Goldstraw; Seconded: Cllr Stone

The chairman then invited the representative of Cotton Parish Council to address the meeting. The parishioner went on to share concerns regarding a recent planning application relating to The Cross Inn. The parish council of Waterhouses, having not been advised of this application, agreed to contact the planning department and to consider the matter, upon receipt of the notice.

3. Matters arising:

Clerk’s report: The clerk advised of the recent use of the defibrillator located at the pavilion.
This unit had been fitted with new pads only days before its use. This served as proof of the need to maintain these units in good condition at all times. A new cabinet, to house the unit being transferred from the Crown Inn to the village shop, was to be supplied by courtesy of the NFU.
A meeting with AED’s coordinator, to pursue progress regarding all of the nominated defibrillators in the parish, had been arranged but subsequently cancelled due to the ill health of their representative. A new date for this meeting will be arranged asap.

Lafarge Update:
The council had received the latest reports from the Environment Agency, giving details of complaints received in November 2024. These totalled 16 complaints in relation to noise and 1 in relation to litter. More recently however, several reports of litter, around the Geocycle plant, had been received. The clerk was asked to write to the Environment Agency regarding its concerns in relation to this problem. The council cited the detrimental appearance of the litter but also its concerns that the debris, mostly plastic, could enter the food chain via grazing livestock and local waterways. Residents would be encouraged to report further issues directly to the Agency as they need to register all such complaints on their database for future reference. The number is listed on the council’s website.
Lafarge had recently advised the council of its plans to store clinker in the nearby quarry. The company will ensure that the effects of doing so would be mitigated by extra road cleaners etc.

Pavilion:
The RSPB had enquired about hiring the pavilion for a training day on January 28th.

Sports Field:
The Staffs FA will be on site on January 27th to record a short film as part a case study highlighting the council’s program in conjunction with the Football Foundation. This will be used to encourage other institutions to take up the program aimed at improving local football facilities.

Playing Fields: Groundworks being carried out for the new play area continue to be delayed by the excessive recent rainfall. Some of the storm drains in the car park are to be cleared, to prevent further rainwater affecting the play area.
Allotments:
The Waterhouses Allotments Association will hold their AGM in the pavilion on January 30th
Representatives of the WAA will also attend the meeting of the parish council on February 20th
A new tenant will be taking up one of the few vacant plots.

4. Correspondence Received – the following documents were shared:
• A letter from SMDC – re their upcoming newsletter
• A letter from PDNP – re their financial circumstances
• A letter from NHS – re a meeting of the Integrated Care Board

5. Planning Matters;
The council received a summary of decisions recently made by the local planning authorities.
It then considered the following applications:
• Ref: 013543DW; S53 Application to upgrade FP1A Waterhouses – Farwell Lane to Slade House to a Restricted Byway – Appeal against decision made by Staffs County Council. The appeal was noted.
• Ref: 018280DW; S53 Application to upgrade footpath to a bridleway at Morridge Top A53 to junction with Leek Road Barrow Moor. It was agreed that this application, although notified, was not relevant to the parish and hence was not considered.

6. Financial Matters:
The latest bank balance and financial outlook were discussed by the council. Thereafter, the precept request for 2025/2026 was agreed. The subsequent request for a precept of £22,500 would provide modest support in allowing the council to meet its commitments and would represent an annual increase of only £2.14 per household.

The following cheques were then requested:
• Clerk; for his work & reimbursements in December; £548.87
• Caretaker; for his work & expenses in December; £47.25
• Lengthsman for his work in December/January; £206.25
• Mark Harrod Ltd; for line-marking materials; £214.45
• B&M Waste Services; for services provided; £59.34
• Forvis Mazars; for annual external audit fee; £252.00
• Cllr Carr for reimbursement for hire of turf cutter; £168.34
• HMRC; for payment of PAYE for clerk’s salary; £129.60
Payment for the above was approved, en bloc. Prop: Cllr Wain; Seconded: Cllr Harvey

7. Highways:
Whilst pursuing the meeting with the Highways Inspector – and a review of all outstanding issues previously reported, the clerk had been advised of a new reporting system about to be introduced by the Highways Department. This new system would appear still not to allow any dialogue, other than through their website. Furthermore, it may be that the existing issues may have to be re-reported – not for the first time. The meeting requested still awaits a date.
The council sees this as representing very poor service from the Highways Department.
New issues to be added:
Councillor Simpson reported barely visible lines at the junction of Earlsway and the A523
Councillor Turner reported the hazards posed by the poor road surfaces of both Post Lane and Back Lane in Calton.

8. Any other business:
It was agreed that revision of the councils contact details to a .gov domains should be deferred.

9. Date of next meeting: Thursday, February 20th 2025 at 7.30 pm.