MINUTES – MARCH 2025

Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council of Waterhouses.
Meeting held on Thursday, March 20th 2025 at 7.30pm in the sports pavilion, Waterhouses.

Present: Cllr Turner (Chair); Cllr Carr; Cllr Goldstraw; Cllr Harvey; Cllr McCarthy; Cllr Simpson;

Also present: Mr C Hinton, (Clerk); one visitor;

1. Apologies: Cllr Stone, (Vice); Cllr Wain;

2. Minutes of the last meeting:
The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, February 20th 2025 were confirmed as being a true and accurate record and were duly endorsed by the Chairman.
Proposed: Cllr McCarthy; Seconded: Cllr Harvey

The council had recently been advised of the resignation of Cllr Stanmore, due to ill-health.
The clerk was asked to write, on behalf of the council, to thank him for his contribution and to wish him a good recovery.

The chairman then invited the visitor to address the meeting. Iain Banks introduced himself as a candidate for the upcoming County Council elections. He outlined his thoughts on a number of issues, including the Government’s plans for Devolution, and the performance of the Staffs County Council Highways Dept.

3. Matters arising:
Clerk’s report: The clerk had attended the Parish Assembly on March 6th. This had included a presentation from the County Officer of the Staffs Parish Council’s Association; a lengthy discussion of the Devolution & Local Government Reorganisation Plans; the adoption of the Town & Parish Charter and its Terms of Reference.

Lafarge Update:
Cllr Goldstraw advised that the plant was now in shutdown. However, on the evening of March 19th, a number of councillors had witnessed loud noises emanating from the factory.
The clerk had written to the Environment Agency to seek any advice that they could offer in relation to the possibility that the construction of the conveyor did not comply with the original planning consent.
The EA had responded saying said that this enquiry should be directed to the Staffs County Council and the clerk will now pursue the matter accordingly.

Pavilion: A pair of new gates, incorporating easier pedestrian access to the pavilion has been authorised. This will be partly funded through the Staffs County Council Community Fund. The clerk is gathering quotations for its waste services as it is felt that savings may be possible.

Sports Fields: The claim for the grant from the Football Foundation, for ongoing financial support of the pitch improvement program will be completed within the next few weeks. This program helps to ensure that the pitches are resilient to weather conditions and to be of good quality.

Playing Fields: Additional grant funding has been approved from SMDC, under its Community Infrastructure Grant. This will enable the installation of bow-top fencing around the new play area. The work will be carried out before the end of March. As the area is now drying out, the surface will be worked upon over the next few weeks. Once the surface work has been completed, an opening date will be agreed. All parties having contributed to the project will be recognised and invited to attend the opening.
The existing play area should also see improvements in the near future. The council continues to work with the Flood Risk Management Team at Staffs County Council, to alleviate the flooding issues in this area, as part the improvements.

4. Correspondence Received; The following items were shared with the council:
• Peak District National Park – Approval of Restructure under financial pressures
• Peak District National Park – Local Plan Review – A call for sites
• Staffordshire’s Best Kept Village & Community Competition 2025
• SMDC – In Touch Newsletter – Spring Edition
• Staffs & Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Partnership Briefing – March 2025
• SPCA Mini Briefing re Local Government Reorganiataion and Devolution
• SMDC – VE/VJ DAY 80 Update

5. Planning Matters;
The council received a report of decisions recently made by the planning authorities.
It went on to discuss the following, recently notified applications:
• SMD/2025/0071 – Huddale Farm, Leek Road, Waterhouses – Erection of roof cover over existing slurry store. Cllr Goldstraw abstained from discussion of this application.
No objections were recorded.
• NP/SM/1024/1095 – St Marys Church, Back Lane, Calton – Rear extension to church, including alterations to south pathway and church gateway.
No objections were recorded.
• Schedule 14 Appeal – S53 Application to upgrade PF8, Waterhouses Parish, to a Public Bridleway. Cllr Turner abstained from discussion of this item.
The council retained its previous position in relation to the application.

6. Financial Matters: The latest bank balance and financial outlook were discussed, including a cash-flow forecast outlining the effects of the most significant movements in funding over the next two months, as grant funds are received and larger invoices are subsequently paid.
The following cheques were then requested:
• Cheques were then requested for the following:
• Clerk; for his work & expenses in February; £612.36
• Caretaker; for his work & expenses in February; £76.25
• Lengthsman; for his work in February and March; £200.00
• Signal Fire & Safety; annual inspection of fire extinguishers; £147.24
• JW Howson; for materials supplied; £34.37
• Dave Rhodes; for pitch treatment work; £990.00
• Broxap; for the supply of new play area equipment; £35.387.76
• Hillsdale Fencing; for fencing around the play area; £9,600.00
• Peak Park Parishes Forum; for annual subscription; £12.00
• Pure Accounting Solutions; for processing VAT return; £60.00
• HMRC; for payment of PAYE for clerk’s salary; £130.00
Payment of the above en bloc proposed by: Cllr Goldstraw; Seconded: Cllr McCarthy

7. Highways:
• The local medical centre had been advised that its staff could use daily parking spaces, next to the Sports Field, if this would help to free up space for their patients.
• The clerk will continue to pursue the meeting requested with the Highways Inspector to discuss all of the reported issues.
• New issues were reported as follows: damaged drainage gulley at the entrance to Broadhurst Farm.

8. Any other business:
• The clerk will contact SMDC re the process following the resignation of Cllr Stanmore.
• The clerk will draft a letter, on behalf of the council, to thank retiring County Councillor Gill Heath for her support over the years.

9. Date of next meeting: Thursday, April 17th 2025 at 7.30 pm.