MINUTES – MAY 2024

Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council of Waterhouses.

Re: Meeting held on Thursday, May 16th 2024 at 7.30pm in the sports pavilion, Waterhouses.

Present:
Cllr Goldstraw, (Chair); Cllr Turner, (Vice); Cllr Carr; Cllr Harvey; Cllr Simpson; Cllr Stanmore;
Cllr Stone;

Also present:
Mr C Hinton (Clerk); one parishioner

Apologies:
Cllr McCarthy; Cllr Wain

1. Minutes of the last meeting:
The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, April 18th 2024 were confirmed as being a true record and were duly signed by the Chairman. Proposed: Cllr Turner; Seconded: Cllr Simpson.

Councillor Goldstraw, ended his second year as Chairman by thanking his fellow councillors and the clerk for their support over the last two years. Particular appreciation was recorded for Cllr Turner for his work as Vice Chairman, Cllrs Carr and McCarthy for their work on the playing fields project, Cllr Stone for his work on the Sports Fields and the clerk for his overall contribution.

2. Election of Officers:
Chairman: Cllr Turner was elected. Proposed by Cllr Stone; seconded by Cllr Simpson.
Vice Chairman: Cllr Stone was elected. Proposed by Cllr Goldstraw; seconded Cllr Carr.

3. Matters arising:
The incoming Chairman, Cllr Turner, thanked Cllr Goldstraw for all of his hard work on behalf of the council over the last two years. His time and effort throughout that period was unanimously recognised and appreciated by the council.

Clerk’s report:

A portrait of His Majesty King Charles III, donated by HM Government, was received by the council and was duly hung in the meeting room.

Defibrillators:
The clerk reported on the progress on the program, recently approved by the council, to ensure the safe working condition of a critical number of defibrillators throughout the parish.
The units that have been incorporated in the program are as follows:
Waterfall, (Red Lion); Waterhouses, (Crown Inn); Waterhouses, (Sports Pavilion); Cauldon, (Church Hall); Calton, (St Mary’s Village Hall).
Following an inspection of these units earlier in the week, they will be brought up to a safe standard and then be added the ‘Circuit’ to ensure ease of access in emergencies. Thereafter, for the foreseeable future, with support under a SMDC scheme, they will be regularly monitored.

Lafarge Update:
Cllr Goldstraw reported on the liaison meeting which he had attended on April 25th. The minutes from this meeting had been shared earlier with the councillors. Cllr Goldstraw agreed to continue in the role of the council’s representative to attend the liaison meetings held by Lafarge.

Pavilion:
The council is to review all fees for the hire of the pavilion in the near future.
One of the roller shutter doors had recently broken to such an extent that it needs replacement. The council agreed that this should be carried out asap at a cost of £786 plus VAT.
As the cause of the damage was deemed to be due to wear and tear, rather than accidental damage, an insurance claim was seen as being inappropriate.
The bowls club had yet to advise the cost of the fertilizer needed for the green.
An enquiry had been received from a non-local Scouts Group for the hire of the building for an overnight stay. Details of numbers and dates were still awaited. The council may consider the enquiry, subject to ensuring the safety of the attendees.
The clerk is to chase the completion the periodic inspection of the electric system.
Cllr Stone advised that a section of the guttering required attention. The lengthsman would be asked to attend to this.

Sports Field:
A review of all fees for the hire of the pitches and pavilion will take place in the near future.
The application to the Football Foundation, for the new perimeter fencing, goal posts and stop nets was almost ready for submission.
Cllr Stone had recently overseen repairs to the tractor. He will also host two events for a company who use the facilities for short motivational sessions. A plan to provide a set of goal posts for local children to use is ongoing. WFC have now paid their fees for last season.

Playing Fields:
The recent excavation of the ditch above the allotments has improved the diversion of water away from the track but further work, nearer to the play area and nearby houses may be needed.
The clerk had met a representative of Support Staffordshire the previous day. She had advised that portal for the submission of applications for grant funding from the Staffs Moorlands Innovation Community Infrastructure Grant is likely to be reopened in the next week or so. Our application is ready for submission, but she advised that the process has become more ‘competitive’ than previously believed. Other funding is being sought on an ongoing basis.
A parishioner had written to the council asking if Lafarge could contribute to the improvement of the play area facilities. The council had advised that we has already approached the company and been advise that limited support may be available.

Allotments:
The clerk had recently attended the recent AGM of the Allotment Association and reported back to the council on the hard work being carried out by the group and other volunteers.
The association were pleased with the work carried out on the ditch. One plot remains available.

Lengthsman:
A meeting with the lengthsman is to be arranged to review the schedule of the work needed.

4. Correspondence received;
• D Day Celebration Funding from SMDC – no requests had been received for the funding of any events within the parish.
• Invitation to join SMDC Webinair Session – June 12th. This had already been shared with the members of the council.

5. Planning Matters;
• The council received a summary of decisions recently made by the planning authorities.
• SMD/2024/0196 – Park View Farm, Stoney Lane, Cauldon
Proposed erection of livestock building. No objections were recorded.
• SMD/2024/0205 – Springfields, Leek Road, Waterhouses
Alterations and single storey rear extension. No objections were recorded.

6. Financial Matters:
The latest bank balance was shared with the council. The clerk advised that the accounts for 2023/2024 were now with the auditor and that the Annual Return would need to be approved at the next meeting.
The budget for 2024/2025 was reviewed and the potential costs of the projects relating to the playing fields and sports fields were discussed. The council will seek to raise further funds to meet these potential additional costs.
The following cheques were requested:
• Clerk, for work & expenses in April, inc defibrillator pads, line marking paint; £910.18
• Caretaker, for his work and expenses in April; £132.80
• JW Howson, for materials supplied; £54.02
• 4 Fuels for heating oil for pavilion; £609.53
• Cllr Stone for purchases of fuel for tractor; £59.29
• Pure Accounting Solutions for processing HMRC returns; £141.40
• Peak Park Parishes Forum for Annual Subscription; £12.00
• St Mary & St Laurence’s Church for donation for Flower Festival; £100.00
• HMRC for the PAYE on the clerk’s salary; £163.20
Payment for the above was approved, en bloc. Prop: Cllr Turner; Seconded: Cllr Harvey

7. Highways:
• The list of outstanding items already reported to the Highways Authorities was discussed.
• Councillors highlighted the ongoing lack of progress, particularly in respect of such locations as Back Lane, Green Lane, Rocester Lane and Pikelow Lane.
• There had also been no response received in relation to the request made to SMDC to clear the area around the culvert near to Beech Close.
• On a similar theme, the council discussed the lack of clarity on other services that should be provided to the parish. Despite all previous requests, detailed information regarding the contractual schedules to deliver services to the parish such as gully cleaning, pavement sweeping, grass verge cutting, hedge cutting and so on, never materialise.
• The Chairman therefore asked the clerk to contact the Cabinet Member at SMDC and the head of the Highways Authority, to ensure that we receive this information as soon as possible.
If necessary, the council may seek this information under the Disclosure of Information Act.
• The clerk was also asked to seek the support of the County Councillor in gaining progress on these issues.
• Cllr Stone had reported that recent cabling work had left the pavement outside the Medical Centre in Waterfall Lane in an unsafe condition. He advised that Connect Fibre Ltd had now resurfaced the area concerned.
• He also advised of a pothole on the A523 near to the entrance to the Colour Mill in Winkhill.
• A blocked gulley at the entrance to the George Hotel from Waterfall Lane was reported.
• A timetable has now been installed in the bus shelter on the A523 in Waterhouses.

8. Any other business:
The attendant parishioner asked about gaining permission to reinstall the four commemorative figures on the verge at the corner of the junction of the Waterfall Lane and the A523. These have recently been refurbished and are ready to be reinstalled. However, the desire is to put them back but on concrete plinths, to make them more stable, presentable and maintainable. The council has no objection to this but advised that permission may be needed from the Highways Authorities. The clerk agreed to assist with lodging this enquiry.

9. Date of next meeting: Thursday, June 20th 2024 at 7.30 pm.