MINUTES – OCTOBER 2025

Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council of Waterhouses.

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

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

Also present: Mr C Hinton, (Clerk);

Apologies: Cllr McCarthy; Cllr Powley; Cllr Simpson; Cllr Wain;

Minutes of the last meeting:
• The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, September 18th 2025 were confirmed as being a true and accurate record and were duly endorsed by the Chairman.
Proposed: Cllr Goldstraw; Seconded: Cllr Carr.

Matters arising:

Clerk’s report:
• The clerk advised that the Flood Risk Team had recently spent several days in the area of Hamps Valley Road and Dove Way. They were carrying out tests in an attempt to establish the course of water running through the area, and the options available to reduce the risk of flooding. A report on their findings is expected in the near future.

Holcim Update:
• The council had spoken at the planning meeting held on October 2nd to repeat its objection to the application to change the mix of products being used to fuel the kilns. Its objection was based upon the release of plastic particles, escaping from the conveyor system, earlier this year. The council wanted to see this problem resolved, before the application was granted.
The application was approved but after a condition was added “to require that no material shall be deposited outside the site boundaries”.

Pavilion:
• The Bowls Club had submitted a request to erect a shelter next to the green, to accommodate players and spectators. This would be funded and maintained by the club. The council agreed to the request, subject to agreeing a suitable colour of the unit, its insurance cover and compliance with planning regulations.
• The source of the water leak in the pavilion has yet to be completely resolved. One of the toilets had been found to have a problem with its cistern and a second toilet may also have an intermittent problem. These are being repaired and the rate of water loss is being monitored.
• Parking notices are to be issued to the owners of cars parking by the Sports Fields.

Sports Fields;
• Officials of Waterhouses Junior Football Club had reported that dog excrement was frequently being found on the pitches. This represents a health risk for the children for and those who have to clear up the mess. This totally avoidable issue, whilst difficult to police, is seen as being completely unacceptable. The council will install more signs to deter further degradation of the Sports Field. It will also seek guidance from other authorities as to how it can combat the problem. It will consider further controls and penalties once it has that information. It will add posters to its notice boards and website and will ask all members of the public to clean up after their pets – and to report those seen not doing so. Further measures and restrictions will be considered if the issue is not resolved.

Playing Fields;
• The annual report relating to the play area off Waterfall Lane had been received.
Whilst this did not advise of any serious issues, the council is conscious that the area needs to be improved and it will seek to agree a plan to carry this out in Spring 2026.

Grazing fields; Tenders will be invited for the two fields, for years 2026 & 2027, in the near future.

Allotments;
• The clerk had attended the meeting of the Waterhouses Allotments Association on Sept 25th.
• They had reported issues with bushes alongside the track and potholes within it. The council will inspect these in the near future.
• The review of the condition of all of the plots will be carried out within the next few weeks.
• The association had requested payment of the £80 contribution for weed-covering materials.

Lengthsman;
• Cllr Goldstraw asked that the War Memorial be tidied before Remembrance Sunday.

Correspondence Recently Received;
The following items were shared with the council:
• SMDC – Town & Parish Networking Event – October 24th
• SMDC – Parish Assembly – November 24th
• SPCA – Staffordshire Local Councils Conference – November 24th

Planning Matters;
The council received a status report of decisions recently made by the planning authorities.
It then went on to discuss the following, recently notified matters:
• Notice of Modification Order; Upgrade Public Footpath 1a Waterhouses to a Restricted Byway
• Notice of Modification Order; Upgrade Public Footpath 8 Waterhouses to a Public Bridleway.
The council had no further comments to make in relation to the decisions made regarding these.

Financial Matters:
• The latest bank balance and a cash-flow forecast were shared.
• The accounts for the first half of the year and a forecast for the second half were shared.
• The external auditor had advised that the annual return for 2024/2025 had been accepted.
• The council agreed to pursue the move to access on-line banking.
• The following cheques were then requested:
• Clerk; for his work & expenses in September; £538.31
• Caretaker; for his work & expenses in September; £132.00
• Lengthsman; for his work and expenses in September & October; £566.00
• Dave Rhodes; for the marking of the new junior pitches; £180.00
• Support Staffordshire; for annual membership; £25.00
• The Play Inspection Company; for annual inspection of play area; £216.00
• Waterhouses Allotment Association; contribution to weed control fabric; £80.00
• HMRC; for payment of PAYE for clerk’s salary; £123.50
Payment of the above was approved en bloc; Proposed: Cllr Goldstraw; Seconded: Cllr Turner

Highway Matters:
• Cllr Turner advised that the stone bridge leading to the old quarry off the main road was in a unsafe condition. Previous attempts to ascertain the ownership of this has been unsuccessful and the clerk was asked to write to SMDC to report this as a dangerous structure.
• Cllr Goldstraw reported a loose manhole cover opposite the chapel on the main road.
• Cllr Harvey reported that fallen trees which had been fouling the water course under second bridge along the cycle track, had been sawn into sections, but that the wood had not then been removed and this may cause problems further downstream.
• Bentygrange Lane needs to be revisited, to check for any repairs which are still needed.

Any other business:
• The local PCSO’s were planning a ‘drop-in event’ for the parish in the near future.
This would be held in the pavilion once a date has been advised.

Date of next meeting: Thursday, November 20th 2025 at 7.30 pm