BRERETON AND RAVENHILL PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a Parish Council meeting held at the Parish Hall, Ravenhill Park, Brereton, on Tuesday,
6th November 2018.
Present
Councillors R Easton [Chairman], K Ansell, Mrs P Ansell, Ms IJ Brown, Mrs DM Easton, PA Fisher,
Mrs W Fisher, Miss C Harvey, Mrs G Harvey and TA Jones.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs R Harvey, GN Molineux and N Parton
and District Councillor D Foley.
Mr PG Davies, the Parish Clerk, was also in attendance.
1. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
No declarations were given at the commencement of the meeting.
2. PARISH COUNCIL VACANCY
RESOLVED
That Mrs W Fisher of 55 Birch Lane, Brereton, Rugeley, WS15 1EJ, be co-opted to fill the
vacancy on the Parish Council.
3. MINUTES
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the meeting held on 2nd October 2018, be approved and signed as a
correct record.
4. POLICE MATTERS
The Chairman welcomed PCSO Dave Hughes to the meeting. PCSO Hughes presented
his report [copy attached].
Members raised the following matters:-
i. RTA and a ‘near miss’ – Junction of Coalpit Lane/Birch Lane/Colliery Road.
ii. Concern was expressed regarding the lack of prosecutions for criminal damage in
Brereton and Ravenhill.
iii. Instances of dangerous parking at different locations in the parish.
In respect of (i) PCSO Dave Hughes indicated that he would arrange for a speed camera to
be provided to monitor vehicles in the vicinity of this junction. In addition, the Clerk
undertook to write to County Highways to outline the concern of the Parish Council
regarding the inherent dangers associated with this junction and to seek their views on
remedial measures to improve the situation.
Items (ii) and (iii would be discussed later in the meeting.
PCSO Hughes also kindly undertook to ascertain whether the Police could provide training
for volunteers to control traffic movements for parades on Remembrance Sunday.

5. NEW DRAFT CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISALS AND MANAGEMENT PLANS
The Chairman introduced, and welcomed, Angela Grove [Principal Planner – Cannock
Chase District Council] to the meeting.
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Angela advised that Cannock Chase District Council was inviting comments on the above
documents in respect of Talbot Street/Lichfield Street and the Trent and Mersey Canal
[within the area of the District Council]. The closing date for responses was 17th December
2018.
Copies of the Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans were circulated at the
meeting.
The Chairman thanked Angela for attending the meeting.
6. 19 ATTLEE CRESCENT
The Clerk reported that following representations made by the Parish Council, the District
Council had confirmed that they had received representations from neighbours about the
nature of the occupancy of the above property. The District Council were trying to engage
with the owner regarding the noise complaint.
The District Council had advised that if there were any future instances of alarm noise, the
neighbours should themselves report it direct to Environmental Health as soon as possible.
7. STAFFORDSHIRE LOCAL COMMUNITY FUND
The County Council had confirmed that the Parish Council’s application for funding had
been approved, in principle, in the sum of £1,700. £1,000 of the funding had been made
available by Councillor M Sutherland, with the remaining £700 from Councillor A Dudson.
The County Council had sought confirmation that the shortfall in funding would be made
available by the Parish Council. All grants must be claimed by 31st March 2019.
RESOLVED
1. That the County Council be informed that the shortfall in funding would be met by
the Parish Council.
2. That a letter of thanks be sent to County Councillor M Sutherland.
8. PROVISION OF LIFTS FOR PEOPLE WITH MOBILITY DIFFICULTIES
The Clerk reported that London North-western Railway had advised that Rugeley Trent
Valley was being included in a bid for funding to the Department of Transport. The
Department had recently announced that £300 million of funding had been made available
for their Access for All Programme which was designed to provide step-free accessible
routes to and between platforms at railway stations.
Members noted that the company had agreed to keep the Parish Council informed of
progress.
Members also noted that a lift was to be provided at Lichfield Trent Valley but it had not yet
been installed.
RESOLVED
That a letter of thanks be sent to London North-western Railway.
9. HS2 – ROAD SAFETY FUND
The Parish Council noted a request for some type of pedestrian crossing at the Lea Hall
Way section of the road adjacent to the Ashtree Island. The request had been made as a
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result of a significant increase in footfall.
RESOLVED
That subject to the crossing being within the parish, it be added to the list of potential
schemes for consideration by the Parish Council in due course.
10. CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL – 15th DECEMBER 2018
Councillors P Fisher and Mrs G Harvey explained the type of tree that they would be
providing at this festival. A photograph of the tree which had been made from recycled
materials was displayed at the meeting.
The Chairman thanked both Members for leading this initiative on behalf of the Parish
Council.
11. DOCUMENTATION
The Clerk tabled the following document for circulation to Members:-
Staffordshire Pension Fund – Employer Focus
12. ARMITAGE LANE – ROAD BRIDGE
A resident of Abbot Walk had contacted the Clerk concerned about the recent ‘painting’ of
the underneath of the road bridge in Armitage Lane. The resident considered the painting
to be ‘absolutely awful’ and to compound matters, a dreadful mess had been left on the
road and pavement.
RESOLVED
That, although outside the parish, the Clerk nevertheless inform County Highways of the
concerns expressed by the resident of Abbots Walk regarding the untidy state of this road
bridge.
13. NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE – TERMS OF
REFERENCE
Councillor TA Jones had prepared a Draft Terms of Reference for this Steering Committee,
a copy of which had been circulated to Members.
RESOLVED
1. That the Draft Terms of Reference for the Neighbourhood Development Plan
Steering Committee be approved and formally adopted.
2. That the Parish Council place on record its thanks to Councillor TA Jones for
drafting these Terms of Reference.
14. VANDALISM
Councillor TA Jones invited the Parish Council to consider sending the following Freedom
of Information request to the Police and Crime Commissioner:
“Please provide the following information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, all
other rights to information and the Nolan principle of openness.
1. How many prosecutions were instituted for criminal damage that occurred in the
parish of Brereton and Ravenhill in the calendar year 2016?
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2. How many prosecutions were instituted for criminal damage that occurred in the
parish of Brereton and Ravenhill in the calendar year 2017?
3. How many prosecutions were instituted for criminal damage that occurred in the
parish of Brereton and Ravenhill from 1st January 2018 until the date of your reply?
If your statistics are kept in a different format, a reply that is close to the questions asked is
acceptable.”
RESOLVED
1. That the Clerk be authorised to send the Freedom of Information request to the
Police and Crime Commissioner.
2. That if the Police and Crime Commissioner fails to give a substantial reply to the
questions within 40 days, the Clerk, following consultation with the Chairman, be
authorised to make a formal complaint for breach of the Freedom of Information Act
2000.
15. PARKING – RAVENHILL TERRACE
The Clerk circulated an email from a resident regarding the problems being caused by
vehicles being parked in Ravenhill Terrace near to or opposite The Laurels. Many of the
vehicles were not driven by residents of Ravenhill Terrace but belonged to visitors or
people working on Brereton Road.
Reference was also made to indiscriminate parking on Talbot Road, St Michaels Road and
Nursery Road.
Councillor TA Jones invited Members to consider whether the Parish Council should seek
the imposition of double yellow lines at certain junctions.
RESOLVED
That the Clerk seek the views of the Chief Inspector at Cannock on what action could be
taken to deal with this dangerous parking in the parish.
15. SCHOOL CROSSING PATROLS
The Clerk circulated an email with supporting papers received from Mr D Garner who was
the School Crossing Patrol Warden at The Hart School. The email was sent on behalf of all
his School Crossing Patrol colleagues in Rugeley and Brereton and Ravenhill.
Reference was made to the high number of childhood deaths from road accidents in the UK
compared with other parts of Northern Europe. In respect of both Hob Hill School and St
Joseph’s School, children had to cross an ‘A’ road with a speed limit of 40 mph.
RESOLVED
That the Clerk write again to the County Council in support of the petition and pointing out
that if these patrols were withdrawn, children’s lives would be put at risk.
17. COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE LEVY – LOCAL NEIGHBOURHOOD FUNDS
ALLOCATION
The Clerk had circulated a letter from the District Council setting out details of the allocation
of these funds from the Cannock Chase Council Community Infrastructure Levy [CIL]
receipts
The Parish Council noted that from 1st April 2018 – 30th September 2018 the District
Council had received £9,135.23 in CIL receipts [excluding surcharges] from developments
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within the parish. In accordance with the CIL Regulations, 15% of the total receipts, ie
£1,370.28 would be transferred to the Parish Council.
RESOLVED
That the Clerk seek confirmation in advance that the funding could be used for the
refurbishment/replacement of bus shelters.
18. SECTION 106 – ALLOCATION OF FUNDS
RESOLVED
That the Clerk write to the Managing Director at Cannock Chase District Council making a
Freedom of Information request to ascertain:-
i. the amount of Section 106 funds received in respect of the Lea Hall and Rugeley A;
and
ii. where this money had been allocated.
19. PLANNING COMMITTEE
RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 2nd October 2018, be approved.
20. PARISH HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the Parish Hall Management Committee held on 3rd October 2018, be
approved.
21. FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the Finance and Management Committee held on 3rd October 2018, be
approved.
22. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The Parish Council had previously agreed that the next meeting would be held on
4th December 2018.
23. BONFIRE – THE CASTLE
Councillor PA Fisher outlined problems which had been encountered with a firework display
at the above premises.
The matter had been referred to both the Licensing Authority and Environmental Health.
24. PUBLIC FORUM
A member of the public present raised several issues, including the following:-
parking on grass verges;
indiscriminate parking in Lodge Road, making it difficult for buses to pass;
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the general untidy state of areas due to dog fouling and other debris;
the need for the public to interact more with the debate as it progressed at Parish
Council meetings.
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