BRERETON AND RAVENHILL PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a Parish Council meeting held at the Parish Hall, Ravenhill Park, Brereton, on Tuesday,
6th March 2018.
Present
Councillors PA Fisher [Chairman], K Ansell, Mrs P Ansell, Ms IJ Brown [Vice-Chairman],
Mrs DM Easton, R Easton, Mrs G Harvey, and TA Jones.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors H Farnath, Miss C Harvey, GN Molineux,
N Parton and Mrs HJ Southwell.
District Councillor D Foley was also present.
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. MINUTES
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the meeting held on 6th February 2018, be approved and signed as a
correct record.
3. POLICE MATTERS
The Police had apologised for not being able to attend this meeting. The Clerk presented a
report which the Police had prepared [copy attached].
Members were anxious to ascertain what progress had been made in respect of the
criminal damage to the flagpole fronting the Parish Hall.
RESOLVED
1. That the Clerk write to the Police to re-emphasise the Parish Council’s wish for the
individual[s] who had vandalised the flagpole to be prosecuted and he request an
update on the current position in this regard.
2. That arrangements be made for the damaged flagpole to be repaired and
reinstated.
4. BRERETON LIBRARY
The Chairman welcomed Graham Hunt [Community Partnership Officer] to the meeting.
Mr Hunt updated the Parish Council as follows:-
Rugeley Rotary Club [RRC] had entered into an Agreement to manage the library;
Staffordshire County Council would be responsible for maintenance of the building
and the supply of books;
25 volunteers had been recruited to date;
RRC were hoping to extend the opening hours of the library to that which had
existed previously.
Mr Hunt also referred to the County Council’s consultation exercise in respect of libraries,
with a final date for comments of 1st April 2018. Copies of the consultation document had
been previously circulated to Members.
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Mr Hunt undertook to report back to the Parish Council on the following matters raised by
Members at the meeting:-
confirmation that the County Council would be responsible for repairs in the future
even if these were as a direct consequence of the poor design of the building;
confirmation that RRC will be responsible for public liability insurance;
the arrangements that would be put in place in respect of an operational budget,
including volunteer expenses.
5. PROPOSED CHANGES TO LOCAL BUS SERVICES
The County Council had contacted the operator regarding the number of passengers
travelling on the Lichfield and Rugeley Village Connect Service to Stile Cop Cemetery. The
response revealed that three people had used the service for this purpose during the
sixteen months of operation. Members considered that this low patronage was due to lack
of publicity about the service.
The Parish Council noted that the County Council were looking at a potential reshaped
community transport solution to provide the travel options in the area currently served by
the Connect Service.
The Parish Council expressed its concern regarding the proposal to withdraw the 825
Sunday service and some later/evening services on this route. Members considered such
action was directly contrary to the Government’s aim of encouraging more use of public
transport for, amongst other things, good environmental reasons.
Brereton and Ravenhill had already lost the No. 10 service and the Lichfield and Rugeley
Village Connect Service. To still further impose restrictions on the availability of the 825
service would have a significant impact on the local community.
RESOLVED
1. That the Clerk convey the foregoing views to the Chief Executive of the County
Council, with copies being sent to the local MP and Arriva.
2. That the Clerk also send a reminder to Arriva requesting a response to his earlier
letter regarding the No. 24 service.
6. SECTION 106 AGREEMENT RELATING TO HAWKSYARD: PA 03/00627/045
The Clerk circulated a letter from Lichfield District Council acknowledging receipt of the
Parish Council’s submissions in respect of the above.
The District Council had approved the Community Infrastructure Levy [CIL] arrangements
for the allocation of Section 106 monies. The Authority had advised that applicants would
be able to navigate the CIL process during March and April 2018 with recommendations
being presented to a June 2018 Cabinet Meeting.
The Parish Council noted that Lichfield District Council had reviewed the Section 106
agreements between 1st January 2015 and 31st December 2017 and confirmed that none of
the agreements contained the same [or similar] wording as that set out in the Clerk’s letter
of 17th January 2018.
7. AMI BLAYMIRES
The Clerk circulated copies of responses received from Councillors D Foley and A Dudson
in respect of the above.
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The Chairman advised that a third party had approached the owner with a view to
purchasing the site.
8. DOCUMENTATION
The Clerk tabled the following documentation for the information of Members:-
Staffordshire Pension Fund – Employer Focus
9. VACANT LAND SITES
Councillor R Easton referred to two parcels of land which had become very overgrown and
untidy. As a direct result of the condition of the land, vermin had been detected.
RESOLVED
That, in the first instance, the Clerk write to the landowners concerned respectfully
requesting them to take speedy action to improve the condition of the land.
10. CLOSURE OF GAP – CENTRAL RESERVATION – MAIN ROAD
The County Council had advised that these works were being undertaken as part of a
Section 278 Agreement to deliver access works to a Barratt Homes development.
The Clerk circulated plans showing details of the scheme.
Members were concerned that there had been no prior consultation regarding the proposal
and it was
RESOLVED
That the Clerk enquire of the County Council as to why both the Parish Council and local
residents were not consulted prior to the works being carried out.
11. PLANNING COMMITTEE
RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 6th February 2018, be approved.
12. PARISH HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the Parish Hall Management Committee held on 7th February 2018, be
approved.
13. FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the Finance and Management Committee held on 7th February 2018, be
approved.
14. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
RESOLVED
The Parish Council had previously agreed that the next meeting would be held on
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3rd April 2018, at 7.30 pm, followed at 8.30 pm by the Annual Parish Meeting.
15. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST
RESOLVED
1. That the Clerk write again to the County Council requesting a response to the Parish
Council’s Freedom of Information request in respect of the number of different
languages which the County Council provided, or financially supported, for adults in
Staffordshire.
2. That in the letter in [1] above, the Clerk inform the County Council that if a response
was not forthcoming within 14 days from the date of the Clerk’s letter, a formal
complaint would be submitted under the Freedom of Information legislation.
16. GRIT BINS
The Chairman reported that he had approached Mark Keeling at the County Council to
provide grit salt for the various bins in the parish. This would be delivered shortly in
accordance with previous commitments given by the County Council.
The Parish Council noted that to purchase the salt direct would cost between £130.00 and
£140.00 per ton.
17. PUBLIC FORUM
District Councillor D Foley reported on the following matters:-
The planning application in respect of the redevelopment of the Cedar Tree would
be considered by the Planning Committee of the District Council on 28th March
2018.
A request for the provision of a grit bin at Hill Top [the Chairman kindly undertook to
enquire whether such a bin could be provided].
Councillor Foley enquired as to the present position in respect of the
Neighbourhood Development Plan. The Chairman of the Steering Committee
advised that the matter was progressing on a topic by topic basis.
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