BRERETON AND RAVENHILL PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a Parish Council meeting held at the Parish Hall, Ravenhill Park, Brereton, on Tuesday,
3rd October 2017.
Present
Councillors Ms IJ Brown [Vice-Chairman in the Chair], K Ansell, Mrs DM Easton, R Easton,
TA Jones and GN Molineux,
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs P Ansell, H Farnath,
PA Fisher [Chairman], Miss C Harvey, Mrs G Harvey, N Parton and Mrs HJ Southwell 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. MINUTES
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the meeting held on 5th September 2017, be approved and signed as a
correct record.
3. POLICE MATTERS
The Chairman welcomed PCSO David Hughes to the meeting. PCSO Hughes presented a
breakdown of calls to the Police between 5th September and 30th September 2017 [copy
attached].
The Clerk reported that in respect of Police resources, the LPT Commander Cannock
Chase, had advised as follows:-
“2 x PC – arriving January 2018, allocated to response
2 x PC – arriving February 2018 – allocation to be decided, due to shifts changes and
forthcoming Sgt process.
In relation to PCSOs:-
2 PCSOs started at Cannock Chase on 20th March 2017
3 PCSOs started at Cannock on 12 June 2017
1 PCSO started at Cannock on 18th September 2017.”
The Parish Council noted that the youth who had destroyed the defibrillator had been
sentenced as follows:-
Current order revoked
Sentenced to 12 months referral order
£85.00 cots
F and D of golf club
Members noted that no direct response had been received from the Police and Crime
Commissioner to the letter sent by the Clerk on behalf of the Parish Council in respect of
future Police resources in Brereton and Ravenhill.

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RESOLVED
That the Clerk write again to the Police and Crime Commissioner requesting a direct
response to the information requested in his earlier letter.
4. RAVENHILL PARK
The District Council had confirmed that there was a designated Public Space Protection
Order in place for the park. Council officers had been asked to install additional warning
signs in the park and also to seek permission from the County Council to install some signs
on street furniture.
The Clerk was pleased to report that the invoice which he had sent to the District Council,
had resolved the confusion over ownership of the flag pole and had brought the matter to a
close. In essence, the District Council had finally acknowledged that the flag pole had been
provided by the Parish Council.
5. HS2 PHASE 2a
Councillor TA Jones circulated a letter he had sent to HS2 on behalf of the Parish Council
in respect of the above. Copies of the letter had also been sent to Rugeley Town Council
and Brindley Heath Parish Council.
RESOLVED
1. That the action taken be approved and confirmed.
2. That the Parish Council place on record its thanks to Councillor TA Jones for the
excellent response submitted.
6. AMI BLAYMIRES – REDBROOK LANE
The Clerk circulated a copy of a letter he had received from the Environmental Protection
Manager at Cannock Chase District Council in respect of the above.
The Parish Council expressed its continued concern about the exceptionally serious
consequences for Brereton and Ravenhill if a fire broke out on this site. It was essential
that the building was made secure until such time as the waste was cleared from the site.
RESOLVED

That the Clerk reiterate these views in a further letter to the District Council.
7. COMMUNITY MEETING
The Parish Council received an update on this community meeting.
Members were pleased to learn that attempts by the Police and Crime Commissioner to
blame the Parish Council for several issues had been robustly refuted by the local
community who had responded positively in support of the Parish Council.
Members again reiterated their concern that, unlike many other forces, the Police and
Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire had failed to secure any funding for the Police from
Section 106 Agreements.
Members noted that the next Community Meeting would be held on 30th November 2017, at
7.00 pm.
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8. NEWMAN GROVE ALLOTMENTS
Councillor R Easton updated the Parish Council on the improvements carried out on land
next to Newman Grove allotments. The work, which had been done by voluntary labour,
had secured substantial environmental improvements for the area. In addition to local
volunteers, significant contributions had been made by CEMEX, Ace Plant Hire and
HD Ricketts.
The Parish Council acknowledged the excellent work undertaken and it was
RESOLVED
1. That the Parish Council place on record its thanks to Councillors R Easton, Mrs DM
Easton, Ms IJ Brown, Mrs G Harvey and also Mrs M Bladon for the splendid
voluntary contribution they had made to ensure the success of the venture.
2. That a letter of thanks be sent to CEMEX for the excellent work their employees had
carried out on the site.
3. That letters of thanks be also sent to Ace Plant Hire and HD Ricketts for the
contribution each had made in supplying equipment and materials.
9. COMMUNITY PATHS INITIATIVE
The Parish Council noted that the Parish Council’s bid for funding of £650.00 for the
purchase of equipment to facilitate the clearance of public footpaths had been approved.
Prior to releasing the funds, the County Council had asked the Parish Council to identify the
footpaths requiring maintenance. If any hedges or trees were to be cut back and pruned, it
would be necessary to seek the permission of the landowner over whose land the footpath
was situated.
RESOLVED
1. That the Clerk liaise with Councillors R Easton and TA Jones in identifying the
footpaths to be maintained.
2. That the Clerk, together with Councillor R Easton, arrange for the purchase of the
equipment set out in the bid submission.
10. DANGEROUS POTHOLES
Councillor TA Jones, who had asked for this item to be included on the Agenda, referred to
two dangerous potholes at the junction of Talbot Road and Redbrook Lane.
The Parish Council noted that previous fairly recent repairs to the potholes had not been
carried out to the required standard, resulting in this situation arising.
RESOLVED
That the Clerk request the Highways Department of the County Council to carry out urgent
repairs to these potholes as with darker nights approaching, and the area not being well lit,
there was a danger to both pedestrians and motorists.
11. TRANSFORMING THE TRENT VALLEY [TTTV] LANDSCAPE PARTNERSHIP SCHEME
The Clerk circulated information received from the TTTV Landscape Partnership Manager
giving details of a new landscape scheme being developed along the River Trent in
Staffordshire and Derbyshire.
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RESOLVED
That in thanking the Partnership Manager for consulting the Parish Council, the Clerk make
reference to the following:-
The River Trent forms the northern boundary of the parish where there is no public
access either legal or permissive.
The work being done by the District Council in developing a Country Park in this
area.
The Parish Council would wish to continue to be consulted as the various schemes
were progressed.
12. PLANNING COMMITTEE
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 5th September 2017, be approved.
13. PARISH HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the Parish Hall Management Committee held on 6th September 2017,
be approved.
14. FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the Finance and Management Committee held on 6th September 2017,
be approved.
15. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The Parish Council had previously agreed that the next meeting would be held on
7
th November 2017, at 7.30 pm.
16. PUBLIC FORUM
Reference was made to the possibility of volunteers from Rugeley Rotary Club
administering Brereton Library. Discussions were underway between the Club and the
County Council but if sufficient progress had not been made by 1st December 2017, other
measures would be considered.
The Parish Council had previously been given a categorical undertaking that the library
would not be closed and in this regard, it was
RESOLVED
That the Clerk write to the County Council to seek confirmation that they would honour
previous assurances given to the Parish Council that the library would not be closed.
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