BRERETON AND RAVENHILL PARISH COUNCIL
DISTRICT OF CANNOCK CHASE COUNTY OF STAFFORDSHIRE
Minutes of the
FULL COUNCIL
Held at: the Parish Hall, Ravenhill Park, Brereton, Rugeley. WS15 1DU
Thursday 18th July 8.00pm – 9.30pm
WELCOME
Members Present:
M Blackham (MB)(Chair),
S Merriman (SM),
C Boulton (CB),
D Blocksidge (DB),
C. Harris (CH),
K Paul (KP),
C Davies (CD),
A Cowdell (AC),
R Hall (RH),
R Hall-Davies (RHD),
APOLOGIES
Members Absent: J Gascoigne (JG)(V-Chair), and K Theobald (KT), sent their apologies which were accepted. J Johnson (JJ) didn’t send his apologies which were not accepted.
In Attendance: Lee Featherstone (RFO), PR Whibley (Clerk)
86. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN ANY ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
None.
87. FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE CHAIR / CLERK
None.
88. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
A member of the public was present but didn’t wish to speak, at this time, but wanted to listen to the discussion concerning an item on the agenda. The meeting permitted him to speak after the item had been discussed.
89. AGREEING THE MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING (attached)
To approve and sign off the minutes of Full Council and Annual Council meetings held on Thursday 4th July 2024.
The previous minutes were agreed and signed as a true record.
90. MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MEETING
12.3.1. The three councillors not present will be asked to sign the Code of Conduct at the next opportunity or at the next meeting.
One member still outstanding.
11.1a.That the clerk inform any members who have not completed the envelope exercise to do so, as soon as possible.
3 members and 1 staff need to complete.
56.0.4. That the Clerk would present a draft Media Policy at next Full Council meeting.
To be presented at a future meeting.
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71.5. That the Chair (MB) would report back to the next meeting on the outcome of the meeting concerning all missing assets.
The Chair had a very productive meeting with the ex-chair. Several locations of assets where pinpointed whilst some others needing collecting from safe storage. There were only a couple of outstanding concerns remaining which the ex-chair will endeavour to locate.
The meeting decided that the digger was of limited future use and it was agreed to have it serviced prior to selling.
74.1. That MB would contact Festive Lighting to discuss the issue of missing lights.
CD has spent a great deal of time pursuing this issue. After discussion it was agreed that MB would contact the company.
81.7.1. That the clerk would send an updated Scheme of Delegation.
Completed.
81.8.1. That the clerk would contact the Councillor and enquire when the new signs would be available for erection.
Completed. The councillor explained the difficulties he has experienced recently with the changes that have occurred because of the council and national elections. At present he is not in a position to continue his previous work with the parish council. RH has a contact with a different councillor through her volunteering work on road safety, and will attempt to contact her. CB offered his help if needed.
84.1. That the clerk would upload the revised Standing Orders on the website.
Completed.
91. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES / WORKING GROUP MEETINGS
91.1. Finance Asset & Risk Committee:
Risk Assessments (24-53) to be presented by the FAR committee) (See item 93)
Ongoing. To be presented at the next meeting.
Bank Reconciliation
Agreed.
Income .v. Invoices
Agreed. KP/RH will analyse with the RFO, the financials prior to them being presented at the FAR meeting.
Tractor
After much discussion and balancing the financial outlay it was agreed that the tractor would be repaired at an estimated cost of £2500. The usage of the tractor would then be monitored over a set period of time and if it was found that the vehicle wasn’t necessary, then it would be offered up for sale.
91.2. Planning Committee
1. Strategic Development Grid 9.
91.3. Parish Hall Management WG
Matters under discussion by the WG:
1. PAT testing of electrical items in the Hall.
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Completed (All passed except for the wiring on the hoover which failed but JS has fixed and replaced it and organised a retest. Retest completed and hoover passed. (As the 3 laptops still have to be checked, SM agreed to contact the tester and arrange a suitable date to have this done.)
2. Help for Heroes (MB)
Motion: To offer (one of the three annual charity spaces) a free hiring session to Help for Heroes on Saturday September 28th.
This was agreed. The member of the public who was present expressed his thanks on behalf of the Squaddies & Veterans Organisation. It was shared with the meeting that this had saved the organisation £107.50 in hirer’s fees.
3. Vandalism / CCTV
4. Car Park
5. Website volunteers
6. Helping volunteers get onto a Driving Scheme for a mini-bus
7. Cafe
8. Strategic Development Grids 4 and 5
91.4. Community Engagement WG
Matters under discussion by the WG:
1. Taking responsibility for the Lantern Parade.
2. Liaison with PHM to take responsibility for elements of Strategic development 6.
3. JS to update the noticeboards.
Actioned. Thanks to RH who has been updating the noticeboards.
4. Investigate the possibility of a monthly evening Drop-In session.
5. Website Links
6. Strategic Development Grids 3, 6, 7 and 8
91.5. Staffing WG
37.5.1. That members of the Staffing WG would work on a draft job description for the role of a Handyman and present it to a future Full Council meeting.
This was distributed and suggestions were offered including tractor and strimmer licences would be desired but training would be given. It was then agreed that the final version would be advertised on Indeed, Facebook and through SPCA.
48.5.1. Strategic Development Grids 2 and 10
62.1. That the Staffing working group would organise the application and interview process for a new clerk.
The job description had been completed and the advert was ready to be advertised.
91.6. Policies, Practice & Procedures WG
48.6.2.That the clerk would produce aide memoir to help FAR and RFO to adapt the guidelines to this parish council needs.
Completed. Presented at tonight’s FAR meeting. The RFO would be taking the lead on this.
91.7. Neighbourhood WG
91.7.1. Village Green Application
An email has been received from the County Solicitor’s office. It detailed the present position of the application which the previous council had initiated. It explained what the next steps for both the present parish council and the owners of the land should be considering.
The meeting agreed that as the previous chair had been instrumental in this application, that he should be invited to assist the present council with this. (MB to contact him)
The process was being discussed when CD found an old email reply from the owners which stated that they were more than willing for the land to be designated a Village Green. CD will
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forward this email to MB. MB to forward to the email to the Solicitors Office fao: Kate Loader. Via Clare Gledhill. Ref: 008167, as well as, all other details requested.
91.7.1. That the Chair would forward email and other requested answers to the solicitor’s office.
An announcement was made advertising a meeting on July 24th at 11.00am to discuss Neighbourhood Planning.
CB was asked and agreed to find out at District level how the parish council can request that specific areas i.e. central reservation of the main road, could be earmarked for de-weeding by the use of weed killer.
91.8. Speed Calming WG
New additional signage along Armitage Road.
Due to the recent elections this appears to be on-hold presently. To be followed up in the future.
A member wanted to know how the council would go about requesting some additional painted lines on a road. CB offered to investigate and get back with the information.
91.9. Heritage WG
91.10. Drop-In WG
91.11. Police Report
91.12. District Initiatives (CB)
Since the County elections and change in personnel consistency on previous developments has been limited. So far CB (as a District Councillor) has yet to attend a calendared meeting. He hoped to be able to give a more detailed report next month.
92. LICENCES
It was agreed not to purchase a TV licence but approved the need to purchase a PPL music licence as a matter of urgency.
92.1. That the RFO would secure a licence after an agreed remote decision by the council.
93. RISK ASSESSMENTS
1-23. To be presented for approval.
Approved.
54. To be presented for approval.
Approved.
24-53 to be presented by the FAR committee at the next meeting.
A discussion began to look at the process of hiring the hall and if JS was unavailable what would happen. The meeting felt that the process needs a tweak to help streamline the system. It was felt vital that JS was invited to attend the next meeting to help with the process. Previously members said that weekly bookings were placed on a board in the office which made it easier to check.
RHD explained the use of ‘time-tree’ which displayed this information. It was felt that all members need to be confident with the use of this aid and a refresher training session would be helpful.
93.1. That the clerk would place Risk Assessments 24-53 on the agenda for the next meeting.
93.2. That the clerk would place Time-Tree training on the agenda for the next meeting.
93.3. That the clerk would place a review of the hiring procedure on the agenda for the next meeting.
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93.4. That the clerk would invite JS to attend and lead the discussion on the present procedure for hiring the hall.
94. DONATIONS / GRANTS
The Council received a message of thanks from the Bowls Club for the donation it awarded to them. The council expressed their appreciation for this
95. DATE OF NEXT COUNCIL MEETING:
Thursday 5th September 2024 in the Parish Hall Meeting Room at 8.00pm
The clerk produced a BRPC diary setting out what the council’s statutory responsibilities and full council agreements/undertakings were over the next 30 month time period.
All members were invited to send to the clerk any additional items that they wanted to add to the schedule which had not been highlighted. The final diary spreadsheet for 2024-206 would be sent out to all members prior to the next meeting.
Meeting closed: 9.25pm
PRWhibley
Clerk