BRERETON AND RAVENHILL PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a Parish Council meeting held at the Parish Hall, Ravenhill Park, Brereton, on Tuesday,
3rd April 2018.
Present
Councillors PA Fisher [Chairman], K Ansell, Mrs P Ansell, Ms IJ Brown [Vice-Chairman],
Mrs G Harvey and TA Jones.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs DM Easton, R Easton, 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 March 2018, be approved and signed as a
correct record.
3. POLICE MATTERS
The Clerk circulated a letter from the Police regarding the vandalism to the flag pole
fronting the Parish Hall.
The Parish Council considered that the response emphasised the importance of the Police
attending the crime scene expediously. Several of the youths had remained in the park
following the damage to the flag pole and if there had been a quicker response from the
Police, there would have been a greater chance of arrests being made.
Members noted that the Police had no objection to the Parish Council circulating the
images of the incident.
A copy of the Police Report for April 2018 is attached to these minutes.
RESOLVED
1. That the foregoing comments be conveyed to the Police and they be asked to
indicate why no officer was able to attend immediately following the incident being
reported.
2. That that Clerk obtain the CCTV images from the Police and he liaise with the
Chairman in arranging for these to be publicised in the hope of securing credible
responses.
4. BRERETON LIBRARY
The Parish Council noted the following response from the County Council in respect of the
various questions raised by Members at the last meeting:-
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1. Has the Agreement with the Rotary Club been signed?
“We are currently going through the final stages with the legal documents and
expect them to be signed shortly.”
2. The County Council has committed to cover maintenance and building costs
at current prices. Does that mean the price is fixed at the time when the
agreement is signed or the price current at the time the work is needed?
“The County Council will continue with the planned and responsive maintenance
programme and will also continue paying the utility costs with a 15% contingency in
case of price increases.”
3. Is there an operational budget to support the volunteers and the day to day
running of the library, and if so, who provides it?
“The Rotary Club will take money that is generated at the library, eg request fees,
overdue charges, book sales, room hire, etc. to put back into the running of the
service. The County Council provides a Community Support Officer and a Stock,
Services and Activities Officer for ongoing support, training and advice for the library
and the volunteers. Support Staffordshire can also provide training and support for
community managed libraries and volunteers.”
4. Who provides the public liability cover for the volunteers?
“The Rotary Club will provide this.”
5. Will the home book delivery service continue?
“I’m not sure that there is a home book delivery service being offered from Brereton
currently, but if there is a need and there are volunteers available to do it, then this
can be set up. Other Community Managed Libraries continue to offer this service in
their communities.”
5. PROPOSED CHANGES TO LOCAL BUS SERVICES
Members noted that the Managing Director of Cannock Chase District Council had sent a
letter to the Chief Executive of the County Council in support of the Parish Council’s
representations regarding the withdrawal of subsidy in respect of the Lichfield and Rugeley
Connect Mobility Link Service to Stile Cop cemetery.
The Clerk circulated an email from Arriva confirming that they had no immediate plans to
amend or withdraw Service 24. They added that as the service was operated on a purely
commercial basis, its existence remained dependent on the route being profitable.
Members recognised that the response from Arriva emphasised the need for Real Time
Passenger Information and the importance of the bid which had been submitted to Lichfield
District Council.
6. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST
The Clerk reported the response of the County Council regarding the number of adult nonEnglish language courses being delivered/provided in Staffordshire.
The Parish Council noted that five such languages were provided in different parts of the
County, with Lichfield District offering French, Italian, Spanish and British Sign Language.
There was no provision whatsoever in the District of Cannock Chase.
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7. RESULTS OF RIGHTS OF WAY CONSULTATION
The Clerk had circulated a letter from the County Council setting out the outcome of this
consultation exercise.
RESOLVED
That this matter be deferred for consideration at the next meeting of the Parish Council.
8. A460 MAIN ROAD, BRERETON
The Parish Council noted details of a proposal to close the A460 Main Road, Brereton,
during April as part of developer Section 278 works. The diversion route would be via the
by-pass.
Members noted that other resurfacing works were to be carried out in the parish at the
same time as the A460 resurfacing and it was
RESOLVED
That in order to reduce the combined effects of such highway works, the County Council be
asked to liaise closely with partners in an effort to reduce the impact on road users and
they be asked to indicate as to what action has been taken to protect bus routes affected
by such works.
9. HS2 [WEST MIDLANDS – CREWE] BILL – DEPOSIT OF ADDITIONAL PROVISION
The Parish Council noted that the following documents had been deposited with the Clerk:-

the Additional Provisions
Supplementary Environmental Statement
10. MINING MEMORIAL
The Parish Council noted the contents of a letter received from Cannock Chase District
Council detailing progress in respect of the approvals required for the Mining Memorial in
Ravenhill Park.
11. GRIT BINS
The Chairman reported that a database of grit bins was being compiled by District
Councillor D Foley. The Chairman emphasised the importance of securing each person’s
consent before names and addresses were released. Careful consideration would also
need to be given to the size and design of future grit bins.
12. PLANNING COMMITTEE
RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 6th March 2018, be approved.
13. PARISH HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the Parish Hall Management Committee held on 7th March 2018, be
approved.
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14. FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the Finance and Management Committee held on 7th March 2018, be
approved.
15. DATE AND TIME OF ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
RESOLVED
That the date of the Annual Parish Council Meeting be changed from 1st May 2018 to
8th May 2018.
16. PUBLIC FORUM
No matters were raised at this juncture in the meeting.
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