BRERETON AND RAVENHILL PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a Parish Council meeting held at the Parish Hall, Ravenhill Park, Brereton, on Tuesday,
4th December 2018.
Present
Councillors R Easton [Chairman], Ms IJ Brown, Mrs DM Easton, PA Fisher, Mrs W Fisher,
Mrs G Harvey, TA Jones and GN Molineux.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors K Ansell, Mrs PA Ansell, Miss C Harvey,
Mrs R Harvey 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. MINUTES
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the meeting held on 6th November 2018, be approved and signed as a
correct record.
3. APPOINTMENT OF NEW MEMBERS TO COMMITTEES
RESOLVED
That the following Members be appointed to serve on the Committees listed below:-
Councillor Mrs W Fisher – Planning Committee
Councillor Mrs R Harvey – Parish Hall Management Committee and
Finance and Management Committee

4. POLICE MATTERS
In the absence of a Police representative, the Clerk read out the Police Report.
Members expressed concern about the following:-
the funding of the Police and the lack of Police response;
the total inadequacy of the 101 telephone system.
RESOLVED
That the Clerk acquaint the local MP with the concerns of the Parish Council and invite her
comments thereon.

5. DRAFT CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISALS AND MANAGEMENT PLANS
The Parish Council noted the contents of a letter and enclosure from the District Council
inviting comments on the following:-
Talbot Street/Lichfield Street, Rugeley [the part within the Parish of Brereton and
Ravenhill]; and
Trent and Mersey Canal [within Cannock Chase District].
Copies of the Area Approvals and Management Plans had been circulated. The deadline
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for comments was 17th December 2018.
RESOLVED
That Councillor T Jones be authorised to prepare a draft response on behalf of the Parish
Council.
6. STAFFORDSHIRE LOCAL COMMUNITY FUND
Councillor M Sutherland had replied to the letter of thanks from the Parish Council by
advising that he was pleased to be able to support a worthwhile activity for a forward
thinking parish.
The Clerk had circulated a copy of the Publicity Guidance received from the County
Council. He reminded Members that the funding must be used in the current financial year.
7. CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL
Members noted that the tree being prepared by Councillors P Fisher and Mrs G Harvey and
Mr Harvey, on behalf of the Parish Council, was nearing completion and would be sited in
the church for the festival on 15th December 2018.
8. CRIMINAL DAMAGE IN BRERETON AND RAVENHILL
The Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire advised that he did not hold the
information requested by the Parish Council and had, therefore, referred the matter to
Staffordshire Police.
The Parish Council noted the following information received from the Police:-
Outcome 2016 2017 2018
Charged – – 1
Community Resolution – 1 –
The Parish Council, in noting the response remained concerned about the level of criminal
damage and anti-social behaviour in Ravenhill Park.
RESOLVED
That the Clerk write to the Managing Director at the District Council acquainting him with
the background to this matter and requesting that the Authority, in liaison with the Police,
arrange for application to the High Court with a view to securing an injunction on known
individuals preventing them from entering Ravenhill Park.
9. COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE LEVY – LOCAL NEIGHBOURHOOD FUNDS
ALLOCATION
The Clerk reported that the District Council had confirmed that the £1,370.28 received from
the Authority could be used for the refurbishment/replacement of bus shelters.
10. DOCUMENTATION
The Clerk tabled the following document for circulation to Members:-
Staffordshire Pension Fund – Employer Focus
11. COALPIT LANE / BIRCH LANE / COLLIERY ROAD
The Clerk circulated an email received from the Community Infrastructure Liaison Manager.
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The Parish Council noted that the County Council intended to take no further action apart
from possibly renewing markings and cutting back the vegetation opposite the junction to
improve visibility.
Members, in expressing their disappointment with the response, made reference to an
accident which had occurred about four weeks ago where the personal injury sustained by
the driver resulted in them being taken to hospital.
RESOLVED
1. That in view of this new information, the County Council be asked to:-
reconsider the matter with a view to reducing the speed limit; and
arrange, as they suggested, for the road markings to be renewed and vegetation cut
back.
2. That a letter be sent to the occupiers of a property in Coalpit Lane requesting them
to kindly cut back the height of their hedge to improve visibility for drivers at this
Junction.
12. WORLD BOOK NIGHT – 23rd APRIL 2019
RESOLVED
That the Clerk be authorised to make application for participation in World Book Night 2019.
13. MEMBERS LIAISON MEETING WITH AMAZON
The Clerk circulated an email received from the District Council inviting the Parish Council
to appoint one member to represent the Parish Council on a Member Liaison Group. The
first meeting would be held on 31st January 2019, at 4.30 pm at the Amazon Fulfilment
Centre, Brereton.
Councillor P Fisher indicated that he had offered to be the District Council’s representative
at the Liaison Meeting.
RESOLVED
1. That subject to Councillor P Fisher being appointed as the District Council’s
representative, Councillor R Easton be nominated as the Parish Council’s
representative.
2. That if Councillor P Fisher is not appointed as the District Council’s representative,
he be appointed as the Parish Council’s representative, with Councillor R Easton as
substitute Member.
14. MARTIAL ARTS CENTRE – STATE OF WALL
Members had been approached by a local resident regarding the state of the wall outside
the Martial Arts Centre at the entrance to Wharf Road.
RESOLVED
1. That a letter be sent to the Martial Arts Centre making reference to the approach
received from a members of the public and requesting them to kindly take
appropriate action to secure the stability of the wall.
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2. That if no action is taken by the Martial Arts Centre, the County Council be
acquainted with the position as the wall could potentially fall onto the public
highway.
15. STAFFORDSHIRE ROAD SAFETY GRANT FUND
The Parish Council was informed that the bid submitted for a Road Safety Grant in the sum
of £4,700.00 to facilitate a speed reduction initiative, had not been approved.
16. CANNOCK CHASE AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY MANAGEMENT
PLAN 2019 – 2024
The Clerk had circulated an email from the CCAONB Partnership inviting comments on this
Draft Management Plan. The last date for responses was 11th January 2019.
RESOLVED
That the Draft Management Plane be noted.
17. COMMUNITY FUNDED SCHOOL CROSSING PATROLS
The Clerk had circulated an email from the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport
inviting local Councils, businesses and local organisations to fund the salaries of School
Crossing Patrol Wardens. A sum of £4,000.00 [per Patrol Warden] would be required each
year.
RESOLVED
1. That the County Council be informed that this was clearly a County Council
responsibility and that the Parish Council simply did not have the funds to accede to
their request.
2. That the Parish Council continue to monitor the situation as the safety of children in
the parish was of paramount importance.
18. PLANNING COMMITTEE
RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 6th November 2018, be approved.
19. PARISH HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the Parish Hall Management Committee held on 7th November 2018, be
approved.
20. FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the Finance and Management Committee held on 7th November 2018,
be approved.
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21. DATES OF MEETINGS 2019
RESOLVED
That the dates of Parish Council meetings in 2019 be as follows:-
8th January
5th February
5th March
2nd April [followed by the Annual Parish Meeting]
14th May [Annual Parish Council Meeting]
4th June
16th July
3rd September
1st October
5th November
3rd December
22. PUBLIC FORUM
The public present made reference to the following:-
School Crossing Patrol Wardens – the need for alternative funding to be found if the
County Council would not meet its obligations.
The Parish Council undertook to add zebra crossings and pelican crossings to its list
of possible schemes to be funded via the HS2 road safety initiative.
______________________
[Chairman]