BRERETON AND RAVENHILL PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Annual Parish Council meeting held at the Parish Hall, Ravenhill Park, Brereton, on
Tuesday, 8th May 2018.
Present
Councillors R Easton [Chairman], K Ansell, Mrs P Ansell, Ms IJ Brown, Mrs DM Easton, H Farnath,
PA Fisher, Miss C Harvey, Mrs G Harvey, TA Jones, GN Molineux and N Parton.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mrs HJ Southwell and District Councillor
D Foley.
Mr PG Davies, the Parish Clerk, was also in attendance.
1. APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN
RESOLVED
That Councillor R Easton be appointed Chairman for the ensuing year.
[The Parish Council placed on record its thanks to the previous Chairman, Councillor PA
Fisher and his Vice-Chairman, Ms IJ Brown, for the excellent manner in which they had
carried out their duties.]
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
No declarations were given at the commencement of the meeting.
3. APPOINTMENT OF VICE-CHAIRMAN
RESOLVED
That Councillor Mrs P Ansell be appointed Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.
4. MINUTES
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the meeting held on 3rd April 2018, be approved and signed as a
correct record.
5. POLICE MATTERS
The Parish Council expressed its concern regarding very serious vandalism which had
occurred in Rugeley Town Centre over the Bank Holiday weekend. Members considered
that if the vandals who were responsible for these crimes were not punished, it would lead
to more and, potentially, worst crimes being committed in the future. Reference was again
made to the lack of a prosecution in respect of the damage caused to the flagpole fronting
the Parish Hall.
RESOLVED
That the Clerk write to the Chief Inspector of Police at Cannock expressing the deep
concern of the Parish Council and requesting the return of the memory stick containing the
images of the damage to the flagpole.
6. PROPOSED CHANGES TO LOCAL BUS SERVICES
The Clerk circulated a letter from Amanda Milling, MP, outlining her opposition to the
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decision of the County Council to withdraw subsidies on some local services.
RESOLVED
That the letter be noted.
7. MINING MEMORIAL
The Parish Council considered the contents of a letter and draft variation of lease received
from the District Council, copies of which had been circulated.
RESOLVED
That subject to the following, the draft variation of lease be approved:-
 “Page 3 – 1.1 1 Rugeley to be spelt correctly.
 The Plan accompanying the document should show the whole site, the subject of
the original lease.
 Page 6 – 2.1 – It is not a ‘model’ – it should read ‘comprising a coal mining truck [a
smaller version of the standard gauge mining truck]…..
 Page 7 – 6.4 [e] – This should read ‘a mowing strip is maintained immediately to the
rear of the double brick retaining wall constructed as part of the works’”
8. GRIT BINS
RESOLVED
That the Parish Hall Management Committee, at its next meeting, consider the possibility of
requesting the District Council and County Council to provide smaller and more efficient grit
bins and, if these requests were met with a negative response, the Committee consider
including a sum in next year’s budget for the purchase of such bins.
9. DOCUMENTATION
The Clerk circulated the following document for the information of the Parish Council:-
 Pension Fund – Employer Focus
10. SECTION 106 AGREEMENT HAWKESYARD: PA/03/00627/OUT
The Clerk reported that an Officer Working Group [CIL: Strategic Infrastructure Group] at
Lichfield District Council had recommended approval of the canal towpaths improvement
scheme submitted by this Parish Council. The Working Group considered that the scheme
to provide real time bus stop information was outside the terms of the Section 106
Agreement and was not, therefore, recommended for approval.
The Parish Council noted that at a subsequent meeting of the Joint Members Officer Group
of Lichfield District Council, the recommendation in respect of the canal towpath scheme
was overturned.
A letter of protest had been sent to Amanda Milling, MP, and her response was awaited.
RESOLVED
That Lichfield District Council be informed that this Parish Council would support any

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complaints of maladministration made to them and the Ombudsman by parishioners in
respect of the manner in which this matter had been dealt with.
11. GULLY – COALPIT LANE TO SWAN CLOSE
A parishioner had contacted the Parish Council to raise concerns about the terrible state of
this gully. Overhanging trees, shrubs and nettles, etc. were all impeding access for
pedestrians.
The Parish Council acknowledged that this was an issue for the County Council and the
Clerk undertook to refer the matter to them. In the meantime, the Members of the Parish
Council kindly undertook to carry out some clearance work themselves, pending proper
clearance by the County Council.
The Clerk would inform the parishioner of the action being taken.
12. ANNUAL AUDIT 2017 – 2018 – ANNUAL GOVERNANCE STATEMENT
The Parish Council noted the internal audit report, a copy of which had been circulated.
The Parish Council also considered the Annual Governance Statement, a copy of which
had also been circulated.
RESOLVED
That the Annual Governance Statement 2017-2018, as submitted, be approved and the
Chairman and Clerk be authorised to sign the necessary documentation.
13. ANNUAL AUDIT 2017-2018 – ACCOUNTS
The Parish Council considered the accounts of the Parish Council, a copy of which had
been circulated.
RESOLVED
That the accounts of the Parish Council for 2017-2018 be approved and the Chairman and
Clerk be authorised to sign the necessary documentation.
14. BRERETON HOUSE
The Clerk tabled two documents which had been prepared by Mr H Thornton in respect of
Brereton House.
RESOLVED
That a letter of thanks be sent to Mr H Thornton for these excellent documents in respect of
Brereton House.
15. RISK REGISTER
The Parish Council considered a detailed Risk Register for the Parish Council.
RESOLVED
That the Risk Register, as submitted, be approved.
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16. STANDING ORDERS AND FINANCIAL REGULATIONS
RESOLVED
That no changes be made to the Parish Council’s Standing Orders and Financial
Regulations.
17. TERMS OF REFERENCE OF COMMITTEES
RESOLVED
That the Terms of Reference of Committees, as submitted, be approved.
18. APPOINTMENTS OF MEMBERS TO COMMITTEES

RESOLVED
That no changes be made to the membership of Committees for the ensuing year.
19. APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO SERVE ON OUTSIDE BODIES AND LOCAL
CONTACTS
RESOLVED
That the following Members be appointed to serve on the outside bodies listed below and
to act as local contacts where necessary:-

Chase Rail Promotion Group Councillor TA Jones
Councillor N Parton [substitute]
Brereton and Ravenhill Heritage Committee No change
Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural
Beauty – Parish Liaison Meeting
Councillor Mrs P Ansell and
N Parton
Parish Contact for Local Public Transport Issues Councillor N Parton
Parish Contact for Environmental Issues Councillor N Parton
Standards Committee – Cannock Chase District
Council
Councillor PA Fisher
20. STANDARDS REGIME
The Clerk invited Members to update their declarations, copies of which were available at
the meeting.
21. MEDIA POLICY
RESOLVED
That subject to the General Data Protection Regulation being added to paragraph 5, the
Media Policy, as submitted, be approved.
22. COUNCILLOR MRS HJ SOUTHWELL
The Clerk reported that the three months sanction given to Councillor Mrs HJ Southwell, for
not attending meetings due to ill health, would expire on 3rd June 2018.
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RESOLVED
That the sanction be extended for one more month from 3rd June 2018, in accordance with
Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972 [as amended].
23. RESULTS OF THE RIGHTS OF WAY CONSULTATION
The Parish Council noted the contents of a letter from the County Council setting out the
results of the Rights of Way Consultation.
24. GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATION [GDPR]
The Clerk presented a policy document on the GDPR and a letter received from the Society
of Local Council Clerks.
The Parish Council noted that appropriate letters and consent forms would be sent to all
allotment holders, Parish Hall hirers, staff and Members. The appropriate updates would
also be made to the website to ensure the Parish Council was in full compliance with the
GDPR.
RESOLVED
That the policy document on the GDPR be formally approved and adopted by the Parish
Council.
25. PLANNING COMMITTEE
RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 3rd April 2018, be approved.
26. PARISH HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the Parish Hall Management Committee held on 2nd May 2018, be
approved.
27. FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the Finance and Management Committee held on 2nd May 2018, be
approved.
28. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The Parish Council had previously agreed that the next meeting would be held on
5th June 2018.
29. PUBLIC FORUM
The members of the public indicated that they would welcome the provision of a grit bin in
Garden Drive. Residents indicated that they would volunteer to help with the replenishment
of the sand and its use during spells of inclement weather.
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Residents of Garden Drive also expressed their concern about their road becoming a ‘Rat
Run’ as there was no access from the new development onto Brereton Road. The
Chairman requested those present to follow this up by obtaining letters of support from
residents living in Garden Drive. These letters should be brought back to the Parish
Council, who would then support the residents in referring the matter to the County Council.
Reference was also made to 30 Cherry Tree Road which was being used to accommodate
‘troubled youngsters’. From an examination of the website, the Chairman of the Planning
Committee indicated that an application had been made to the District Council for a Lawful
Development Certificate. This would, in essence, confirm that planning permission was not
required for the development.
RESOLVED
That the Clerk ascertain the current position in respect of the Lawful Development
Certificate.
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