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Minutes Approved by Chair / Acting Chair : ………………………………… Date: ……………………
15.02 2024
BRERETON AND RAVENHILL PARISH COUNCIL
DISTRICT OF CANNOCK CHASE COUNTY OF STAFFORDSHIRE
Minutes of the FULL COUNCIL MEETING
Held on Thursday 18th January 7.30pm
Cllrs Present: M Blackham (MB)(Chair), C Davies (CD), R Hall-Davies (RHD), C Harris (CH), S Merriman (SM), K Paul (KP), K Theobald (KT), J Gascoigne (JG)(Vice Chair), C Boulton (CB), R Hall (RH),
Cllrs Absent: Apologies were received from: A Cowdell (AC) who would be arriving late (8.10pm) and D Blocksidge (DB), which were both accepted. No apology was received from J Johnson (JJ), which was unacceptable.
In Attendance: J Smith (JS)(Caretaker), L. Featherstone (LF)(RFO), PR Whibley (Clerk)
1. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN ANY ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
None
2. FORMAL ANNOUCEMENTS/CORRESPONDANCE BY THE CHAIR
None
3. MINUTES
To approve and sign off the minutes of Full Council meeting held on Thursday 19th October 2023
Minutes approved and signed by the Chair.
4. MATTERS ARISING
42.1a. Resolved: That SM will contact the Hall door technician and accept the quote. Yes.
42.2a. Resolved: That SM will contact the Hall decorators who were successful and accept their quote. Yes and work already started.
43.a. Resolved: That the clerk will complete the BRPC Standing Orders ready for approval in February 2024. Completed ready for final proof reading and submission.
45.a. Resolved: That the clerk will send the Draft Risk Assessment document to SM for placement on Google Drive. Completed.
45.b Resolved: That all members substitute information into the BRPC Risk Management and Assessment policy. On going
(If this could be completed before January 10th 2024, the clerk will attempt to finalise the document ready for approval at the next Full Council meeting on January 18th. Only the identified sentences which need attention will be displayed on the office wall. Please make any amendments by substituting in written answers to the red sections)
46.a Resolved: That a large map of the parish be placed on the wall so members can show where each asset is situated. (Whether any need to repair/replace) No Update
47.a Resolved: That the clerk would investigate interest bank accounts and report to the chair who will see whether he is able to find a more favourable quote elsewhere. Completed.
5. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
None
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Minutes Approved by Chair / Acting Chair : ………………………………… Date: ……………………
15.02 2024
6. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES / CLERK’S REPORT
6.1 HMCE Minutes of January Meeting presented.
The Health and Safety issue raised concerned about the fact that cars have been using the blocked path leading into the main entrance as a parking area.
As a result of this the blocking has sunk under the weight and the pathway is no longer flat. It undulates quite considerably and has caused some of our parishioners and hirers to lose their footing but luckily without serious injury so far. The clerk was asked to contact CCDC to request that this issue is dealt with as a matter of some urgency.
CCDC replied that on 29.09.2000 a new lease was signed by the previous council passing the responsibility to the parish council for the land in question.
As the undulating path is deemed to be a Health and Safety issue the Council approved the work should be contracted out immediately. In addition, a new contractor is to be sourced to install 3 new additional bollards to ensure that this issue doesn’t arise again in the future.
The meeting agreed to the installation of a new floor covering in the Meeting Room as discussed previously at the CEHM meeting.
6.1a. Resolved: That MB inform the contractor that the quote has been accepted and to begin work as soon as possible.
6.1b. Resolved: That MB seek out tenders for the installation of a welded flooring for the Meeting Room.
6.2 District: Road Calming A resident has complained regarding the use of the Armitage Road as a shortcut by Monster tractors and the general speeding issues relating to Armitage Road. The parish council has previously contacted the County Council over this very issue. The parish council was informed that the number of collisions were not significant enough to warrant installing speed cameras, sighting only 5 collisions over a 3 year period. Agreed: No decision was made due to the two hour limit having elapsed.
Agreed: That as the two hour meeting time had elapsed that this item would be placed on the next meeting.
6.3 Clerk: The 4 Pillars of Parish Councils
 Scheme of Delegation and Terms of Reference
 Official Request from HM Revenue and Customs
 Playground water-pump investigation
Agreed: That as the two hour meeting time had elapsed that this item would be placed on the next meeting.
7. BUDGETING 2023 -2024 AND PRECEPT
Almost the whole meeting was dedicated to this item following-on from the initial discussions which began during last month’s meeting. At the end of discussions a Budget for 2024-2025 was agreed and the subsequent Precept was calculated.
It was agreed that a Precept of £66,400.00 for 2024-2025 was approved. Using your grid this is a rise of 7.0% on 2023-2024 figure but only 4.9% when the previous two reductions are factored in. Based on the Band D property example, this would mean a rise of £2.20 per household based on your actual figure.
The Parish Council has used some of its reserves to ensure that the increase has been kept to an absolute minimum.
7.a. Resolved: That the clerk inform CCDC of their decision.
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Minutes Approved by Chair / Acting Chair : ………………………………… Date: ……………………
15.02 2024
8. RISK ASSESSMENT
Agreed: It was agreed that as the two hour meeting time had elapsed that this item would be placed on the next meeting.
9. ASSEST REGISTER
Agreed: It was agreed that as the two hour meeting time had elapsed that this item would be placed on the next meeting.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
It was discussed and agreed to begin the next meeting an hour earlier than usual at 6.30pm.
Resolved: That the next meeting would begin one hour earlier than usual at 6.30pm.
Full Council will next meet on Thursday 15 February at 6.30pm
Meeting Closed: 9.36pm ..