BRERETON AND RAVENHILL PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a Parish Council meeting held at the Parish Hall, Ravenhill Park, Brereton, on Tuesday,
2nd October 2018.
Present
Councillors R Easton [Chairman], K Ansell, Mrs P Ansell, Ms IJ Brown, Mrs DM Easton, PA Fisher,
Mrs G Harvey, Mrs R Harvey, TA Jones, GN Molineux and N Parton.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Miss C Harvey 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. PARISH COUNCIL VACANCY
The Clerk reported that following the death of Councillor H Farnath, notice of the vacancy
had been given. If ten electors did not request an election, the Parish Council would be in a
position, at its next meeting, to co-opt to fill the vacancy.
3. MINUTES
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the meeting held on 4th September 2018, be approved and signed as a
correct record.
4. POLICE MATTERS
The Chairman welcomed PCSOs Sean Nicholls and Chad Carrington to the meeting. The
PCSOs gave a breakdown of incidents in the parish during September [copies circulated at
the meeting].
The Chairman, on behalf of the Parish Council, again reiterated the importance of the
Police Office at the Parish Hall being manned on a regular basis.
The PCSOs noted that the Parish Council would like to see prosecutions for criminal
damage being given more publicity. The PCSOs undertook to report this back to senior
colleagues.
At this juncture, the Chairman adjourned the meeting to allow the public present to
address the Parish Council.
The public present made reference to the following:-
19 Attlee Crescent – it was understood that this terraced property, which was
currently vacant, was being converted to accommodate five bedrooms and, as a
consequence, up to nine people;
noise problems had been an issue, with the house alarm making a noise throughout
the night on several occasions and there was concern that noise could become a
greater problem following the proposed conversion;
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the residents also highlighted the problems being caused by parking in the vicinity of
the property;
the residents were in the process of collating a petition setting out their concerns
which would be submitted to the District Council.
A member of the public also made reference to the poor condition of the alleyway from the
end of Sycamore Road to Main Road. In addition to hedges being overgrown and the
surface requiring attention, a tree was obstructing illumination from a street light which
added to the difficulties of safely using the alleyway.

The Chairman duly reconvened the Parish Council meeting and it was
RESOLVED
1. That in respect of 19 Attlee Crescent, the Clerk write to Environmental Health
regarding the statutory nuisance being caused by the alarm sounding throughout
the night and drawing to their attention the potential for further noise nuisance in
future.
2. That the Clerk also write to the Planning Department at the District Council pointing
out that if a planning application was submitted in respect of 19 Attlee Crescent, the
Parish Council would request that it be determined by Committee and he draw their
attention the need to investigate concerns regarding multiple occupation within Use
Class C4.
3. That the Clerk write to County Highways in respect of the issues highlighted in
respect of the alleyway from Sycamore Road to Main Road.

[Councillors PA Fisher and N Parton declared an interest in respect of the issues relating to
19 Attlee Crescent and took no part in the discussion or voting thereon.]
5. TREES ON PRIVATE LAND ABOVE MAIN ROAD
The Clerk reported that the resident concerned had indicated that she would be happy for
the Parish Council to undertake the work to remove and dispose of the offending trees,
subject to no cost falling on her.
Members acknowledged that it had never been the intention of the Parish Council to
remove the trees. They were now of such a height that the work to remove them would
require a specialist contractor. The Parish Council would be prepared to consider assisting
with the removal of the material following the felling but this would be subject to no cost
falling on local taxpayers.
Councillor PA Fisher undertook to approach Brereton Million to ascertain whether they
could offer any assistance to the resident concerned.
6. CANNOCK CHASE AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY – SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT FUND
The Clerk reported that following liaison with Councillor TA Jones, it had been decided not
to pursue the bid for funding as the criteria required the Parish Council to meet 50% of the
cost of the scheme.
7. DOCUMENTATION
The Clerk tabled the following documents for circulation to Members:-
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HS2 update
Employer Factsheet – Pension Discretions
Information from Royal Mail on Scam Mail
8. COUNTY MEMBER COMMUNITY FUND
The Clerk reported on an application for funding made to Councillor A Dudson in the sum of
£2,000.00 for a contribution towards the purchase of a hedge cutter which would be fitted to
the back of the Parish Council’s tractor.
The Parish Council noted that Councillor Dudson had not been in good health.
RESOLVED
1. That a letter of thanks be sent to Councillor A Dudson for securing the funding for a
hedge cutter.
2. That in the letter in [1] above, the Clerk convey to Councillor Dudson the best
wishes of the Parish Council for a speedy recovery.
9. RAVENHILL WARD SOCIAL CLUB
The Parish Council noted that the District Council had given notice under Section 91 of the
Localism Act 2011 that the Ravenhill Ward Social Club had been removed from the
Council’s Assets of Community Value Register.
10. CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL – 15th DECEMBER 2018
The Clerk circulated a letter from the Reverend Georgina Holding setting out details of this
festival.
Councillors PA Fisher and Mrs G Harvey kindly agreed to co-ordinate arrangements for the
decoration of a tree on behalf of the Parish Council.
The Clerk undertook to inform Reverend Holding that the Parish Council would be
participating in the festival by decorating a tree for display in the church.
11. PROVISION OF LIFTS FOR PEOPLE WITH MOBILITY DIFFICULTIES
Councillor TA Jones referred to the difficulties for people with mobility issues to access
platforms at both Rugeley Trent Valley and Rugeley Town Stations.
The Parish Council noted that lifts were provided at both Lichfield Trent Valley and Lichfield
City stations but this was not the case in respect of the two stations referred to above.
A campaigning group [The Mobility Issues Group for Goring and Streatley] had been
successful in securing lifts for Goring Station in Oxfordshire.
RESOLVED
That the Clerk write in suitable terms to West Midlands Railway in respect of Rugeley Town
Station and London North Western in respect of Rugeley Trent Valley requesting that both
companies give urgent consideration to the provision of lifts at both stations.
12. SCHOOL CROSSING PATROLS
Councillor PA Fisher referred to proposals of the County Council to withdraw school
crossing patrols from all schools in the Brereton and Ravenhill area. A petition was being
prepared expressing the communities’ opposition to such a proposal.
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The Parish Council acknowledged that the safety of children was paramount and with the
roads in the vicinity of each school being busy with passing cars and HGVs and with the
problems being compounded by parking issues, it was
RESOLVED
1. That the Clerk prepare a letter of support to be sent with the petition to the County
Council.
2. That the Clerk in the letter in [1] above request the County Council to provide more
information and also outline its policy in relation to the future of school crossing
patrols.
3. That an item be included on the Agenda for the next meeting of the Parish Council
to review progress.
13. HS2 – ROAD SAFETY FUND
The Clerk reported that these funds would not be made available until the Hybrid Bill had
received Royal Assent, which was expected in 2019.
RESOLVED
That the Clerk write to HS2 informing them that Members anticipated making bids under the
Road Safety Fund and requesting that they keep the Parish Council informed of
developments in respect of these funding opportunities.
14. PLANNING COMMITTEE
RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 4th September 2018, be approved.
15. PARISH HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the Parish Hall Management Committee held on 5th September 2018,
be approved.
16. FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the Finance and Management Committee held on 5th September 2018,
be approved.
17. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The Parish Council had previously agreed that the next meeting would be held on
6th November 2018.
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