BRERETON AND RAVENHILL PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a Parish Council meeting held at the Parish Hall, Ravenhill Park, Brereton, on Tuesday,
5th September 2017.
Present
Councillors PA Fisher [Chairman], K Ansell, Mrs P Ansell, Ms IJ Brown, Mrs DM Easton, R Easton,
Mrs G Harvey, TA Jones, GN Molineux and N Parton.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors H Farnath, Miss C Harvey and
Mrs HJ Southwell and District Councillor D Foley.
Mr PG Davies, the Parish Clerk, was also in attendance.
1. FORMER COUNCILLOR MRS A CALLADINE
The Chairman referred to the death of former Councillor, Mrs A Calladine, on 15th August
2017. Members paid tribute to the excellent contribution Mrs Calladine had made to the
Parish Council and the enthusiastic manner in which she had carried out her duties. She
had served as Vice-Chairman for two years when Councillor Ms IJ Brown was Chairman.
The Chairman thanked Councillor Brown for the help and support she had given to the
family.
All present stood in silence for one minute as a mark of respect.
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
No declarations were given at the commencement of the meeting.
3. MINUTES
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the meeting held on 18th July 2017, be approved and signed as a
correct record.
4. POLICE MATTERS
The Chairman welcomed PCSO Andy Highman to the meeting. PCSO Highman made
reference to the several incidents of criminal damage in the park and an increase in antisocial behaviour. Various lines of enquiry were being pursued.
PCSO Highman would report back to colleagues on the following matters raised by
Members:-
the Parish Council remained extremely disappointed at the lack of action being
taken by the Staffordshire Police and Crime Commissioner in not securing Section
106 monies from developers;
Members considered it important that perpetrators of criminal violence were made
to pay compensation for the damage they had caused;
the Parish Council hoped that greater use would be made of the Police Office in the
Parish Hall.
Members also made reference to the following:-
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previous assurances that there would be more Community Police Officers had not
materialised. It was essential that, as part of the ongoing recruitment exercise in
Staffordshire, more Police Officers were allocated to Brereton and Ravenhill;
the sign advising people of the ban on alcohol in the park had been removed and
not replaced.
RESOLVED
1. That the Clerk write in suitable terms to the Police and Crime Commissioner on the
need for additional Police Officers in Brereton and Ravenhill to support and
supplement the excellent work being done by those officers currently in post.
2. That the Clerk request the Managing Director of the District Council to arrange for
the early reinstatement of the ‘ban on drinking’ sign in Ravenhill Park.

5. HS2 Phase 2a
The Chairman introduced, and welcomed, Liz Davis, Stakeholder Engagement Manager, to
the meeting.
Ms Davis outlined the potential impact of the construction of Phase 2a of HS2 [high speed
railway connecting the West Midlands with Crewe]. The presentation included an overview
and update on the project as follows:-
the consultation process on HS2 Phase 2a was now well underway, with a closing
date for comments of 30th September 2017;
following the close of the initial consultation exercise, a report would be prepared by
an Independent Team and this would be considered by Parliament;
drop-in surgeries were likely to be held during October 2017 to deal with any
specific issues of land and property affected by the scheme;
there would follow an opportunity for ‘petition comments’ to be made over a 56 week
period;
future timescale:-
Royal Assent end of 2019
Design Finalised 2020
Work starts 2021
Work complete 2026
Operational 2027
RESOLVED
That Councillor TA Jones be authorised to prepare a response on behalf of the Parish
Council making reference, amongst other things, to the following two key points:-
the Parish Council had given their support to the venture and Members hoped that
there would be opportunities for well paid jobs for the local community. It was
pleasing to note that HS2 did encourage local contractors to take on work;
the need to minimise the disruption to the local road network during the construction
phase.
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6. OAK TREE FARM
The County Council advised that the Approved Method Statement had been drafted in
accordance with the injunction and was not open to debate. It was worded so that all waste
must be removed from the site within a specified period of time when it was safe to do so.
The County Council had stated that there was nothing to prevent Mr Ward or Mr Morgan
from removing the non-burning waste earlier subject to them not disturbing the burning
waste.
In respect of Landfill Tax, the County Council had restated comments previously made that
such tax was only payable on licensed landfill sites, of which Oak Tree Farm was not one.
RESOLVED

That the County Council be asked to provide an estimate as to when the site was likely to
be cleared of waste.
7. AMI BLAYMIRES – REDBROOK LANE
Reference was made to drug users who were on this site discarding needles and, in so
doing, creating a danger for children who were themselves gaining access to the site.
RESOLVED
That the Clerk write to both the County Council and District Council requesting them to
secure the site so as to prevent any unauthorised access.
8. ROYAL MAIL – ADDRESS CHANGE
Royal Mail had advised that they were arranging for the consultation letters to local
residents to be prepared. A sample copy of the letter would be sent to the Parish Council
for approval in due course.
9. COMMUNITY MEETING
The Clerk reported details of a Community Meeting being held at the Parish Hall on
28th September 2017, at 7.30 pm. The meeting was being convened by the Police to
discuss the recent spell of criminal and anti-social behaviour in the parish.
All Members of the Parish Council were invited to attend.
10. ARMITAGE LANE
The Chairman reported the contents of a ‘round robin letter’ signed by residents of
Armitage Lane and Priory Road regarding the parking and traffic problems.
RESOLVED
That the Clerk liaise with the Chairman and, if necessary, he send a suitably worded letter
to both the Headteacher of Hob Hill School and Staffordshire County Council on the need
for collaborative working with Brereton Social Football Club in order to resolve these
issues.
11. ANNUAL AUDIT 2016 – 2017
The external auditor had approved the Parish Council accounts for 2016-2017 and had
issued his report and certificate. One matter not affecting his opinion on the accounts,
which he wished to draw to the attention of the Parish Council, was as follows:-
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Internal Auditor’s Report
“The internal auditor has answered ‘Yes’ to Objective F in relation to petty cash. This
should state ‘not covered’ as the Council does not operate a petty cash system.
The Council should ensure that the internal auditor’s report is reviewed before sending the
Annual Return to the external auditors. The Council should minute this process. If there
are any errors in the internal auditor’s report, it should either be amended by the internal
auditor or the Council should provide an explanation for the error.
Additional work required
None”
RESOLVED
That the comments of the external auditor be duly noted.
12. RUGELEY POWER STATION – DEVELOPMENT BRIEF
The Parish Council considered the contents of this Development Brief, a copy of which had
been circulated. The Clerk also circulated comments made by Mr H Thornton on the Brief.
Councillor TA Jones circulated a draft response to the Development Brief for consideration
by the Parish Council.
RESOLVED
1. That the draft letter circulated by Councillor Jones form the Parish Council’s
response to the Development Brief and the Clerk arrange for this to be sent to the
District Council, with copies to the local District Councillors and Mr H Thornton.
2. That the Parish Council place on record its thanks to Councillor Jones for preparing
such a comprehensive response to the Brief.
13. CUTS TO BUS SERVICES
Councillor TA Jones, who had asked for this item to be included on the Agenda, reported
on a consultation exercise being organised by the County Council on proposed cuts to bus
services.
The Parish Council considered it very important that there should be no withdrawal or
reduction of the Rugeley and Brereton Village Dial-a-Ride bus service. This was the only
bus service to Stile Cop Cemetery and any attempt to reduce the service would adversely
impact on the disadvantaged in the community.
RESOLVED
That the foregoing views be conveyed to the County Council.
14. FLAGPOLE AT FRONT OF PARISH HALL
The Clerk reported on a dispute with the District Council over ownership of a flagpole at the
front of the Parish Hall. The Clerk displayed a copy of an invoice dated 28th May 2009, and
other payment details which clearly showed that the Parish Council had purchased the 8
metre powder coated aluminium flagpole situated on the grassed area fronting the Parish
Hall.

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RESOLVED
That the Clerk send a copy of the invoice to the Managing Director at the District Council
in order to finally resolve this matter.
15. NEWMAN GROVE
Councillor R Easton updated Members on work being done at Newman Grove adjacent to
the allotments site. Much of the clearance work had been achieved through the efforts of
local volunteers and this had been supplemented by an excellent contribution from CEMEX
who had carried out substantial ground improvements.
Councillor Easton would be updating more fully the Parish Hall Management Committee at
its meeting on 6th September 2017.
16. COUNTY COUNCIL WASTE DISPOSAL SITES
RESOLVED
That the Clerk write to the County Council to ascertain the cost effectiveness of their waste
disposal sites and, in particular, to compare [a] the income received at these sites with [b]
the cost of removing and then pursuing and prosecuting fly tippers.
17. PLANNING COMMITTEE
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 18th July 2017, be approved.
18. PARISH HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the Parish Hall Management Committee held on 19th July 2017, be
approved.
19. FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the Finance and Management Committee held on 19th July 2017, be
approved.
20. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The Parish Council had previously agreed that the next meeting would be held on
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rd October 2017, at 7.30 pm.
21. PUBLIC FORUM
No members of the public were present at this juncture in the meeting.