BRERETON AND RAVENHILL PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a meeting of the Parish Hall and Property Management Committee held at the Parish
Hall, Ravenhill Park, Brereton, on Tuesday, 31st January 2023.
Present
Alderman R Easton [Chairman], Alderwoman Mrs P Ansell, Councillors K Ansell, Mrs DM Easton
and Ms C Hodgkiss.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors DR Johnson and Mrs L Johnson.

Mrs R Davies [Clerk to the Committee] and Mr J Smith [Administrator and Caretaker] were also
present.

1. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest given at the commencement of the meeting.

2. APOLOGIES
As listed above.

3. NEWMAN GROVE ALLOTMENTS
Jim Cusack [Allotment Superintendent] had been in contact with Alderman R Easton
regarding a structure that had been erected by Mr B Ghuman [Plot 14] on the footpath at the
back of the allotments at Newman Grove. The footpath is a public Right of Way and should
be free of obstacles to enable people to use it safely. Mr Cusack had spoken to Mr Ghuman
[on the Chairman’s instruction] to request that the structure be taken down and had been the
subject of some animosity.
RESOLVED
That the Clerk to the Committee write to Mr Ghuman regarding the structure to inform him
that he needed to remove it within fourteen days of receiving the letter from the Clerk, or the
Committee would have no alternative but to remove it themselves. Should the structure reappear, legal action would be taken and Mr Ghuman’s tenancy agreement would be
withdrawn.
Meeting at Newman Grove Allotments
The Clerk to the Committee informed Members present that she would contact Mr Anthony
Simms at Cannock Chase District Council to obtain dates for Alderman Easton and other
Councillors to meet with him at the allotments.

4. MINUTES
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the meeting held on 3rd January 2023, be approved and signed as a
correct record.

5. MATTERS ARISING
There were no matters arising.

6. ROAD SWEEPER – UPDATE
Alderman Easton reported that the road sweeper had been sold for £1050.00 plus VAT.

7. PARISH HALL PROGRESS REPORT
Hire Fees
Mr J Smith [Administrator] reported on the total hire fees for the month of January, which
amounted to £1,197.49.
The total hire fees from 01.04.22. to 31st January 2023, amounted to £12,601.60.
New Group
The Clerk to the Committee informed the meeting that a new group [Aerobics] was due to
start in February.
Increase in Hire Fees
The Committee discussed the possibility of raising the hire fees. The Committee concluded
that in view of the economic difficulties experienced by families in the Parish at this time, it
was decided that there would be no increase at the present time but that they be reviewed in
six months. The Clerk to the Committee would inform the groups that the Parish Council
valued their custom and that the present rate of hire fees would continue.

8. FINANCE REPORT
The report presented by Mr John Smith, showing the income and expenditure of the Parish
Hall as at 31st January 2023, was submitted for information and noted.

9. PARISH HALL INVENTORY
The Parish Hall inventory had been updated as far as possible but the following items also
needed to be added:-
➢ Tractor
➢ Trailer
➢ Hedge Cutter
➢ Digger
➢ Lifter
Mr J Smith reported that he had been approached by someone interested in hiring the lifter.
The Committee considered the cost that would be charged but it was pointed out that the
hirer would need to take out its own insurance.
After much discussion, the Committee decided against the hiring out of the lifter.

10. DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
RESOLVED
That the next meeting be held on Tuesday, 28th February 2023, at 7.30 p.m.
_____________________
[Chairman