Penkridge Parish Council
Minutes of the Penkridge Parish Council Meeting held
On 12th May 2022 at 7.30 pm at the Haling Dene Centre
Audio recordings will be made of all Ordinary and Special Council meetings and Committee meetings, with the inclusion of confidential matters.
PRESENT
Councillor Victor Kelly [Chairman]
“ Mrs Petula M C Hughes [Vice Chairman]
“ Andrew Adams
“ Mrs Helen Adams
“ Mrs Gail Ballance
“ John Eastwood
“ Gordon Hawkins
“ Andrew Lenz
“ Anthony Minshall
“ David Oldfield
“ Mrs Vivienne Smith
“ Calvert Stonehouse
“ Alan Smallwood
Also in Attendance Ms L Hough
There were five members of the Public in attendance
Before the commencement of the meeting Rev Greg Yerbury said prayers for the late Cllr Isabel Ford and blessed the forthcoming Council meeting.
Part I – Public Session
5354. APOLOGIES
There were no apologies received.
5355. CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN
[a] There was one nomination put forward and seconded to stand for Chairman: Cllr Victor Kelly.
Cllr Kelly accepted to stand as Chairman and signed the Register of Acceptance to Office.
[b] There were two nominations put forward and seconded to stand as Vice Chairman: Cllrs Mrs Helen Adams and Mrs Petula Hughes.
There were five votes for Cllr Mrs Adams, and seven votes for Cllr Mrs Hughes and one spoilt vote.
Cllr Mrs Hughes accepted to stand as Vice Chairman.
The Chairman, Cllr Kelly, thanked Cllr Mrs Adams for her support and dedication as Vice Chairman over the past 12 months.
5356. PERSONALIA AND EVENTS
[a] The above was received for May 2022.
[b] Members of the Council and Public in attendance who declared they were video/recording the meeting were Cllrs Andrew Lenz, David Oldfield and Calvert Stonehouse.
[c] The 2022-2023 Meetings Calendar was received.
5357. COMMITTEES
[a] Appointment of members to Committees for 2022-2023 were made and a copy attached to the official copy of the Minutes.
[b] It was noted that the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of each Committee would be elected at their first meeting.
5358. APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES TO OTHER BODIES
The 2022-2023 list of representatives to other bodies is attached to the official copy of the minutes.
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5359. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest.
5360. DISCLOSABLE PECUNINARY INTEREST [DPI}
There were no Disposable Pecuniary Interests received.
5361. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Mr Sam Harper-Wallis said he was looking to set up a project to purchase land and hold it from development and allow for public use.
The Chairman said he understood Mr Harper-Wallis was going to apply to sit on the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, this was something the Group could look at.
Cllr Eastwood said that a young gentleman had been assaulted in the village and thought the Council should find out from the Police what had happened and the mechanics of the situation once they were able to. He also wanted to express the Council’s concerns.
5362. POLICE MATTERS
[a] There was no Police Report received.
5363. SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE & STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
[a] There was no SCC or SSC Cllrs in attendance.
[b] An email was received from SCC Cllr David Williams which gave an update on points raised at the April Full Council meeting.
5364. MINUTES
Resolved that the Minutes of the meeting be approved for:
[a] Full Council meeting of the 14th April 2022
5365. COMMITTEE MINUTES
The minutes were noted for the:
[a] Planning Minutes for 14th April 2022.
[b] Recreation and Amenities Additional meeting of 21st April 2022.
5366. WORKING GROUP MINUTES
[a] The Highway Liaison Notes from the April 2022 meeting was received.
[b] An email dated 27th April was received giving Cllr William’s response to the above.
Resolved that a letter be sent to SCC Chief Engineer and Chairman giving details of items that need to be addressed and asking for a site visit and Engineer’s report on the items.
5367. OUTSIDE GROUPS WITH PC REPRESENTATION
It was noted that no minutes had been received.
5368. ACCOUNTS
[a] The end of year Final Accounts for 2021-22 were received and approved.
Cllr Minshall advised he could not approve the accounts as he did not understand them.
[b] The Annual Return for the year ended 31st March 2022 – Section 1 Annual Governance Statement 2021/2022 be approved and signed by the Chairman and Parish Administrator.
[e] The Annual Return for the year ended 31st March 2022 – Section 2 Accounting Statements 2021/2022 be approved and signed by the Chairman and Parish Administrator.
5369. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Resolved that the below documents were received and approval given to the recommended amendments:
[a] Standing Orders
[b] Financial Regulations
5370. PENKRIDGE PARISH CAUSAL VACANCY
It was noted that the notices for the two Casual Vacancies for the Levedale Ward and North East Ward had been forwarded to South Staffordshire Council for publication.
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5371. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Councillors were reminded to complete or update their DPI details to the PA no later than 3rd June.
5372. NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
[a] Consideration was given to how the Council wished to take forward the informal discussions with SCC in relation to their Infrastructure Led Planning.
The Chairman advised that the SSC had invited the Chair and Vice Chair to a meeting with the Chief Executive, Chief Planning Officer and Cllr Len Bates on 23rd May to discuss their thoughts on the SCC Vision and how it fitted in with the Local Plan.
Resolved that:
[i] The Chair and Vice Chair to report back to Council following their meeting on 23rd May.
[ii] The Parish Council to issue a Statement to South Staffordshire Council advising of the Parish Council’s concerns with regard to the progress of the Local Plan together with the information now going forward from SCC and the implementation of the Parish Neighbourhood Plan.
[ii] The PA to advise Staffordshire County Council that the Parish Council and Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group wish to meet with County Councillors and District Councillors to discuss their Vision.
[b] The Council considered how they wished to progress with the Steering Group formation.
Resolved that the applicants for the Steering Group be invited to a formal meeting with the Council’s representatives and, if appropriate, invited to join the Steering Group.
5373. NOTICE OF MOTIONS
[a] A Notice of Motion was received and considered from Cllr Andrew Adams:
[i] All future discussions relating to precept and its setting are to be conducted in public session
[ii] Salaries of staff are to remain in private session
[iii] Negotiations involving contractors and prices that might put the Council at a disadvantage, to continue to be discussed in confidential, but once a decision has been made it is to be entered on the new PC Web pages
[iv] A pie chart to be placed on the web page to indicate the breakdown of expenditure each and every month
[v] A copy of the monthly projections and expenditure sheet that are issued to councillors also to be placed on the web site.
The Motion was seconded by Cllr Tony Minshall.
Cllr Adams asked that there be a named vote.
Councillors who voted for the Motion Cllrs Andrew Adams, Mrs Helen Adams, Ms Gail Balance, Mrs Petula Hughes, Andrew Lenz, Tony Minshall and Alan Smallwood.
Cllr who voted against the Motion Cllrs Gordon Hawkins, Victor Kelly, David Oldfield, Mrs Vivienne Smith and Calvert Stonehouse.
There was one abstention Cllr John Eastwood.
Resolved that the Motion be passed.
5374. PLATINUM JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS
[a] Following the Working Group meeting on 21st April the Council considered the amended arrangements for the above.
Councillors agreed that the events on the Saturday be cancelled, and some events moved to the Sunday. The Saturday evening event with the Commodes be cancelled but Council agreed to still make full payment to the Group.
Resolved that:
[i] The above amendments be approved.
[ii] The Commodes be paid £150 for their cancelled event.
5375. CIVIC SERVICE
It was noted that the Council’s Civic Service for 2022 would be incorporated into the St Michael Church service on Sunday 5th June to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Some Councillors thought the Civic Service should be a separate event to the Jubilee Church Service.
Resolved that the PA email the Rector and ask his thoughts on the service.
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5376. DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
Thursday 9th June 2022 at 7.30 pm.
5377. Local Government Act 1972 – Exclusion of Press and Public – to resolve that the Press and Public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that they are likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in the appropriate paragraph(s) Section 1[2] Public Bodies/Admission to meetings Act 1960.
The meeting closed at 10.00 pm
Chairman ……………………………………………………………………………….. Dated ……………………………
