Penkridge Parish Council
Minutes of the Penkridge Parish Council Meeting held
On 12th October 2023 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 Mrs Helen Adams [Chairman]
“ Sam Harper-Wallis [Vice Chairman]
“ Andrew Adams
“ Miss Luana Bills
“ Jo Chapman
“ Steven Coomer
“ Victor Kelly
“ Ron Kenyon
“ Andrew Lenz
“ Anthony Minshall
“ Gary Poston
“ Mrs Vivenne Smith
SCC Cllr David Williams
Parish Administrator Lesley Hough
There were five members of the public in attendance.
Part I – Public Session
5660. APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from Cllrs Mrs Petula Hughes and Alan Smallwood.
5661. PERSONALIA AND EVENTS
[a] The above was received for October 2023.
[b] Members of the Council and Public in attendance who declared they were video/recording the
meeting was Cllrs Andrew Lenz and Gary Poston.
[c] The Chairman gave an update on the progress of the Community Café, she advised that it had
been open for eight weeks and the attendance has grown from week to week with some regular
attendees and many new people.
5662. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no Declarations of Interest.
5663. DISCLOSABLE PECUNINARY INTEREST [DPI]
There were no Disposable Pecuniary Interests received.
5664. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Mrs Dorothy Briggs, Cannock Road, apologised for still coming to meetings, she had spoken to the
Police with regard to the speed cushions on Cannock Road, in her opinion the cushions should not
be there and there was debris in between the cushions and kerbs from the Haling Dene trees, her
next point of call would be Gavin Williamson.
Cllr Andrew Adams said he had been approached by Mr Nelson with regard to renting six spaces on
the over-flow car park for a month’s trial between 8.00 am and 4.00 pm with the prospect of making
this permanent.
The Chairman asked that this be placed on the Haling Dene Management October agenda for
further consideration.
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5665. POLICE MATTERS
[a] A Police report for September was received.
There were two PCSO’s in attendance who answered Councillors questions.
5666. SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE & STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCILS
South Staffordshire Councillors advised that there was a new documents ‘How To Keep The
Community Where You Want It’ which SSC Cllrs would complete and circulate to the Community on
social media. Councillors asked if there was other ways they could reach out to the Community
other than just social media.
District Council had been divided into two groups to look at differing subjects.
Cllr Minshall asked Staffordshire County Councillor David Williams, on behalf of residents, when the
resurfacing work was to be undertaken on Haling Road.
Cllr Williams advised that work had recently been completed on the Cannock Road, Haling Road,
Pinfold Lane and Pottal Pool Road was near complete with a total re-surface undertaken. He said
he had not informed Councillors that Haling Road would be re-surfaced but work would be
undertaken during this financial year.
Cllr Lenz asked if there could be a site walk along Otherton Brook to see the poor state of the
footpaths. Cllr Williams advised that, as previously stated, work to footpaths had been suspended
due to the Fibre companies planned updates.
Cllr Williams said if there were any problems with blocked gulleys the first point of call should be to
report these through the ‘MyStaffs’ App or through the website. If the work is not undertaken in a
reasonable time then the reference number can be passed to Cllr Williams who would chase up the
report.
5667. MINUTES
Resolved that the Minutes of the meeting be approved for:
[a] Full Council Meeting of 14th September 2023
[b] The Follow Up Sheets were received for the Full Council, Haling Dene Management and Recreation
and Amenities.
5668. COMMITTEE MINUTES
The minutes were noted for the:
[a] Planning Minutes for the 14th September 2023
5669. WORKING GROUP MINUTES
[a] It was noted that no minutes had been received.
5670. OUTSIDE GROUPS WITH PC REPRESENTATION
[a] It was noted that no minutes had been received.
5671. ACCOUNTS
Resolved that:
[a] The accounts for payment for the month of September be approved.
[b] The expenditure summary print outs for September were received.
[c] The Pie Chart showing summary income and expenditure for September was received.
Resolved that the figures be included alongside each of the budget headers.
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5671. ACCOUNTS [Cont’d]
[d] The following accounting details were noted:
Current Account Balance £ 51,822
Business Saver Balance £407,054
Expenditure for the Month of September:
Full Council £ 33,018
Haling Dene Mgt £ 70,700
Recreation and Amenities £ 41,640
Burial Ground £ 20,048
Total Income for the Month of September:
Full Council £ 3,109
Haling Dene Mgt £ 33,355
Recreation and Amenities £ 5,145
Burial Ground £ 7,883
5672. PENKRDIGE COMMUNITY MANAGED LIBRARY
Consideration was given to if the Parish Council wished to extend their initial five year partnership
with Staffordshire County Council for the above when it expires in August 2024,
Resolved that the Council continue with the above for a further five years.
5673. COUNCIL EMAILS
It was noted that Hurricane Computers would be in attendance at the Haling Dene Centre on Fridy
13th October at 10.30 am for one hour to set up Councillors’ emails on their phone/tablet/laptop.
The majority of Councillors advised on the night that they would not be available to attend.
Resolved that an alternative date be sought.
Cllr Coomer gave his apologies and left the meeting at 8.35 pm.
5674. COUNCIL VACANCY
[a] Consideration was given to the Expressions of Interest for the one vacancy on South East Ward.
Resolved that Mr Chris Manton be co-opted onto the Parish Council.
5675. COUNCIL REMUNERATION
[a] Following the discussion at the September Full Council meeting with regard to Co-Opted Members
not being able to claim the above, Councillors considered the Monitoring Officers email.
Resolved that the Remuneration Scheme remain as it is.
5676. VOLUNTEERS DAY
[a] Following the above held at the Haling Dene Centre on 21st September, the notes were received
from Support Staffordshire together with the Chairman’s update.
5677. NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN WORKING GROUP
[a] A verbal update was received from Cllr Harper-Wallis for the above.
The A3 Survey was complete and ready to go to the printers. There will be return boxes around the
village together with Royal Mail Freepost for the forms to be returned with a closing date to be set for
end November early December.
[b] Council considered paying the cost of the printing and notification of the A3 survey in the Penkridge
Advertiser. At a total cost of £783.00.
Cllr Harper-Wallis advised that there was also the Free post license of £99.00 and the cost of any
returned envelopes under the Freepost license. He was due to have a meeting with South
Staffordshire Council Officers with regard to funding for the above.
Councillors considered setting a limit of £1,000 for the above to commence if SSC Funding were
available.
Resolved that the Parish Council set a funding limit for the above at £1,000 if SSC Funding were
available to cover the whole cost of the remaining project.
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5678. DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
Thursday 9th November 2023 at 7.30 pm.
5679. 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 9.15 pm
Chairman ………………………………………………………………………… Dated …..……………………