Penkridge Parish Council
Minutes of the Penkridge Parish Council Meeting held
On 14th September 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
“ Mrs Petula M C Hughes
“ Victor Kelly
“ Ron Kenyon
“ Anthony Minshall
“ Gary Poston
“ Mrs Vivenne Smith
“ Alan Smallwood
Parish Administrator Lesley Hough
There were five members of the public in attendance.
Part I – Public Session
5636. APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from Cllr Andrew Lenz and Staffordshire County Councillor David Williams.
5637. PERSONALIA AND EVENTS
[a] The above was received for September 2023.
[b] Members of the Council and Public in attendance who declared they were video/recording the
meeting was Cllr Gary Poston.
[c] Following the letter of congratulations to the King and Queen following their Coronation, Councillors
received a card thanking the Parish Council for their kind and thoughtful message.
[d] The Chairman welcomed the new Co-Opted Councillors, Luana Bills and Stephen Coomer, and
presented their badge of Office.
5638. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no Declarations of Interest.
5639. DISCLOSABLE PECUNINARY INTEREST [DPI]
There were no Disposable Pecuniary Interests received.
5640. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Mr Peter Jones of The Saplings said he had lived in the village for a number of years and had
watched the various work undertaken on Haling Road followed by various patches to the road
surface. He asked if areas could be considered by Council and not left to deteriorate.
Mrs Christine Robinson of the Civic Society and a Library Volunteer asked why had the Victorian
Fayre been moved to the Haling Dene Centre she said that the footfall for both the Gaol and the
Library would reduce and the shop owners were disappointed.
Mrs Dorothy Briggs of Cannock Road advised that tractors were going up and down the Cannock
Road last week. She thanked the Council for having the light at the bottom of their drive replaced
and referred to a drain on the drive which she said required levelling up. There was still the saga with
the Cannock Road and said Midlands Today were asking residents to report road problems.
891
5640. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION [Cont’d]
The Chairman read out a reply the Council had received with regard to the cushions on the
Cannock Road and advised there was nothing more the Parish Council could do as the cushions
met with regulations.
5641. POLICE MATTERS
[a] A Police report for August was received.
[b] Insp Chris Cotton forwarded his apologies and advised he would be attending the 14th December
Full Council meeting.
5642. SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE & STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCILS
Cllrs advised that Len Bates had been honoured with an Aldermanship at South Staffordshire Council
for his services rendered within Parish and Wards he had served, three previous District Councillors
were also honoured.
The Chairman advised that she had been on a Ward walk with Cllr Kelly and two senior Officers from
South Staffordshire Council.
They were hoping that the three tiers could work closer together in the coming months.
5643. MINUTES
Resolved that the Minutes of the meeting be approved for:
[a] Full Council Meeting of 13th July 2023
[b] The Follow Up Sheets were received for the Full Council, Haling Dene Management and Recreation
and Amenities.
5644. COMMITTEE MINUTES
The minutes were noted for the:
[a] Planning Minutes for the 13th July 2023
[b] Haling Dene Management meeting of 27th July 2023.
[c] Recreation and Amenities meeting of 27th July 2023.
5645. WORKING GROUP MINUTES
[a] It was noted that no minutes had been received.
[b] Consideration was given to transferring the Highway Liaison Group under the remit of the Recreation
and Amenities committee.
Resolved that the Highway Liaison Group come under the remit of the Recreation and Amenities
Committee.
5646. OUTSIDE GROUPS WITH PC REPRESENTATION
[a] The minutes were received for the Penkridge Sports and Recreation Centre meeting of 22nd May and
26th June 2023.
[b] The minutes of the WMI CLG minutes were received from their meeting dated 21st June 2023.
5647. ACCOUNTS
Resolved that:
[a] The accounts for payment for the months of July and August be approved.
[b] The expenditure summary print outs for July and August were received.
[c] The signed Audit Commission Annual Return for the year ended 31st March 2023 was received.
[d] Consideration was given to the draft Pie Chart showing summary income and expenditure for June
and it was noted that there would be a year-end Pie Chart showing actual spend.
Councillors suggested that the percentages be changed to figures.
[d] It was noted that following the resolution made at the July meeting regarding the Internal Auditor
attending the December Full Council meeting:
Resolved that Councillors forward any questions to the Clerk no later than Monday 31st July.
Only one question has been received and this had been emailed to the Internal Auditor for an
emailed response.
Cllr Smallwood proposed and seconded by Cllr Kenyon that the Internal Auditor attend and present
the year-end report to Councillors. Councillors voted 8 For and 5 Against the proposal.
Resolved that the Internal Auditor attend and present the year end audit report to Councillors.
892
5647. ACCOUNTS [Cont’d]
[e] The following accounting details were noted:
Current Account Balance £ 7,649
Business Saver Balance £331,167
Expenditure for the Month of August:
Full Council £ 29,165
Haling Dene Mgt £ 60,061
Recreation and Amenities £ 35,996
Burial Ground £ 17,070
Total Income for the Month of August:
Full Council £ 1,993
Haling Dene Mgt £ 29,725
Recreation and Amenities £ 4,433
Burial Ground £ 5,664
5648. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Consideration was given to the below Polices/Procedures:
[a] Councillors Dress Code
Resolved that the Policy not be adopted.
[b] Induction and Aide Memoire for Councillors.
Resolved that:
[i] The document be approved and adopted.
[ii] The PA write to the Monitoring Officer and asked that it be confirmed under what
Rules/Guidelines it states that co-opted members not be paid a Councillors Allowance.
Cllr Mrs Jo Chapman left the meeting at 9.45 pm
A proposal was put forward by Cllr Mrs Hughes and Seconded by Cllr Kelly with a vote of all for the
proposal.
Resolved that the PA write to the Monitoring Officer and asked that it be confirmed under what
Rules/Guidelines it states that co-opted members not be paid.
5649. ONE YEAR AND FOUR YEAR PLAN
[a] The above was received and considered for 2024-2025 following the Working Group meeting of 14th
September.
The document be approved with one addition that the Council write to South Staffordshire Council
and ask if they have an initiative for Parishes to have EV points installed, and the Haling Dene Centre
be included in their initiative.
5650. NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN WORKING GROUP
[a] Cllr Harper-Wallis gave an update on the above, they were in the process of setting up a FREEPOST
and writing up the Summary and obtaining costs for the final print.
5651. PENKRDIGE COMMUNITY MANAGED LIBRARY
It was noted that the Parish Council would be considering if they wished to extend their initial five
year partnership with Staffordshire County Council for the above at the October Full Council
meeting and Councillors to advise the PA of any questions they have no later than 30th September
so answers will be received for the meeting.
5652. SPCA TRAINING
[a] It was noted that joint SPCA training for new and current Councillors would be jointly held with
Brewood Parish Council in October, date and location to be confirmed.
893
5653. BLEED KITS
Following the donation of £240 from the Inner Wheel to purchase two Bleed Kits, consideration was
given to where they should be located [within Defibrillator Cabinets only].
Resolved that they be located at Penkridge Leisure Centre and Templars Way.
5654. COUNCIL EMAILS
The PA advised that South Staffordshire Council were outsourcing some of the IT work to local
Companies due to excessive work loads. The PA had spoken to Hurricane Computers in Penkridge
and they would be willing to set up the Administration emails and have a drop in session for
Councillors at a cost of £35.00 per hour.
Resolved that this be arranged for a morning session at 10.30 am any day but a Thursday.
Standing Orders were suspended at 10.00 pm.
5655. PENKRIDGE 2050
Following the meeting with Bloor Homes and St Phillips and the advice that the pocket of land for the
by-pass is not available, any further conversations with SCC regarding the above would be
disregarded.
5656. GRANTS
[a] consideration was given to a grant application from Penkridge Juniors Colts Under 10 for a grant of
£150 towards the cost of their room hire costs for a Christmas Party for the Team.
Resolved that the grant be awarded of £150 towards the room hire cost for the above.
5657. DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
Thursday 12th October 2023 at 7.30 pm.
5658. 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 10.20 pm
Chairman ………………………………………………………………………… Dated …..……………………