Penkridge Parish Council
Minutes of the Penkridge Parish Council Meeting held
On 8th February 2024 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
“ Mrs Petula M C Hughes
“ Victor Kelly
“ Ron Kenyon
“ Chris Manton
“ Anthony Minshall
“ Gary Poston
“ Alan Smallwood
Parish Administrator Lesley Hough
Staffordshire County Councillor David Williams
There was one member of the public in attendance.
Part I – Public Session
- APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from Cllrs Andrew Lenz and Mrs Vivienne Smith.
- PERSONALIA AND EVENTS
[a] The above was received for February 2024.
[b] Members of the Council and Public in attendance who declared they were video/recording the meeting was Cllrs Victor Kelly and Gary Poston.
[c] The PA once again reminded Councillors who were required to take their details into Barclays Bank to do this as soon as possible.
- DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no Declarations of Interest.
- DISCLOSABLE PECUNINARY INTEREST [DPI]
There were no Disposable Pecuniary Interests received.
- PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
There were no members of the public who wished to speak.
Cllr Mrs Petula Hughes advised that the viewing bench at the Swamp has been destroyed and asked if South Staffordshire Council could be advised and the bench repaired/replaced.
- POLICE MATTERS
[a] A Police report had not been received.
- SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE & STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCILS
SCC Councillor David Williams attended and updated the Council:
The MTFs have been set for five years and there would be a 4.99% Council Tax increase.
Money from HS2 could be paid into Highways
There had been 16,000 defects repaired and the winter weather work was continuing.
Extra cleaning had been undertaken on Gulleys
Councillors then asked Cllr Williams various questions.
He advised that an updated report would be forwarded to the Clerk.
- SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE & STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCILS [Cont’d]
Cllr Andrew Adams said at the Parish Summit break out session Councillors were advised that an Officer had been allocated to help with grants and the application process and this was Karen Riley.
Cllr Victor Kelly advised that the grant application process had been streamlined and the Expressions of Interest form removed.
Cllr Sam Harper-Wallis said that the solar Farm at Preston Vale had been approved and the Parish Council would receive £20,000 per year.
Cllr Mrs Helen Adams advised that there were four streams of funding and the Parish Council would apply for a grant of £1,000 towards the cost of a new oven for the Kitchen. WMI Community Funds of £50,000 would be shortly available and Council should consider if they wished to apply.
- MINUTES
Resolved that the Minutes of the meeting be approved for:
[a] Full Council Meeting of 11th January 2024.
[b] The Follow Up Sheets for Recreation and Amenities and Haling Dene Management were received.
- COMMITTEE MINUTES
The minutes were noted for the:
[a] Planning Minutes of the 11th January 2024
[b] Recreation and Amenities minutes of 25th January 2024
[c] Haling Dene Management meeting of 25th January 2024
- WORKING GROUP MINUTES
[a] It was noted that no minutes had been received.
[b] Following the resolution made at the September 2023 Full Council meeting:
Resolved that the Highway Liaison Group come under the remit of the Recreation and Amenities Committee.
Full Council be requested to rescind the resolution and the Highway Liaison return to a Working Group due to there not being sufficient time at the Recreation and Amenities meetings to give full consideration to all the items.
Resolved that the Highway Liaison remain under the remit of the Recreation and Amenities Committee.
- OUTSIDE GROUPS WITH PC REPRESENTATION
[a] It was noted that no minutes had been received.
- ACCOUNTS
Resolved that:
[a] The accounts for payment for the month of January be approved.
[b] The expenditure summary print outs for January were received.
[c] The Pie Chart showing summary income and expenditure for January was received.
[d] It was noted that Barclaycard were increasing their fees for Merchant payments, consideration was given to giving 30 days notice to terminate this service.
Resolved that the PA obtain options for the Council to consider at their March meeting.
[e] The following accounting details were noted:
Current Account Balance £ 17,594
Business Saver Balance £348,381
Expenditure for the Month of January:
Full Council £ 57,856
Haling Dene Mgt £ 129,497
Recreation and Amenities £ 78,294
Burial Ground £ 33,433
Total Income for the Month of January:
Full Council £ 5,811
Haling Dene Mgt £ 61,219
Recreation and Amenities £ 7,616
Burial Ground £ 17,442
- PERFORMANCE AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW
[a] The updated performance and Development Review form was received and approved.
Resolved that the amendments to the above form be approved.
- CROWN BRIDGE HANGING BASKET TREE
A quotation was received and considered from TJB Properties to re-align the above at a cost of £698.00.
Resolved that additional quotations be obtained.
- NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN WORKING GROUP
[a] Cllr Harper-Wallis gave an update for the above.
There had been 200 paper submissions with additional on-line. The next phase would be to write the Plan which includes considering data received. After this had been written it would be checked by South Staffordshire Council and then go out to consultation.
He asked Councillors to think of any policies they wished the Group to consider and these could be forwarded to the Chairman of the Group.
- GRANTS
A grant application was received and considered from South Staffordshire Council for the hire of Room 1 at a cost of £69.00 to hold a Job Fair in April.
A proposal was put forward and seconded that the Council do not give a grant but allocate Room 1 under a Council Initiative.
The PA advised Councillors that they should not be giving a free room to any individual or group and this should be considered under the grant policy and the Chairman agreed with the PA.
Council voted to give Room 1 for the above event under the Council Initiative and Cllr Mrs Adams abstained from voting.
Resolved that the Council do not give a grant but allocate Room 1 under a Council Initiative.
- DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
Thursday 14th March 2024 at 7.30 pm.
- 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 9.10 pm
Chairman ………………………………………………………………………… Dated …..……………………