DOXEY PARISH COUNCIL

Clerk: Mrs Lisa Horritt

Minutes

Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 10thNovember 2016 at 7.00 pm at St Thomas and St Andrew Church, Doxey.

  1. Attendees
    Chairman Cllr D HughesCllr E Tristram
    Cllr C HaighCllr P Davenport
    Cllr I DaviesCllr K Allman

Cllr S Davenport

Clerk Mrs L Horritt Meeting was Quorate

Public: None present

Apologies

Cllr R Whyman,Cllr C Hughes

  1. Public Participation
    No members of the public were present. The Clerk had received an enquiry via the website about anti-social behaviour in Doxey. This has been forwarded to the Police who have increased patrols in the area but have reported they have not seen any incidences of this at present.
  2. To accept Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests relating to items on the agenda
    Cllrs S & P Davenport ref Redrow Estate
  1. To consider signing and approving the minutes of the last Parish Council meeting held on 13th October 2016
    Proposed Cllr Allman, seconded Cllr I Davies.
  1. To review matters arising from those minutes (for information only)
  • Clerk to chase ref Doxey sign damage
  • It was reported that the drains along the Queensway have now been cleared.
  1. To receive Borough and County Councillor reports:
    None available
  2. To discuss NHT and Highways issues including:
  • Collaboration meeting – 20th October – attended by the Clerk. Staffordshire County Council are reducing their services including the neighbourhood team, this will result in the area looking less “nice” as jobs in the nice to have category will not be covered. Weed spraying and other services have been reduced, gully cleaning is now done in a different way and SCC are looking at whether Parishes could carry out some functions.
  1. To discuss issue with trees in field behind Brooklime Gardens and request by resident for Parish Council to write to the landowner to highlight the issue
    It was agreed that the Clerk would write to Mr Cantrill to highlight the issues.
  2. To discuss the football pitch and ongoing queries
    - License/Lease – Clerk has chased. No update at present

- Grass Cutting – letters ref 2017 and 2018 grass cutting have been sent to 5 companies including the current holder of the contract.
The Clerk noted that she has been investigating and has discovered that several other teams in the area pay for their own cuts if they are required over and above the fortnightly cut. It will be necessary to be clear to AFC Doxey what will be provided when the contract is set, for avoidance of issues encountered this year. It may be possible for them to access funding to purchase a mower and equipment.

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The council were also informed there is no set length of a pitch for matches – this decision rests with individual referees.

  1. To discuss Redrow Park, ongoing issues with play equipment including meeting 10th November
    Cllrs Allman, S Davenport, Tristram and the Clerk had met with Mark Marsh, Technical Director Redrow and Sally McDonald, Stafford Borough Council that morning to discuss the issues with the playpark and open space.
    There are still issues between Redrow and Stafford Borough Council which mainly is caused by the culvert.

There are 4 options:

-Close the culvert
-Redrow keep all of the land

-Spilt the culvert for adoption by SBC

-Parish Council to take ownership of the area (not culvert)

The Parish Council will cost up whether taking ownership of the park is feasible and whether the sum offered will be adequate to cover the 20 year period suggested. This will be available for Councillors to decide in December.

Redrow have also offered to redesign some areas of the park, such as the hills which seem to create a screen and could be responsible for increased vandalism. Mrk Marsh will be invited to the December meeting to discuss.

Clerk to seek advise from SPCA.

  1. To receive Clerk’s Report and Financial Statement
  • To approve financial payments and transfers
    £232.76 Clerk Salary, £37.89office expenses.Agreed by all present
  • To discuss the Christmas Meal for the elderly and action required
    Max budget agreed of £450, it is hoped that the cost will be less than this. Clerk to buy crackers, table confetti and napkins. Cllr Hughes will organise the raffle. Cllr Tristram will liaise with Ellen. Clerk to also purchase thank you’s for Ellen and her 2 helpers.
  • To discuss logo and possible requirement for one

Clerk to email Cllr S Davenport with requirements, he will look into this with Stafford College.

  • Grant Applications for consideration – if applicable
    None for discussion
  • To discuss initial budget thoughts and projects for 2017
    The Clerk had forwarded some initial budget sheets for discussion, Councillors will consider this ready for December and January meetings. It was discussed that the Clerk’s hours need increasing to keep pace with activity. It was agreed that this would increase to 20 hours per month from 1st April 2017. The Council also agreed that the Clerk could claim extra hours for work relating to the extra work this month for the play area costings and Christmas meal.
  1. To discuss Planning matters and discuss planning applications in the Parish received as follows:
    None received

13.To review correspondence received and agree items for the next agenda.
All correspondence had been circulated. Mark Marsh (Redrow) and Ellen (Xmas Meal) to be invited to the next meeting.

14.To inform attendees of dates of future meetings
To note dates of future meetings as follows:8th Dec 2016 7.00pm. 2017 dates 12/1, 9/2, 9/3, 6/4, 11/5, 8/6, 6/7, 14/9, 12/10, 9/11, 14/12.

15.Meeting close

The meeting closed at 8.55pm

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