ALSTONEFIELD PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 18 JULY 2006

IN ALSTONEFIELD VILLAGE HALL

 

PRESENT

Cllrs T Eades (in the Chair) and Cllrs G Cohen, Mrs S Fowler, L Griffin, M Hambleton and B Hammond

APOLOGIES

Cllr R Frith

IN ATTENDANCE

Mrs L M Imeson

 

1                    Cllr Eades chaired this meeting

 

2                    NEW COUNCILLOR

 

The Council joined with the Chairman in welcoming Ben Hammond to his first meeting.  Ben was given a copy of the Council’s Standing Orders.  He signed a Declaration of Acceptance of Office. He was given a Code of Conduct pack and a form for completion relating to Members Interests.

 

3                    MINUTES

 

The Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 20 June 2006 were agreed and signed.

 

4                    MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

 

 

5                    HIGHWAY AND PARISH MATTERS

 

(a)               Parking at Hopedale

 

The Clerk reported that PC Andy Berresford was planning to visit Mr and Mrs Beloe regarding parking at Hopedale.

 

(b)            Highway issues

 

At a recent meeting with representatives of the Highways Department, the Chairman sought clarification of a number of issues including responsibility for ditches, roadside verges and retaining walls.  A formal response was still awaited.

 

(c)        Best Kept Village Competition

 

It was agreed that Cllr Hammond would accompany Frank Lipp to the presentation.

 

(d)            Dovedale

 

Concern was expressed over the amount of litter and broken gates in Dovedale.  It was agreed that representations would be made to the National Trust.

 

6          LENGTHMAN

 

Brian Ross had advised the Clerk:

 

(i)         That he had cut down daffodil leaves on greens and verges

(ii)        That there was damage to the wet pour at the play area.  (This had already been considered by the Playing Field Committee and the repair was in hand)

(iii)       The litter bin had been placed in the car park near the gate nearest to the play area.  Some problems with items too large for the bins being left in the area were being experienced.

 

7                PLANNING MATTERS

 

(I)            APPLICATIONS FOR PLANNING PERMISSION

 

(a)   Steel framed extension and lean-to and free standing steel framed building for agricultural use at Grove Farm, Stanshope (Application Code NPSM/0606/0541)

 

The Council considered the application and welcomed the plans to enhance the area around existing dilapidated buildings.

 

(II)                Decisions made by the Peak Park

 

none to report

 

8            FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

 

(a)               Payments to be made

 

It was proposed by Cllr Griffin, seconded by Cllr Cohen and agreed that the following payments be made:

 

Lynne Imeson

Honorarium and expenses

£314.03

Brian Ross

Lengthman fees and sundries

£167.74

Viking Direct

stationery

£208.84

Blakemore and Chell

Strimmer sundries

£25.86

 

(b)               Payments Received

 

None

 

(c)               Invoices issued

 

Staffs County Council

Lengthman – April to June

£160.75

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council

Lengthman – April to September

£200.00

 

(d)       Bank Balances

 

The Council noted the balances in the Parish Council Account (as at 30/6/06)

 

(e)     Internal Audit

 

The Internal Auditor was carrying out the annual audit

 

9            PLAYING FIELD

 

(a)               Inspection reports

 

The Council reviewed the inspection reports and agreed them as having been inspected.   

 

(b)        Report of AGM

 

It was noted that the Committee had toured the field and identified the following issues and actions where appropriate:

 

ISSUE

ACTION

Need to crown raise trees in car park

Les Griffin agreed to do this work

Noted additional recycling bins for cans, plastics and paper

 

Noted new litter bins

 

No dogs signs required for play area

Lynne Imeson to obtain

ROSPA inspection identified that signs giving information on ownership of playing field and nearest phone box were required

It was agreed that the signs displayed in the notice board were adequate

Tree died in central reservation at car park

To be replaced in autumn

Goal post removed from centre of field by cricket team

Les Griffin to ask cricket team to put it in the plantation for the summer so that it did not present a trip hazard

Trees in plantation near linking path need trimming back from the path

Lynne Imeson to ask lengthman to cut back

Letter from Sue Lovatt was read out.  Need to replace torn surface in the play area

Lynne Imeson to contact Playdale to repair at a cost of £80for repair kit plus £250 for labour plus VAT.  Sue Lovatt to be advised of action agreed

ROSPA inspection report was noted

Lynne Imeson had forwarded a copy of the report to Playdale as the report recommended that the issues raised in it were referred to the manufacturer.  A response was still awaited

Dog fouling

Lynne Imeson to contact Staffordshire Moorlands District Council to discuss actions needed to introduce a dog fouling ban for the whole of the playing field

Part of boundary wall had collapsed

Ray Frith agreed to repair

Holes in field where goal posts had been removed

Ray Frith agree to ask Dave Lovatt to make four covers for the holes

Trees overhanging highway obscuring sight lines at entrance

Lynne Imeson to ask lengthman to cut back

 

 

10            CORRESPONDENCE

 

The Council noted the correspondence received since the last meeting.

 

It was agreed that the Council would not be represented at the Peak Park Parishes Day

 

11            REPORTS FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLORS

 

None

 

12        NEXT MEETING

 

Tuesday 19 September 2006 at 7.30pm unless a meeting was needed during August to consider planning applications

 

13        PUBLIC BODIES (ADMISSION TO MEETINGS) ACT 1960

It was proposed by the Chairman, seconded by the Vice Chairman and agreed unanimously that the public be excluded from the meeting because of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted.