Minutes of the Council Meeting

BRIDGTOWN PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Council meeting. Commencing 7.30pm, Wednesday 8th March 2017. At Bethel Church, Union Street, Bridgtown.

Present: Cllrs. Eddie Smith (Chair), Adrian Askew, Matthew Freeman, Maureen Freeman, Patrick Frondigoun, Alison Smith.

In Attendance: Cannock Councillor Christine Mitchell. Mr. Ray Smythe – Acting Parish Clerk.

1. Apologies received in writing.

The meeting began at 7.30pm. There were no apologies.

RESOLVED: NOTED.

2. Declaration of Interests on agenda items and consideration if dispensations where appropriate

There were none.

RESOLVED: NOTED.

3. To Approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 9 th November 2016.

It was proposed, seconded and agreed to approve the minutes.

RESOLVED: TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.

4. Matters Arising from the Minutes.

5. Chairman’s Report.

 An overgrown part of the Memorial Garden in Union Street by the noticeboard had been tidied by Cannock Chase Council and could now be maintained by the Parish Council.  A request to allow a budget of £50 towards the costs of entering Council details in a leaflet being prepared by the History Society for potential new residents was proposed, seconded and agreed.  A police report of recent events in the area was read out.

RESOLVED: TO AGREE A BUDGET OF £50 FOR AN INFORMATION LEAFLET.

6. Consideration of funding future Christmas street lighting and associated costs.

The Council had received an offer from Cannock Chase Council to take over the existing festive lights. The Council was grateful for the offer but this would involve a substantial annual cost exceeding £1,300, which had not been budgeted and could not be met without a substantial rise in the precept.

CHAIRMAN ……………………………………………… 145 The Council therefore declined the offer. Consideration would be given to having a competition for residences and businesses later in the year.

RESOLVED: TO NOT TAKE OVER THE RSPONSIBILITY OF THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS.

7. Recreational Areas.

7.1 The Memorial Garden.

Cannock Councillor Mitchell reported on the costs of various aspects concerning the maintenance of the Memorial Gardens. The Council agreed to consider the details and to place the matter on the next agenda.

7.2 War Memorial.

It was reported that some Remembrance wreaths had been replaced after being dislodged by high winds.

8. Planning.

8.1 It was noted that Councillors would be considering planning applications and observations would be submitted to Cllr E. Smith for comment to Cannock Council via the Clerk where appropriate.

8.2 Applications approved, rejected or withdrawn would be noted.

9. Correspondence.

9.1 Incoming.

9.1.1 It was reported that the Laburnam Road Recreational Ground was subject to ongoing littering and occasional rough sleepers. The area had recently been cleared of items left by fly tippers. 9.1.2 It was reported that arrangements to reduce the soil level below a damp course on a wall adjacent to the Memorial Garden in North Street had been made. 9.1.3 All other correspondence of note had been circulated by email and noted.

9.2 Outgoing. The outgoing post was noted. No issues arose that had not already been covered on the agenda.

10. Accounts.

10.1 The following accounts were presented to the Council for consideration. EXPENDITURE HMRC - Tax and NI contributions £58.40

Janine Arm - Clerk pay for February and March £233.87 Staffordshire Pension Fund 'SCC Superannuation £40.98 fund ' February payment Staffordshire Pension Fund 'SCC Superannuation £40.98 fund – March Payment Janine Arm - Office expenses £65.00

CHAIRMAN ……………………………………………… 146 Bethel Methodist Church - Hall hire for meeting £20.00 Bridgtown Primary School reimbursement of £130.00 Christmas tree costs Midlands Air Ambulance charity – Grant donation £20.00

TOTAL Expenditure £609.23

Authorisation of the accounts presented for payment totalling £609.23 was agreed.

RESOLVED: TO AUTHORISE THE PAYMENTS.

11. Highways Issues.

An offer to place a sculpture on the traffic island on the A34 Walsall Road, by Bridgtown Working Men’s Club had been received. It was agreed to liaise with the County Council.

No further Issues Arose

12. Items for information or future agendas.

It was reported that at a meeting of the Trustees of the Bridgtown Community Centre, it was agreed to donate the sound equipment to the History Society and to grant the remaining funds to the Bethel Church, subject to the receipt of satisfactory assurances regarding the use of the funds.

In due course, it was hoped that all Trustees would attend a presentation of a cheque to the Bethel Church.

RESOLVED: NOTED.

13. Date of next meeting.

The date of the next meeting was agreed as Wednesday 17th May.

The meeting was then closed at 8.100pm.

CHAIRMAN ……………………………………………… 147