BRIZLINCOTE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
Minutes of Brizlincote Parish Council Meeting held at Violet Way Academy andNursery on Thursday 20th June 2019
Present
Chairman Councillor Robin Ludford-Brooks, Vice Chairman Brian Judd, Councillors Adrian Cowan, Sarah Moss, Barry Marsden, Peter Marston, Karen Hyde, Lynne Campion. Rita Page and Walid Qneibi
Public
Borough Councillor Colin Wileman, Mr Jim Bridges (a parishioner) and Clerk Barbara Roe
Public Session
Mr Jim Bridges asked if anything could be done about the problems the local residents were having with the Grafton Road Development site. There was constant noise – commencing at 06.00 – 06.30 and all the windows were covered in dust. He said the road was in a really bad state and the site traffic was a continual problem meaning residents couldn’t always access their drives for parked vehicles. He said there was an open ‘pit’ for Telecom which had been there for five weeks. The cement vehicles were arriving to get on site at 06.00 and were having to wait on the road until the site opened. He said, as a shift worker, he
was really affected by all of this. He had complained to Strata and the Site Manager to no avail. He also said that they were not being informed when any work might affect them, or cause problems accessing their property and said it would be good if the locals were kept informed.
Borough Councillor Wileman said he would investigate the problem for him and get back to him. Action: Borough Councillor Colin Wileman.
16/19 Apologies
Apologies had been received from Councillor Bidgood, Borough Councillor Peters and County Councillor Conor Wileman.
17/19 Declarations of Interest
No declarations were received.
18/19 Minutes of the previous Council Meeting (16th May 2019)
The Minutes were approved by Councillor Qneibi, seconded by Councillor Judd and approved by all.
19/19 Vote for Councillor Campion (papers omitted to the Town Hall so not included in the list of Councillors
This was proposed by Councillor Cowan, seconded by Councillor Judd and approved by all.
20/19 Chairman’s Address
The Chairman thanked everyone for attending. He thanked Councillors Moss and Hyde for their work on the Reflex letter which had resulted in a pleasing outcome. He said all the Newsletters had now gone out.
21/19 Report by the County Councillor
As Councillor Conor Wileman had sent his apologies, nothing was reported.
22/19 Report by the Borough Councillors
As Councillor Peters was not present, his suggestion of a memorial bench on Grafton Road was moved to the next meeting.
Councillor Peters had sent the Clerk a report that he had been working with Councillor Cowan on a pathway near to Greenvale Close, ESBC had now completed the work, He also said he was pursuing ESBC for a timeline to undertake the work on Cricketers Close to tidy up the steps/pathway.
Borough Councillor Colin Wileman apologised for being unable to attend the last two meetings due to his Mayoral duties.
He reported that a branch had come down in the nature walk due to the bad weather and he had removed it.
He said ‘Friends of Scalpcliffe Wood’ were now an official group. The Borough Council are trying to draw up a five-year plan which would benefit all users. There was a meeting being held on Friday 21st June within the woods with Mike Hovers, Phil Lawford, representatives
of the Scouts plus himself and Councillor Ludford-Brooks. One of their aims was to plant more trees.
Councillor Judd said he had spoken to a number of people who lived in the area and they were not aware they could go in, due to the barrier, they thought it belonged to the Scouts.
Councillor Wileman said they planned to replace the barrier with some sort of gate – possibly a ‘kissing’ gate, the main idea being to open it up more. Councillor Marston said this would cause problems for wheelchair users and people with pushchairs/prams. Councillor
Wileman said he would look further into this. Councillor Marsden offered to give his advice for less sighted people, Councillor Wileman welcomed this idea. Action: Councillor Colin Wileman
23/19 Traffic Calming Measures
Councillor Cowan said the Speed Control group have met and started to examine several options including:
• Speed pillows
• Chicanes
• Give way to oncoming traffic
• Right of way changes to side roads joining Beaufort Road and Violet Way – supported by Staffordshire Police
• Roundabouts
• Reactive speed indicators – (SSIDs)
• Limited access extension
• End the through route for buses
• Householders to use 30mph stickers on bins (such as in areas like Stoke on Trent)
• Set up Speedwatch campaign, more volunteers needed
• White line hatching areas to be increased
Councillor Cowan said concern remains about a box junction at Woods Lane.
There have been a lot of complaints about cyclists smashing mobiles and motor bike/moped riders with no helmets. There was also a problem of parking outside of the chemist in St Peters Street – Councillor Marsden said this had caused problems for him. There seemed to be no police presence. It was agreed the Clerk should write to our WPCSO and ask for
an urgent meeting. Action: Clerk
It was also noted that the footpath that runs down the side of the Old Punch Bowl needed clearing. It was agreed that the Clerk should write to Stapenhill Clerk. Action: Clerk
24/19 Nature Walk
The Chairman reported that, following our letter of complaint to Reflex, all the necessary repair work had been done apart from one post and the warning signs about the anti-vandal paint. This was waiting for the return of Gary from Reflex from his holiday.
The Chairman had recently checked the area requiring hard core, it was wet but not soggy.
The footpath near Grafton Road was fine until about two steps from the bottom where it was flooded and too dangerous to walk it. The Lagoon in Grafton Road is full – possibly not working properly due to being blocked?
There was going to be an official opening of the Nature Walk to include suppliers and other people who had made it happen – hopefully it would be opened by the Mayor.
25/19 Parish Plan
Councillor Hyde explained that this would be community led – a meeting to launch a plan was to be held to involve residents guided by the Parish Council. The plan would be based on the results of the questionnaire. There is still quite a lot of work to be done before we
start to involve the community. We would probably have to involve Stapenhill as we don’t have schools or places of worship.
Councillor Hyde suggested a Summer Fayre/Garage Sale to get people interested. She said at least one more person was needed in the Working Party – Councillor Qneibi and Councillor Campion volunteered. Councillor Page suggested we involve the ladies from the WI. The Clerk was asked to forward Naomi Perry’s availability for a meeting. She was also asked to contact Andy Mason (ex ESBC) to see if he would like to be involved as a
Brizlincote resident and Councillor Campion and Marsden said they would try and think of someone in the ‘old Stapenhill’ area.
Councillor Campion suggested we look at the Hollows as a venue for events in the area.
26/19 Update on Action List
The action list was passed round to all the Councillors and the updates were all agreed.
27/19 Planning
Councillors Page and Judd had recently attended a Planning Meeting at the Town Hall andwere very impressed with the way it was run. Councillor Page said all Planning Applications/Approvals could be sent to her now to forward on to the rest of the Councillors.
Councillor Hyde asked why P/2019/00489 – the felling of some trees – had been allowed when P/2019/00448 – the crown reduction of some trees – had been declined? Councillor Wileman said he would look into this. Action: Councillor Colin Wileman.
28/19 Defibrillator
Councillor Hyde asked if we needed a public awareness session as the defibrillator we have is top of the range and gave out the necessary instructions. As a few of the Councillors were interested the Clerk was asked to obtain availability of the Glebe for two hours – a few
dates were needed.
29/19 Correspondence
The Clerk had received an email from a parishioner congratulating us on our latest Newsletter. She had also made suggestions for the Neighbourhood Plan. The Clerk was asked to write to her to see if she would be interested in joining the group. Action: Clerk
The Clerk had also received an email from a parishioner offering her services as a Newsletter volunteer. It was decided the areas would be put on the Agenda for the next meeting to see if we could split them and make them smaller. Action: Clerk
30/19 Finance
There was one extra expense on finance from Councillor Qneibi for mileage to the Councillor Training Course at Stafford.
Councillor Cowan proposed all expenses to be paid, this was seconded by Councillor Marston and approved by all.
It was also decided to make the Clerk a signatory on the bank account to enable her to get a debit card. This was agreed on condition she does not sign any cheques and only uses the card when she has received written permission from two signatories either by letter or
email. This was proposed by Councillor Cowan, seconded by the Chairman and approved by all.
31/19 Clerk and Members Reports
Councillor Marston said he had received comments from people in ‘old’ Stapenhill who feel they are being ignored.
Councillor Campion said she would like to put on the next Agenda suggestions to clean up and brighten up our Notice Boards. Action: Clerk
Councillor Moss suggested that following on from the WI litter pick, we held a summer competition for the children where they make eco bricks from the litter. Unfortunately, it was decided it was too late this year to do, but definitely something for the future.
Councillor Page said there have been two cars and a van parked in Grafton Road for about eight weeks – they do not appear to be taxed and were reported to the Police two weeks ago, but nothing had been done. Councillor Wileman said he would take the matter up with ESBC enforcement team. Action: Councillor Colin Wileman
The meeting was closed at 21.05