Chebsey Parish Council Meeting 3rd April 2023

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. A member of the public said that the sign post on the roundabout at Norton Bridge had still not been reinstated. The clerk will report it again. There is a large amount of graffiti on the wooden fence and under the bridge in Norton Bridge. The clerk will report this to Network Rail.

The ragwort is now starting to grow again. The clerk will remind Network Rail that action is required for the removal of the ragwort.

The plastic collars placed on the trees on the Stone Road need removing and the rubbish needs collecting. The trees were planted by Network Rail.

Action: The clerk will contact Highways and Network Rail.

Cllr J Lawson Cllr D Foster-Birks Cllr J Pert (SBC SCC) Cllr P Jones (SBC)

Declarations from Cllr M Ainsworth Hickman (Old Farmhouse) Cllr S Edge (Meecebrook).

23/030 The clerk emailed Staffordshire County Council with details of the bus survey. A reply has been received. The clerk has sent a further email explaining an extension of the existing bus is required not a whole new service.

23/033 Clerk still to request road sweeper for Parsons Bank.

All other actions completed.

Everyone present agreed the minutes from the meeting held on 6^th March 2023 were a true record of the meeting.

Nat West Current Account at 24^th March 2023                             £5,555.39

HMRC Q4 PAYE cheque 982                                                                £89.00

Balance c/f to 23/24                                                                          £5466.39

SPCA/NALC Annual subscription  cheque 983                                   £190.23

Clerks April Salary with 28p arrears (£281.89 + £3.80 stamps)

Cheque 984                                                                                         £285.69

Defibrillator pads for Norton Bridge defibrillator (Pads due to expire 05/23)

Cheque 985                                                                                           £71.94

Account Balance                                                                             £4918.53

All payments approved by everyone present.

VAT refund was made on 14^th March £680.33

Awaiting Precept for April 23.

Awaiting invoice for Norton Bridge grass maintenance.

Awaiting invoice for Chebsey Parish Hall hire. (March 23 outstanding)

Friends of Norton Bridge have agreed to pay half towards the defibrillator pads and an amount towards the grass maintenance at Norton Bridge Recreation area.

Budget review.

Cllr B Jones will be issuing a report.

Cllr Samra said he was happy to update any items the Cllr’s would like adding to the website.

https://www.princescountrysidefund.org.uk/how-we-help/rural-communities/ Rural community funding.

Events

Monday 3rd April – Friends of Norton Bridge Meeting at The Railway Inn, Norton Bridge, starting 5.45pm

17th/18th/19th April at 2.00pm or 6.30pm – Joint HS2 meeting?

Saturday 29^th April – Quiz at Chebsey Parish Hall

Saturday 29^th April – Mini Food Fest at Railway Inn Norton Bridge.

Saturday 8th May – Event at Railway Inn, Norton Bridge

Saturday 20th May – Civil Amenity Visit

Saturday 20th May – Re-scheduled Live and Local Event at Chebsey Parish Hall

Saturday 17th June – Civic Amenity Visit

Monday 12th May – Joint HS2 meeting?

Monday 3^rd July – Friends Of Norton Bridge Meeting.

Monday 11th September – Joint HS2 Meeting?

Saturday 23rd September – Civic Amenity Visit

Saturday 28th October – Civic Amenity Visit

Saturday 25th November – Civic Amenity visit

The Warm Spaces finished on Thursday last week. It was planned to continue up till the end of April however Shallowford House unfortunately is not available after all, this now means that the weekly  Drop-In needs to find a new home until September when Shallowford House will be available once more and until St. Luke’s has been refurbished after the fire

It was agreed to send a thank you to Mr Hudson at Shallowford House for the hospitality and provision of soup for the duration of the Warm Spaces. Action: clerk.

It is thought that St. Luke’s may be ready for Christmas.

A request has been made to Chebsey Parish Hall Committee to use their hall on a Thursday for the Drop In. The Committee have agreed that the Drop in can be held in the hall at no cost.

On 30th March, Fi Riley from E.A.R. came to the Drop-In and offered a free ear examination to all those present. The uptake was excellent and several have arranged follow-up sessions at her clinic in Eccleshall.

The session which Family Action were delivering at the Drop-In on 16th March had to be postponed as the organiser went down with Covid. We are awaiting a new date for the session.

The request to Steve Harris from Eccleshall First Responders for CPR training has not been answered, a follow-up message has been sent. Friends of Norton Bridge are going to approach AED and St John’s Ambulance to see if they can provide CPR training.

Cllr M Ainsworth-Hickman will be applying to The Princes Countryside Fund for help with funding The Bee Project. Closing date for applications 11^th April 2023.Action Cllr Ainsworth-Hickman 

A  replacement defibrillator pad for Norton Bridge is required as it expires at the end of May (See Finance 23/050)

Discuss Norton Bridge potholes, Parsons Bank & Ragwort

One side of the potholes on the Norton Bridge Roundabout have been filled in .It was agreed the clerk should write to Cllr J Pert regarding the funding for pot holes in the area, also for an update on the scheduled works for Parsons Bank. Action: clerk

The street lights are not working at New Street Norton Bridge. The clerk will send a report. Action: clerk

It was requested the clerk follow up the request for a speed camera van for Norton Bridge, there are a lot of children having to cross the road for school buses which is causing great concern.

Ragwort covered in item 23/046

HS2 update.
In a surprise announcement by the Dft, there will be a two year delay in progressing the section of HS2a from Birmingham to Crewe and beyond. The Minister says that the steep rise in cost inflation for construction materials has forced the decision to preserve cash within government coffers. The government argument that this is a cost saving exercise. This is however contested by economists, but it remains a claim by the Minister.
The SRCG continues to lobby both government and local politicians to adopt a reduced form of HS2 through Staffordshire. The alternative, known as HS1+, seeks to utilise the current west coast mainline, with improvements, to link with the HS2 line from London to Birmingham, thereby negating the need for the new line and the IMRB near Yarnfield and Cold Norton.
Press comments and public views of some MP’s has put HS2 firmly in the spotlight as being no longer a viable proposition, although others believe it’s essential as part of a “levelling up project.” In the past two days HS2 has received criticism about it’s failure to agree on how to get the trains into Euston from Old Oak Common, due in part to the cost of altering Euston rising from £2.4bn to £4.2bn. As such the whole HS2 project north of Birmingham is severely under question.
Further updates will follow. Bob Jones.

Booklet received from Glasdon who specialise in street furniture, notice boards etc.

All councillors’ nomination forms delivered and accepted by Elections office. Closing date for nominations 4^th April 2023. The nomination details will be published on 5^th April 2023.

Revised application 22/35672/FUL Drumble House comments by 17^th April 2023

The Councillors discussed the amendments and agreed to advise the Case Officer that their original comments still stand. Action clerk.

Further documentation on 21/34553/FUL Izaac Walton Fisheries. (Parish not yet consulted)

The Councillor’s have viewed the new documents showing on the planning portal. .The Parish Council has not been consulted on these documents. It was agreed the clerk will write to the Case Officer asking for further information about official plans, sustainability and the identity of the Local councillor mentioned in the document. Action: clerk

Planning Application 23/37152/HOU The Old Police House 10 Stone Road

The Councillor’s discussed the application. There were no objections. The clerk will notify the Case Officer. Action clerk.

The Chair’s Annual Statement.  To elect the Chair and Vice Chair.

The next meeting will be held on 15^th May 2023 in Chebsey Parish Hall. Annual General meeting will take place at 7pm followed by the Parish Council meeting.

With no further business the Chair thanked everyone for their attendance and closed the meeting at 20.05.