ALTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of Council Meeting
Monday May 14th, 2007
Alton Village Hall commencing at 7pm
Present: Councillor E Bailey
Councillor P Ballard
Councillor I Cope
Councillor F M G Eyre
Councillor A S Forrester
Councillor A Moult
In Attendance: 5 parishioners
Ms L Court, Clerk
Apologies: Councillor F E Brindley
7.13Prior to the commencement of the meeting, the Chairman congratulated Councillor Forrester on behalf of the council for his election as SMDC Councillor. He also thanked those Parish Councillors who have stood for Alton Parish Council.
7.14 Annual General Meeting
1. Election of Chairman Councillor Forrester proposed Councillor Moult, seconded by Councillor Ballard
2. Election of Vice Chairman Councillor Bailey proposed Councillor Forrester seconded by Councillor Moult
3. Election of other posts – Highways Road Safety and Parish Safety, (Councillor Brindley) Cemetery, (Councillor Forrester) Footpaths and Environmental Issues (Councillor Bailey), Alton Village Hall, to be added to the next agenda Staffordshire Moorlands Parish Assembly, Alton Towers Liaison Committee and election of Councillors with authority to sign Parish Council Cheques all to remain the same.
7.15Minutes of the meeting held 2nd April 2007 were accepted as a true record and duly signed.
7.16Matters Arising
Councillor Forrester asked if the clerk had had any reply to the letter sent regarding public liability insurance to A T Bradley. She confirmed that she had not. She was asked to contact the contractor again.
The Clerk was also asked to contact the Dog Warden again and chase the Dog waste bins and Warden attendance. Councillor Bailey also agreed to try to contact the department again.
7.17Alton Village Hall No update
7.18Alton Towers Relief Road Councillor Moult reported a conversation with Mr Kerrigan of Alton Towers. Mr Kerrigan had told Councillor Moult of an upcoming planning application for a Water ride. Alton Parish Council has not as yet received this. The matter of ring-fenced funds for the Eastern Access road was discussed but the matter has preceded no further. A copy of the Alton Towers’ Community Charter was passed to the Council for discussion. Again there is no mention of the sinking fund or the Eastern Access. A copy was given to Councillor Ballard and Councillor Bailey.
Councillor Cope pointed out that the entrance signage for Alton Towers is misleading and causing congestion. Councillor Mould said that he would contact Mr Kerrigan regarding this matter.
7.19Footpaths Councillor Bailey passed a copy of a map of local footpaths
given to him by a parishioner. Councillor Moult agreed to have some copies made.
The Clerk reported back that the bridleway past Common farm is registered as a bridleway for its full length.
7.20Highways and Road Safety The Clerk was asked to follow up the letter sent regarding the Victorian style lampposts.
7.21Parish Cemetery and St Peter’s Churchyard Councillor Forrester reported that the work is going well. The Lengthsman has also done work on the lych gate to try to improve it.
7.22Best Kept Village Competition 2007 Councillor Forrester gave a copy of a report and reminded the meeting that the next litter pick was to take place on Saturday 26th May at 10.00 starting at the Village Hall. He hoped for good support in this.
7.23SPCA Correspondence included SPCA courses, NALC financial update, Code of Conduct Revision Paperwork, SPCA – Local Council’s conference, Toolkit for Parish
7.24Completion of Documentation for all Councillors The Clerk requested return of this documentation as soon as possible.
7.25Planning Applications
LG/07/00344/FUL Wyndham, Cedar Hill, Alton, Stoke-on-Trent- Erection of a single storey timber framed conservatory There were no objections to this application
JC/07/00575/LBC Flag Tower, Alton Towers – Removal of three second generation antennae and installation of three third generation antennae There were no objections to this application
SM.07/06/165W Erection of new above ground kiosk to house telemetry equipment at New Road, Alton There were no objections to this application although the Clerk was asked to comment on the fact that this is within a conservation area.
CTHORP/07/00621/FUL Springfields, Bradley Lane, Threapwood – Erection of two storey rear extension, demolition of outbuilding and erection of double garage and store There were no objections to this application
Town and Country Planning Enforcement Notice on Land at Horse Road, Alton was noted
7.26Planning decisions
07/00130/FUL Alton Towers Farley Lane, Farley- 60sq m single games kiosk at Katanga Canyon granted subject to conditions regarding timing and samples of materials Noted by the meeting
07/00112/LBC and 07/00111/FUL 22 Town Head, Alton – Two storey side and single storey Garage/car Port refused on the grounds that the development would be inappropriate in size and scale. Noted by the meeting
Councillor Moult declared an open forum to allow parishioners present to raise issues/ask questions
A parishioner noted grass cuttings covered the path by Aaron’s Head. The Clerk was asked to write to SCC Highways department regarding the danger of this.
A parishioner discussed the litter picking to take place and mentioned the planter at the Farley end of the village. It was agreed that this is in poor repair and the Lengthsman will remove it.
A parishioner mentioned that poor state of the footpath on the left side of the station. This is not within Alton Parish.
7.27Correspondence
Requiring response
· Letter from Mr and Mrs Shenton re footpath No 62
The Clerk was asked to write to Mr and Mrs Shenton to thank them for their letter and let them know that the Parish Council does not support this diversion.
· Audit Paperwork
Clerk to deal with this matter
· SCC letter re Drainage on Playing Field
Councillor Forrester explained that this is regarding drainage for the cemetery and that payment is being sought five years after the work was done. Councillors Ballard and Eyre both felt that this was too late as such a considerable time has passed since the work was done. Councillor Forrester also explained that verbal permission was given at the time and no mention was made of any charge. Clerk was instructed to reply to this letter expressing these feelings.
· Community Council of Staffordshire Application
This was noted.
· Email from Mark Kerrigan of Alton Towers re Eastern Access Road
This was noted.
· Staffordshire County Council application form regarding signposting for the surgery
The Council agreed to this action. The application form was to be sent back to SCC with a cheque for £100.00. The clerk was also asked to contact Waterhouses Parish Council to request their consideration towards contributing towards this cost.
For information only
· Leaflets for distribution
· ESBC Local Development Framework Consultation Document
· Staffs Mineral and Waste Development Framework
· Alton Towers Flyers re May 5th
· Alton Towers – Towers Times
· SCC – Re Seasonal Attachments to street lighting equipment
· Audit Commission – Appointment of External Auditor
· Cleanstart letter
7.28Accounts for payment
Gross Net VAT
Cheadle and Tean Times Advertisement 17.25 20.27 3.02
Allianz Cornhill Insurance 460.14 460.14
Shaw and Sons Burial Register 162.00 190.35 28.35
Lengthsmans wages and expenses Month of April 670.72 670.72
Liz Court Stationery 3.49 4.10 0.61
The Clerk was requested to place an advertisement in the local paper for two councillors with a closing date prior to the next meeting.
There being no other business, the Chairman declared the meeting closed.
Signed…………………………………………………..Chairman, 14th May 2007
Signed…………………………………………………...Clerk
