Approved SPC Meeting minutes 11.11.2025

Approved minutes of meeting of Full Council Tuesday November 11^th at The Richard Cooper Room, Main Street, Shenstone at 7.15pm.

THE MEETING WAS RECORDED WITH ALL IN ATTENDANCE INFORMED AT THE START

85 Register of members in attendance.

Cllrs David Salter (Chair), Cllrs David Thompson, Simon Fisher, Lesley Edgley, Martin McQueen, Christopher Callow, Louise Hawes, Phil Whitehouse, Gail Nicholls, Dino D’Ambrosio, Chris Jones, Mick Cox, David Smith, Stuart Harrison.

County Cllr Alex Farrell. Shirley O’Mara (Clerk). Three residents from Little Aston.

86 Acceptance of apologies.

Cllr Alan Pugh.

87 Public Participation. Members of the public are invited to address Council for a maximum of 15 minutes.

At this point Cllr Salter brought forward item 96

Proposed upgrade to existing radio base station installation at CS_30749700, land north of Little Aston Rd, on which the three residents wished to speak.

Their concerns were expressed citing the impact on wildlife, property values, as well as being visually prominent and close to residencies. Radiation effects were also mentioned. The importance of finding a suitable location away from residential properties and wildlife was stressed.

Cllrs Salter & Thompson assured the residents that that the parish council will support their objections to the mast and quoted past successes in defeating similar applications and suggestions of alternative sites.

Cllr Harrison will submit an objection within the next week.

Cllr Salter advised Council that he was in receipt of a crime report from PCSO Tom Passmore which would be shared via email.

88 Declarations of interest. Members should consider whether they should partake in any discussion or vote on matters on the agenda unless they have a dispensation:

None

89 To accept and confirm minutes of the last Full Council meeting on Tuesday October 14^th, 2025.

Fully approved and signed.

90 Clerk’s update on outstanding issues from last meeting:

Tree survey in St John the Baptist Cemetery. Quote received for £1,100 + VAT.

The Clerk shared the Tonks quote and an almost identical quote from Calder’s. Cllr Whitehouse emphasised the importance of independence between the surveyor and the firm doing the work as well as the company chosen being arboriculturally qualified. He suggested contacting Lichfield District Council for advice and a quote. Clerk to action.

Cllr Salter proposed sanctioning an expenditure of up to £1100 pounds for the survey. RESOLUTION: Unanimously agreed.

91 To receive reports from District and County Councillors.

Cllr Farrell gave his report early as he had to leave for another meeting. He reported:

• a successful traffic meeting earlier that evening with the Parish Council traffic working group.

• Regular catch-up meetings with Cllr Whitehouse

• Little Aston footpath request approved in principle with the path highlighted for its importance as a route for children to get to school safely.

• Ongoing issues with Church Lane and the need for a walkthrough during the county meeting in December.

• Speed issues on Gravelly Lane and the road approaching the new Starbucks.

• Cllr Fisher highlighted the strategic plan of Walsall Boroughs, identifying large land banks for new housing. Cllr Farrell plans to initiate a meeting with Walsall officials to discuss the options document and the parish’s input.

• Cllr David Smith raised concerns about the bus stop at Lichfield Rural South, noting delays and the poor condition of the site. Cllr Farrell explained the ongoing legal process and the need to consult re the entire route to the nursery. Also, the delay due to residents’ requests to extend the speed limit to Lichfield. Cllr Smith suggested temporary measures for the bus stop site to improve safety & Cllr Farrell said he will investigate.

Cllr Thompson asked that a protocol is established where when Cllr Farrell meets with a Parish representative there is a multilateral representation of all Wards. Cllr Whitehouse said that he meets with Cllr Farrell in his capacity as a District Councillor and reports back to Parish so believes that the protocol is there already- welcoming input from any Parish Councillor so that information is not just shared from the top down. Cllr Thompson said the parish has a perspective as well with a real interest in improving our environment, whether a parish or a district. Cllr Farrell said he is open to contact via email and to meet with any village groups of parish councillors at any time.

Cllr Nicholls thanked Cllr Farrell for the work on the pothole in Lynn Lane.

Cllr Whitehouse reported as District Councillor:

• Christmas waste collections on bin days, noting no changes for residents in the Parish. The brown bin collection will stop on week commencing the 12th of December and resume on the 26th of January.

• County is preparing for the introduction of food waste collections starting on the 1st of April 2026, with trucks and equipment already procured. It is estimated that a third of black bins contain food waste and the importance of public awareness.

Local government reorganization: a meeting has taken pace to sanction Lichfield’s preferred option and has now been submitted to the Government as one of three competing proposals to be decided upon by March 31^st.

• The continuation of the community bus service until March with potential synergy for future collaboration

• Greenway Project is receiving positive feedback.

• Festive free parking in the centre of Lichfield will be available from the 26th of November to the 22nd, with evening free parking on the 24th of November. Development of the city centre progressing

Cllr Salter then reminded Council of the “Clean & Green Funding” with requests for ideas encouraged. There was some discussion as to what types of projects could benefit with the need for feasibility and costing emphasised. Cllr Whitehouse highlighted the importance of putting power in the hands of local district Councillors to consult with the parish and come up with impactful projects. Examples of potential projects include pedestrian safety measures and street cleaning.

92 Finance.

Current financial position & transactions for approval as of November 11^th, 2025. Link to spreadsheet

All October & November transactions to date were shared with no questions. Link to October spreadsheet

Balance of accounts on Nov 11^th, 2025: Unity Account £36,380.05.

Nat West Current Account £904.30. Nat West Business Reserve £38,823.52. Nat West Liquidity Account Ring Fenced funds for ear marked projects £85,522.04.

The Clerk reminded Council that £20,000 in the Liquidity Account needs to be moved to the Unity Account before the end of the financial year as this is the amount of ring-fenced money used to pay for the Little Aston Village Hall refurbishment.

Next meeting of Finance, Legal, Health & Safety Committee is Tues 25^th Nov at 5.30pm Parish Office.

93 Planning.

Approve planning applications received in last month and update on any objections/ developments. Link to planning applications spreadsheet

Consideration of Lichfield District Council 2024 SHLAA outcomes.
Cllr Thompson briefed members on the SHLAA document. He emphasised the need for a confirmed Local Plan strategy to assess the feasibility and impact of the individual developments emphasised.

Next meeting of the Neighbourhood, Planning & Property Committee Meeting: Tues Jan 27^th, 2026, at 5.30pm Parish Office.

94 Neighbourhood plan reviews.

Shenstone- update & next steps: Cllr Thompson:

Link to Land Availability Assessment document

Following independent examiner approval in August and Lichfield District Council approval in late September, the Shenstone Neighbourhood Plan has been successfully updated and extended to 2040. The revised Neighbourhood Plan will guide future planning development to protect, maintain and enhance the overall quality of the environment and amenity that residents value in Shenstone. The non planning priorities will be determined by village residents in the spring.

Stonnall- update & next steps: Cllr Whitehouse:

Link to Briefing paper provided by Councillor David Smith

The revision to the current plan has now been reviewed by an Independent Examiner appointed by Lichfield District Council. He has recommended that subject to slight modifications the plan now proceed to adoption. Cllr Thompson noted the 15 amendments. It was proposed by Cllr Whitehouse and seconded by Cllr Cox, that Council approve to pass the plan with the necessary modifications RESOLUTION: Unanimously agreed.

Little Aston. Update & next steps: Cllr Thompson:

Link to proposal to re-run regulation 14 consultation.

The public consultation event in October was very well attended with over 70 residents participating. The steering group have met to review the event with an update written for the forthcoming newsletter by Laura Towers, a Claverdon Park resident and steering group member. Next meeting of the group has been scheduled for later in November with all feedback from residents currently with both Lichfield District Council and Chris Bowden.

Following the written receipt of a request from five Councillors at this point standing orders were suspended to revisit the resolution made under Item 56, point 8 of 8, at the Sept Full Council Meeting. Cllr Smith had prior to the meeting shared the attached document. Cllr Salter pointed out that the subject would have required revisiting anyway in order to approve the actual cost of the plan rerun which is now known to be between £1,100 & £1,800.

A debate followed centring on whether the funding for the rerun of the Little Aston Neighbourhood Plan should come from the main Parish funds or from the community infrastructure fund. Cllr Cox highlighted The Community Infrastructure Levy (Amendment). 2013 Regulation 59(c) which would appear to state that CIL funds must be used for infrastructure. Following further long discussion, it was clear that the exact interpretation of the legislation amendment was required and that the matter should be deferred until the facts were established. It was suggested by Cllr Salter that the subject of where the funds come from be deferred until the December meeting in order to further clarify the legislation but agree the actual cost itself as being up to £1,800.
RESOULTION: unanimously agreed

95 Traffic working group; feedback from meeting 11^th November including campaign update on 20mph in Shenstone.

Link to Letter from Sarah Edwards MP

• Cllr McQueen briefed Council on a very positive meeting including securing a meeting with highways officials to discuss traffic calming measures.

• The potential for a bid for up to £50,000 in CIL money for infrastructure projects through Lichfield District Council.

• The importance of compiling a comprehensive list of traffic calming needs and potential solutions is emphasised.

• The need for a coherent strategy and public support for traffic calming initiatives is highlighted.

96 Proposed upgrade to existing radio base station installation at CS_30749700, land north of Little Aston Rd.

Covered under public participation.

Link to planning consultation letter
Link to location map and planning drawings
Link to General Background brochure

97 Parish Clerk interviews: feedback from the Employment Committee on interviews to be held on Thurs Nov 6^th & consider recommendations.

This item was held in camera due to the personal nature of the discussion under the rules of the Local Government Act 1972 (Section 100A and Schedule 12A)

98 Next meeting of Full Council 9^th Dec 2025 Little Aston Village Hall. 7.15pm

Link to Community Infrastructure Levy money expenditure document. Nov 2025