SPC Approved Meeting Minutes – 14.10.25

Draft minutes of meeting of Full Council Tuesday October 14^th at Shenstone Community Library at 7.15pm.

72 Register of members in attendance

Cllr Lesley Edgley (Acting Chair), Cllrs David Thompson, Martin McQueen, Chris Callow, Alan Pugh, Stuart Harrison, Dino D’Ambrosio, Mick Cox, Gail Nicholls, Louise Hawes, David Smith.

Shirley O’Mara (Clerk)

PCSO Tom Passmore. A resident of Shenstone.

73 Acceptance of apologies.

Cllr Simon Fisher. Cllr Chris Jones. County Cllr Alex Farrell.

Cllr David Salter. Cllr Phil Whitehouse sent apologies as will be arriving late due to commitments at Lichfield District Council.

74 Public Participation.

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

A resident of Shenstone addressed Council on several points:

1. Concerns about changes in legislation re asbestos in public buildings and the need for proper asbestos management surveys to be carried out by an accredited UCAS survey expert.

ACTION: Full details with links to be forwarded to the Clerk who will share with the management committees of all public buildings in the parish.

2. Tesco on the Birmingham Road. Issues with illumination at the rear of the store throughout the night causing disturbance to residents, especially children, and wildlife. Despite concerns being raised directly with the store no action has been taken. There are also issues with delivery trucks parking outside homes early in the morning with intrusive lighting and idle engines. ACTION: Cllr Thompson and the Clerk will draft a letter to environmental health at Lichfield District Council.

3. The presence of asbestos in local paths and the need for safer materials to be used in children’s play areas as a priority.

4. Delay in fixing the faulty equipment on Shenstone Playing Fields play area.

Cllr Thompson said that the new committee meet this week and are focusing on keeping repairs as inexpensive as possible while looking at a long-term refurbishment, but the slide is a priority for repairs. Fundraising will also be high on the agenda.

The resident offered his assistance with planting advice and biodiversity initiatives.

PCSO Tom Passmore shared his report – Link to report

75 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

76 To accept and confirm minutes of the last Full Council meeting on Tuesday September 9^th, 2025.

Duly accepted and signed.

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

• Christmas Market Shenstone.

The Clerk shared with Council the news that the balance of start up funds retained by the Christmas Market Committee had been used to purchase a gazebo and some lights. These are available for use anywhere in the Parish. It was noted by Cllr Edgley that there was a lot to learn when grant funding start up projects where monies are to be retained year on year. Cllrs Thompson & Nicholls agreed that a line should be drawn under this.

• Traffic Working Group Terms of Reference: Cllr McQueen asked if the Terms of Reference from 2023 had been ratified by Full Council which they had not. RESOLUTION: Fully ratified by Council with a meeting of Cllrs McQueen, Salter, Whitehouse, D’Ambrosio & Cox to be arranged.

78 To receive reports from District and County Councillors.

Cllr Whitehouse reported:

-Local Government Reorganisation. Lichfield District Council are in the process of submitting a proposal to form a 3-council unitary as the best way to support people locally. There were 16,700 public responses outlining the preferred route. Everyone working together to submit by Nov 28^th but won’t really know the outcome until next year with more authority and more responsibility possibly coming to Parish.

– The Greenway Project: a new walking route from Lichfield to Brownhills to open on Oct 20^th.

– HS2 deferral: Nothing further will be done re development for the next four years. Cllr Thompson asked if he could see the letter detailing this. Cllr Whitehouse said he would find out if he can share.

– Lichfield District Council have allocated £225,000 to be spent on parks and improvements to open spaces, £75,000 of which needs to be spent this financial year. The first stage is the allocation of £3,400 to each Ward so that Ward Councillors, District Councillors can consult with the Parish on the best way to utilise the funds be it bins, benches, but everyone needs to think imaginatively. Cllr Whitehouse will share details with the Clerk on the process for collating ideas. Cllr Smith raised the point that the fund, if split across one, two- and three-members Wards, the division does not seem entirely fair. Cllr Whitehouse said it is important to be sensible and everyone to work together. Cllr Smith asked Cllr Whitehouse that in the interests of all members he would push this point and Cllr Whitehouse said that he would. Cllr Thompson said he would be very interested in much more detail on this so that funds can be used valuably, usefully and meaningfully.

79 Planning.

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

Cllr Thompson reported:

• Success with Derry Farm objection.

• Little Aston Neighbourhood Plan consultation progressing with a drop-in session on Oct 23^rd which will hopefully generate community input.

Motion: Lichfield Local Plan 2043 District Council Request for Parish Council Participation. RESOLUTION: The attached motion was put before Council and was unanimously approved.
Link to the motion document

Next meeting of the Neighbourhood, Planning & Property Committee Meeting: TBC.

80 Finance.

Current financial position & transactions for approval as of October 14^th, 2025

Link to financial transactions spreadsheet, Oct 1st to date
Link to September’s financial transactions spreadsheet.

All transactions were shared with no questions from Members.

Nat West Current Account ££904.30. Nat West Business Reserve £38,754.42. Nat West Liquidity Account £85,198.84 ring fenced funds for ear marked projects. Unity Account £87,849.62.

Receive and approve recommendations from Finance, Legal, Health & Safety Committee meeting Tues September 23^rd, 2025

RECOMMENDATION

Policy Status

• Grant Funding

• Co-option Policy Full council approval to move to Issue 1

Redaction Policy Full council approval to move to Issue 1

Redaction Index Full Council approval to fund the completion of the redaction work.

RESOLUTION: Unanimously approved. With thanks to Cllr Pugh for all his hard work.

RECOMMENDATION Reconsideration of St Peters School fundraisers grant application for approx. £516.00.
RESOLUTION: Unanimously approved- direct purchase.

RECOMMENDATION: Purchase of bleed kits for defibrillators across the Parish at £17.00 small, £64.20 medium, £96.00 large. Exact numbers to be agreed.
RESOLUTION: Purchase of large bleed kits for all defibrillators apart from Stonnall which already have kits in place.

81 Tree safety survey St. Johns Cemetery.

The Clerk reported that following a recent fallen tree near the Old Tower at St Johns Cemetery, the tree surgeon advised that other trees look dangerous and advised an urgent tree safety survey. The Clerk has requested a price for this from this and other contractors.

RESOLUTION: It was agreed that as this is an important Health & Safety issue, the survey should progress before next Council meet.

82 Neighbourhood plan reviews Shenstone, Stonnall & Little Aston. update & next steps. Cllrs Thompson & Whitehouse.

Cllr Thompson updated under Item 79 for Little Aston.

Cllr Whitehouse reported that the Stonnall plan had its consultation period extended. The examiner is looking at the responses from the public and from the statutory consultees. It is not expected that a referendum will be required and that being the case, the plan should be adopted in a few weeks.

83 Recruitment: consideration of next steps. Inc possible use of Scribe at an additional £149.00 per month + VAT for transactions, reconciliations and reports.

RESOLUTION: The use of Scribe for the next six months was approved. The Job description proposed was approved as was the recruitment process of advertising through Staffs Parish Council Association and the Society of Local Council Clerks.
Link to Job Description document 

Cllr Pugh was warmly praised for all his hard work on the job description in such a short time.

84 December newsletter. The deadline for editorial is Nov 7^th.

There was a very long discussion about including human interest stories in the newsletter but it was eventually agreed to leave the decision until a later date as December’s issue is likely to be a very packed edition.

85 Next meeting of Full Council Nov 11^th, at the Richard Cooper Room at 7.15pm.