Minutes of meeting held March 2018
MINUTES OF THE MEETING THURSDAY,15 MARCH, 2018 AT RANTON VILLAGE HALL
PRESENT:
Cllr. M. Russell (Vice-chair)
Cllr J. Forrester
Cllr R. Edwards
G. Whelan (Clerk)
18/24 Apologies
Cllr. N MacLeod (Chair)
Cllr. M. Winnington
BC R Sutherland and BC S Leighton
18/25 Declarations of interest in the following agenda:
None
18/26 Previous minutes:
Minutes agreed as a true record.
18/27 Public questions:
No public were in attendance.
18/28 Finance matters
A cheque for room hire at £96 for October 2017 to March 2018 was presented. The cheque will be signed on behalf of the parish council.
18/29 Accounts to date:
To be updated by parish clerk for year in and audit. The parish clerk address has recently changed and bank records need to be updated accordingly.
18/30 Reports:
Footpaths: All parish stiles along footpaths have been replaced.
Mowing: No mowing has taken place since the last meeting. A quote for mowing has not been received yet from Streetscene, although the council has been in touch to say they are preparing a quote. Cllr Edwards will look into a potential second quote from John Hall who has the contract for Gnosall village mowing.
It has not been possible to remove the village Christmas tree as the ground is too muddy and sodden. The Christmas Tree lights will also need removing and storing for this Christmas.
Highways: Pot holes on Stocking Lane have been reported to highways by the parish council and residents.
There is a particular problem with flooding in parts of the village. A manhole cover has broken by Chapel House Farm which is potentially dangerous especially when it ices over in the frosty cold nights.
Action: Parish clerk to contact highways to complain around flooding.
The condition of the road along Bourne Avenue/Stocking Lane was poor with many potholes. Cllr Forrester also commented on the amount of mud on the road along these roads by the school.
Action: Cllr MacLeod will draft a letter asking the farming community to be more responsible for their vehicles.
Weed control will also be considered over the winter period and councillors will watch the problem over the coming months.
Following a complaint by Cllr Winnington, contractors have been out and looked at the state of road repairs through the village. The chippings on Hextall Lane, Brook Lane and Butt Lane as part of patched roadworks have come loose. It was noted that while there were expensive and extensive drain work carried out by the bridge Hextall Lane and Brook Lane, which is of little benefit if the gulleys are not cleared.
Action: Parish clerk to check online and list the most used footpaths in the village, including: Ranton Abbey, Gnosall Road, and the bridal path towards Seighford.
A meeting of the Stafford West Collaboration Group will meet over the coming month to discuss the state of gulleys. Cllr Russell stated she would be able to attend this meeting and the parish clerk will forward on details of time and venue. A letter on behalf of local parish councils has been sent to Mark Deaville
18/31 Clerk's reports
The parish council need to look into its website to easily publicise its meetings and associated documents. The parish council will approach Ian knight the rantoninfo website administrator to discuss how documents can be uploaded and easily accessed. Pdf documents of the agenda, minutes and financial records as well as archived documents.
Ongoing action: Parish clerk to set up a meeting between Ian Knight, Cllr MacLeod and the parish clerk regarding the website and online storage of all the parish council's documents.
18/32 Planning updates
None
18/33 To resolve on planning applications.
None received
18/34Chairman's Questions/Items for Information/Next Agenda
Cllr Russell will ask the council for minutes of the planning application decision for Driveme.
Philip Jones has cleared Hextall Lane and Dog Lane which was noted by and the parish council extends their thanks.
17/35 Date of next meeting
The next parish council meeting will be held on Thursday 19 April, 2018 in Ranton Village Hall at 7.30pm.
Signed.................................................. Date...........................
Gayle Whelan, Ranton Parish Council Clerk
rantonparishcouncil@gmail.com