LEIGH ANNUAL PARISH ASSEMBLY
Thursday 27th April 2015
Meeting chaired by Councillor John Beaman
Notes of the meeting
Present Councillors J Beaman, E Durose, L Ingram, B Smallwood, M
Snowden
Parishioners Mrs
W Lewis, Mrs P Ingram, Mrs I Snowden, Mrs L Greenwood.
Mrs
E Durose & Mrs W Kirk, Mrs Kenny (School Headteacher)
Mrs
Higson, Mr G Warburton, Mrs J Rowley.
Parish
Council Clerk B A Boughey
1 Annual Report of Leigh
Parish Council
Presented by the Chairman of the Parish Council, Councillor John Beaman
A welcome to all those attending to the Annual Parish Assembly.
The Parish Council meetings were held each month, during the year two
Member Councillors had resigned, Carol Astbury and Louise Fletcher-Chard. Matthew Roe and Michael Snowden had been
co-opted to take their place.
2015 is a Parish Council election year, Councillors, Bernice Smallwood,
Lionel Ingram, and Ben Oakes are not seeking re-election which leaves three
vacancies to be filled by the Parish Council by
co-option. Applications are
invited.
The District Councillor, Colin Whittaker, attended most of the meetings,
representing the parishes interests at Borough level.
There were typically three or four parishioners who attended each
meeting with questions being raised and comments made during the Public
Participation sessions.
The County Councillor Philip Atkins continued to represent Uttoxeter
Rural Division.
The District Councillor Colin Whittaker continued to represent Abbey
Ward
Sadly the former long standing Parish Council Member and Past Chairman, Eddy Backhouse died during the
year.
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Dialogue with other authorities continued throughout the year with the
County Council and Borough Council, there was little contact with Staffordshire
Police.
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For the County Council the main issues were related to Highway matters
such as :-
The ongoing problem of potholes, blocked gullies, ditches resulting in
flooded roads.
Extensive work on Hot Hill Lane was completed, drainage installation and
resurfacing near the junction with the Uttoxeter / Stone Road.
Some work on drainage on Moor Lane was completed.
The Neighbourhood Highway Teams cleared vegetation each side of the
visibility railings at the top of Hothill Lane and in Church Leigh and painted
visibility railings and railings at the River Bridge.
District Council involvement :-
Consultations on Planning Applications dealt with by the Borough Council
as the Planning Authority for the area continued :-
There were 26 applications, a decrease of around 30% on the previous
year and back down to the levels of previous years, most of which were
approved. With regard to the two “new build” sites, one was
withdrawn and one refused.
Replacement Dwelling 2
New multiple Dwelling sites 2
Domestic Extensions 4
Splitting Dwelling to two dwellings 1
Outbuilding - Change of Use 2
Agricultural Building to Dwelling 4
Agricultural Buildings 2
Stable Block / Outbuildings 1
Garage 3
Extension to Garage 1
Retention of Oil Tank 1
Electricity Supply upgrade 1
Continued use of business premises 1
Certificate of Lawfulness 1
Planning Enforcement queries raised by the Parish Council included :-
Continuation of querying the Derelict House, Holmcroft, in Dodsleigh
Lane, use of garages, land at Dodsleigh, storage of farming materials, building
without apparent planning consent.
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Financial support was provided to Church Leigh Village Hall through a
donation and payment of the Lottery Licence, payment for the grass cutting of
the Recreation Field and the payment of Handbell insurance continued. Printing was undertaken for the Produce Show
schedule.
The Senior Citizens Christmas Dinner was in the main organised by the
Carol Astbury with help from other Member Councillors. The cost of the event being covered by a
combination of a donation from the May Ball and a contribution from the Parish
Council.
An Emergency Plan for the Parish was completed.
Footpath undergrowth clearance between two of the new Kissing Gates was
completed.
2 Statement of the Parish
Council’s Accounts for year ended 31st March 2015
Report presented by the
Clerk
3 Statement of the Parish
Council’s Income & Expenditure estimates for 2015 / 2016
Report presented by the
Clerk.
4 Report from the County
Councillor for Uttoxeter Rural Division
Written report received
from Councillor Philip Atkins. Read out by Councillor Beaman.
Report circulated to
Member Councillor via email.
The full report
available on request from the Clerk.
5 Report from the District
Councillor for Abbey Ward
Report presented by
Councillor Colin Whittaker. No
present. No Report.
6 To receive Reports from
Village Organisations
6.1 Leigh Village Hall Report presented by Mrs Wendy Lewis
There had been new
Curtains and a Carpet fitted. Painting
had been completed following
the damage caused by
the theft of lead from the roof.
Re-marking of the Car
Park lines had been completed.
The next upgrade
planned was to decorate the outside of the Hall.
Usage of the Hall
included, Parish Council, W.I., Dancing, Trusts, Bazaar, Bacon Butties etc.
6.2 Leigh W.I. Report presented by Mrs Edith Durose
The W.I met on Tuesday
evenings, currently there are 36 Members.
Typically 30 members
attend the monthly meetings, Institute business followed by a Speaker.
There are Craft Groups
and Bi-monthly Lunches plus an outing to Heath House, and a
Search & Rescue
visit.
Summer Lunch for 170
people at which 15 local W.I. groups supported.
There are nationally
212,000 members, with urban groups increasing.
Denman College provide
a whole variety of courses.
Newsletters produced at
all levels :-
Nationally - W.I. Life. County - Cornerstone. Leigh - Monthly Newsletter.
Centenary Year
2014. Baton Relay passing through 69
associations which ends at the
Albert Hall for the
National Meeting.
Focus nationally on
more Midwives and organ transplant availability.
Within the County there
are Morning / Afternoon events at the County Showground, at Checkley
there is a Craft Dabble
Day. County Carol Service at Lichfield.
There is an excellent
programme at Leigh for the coming with Charles Hanson and
Matthew Ellis booked.
6.3 Leigh Recreation Field Report presented by Councillor John Beaman
Trustees Mr A Langridge, Mr J Slater, Mr D
Brunt. Secretary Mrs I Snowden
Committee Mrs J Rowley, Councillor J Beaman,
Councillor B Oakes.
Cricket
Club and Football Club representatives.
Outgoings Insurance and mowing
Income from Cricket Club, Football Club, May Ball and
Strawberry Fayre.
One of the biggest current
issues is Dog Fouling and requiring dogs to be an a lead.
Open meeting held
during the year regarding the building of a pavilion.
Now looking at an
extension of the Village Hall as an alternative.
Play Area - the surface
is deteriorating, estimated repair costs £15,000 to £20,000.
6.4 Leigh United Charities Report presented by Councillor Bernice
Smallwood
The Charity has seven
trustees, the Vicar, two Churchwardens, three representatives of the
Parish Council and one
other chosen by the Trustees, Mrs C Astbury.
Councillor Smallwood
acts as secretary the Charity.
The Vicar and
Churchwardens serve as long as they are in office.
Other trustees serve
for five years after which they are up for re-election.
Three Parish Council
Representatives are Mrs C Dickin, Mr A Langridge and Cllr C Whittaker.
The Charity is allowed
to keep sufficient of its income for the upkeep of the three parcels of
land totalling 14.97
acres and for other expenses, the rest must be distributed to the
pensioners. In 2014 £1,900 was distributed.
6.5 Spencer Trust Report presented by Councillor
John Beaman
Trustees Councillor J Beaman, Councillor B
Smallwood, Mrs C Dickin, Mr D Heath,
Mr
D Brunt, Mr J Slater, Mr T Collins,
Secretary / Treasures Emma Beaman.
An education trust
which funds parishioners with five years residence who are between the ages
of 18 to 25 with their
further education.
Twenty one acres of
land is owned at Lees Lane, Dodsleigh which realises £2,200 per annum.
A water pipe has been
installed at an approximate cost of £8,000 plus a water trough but at no cost to the Trust.
Eight grants of £200
were awarded in 2014.
6.6 Leigh May Ball Report presented by Mrs Izzy Snowden / Mrs Pat
Ingram
The May Ball has now
been running for 10 year and has raised £30,000 for the community.
Beneficiaries included
the Recreation Field, Village Hall and Senior Citizens Christmas Dinner.
Proposal to erect a
seat on the Green at Lower Leigh.
6.6.1 Mrs Durose questioned the
suitability of the site, referring to Access, Mowing, Daffodils.
6.7 All Saints School Report presented by the Headteacher Mrs Andrea Kenny.
The report included the
Constitution of The Governing Board.
The three page report
is available from the Clerk on request.
6.7.1 Question from Mrs J Rowley
regarding the number of pupils.
6.7.1.1 There are currently 54
attending of which 75% are local children.
7 Resolutions which
written notice has been given. None.
8 The deal with any other
business raised by Parishioner.
8.1 Mr G Warburton. Bringing the parishes attention to
achievements of Clive Baggaley and
his Daughter in
completing the London Marathon.
8.2 Mrs J Rowley. Raising the issue of potholes in the local
roads.
8.3 Councillor J Beaman. Litter Picking on Parkhall Lane last Saturday
had resulted in a
significant amount
rubbish being gathered from the highways verges. Thanks to all those involved. Proposal
to provide Hi-vis jackets for the litter picking group.
