LEIGH ANNUAL PARISH ASSEMBLY
Monday 3rd April 2017
Meeting chaired by Councillor John Beaman Chairman of the Parish Council
Notes of the meeting
Present Councillors B Barker, J Beaman, T Collins, E Durose, M
Roe, M Snowden
District
Councillor Councillor C Whittaker
Parishioners Mrs B
Smallwood, Mrs W Lewis, Mr G Warburton, Mr J Slater
Parish
Council Clerk B A Boughey
1 Annual Report of Leigh
Parish Council for year ended 31st March 2017
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 had a full compliment of the seven Member Councillors
throughout the year with an average attendance record of 80%.
Parish Council meeting were held monthly at which most of the meetings
were attended by all of the Councillors with an average of 4 Parishioners
attending throughout the year, raising questions and commenting on Parish
issues.
The District Councillor, Colin Whittaker, attended most of the meetings,
representing the parishes interests at Borough level.
The County Councillor Philip Atkins continued to represent Uttoxeter
Rural Division.
County Council elections are due to be held on 4th May 2017.
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Dialogue with other authorities continued throughout the year with the
County Council, Borough Council, Staffordshire Police, County Police and Crime
Commissioners office and Environmental Agency.
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For the County Council the main issues again were related to Highway
matters such as :-
The ongoing problem of potholes, blocked gullies, highway edge erosion,
neglect of ditches resulting in flooded roads.
Anticipated follow-on meetings with County Highways, expected in the
Autumn of 2016 never materialised, it is still awaited.
The Neighbourhood Highway Team visited the Parish once last year,
strimming at the top of Hot Hill Lane and replacing the posts on the verge
halfway down Leigh Bank
These visits have now been withdrawn.
On an emergency basis County Highways sanctioned the clearing of gullies
by Wildon (UK) Ltd
The Parish Council is very grateful for the work that Mark Wildon
undertook on a voluntary basis.
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 15 applications on the
previous year (back to the level of 2014 / 2015) Most of the applications were approved.
Replacement Dwelling 1
New Farm Workers Dwelling 1
Domestic Extensions 7
Agricultural Building to Dwelling 4
Agricultural Buildings 1
Stable Block / Outbuildings 1
Garage / Store Room 1
Relocation of Access 2
Tree Preservation Order (Pruning) 2
Garden Pond 1
Agricultural land to Dom. Curtilage 3
Stable Block / Garage to Dwelling 2
Collection of litter bags following organised Litter Picking.
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The PCSO, David Higgs attended a Parish Council meeting to update the
Parish on the role of PCSO’s.
During the year he was involved in three issues through requests by the
Parish Council.
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A grant had been obtained from the County Police and Crime Commissioners
office for a security system for the Village Hall the previously year. This has now been installed.
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The Environmental Agency had been contacted on issues in the Parish
during the year.
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Financial support was provided to Church Leigh Village Hall through an
annual donation.
Payment for the grass cutting of the Recreation Ground and payment of
Handbell insurance continued.
Payment of the Produce Show schedule.
The Senior Citizens Christmas Dinner was primarily organised by Izzy
Snowden. The cost of the event being
covered by a combination of a donation from the May Ball and a contribution
from the Parish Council.
During the year the Parish Council purchased three Defibrillators,
supported by donations from the 2016 Leigh Calendar Group and significantly
from Leigh W.I..
The first Defibrillator was located at The Star and is operational.
The second and third Defibrillators are to be installed at The Farmers
Arms and in the Telephone Kiosk at Middleton Green.
A further unit may be purchased if a suitable location can be found at
Nobut.
A replacement Noticeboard for Church Leigh has recently been purchased.
2 Statement of the Parish
Council’s Accounts for year
ended 31st March 2017
Report presented by the
Clerk
3 Statement of the Parish
Council’s Income &
Expenditure estimates for 2017 / 2018
Report presented by the
Clerk.
4 Report from the County Councillor
for Uttoxeter Rural Division
No report
presented, County Council election year.
5 Report from the District
Councillor for Abbey Ward
Report presented by
Councillor Colin Whittaker.
The Councillor
congratulated the Parish Council on looking forward to future spending given
the pending reduction
in County and District Council services and for the litter picking initiative undertaken in the parish.
Matters raised by
Councillor Whittaker included the following issues :-
No increase in the District
Council precept but an increase in the County rate to cover for continuing Care and Road Maintenance costs.
The Borough Council
were experiencing a reduction in Government Funding.
Trying to retain Sports
Facilities especially for young people.
On current spending on
leisure facilities there would be a shortfall in year 2019 / 2020.
Looking at options for
Leisure Centres being transferred to a Trust but the Council would still have their say.
Planning continually
changing
6 To receive Reports from
Village Organisations
6.1 Leigh Village Hall Report presented by Mrs Wendy Lewis
The Old Boys School
Trustees 45 year lease was signed in 1987 and therefore has 15 years left.
During the year work
was carried out on the electrical system, interior decoration and replacing the fencing at the rear of the
Hall.
This year the interior
decorating continues with work on the toilet and kitchen areas.
The Hall was used on a
regular basis by the Parish Council, Leigh W.I., Dance Group,
Cricket Club, Church
Bazaar, Childrens Parties and Bacon Butties mornings.
6.2 Leigh Recreation Ground Report presented by Councillor John
Beaman
Trustees Mr A Langridge, Mr J Slater, Mr D
Brunt.
Secretary Mrs
I Snowden
Committee Mrs J Rowley, Mr M Johnson, Councillor J
Beaman, A Backhouse.
Cricket
Club and Football Club representatives.
Outgoings Insurance, Play Equipment Inspection
£108, Mowing (Paid by the Parish Council)
Income from Cricket Club and Football Club
The Playing Fields are
actively used be parishioners.
Dogs on leads and dog
fouling remains a problem.
Lucy Mildwater is
currently looking at upgrade options and grant sources to improve the
Play Area.
6.3 Leigh United Charities Report presented by Mrs 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.
Mrs 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.
At the present time the
Trustees administer 3 areas of land :-
6.585 acres at Hodge
Birch, Stone Heath tenanted by Mr Mardling.
5.063 acres at Intakes,
Parkhall Lane tenanted by Mr J Whitehouse.
3.140 acres at Bents
Meadow and Blythe Croft tenanted by Mrs J Williams.
The Charity is allowed
to keep sufficient of its income for the upkeep of the three parcels of
land and for other
expenses, the rest must be distributed according to the rules of the Charity.
In 1997 the trustees
decided to distribute the monies once a year, it is given out at a Church
Service a few weeks
before Christmas to any pensioners in the Parish who apply.
In
2016 £1,640 was distributed to 35 pensioners.
6.4 Spencer Trust Report presented by Councillor
John Beaman
Trustees Mrs B Smallwood, Mrs C Dickin, Mr D
Heath, Mr D Brunt, Mr R Slater,
Ms
E Beaman, Councillor T Collins, Councillor C Whittaker, Mrs L Greenwood
Secretary / Treasurer Mrs L Orchard
Parish Council
Appointees Mrs B Smallwood, Mrs C
Dickin and Mr D Heath
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.
Six grants of £500 were
awarded in 2016. Plus £200 to Church
Leigh School and £75 to the
Play Group.
Councillor Beaman
standing down this year after 30 years of service to the Trust.
Question from
Councillor Roe. How do you let
potential applicants know.
Response. Through the Parish Magazine and Notice
Board in May.
It
is not available to those attending Sixth Form Colleges.
6.5 All Saints School No report presented
6.6 Leigh May Ball No report presented.
Councillor Beaman
commented that it was a fantastic event which raised significant
amounts of money for
the Parish. The people who organise the
event are to be congratulated.
6.7 Leigh W.I. No report presented.
7 Resolutions which
written notice has been given. None.
8 The deal with any other
business raised by Parishioner. None
The meeting concluded
at 7.46pm
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