Leigh Parish Council

Tuesday, 21 June 2022

Minutes of the Annual Parish Council - 2022 May

LEIGH PARISH COUNCIL

Annual Meeting of the Leigh Parish Council.

Monday 9^th May 2022

Minutes of meeting

Present

Councillor John Beaman - Chairman

Councillor Andrew Raby - Vice Chairman

Councillor Ernie Durose

Councillor Bruce Barker

Councillor David Wilson

Councillor Toby Collins

Katherine Parkinson - Clerk

1. Apologies Councillor Lionel Ingram

Councillor Mike Snowden

Councillor Colin Whittaker

2. Election of Chairman

Councillor John Beaman was duly elected as Chairman and signed the form

3. Election of Vice Chairman

Councillor Andy Raby was duly elected as Vice Chairman and signed the form

4. Appointment/Confirmation of Parish Council Representatives to Parish Organisations

4.1 Leigh Recreational Ground - John Beaman

4.2 United Charities - Andy Raby

4.3 Spencer Trust - Toby Collins & Mike Snowden

5. To inspect any Deeds – Parish Council owned piece of land at end of Lime Close

6. Standing Orders, Code of Conduct, Account/Audit Regulations, Data Protection Regulations

6.1 To be brought to, and agreed, at July meeting

7. Confirmation of Risk Assessment and Audit Calendar / Event Diary

7.1 Financial / Asset Risk Assessment - Complete at July meeting

7.2 Audit Calendar / Event Diary - Complete at July meeting

7.3 Appointment of Councillor for Internal Audit checking purposes - Ernie Durose

7.4 Review Internal Audit Procedures - Complete at July meeting

8. Confirmation of Parish Council Meetings - these will go to bi-monthly meetings

8.1 Clerk to confirm meeting dates and book Village Hall for 2022/23

8.2 Precept to be completed by December 2022

9. Minutes from Parish Council Meeting held on 4^th April 2022 signed by Chairman

10. Chairman’s Announcements - None

11. Declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, Personal Interests and other Interests

· ESBC forms handed out to Councillors, form to be emailed to those Councillors not present at the meeting

· Forms to be completed and given to Clerk

12. Outstanding Matters

12.1 Jubileigh

· Jubileigh mugs are being ordered for the children – Parish Council agreed for invoice to be sent to them for upfront payment – Jubileigh to reimburse PC once funds received

· Andy Raby to check what Jubileigh would like the PC to pay for

13. Finance

13.1 Y/E 31^st March 2022 Financial Statement and Bank Account Reconciliations agreed and signed by Chairman

13.2 Tax back from HMRC in May 2022

13.3 Invoice from Wicksteed Leisure for cradle seats for the swings agreed for payment £540.34 by Parish Council and balance, not covered by grant from SCC, to be cross charged to Leigh Recreational Ground

13.4 Monthly Website Fee – Carol Astbury - £10.00 + £2.00 VAT

13.5 Payroll services tax year 2022 – Howards - £90.00 + £18.00 VAT

13.6 Recreation Ground & Village Hall mowing – Croppers - £245.84 + £49.17 VAT

13.7 Village Hall PC meetings Jan – March 2022 - £75.00

13.8 Remittance from ESBC – grant contribution to replacement cradle swings - £324.80

13.9 Remittance from ESBC – Half the Precept - £5,126.14

14. Planning Applications - None

15. Planning Appeals - None in progress

16. Planning Queries

16.1 The change of use access to The Old Stables at Withington Green is being investigated by ESBC planning

17. Matters raised by Member Councillors/Clerk

17.1 Combined Parishes Solar Array meeting – agreed that Toby Collins will continue to represent Leigh PC and attend the monthly meetings. Checkley PC letter to ESBC planning passed to John Beaman to read out and for his signature.

17.2 ESBC Parish Council Forum – Toby Collins to attend next zoom meeting on Wednesday 26^th May 2022.

17.3 2022 Community Fund email – Clerk to send to all Councillors

17.4 Bruce Barker asked about circulation of minutes and accounts. Clerk to resume these being posted on Leigh PC website and all parish notice boards. Also to use Leigh Community WhatsApp group to advise villagers when these have been posted on the website and include link to website.

18. Date of Next Scheduled Meeting

Monday 4^th July 2022 - Leigh Village Hall. @ 7.30pm

Leigh Annual Parish Assembly - 2022 May All Saints CE First School Report

All Saints CE First School

Headteacher: Mrs A Cairns

School Lane Tel: 01889 502289

Church Leigh email: office@allsaints-leigh.staffs.sch.uk
Stoke-on-Trent www.allsaints.school
ST10 4SR

Thursday 5^th May 2022

Dear Leigh Parish Council

All Saints has in recent years become part of the Uttoxeter Learning Trust (ULT) and there have been many advantages to being part of the Trust. In the last two years this has been as important as ever – the collaboration of working with other schools, the financial benefits, the support and expertise across the Trust and working through the continued challenges of Covid.

Covid and the Impact on Education

Undoubtably Covid remains the biggest challenge and having remained Covid free for almost two years, it finally caught up with us at All Saints when the restrictions were relaxed last autumn. This had a huge impact on staffing since October 2021 with only two weeks of being fully staffed right up to the Easter holidays. The staff team pulled together and worked exceptionally hard to ensure that the children’s education was not compromised.

All Saints continues to work and collaborate with the other Trust first school heads and this has been real source of support through these challenging times. It has been wonderful to welcome Richard Clarke First School as a full member of the ULT. The work we do together continues to move us forward and provide the best start to our children’s educational journey’s through the Trust.

It is a pleasure to work with such a dedicated and committed group of Headteacher whose shared vision, collaboration, support and challenge is a strength of the Trust.

Expertise across the ULT

The wide range of expertise across the Trust from the CEO, CFO, the Chair of the Board and

Trustees has supported All Saints in many ways especially in many of the challenges of the on-going pandemic. The new centrally sourced resources are also having a very positive impact for example subscriptions to the Key, the Governor Hub and the CORE IT support. More CPD opportunities for

Governors have been appreciated and ensured the skills are in place to support our school.

Support from the marketing team SERO in a CPD activity to upskill key staff in school to update the website has been most helpful.

Condition Improvement Bids (CIF)

All Saints has been successful in gaining its first CIF bid for £250,000 to replace the radiators and pipework to the heating system in the older part of the school and work commences in the summer term. We were unsuccessful again in the CIF bid for the roof which is of great concern as this issue continues to impact and deteriorate the older part of the building. We have greatly appreciated the support from Stuart Harper, Trustee, who visited site and has raised these issues with Trust members and we are extremely grateful that the Trust will support us to achieve some intermediate works while we await the next CIF round results.

Support from the Central Finance Team

The savings and efficiencies we have achieved by the co-ordination of joint purchasing by the central team have been a significant factor in enabling us to achieve a balanced budget with some savings. This allows All Saints financial stability through some of the leaner years of pupil

numbers which is particularly challenging for small schools and to be able to afford the school’s contribution to the CIF projects.

If there is any other information you would like to know please let me know.

Kind regards

Andrea Cairns

Headteacher

Leigh Annual Parish Assembly - 2022 May Womens Institute Report

Leigh and District WI Annual Report for Leigh Parish Council Meeting – May 2022

There were a number of “first times” for us as Leigh and District WI.

For the first time we began our year in May, rather than April - with 36 full members, the majority from the Leigh Parish and Tean.

It was the first time that we offered a free year of membership to our WI.

Another first, for a number of years, was a change of officers with a new President, secretary and treasurer.

Another first for us was the way in which we conducted many of our meetings in 2021/2. In the first half of the year our meetings were held via Zoom.

Zoom also allowed some of us to join other Wis for meetings and we were able to share in some of Tean’s celebrations for their centenary.

We held, in total, 14 meetings from April 2021- February 2022, some face to face and some via zoom. Our final meeting for 2021 was our Christmas meal held at The Queens at Freehay, attended by 32 members.

Our first zoom meeting took place in March 2021, when we held our AGM.

In April we were joined on zoom by Farmer Jane Barnes, who talked to us about diversifying from a dairy farmer to developing a milking parlour classroom and tea room.

We held a second meeting in April where we were joined online by “Lady Mildred Freeman” who shared some hilarious tales about Mothers Ruin- the story of gin.

In May we watched a cookery demonstration with Perry’s Field to Fork team at Eccleshall

In June we were joined by Mrs Alice Taylor, a flower farmer who talked to us about different flowers she used for bouquets throughout the seasons.

In July, due to covid restrictions our speaker cancelled and we held an inhouse quiz and social evening on zoom.

In August we met face to face for the first time since May 2020. We enjoyed an additional event with Aardvark who brought along rifles, axes and angels (a type of knife) for us to experience on the village hall green. We also enjoyed a flower arranging evening .

In September we held a very enjoyable meeting where members brought completed craft bags that had been distributed to members during the Covid lockdown in 2020. Members had been supplied with a variety of resources such as fabric, wool, colouring materials and card to produce creative items and improve their mental well being during the many months of lockdown.

Joe from Mint Cocktail entertained us with a demonstration on Designing your own Cocktail,

Our first trip out for 2021/2022 was in September, a trip to Penkridge for a fish and chip lunch on the canal.

In the same month members enjoyed afternoon tea at Heath House farm garden centre and nurseries

In October we welcomed Mr David Wood, a thatcher from Staffordshire. He entertained us for over an hour and half talking about his journey into thatch roofing and the history and traditions of the art as well as informing us where thatched buildings could be seen in Staffordshire.

In November Mrs Christine Robinson was welcomed to our meeting, the former housekeeper at Chatsworth who talked about preparing Chatsworth for Christmas through the years.

In December members enjoyed an excellent Christmas meal at The Queens at Freehay. It was a lovely end to a very unusual year

During the year we also celebrated success in the SFWI competitions at the County show.

Three £100.00 bursaries were awarded and members spent them at local workshops.

Our craft group started to meet again in June 2021 and continued to meet until November. During some of the craft sessions neonatal blankets were completed and donated to local hospitals.

Throughout the year members contributed favourite recipes to a cook book in memory of Gill Baggeley. Gill was loved by everyone at WI, she was one of the longest standing members remaining in the group, and had been responsible for our competitions for many years. Mrs Pat Ingram is still very busy compiling the book ready for publication in 2022.

In January 2022 we unfortunately had to hold our first meeting of the year again via zoom, where members enjoyed a get together and a general discussion about plans for 2022.

In February one of our members delivered a craft session with members making clay roses for a display for the 2022 County Show. A number of members brought along their crafts for us all to learn more about. There were excellent displays of bead making, cards, 3D gift boxes, paintings and knitting on display

Despite a very difficult and unusual year for everyone members enjoyed the year which saw us have varied meetings in varied forms.

Mary Allen

President Leigh and District WI

JT09/05 22

Leigh Annual Parish Assembly - 2022 May

Leigh Annual Parish Assembly held on Monday 9^th May 2022 at 7.00pm

At Leigh Village Hall

Meeting chaired by Councillor John Beaman – Chairman of the Parish Council

Notes of the Meeting

Present: Councillors Andy Raby, Bruce Barker, John Beaman, Toby Collins, Ernie Durose, David Wilson

Parishioners Wendy Lewis, Arthur Langridge, Jan Tarr, Mary Allen

Clerk Katherine Parkinson

Apologies Councillor Colin Whittaker, Lionel Ingram, Mike Snowden

1 Annual Report of Leigh Parish Council for year ending 31^st March 2022

· The Chairman welcomed everyone and thanked the Councillors for their support throughout the year.

· First Annual Parish Assembly since May 2019 due to COVID.

· Emma Beaman resigned as Councillor and Lionel Ingram and David Wilson were appointed as Councillors.

· District Councillor Colin Whittaker has attended some of the meetings over the past year representing the Borough.

· Main issues raised have been potholes and blocked gullies, usage of the ESBC App has been good.

· Brian Boughey resigned as Clerk in 2020 and Becky Garland took over but resigned in December 2021. John Beaman has been filling the role since but Katherine Parkinson started as the Clerk in April 2022.

· There were 22 Planning Applications - mainly agricultural related or extensions or conversions.

· Screening has commenced for two Solar Farms that encroach into Leigh Parish.

· No litter picking has taken place and verge cutting has taken place today.

· Continued support of the Village Hall by the PC.

· Senior Citizens Christmas Dinner was cancelled however will be reinstated for 2022.

2 Statement of the Parish Council’s Accounts for the year ended 31^st March 2022

· Chairman presented the Accounts, main expenses for the year have been grass cutting, defibrillators, Village Hall meetings, Clerk’s salary and work to the trees at end of Lime Close

3 Statement of the Parish Council’s Income and Expenditure Estimates for 2022/2023

· To be issued by the Clerk

4 Report from the County Councillor for Uttoxeter Rural Division

· Not present, no report presented

5 Report from the District Councillor for Abbey Ward

· Not present, no report presented

6 To receive reports from Village Organisations :

6.1 Village Hall – Wendy Lewis

Very little to report due to COVID, however the hall is starting to get booked again. Refurbishment of Toilets is planned. Received government grants that covered the loss of income. Grass at back of VH is being cut by Croppers now and paid for by Village Hall

6.2 Recreation Field – John Beaman

Main issue has been play area closed due to H&S issues. John Beaman able to get someone to repair the surface of the play areas and pay for it – Cole Demolition of Birmingham as an employee has a child in the school. Football team have had 13 matches. Copper Beech provided by WI had to be felled but WI contributing towards replacing it. Cradle seats for swings have been delivered – part funded via Colin Whittaker

6.3 United Charities – Arthur Langridge

Done two Christmas doles – these need to be applied for but anyone over age of 65 and has lived in the Parish for more than 5 years can apply. Vacancy for a Secretary since Mrs Smallwood left. There was an issue with access to one of their pieces of land when a property was sold, however NFU intervened and this has now been resolved by owners leaving the gate open. Andy Raby is keen to join the organization. Going to arrange a visit to the 3 pieces of land owned by the charities - The Bents – over the railway line – 2 pieces of land and another piece of land farmed by the Whitehouses. There are 3 tenants who all pay their rent promptly. There has been good support from the committee

6.4 Spencer Trust – report provided by Linda Orchard

After a series of Zoom meetings due to COVID, the Trustees finally met F2F at the Village Hall in October 2021. The Farm tenancy was renewed, Mr Andrew Backhouse will continue with this for the next 5 years. The income from the rent supports any funding offered to students. Ten students successfully applied for retrospective financial support, 4 existing beneficiaries and 6 new applicants, each receiving £200.

There will be an advert inviting new applicants in the next two Parish Magazines.

Annual inspection on Saturday 23^rd July 2022.

6.5 All Saints School – report provided by Andrea Cairns

See attached report for full details.

Toby Collins advised the meeting that Andrea is now a joint Head Teacher of both All Saints School, Leigh and Bramshall Meadows First School opening in September 2022.

6.6 May Ball – Katherine Parkinson

Event took place on Saturday 30^th April 2022 after two years of cancelling. Really good event and well attended and supported. New band performed who were very popular. Final accounts being reconciled however some of the proceeds are going to be used to support the Ukranian families living in the Parish.

6.7 WI – Jan Tarr

See attached report for full details.

7 Resolutions of which written notice has been given - None

8 To deal with any other business raised by Parishioners

8.1 PC were asked for their views on the Solar Farm applications – John Beaman stated that it is down to the individuals in the Parish to express their concerns and to do it separately as will have more of an impact. Both applications are currently in Scoping and have not applied for Planning Permission yet. SCC do not have joined up approach to the Solar Farms unfortunately and treat each one individually with no holistic view across the county.

The meeting concluded at 7.50pm