Present:  Acting Chairman, Mr P Moakes, Mrs J Nash, Mr S Gould, Mr M Wardman, Mr B Peach, the clerk, Mrs S Hampson and District Councillor, Mr J Kempster.  There were three members of the public in attendance for part of the meeting.

Non-Confidential items

25.1.1 Apologies and attendance register
Apologies had been approved from Mr Searston for this meeting, as part of an extended approved period of absence until September 2025, as approved by minute reference 24.11.5. Apologies had also been received from Mrs C Allsop. The other members present completed the attendance register.

25.1.2 Declaration of interest of councillors related to the agenda
There was no need, by any member present, to record an interest in the register.

25.1.3 Minutes of the previous ordinary meeting
The clerk had forwarded the minutes in advance of the meeting and these had been posted on the website and noticeboard.

Resolved: to accept the minutes as a true record of proceedings. The minutes were signed by the Acting Chairman, Mr Moakes.

25.1.4 Lengthsman
The clerk had submitted invoices to Alliance Environmental Ltd to achieve a grant towards costs of the lengthsman. She had been successful in achieving £400 per year for the past three years. At the time of the meeting, £800 had been received with a further £400 to be received within the next 14 days.

The lengthsman had been invited to attend the meeting to discuss and review his contract, to improve service and for an increase in his hourly rate of pay. The clerk had forwarded details of his contract to members in advance of the meeting. A discussion took place regarding hours, the collection of leaves and grass clippings, possible additional tasks particularly around the period of the Best Kept Village competition including troughs and planters.

Resolved: to increase the lengthsman’s hourly rate of pay to £14 per hour with immediate effect.
Resolved: Mr Moakes and Mrs Nash to be contacts for the lengthsman during visits and once a quarter to contact the lengthsman.

25.1.5 Public speaking procedures document
This was available for any members of the public in attendance

25.1.6 Public speaking
There were 3 members of the public in attendance to speak at this point in proceedings and they provided details for the attendance register. One member had emailed the parish council in advance of the meeting. The reason for attending was to request support from the parish council for a grit bin in the area they lived which is on a private road but does have a footpath through it. It is most unlikely that Staffordshire County Council (SCC) will place a grit bin here. It was reported that one person has responsibility for part of the private road being discussed. Members discussed the possibility of risk/liability of grit being spread here. It was also suggested that a grit bin did not have to remain in situ for the entire year and could be removed during the summer months etc.
One of the members present also raised the possibility of provision for young people in the village and District Councillor Kempster offered to liaise regarding this.

Resolved: the clerk to contact the person that the 3 attendees advised owned part of the road.
Resolved: the clerk to find the cost of a new grit bin and grit.

25.1.7 Update by County Councillor
County Councillor Mrs Heath had been invited to attend but was not present. Some tree surgery will be required near the junction for Elkstones and Brownlow Farm but this may be the responsibility of the landowner.

25.1.8 Attendance by the District Councillor
District Councillor, Mr J Kempster was in attendance for part of the meeting. He provided details of some initiatives, including ‘Beat the Cold’, and highway issues.

25.1.9 Possible update from Connect Fibre and public meeting, poles and disabled access
The clerk had contacted MF from Connect Fibre for a full update and confirmation of an arrangement for a public meeting. Problematic poles had been resited/removed but tarmac has already sunk. A response had been received detailing that the company’s build has been continuing, however unfortunately even more delays had been experienced due to the weather in the last couple of weeks.

Connect Fibre currently anticipates being finished by the end of March in the area, however, it may be a little longer due to the delays experienced during adverse weather. Most of the poling in the area is complete, including the ones that have already put in in Warslow, with only a couple of extras in the area that are very old decayed existing poles that either need to be replaced by Open Reach, or Connect Fibre will do it on their behalf. Refusal by individuals to accept Connect Fibre will result in no connectivity and may impact people beyond. Connect Fibre not pay wayleave payments.

MF said she will be in touch next month to arrange the meeting for the community in March when it is known more about the completion of the build, so they can then speak to the residents to answer any questions and possibly register with Connect Fibre. MF will also give an update then on whether they will be able to connect the village hall.

25.1.10 Noticeboard repairs
Mr Gould had not had time to attend to repairs to the noticeboard in time for the meeting but had the matter in hand. Members discussed the merits of an artificial timber noticeboard in the near future. A document was completed by the members indicating contact numbers and to be placed in the noticeboard.

Resolved: to achieve repairs to the noticeboard in advance of the next meeting.

25.1.11 Precept 2025-2026
Tax base figures had been received, subsequent to budget discussions at the November meeting. The tax base for 2025-26 has slightly increased. In light of this, the clerk and responsible finance officer had submitted a slightly revised budget and 3 different precept forecasts illustrating the impact on the charge for Band D council tax properties. Members had to consider expenditure to secure future burial facilities in the village such as trial holes. The investigations and legal expenses etc, in addition to the revised lengthsman’s contract and rate of pay, salaries and regular administration costs, will form quite a portion of the budget for 2025-26.

Members carefully considered previous payments to cover the insurance at the village hall and the cost of regular hire costs for 6 annual parish council meetings in addition that payments are not made to other village groups.
Resolved: to precept for £14,000. This is the same figure as the previous financial year but due to the increase in the tax base figure, will represent a slight decrease to Band D properties.
Resolved: to no longer meet the cost of the annual insurance premium of Warslow Village Hall but to pay a much higher rate than other hirers and pay £50 per meeting for 6 meetings per year. The additional amount may contribute towards insurance costs.

25.1.12 Items for the Community Magazine and Longnor Benefice Magazine (if required)
There were no items to submit

25.1.13 Planning, appeals, planning decisions
There was one new planning application to consider for Old Nick Cottage, Seven Chimneys, Back Lane, Warslow NP/SM/1224/1353. This was for a S.73 application for the removal or variation of NP/SM/0822/1005.

Resolved: to support the above application.

25.1.14 Items of account, clerk, clerk’s pay award and back pay, lengthsman, HMRC, general income and expenditure, defibrillator battery, new website hosting charge