Present: Acting Chairman, Mr S Gould, Mrs J Nash, Mr M Wardman, Mr B Peach, Mr C Plant and the clerk, Mrs S Hampson. Also in attendance were District Councillor, Mr J Kempster, County Councillor, Ms Kelly and one member of the public for part of the meeting.

Non-Confidential items

25.7.1 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 Mr P Moakes. The members present completed the attendance register.

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

25.7.3 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 Gould.

25.7.4 Public speaking procedures document
This was available for members of the public.

25.7.5 Public speaking
There was one member of the public in attendance who advised at this point, that he had nothing to raise.

25.7.6 Update from the County Councillor
The new County Councillor, Ms C Kelly was in attendance and the clerk had also asked the new councillor for information on the Staffordshire County Council’s (SCC’s) criteria to refuse a new grit bin on Stacey Close. County Councillor, Ms Kelly advised it was on a points system, houses on the road, gradient etc and is decided on an internal form which SCC would not share with County Councillor Kelly. She confirmed that the Highways Department had been to Stacey Close.

Resolved: The County Councillor to ask again for more details of SCC’s criteria for installing grit bins.

25.7.7 Update from the District Councillor
District Councillor, Mr J Kempster was in attendance and provided information about the local government reorganisation, unitary authorities and financial stability. He advised there have been lots of discussions with Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC) and SCC. A local parish council cluster meeting will take place at Waterhouses in August. The member of the public attempted to provide information during this point in proceedings, after the public speaking section had concluded.

Resolved: District Councillor Kempster and Mrs J Nash to attend the cluster meeting.

Following a recent meeting at Onecote, District Councillor Mr Kempster advised that Connect Fibre now has a new contact officer and improved contractors. He had enquired about the intention for the remainder of Warslow and the outlying farms and was advised that the company will return but not during 2025. A second phase will involve Onecote, Butterton, Longnor and Sheen. He reported that overground poles will now be minimal.

25.7.8 Update from the new secretary of Peak Park Parishes Forum (PPPF)
Ms Batterbee provided background information on PPPF and their involvement with parish councils and parish meetings and also with the Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA). Parishes day with PDNPA will be 11th October. She reported some of the forum’s involvement with issues of 4 x 4 vehicles on green lanes, public space protection orders with open spaces and fires. The forum is developing its website.

25.7.9 New noticeboard and grant application
The clerk had spent a long time completing a grant application with Staffordshire Moorlands related to the purchase of a new noticeboard. Unfortunately, there was a considerable over subscription of applications resulting in the application being unsuccessful but being kept on a reserve list. In view of this detail, members discussed the urgent need to replace the existing noticeboard due to its deteriorating condition.

Resolved: to proceed to order the new noticeboard and for it to be delivered to an agreed address.

25.7.10 Lengthsman work at Elkstones
Elkstones village has received £100 from the closing down funds from the Community Magazine to fund a planter. A resident from Elkstones had advised that the ‘slit’ down the side of an existing trough allowed water to run off and therefore should not rectified. Mrs Nash commented on mowing around the old stocks in Warslow village, as this area can look untidy.

Resolved: Mrs Nash to liaise with the lengthsman to instruct mowing around the vintage stocks.

25.7.11 Policy reviews
The clerk had reviewed the existing policies, adding dates to review in the future.

25.7.12 Bank signatories
Mrs Nash had obtained a hard copy document for members to complete to amend signatories with the parish council’s bank to ensure all members and the clerk will be authorised.

Resolved: Mrs Nash to obtain the missing signatories from absent councillors and submit.

25.7.13 Items for the Longnor Benefice Magazine
There were no articles to submit.

25.7.14 Planning, appeals, planning decisions
Resolved: to support NP/SM/0725/0662 Overdale, Elkstones external covered seating area attached to the house.