Present: Mr B Peach, Mrs J Nash, Mrs J Peach, Mr C Plant, Mr M Wardman, and the clerk, Mrs S Hampson. There were no members of the public in attendance.

Non-Confidential items
26.7.1 Apologies and attendance register
Apologies had been received in advance from Mr S Gould due to work commitments. Members present completed the attendance register.

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

26.7.3 Minutes of the previous ordinary meetings
The clerk had forwarded the minutes of the May and June meetings in advance of the meeting and these had been posted on the website and noticeboard. Apologies had been received from the website provider for not displaying these on the day forwarded by the clerk. In view of this, the meeting scheduled for 15th July and been deferred until 20th July and readvertised on the noticeboard and website.

Resolved: to accept the minutes of the May and June meetings as a true record of proceedings. The minutes were signed by the Chairman, Mr Peach

26.7.4 Casual Vacancy
Interest had been expressed by a valid candidate for the one remaining vacancy on the parish council but the person did not attend the meeting nor had documentation been completed. A discussion had also taken place between Mrs Nash and other parties. A further notice had been sent to the website; to the Longnor Benefice magazine and hard copies will be displayed on the noticeboards.

26.7.5 Public speaking procedures document
This was available for members of the public but there were none in attendance.

26.7.6 Public speaking
There were no members of the public in attendance.

26.7.7 Update from the County Councillor
The clerk had contacted County Councillor, Ms C Kelly regarding the state of the pavements in Warslow following an incident. She was not in attendance.

26.7.8 Update from the District Councillor
District Councillor, Mr J Kempster was not in attendance and had forwarded his apologies due his attendance at two other meetings on the same evening. Subsequent to the previous meeting, he had sent police contact details to the clerk to enable a request to be made for the attendance of the CREST van responsible for speed trapping. He had also forwarded some other communication, covered in correspondence.

26.7.9 Outcome of bid for land for burial facilities
Following the meeting called in June, the clerk had spent considerable time liaising with external agencies, including an estate agent, Staffordshire Parish Councils Association (SPCA), Peak District National Park (PDNPA), involvement with a public works loan application and other works involved with submitting a bid for the land for sale, with a view to its possibility for future burial facilities. A bid had been submitted and this was the highest bid. However, the vendor had decided to proceed with the underbidder, as it was perceived the under bidder would be able to complete earlier than the parish council.

Unfortunately, this field would probably have been the only realistic opportunity to achieve additional burial facilities for the village of Warslow.

Members thanked the clerk and responsible finance officer for the extremely hard work undertaken during the tender process.

26.7.10 Meeting dates
The clerk had prepared future meeting dates for the remainder of 2026 until the parish council elections in 2027. These were accepted but subject to approval by the village hall committee.

26.7.11 Update on grit bins
The grit bin at St Lawrence View does not belong to the parish council and had previously been filled, as a one-off gesture, by the parish council. A number of communications had been exchanged regarding grit bins, including the provision of a grit bin at Stacey Close including a resident contacting SPCA who do not ordinarily liaise with members of the public. A response had been sent.

The clerk had liaised Staffordshire County Council (SCC) and with the parish council’s insurance company regarding liability. For the residents of Stacey Close to be covered under the council’s insurance policy, as volunteers, a risk assessment would be required and also the volunteers would be required to complete an approved training course. SCC had not forwarded a response in time for the meeting. Mr Wardman had, prior to the meeting, made an online purchase of a grit bin. Mr Plant made enquiries about grit piles for the Elkstones area.

Resolved: to supply a grit bin for Stacey Close but not to put this in place until a risk assessment has been completed and a training course attended by the  residents to comply with the requirements of the parish council’s insurance  company.
Resolved: to prepare a risk assessment for signature by the residents from Stacey Close which also includes the annual attendance/completion of a training course and evidence of completion of such a course.
Resolved: to await the response from SCC regarding liability.
Resolved: to contact SCC regarding a ‘snow warden’ type course for the volunteers to undertake.
Resolved: if the above criteria are met, the parish council to supply the first fill of grit in the bin for Stacey Close.
Resolved: to contact SCC regarding grit piles for Elkstones.

26.7.12 New village map
Mrs Nash had made initial contact with a local artist regarding the art work required for a new village map, of similarity to the one present outside the village hall.

Resolved: Mr Peach to contact someone regarding the production of a  replacement map.
Resolved: to place the item on the next agenda.

26.7.13 Items for the Longnor Benefice Magazine
The clerk had sent details of the casual vacancy to be included in the next edition.

26.7.14 Planning, appeals, planning decisions
There were no new planning applications to consider