Present: Mr S Gould, Mrs J Nash, Mr B Peach, Mr C Plant, Mr M Wardman, Mr C Plant, Mrs J Peach (Candidate for co-option) and the clerk, Mrs S Hampson. There were a number of members of the public in attendance.

Non-Confidential items
26.5.1 Apologies and attendance register
There were no apologies. Members completed the attendance register.

26.5.2 Election of Chairman and Vice Cairman
Resolved: Mr B Peach to be the Chairman for 2026-2027 and Mrs S Gould to continue as Vice Chairman for the same period.

26.5.3 Declaration of acceptance of Office of Chairman and councillors
Declaration of Acceptance of Office forms for the Chairman and councillors were completed by those present and signed before the Proper Officer of the parish council, Mrs Hampson.

26.5.4 Casual vacancy and co-option of new councillor
The existing members were very pleased that a valid candidate application had been received. Interest had also been received from another valid applicant; however, this candidate had subsequently decided not to continue to co-option at this point in time

Resolved: Mrs J Peach to fill the one of the casual vacancies on the parish council. Mrs J Peach duly completed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office form before the Proper Officer of the parish council, Mrs Hampson.

26.5.5 Register of Interest of Councillors
Members completed the Register of Interest documents. With effect from June, property/land details of councillors are not required to be published.

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

26.5.7 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. Upon professional advice from Staffordshire Parish Councils Association, the clerk is not required to record dialogue from the public speaking section nor will the clerk record any items related to personal claims which could potentially be perceived as libellous.

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

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

26.5.9 Public speaking
The members of the public present had chosen to discuss matters during the public section of the parish annual meeting and this related to the ongoing matter of a grit bin requested for Stacey Close by some of the residents of this area. The clerk had had liaised with personnel from Staffordshire County Council (SCC). The site has been approved. Members discussed the possibility of acquiring a second-hand grit bin. SCC will not supply one as the area does not meet their criteria not will SCC invoice the parish council to supply one.

Resolved: The clerk to contact personnel at SCC regarding the public liability of placing a grit bin on Stacey Close and whether this can be purchased through SCC.

26.5.10 Update from the County Councillor
The clerk had invited the new County Councillor, Ms C Kelly to attend and requested an update regarding the grit bin but unfortunately, she had sent an automatic reply detailing annual leave.

Resolved: to contact the County Councillor again regarding the state of the pavements in Warslow following an incident.

26.5.11 Attendance by the District Councillor
District Councillor, Mr J Kempster was in attendance and provided information about different grants available, including those through Connect Fibre. He advised of public safety protection orders regarding barbecues/ small fires in certain public places due to the potential initiation of wild fires. Speed devices were briefly discussed again along with local government restructuring.

Resolved: District Councillor Mr Kempster to forward contact details of someone who could subsequently provide details of the Crest speed monitoring vehicle.

26.5.12 Burial ground meeting
It was reported that a one acre field, adjacent to the primary school, was being marketed by a local estate agent; however, the closing date for the submission of tenders was 5th June (guide price £30,000). Apparently, some interest had been expressed in its use as a potential playground. A public burial ground meeting had not yet been arranged; however, the parish council has been trying to secure additional burial facilities for a number of years without success due to a lack of available land.

Resolved: the clerk to contact the estate agent for further information regarding the tender process
Resolved: the clerk to obtain public works loan details from SPCA.

26.5.13 Accounts for the year ended 31st March 2026
The clerk and responsible finance officer (RFO) had prepared and forwarded the accounts for the year ended 31st March 2026 to members, in advance of the meeting and these had also been approved by the internal auditor.

Resolved: to accept the accounts as a true record of financial transactions during the previous financial year.

26.5.14 Internal audit report for the year ended 31st March 2025
The internal audit had taken place and the annual return had been signed off. The invoice had been received. There matters to bring before the parish council were as follows:

To change the council’s email address to either .gov or .org (This was a new requirement for 2026 for all parish councils)
To update the council’s standing orders and financial regulations to the latest 2025 version
To implement a general data protection policy
To check the website complies with WCAG2 and to update the council’s accessibility accordingly. (The clerk had confirmed this compliance with the website provider).

26.5.15 Certificate of exemption for the audit for the year ended 31st March 2026
The clerk and RFO had prepared the certificate of exemption from full audit as both the income and expenditure figures were less than £25,000.

Resolved: to approve the Certificate of Exemption. This was duly signed by the clerk/RFO and the Chairman.

26.5.16 AGAR Section 1 Annual Governance Statement
The clerk and RFO had prepared the Annual Governance Statement

Resolved: to approve the Section 1 Annual Governance Statement. This was duly signed by the clerk/RFO and the Chairman.

26.5.17 AGAR Section 2 Accounting Statement
The clerk and RFO had prepared the Section 2 Accounting Statement

Resolved: to approve the Section 2 Accounting Statement. This was duly signed by the clerk/RFO and the Chairman.

26.5.18 Lengthsman, village planters
The lengthsman had purchased some plants for the planters. A request had been received from Elkstones for the lengthsman to trim the hedge around the noticeboard. The clerk had passed this request onto the lengthsman, in advance of the meeting.

Resolved: the clerk to ask the lengthsman to cut the grass verge opposite the bus shelter near Lawrence View.

26.5.19 Planning, appeals, planning decisions
Resolved: to support the proposal for an extension at Manifold View.

26.5.20 Items of account, clerk, lengthsman, HMRC, general income and expenditure, parish council’s insurance