Whittington & Fisherwick
Parish Council
Minutes of the Meeting. Commencing 7.30pm, Monday 6th March 2017.
Held at the Sports Pavilion, Bit End Field, Vicarage Lane, Whittington.
Present:
Cllrs. Martyn Bennett, Chris Millar, David Walton, Julia Spencer, Sue Walton, Jonathan Smith, Garry
Hyde, and Roger Leek.
In Attendance:
Mrs Janine Arm – Clerk to the Council.
1. Apologies received in writing.
The meeting began at 7.30pm. Cllr. M. Bennett welcomed everyone to the meeting. Cllrs. John
Cannon and John Heeler had submitted their apologies in writing and these were accepted.
RESOLVED: TO ACCEPT THE APOLOGIES.
Lichfield Councillor D. Leytham had also sent in his apologies for the meeting.
2. Declaration of Interests on Agenda Items and consideration of requests for dispensations
when appropriate.
Cllr. G Hyde declared an interest in Item 8.1. and Cllr. J Smith declared an interest in Agenda item 8.3
They did not discuss nor vote on these items. No further declarations of interest were received.
3. To Approve the Minutes of the Meeting: 6th February 2017.
It was proposed, seconded and agreed to approve the minutes.
RESOLVED: TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
4. Matters arising from the Minutes.
Agenda Item 11. The Council agreed to nominate a donor advisor for the Community Foundation for
Staffordshire to act for the ring-fenced money that may only be spent for community benefit in the
parishes of Whittington and Fisherwick. Cllr. Jonathan Smith advised he would be willing to act as a
donor advisor and it was agreed to include this role in the ‘Roles and Responsibilities’ decisions at the
AGM in May.
RESOLVED: TO NOMINATE A DONOR ADVISOR AT THE AGM IN MAY.
No further matters arose that were not already covered on the agenda.
5. Consideration of Councillor Vacancies and any recruitment projects.
Councillors were reminded that the event in the Village Hall to meet and greet people at the next
Village Market in May had been booked.
6. Adjournment of the meeting at 7.45pm for Public Participation.
CHAIRMAN ……………………………………………… Dated: ……………………………
1272
No members of the public were present.
7. Planning.
7.1. Applications for Consideration.
It was noted that Councillors were considering planning applications and observations would be
submitted to Cllr. John Cannon to comment to the District Council via the Clerk.
RESOLVED: CLLR. J. CANNON TO RESPOND ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL.
7.2. Applications Approved/Rejected by Lichfield District Council.
The applications approved, rejected or withdrawn would be noted.
8. Finance.
8.1. Consideration of the accounts presented for payment.
The accounts schedule was presented for consideration and payments were authorised for £9374.06
RESOLVED: TO AUTHORISE THE LISTED PAYMENTS.
8.2. Consideration of current financial situation of the Council.
The accounts of the financial year up to 19th February 2017 were presented for consideration and
accepted as a true reflection of the current financial situation at that date.
RESOLVED: TO APPROVE THE ACCOUNTS PRESENTED.
8.3. Consideration of request from the Parochial Church Council for a donation towards
Whittington Open gardens and a Flower Festival.
It was agreed to make a donation of £50 towards a flower arrangement for the festival and request that it is
dedicated to former Parish Councillor Arnold Ward, who had sadly recently passed away.
RESOLVED: TO DONATE £50 TO THE OPEN GARDENS AND FLOWER FESTIVAL IN
MEMORY OF FORMER COUNCILLOR ARNOLD WARD.
8.4. Consideration of WFEG application for funding from the Solar Power Environment grant
The application from WFEG for consideration of a grant from the Solar Power Environment Fund was
considered but Councillors felt that they did not have sufficient information to make a donation
without a specific amount being requested. Unfortunately, WFEG had sent their apologies as they
were not able to attend the recent Environment Committee.
It was agreed to request that if the nominated representative of WFEG could not attend a meeting, they
nominate someone else from the organisation. It was also agreed to request that a formal grant
application be made for the specific amount.
RESOLVED: TO INVITE ANY WFEG NOMINEE TO ANY MEETING.
TO REQUEST A FORMAL GRANT APPLICATION FROM WFEG.
8.5. Consideration of budget for equipment for litter picking event on 1st April 2017
CHAIRMAN ……………………………………………… Dated: ……………………………
1273
A budget of £100 was agreed for the event. It was also agreed to advertise the event on Facebook and Webpage
and in the Connect magazine.
RESOLVED: A BUDGET OF £100 FOR EQUPMENT AND REFRESHMENTS.
TO ADVERTISE EVENT ON FACEBOOK, WEBSITE AND CONNECT MAGAZINE.
9. Chairman’s Report.
Cllr Bennett reported that he and Cllr Hyde, had attended a recent Developing a Community Based
Approach Workshop conference organised by the Staffordshire Parish Councils’ Association.
The main issues arising were the reports from the County Council regarding cut backs on services
including maintenance of public open spaces.
It was noted that the displays for the meet and greet the public event on 20th May, would be updated.
10. Consideration of tenders received for Grass cutting contract – April 2017 – March 2020.
It was noted that the Finance Committee had carried out a formal evaluation of the four closed tenders
received. After a lengthy debate their recommendation that the contract be given to Tonks Brothers,
was agreed.
RESOLVED: TO AWARD THREE YEAR GRASS CUTTING CONTRACT TO TONKS
BROTHERS.
11. Committee, Representatives and Co-ordinators’ reports.
Environment Meeting.
Cllr. G. Hyde advised that all issues arising at the meeting had been circulated in the draft minutes.
Grants Co-ordinator.
Cllr R. Leek had liaised with Hillary Hampton at Veolia and registered the Council’s interest in their
new small grant scheme. The Council was on the database and invited to the launch of the new grants
initiative on Thursday 16th March. Venue and time to be advised.
He had also received the first funding search pack from Support Staffordshire, which was looking
specifically for playground refurbishment. Veolia also appears on this list and have a 'large' grant
scheme for larger projects. The Council is within the grant area.
Cllr. Leek was thanked for his work on the research of these grants.
Countryside Craft Fair.
Cllr. J. Smith had confirmed he was now able to put up and take down street advertising signage.
He also agreed to speak with Megan Barr, to establish what was needed to help with the Fair adverts.
Pavilion bookings.
Cllr. S. Walton reported that one of the hirers had requested that he store some exercise mats at the
Pavilion. It was agreed that he could store the mats, but this would be at his own risk. It was hoped that
a secure space could be found in the changing room corridor storage area.
RESOLVED: Cllr S. WALTON WOULD LIAISE WITH THE HIRER.
CHAIRMAN ……………………………………………… Dated: ……………………………
1274
12. HS2 and associated issues.
Cllr Martin Bennett agreed to make further enquiries regarding grants available from HS2 Limited.
13. Consideration of report from Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group.
Cllr. Hyde reported that the six week Neighbourhood Plan public consultation finished the following
week.
The District Council had advised their Land Allocation report, would be out for consultation for eight
weeks, commencing on 18th March 2017. It was agreed to insert a letter in the Connect Magazine due
out in the next week, to advise the community of the consultation.
RESOLVED: TO ADVERTISE THE LICHFIELD DISTRICT COUNCIL PUBLIC
CONSULTATION ON LAND ALLOCATION, IN THE CONNECT MAGAZINE.
14. Correspondence.
14.1.
Incoming.
The incoming post was noted with the following comments:
 The Council had received the Angling Agreement from the Canal and Rivers Trust. The
Chairman and Vice Chairman would sign the five year contract for the Coventry Canal
between Whittington Bridge and Bridge 80.
RESOLVED: TO SIGN A FIVE YEAR FISHING AGREEMENT WITH THE CANAL AND
RIVERS TRUST.
No further issues arose that had not already been covered on the Agenda.
14.2.
Outgoing.
The outgoing post was noted. No further items arose, not already covered on the agenda.
15. Highways and Rights of Way issues.
It was noted that a drain was blocked on Huddlesford Lane causing the road to flood.
It was also noted that the gully at gable end of the wall outside The Dog, public house on Fisherwick
Road, was blocked and needed draining.
RESOLVED: - THE CLERK WOULD REPORT ANY HIGHWAYS ISSUES REPORTED.
16. Consideration of Parish Maintenance issues.
It was agreed to look at community involvement and getting a residents’ group together to consider
and oversee refurbishments of the play areas. It was hoped to source some local trades to reduce costs.
It was also noted that further to advertising, any local under 5 groups would be asked if they could ask
their members/contacts to help. Cllr. Bennett would make further enquires on this issue.
Cllr. J. Smith advised he would like to find out local views on moving the war memorial. Further
consideration would be given to this issue and write an article for the Parish Connect newsletter.
CHAIRMAN ……………………………………………… Dated: ……………………………
1275
16.1.
Parish Caretaker Recreational Areas Site Report.
The site reports were noted with the following comments.



It was agreed to purchase two new cradle seats for the swings at Bit End Field.
To hire a skip to remove all the residual rubbish from behind the Pavilion on Bit End Field.
To accept the Caretaker’s offer to make a boot cleaner for the changing rooms at Bit End Field.
The Caretaker was thanked for all his additional work and reports and in particular, his undertaking
works, saving money for the Council. He was also thanked for arranging to deal with the mole
problem on Bit End Field.
16.2.
Consideration of costs involved in new village signage.
Cllr. Walton reported he had received information from five suppliers but a like for like comparison
was difficult, as three different types of signs had been quoted for. Cllr Walton agreed to make further
enquires and report back to Council at the next meeting.
17. Consideration of update report regarding the proposed transfer of land from Whittington
Cricket Club at the entrance of Jubilee Park.
No further update was available at this time.
18. Community concerns regarding the doctors’ facilities in village.
Further to the request to Langton Medical Group, to meet with the Council to discuss the concerns of
the residents, the invitation had been turned down.
19. Consideration of arboriculture issues.
No issues arose.
20. Items for information or future Agendas.
No issues arose not already covered on the Agenda.
21. Date of Next Meeting: 3rd April 2017.
The date was agreed. Cllr Bennett thanked all those present for attending and closed the meeting.
RESOLVED: NEXT MEETING 3rd April 2017.
Mrs Janine Arm - Clerk to the Council - 23 School Road, Norton Canes, Cannock, Staffordshire.
WS11 9SQ Tel. 01543 450181 E-mail. [email protected]
CHAIRMAN ……………………………………………… Dated: ……………………………
1276