BRINDLEY HEATH PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF ANNUAL MEETING
HELD ON TUESDAY 27 MAY 2025
AT THE WHITE HOUSE, MARQUIS DRIVE, BRINDLEY HEATH

PRESENT: Parish Councillors: P. Adams (Chairman)
R. Turville (Vice Chairman)
Mrs M. A. Turville
Mrs S. Pearson
A. Pearson
D. Cotton

IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs T. Williams (Clerk)

1. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN
The Chairman, Councillor Adams, invited nominations for Chairman for the year 2025-26.

It was proposed by Councillor R. Turville and seconded by Councillor A. Pearson that Councillor Paul Adams be appointed as Chairman for the ensuing year. There were no further nominations, and all Councillors agreed.

Resolved: To appoint Councillor Paul Adams as Chairman to Brindley Heath Parish Council for the municipal year 2025-26.

2. SIGNING OF DECLARATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE
Councillor Adams signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and retained the Chairman’s Badge of Office.

3. ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRMAN
It was proposed by Councillor A. Pearson and seconded by Councillor D. Cotton that Councillor Ron Turville be appointed to the position of Vice Chairman.

Resolved: To appoint Councillor Ron Turville as Vice Chairman to Brindley Heath Parish Council for the municipal year 2025-26.

4. SIGNING OF DECLARATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE
Councillor Turville signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and retained the Vice Chairman’s Badge of Office.

5. RECORD THE PARISH COUNCIL’S APPRECIATION OF THE CHAIRMAN, VICE CHAIRMAN AND ALL WHO SERVED ON THE COUNCIL

The Chairman asked the Council if he could adjust the description of this agenda time to enable him to thank Parish Councillors for all they had done to support him while he had been unwell.

6. APOLOGIES
Apologies and reasons for absence were received, accepted and approved under S85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 from Councillor M. Sutherland.

7. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

Member
None Interest
Type

8. PLANNING COMMITTEE TERMS OF REFERENCE
The Council considered the terms of reference for the Council’s Planning Committee which had been circulated with the agenda for the meeting.

A question was raised about situations where non contentious planning applications are received between meetings and the views of Committee Members who had put forward their observations were in alignment, but there remained Councillors who hadn’t expressed their views.

The Council agreed that the Parish Clerk in consultation with the Planning Committee Chairman be awarded delegated powers to submit the collective comments of Councillors who had given their observations (by ‘reply all’ on email), provided a minimum of four Committee members had responded with views that were not conflicting.

The Council agreed that planning applications that generated conflicting views incorporating objections would be considered at a specially called meeting of the Planning Committee.

Resolved: That the terms of reference for the Council’s Planning Committee be agreed with clarity given to the above points.

9. APPOINTMENT OF PLANNING COMMITTEE
The Council considered the membership of the Planning Committee and appointment of the Chairman and Vice Chairman for the year 2025-26.

Resolved: That all Members be appointed to the Planning Committee.

It was proposed by Councillor R. Turville, seconded by Councillor A. Pearson and agreed that Councillor D. Cotton be appointed as Chairman of the Planning Committee.

Resolved: That Councillor David Cotton be appointed as Chairman of the Planning Committee for the year 2025-26.

It was proposed, seconded and agreed that Councillor A. Pearson be appointed as Vice Chairman of the Planning Committee for the year 2025-26.

Resolved: That Councillor Alan Pearson be appointed as Vice Chairman of the Planning Committee for the year 2025-26.

10. APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES TO OUTSIDE BODIES
The Parish Council considered the appointment of representatives to outside bodies:

Resolved: To make the following appointments of Council representatives to outside bodies:

Slitting Mill Village Hall M. Sutherland

Etching Hill Village Hall D. Cotton

Chetwynd’s Charity P. Adams (R. Turville to attend meetings if
P. Adams is unable to attend)

Charity for the Recreation Ground for the Benefit of the Inhabitants of the Ancient Parish of Rugeley and Neighbourhood in the County of Stafford
P. Adams & D. Cotton
Charity for an Allotment for the Labouring Poor in the Ancient Parish of Rugeley in the County of Stafford
P. Adams & D. Cotton

Longdon Cotton Alms-houses (four-year term to 2024)
P. Adams (to 2028) (R. Turville to attend meetings of P. Adams is unable to attend)
Cannock Chase Council’s Standards Committee
R. Turville
Cannock Chase National Landscape Conference
A. A. Pearson & Mrs A. Turville B.

11. MINUTES OF LAST MEETINGS
Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 8 April 2025 be approved as a correct record.

The draft minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 8 April 2025 were noted.

12. UPDATES FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES
There were no updates not listed on the agenda.

13. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT/ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Chairman reported that he and Councillor Cotton had met up with officers from Cannock Chase National Landscapes to discuss funding opportunities for Etching Hill. He said that it became apparent to them that both parish councils and the experts had limited influence on strategic decisions.

The Councillors said the officers were aware of the position of parish councils and were very helpful in offering their advice including contacts to enable progress with their funding enquiries.

Councillor Mrs Turville informed the Council that the last two National Landscapes Conferences had been more informative than in previous years with lots of information about funding opportunities.

Councillor Pearson reported on a situation on private fields (withing the Cannock Chase National Landscapes boundary) where nineteen trees had been cut down by mistake and without the authority of the landowner.

The suggestion was made that the fauna and flora needed to be prioritised over all other activity of the Executive Committee.
Councillor Adams advised the Council that Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, who had signed an agreement to manage Etching Hill, were managing the areas they had attracted funding to, but not the whole site as first thought. This arrangement had not been clear to the Etching Hill Charity.

14. CORRESPONDENCE

a. Items of Post
Concerns about Solar Farms
The Parish Council noted in an email (dated 13 May 2025) the details of a meeting that had been organised by Stowe by Chartley Parish Council on Monday 19 May 2025 about solar farms and concerns about the growing number of planning applications that were being submitted in this theme.

The parish council didn’t believe this situation was likely to be an issue in the Brindley Heath Parish.

Glorious Gravel Event
The Council noted the Event Safety Management Plan that had kindly been sent to the Parish Council by Glorious Gravel in preparation for its off-road biking event at the Tackeroo Campsite on 11 October 2025.

The Council agreed that the event had not previously caused any issues.

Staffordshire Playing Fields Association
The Council noted the invitation from Staffordshire Parish Councils’ Association to take up membership but decided against joining as it had no direct interests or involvement in playing fields or green spaces.

b. Consultations
No consultations

15. PARISH WARD ISSUES
a. Chase Side
Pedestrian access point near to Birches Valley Forest Centre

The Parish Council discussed the pedestrian access point that had been installed on the verge at the boundary of land at the junction of Penkridge Bank Road and Shooting Butts Road.

The County Council had confirmed the hardcore had been placed in error with no access point intended on to Penkridge Bank Road. Permissions would be needed for a new formal access on to Penkridge Bank Road which is a classified C road.

It appeared that a vehicular access point had been installed on the boundary of the field along Shooting Butts Road.

b. Brindley Village
The following item was considered:

Land off the Rugeley Road

Councillor Pearson advised the Council that he had received notice from Cannock Chase Council that it was considering the planning status of agricultural land that was being used for commercial purposes and whether it would fall within permitted development. The apparent removal of trees and changes to the rural landscape had given cause for concern.

c. Cannock Chase National Landscapes & Cannock Chase Forest

Cannock Chase National Landscapes Annual Conference

The Council noted that Cannock Chase National Landscapes would be holding its Annual Conference on Thursday 19 June 2025 at Beau Desert Golf Club. Councillors: A. Peason,
Mrs S. Pearson, R. Turville and Mrs A. Turville expressed a wish to register to attend.

Cannock Chase National Landscape Sustainable Development Fund

The Council noted that the funding opportunity (available to community groups, schools, organisations and individuals to support projects that had a positive impact on the area) had been extended to 15 June 2025.

Applicants were normally expected to contribute at least 25% of the total project costs from their own funds, including other funding sources or in-kind contributions such as volunteer time.

16. HONORARY FREEMAN
Councillor Turville in consultation with the working group, was considering the artwork produced by Councillor Cotton involving samples of freedom scrolls with the parish logo inserted. These had been circulated by email and Parish Councillors had been asked to consider their preference.

17. INVITATION TO MEETINGS/EVENTS
The Council noted the following forthcoming (external) meetings with no specific members nominated as Parish Council representatives:

• Support Staffordshire Forum – Thursday 5 June 2025 1:30pm-3:30pm at Lea Hall Social Club, Rugeley

• SPCA Online Briefing about Local Government Reorganisation in Staffordshire – Thursday 5 June 2025 at 7:00pm

18. REPORTS ON MEETINGS ATTENDED
To share information on meetings attended:
• Audit Presentation by Forvis Mazars – Thursday 17 April 2025
The Parish Clerk confirmed that she had attended this presentation.
• SPCA Online Briefing about Local Government Reorganisation in Staffordshire – Tuesday 20 May 2025
The Parish Clerk confirmed that she had attended this presentation.
Councillor Peason advised the Parish Council that Councillor Tony Johnson was willing to visit parishes to discuss the local government reorganisation in Staffordshire.
• VE Day 80 in Cannock town – Thursday 8 May 2025
Councillor Pearson and Councillor Mrs Pearson attended this occasion.

19. COUNCILLOR REPORTS
There were no reports on this occasion.

20. EMAIL SERVICE
The Parish Clerk confirmed that an application for a .gov domain name and the setting up of individual councillors’ accounts would be instigated.

21. BLEED KITS
The Parish Clerk reported to the Council that One Another Ministries had agreed that a lockable publicly accessed bleed kit cabinet could be installed on the external wall at the White House.

The Rugeley Community First Responders had reported their recommendation to install the bleed kit cabinet to the left of the window on the side of the building (facing Marquis Drive) as there was too little space near the defibrillator cabinet (on the right side). The bleed kit cabinet didn’t need an electricity supply.

The Community First Responders had agreed to take responsibility for the management and maintenance of the equipment. The Council would be making a donation rather than purchasing the cabinet as owner.

The Council discussed other suitable locations for bleed kits particularly on the Hednesford side of the parish. There were no obvious locations, but Councillors pledged to consider the possibilities. Chase Café in Walker’s Rise was one option although the better locations needed to be those with greater footfall.

22. FINANCIAL MATTERS
a) Financial Position of the Council
A breakdown of income and expenditure for the financial year to date was given in the Clerk’s Report (dated 21 May 2025). The budget statement showed the current financial position of the Council with reserves totalling £13,941.33.

The bank account balance on 2 May 2025 (taken from bank statement 168) was £15,462.62 with unpresented cheques of £257.79 (SPCA subscription) & £1,263.50 (employment costs).

Resolved: That the current financial position of the Council is noted.

b) Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2024-25
i) To receive and note the Annual Internal Audit Report for 2024-25

The Council noted the Internal Audit Report for 2024-25 which had been circulated with the agenda for the meeting.

Resolved: That the report of the Internal Auditor for the year 2024-25 be noted.

ii) Annual Governance Statement 2024-25 (Section 1)

The Council considered the Annual Governance Statement for 2024-25.

Resolved: That the Annual Governance Statement for the financial year 2024-25 be approved and signed by the Chairman.

iii) Accounting Statements 2024-25 (Section 2)

The Council considered the Accounting Statements for the year 2024-25.

Resolved: That the Accounting Statements 2024-25 be approved and signed by the Chairman.

iv) Certificate of Exemption

The Council noted that there was no requirement to have a limited assurance review or to submit an Annual Governance and Accountability Return to the external auditor provided it had certified itself as exempt at a meeting of the Council after 31 March 2025 and a Certificate of Exemption submitted to the external auditor.

The Certificate of Exemption is completed by smaller authorities (where the higher of gross income or gross expenditure does not exceed £25,000 in the year of account ended 31 March 2025) who wish to certify themselves as exempt from a limited assurance review under Section 9 of the Local Audit (Smaller Authorities) Regulations 2015.

Resolved: That the Chairman signs the Certificate of Exemption to confirm that the Council wishes to be exempt from a limited assurance review.

c) Appointment of Responsible Finance Officer for the year 2025-26
Resolved: The Parish Clerk was confirmed as the Responsible Finance Officer for the year 2024-25.

d) Confirm appointment of an Independent Internal Auditor for the year 2025-26
Resolved: That the Parish Council accepts a two-year fixed price deal of £90 plus VAT and mileage with Black Rose Solutions for its internal audit for the financial years 2025-26 and 2026-27.

It was agreed that Councillor Mrs Turville undertakes an internal check of the Council’s financial transactions.

e) To authorise cheques for payment
Resolved: To approve following cheque payments:

100255 One Another Ministries £30.00 Donation for use of room for parish meeting on 27 May 2025

100256 Zurich Municipal £214.00 Parish Council Insurance cover for the period 6 July 2025 to
5 July 2026.

100257 Black Rose Solutions Ltd £105.00 Internal Audit 2024-25

Resolved: To authorise payment of the cheques listed.

23. ANY OTHER ITEMS FOR INFORMATION AND ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA
Councillor Pearson raised a question about the enquiries parish councils should consider making to Cannock Chase Council about the future transfer of assets in the parish.

24. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Council will be held at The White House, Marquis Drive, Brindley Heath on Tuesday 22 July 2025.

Date……………………………………………………