BRINDLEY HEATH PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF MEETING
HELD ON TUESDAY 8 APRIL 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
M. Sutherland (from end of agenda item/Minute Number 15)

IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs T. Williams (Clerk)

1. APOLOGIES
Apologies and reasons for absence were received, accepted and approved under S85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 from Councillor M. Sutherland (to agenda item/Minute Number 15).

Apologies were also received from County Councillor P. Hewitt.

2. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

Member
None Interest
Type

3. POLICE REPORTS
The Council received the Neighbourhood Policing Report for the month of March 2025.

The incidents occurring in Brindley Heath and Etching Hill were categorised as follows:

Anti-Social Behaviour – 3, Burglary – 1, Concern for Welfare – 7, Criminal Damage – 4, Domestic Incident – 6, Family Domestic Incident – 3, Fire – 1, Harassment/Stalking – 1, Missing person Report – 3, Other Notifiable Incident – 2, Public Order – 5, Road Traffic Collision – 4, Sexual Offences (not rape) – 3, Suspicious Incident – 7, Theft – 2, Transport Related Incident – 14, Vehicle Crime – 4, Violence against Person – 3, Wildlife – 2.

Councillor Adams advised the Council that he had made the point to the Police that the Parish Council had been surprised the statistics for January hadn’t been higher in relation to car thefts and break-ins in Etching Hill. The Police Officer said the figures depended on the headings the incidents had been recorded under.

Councillor Adams said that he had thanked the Police officers for the work they were doing in the parish as the current Local Policing Team had made significant improvements in the area. They were visible, responsive, supportive and communicated information very well.

4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
No members of the public were present.

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

The draft minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 11 February 2025 were noted.

6. UPDATES FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES
The Clerk advised the Parish Council that Cannock Chase Council had obtained funding from the Police and Fire Commissioner to purchase a large quantity of faraday pouches, which had provided a plentiful supply, leading her to question whether the Parish Council’s support was now needed.

Residents were able to pick faraday pouches up from the Civic Centre reception in Cannock.

A query had been raised with PCSO Carrington to ascertain whether more pouches were needed, and if so, the Council suggested that 20 or 30 faraday pouches be funded by the Parish Council for distribution in the parish.

7. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT/ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Chairman reported his observations on the County’s planning of programmed highway improvement works which he believed were poorly planned in Rugeley. He said the area had been gridlocked as the new by-pass had been dug up for a second time to put a new roundabout in when it could have been constructed as part of the earlier works with traffic being taken around it.

He said the Highways Department had previously closed Penkridge Bank Road and now were going to close it again for a further 10 days.

Councillor Peason reported that in Bradbury Lane, Hednesford, at the bridge (between Brindley Heath Road and the Rugeley Road) the road had been closed off causing a long tail back of traffic. He had followed the diversion on the day and when returning home noticed the signage had been moved with no roadworks carried out.

The Council asked that the observations be reported to the County Council with the suggestion that the County considers how it can improve the planning of programmed road works. Councillors suggested there used to be time limits on the duration of roadworks which doesn’t appear to be the case nowadays.

8. CORRESPONDENCE

a. Items of Post
CPRE Staffordshire – invitation to take up membership
The Parish Council noted an email (dated 27 February 2025) from CPRE Staffordshire, a local charity that campaigns to protect, promote and enhance Staffordshire’s countryside and green spaces. The charity invites the Council to sign up to membership with an annual subscription costing from £60 a year with access to discounted training sessions with a planning expert.

The Council decided not to take up membership in 2025.

Local Government Reorganisation SPCA update
The Parish Council noted SPCA’s March Bulletin with a link to a mini briefing on the local government reorganisation which will lead to changes to the number and size of councils providing public services.

The purpose of the Local Government reorganisation is to simplify the way local government works by creating unitary councils that will be responsible for all local government services within a particular area, replacing the District and County Council.

The reorganisation also aims to make sure councils are suitably sized with at least 500,000 residents in most new unitary councils for them to be efficient and effective. Staffordshire’s population is around 900,000. Stoke on Trent’s population is around 250,000.

Parish Councils are not included in the reorganisation.

The Government’s plan is for publication of the English Devolution Bill in the early summer 2025, Royal Assent of the Devolution Bill in 2026 with new unitary authority’s elections in April/May 2027 and April/May 2028 (Staffordshire likely in this cycle).

Youth Endeavour Awards

Cannock Chase Council has confirmed that the Youth Endeavour Awards were open, and nominations of young people who had done exceptional work in the community, invited. The close date for applications is 2 May 2025.

b. Consultations
No consultations

9. PARISH WARD ISSUES – CHASE SIDE
Foot access point near to Birches Valley Forest Centre

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

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

10. PARISH WARD ISSUES – BRINDLEY VILLAGE
The following item was considered:

Land off the Rugeley Road

Councillor Peason advised the Council that he had spoken to the Development and Policy Manager at Cannock Chase Council to ask whether the use of agricultural land for commercial purposes (incorporating many greenhouses) falls inside or outside permitted development in planning law. Trees and shrubs were being cleared from the land to accommodate the structures and large quantities of hardcore delivered. Charges now apply to pre-application planning advice which is no longer free.

Councillor Peason advised the Council that the District Council was advocating changes to its constitution scheduled to be considered by the Full Council on 9 April 2025. This involves an extension of delegated powers to Planning Officers, and as a consequence a reduced opportunity for democratic decision making by the Planning Control Committee. This decision was not necessarily seen as a positive move.

11. CANNOCK CHASE
The following items were considered:
Cannock Chase National Landscape Sustainable Development Fund

The funding is available to community groups, schools, organisations, and individuals, even if not living or working in the National Landscape area, as long as the project proposal has a positive impact.

Applicants are 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. The closing date is 30 May 2025.

12. HONORARY TITLES
Councillor Turville advised the Council that he needed to discuss the Working Group’s proposal with Councillor Cotton who had produced and circulated a number of samples of freedom scrolls with the parish logo inserted. Parish Councillors had been asked to consider their preference.

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

• Support Staffordshire – Annual General Meeting on 1 May on Microsoft Teams.

• Energy Saving Trust – Introduction to electric vehicles and EV charging (various dates available). The webinars are free to attend and cover what is an EV, charging an EV, why the switch to EVs, the role of local authorities and elected members.

Councillors commented on the thefts that were taking place at EV charging points.

14. REPORTS ON MEETINGS ATTENDED
a. To share information on meetings attended:
No information was given.

15. REPORTS ON MEETINGS ATTENDED
a. The parish representatives to outside bodies gave reports on meetings they had attended:

Slitting Mill Village Hall (M. Sutherland)
Councillor Sutherland was not available to give a report, but Councillors understood the village hall was thriving.

Etching Hill Village Hall (D. Cotton)
Councillor Cotton advised the Council that trustees had questions on the hall agreement which were slowly getting resolved by a solicitor going through the contract.

They want to apply for a padel court, but adequate insurance cover was needed and assurances the installation process was correctly followed.

Chetwynd Charity (P. Adams)
Councillor Adams advised the Council that he had gone to the last meeting and there were no applications for grants. An advert had been put in several magazines appealing for anyone living in the old ancient parish of Rugeley who was going to college or university, to make an application if they were suffering hardship.

Charity for the Recreation Ground (P. Adams & D. Cotton)
Councillor Adams reported that a lot of complaints had been made about people chopping trees down on Etching Hill.

Councillor Cotton advised the Council that he had met with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, and they were applying to the Countryside Stewardship which will allow the charity to plan long term. There were a good number of volunteers working on the Hill.

Charity for an Allotment for the Labouring Poor (P. Adams & D. Cotton)
Councillor Adams reported that the trustees were still in disagreement with Cannock Chase Council over the renting of the playing field and a meeting was needing to be arranged. He said that payment was required to 2030 whether or not the pitch was in use.

Councillor Adams and Councillor Cotton had been in consultation with one allotment holder in relation to a number of matters.

Longdon Cotton Alms-Houses (P. Adams to 2028)
Councillor Adams advised the Council that all properties were let. He had advised calling in a fire officer to undertake a homes inspection.

Cannock Chase Council’s Standards Committee (R. Turville)
No meetings of the Standards Committee had taken place.

SPCA Executive Committee (M. Sutherland)
Councillor Sutherland advised the Council that the focus of the Executive Committee had shifted to the future of local government and the impact of the proposed reorganisation on parish councils.

16. COUNCILLOR REPORTS
Councillor Sutherland advised the Council that the County, district and borough Councils had made their submissions on their proposals for reorganisation of local government and had posted them on their websites.

Councillor Turville enquired about funding opportunities for purchasing VE Day 80 bunting for Brindley Village. No funding streams were identified during the meeting.

The Council expressed the view that the organisation of events in Brindley Heath was more challenging than many other parishes as there was no village centre or focal point for staging a celebration.

17. CESSATION OF COUNTY EMAIL SERVICE
Following Staffordshire County Council’s decision to withdraw the free email service to parish councils from 31 May 2026 the Clerk outlined the process for making an application for a .gov domain name.

The steps involved checking whether an organisation can apply, identifying a registrant for the .gov.uk name, choosing a domain name, applying for domain name followed by using and managing the domain name.
The Council agreed that it should make an application for a .gov domain name including the setting up of individual councillors’ accounts to comply with the Governance and Accountability framework.

Resolved: That the Clerk is authorised to begin the process of applying for a domain name.

18. BLEED KITS
The Clerk advised the Council that advice had been sought from Rugeley Community First Responders on the process for making the purchase of a locked bleed kit cabinet and bleed kit equipment for installation at the White House, Marquis Drive, Brindley Heath.

The estimated costs were £350.00 for the cabinet and £85 for the bleed kit (excluding VAT).

Councillor Cotton reminded the Council that the First Responders planned to install new defibrillators in locations that were nearer to housing/homes (and not just install them in town centres and community venues). One of their plans was to install and maintain defibrillators on supporting posts but they had been advised by Cannock Chase Council that there would be a £500 charge as a legal fee. As this sum would make the project prohibitive, they were appealing for advice and support from anyone who could assist.

Councillor Pearson suggested grouping the posts under one planning application, if planning permissions were needed.

The First Responders also wanted to explore the possibility of installing defibrillators on existing lamp posts. Apparently, Eon have been given control of all the lamps, but permission would be needed from Staffordshire County Council. Councillor Sutherland invited the First Responders contact him for support.

Councillors suggested new locations for bleed kits which included Etching Hill Village Hall, and the new notice board at Etching Hill, opposite the playing field.

19. 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 3 April 2025). The budget statement showed the current financial position of the Council with reserves totalling £12,103.52.

The bank account balance on 2 March 2025 (taken from bank statement 166) was £13,683.02 with unpresented cheques £316.00 & £1,263.50 (which were employment costs).

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

b) Projects for CIL funds
The Council considered projects for CIL funds (in addition to the bleed kits) and agreed that dog bins would be expensive due to the ongoing emptying costs.

The purchase of Faraday pouches for the Police Community Support Officers was under investigation given that Cannock Chase Council had secured some funding.

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

100252 One Another Ministries £30.00 Donation for use of room for parish meeting on 8 April 2025

100253 Staffordshire Parish Councils’ Association £257.79 Annual Subscription

100254 Bleed Kit Donation £435.00
(approx.) Bleed Kit Cabinet & Bleed kit package for White House

Resolved: To authorise payment of the cheques listed.

20. ANY OTHER ITEMS FOR INFORMATION AND ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA
No items

21. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Council will be held at The White House, Marquis Drive, Brindley Heath on Tuesday 27 May 2025.

Further meeting dates were set on: 22 July, 23 September and 25 November 2025.