Meeting Minutes for October 2022
MINUTES OF THE MEETING THURDSAY, OCTOBER 27 2022 AT RANTON VILLAGE HALL
PRESENT:
Cllr. D. Batchelor. (Chair)
Cllr. J. Forrester.
Cllr. M. Winnington.
Cllr. B. Jeeves.
Cllr. M Russell.
Gayle Whelan. (Parish Clerk)
22/55 Apologies
All in attendance.
22/56 Declarations of interest in the following agenda:
Cllr Jeeves declared that his wife is a governor at All Saints primary and nursery school.
22/57 Previous minutes:
The minutes of the previous meeting held on Thursday, July 28th 2022 were accepted as a true
record.
22/58 Updates of actions:
Bees: Cllr Russell stated that bee hives will no longer be placed in the churchyard as a new site has
been found.
Mowing: StreetScene: no response as yet regarding leaving of mowings in the churchyard.
Action: The parish clerk will make direct contact with Neil Clifton.
Gulleys and weeding: Weeding is carried out twice yearly, however, it does not appear to have been
carried out recently. There is the potential to have it done privately and paid for by the parish
council. Action: Parish clerk to contact Highways to ask how\when weeding is carried out. Cllr
Russell offered to obtain a quote for weeding. Views of local residents could be sought on on wild
meadows.
Online banking: Councillors are still looking into how this may work and will continue to be explored
over forthcoming months.
22/59 Questions from the public:
Norman McCloud (Pinfold Croft) reported that in the past, the field 30m away from his property has
been used occasionally for trial bikes. On 8 October, there were a lot of bikes in the field and 8
vehicles. Noise from the site started after 11am and finished at 4pm. Concern that is a standard
event on private land, without planning permission. There is uncertainty as to who owns/rents the
field. Sheep have been in the field previously. Cllr Winnington reported that the planning process is
very slow currently with short staff planning enforcement officers. Mr McCloud will email details to
the parish clerk.
After Meeting Note: Up to 28 organised events can be held each year on private land and no
planning permission is required..
22/60 Finance matters:
Accounts to date:
The latest statement date for September 30, 2022 showed:
Reserve account balance £978.00
Current account balance £8,747.84 (cheques which had not been cashed at the statement
date)
Cheque for £266 for the annual Zurich insurance policy was signed.
Action: the parish clerk will email councillors the policy schedule.
Reserve account:
The reserve account will be discussed once online banking is available.
Online banking - this is currently in process, however NatWest Bank is currently making signatory
checks. Cllr Russell will keep councillors updated.
Update of parish council hours -this will be presented at the next council meeting.
Spreadsheet: Councillors discussed the merit of aide-memoire below current spreadsheet.
Action: parish clerk will meet with Cllr Batchelor to update the spreadsheet.
Village Hall Room hire costs will increase to £12 per hour, having not increased since 2015. Inflation
since 2015 is 22%, however councillors felt that the new rate represents a 50% substantial
increase.
Cllr Winnington proposed to pay the increase to help sustain the village hall as a community venue.
Seconded by Cllr Jeeves. Councillors voted 4-1 vote to continue renting the village hall for meetings
at the new rate.
Reports:
Village Hall Committee: Cllr Russell proposed that for village hall organised events (Christmas,
skittles and two quizzes), an advert be placed on the noticeboard (potential four times a year). The
parish clerk will place the posters on the noticeboard. Cllr Forrester seconded the motion, and
councillors voted unanimously.
The village Christmas fayre will beheld on 10 December starting at 4.30pm. Cllr Russell will order a
Christmas tree with a budget of £300.
Cllr Winnington mentioned graves being dug in the churchyard near to the electrical underground
wiring which is used for the Christmas tree lights.
Mowing: Grass has not been cut in the last month. A truck did turn up on Tuesday, but went away.
Action: Parish clerk will ask Streetscene when the next mow will be.
Highways: Potholes in Hextall Lane have not been repaired yet. Patch repairs have been cut in
Gnosall and Houghton. One sign in the village have been knocked sideways. This has been
reported to Highways.
Footpaths: No updates. Seighford walk footpath has been signposted more clearly.
Gulleys and weeding: Gulley cleaning was last carried out in 2020.
Request for roadsweeper in Ranton, allow a week to let the leaves drop, send via Mark Winnington.
All Saints School, Ranton: Chair wrote to Andy Summers regarding ad hoc contact and there has
been no response.
Action: Cllr Batchelor to resend email and copy in June Smith.
22/61 Parish Clerk report..
Subscription fee scaling for the SPCA for future budget. Forward email to all councillors for
information.
22/62 Planning updates
Action: Parish clerk to forward on the planning email list to Cllr Batechlor.
22/63 Chairman's questions/items for information/next agenda
Cllr Forrester: the local plan building houses does not include anywhere in Ranton.
The next parish council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 17, 2022 at 7.30pm.
Signed.................................................. Date...........................
Gayle Whelan, Ranton Parish Council Clerk. rantonparishcouncil@gmail.com