March 2019

SUTTON MADDOCK PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a Meeting of Sutton Maddock Parish Council
held on Thursday 14
th March 2019 in Kemberton Village Hall
Present: Cllr. A. Hill – Chairman
Cllr. D. Ford
Cllr. Max Speke
Cllr. Chris Walker
Also present: Anne Wilson – Parish Clerk
Michael Wood – Shropshire Local Councillor
PC Jess Hindley – West Mercia Police
89/2018 Fire Safety Announcement
i) Shropshire Councillor
Councillor Michael Wood, Shropshire Councillor addressed the meeting.
He spoke about the following matters:
• The size of his patch from Quatt to Shipley and almost into Shifnal and
Pattingham
• He had been very unwell in the Autumn of 2018 and still had some matters to
be resolved
• The planning department had very few officers including no compliance and
enforcement officers which was causing some difficulties. The last Leader
decided to drastically reduce the number of officers
• There were many problems on the roads – Brockton Crossroads, Grindle
Road and the Rabbit Run. The A442 was the second most busy road in
Shropshire. During the bridge repairs a at Stableford and many other of the
local unclassified roads had been destroyed following the diversion lasting
many months – it was hoped that there would be money after April 2019 to
repair them from a special budget. Cllr. Wood said putting in permanent traffic
lights on the bridge at Stableford, which locals have requested, would cost
£70k.
• He was at odds with the administration over certain matters
• There were many concerns raised about the new Highways Contract with Kier
already. Hereford and Worcester who kept Ringway were much better off in
his opinion
• Shropshire Council Highways department is undergoing a restructure which
is not helping the contract matters and means that work is much behind
schedule across the county
• There are many funding pressures on Shropshire Council especially in Adult
Social Care where there was an £8-10m deficit annually
• In 2017 there were 254 children in care and then in 2019 there are 370
children who cost £10k per week to look after. There is no definitive time or an
increase in numbers of children that can be accounted for as it is unknown
weekly. There is a reduction in the number of Foster Carers mainly because
of the age profile of them.
• It was looking as though there would be a need to recruit additional staff to
look after statutory services
• He had concerns about the budget and the setting of it and for the last couple
of budgets he had not voted in favour of the proposals from Cabinet
• On the 13th February 2019 Shropshire Council had agreed to build a new pool
in The Quarry in Shrewsbury. Much consultation had taken place and both
capital and revenue budgets were being used to finance it
• He calls Cabinet to account when he feels something needs challenging – he
goes to committee meetings both where he is a Member and where he is not
to ensure he is up to speed with all Shropshire Council are doing or proposing
• He raised his concerns about the difficulties in getting replies to e mails sent
to both officers and Members at Shropshire Council – the Clerk agreed with
him about this – he could not always blame officers due to the reduction in
numbers of staff in many departments
• Brick Kiln Lane – the investigation done by Star Housing found that there was
not as much space as they hoped for houses on the garages site
• Brockton Crossroads – currently all that was being installed is signage and
signposting – not a fatality hotspot so nothing further could be done. Alice
Dilly had gone as far as she could before she left the Council
• Concern about the amount of farm equipment and vehicles stolen and badger
baiting in the county
ii) Smartwater
Jess Hindley from West Mercia Police attended the meeting to update Members on
the opportunities for distributing the remaining sets within the parish. There were 41
sets remaining. It was agreed that the Chairman would put an article in the church
newsletter about the distribution of Smartwater and the Parish Clerk would look for
the list of where Smartwater was not distributed in the parish.
90/2018 Apologies for absence
RESOLVED to receive apologies of absence from:
• Mrs H. Attwood – personal commitment
• Cllr. R. Hotchkiss – personal commitment
• Cllr. M. Taylor – work commitment
91/2018 Declarations of Interest.
RESOLVED that there were no declarations of interest under consideration on this
agenda in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 s32 and The Relevant Authorities
(Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012.
92/2018 Public Question Time and Participation
There were no Members of the public present.
93/2018 Chairman’s Announcements
The Chairman gave announcements in relation to parish matters or the agenda.
She had attended the SALC Area meeting where PC Matt Picken and PC Anne
O’Leary gave an update on manpower and numbers. David Cooper from Bridgnorth
Crucial Crew gave an insight into the work of Crucial Crew following requests for
funding contributions from parish councils which contained local authority primary
schools. These councils felt that as pupils also came from other local parish councils
this funding request should be sent to all parish councils. It is possible that Sutton
Maddock Parish Council will receive such a request in the future. The revised Code
of Conduct was discussed and there was strong feeling that training of Parish
Council Members should be compulsory although it was acknowledged that most
Councillors are volunteers. The next meeting is in July and Professor Mark Barrow
and Cllr. Gwilym Butler, Portfolio Holder for towns and parishes will be asked to
attend.
94/2018 Minutes
RESOLVED to approve the draft minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on
Thursday 10
th January 2019
95/2018 Updates on items from the meeting on the 10
th January 2019
The Clerk reported back on the following matters:
• Concern about Renew where Graham Manton, Apley Estates had been
involved a couple of enforcement actions in relation to Grindlehouse Farm
who were still not keeping to their planning consent and conditions.
• Installation of the CCTV signage for the Rural Crime Initiative and whether
they were available.
• Haven Hills Menage lights
• Signage outside Apley Farm on the road verge and Sutton Maddock
Roundabout
• Brockton Crossroads
The Parish Clerk had followed all the matters up listed above but as yet had not had
a response so would chase again.
Grindlehouse Farm – there was concern about the fact that vehicles and other items
are still going into the site when only things should be coming out.
96/2018 Place Plan Review
The Chairman will be attending the Place Plan Review meeting on 27th March 2019.
Sutton Maddock Parish Council don’t appear to have any Parish Plan in place but
there is a section within the Bridgnorth Place Plan 2015-16 which is being reviewed.
Councillors were asked to familiarise themselves with this current Place Plan, which
can be accessed via Shropshire Council website, in particular the two pages which
have direct reference to Sutton Maddock (pages 30 & 67) before the meeting.
RESOLVED that there are no comments to be made by the Parish Council.
The Chairman mentioned the land in Brick Kiln Lane and whether this should be
included on the Place Plan. The paddock is for local leisure and a lot of trees had
been planted in it. The Chairman’s husband had mowed the grass in the paddock
annually over many years. Shropshire Council cuts one side of the hedge. They do
not cut the paddock side of the hedge. Shropshire Council had in the past tried to
sell the land, which belongs to the local people, and then withdrew the application for
sale.
97/2018 Finance
i) Accounts for Payment

RESOLVED that Members confirmed the following payments:
• Clerks salary £185.77
• HMRC £46.40
• Kemberton Village Hall £20 (for March PC meeting)
ii) Bank Reconciliation Not available so Members were unable to note the
bank balances. This needs to be available for the next meeting.
98/2018 Planning
10.1 Planning Applications
19/00903/FUL Brockton Park Brockton Shifnal
Conversion of outbuilding to form a self contained annex together with first floor
extension ancillary to main dwelling
RESOLVED that Sutton Maddock Parish Council would not like to see the annexe
sold off and a new dwelling created if this would lead to an undesirable
fragmentation of the historic farmstead.
11.2 Applications considered in between meetings:
RESOLVED to note that there were no applications considered in between meetings
11.3 Decisions
RESOLVED to note that the following application has been agreed:
18/05208/FUL Woodside Cottage, 7 – 8 Brockton, Shifnal, Shropshire, TF11 9LZ
Proposal: Erection of new tiled pitched apex roofs to existing flat roof dormers
99/2018 Any new matters relating to the parish not included elsewhere on the
agenda.
There were no matters raised under this item by either Members or the Parish Clerk.
100/2018 Date of next meeting
RESOLVED that Members noted that the next meeting of Sutton Maddock Parish
Council is scheduled to be held on Thursday 9
th May 2019 when the Annual Parish
Meeting will also be held.
RESOLVED that Members agreed to move the July meeting from Thursday 11th July
to Thursday 18th July to enable the Clerk to attend the meeting.
Signed …………………………………………. Date …………………………………..
Chairma