A meeting of Wetton and Back of Ecton Parish Council took place on Wednesday, 14th May 2025 at 7.30 pm in Wetton Village Hall.
Present: Mrs J Melville, Mrs D Noble, Mr T Heaney, Mrs N Drummond and the clerk, Mrs S Hampson. There were no members of the public in attendance.
Non-confidential information
25.5.1 Apologies and declaration of interest of councillors related to the agenda
Apologies had been received in advance of the meeting from Mrs Powis and Mr Murdoch. There was no need, by any member present, to declare an interest in the items on the published agenda. Members present signed the attendance register.
25.5.2 Election of Chairman, vice chairman and declaration of acceptance of office of councillors, possible co-option of one new councillor
Subsequent to the previous meeting, Mrs Drummond had tendered her resignation, with effect from the close of the Annual Parish Council meeting. There had been one casual vacancy advertised and Mrs Noble retracted her previous resignation, essentially filling the advertised vacancy. All members present completed their Declaration of Acceptance of Office, as Councillors and Mrs Melville completed the additional Acceptance of Office as Chair Person.
Resolved: For the period 2025-2026, Mrs Melville to act as Chair Person and Mr Heaney to act as Vice Chairman.
25.5.3 Casual Vacancy for the co-option of 2 vacancies.
Resolved: The clerk to prepare a casual vacancy notice for 2 parish councillors.
25.5.4 Register of Interest of councillors
The members present completed the interest documents.
25.5.5 Minutes of the previous meeting.
These were accepted as a true record of proceedings and signed, in the meeting, by the Chair Person,
Mrs J Melville.
25.5.6 Public speaking procedures document, public attendance sheet and public speaking (total 10 minutes)
There were no members of the public in attendance.
25.5.7 Update on new County Councillor
The clerk had not been advised of the details of the new County Councillor. The parish council would like to continue discussions held with the previous County Councillor.
Resolved: the clerk to contact the new County Councillor and to invite to the next meeting
25.5.8 Parking notices
It appears that a minority of residents want additional sign but the members will adhere to their original categories of issue. Some residents have had their own signs produced, incorporating the name of the parish council, without authority. This is not acceptable and residents must NOT use the name of Wetton Parish Council on their own signs. The parish council reserves the right to cover over the name of Wetton Parish Council on all signs not issued to residents by the parish council. It was reported that a field has been opened in Wetton for parking and this has relieved some of the parking issues in the village.
25.5.9 Playing field/Pavilion
Members discussed erecting the zip wire in the playing field; however, since cows have been on the field, the condition of the field is poor and very uneven which could be hazardous to children. A safety inspection would also be required. A proposed sports day event is now unlikely to be able to take place due to the condition of the field which is disappointing. The field needs rolling to restore it to a ‘flat’ safe condition. The parish council is very grateful to resident MG for putting the gate back on.
Resolved: to no longer permit any animals on the playing field due to the damage caused and to contact the person concerned to make good the field.
Resolved: the clerk to contact Staffordshire Moorlands District Councillor to enquire whether Staffordshire Moorlands District Council could roll the field if not restored. There is likely to be a charge for this service.
Resolved: the clerk to contact the insurance company regarding cover for volunteers, particular concerning use of the ride on mower.
Resolved: Mrs Noble to advise the Parochial Church Council not to use the ride on mower at present.
Resolved: Mr Heaney to have keys to the playing field gates and pavilion.
Resolved: Mrs Melville to retain keys for the mower and village hall.
Resolved: Mrs Melville to erect a notice at the playing field to advise it is not fit to use at present and to padlock entrances.
Resolved: The clerk to request increased mowing frequency by the lengthsman.
25.5.10 Planning applications, appeals and enforcement
There were no new planning applications to consider.
25.5.11 Items of account: clerk’s salary, HMRC, lengthsman, administration, payroll services, insurance.
| Chq No. | Name | Description | Cost | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cq 896 |
S Hampson |
May and June clerk’s salaries |
£545.34 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
Cq 897 |
S Hampson |
May and June premises and internet |
£101.95 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
Cq 898 |
S Hampson |
April clerk’s salary |
£272.57 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
Cq 899 |
S Hampson |
April premises and internet |
£43.00 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
Cq 900 |
HMRC |
Quarter 1 income tax |
£204.40 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
Cq 901 |
SPCA |
25/26 annual subscription |
£72.01 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
Cq 902 |
S Billings |
26 hours lengthsman duties |
£364.00 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
Cq 903 |
EMAS Ltd |
Internal Audit Service |
£58.80 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
Cq 904 |
Clear Insurance Management Ltd |
Annual Insurance |
£ – Invoice to follow |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
Cq 905 |
E A Fitzgibbon |
Payroll service management fee 24/25 |
£70.00 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Mr Murdoch and Mrs Hampson had completed online requirements to become additional signatories. Mrs Noble brought the documentation related to this.
25.5.12 Accounts for the year ended 31st March 2025
The clerk and responsible finance officer (RFO), Mrs Hampson had prepared the accounts for the year ended 31st March 2025. These were presented to the members of the parish council.
Resolved: to accept these as a true record of the previous year’s financial transactions.
25.5.13 Internal report
The internal audit of the accounts and the previous year’s proceedings had been internally audited by East Midlands Audit Service Ltd. The report had been sent to all members in advance of the meeting. There were no matters which needed to be brought before the parish council. The Annual Return for the external auditors, Forvis Mazars had been signed off by the internal auditor.
25.5.14 Approval of annual governance statement (Section 1)
This had been prepared by the clerk and RFO and agreed by the internal auditor.
Resolved: to accept the Annual Governance Statement and this was duly signed by the RFO and Chair Person, Mrs Melville.
25.5.15 Certificate of Exemption and Agar documentation, and Accounting Statement (Section 2)
A Certificate of Exemption for the period ended 31st March 2025 had been prepared as both the income and expenditure were less than £25,000. The accounting statement figures had been agreed by the internal audit.
Resolved: to accept the Certificate of Exemption and Accounting Statement and these were duly signed by the RFO and Chair Person, Mrs Melville.
The clerk and RFO will now submit the certificate of exemption and contact details to Forvis Mazars. The public rights notice will also be displayed for the period commencing 3rd June.
25.5.16 Highway issues, street lighting, drains, potholes
The clerk had reported the deep pot hole/sink hole on Stable Lane and this had been attended to quite swiftly. A drain cover was reported as missing in the vicinity of the Old Reading Room, marked by 2 cones. This has been reported. In addition, Mrs Drummond reported that there are now 5 barriers down the river bank at the Manifold which are too heavy to lift.
Resolved: The clerk to contact Staffordshire County Council regarding the drain cover and the barriers.
25.5.17 Correspondence and communication and noticeboard responsibility.
Mrs Drummond advised that she had picked up at least 10 portable barbecues from the Manifold Valley area near Weags Bridge. People are also lighting camp fires. Fire risk was of deep concern due to the ‘tinder dry’ land at present. Big groups have been seen in this vicinity which is also near a nature reserve. The particular area of concern falls in Grindon parish. There are no warning signs in place to advise of fire risk, no fires/barbecues. It was further advised that the campers are toileting near the water course which is illegal.
Resolved: the clerk to contact Peak District National Park Ranger Service, National Trust and Grindon Parish Council regarding the above issues and lack of warning signs.
Resolved: Mrs Noble to have keys to the noticeboard and to continue to be the liaison with the Village Hall Committee.
Electronic communications had been forwarded to members in advance of the meeting and included: SPCA bulletins, Staffordshire Playing Fields Association, Longnor open gardens, Reading Friends Leek Library, healthy workplace, SCC funding opportunities, Data Protection Service, milestones, Staffordshire reorganisation, equality and diversity training, Community Magazine.
25.5.18 Items for the next agenda
Playing field restoration and zip wire/pavilion, safety inspection, insurance – ride on mower, casual vacancies, fire warning signs. Additional items to be compiled by the clerk.
25.5.19 Date of the next meeting
Wednesday, 9th July 2025.
Mrs Noble gave her apologies for the July meeting.
The meeting was declared closed at 8.50pm
Mrs S Hampson, Clerk
Wetton and Back of Ecton Parish Council
20 May 2025
©Wetton and Back of Ecton Parish Council minutes remain draft until approved by the parish council at the next meeting