Agenda and minutes

To receive declarations of interest from Members on items contained within this agenda.

There were no declarations of interest stated.

To consider the Minutes of the previous meeting(s)

Resolved:                 That the minutes of the meeting held on 15 February, 2023 be agreed as a correct record.

The Mayor made two announcements:

·         Members who had attended the Mayor’s Ball last Friday were thanked for their support.  The event had raised over £2100 for the Mayor’s Charity Fund.

·         A celebration service for the coronation of King Charles III would take place on Sunday 7^th May, 2023 at St Giles’ Church.

Councillor Dave Jones was invited to speak on behalf of former Councillor Silvia Burgess who wished to thank Members and officers for their support during her recent bereavement.

Watch the announcements here

The Leader, Councillor Simon Tagg introduced a report updating Members on the Statutory Odour Nuisance assessments in relation to Walleys Quarry. An addendum to the report was tabled at the meeting.

The report assessed evidence collated during the 5 month period where the abatement notice had been upheld.

Residents who were interested in the abatement notice procedure were urged to read towards the end of the report, which indicated what the Council and the Environment Agency (EA) could achieve.

Concerns were raised about the EA’s plans to decommission the monitoring station (MMF6), situated at Newcastle Fire Station.  The current four stations constituted a monitoring network across the affected areas.  The Leader was asked to confirm that the Council would ask the EA that the monitoring station (MMF06) must remain.

Some residents had experienced problems with the online forms for reporting issued.  The Leader was asked if those problems had been resolved.

Resolved:     That the report and its contents be noted.

Watch the debate here

To receive a statement by the Leader of the Council on the activities and decisions of Cabinet and items included on the Forward Plan.

The Leader presented the statement that had been circulated and provided an update on the activities and decisions made by himself and the Cabinet to allow questions and comments.

The Leader gave a couple of updates on the published report.  In respect of Paragraph 2, a comprehensive Peer Review was completed last week and the feedback had been very positive and a report would be brought to Full Council later in the year.

The Heroes Awards were held at the Mayor’s Charity Ball at Keele last Friday.  The Leader congratulated the winners of the three awards: Community Champion – Briony Bowler; Young Hero – Hannah Wollas and Lifetime Achievement – Jim Worgan.

Questions were raised by members as follows.

On paragraph 2 – One Council update

Councillor Parker asked the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Town Centres and Growth for an update on the programme of events for the ‘award winning’ markets for the rest of this year.

Councillor Sweeney advised that the events included Artisan Markets; Vegan Festival, Record Fair; Greyhound Gap; King’s Coronation Market; Young Traders Market, mini markets and antiques markets.  Other events included a ten metre inflated bubble of C02 which was touring the County, Armed Forces Day celebrations and working with the BID for the Lymelight Festival.  These events would be added to as they came along.

On paragraph 3 – the Coronation and 850 celebrations:

Councillor Gorton asked for the actual number of nominations received for the recent Heroes Awards, broken down into categories.

The Leader stated that he could not break them down into categories but there were 24 nominations overall.  

On paragraph 4 – Housing Assistance Policy 2023:

Councillor John Williams referred to a recent Sentinel report stating that a resident who had been accepted for a grant and the work had not been carried out satisfactorily.  A point had been made by this Council that the work would be brought ‘in-house’ and managed by the Council.  Councillor Williams asked for clarification.

The Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Wellbeing advised that it used to be a commissioned service in partnership with Staffordshire County Council.  From 1 April, 2023 it was brought ‘in-house’ whereby the Council would work with the team.  People had been taken on to do the casework and deal with contractors.

On paragraph 5 – Support with the cost of living and high energy prices:

Councillor Crisp asked the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Town Centres and Growth to advise what additional financial support was being given to residents in respect of rising bills and how much, in total, had the Government given to help residents across the Borough.

Councillor Sweeney advised that there were currently three schemes operating:  Council Tax support which was £25 per household; Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding, £400 per household; Alternative Fuel Payment Alternative Fund, £200 per household.  These funds had to be applied for from the Government who then process them and send the details to this Council for payment.   At present,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

A verbal update will be given for the Finance, Assets and Performance Scrutiny Committee.

The reports for the Health, Wellbeing and Environment Scrutiny Committee and Economy and Place Scrutiny Committee had been circulated with the agenda.

A verbal update was given for the Finance Assets and Performance Scrutiny Committee detailing the items discussed at previous meetings.

Resolved:     That the reports be received.

Watch the debate here

Reports for the Licensing and Public Protection Committee and the Planning Committee were attached to the agenda as supplementary items.

The Audit and Standards Committee had not met since the last Full Council meeting.

Resolved:     That the reports be received.        

Watch the debate here

Three questions were received:

Question from Councillor Gorton to the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Recycling:

“I have been told that it is not the policy of the Borough Council to provide new bins for dog waste. Is this correct?”

Councillor Johnson advised that the Council replaced damaged, broken and missing dog waste bins from their current locations.  There was no capacity to add new bins as it required additional resources to service them.

Councillor Gorton asked that, given that the number of dogs kept as household pets had increased there would be a greater demand for these bins.  In light of this, did the Portfolio Holder think that it was time to review the current Policy. 

Councillor Johnson advised that locations could be reviewed by Ward Councillors talking to Street Scene.

Question from Councillor Whieldon to the Leader of the Council:

“As the Leader of the Council is aware, concerns were expressed at the Walley's Quarry Liaison Committee in November 2022 about the Thistleberry Residents Association (TRA) and their continued membership of the Liaison Committee. At the subsequent meeting on 16 March 2023, Walleys Quarry Ltd said they had carried out due diligence, which they refused to share, and said they were satisfied with the TRA and its membership of the Liaison Committee.

Since being elected to the Council last May for the Thistleberry Ward, local Borough Councillors have tried to make contact with the TRA but without success. The TRA have stated they will not provide the names and contact details of the Executive, to us or anyone else, and the TRA will not provide information on meetings and or their contact with residents.

Does the Leader agree with me that there is no evidence the TRA actually represents the residents of Thistleberry and that the Thistleberry Residents Association is being run by somebody who does not live in Thistleberry?”

The Leader verified what Councillor Whieldon had said.  The TRA was being run by someone now living in Betley.  For the last six to eight years it had not been a functioning Residents Association as far as the Leader was aware and that needed to be addressed. 

Councillor Joan Whieldon asked, despite the due diligence conducted by RED Industries, the Council could not be confident that an Executive for the TRA existed or if any members lived in the Thistleberry Ward.  What action was the Leader taking to satisfy himself that the due diligence was carried out by RED in a satisfactory manner and complied with the Section 106 agreement.  In addition, could the Leader assure that if RED were not compliant with the Section 106 agreement, that action was or would be taken by the appropriate authorities.

The Leader stated that he had challenged them at the committee and had also spoken to the County Council regarding the requirement for community representation; and that the operator carry that out respectively and fully.  It was believed that this had been actioned and that Walleys Quarry Limited had been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

To receive from Members any petitions which they wish to present to the Council.

No petitions were received.

To consider any communications which pursuant to Appendix 7, Procedure Rule 8 of the constitution are, in the opinion of the Mayor, of an urgent nature and to pass thereon such resolutions as may be  deemed necessary.

There was no urgent business.

To resolve that the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following report(s) as it is likely that there will be disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs contained within Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There were no confidential items for consideration.