MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF BOBBINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

held on Wednesday 16^th July 2025 at 7.30pm at Salters Hall Farm

Present: Cllr L. Jones (Chair), Cllr M. Snelson (Vice-Chair), Cllr A. Perry. Cllr A. Burton, Cllr M. Slater, Cllr S. Hadgett.

Guests in Attendance: 0

Public in Attendance: 8

Minute Taker & Clerk: Kate Pritchard, clerk@bobbington.staffslc.gov.uk

25/026. Chair’s Welcome: The Chair’s welcome was DELIVERED.

25/027. Apologies: The Clerk received apologies for Cllr J. Stanton, and Cllr V. Wilson.

25/028. Public Participation:

Resident raised the issue of increased traffic and speeding within Bobbington, along the Six Ashes Road and concerns regarding public safety. Cllr A. Burton discussed the community speed watch programme. Volunteers have decreased from seven to three people. Looking for volunteers to join up and train. Staffordshire Police deliver the speed watch training.

Resident raised the issue of speeding and anti-social behaviour along Watery Lane in evening and during the day. ACTION: Clerk to contact Staffordshire Police.

Resident raised the issue of speeding statistics from the community speed watch. Can the data aid support for future speeding measures. Requesting a more permanent solution. ACTION: Clerk to contact Staffordshire Police to find out who owns the SIDS in Bobbington, and which authority is downloading the data. Clerk to explore the cost of preventative measures and to contact neighbouring Parish Council to find out information on SID installation. Clerk to find out the authority which covers traffic volume and the average speed in an area.

Resident raised the issue of lack of road safety signage in the village. ACTION: Clerk to post the report it tool on Parish Council face book page.

A resident raised the issue of overgrown hedges. A Councillor advised the resident that the Parish Council has no power or authority on how landowners look after their private land.

A resident raised the issue of anti-social behaviour on Highgate Common in Enville. ACTION: Clerk to contact Enville clerk.

Public Participation finished at 20: 23pm.

25/029. Declarations of Interest and Dispensations: None.

25/030. Minutes: It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday 21st May 2025, having been circulated, be confirmed, and signed as a correct record.

25/031. Reports from County and District Councillors (for information only) if present: None.

25/032. Reports from Chairman and Councillors: (for information only): None.

25/033. Clerk Report: The Clerk report was noted.

25/034. Reports from Committee Representatives:

Corbett School: Cllr M. Snelson provided an update.

Bobbington Village Hall: The committee of the village hall has had three people express interest in joining us, which is heartening. We are holding our AGM on Wednesday 17th September at 6pm which will be advertised around the village, in the hope of attracting more people to support us. Also, we are gathering quotes for the maintenance projects needed, in order to claim for grants. So, things are moving slowly in the right direction. Thank you to the Parish Council for their support and helping us to inform the parish of the difficulties experienced by the village hall committee.

Holy Cross Church: Songs of praise held on 13th July at 3.30. Some of the children from Corbett school visited church on 8th July. Harvest festival planned for 28th September with Harvest supper with produce auction and raffle at Blakelands on Monday 29th September. More details to follow Pet service in planning stages for October. Remembrance Sunday service in November. Karl continues to keep churchyard in good order. Tree surgeons to look at large lime tree in church yard due to concerns over state of some of the branches.

Community speed watch: Cllr A. Burton provided an update.

• Total roadside monitoring sessions: 49
• Total hours of monitoring: 47
• Total number of vehicles caught over the threshold: 626
• Total number of warning letters issued: 438
• Total number of home visits tasked (3^rd offence in a rolling 12 month period): 1
• Highest recorded speed in a 30mph: 70mph
• Highest recorded speed in a 40mph: 63mph
• Drivers caught on a mobile phone: 4

Health and wellbeing:  Clrr S. Hadgett to request the everyone health to bring back the van to the village.

Crime report: Statistics:

Burglary (residential): None

Burglary (Business): Between 1900hrs 17/06/2025 – 1000hrs 18/06/2025, offenders have accessed a shipping container used for storage at a business on Tom Lane. An air rifle was stolen from within.

Vehicle Crime: None recorded in the Bobbington area however just for awareness, 2 x vehicles have been stolen from Highgate Common within the time period of this report.

05/07/2025 between 2100hrs-2200hrs a Nissan estate vehicle in white was stolen from a car park close to Whitehouse Lane.

06/07/2025 between 0800hrs-0900hrs a Vauxhall Combo van in white was stolen from a car park close to CAMP HILL ROAD

Anti-social behaviour: None

25/035. Highway Matters:

The Parish Council wish to thank Staffordshire County Council for repair work carried out and to County Councillor Wilson for attending meeting and following up with issues. ACTION: Clerk to follow up with actions discussed on the highway log.

25/036. Speeding: The Council RESOLVED to move this item to after public participation due to the subject being discussed by residents who attended.

25/037. Phone Box: The Council RESOLVED to adopt the phone booth. Cllr A. Perry proposed. Cllr M. Snelson seconded. Motion was CARRIED. ACTION: A. Perry to send details to Clerk, and Clerk to arrange the adoption of the asset.

25/038. Parish Summit May 2025: Cllr S. Hadgett provided an update on Local Government Reorganisation. South Staffordshire District Council is carrying out a Community Governance Review which will see a review of all the parish boundaries, parish council size and shapes. The review gives SSDC the ability to change Town or Parish Councils. ACTION: Clerk to send link on Community Governance Review & add agenda item to the September meeting.

25/039. Friends of Bobbington: Next meeting Saturday 26^th July. Phone box tidy. To meet at Halfpenny Green 10:30am. ACTION: Clerk to send text to friends of Bobbington group.

25/040. Airfield matters: Cllr A. Perry provided an update. ACTION: Clerk to advertise the complaint contact details on website for any airport issues. Clerk to contact District Councillor Reade for update on airport land bund.

25/041. Civic Award 2024/25: The Council RESOLVED to approve the winner. Cllr L. Jones proposed. Cllr A. Perry seconded. The motion was CARRIED. ACTION: Clerk to invite the winner to the November meeting.

25/042. Appoint Internal Auditor: The Council RESOLVED to appoint Kim Squires Internal Audit Service for 2025/26. Cllr A. Burton proposed. Cllr L. Jones seconded. The motion was CARRIED. ACTION: Clerk to inform the auditor and book the interim internal audit for October 2025.

25/043. Finance Matters:

1. The Council RESOLVED to approve the payment schedule for May, June and July. Cllr S. Hadgett proposed. Cllr M. Snelson seconded. The motion was CARRIED.

2025. The Council RESOLVED to approve the July Financial Report 2025. ACTION: Clerk to create a forecast for September meeting.
2026. The Council RESOLVED to approve the bank statements to 30^th June 2025.

25/044. Planning:

1. To consider new application/s:

To report decisions on previous applications:

 25/045: Policies:

1. The Council RESOLVED to defer the item until the next meeting to allow all Councillors time to review The Code of Conduct Policy.
2. The Council RESOLVED to defer the item until the next meeting to allow all Councillors time to review the new Financial Regulations.
3. The council RESOLVED to approve the Complaints Procedure Policy.
4. The Council RESOLVED to defer the item until the next meeting to allow all Councillors time to review the Standing Orders.

25/046. Items for future meetings: Tom Butler Cup. Reflectors on donkey field – highways. Community Governance Review. Gov.uk email and domain. Items were NOTED.

25/047. Date of future Parish Council meeting: Dates were NOTED.

Wednesday 17^th September 2025, 7:30pm, Bobbington Village Hall

Wednesday 26^th November 2025, 7:30pm, Half Penny Green Wine Estate

Wednesday 21^st January 2026, 7:30pm, Bobbington Village Hall

Wednesday 18^th March 2026, 7:30pm, Bobbington Village Hall

The meeting closed at 21:29

                        …………………………………..…………… Signed             ……………………………………… Date