ALVELEY AND ROMSLEY PARISH COUNCIL

COUNCIL MEETING 24th June 2025

MINUTES OF MEETING

Present:  Councillor Isley Jakeman (Chair) and Councillors Christine Brown, Russ Dowson, Ian Braithwaite, Richard Narburgh, Stuart Price, Colin Taylor, James Cumiskey, Kelig Dampure and James Taylor (part).

In attendance: Steve Kerry Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer and Bill Smith 

2025/26.31	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

None.

2025/26.32	DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

None.

2025/26.33	MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

It was proposed by Councillor Dampure, seconded by Councillor Braithwaite and unanimously

	RESOLVED That the minutes of the meeting of 3rdJune 2025 be agreed as an accurate 	record and signed accordingly by the Chair.

2025/26.34	OPEN FORUM

Councillor Brown reported that a local man, Mr Don Bannister, had been awarded the British Empire Medal for volunteering at the Country Park since 1971, he is 87 years old. It was agreed the Chair would send a letter of congratulations.

2025/25.35	FINANCIAL MATTERS

The Clerk and RFO explained the process for accepting the annual accounts and agreeing the Annual Governance and Accounting Report (AGAR). He noted that the external auditors had not completed a report on last year's AGAR, although they had demanded payment of their full fee. They had subsequently suggested that the comments they made in emails during the process should be treated as if they were part of the report, even though they were suggestions and proposed comments rather than conclusions. This was deeply unsatisfactory. On this basis there had been a  discussion on the phone about managing risks, and the external auditor had been concerned that there hadn't been a single annual risk assessment report. The internal auditor had been satisfied that through the Play Area safety reports and subsequent actions, the maintenance of comprehensive insurance and the six yearly street lighting safety tests commissioned in the year, the Council had managed its risks adequately. Noting the external auditor's comments the Clerk/RFO suggested a “NO” entry in the appropriate box to avoid further disputes with them carrying over into this year's AGAR. The other “NO” related to the agreed late delivery of the accounts from last financial year.

It was proposed by Councillor Jakeman, seconded by Councillor Price and unanimously

	RESOLVED That the accounts for 2024/2025 be agreed.

It was proposed by Councillor Price, seconded by Councillor Dampure and unanimously

	RESOLVED That the Section One of the AGAR noting “NO” entries in boxes 4 and 7 	be agreed.

It was proposed by Councillor Jakeman, seconded by Councillor Brown and unanimously

	RESOLVED That Section Two of the AGAR be agreed.

The proposed publication of the notice of the right of public access to the accounts was also agreed without a vote.

The Clerk presented a summary of financial transactions, noting that this did not run to the end of the month as the meeting had been brought forward in order to comply with external audit deadlines. The report was noted. 

It was noted that Councillors Brown and Dowson has resolved all payments against invoices where these had been raised. In future payments made against direct debits would be added either showing a minute reference or copy of the notification of payment as appropriate.

Two members will check invoices against the next monthly report to be tabled at the September meeting, these will be Councillors Dampure and Dowson.

2025/25.36	TENNIS CLUB GRANT

Councillor Price declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item as a club member, he will not benefit financially from the matter but could be seen as pre-determined to support it.

It was proposed by Councillor Brown, seconded by Councillor Colin Taylor and unanimously

	RESOLVED That this item be accepted as a late item as it had been received after 	agenda despatch but needed to be resolved before the next meeting in September.

The application was for £2,000 out of a total equipment cost of £4,848. This also covers resurfacing a court. The Club are making progress with other applications for the balance and evidence of local support in the form of a parish council grant would be very helpful in supporting those applications. The courts will not be affected by the proposed redevelopment of the halls, so this is a good investment in future facilities.

It was proposed by Councillor Brown, seconded by Councillor Colin Taylor and by 7 votes to 0 with 2 abstentions. (Councillor Price abstained having declared a non-pecuniary interest.)

	RESOLVED That a grant be made of £2,000 to the Tennis Club.

2025/26.37	PARISH PATHS PARTNERSHIP P3

It was agreed to bring this matter up the agenda and the Chair, in welcoming Bill Smith, also thanked him for his patience.

Mr Smith explained briefly that a major piece of essential kit for keeping paths safe and accessible had failed and needed to be replaced. The group sought financial assistance with unexpected cost of replacing the brush cutter. 

It was proposed by Councillor Jakeman, seconded by Councillor Narburgh and unanimously

	RESOLVD That a grant of £125 be made to P3 for urgent equipment replacement.

Councillor James Taylor arrived at this point.

The Clerk gave an oral report on his correspondence with Mr Arnold regarding the proposed works to improve the path crossing on the Daddle Brook and that Mr Arnold had asked for a reasonable assurance regarding insurance of the works which he had verified with Hiscox he could give.

2025/26.38	PARTNERSHIP WORKING

It was noted that Shropshire Council are hoping parish councils will take on some jobs they are no longer able to afford, as they cut back towards statutory minium levels in most areas. Cutting overgrowth on footpaths would be an example of this. It was noted that this is an issue on the Cook's Cross footpath, the path leading from Bridge Road to the Pavilion and by the surgery. We would need to pay for this to ensure it is done regularly and to a specified level. There could be merit in working with Quatt on this with a single contract. We have also raised the issue of the Cook's Cross car park (Shropshire's responsibility) and the adjacent paved area in front of the shops which is in mixed ownership but not part of the pubic highway. We have agreed to work jointly with Shropshire in a solution to this. 

After some discussion it was suggested that we ask Steve Burton, Nick Potter and Sam Archer from Heckstones to quote for path work. 

There was a larger issue of mapping our requirements and our local volunteer capacity which Councillors Dowson and Brown would progress.  When it would be appropriate as part of this to take quotes from those mentioned above Councillor Dowson will advise the Clerk who will progress that. 

2025/25.39	PLANNING MATTERS

01424 High Meadow Batfield Lane No objections

01856	East of Meadowbank Close 8 dwellings. Noted that this is an extension from the earlier proposal for 6 dwellings. The site has caused considerable difficulty to neighbours and planning conditions regarding the size of lorries and plant have not been kept. There was considerable discussion of the issue of whether this constitutes over-development of a restricted site within the greenbelt or a useful addition to the housing available in the village.

It was proposed by Councillor Brown, seconded by Councillor Jakeman and by 4 vote to 3 with 3 abstentions

	RESOLVED That the Council object to this application on the grounds of poor site 	access, inappropriate use of the green belt and over-development.

2025/26.40	STREET LIGHTING

The Clerk confirmed that no final written report had been received but he had been advised orally that there were no urgent or major issues identified from the inspection of columns.

2025/26.41	COMMUNICATIONS AND INFOMRATION TECHNOLOGY

Councillors Brown and James Taylor reported on their progress so far. 

Councillor James Taylor confirmed that the costs reported follow a free trial of 8 days. The same licenses are required as previously stated at a cost of £1,382.40 plus VAT annually and a £150.00 set up fee.

It was proposed by Councillor Brown, seconded by Councillor Jakeman and unanimously

	RESOLVED To proceed to obtain the new licenses and set up as specified.

There was discussion of the Events and Communications Committee and the need to enlarge its membership given the wide scope of its activities. 

It was proposed by Councillor Brown, seconded by Councillor Jakeman and unanimously 

RESOLVED That Councillors Narburgh and Dowson be added to the Committee.

It was also confirmed that the first meeting of the Committee would be on Tuesday 8th July at 7.30 in the Pavilion and the agenda items would be -
	
	Election of Chair (and possibly Vice-Chair)
	IT and Comms Progress
	Event planning July to September
	Forward planning beyond September
	Communications strategy

2025/26.42	CHAIR'S ALLOWANCE

Councillor Jakeman declared a pecuniary interest in this item, vacated the Chair and left the meeting. Councillor Brown took the Chair.

It was proposed by Councillor Narburgh, seconded by Councillor Price and unanimously

	RESOLVED That the Chair's allowance be set at £550.00 annually for the remainder 	of the term of this Council.

Councillor Jakeman re-entered the room at the conclusion of this item and resumed the Chair.

2025/26.43	SHROPSHIRE COUNCILLOR'S REPORT

Councillor Colin Taylor reported that major financial problems remain. Some waste had been curtailed, notably paying Price Waterhouse Coopers £17,000 a day to advise on ways to save money. Potholes had been taken back in house for improved rates of repair and reduced costs. There is a big emphasis on partnership working with parishes as previously discussed. 

Councillor Taylor reported on the site visit with the Deputy Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation (the Cabinet Member's wife had been taken ill, hence the Deputy covered the meeting). This had looked at Cooks' Cross and the road down to the Country Park. 

Scrutiny Chairs have been appointed and, unlike the previous administration who reserved all jobs for their own members, these have been shared with opposition councillors to give more transparency. There is generally a much more positive attitude to communicating with and responding to local members from the new Cabinet than was evident in the previous administration. 
The Council has agreed to upgrade the Shrewsbury Park and Ride to every twelve minutes, and to consider Ludlow and Bridgenorth in the future.

2025/26.44	ROMSLEY MATTERS			

Councillor Narburgh reported that Shropshire Council have looked at persistent flooding by the Alpaca Farm, but did so in a drought and saw no issues. This was not impressive!  There is a huge pothole on Sham Lane which has been reported on “Fix My Street” for the last 18 months.

2025/26.45	UPDATES

The Clerk had circulated the simplified speeding data which was more comprehensible than the first report from the consultants. It was agreed that he should get quotes for some further work in the village.

There was discussion of speed controls in the area, notably Belbroughton Road in Blakedown with a series of narrowings on either side similar to the chicane n Daddlebrook Road. Councillor Price said he knew the area and would take a video of it. 

It was noted that there has been another serious accident on the A442, this time at Fenn Green near the Grange Old People's Home, with a motorcyclist injured. 

Regarding the circular on Chair's Training, Councillors Jakeman, Brown, Dowson and Narburgh expressed interest, but the date of 2nd December clashes with a council meeting. 

2025/26	DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Events and Communications Committee 8th July 7.30 pm

Council Tuesday 2nd September at 7.30 pm – Agenda to include road narrowing and speed control proposals.

Signed …............................................................

Date ….............................................................