To receive apologies for absence, and to consider the approval of any reasons given for absence under Section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972.

• – County Councillor J. Hood
• – County Councillor A. Mynors

To consider representations from members of the public on items to be considered at this meeting, in accordance with the Council’s scheme of public participation.

• a) To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 3 February 2026, Minute Numbers GP26/104 – GP26/118 (attached).

There are no sub-committee minutes.

To receive a verbal Police report and consider policing issues in Stone.

To undertake a review of the Council’s Standing Orders. By convention, consideration of the attached Standing Orders document will be deferred until the next meeting of this Committee. The document circulated has already been reviewed by the Clerk, who is not proposing any changes other than updating of the Procurement Act 2023 contract thresholds.

A copy of the Town Council’s Standing Orders is attached to the electronic version of this agenda.

To undertake a review of the Council’s Financial Regulations. By convention, consideration of the attached Financial Regulations document will be deferred until the next meeting of this Committee. The document circulated has already been reviewed by the Clerk, who is not proposing any changes other than updating of the Procurement Act 2023 contract thresholds.

A copy of the Town Council’s Financial Regulations is attached to the electronic version of this agenda.

To receive the report of the Town Clerk (attached).

To undertake a review of Councillor Code of Conduct. A copy of the document, updated for dates only, is attached to the agenda. The Code has been reviewed by the Town Clerk, who is not proposing any changes.

To consider the attached IT policy.

To receive the report of the Town Clerk (attached). An invitation to participate in a public consultation on the reorganisation of Local Government, from Stafford Borough Council, is also attached.

To receive a list of payments made by the Council during the period 1 to 31 January 2026 (attached).

To receive updates from Working Group co-ordinators:

• a) Stone Heritage Centre Steering Group (Chairman: R. Kenney)

To receive reports from Town Councillors on attendance at meetings as a representative of the Town Council:

• Stone Area Parish Liaison Group – Cllr J. Davies
• Stone ATC – Town Mayor & one Cllr – Cllrs: J. Metters and J. Davies
• Age Concern Stone & District – Cllrs: J. Davies and C. Thornicroft
• Stafford & Stone Access Group – Cllr T. Kelt
• Stone Common Plot Trustees – Cllrs: A. Burgess, J. Hood, T. Kelt, C. Thornicroft and R. Townsend
• Stone Community Hub Liaison Group – Cllrs: J. Battrick, J. Powell and R. Townsend
• SPCA Executive Committee – Cllr T. Kelt
• West Midlands Railway and other rail matters – Cllr T. Kelt

PRESENT: Councillor R. Kenney in the Chair, and Councillors: J. Battrick, A. Best, I. Fordham, J. Hood, T. Kelt, B. Kenney, P. Leason, C. Thornicroft and R. Townsend. Officers: L. Trigg, R. Edwards and T. Williams.

ABSENT: Councillors: A. Burgess, J. Davies, L. Davies, K. Dawson, J. Metters, A. Mottershead, J. Powell and N. Powell.

Apologies were received from Councillors: A. Burgess, J. Davies, L. Davies, K. Dawson, J. Metters, A. Mottershead, J. Powell and N. Powell. Where a reason for absence is given, this reason was approved for the purposes of Section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Town Clerk advised the Committee that as Councillor Townsend was a Council appointed representative to Stone Community Hub Liaison Group he did not need to declare an interest in agenda item 11d. Councillor R. Kenney and Councillor Hood advised the Committee that although they were members of St Michael’s Hall Committee they did not have any involvement in the finances and were not required to declare an interest in agenda item 11e. Councillor Hood declared a personal interest in item 11f. but stated that she was intending to seek a dispensation.

The Committee considered a request for a dispensation from Councillor Hood in relation to agenda item 11f. – Grants to Local Organisations. Councillor Hood had in advance of the meeting requested a dispensation to allow her to speak and vote in consideration of the grant application from Alleyne’s Academy, as she was a school governor.

RESOLVED: That Councillor Hood be granted a dispensation to speak and vote on agenda item 11f. (Minute Number GP26/114) – Grants to Local Organisations: Alleyne’s Academy.

County Councillor Jill Hood: Councillor Hood informed the Committee that Staffordshire County Council had invited residents to participate in a bus service improvement plan review. She expressed hope for positive outcomes for Stone and urged councillors to inform their contacts before the 6 February 2026 deadline.

County Councillor Andrew Mynors: Councillor Mynors was not in attendance.

Councillor Jill Hood: Reported on a homeless individual in Walton; help had been offered but declined.

Councillor Philip Leason: Advised on the implementation of a government-funded food waste service starting April 2026.

The Committee considered requests for grant aid from local organisations. The Town Clerk informed the Committee that £3,111 remained within the Grants budget.

• a. Stone Alzheimer’s Club: Awarded £300 for speaker and microphone system.
• b. Tilling Drive Allotments: Awarded £400 for water pipe replacement.
• c. Stone Lions Club: Awarded £500 for prostate screening.
• d. Stone Community Hub: Awarded £400 for health and wellbeing activities.
• e. St Michael’s Hall: Awarded £400 for redecoration.
• f. Alleyne’s Academy: Awarded £250 for gardening club materials.
• g. Futures2gether: Awarded £400 for gardening tools.
• h. Stone Community First Responders: Awarded £450 for a suction unit.

RESOLVED: To approve the Town Council’s meeting schedule for 2026-27 with the August meetings removed.

RESOLVED: To note the list of Town Council payments made during the period 1 November to 31 December 2025.

1.1 These standing orders govern the conduct of the business of the Council and may only be amended or varied by resolution of the Council.

1.2 Should there be a clash between the provisions of this document and those within other documents, the order of precedence shall be: National Legislation, The Council’s Standing Orders, and then all other documents.

2.1 Items on the agenda shall be considered in the order that they appear unless changed at the discretion of the chairman.

2.2 A motion (including an amendment) shall not be progressed unless it has been moved and seconded.

Purpose of Report: To undertake an annual review of the Council’s Risk Management Policy, Strategy and Risk Register.

Policy Introduction: Stone Town Council recognises that it has a responsibility to manage risks, both internal and external, and is therefore committed to the implementation of a risk management strategy to protect the Council from avoidable losses.

Background: In December 2024, the Government announced plans to reorganise local government across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. The plan aims to create fewer, larger unitary councils to take responsibility for all local services currently split between County and District levels.

Proposal Analysis: Five proposals have been submitted. Stone Town Council suggests that “Proposal 1” (creating a North and South Staffordshire unitary split) offers the best outcome for Stone by maintaining links with Stafford as an administrative center.

• 02/01/2026 – Prism Solutions: Leased line rental – £59.90
• 02/01/2026 – Valda Energy: HC Elec Usage – £178.34
• 05/01/2026 – Water Plus: Mount Road Water – £65.31
• 09/01/2026 – MEB Total Ltd: Annual Boiler Service SSTN – £192.50
• 09/01/2026 – ALCC: Subscription – £50.00
• 19/01/2026 – Valda Energy: FJC Elec Usage – £278.91
• 23/01/2026 – Evergreen Christmas Trees: Trees x 100 – £1,416.67
• 26/01/2026 – Prism Solutions: IT Managed Service Feb 26 – £1,358.50
• 31/01/2026 – Stafford Borough Council: Rates HC Jan 2026 – £379.00

TOTAL PAYMENTS FOR JANUARY: £10,774.02