Town Clerk: Les Trigg

15 Station Road, STONE, ST15 8JP

Tel: 01785 619740 | Email: clerk@stonetowncouncil.gov.uk

9 February 2026

Dear Councillor,

A meeting of the TOWN COUNCIL will be held in the Council Chamber at 15 Station Road, Stone, on TUESDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2026 at 7:00pm for consideration of the matters itemised in the following agenda.

Les Trigg, Town Clerk

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.

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting of the Town Council held on 9 December 2025, Minute Numbers C26/065 – C26/073 (attached).

• a) General Purposes Committee meeting held on 9 December 2025, Minute Numbers GP26/092 – GP26/103 (attached).
• b) Planning Consultative Committee meeting held on 9 December 2025, Minute Numbers PC26/037 – PC26/042 (attached).
• c) Planning Consultative Committee meeting held on 13 January 2026, Minute Numbers PC26/043 – PC26/048 (attached).
• d) General Purposes Committee meeting held on 3 February 2026, Minute Numbers GP26/104 – GP26/118 (attached). The recommendations included in Minute GP26/113 will be considered as part of agenda item 7 below.

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

Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014. Information for Quarter ending 31 December 2025 (attached).

Members of the public are welcome to attend the Town Council meeting as observers and/or to make representations to the committee in accordance with the Council’s scheme of public participation. Details of the scheme are displayed in the Council’s notice boards and website. Please access the Council Chamber from the rear of the building.

Minutes of the Meeting held in the Council Chamber at 15 Station Road, Stone, on Tuesday 9 December 2025

PRESENT: Councillor J. Metters in the Chair and Councillors: J. Battrick, J. Davies, L. Davies, I. Fordham (from Minute Number C26/071) J. Hood, T. Kelt, R. Kenney, P. Leason, J. Powell, N. Powell, C. Thornicroft and R. Townsend

OFFICERS: L. Trigg (attended virtually via Teams), R. Edwards and T. Williams

ABSENT: Councillors: A. Best, A. Burgess, K. Dawson, I. Fordham (to Minute Number C26/070), B. Kenney and A. Mottershead

Prayers: Before the meeting began, Reverend Paul Kingman led prayers.

Apologies were received from Councillors: A. Best, A. Burgess, K. Dawson, I. Fordham (to Minute Number C26/070), B. Kenney and A. Mottershead

None made.

None received.

None

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Town Council held on 4 November 2025 (Minute Numbers C26/055 – C26/064), be approved as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

• a) The draft minutes of the General Purposes Committee meeting held on 4 November 2025 (Minute Numbers GP26/079 – GP26/091), were noted.
• b) The draft minutes of the Planning Consultative Committee meeting held on 4 November 2025 (Minute Numbers PC26/031 – PC26/036), were noted.

The Town Council received gifts from Carthage, USA, in recognition of the friendship between our towns. The Town Mayor informed Town Councillors that during Christmas 1993 John Howland from Carthage in Texas returned to Stone on the 50th anniversary of the time he had spent in the town as a member of the US Army Air Force.

Earlier this year, Cary Bailey was planning a visit to an air show in the USA and made an offer to Councillor Jim Davies to take a gift to Carthage from the Council. The Town Mayor presented the gifts received from Carthage (consisting of a framed flag that had been flown over the city of Carthage, Texas, and a book entitled: Loblolly Salutes – ‘Their Finest Hour’).

The Civic Announcements, which had previously been circulated, were noted.

The Town Mayor’s and Deputy Town Mayor’s reports of engagements, which had previously been circulated, were noted. The Mayor provided the Town Council with additional verbal reports on the details of his engagements.

PRESENT: Councillor R. Kenney in the Chair, and Councillors: J. Battrick, J. Davies, L. Davies, I. Fordham, J. Hood, T. Kelt, P. Leason, J. Metters, J. Powell, N. Powell, R. Townsend and C. Thornicroft

ABSENT: Councillors: A. Best, A. Burgess, K. Dawson, B. Kenney and A. Mottershead

Apologies were received from Councillors: A. Best, A. Burgess, K. Dawson, B. Kenney and A. Mottershead.

County Councillor Jill Hood informed the Committee that County Councillor Ian Cooper had resigned his leadership of Staffordshire County Council but would be continuing as an Independent County Councillor for Tamworth.

Councillor Philip Leason reported on fitness membership at Stone Leisure Centre which had increased. He also reported that the Borough Council was introducing a food waste collection service commencing from April 2026.

Councillor Ian Fordham advised that recommendations for the reorganisation of local government had been submitted to central Government.

Councillor Jill Hood reported that there were currently no homeless people in Stone as the Borough Council had found permanent homes for them all.

The Committee considered the report of the Town Clerk commencing the process for examining the budget and precept level for the financial year 2026-27. The figures were based on a standstill position.

RESOLVED: That the Committee notes the standstill budget position and authorizes the reallocation of the inflation contingency.

Application Number – 25/41229/OUT (Land off Eccleshall Road, Stone). Development comprising up to 510 residential dwellings, specialist housing for older people and first school.

Observations: The Town Council strongly objects to this planning application and supports the points of concern raised by local people. Key objections include:

• • Strain on existing infrastructure including roads, utilities, schools and healthcare.
• • Significantly higher volumes of traffic and poor air quality.
• • Potential for flooding and pollution related to sewer outflows.
• • Overdevelopment of the western side of Stone.
• • Lack of evidence for disabled access and pedestrian connectivity.

Application Number – 25/41359/FUL (Former Maltings, 2 Crown Street, Stone). Urgent structural works to dangerous structure.

Observations: The Town Council welcomes this development proposal and urges the applicant to proceed as quickly as possible to allow the reopening of Adies Alley.

RESOLVED: That the following recommendations be made to the Council regarding the precept:

• 1. Adoption of the Standstill Budget with amendments for Estates (£500 for parking), Environment (£1,100 for fencing; £2,000 for Crown Meadow), and Tourism (£3,000 for Christmas lights; £1,000 for children’s events).
• 2. The precept on Stafford Borough Council for 2026-27 would be £431,362.01. This would result in a Band D property tax of £66.99, an increase of £3.00 for the year.

The Committee resolved to award the following grants:

• • Stone Alzheimer’s Club: £300
• • Tilling Drive Allotments: £400
• • Stone Lions Club: £500
• • Stone Community Hub: £400
• • St Michael’s Hall: £400
• • Alleyne’s Academy: £250
• • Futures2gether: £400
• • Stone Community First Responders: £450

1. Introduction: This report considers the setting of the Town Council’s Budget for 2026-27, with indicative figures for the following two years.

8. Robustness of Budget: Excluding earmarked reserves, the recommended budget projects a reserve of £262,231 as at 31st March 2026. This represents approximately 5.8 months of net expenditure by March 2027.

13. Conclusion: The General Purposes Committee’s recommended use of reserves represents a financially responsible approach. The proposed level of reserves should be adequate to ensure the Council’s plans can be sustained.

Town Mayor: Saturday 21 February – Stone Community First Responders Trade Fair in Stone High Street.

Deputy Town Mayor:

• • Sunday 18 December 2025 – Alzheimer’s Club Christmas Party.
• • Sunday 21 December 2025 – Christchurch Christmas Carol Service.