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.

None

None

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

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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 7 October 2025, Minute Numbers GP26/063 – GP26/078 (attached).

There are no minutes for consideration

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

To consider whether the Engagement with Young People Working Group should be disbanded.

To receive a list of payments made by the Council during the period 1 to 30 September 2025 (attached).

To receive updates from Working Group co-ordinators:

• a) Stone Heritage Centre Steering Group (Chairman: R. Kenney)
• b) Engagement with Young People Working Group (Co-ordinator: K. Dawson)

• 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

Apologies were received from Councillor: A. Mottershead. Where a reason for absence is given, this reason was approved for the purposes of Section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972.

None

There were none

The Chairman invited County Councillors to address the Committee:

County Councillor Jill Hood: Councillor Hood advised the Committee that she had no report on this occasion.

County Councillor Andrew Mynors: Councillor Mynors was not in attendance at the meeting.

The Chairman invited Borough Councillors to address the Committee.

Councillor Ian Fordham: Councillor Fordham informed the Committee that, since the Town Council’s meeting with the Stafford Borough Council Leader, Councillor Aiden Godfrey, a large amount of Borough Council Officers’ and Members’ time had been spent on planning for the restructure of local government.

He referenced the letter recently received from Group Leaders at Stafford Borough Council and drew the Committee’s attention to the conclusion that a single southern unitary authority was the best option for residents of our area. This option was considered more financially sustainable, better able to attract investment, better equipped to compete with the city led North Staffordshire and West Midlands Authorities and avoid fragmented services.

Councillor Fordham informed the Committee that the preferred option would be made to Central Government by the end of November with the Government’s response anticipated sometime during the spring of 2026.

None

RESOLVED:

• a) That the minutes of the General Purposes Committee meeting held on 2 September 2025 (Minute Numbers GP26/048 – GP26/062), be approved as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

• a) Tourism & Town Promotion Sub-Committee held on 16 September 2025 (Minute Numbers TTP26/010 – TTP26/016), that the draft minutes be noted.
• b) Environment Sub-Committee held on 16 September 2025 (Minute Numbers ENV26/010 – ENV26/017), that the draft minutes be noted.

The Committee considered the report of the Town Clerk on the Reorganisation of Local Government. The Town Clerk advised the Committee that the report analyses the four options discussed amongst the authorities in the County in relation to their impact on Stone Town and the Town Council and ranks them in order of what would be best for the area.

The Committee asked the Town Clerk to stress that Stone Town Council was a unique town council and not a parish council. The Town Council is described in the response as the largest in Stafford Borough and the second largest in Staffordshire by net revenue budget 2025-26.

RESOLVED: That the Town Council approves without amendment the Town Clerk’s draft submission to the principal authorities in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent detailing Model A (as defined in the report) as the preferred option. This would involve a north/south split of the County, with Stone included as part of the southern authority.

RESOLVED: That the Town Council authorises the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Committee, to enter into discussions with Stafford Borough Council with a view to protecting key assets into the future for the residents of Stone.

The Committee considered the report of the Town Clerk which had been circulated with the agenda for the meeting.

RESOLVED: That the Committee notes the approved adjustments to the Council’s budget set out at Appendix A and the Council’s performance against budget at the end of August 2025.

The Committee considered the report of the Town Clerk. The Town Clerk advised the Committee that the Heritage Centre was currently governed by a steering group set up to oversee its establishment but the Heritage Centre had now moved on to a new stage.

RESOLVED: That the Committee:

• • Disband the current Heritage Centre Steering Group.
• • Establish a new Heritage Centre Steering Group and appoint the following Councillor Members: Two ex-officio members (Chairman of General Purposes Committee and Chairman of Tourism & Town Promotion Sub-Committee), Councillor P. Leason, Councillor J. Davies and one other Councillor.
• • Adopt the terms of reference in the report appendix.

The Committee considered an invitation to nominate a representative to stand for election to Staffordshire Parish Councils’ Association’s Executive.

RESOLVED: To nominate Councillor Tom Kelt to stand for election for a second term. The Chairman called for a second delegate to attend the Annual General Meeting and Councillor Metters indicated a wish to attend.

The Committee agreed that Town Councillors would put forward their own individual comments to Staffordshire County Council via the Local Transport Plan survey.

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

Stone Heritage Centre Steering Group: The Chairman advised that a Steering Group meeting would be arranged in the near future.

Engagement with Young People: Consideration of disbandment of this working group will be listed for consideration at the next meeting.

Stone Area Parish Liaison Group: Councillor J. Davies advised a meeting took place on 24 September 2025. Issues surrounding the reorganisation of Local Government were discussed.

Stafford District Access Group: Councillor Kelt reported on a recent meeting. Main points were wheelchair access on highways and footpaths.

West Midlands Railway and other Rail Matters: Councillor Kelt advised that Sir Gavin Williamson MP has written to the Department for Transport regarding Stone Station’s platform access. West Midlands Trains and London Northwestern Railway will be taken back into public ownership in February 2026.