Town Clerk: Les Trigg

15 Station Road, STONE, ST15 8JP

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

28 October 2025

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 as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Town Council held on 7 October 2025, Minute Numbers C26/045 – C26/054 (attached).

• a) General Purposes Committee meeting held on 7 October 2025, Minute Numbers GP26/063 – GP26/078 (attached).
• b) Planning Consultative Committee meeting held on 7 October 2025, Minute Numbers PC26/025 – PC26/030 (attached).

At the meeting on 7th October 2025, the Town Clerk reported to the Council that the accounts for 2024-25 had been approved by the Auditor, except in one relatively minor area where the Auditor claimed that the Council had not fully complied with the regulations regarding the public inspection period. The Town Clerk also reported that he did not agree with the Auditor in this respect and had challenged the audit findings. The Auditor has responded to the Town Clerk and now agrees that the Council was in full compliance with the regulations. They have amended the completion letter to reflect this and have sincerely apologised for this being raised.

The revised audit completion letter has been posted on the Council’s website, and is attached to this agenda.

Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014
Information for Quarter ending 30 September 2025 (attached).

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

Officers: L. Trigg, R. Edwards and T. Williams

ABSENT: Councillors: A. Burgess and A. Mottershead

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

Apologies were received from Councillor: A. Mottershead

None made.

None received.

None

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Town Council held on 2 September 2025 (Minute Numbers C26/035 – C26/044), be approved as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

• a) The draft minutes of the General Purposes Committee meeting held on 2 September 2025 (Minute Numbers GP26/048 – GP26/062), were noted.
• b) The draft minutes of the Planning Consultative Committee meeting held on 2 September 2025 (Minute Numbers PC26/019 – PC26/024), were noted.

The Town Mayor invited allotment Judges, Mr David Moreton and Miss Hannah Rigden, to come forward to share their observations following their visits to the Town Council’s allotment sites on Monday 4 August 2025, to judge the allotment competition.

The Town Mayor accompanied by David, awarded prizes to the following allotment winners and congratulated each on their achievements:

Best Kept Allotment Winner at Newcastle Road – Mrs Hemsted Williams & Mr Williams
‘Clearly well loved, productive, quality mix of vegetables, fruit, herbs and pollinator friendly flowers. A very well maintained and tended plot with a greenhouse and a space to sit and enjoy it’.

Best Kept Allotment Winner at Mount Road – Miss D. Rushton
‘This plot stands out as free spirited and fun. It is well loved and maintained, a diverse mix of vegetables, fruit and flowers using recycled materials and being kind to nature. A happy place’.

Highly Commended at Newcastle Road – Mr & Mrs Hollinshead
‘A nicely kept large plot with lots of variety, a lovely cutting garden and sitting space. Rhubarb and lettuce to be proud of’.

Highly Commended at Mount Road – Mr & Mrs Simpson
‘This allotment was beautifully neat and well-tended with great quality vegetables, clearly a very productive plot’.

The Town Clerk advised the Council that a clean and positive audit had been received except in one minor respect related to the date of commencement of the Public Rights period. He stated that he had queried this with the External Auditor, as he believed that the Council was fully compliant with requirements.

RESOLVED: The Town Council noted the External Auditor’s Report and Certificate for the year ending 31 March 2025. The Town Council asked that its thanks to the Town Clerk and Deputy Town Clerk be recorded.

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.

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

Apologies were received from Councillor: A. Mottershead

Councillor Fordham informed the Committee that a large amount of Borough Council Officers’ and Members’ time had been spent on planning for the restructure of local government. He referenced the conclusion that a single southern unitary authority was the best option for residents of our area.

The Committee considered the report of the Town Clerk on the Reorganisation of Local Government. The Committee asked the Town Clerk to stress that Stone Town Council was a unique town council and not a parish council.

RESOLVED: That the Town Council approves Model A as the preferred option for dividing Staffordshire into unitary authorities (north/south split), with Stone included as part of the southern authority.

Application Number – 25/40959/OUT
Location – Land off Eccleshall Road, Stone
Development – Erection of 240 residential dwellings

Observations: The Town Council strongly objects to this planning application. Points of concern include:

• • Strain on existing infrastructure including roads, schools and healthcare.
• • Significant increase in traffic and congestion on Eccleshall Road.
• • Potential drainage issues and impact on the surrounding network.
• • Risk to Cannock Chase Special Area of Conservation.

From: Forvis Mazars LLP

We have completed our review for the year ended 31 March 2025. If there are any significant matters arising from the review, they are summarised in the External Auditor’s certificate in Section 3.

The Accounts and Audit (England) Regulations 2015 set out what you must do at the conclusion of the review, including publication on the authority’s website by 30 September.

• 03/07/2025 – Christmas Plus – Festive display hire 2025/26 – £7,650.00
• 04/07/2025 – MJ Plant – Grounds Maint June/Apr/May – £1,784.00 (per month)
• 10/07/2025 – The Secret Kitchen – Catering for Civic Sunday 2025 – £1,350.00
• 17/07/2025 – PPL PRS Music Rights – Music licensing 2025/26 – £1,654.54
• 13/08/2025 – Fool’s Paradise – Whale hire at Westbridge Park event – £1,955.00
• 20/08/2025 – Stafford Borough Council – Hanging baskets x 102 – £2,907.00
• 29/09/2025 – The Arch Rent Collectors – SSTN Rent – £1,550.00

Town Mayor

• Sunday 9 November 2025: Remembrance Sunday Commemoration in Stone
• Tuesday 11 November 2025: Armistice Day Service in Granville Square
• Thursday 20 November 2025: Christmas Lights Switch-On Event in Stone

Thursday 9th October – Admiral Sir Trevor Soar – Jervis, Lessons in Leadership

The Crown Wharf Theatre hosted a sellout event listening to a fascinating presentation about Admiral Jervis. It was fantastic to see so many people taking such an interest in Stone’s historical connection to Nelson and Jervis.

Saturday 18th October – Trafalgar Dinner

I was pleased to meet old friends and new at the Crown Wharf. The event raised money for the mayoral charities and showcased the new theatre and heritage centre.