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. (Minute Number GP26/114) – Grants to Local Organisations, and was able to speak and vote at the meeting.

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. (Minute Number GP26/114) – Grants to Local Organisations.

Councillor Hood declared a personal interest in item 11f. – Grants to Local Organisations, but stated that she was intending to seek a dispensation under the next agenda item.

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.

The Chairman invited County Councillors to address the Committee.

County Councillor Jill Hood

Councillor Hood informed the Committee that Staffordshire County Council had invited County Councillors to put out a call to residents about a service improvement plan that was underway jointly with Staffordshire Enhanced Partnership. The plan included a review of the County’s bus services for the purpose of identifying how well they were operating, whether they were meeting the needs of communities and whether there were gaps in service that needed to be addressed.

Councillor Hood asked that Town Councillors inform their contacts (stressing the imminent close date of Friday 6 February 2026) and expressed her hope that something positive would come out of the review for Stone and the surrounding areas.

County Councillor Andrew Mynors

Councillor Mynors was not in attendance at the meeting.

The Chairman invited Borough Councillors to address the Committee.

Councillor Jill Hood

Councillor Hood advised the Committee that the Borough Council’s Housing Options Team was aware that a homeless person was sleeping in the bus shelter in Walton. Housing Officers had done everything in their power to persuade the person to accept accommodation but the offer of help had been declined.

Councillor Philip Leason

Councillor Leason advised the Committee that the Borough Council was implementing a food waste service from April 2026 but a lot of negative comments had been received, particularly in respect of costs. He said the Borough Council was implementing a government funded strategy and not a local initiative. Borough Councillors were in support of the new service.

None received.

RESOLVED:

• a) That the minutes of the General Purposes Committee meeting held on 9 December 2025 (Minute Numbers GP26/092 – GP26/103), be approved as a correct record.

• a) Tourism & Town Promotion Sub-Committee held on 13 January 2026 (Minute Numbers TTP26/024 – TTP26/033), that the draft minutes be noted, and the recommendations of the Sub-Committee contained in Minute Number TTP26/030 be adopted.
• The recommendations of the Sub-Committee contained in Minute Number TTP26/032 was considered as part of Minute Number GP26/101 (agenda item 10).
• b) Environment Sub-Committee held on 13 January 2026 (Minute Numbers ENV26/026 – ENV26/034), that the draft minutes be noted.
• The recommendations of the Sub-Committee contained in Minute Number ENV26/031 and ENV26/032 had been fed into the budget discussion which formed part of Minute Number ENV26/033.
• The recommendations of the Sub-Committee contained in Minute Number ENV26/033 was considered as part of Minute Number GP26/101 (agenda item 10).
• c) Estates Sub-Committee held on 13 January 2026 (Minute Numbers EST26/011 – EST26/018), that the draft minutes be noted.
• The recommendation of the Sub-Committee contained in Minute Number EST26/016 was considered as part of Minute Number GP26/101 (agenda item 10).

The Committee received the report of the Town Clerk* examining the 2026-27 to 2028-29 budget requirements for the specific services managed directly by the General Purposes Committee, including those which had previously been the responsibility of the former Management Sub-Committee.

RESOLVED: That the Committee recommends for consideration later in the meeting alongside the proposals from Sub-Committees, the adoption of the standstill Committee budget for 2026-27, 2027-28 and 2028-29, as detailed in the Clerk’s report, with the following adjustments:

• a. An increased inflation provision of £208 in 2026-27, £248 in 2027-28 and £364 in 2028-29 for the Council as a whole as a result of budget changes put forward by Sub-Committees. (NOTE: These figures will need to be recalculated if any of the budget proposals are changed when the overall budget for recommendation to the Council is considered later in the meeting).

The Committee considered the report of the Town Clerk* alongside the budget proposals from Sub-Committees and from this Committee.

RESOLVED: In respect of the Town Council’s budget for 2026-27 to 2028-29, it is proposed that the following recommendations be made to the Council:

• 1. The Standstill Budget included in the Clerk’s report to this meeting be recommended to the Council for adoption with the following amendments:
• a. Estates:
  • i. A one-off contingency provision of £500 should be made in the Frank Jordan Centre 2026-27 budget for improvements to parking arrangements.
• b. Environment:
  • i. A provision of £1,100 should be made in the current year’s budget for the repair/replacement of the boundary fence at Mount Road Allotments.
  • ii. A provision of £2,000 in 2026-27 and £3,000 per annum in subsequent years should be added to the Environmental Initiatives budget to provide funding for the proposed Crown Meadow Management Plan.
• c. Tourism and Town Promotion:
  • i. A one-off provision of £3,000 should be made in 2026-27 for the replacement of outdated Christmas lighting display features.
  • ii. An ongoing increase of £1,000 per annum should be made to the Tourism and Town Promotion budget to provide additional funding for a summer holiday children’s event.
• d. General Purposes:
  • i. An increased inflation provision of £208 in 2026-27, £248 in 2027-28 and £364 in 2028-29 for the Council as a whole as a result of budget changes put forward by Sub-Committees.
• 2. As a consequence of the above, the precept on Stafford Borough Council for 2026-27 would be £431,362.01, with Local Council Tax Support Grant of £29,184.05 to be added. This would result in a 2026-27 Council Tax for this Council’s purposes of £66.99 for a Band D property, an increase for the year of £3.00.

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

• a. Organisation: Stone Alzheimer’s Club
  Amount Requested: £350
  Reason: To purchase a speaker and microphone system to aid communication.
  RESOLVED: To award a grant of £300.
• b. Organisation: Tilling Drive Allotments
  Amount Requested: £500
  Reason: To support the replacement of a self-laid water pipe system.
  RESOLVED: To award a grant of £400.
• c. Organisation: Stone Lions Club
  Amount Requested: £500
  Reason: Prostate screening.
  RESOLVED: To award a grant of £500.
• d. Organisation: Stone Community Hub
  Amount Requested: £500
  Reason: To start a series of activities in 2026 to promote health and wellbeing.
  RESOLVED: To award a grant of £400.
• e. Organisation: St Michael’s Hall
  Amount Requested: £500
  Reason: To support redecoration of the hall.
  RESOLVED: To award a grant of £400.
• f. Organisation: Alleyne’s Academy
  Amount Requested: £250
  Reason: To purchase materials to start a gardening club.
  RESOLVED: To award a grant of £250.
• g. Organisation: Futures2gether
  Amount Requested: £500
  Reason: To purchase gardening tools to maintain a community garden.
  RESOLVED: To award a grant of £400.
• h. Organisation: Stone Community First Responders
  Amount Requested: £500
  Reason: To purchase a Laerdal Suction unit (LSU).
  RESOLVED: To award a grant of £450.

The Committee considered a proposed meeting and civic events schedule* for the period May 2026 to April 2027.

RESOLVED: To approve the Town Council’s meeting schedule for 2026-27 with the August meetings removed. Any further necessary amendments would be determined by the Town Clerk in consultation with the appropriate Chairman.

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

The Chairman advised the Sub-Committee that the first meeting of the new Stone Heritage Centre Steering Group had taken place. Over the next year or so this will include themed events such as ‘250 years of the Trent & Mersey Canal’ and the development of the ‘Story of Stone’.

Stone Area Parish Liaison Group
The Chairman reported on behalf of Councillor J. Davies that a meeting will be called as soon as the Government’s decision regarding reorganisation in Staffordshire is published.

Stone ATC
The Chairman reported on behalf of Councillor J. Davies that a meeting of the Stone ATC Civilian Welfare Committee was held on Tuesday 13 January 2026. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 24 February 2026.

Age Concern Stone & District
Councillor Thornicroft advised the Committee that the next meeting was scheduled to take place on Friday 6 February 2026.

Stafford & District Access Group
Councillor Kelt advised the Committee that no meeting had been held.

Stone Common Plot Trustees
Councillor Townsend advised the Committee that the newly formed Funding Sub-Committee had met for a second time and was formulating proposals to access new streams of funding.

Stone Community Hub Liaison Group
Councillor Battrick informed the Committee that he and Councillor Townsend had attended a meeting on 3 February 2026. The group discussed the Frank Jordan Centre car park and flooring. It was agreed that the role of the Liaison Group needed to be clarified.

SPCA Executive Committee
Councillor Kelt informed the Committee that the main topic of discussion was council elections and the likelihood of them taking place over the next two years.

West Midlands Railway and other Rail Matters
Councillor Kelt advised the Committee that train operating companies had now reverted to public ownership.