General Purposes Agenda Tuesday 07 July 2026
Town Clerk
Les Trigg
15 Station Road
STONE
ST15 8JP
Tel: 01785 619740
Email: clerk@stonetowncouncil.gov.uk
29 June 2026
Dear Councillor,
A meeting of the GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE will be held in the Council Chamber at 15 Station Road, Stone, on TUESDAY 7 JULY 2026 at 7:05pm, or on the rising of the Council meeting, if later.
The agenda is set out below and I trust you will be able to attend.
Les Trigg
Town Clerk
AGENDA
1. Apologies for Absence
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.
2. Declarations of Interest
3. Requests for Dispensations Received
4. To receive a report from County Councillors representing Stone Town
– County Councillor J. Hood
– County Councillor A. Mynors
5. To receive a report from Borough Councillors representing Stone Town6. Representations from Members of the Public
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.
7. Minutes of Previous Meetings
a) To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 19 May 2026, Minute Numbers GP27/001 – GP27/019 (attached).
8. Minutes of Sub-Committees
a) Environment Sub-Committee held on 2 June 2026, Minute Numbers ENV27/001 – ENV27/009 (attached)
i. To consider the draft minutes
b) Town Mayor’s Charity Sub-Committee held on 2 June 2026, Minute Numbers MC27/001 – MC27/006 (attached)
i. To consider the draft minutes
9. Grants to Local Organisations
To consider the following requests for grants from local organisations which meet the criteria within the Council’s grants policy:
a. Organisation: 1st Oulton BP Scouts
Amount Requested: £500
Reason: To purchase tents and equipment for camping trips.
b. Organisation: Man Time
Amount Requested: £500
Reason: To expand Man Time’s outreach and early support activity in Stone.
c. Organisation: Stone Traders Group
Amount Requested: £500
Reason: To support a Halloween Family Day which will provide free activities for children and families.
To consider the following requests for grants from local organisations which do not meet the criteria within the Council’s grants policy:
NOTE: These applications do not meet the Council’s approved grants criteria, so will not be considered unless a motion is moved and seconded for each application individually that the criteria is waived, and the application approved:
d. Organisation: Stafford & District Bereavement & Loss Support
Amount Requested: £500
Reason: To purchases essential equipment and resources for the effective operation and development of the charity. This will include a new printer and consumables for the printing of information packs counselling resources, referral forms and other documentation that supports the service to clients.
i. Level of reserves
e. Organisation: Stone Scout & Guide Band
Amount Requested: £500
Reason: Refurbishment of drum line and purchase of new light weight smaller cymbals
i. Level of reserves
f. Organisation: 1st Yarnfield Scout Group
Amount Requested: £500
Reason: To purchase outdoor equipment for camping trips.
i. Not predominantly Stone based
g. Organisation: Stone Common Plot
Amount Requested: £500
Reason: To purchase tools to undertake project work on a pond.
i. Level of reserves
h. Organisation: Stone Choral Society
Amount Requested: £500
Reason: To support the costs of: hall hire for rehearsals, music score sheets, booklets and use of professionals (director and accompanist, musicians and singers)
i. Level of reserves
i. Organisation: U3A Stone & District
Amount Requested: £500
Reason: To support the costs of venue hire which have soared since charges were introduced for use of the community room at Stone Fire Station.
i. Level of reserves
10. Payment of Mileage Allowances
To consider the report of the Town Clerk (attached).
11. Stafford Borough Council Local Plan 2025-2045
To consider a Stafford Borough Council consultation on its new Local Plan 2025-2045.
The consultation seeks views on what to include in a spatial strategy for the area, key issues and the approach to consultation across Stafford Borough over the next 20 years through the following documents:
• Scoping the issues and Early Participation
• Communication and Engagement Strategy
• Sustainability Appraisal/Strategic Environment Assessment Scoping Report
Other information about the Local Plan is available from Stafford Borough Council’s website here: New Local Plan 2025 to 2045 | Stafford Borough Council.
Responses should be submitted via the consultation form at https://online1.snapsurveys.com/local-plan-2025-2045-scoping-consultation
or by sending an email to strategicplanningconsultations@staffordbc.gov.uk
The consultation documents detailed above are attached to the agenda along with a summary document, an email from Stafford Borough Council and the list of questions contained in the consultation form.
The Committee is asked to consider its response to the local plan consultation for submission to Stafford Borough Council.
12. Town Council Payments
To receive a list of payments made by the Council during the period 1 to 31 May 2026 (attached).
13. Update from Working Groups:
To receive updates from Working Group co-ordinators:
a) Stone Heritage Centre Steering Group (Chairman: R. Kenney)
14. 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: A. Best 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. Hood and R. Townsend
SPCA Executive Committee – Cllr T. Kelt
West Midlands Railway and other rail matters – Cllr T. Kelt
15. Exclusion of the Press and Public
To resolve, pursuant to the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960, that the Public and Press be excluded from the meeting whilst the next items of business are discussed on the grounds that publicity would be prejudicial to public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the debate.
16. Confidential Minutes
To confirm as a correct record the Confidential Minutes of the General Purposes Committee held on 19 May 2026, Minute Numbers GP27/001, GP27/018 and GP27/019 (attached).
Members of the public are welcome to attend the General Purposes Committee 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.