Council Meeting Minutes Tuesday 17 February 2026
Stone Town Council
Minutes of the Meeting held in the Council Chamber
at 15 Station Road, Stone, on Tuesday 17 February 2026
PRESENT: Councillor J. Metters in the Chair and
Councillors: A. Burgess, J. Davies, L. Davies, B. Kenney, P. Leason and C. Thornicroft
Officers: L. Trigg, R. Edwards and T. Williams
ABSENT: Councillors: J. Battrick, A. Best, K. Dawson, I. Fordham, J. Hood, T. Kelt, R. Kenney, A. Mottershead, J. Powell, N. Powell and R. Townsend
Prayers: Before the meeting began, Reverend Paul Kingman, led prayers.
C26/074 Apologies
Apologies were received from Councillors: A. Best, K. Dawson, I. Fordham, J. Hood, T. Kelt, R. Kenney, A. Mottershead, J. Powell, N. Powell and R. Townsend
C26/075 Declarations of Interest and Declarations under Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992
None made.
C26/076 Requests for Dispensations
None received.
C26/077 Representations from Members of the Public
None
C26/078 Minutes
RESOLVED:
a) That the minutes of the meeting of the Town Council held on 9 December 2025 (Minute Numbers C26/065 – C26/073), be approved as a correct record.
C26/079 Committee Minutes
RESOLVED:
a) The minutes of the General Purposes Committee meeting held on 9 December 2025 (Minute Numbers GP26/092 – GP26/103), were noted.
b) The Minutes of the Planning Consultative Committee meeting held on 9 December 2025 (Minute Numbers PC26/037 – PC26/042), were noted.
c) The draft Minutes of the Planning Consultative Committee meeting held on 13 January 2026 (Minute Numbers PC26/043 – PC26/048), were noted.
d) The draft Minutes of the General Purposes Committee meeting held on 3 February 2026 (Minute Numbers GP26/104 – GP26/118), were noted. The recommendations included in Minute GP26/113 were considered as part of agenda item 7 (Minute Number C26/080).
C26/080 To consider the Council’s Budget for 2026-27 to 2028-29 and to set the Precept and Council Tax for the Year
The Town Council considered the Town Clerk’s budget report*, which reflected the recommendations of the General Purposes Committee on 3 February 2026.
The Town Council considered a Proposal* on the ‘Revenue Budget 2026-27 to 2028-29’ including the budget, precept and Council Tax for 2026-27, indicative budgets for 2026-27 and 2028-29, and recommendation for the wording of the Council Tax leaflet.
RESOLVED:
In respect of the Town Council’s budget for 2026-27 to 2028-29:
1. The Budget recommended by the General Purposes Committee on 3rd February 2026, as included in the draft minutes at Council agenda item 6(d) and set out in the Clerk’s report to this meeting, is agreed.
2. The 2026-27 Council Tax for this Council’s purposes should be £66.99 for a Band D property, an increase for the year of £3.00, with indicative Council Tax levels of £70.27 and £73.71 for the following two years. This would result in a precept on Stafford Borough Council for 2026-27 of £431,362.01. Local Council Tax Support Grant of £29,184.05 would be added to this.
3. The wording for the 2026-27 Council Tax leaflet should be:
“Stone Town Council provides services for the people and town of Stone.
These services include the provision of community facilities, such as the Frank Jordan and Stone Station community centres, Stone Heritage Centre, allotment sites at Newcastle Road and Mount Road, and the Crown Meadow Nature Reserve and Amphitheatre.
The 2026-27 budget includes additional funding to provide support further improvements at Crown Meadow, the replacement of outdated Christmas Light decorations, additional support for the summer children’s event and improvements to the Frank Jordan Centre car park.
Investing in and working to promote a vibrant town and encourage visitors is a key Town Council priority. In order to support this, the Council organises regular events such as the Town Market and monthly Craft Market together with town centre events such as the Summer Street Party, the Classic Car event and the St Georges Day celebration. Christmas lights are provided in the High Street and at Walton, with the Council’s annual switch-on event being one of highlights of the town year. The High Street environment is enhanced by the Council’s provision of hanging baskets and bunting along the High Street, and noticeboards and fingerposts throughout the town.
The Stone Heritage Centre has seen an encouraging start, with well over 2,500 visitors to date. Exhibitions have included Remembrance Sunday,
VE Day, VJ Day and Railway 200, alongside a number of art exhibitions and a number of well attended talks.
The Council provides bus shelters, benches and dog bins throughout the area and takes responsibility for the upkeep of many local amenities and planted areas. It also provides grants and other support to help charitable and community organisations such as the Stone Community Hub, organises remembrance events, and Council staff supply regular support and advice to local residents.
By considering the impact of every planning application, the Council seeks to develop and conserve the town, and its approved Neighbourhood Plan helps the Council to shape and protect the future of Stone.
At its monthly meetings the Council welcomes questions from the public and sets aside time to listen and respond. Assistance with public questions will gladly be given by the Council’s staff.”
4. The Town Clerk is authorised to seek tenders/quotations, place orders and make payments in accordance with this budget, the Council’s policies, and Financial Regulations.
C26/081 Local Government Transparency Code 2015 Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014
The information for Quarter ending 31 December 2025 was noted.
C26/082 Civic Announcements
The Civic Announcements, which had previously been circulated, were noted.
C26/083 To receive the Town Mayor’s and Deputy Town Mayor’s Reports of Engagements
The Deputy Town Mayor’s reports of engagements, which had previously been circulated, were noted.
The Town Mayor’s report will be issued with the agenda for the next Council meeting.
TOWN MAYOR