Stone Town Council – Environment Sub-Committee

Minutes of the meeting held in the Council Chamber
at 15 Station Road, Stone, on Tuesday 17 March 2026

PRESENT:

Councillor T. Kelt in the Chair and
Councillors: J. Battrick, B. Kenney, R. Kenney, J. Metters, J. Powell and
C. Thornicroft

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

By Chairman’s Invitation: J. Hood and P. Leason

ABSENT: Councillors: A. Burgess, N. Powell and R. Townsend

In the absence of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman took the chair.

ENV26/035 Apologies

Councillors: N. Powell and R. Townsend

ENV26/036 Declarations of Interest

None made.

ENV26/037 Request for Dispensations

None received.

ENV26/038 Representations from Members of the Public

None received.

ENV26/039

Minutes of Previous Meeting

The minutes of the Environment Sub-Committee meeting held on 13 January 2026 (Minute Numbers ENV26/026 – ENV26/034), were approved as a correct record.

ENV26/040 Environmental Sub-Committee Works Update

The Chairman referred the Sub-Committee to the Grounds Maintenance Works Update, which had been enclosed with the agenda for the meeting.

The Chairman highlighted the following points:
• Allotments and removal of asbestos – The Town Council is unable to remove all of the asbestos presently due to the cost, although a professional survey has confirmed that it is safe to leave the asbestos insitu.
• Grounds maintenance (pruning and replanting on Walton Roundabout) – No update.
• Grounds maintenance (town borders, pruning and replanting) – Pruning work will take place before the end of March. Silver Birch pollarding will take place later in the season.
• Grounds maintenance (installation of lock gate on Walton Roundabout) – The Canal & River Trust have confirmed the delivery location although the lock gate has not yet been received.
• Environmental initiatives (improvements to alleviate flooding) – The Grounds Maintenance Contactor has confirmed that due to extensive rain, work has not started on the path across Crown Meadow. Work will commence when the ground has dried out.
• Mare’s Tail on Mount Road Allotments – The most affected plot has been let to a new tenant who will be managing the infestation.
• Boundary Fence at Mount Road allotments – It was confirmed that the Grounds Maintenance Contractor had started the replacement fencing work today.

ENV26/041
Crown Meadow

The Chairman advised the Sub-Committee that Councillor Townsend had prepared a document for this item, the content of which was shared.

The first meeting had been held with the Community Flood Officer for Severn Trent Water Authority whose role included reaching out to customers/authorities with the purpose of improving communications between organisations, responding to concerns and supporting projects. Council representatives attending the meeting included Councillor Townsend, the Town Clerk and Deputy Town Clerk.

The group discussed the increasing incidences of flooding on Crown Meadow, pollution incidents, pollution monitoring and Scotch Brook. They also talked about the Town Council’s long term plan for the maintenance and ecological improvement of Crown Meadow and the need to consider flooding and water quality.

The Community Flood Officer provided information on Severn Trent Water Authority’s Community Fund which might be open to the Town Council for a community project. The Officer offered to provide pollution data for the River Trent and to find out whether the Water Authority had any records of the old drainage system that is reportedly underneath Crown Meadow.

The criteria for the Community Fund will be assessed to see whether the funding opportunity is an option and will follow up on the data the Community Flood Officer will provide.

The Town Clerk confirmed that a meeting would be held tomorrow with a metal detectorist who will be investigating the Meadow.

ENV26/042

Reports of Working Groups

Environmental Working Group

The Chairman reported that Councillor Townsend had attended the last Staffordshire COP meeting, a productive environmental meeting attended by many suppliers and agencies. He had spoken with a number of representatives and was hopeful that partnership working would be a future possibility.

The Chairman, Councillor Kelt, advised the Sub-Committee that the Stafford Environmental Panel hadn’t met but a meeting had been arranged to take place on Monday 23 March 2026.

Chairman