Councillors: L. Davies, I. Fordham, J. Hood, R. Kenney and A. Mottershead

None made.

None received.

None received.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Estates Sub-Committee meeting held on the 18 November 2025 (Minute Numbers EST26/001 – EST26/010), be approved as a correct record.

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Town Clerk* which considered the level of budget that the Sub-Committee may wish to recommend to the General Purposes Committee at its meeting on 3 February 2026 for the services under its control.

The Sub-Committee reviewed the standstill budget, and the amounts included for each service. It also considered other costs and savings to be taken into account when setting the budget for 2026-27 and future years.

The Sub-Committee considered provision for refurbishment of the bus shelter in Christchurch Way (in front of Morrisons Supermarket) and the street furniture in the High street which needed a repaint.

The Town Clerk informed the Sub-Committee that there was a proposal a few years ago to refurbish the bus shelter but the Council decided not to proceed because it was anticipated the shelter would be subject to further vandalism. He said a recent requote had come back at £2,400 but on the basis of the Council’s previous decision, he hadn’t brought the item forward for consideration.

The Town Clerk confirmed there was currently money in the budget for the maintenance of street furniture although the Town Council was only responsible for one bench in the High Street, the seating around the base Joules Clock. The remaining benches are Stafford Borough Council assets.

The Sub-Committee discussed the process for installing a bus shelter on the Eccleshall Road (by Londis) as well as installing a replacement bench near Longhope Drive (towards Udall Grange), and a bench on the Lichfield Road (near the petrol station).

Although the Richard Vernon Trust may be approached for support with purchasing new benches, the Town Clerk said he believed the existing Estates budget was sufficient to handle small reasonable improvements to the Council’s benches.

The Town Clerk was asked whether the Building Maintenance Fund could be used to refurbish the bus shelter in Christchurch Way. He informed the Sub-Committee that this fund was usually reserved as a contingency against the need to undertake major building works, but that it could be used for this purpose if approved by the General Purposes Committee.

The Borough Councillors present said they would raise the poor condition of the street furniture in the High Street with the Borough Council.

RECOMMENDED: That the standstill budget set out in the Town Clerk’s report is accepted, after making the adjustments set out below:

• a. A one-off contingency provision of £500 should be made in the Frank Jordan Centre 2026-27 budget for improvements to parking arrangements.
• b. As a result of the above, the Sub-Committee’s budget would be changed as follows compared to the standstill budget:

£
2025-26: 0 (No change)
2026-27: 500 (Increase)
2027-28: 0 (No change)
2028-29: 0 (No change)

* Items marked with an asterisk refer to reports or papers circulated with the agenda or distributed at the meeting. They are attached as an appendix to the signed copy of the Council minutes.

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.

RESOLVED: To exclude the Press and Public from the next item of business.

The Town Clerk gave an update on Stone Station in respect of the extended use of the lease.

He advised the Sub-Committee that, following the meeting on Friday 21 November 2025 between representatives of the Council, Network Rail and Sir Gavin Williamson CBE MP, to discuss Stone Station and the lease, he had been contacted by a newly appointed officer of the landlord company and was waiting to take the discussions forward.