General Purposes Committee Meeting on Tuesday 19 May 2026
Town Clerk
Les Trigg
15 Station Road
STONE
ST15 8JP
Tel: 01785 619740
Email: clerk@stonetowncouncil.gov.uk
13 May 2026
Dear Councillor,
A meeting of the GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE will be held in the Council Chamber at 15 Station Road, Stone, on TUESDAY 19 MAY 2026 at 7:00pm, for consideration of the matters itemised in the following agenda.
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 Town
6. 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 7 April 2026, Minute Numbers GP26/137 – GP26/156 (attached).
8. Minutes of Sub-Committees
There are no Sub-Committee minutes.
9. Sub-Committee Terms of Reference
To consider, and update, if necessary, the terms of reference for the Council’s Sub-Committees, Steering Groups and Working Groups.
A copy of the draft Terms of Reference is attached to the electronic version of the agenda. They have been reviewed by the Town Clerk, who is not proposing any changes other than for the dates and inclusion of the new Heritage Centre Steering Group and Community Hub Liaison Group terms of reference that have been agreed by the General Purposes Committee during the 2025-26 civic year.
10. Dissolution of Estates Sub-Committee
To consider the dissolution of the Estates Sub-Committee and amendments to the Programme of Meetings (attached).
11. To appoint the Members, Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of the following Sub-Committees:
– Tourism & Town Promotion
– Environment
– Estates (subject to the outcome of item 10 above)
– Mayor’s Charity Sub-Committee
12. To appoint Members to the following Steering/Working Groups:
– Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group
– Stone Heritage Centre Steering Group
13. Appointment to Outside Bodies
To make appointments of Council representatives to the following bodies:
– Stone ATC (Mayor plus 1 member)
Currently Councillors: Town Mayor and J. Davies
– Age Concern Stone & District (2 members)
Currently Councillors: J. Davies and C. Thornicroft
– Stafford & Stone Access Group (1 member)
Currently Councillor T. Kelt
– Trustees of the Town Hall Charity (all members)
Currently all Councillors
– Stone Community Hub Liaison Group (3 members)
Currently J. Battrick, J. Powell and R. Townsend
– Stone Area Parish Liaison Group (1 member)
Currently J. Davies
NOTE: Current membership of the following bodies will continue until the stated dates, or until retirement by an individual member, even if the members cease to be members of the Council
– Stone Common Plot Trustees (5 Members for a four-year term)
Currently Councillor C. Thornicroft (term runs to May 2026) and Councillors:
A. Burgess, J. Hood, T. Kelt and R. Townsend (terms run to May 2027)
– Richard Vernon Trust (3 members for a four-year term)
Currently Councillors: J. Davies, P. Leason and J. Powell (all members’ terms run to May 2027)
– SPCA Executive Committee (1 member for a two-year term)
Councillor: T. Kelt (to December 2027)
– West Midlands Railway and other rail matters
Councillor T. Kelt
14. Town Council Payments
To receive a list of payments made by the Council during the period 1 March to 30 April 2026 (attached).
15. Update from Working Groups:
To receive updates from Working Group co-ordinators:
a) Stone Heritage Centre Steering Group (Chairman: R. Kenney)
16. 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: J. Metters 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. Powell and R. Townsend
SPCA Executive Committee – Cllr T. Kelt
West Midlands Railway and other rail matters – Cllr T. Kelt
17. 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.
18. Markets
To consider the report of the Town Clerk.
19. Information Technology
To consider the report of the Town Clerk.
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.