General Purposes Minutes Tuesday 01 September 2026
Stone Town Council – General Purposes Committee
Minutes of the meeting held in the Council Chamber at
15 Station Road, Stone, on Tuesday 1 September 2026
PRESENT: Councillor R. Kenney in the Chair, and
Councillors: A. Best, J. Davies, K. Dawson, J. Hood, I. Fordham, T. Kelt, P. Leason,
J. Metters, and C. Thornicroft
Officers: L. Trigg, R. Edwards, L Fleetwood, H. Pickford and T. Williams
ABSENT: Councillors: J. Battrick, A. Burgess, L. Davies, B. Kenney,
A. Mottershead, A. Mynors, J. Powell, N. Powell and R. Townsend
GP27/038 Apologies
Apologies were received from Councillors: J. Battrick, L. Davies, B. Kenney,
J. Powell, N. Powell and R. Townsend
Where a reason for absence is given, this reason was approved for the purposes of Section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972.
GP27/039 Declarations of Interest and Declarations
None made.
GP27/040 Requests for Dispensations
None received.
GP27/041 The Reports of the County Councillors Representing Stone Town
The Chairman invited County Councillors to address the Committee:
County Councillor J Hood
Councillor Hood informed the Committee that there is a growing issue with the use of electric scooters in the town and expressed concern regarding the potential risk to pedestrian safety.
County Councillor A. Mynors
Councillor Mynors was not in attendance at the meeting.
GP27/042 The Reports of Borough Councillors representing Stone Town
Councillor Leason advised the Committee that he had attended a briefing on Planning for the New Local Rules.
Councillor Hood advised the Committee that the consultation period had closed in relation to the Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs).
GP27/043
Representations from Members of the Public
None.
GP27/044 Minutes
RESOLVED:
a) That the minutes of the General Purposes Committee meeting held on 7 July 2026 (Minute Numbers GP27/020 – GP27/037), be approved as a correct record.
GP27/045 Minutes of Sub-Committees
RESOLVED:
a) To note the minutes of the Environment Sub-Committee meeting held on 2 June 2026, Minute Numbers ENV27/001 – ENV27/009.
b) To note the minutes of the Town Mayor’s Chairty Sub-Committee meeting held on 2 June 2026, Minute Numbers MC27/001 – MC27/006.
GP27/046
Grants to Local Organisations
The Committee considered an exceptional request for Grant Aid from the following organisation, which met the criteria within the Council’s Grants Policy:
a) Organisation: Stone Town Football Club
Amount Requested: £500
Reason: To purchase a replacement football pitch mower
RESOLVED: To award a grant of £500 to Stone Town Football Club
GP27/047
Data (Use and Access) Act 2025
The Committee considered a revised Complaints Procedure (which had been enclosed with the agenda for the meeting). The revisions reflected new legislation and introduced a 30-day deadline for acknowledging complaints.
RESOLVED:
a) To approve the revised Complaints Procedure.
GP27/048 Call for Evidence: Shaping the Future of Local Government in Staffordshire
The Chairman asked the Committee how it would like to proceed with preparing a response to the document received from Staffordshire Parish Council Association (SPCA).
RESOLVED:
That a draft proposal be drawn up by the Chairman and the Town Clerk and then circulated to Committee members for approval.
GP27/049 Town Council Payments
RESOLVED:
To note the list of Town Council payments* made during the period 1 to 31 May 2026.
GP27/050 Update from Working Groups
Updates were received from the Councils Working Group Co-Ordinators as follows:
a. Stone Heritage Centre Steering Group
The group had not met but a meeting is planned in the near future.
GP27/051 To receive reports from Town Councillors on attendance at meetings of local organisations and outside bodies as a representative of the Town Council
Stone Area Parish Liaison Group
Councillor J. Davies had sent his apologies so was not able to report.
Stone ATC
Town Mayor & One Councillor – Councillors: A. Best and J. Davies
Councillor Best reported that the organisation continued to operate successfully.
Age Concern Stone & District
Councillors: J. Davies and C. Thornicroft
Councillor Kelt advised the Committee that no meeting had taken place.
Stafford & Stone Access Group
Councillor: T. Kelt
Councillor Kelt advised the Committee that no meeting had taken place.
Stone Common Plot Trustees
Councillors: A. Burgess, J. Hood, T. Kelt, C. Thornicroft and R. Townsend
Councillor Hood advised the Committee that no meeting had taken place.
Stone Community Hub Liaison Group
Councillors: J. Battrick, J. Hood and R. Townsend
Councillor Hood advised the Committee that no meeting had taken place.
SPCA Executive Committee
Councillor: T. Kelt
Councillor Kelt advised the Committee that a meeting had not taken place but had been asked to use a forum to investigate any voluntary group across the Country, particularly in the area of sustainability. This has been actioned and in progress.
West Midlands Railway and other Rail Matters
Councillor: T. Kelt
Councillor Kelt advised the Committee that discussions were ongoing.
Councillor Kelt advised the Committee that a meeting to discuss the Station approach was widely attended and that Geoff Grant from West Midlands Rail was also in attendance. It was requested executive attendance from the TOC. Jon Heal has been tasked to set up a meeting with the Director of Property and Parking Manager and has requested dates from the group.
It was stated that the plan to extend the route at both ends could possibly commence in December.
The meeting was temporarily suspended and then reconvened after the Planning Consultative Committee meeting and the Environmental Sub-Committee had taken place.
GP27/052 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.
GP27/053 Application to add public footpaths at Stone – Reference: LD604G
The Committee considered the confidential correspondence received from Stafford Borough Council*, which had been enclosed with the agenda for the meeting.
The Town Clerk advised the Committee that there was a report published in 1974 and that it was raised again in November 1994.
The Town Clerk informed the Committee that Page 4, Paragraph 3 – referring to the routes of the footpath were incorrect.
RESOLVED: That the Committee agrees that:
• The Council should recommend that both footpaths be included in the Borough’s published report.