General Purposes Minutes Tuesday 06 October 2026

Minutes of the meeting held in the Council Chamber at 15 Station Road, Stone, on Tuesday 6 October 2026

PRESENT:

Councillor I. Fordham in the Chair, and
Councillors: A. Burgess, J. Hood, T. Kelt, B. Kenney, P. Leason,
J. Metters, C. Thornicroft and R. Townsend

Officers: L. Trigg, R. Edwards, L. Fleetwood and H. Pickford

ABSENT: Councillors: J. Battrick, J. Davies, L. Davies, R. Kenney, A. Mottershead,
J. Powell and N. Powell

GP27/054 Apologies

Apologies were received from Councillors: J. Battrick, J. Davies, L. Davies,
K. Dawson, R. Kenney, N. Powell and J. Powell

GP27/055 Declarations of Interest

None.

GP27/056 Requests for Dispensations

None received.

GP27/057 To receive the report of the County Councillors

The Chairman invited County Councillors to address the Committee:

County Councillor Jill Hood

Councillor Hood reported that she had received confirmation that the roadworks in Station Road would be completed by Friday 9 October 2026.

Councillor Hood reported that she and the Town Clerk had met with two County Council Officers and that it had been agreed to install totem advertising screens at Crown Street and on Christchurch Way. She advised that the matter would be brought back to the Committee.

County Councillor Andrew Mynors

Councillor Mynors was not in attendance at the meeting.

GP27/058 To receive the report of Borough Councillors

The Chairman invited Borough Councillors to address the Committee.

There was no report on this occasion.

GP27/059 Representations from Members of the Public

None.

GP27/060 Minutes

RESOLVED:

a) That the minutes of the General Purposes Committee meeting held on 1 September 2026 (Minute Numbers GP27/038 – GP27/053), be approved as a correct record.

GP27/061 Minutes of Sub-Committees

RESOLVED:

a) To note the minutes of the Environment Sub-Committee on 1 September 2026 (Minute Numbers ENV27/010 – ENV27/017).

b) To note the minutes of the Town Mayor’s Sub-Committee held on 2 June 2026 (Minute Numbers MC27/001 – MC27/006).

GP27/062 Budget Monitoring – August 2025

The Committee considered the report* of the Town Clerk which had been circulated with the agenda for the meeting.

RESOLVED:

a) To note the approved adjustments to the Council’s budget set out at Appendix A.
b) To note the Council’s performance against budget at the end of August 2026.
c) That the Committee does not wish to take any further action in the light of the information within the report.

GP27/063 National Pay Award

The Committee considered the report* of the Town Clerk, which had been circulated with the agenda for the meeting on the outcome of the 2025-26 National Pay Award negotiations for local government staff and its impact on the Council.

RESOLVED: That the Committee accepts the recommendations of the Town Clerk and adopts the new salary levels for staff for 2025-26, as set out in the report.

GP27/064 Town Council Payments

RESOLVED: To note the list* of Town Council payments made during the period 1 June to 31 August 2026.

GP27/065 Update from Working Groups:

Stone Heritage Centre Steering Group

The Town Clerk provided an overview on behalf of the Chairman, Councillor R. Kenney who was absent from the meeting. It was confirmed that the Sub-Committee Steering Group were due to meet on 8 October 2026 and that the following aspects were noted between 1 May to 2 October 2026:

• Visitor numbers were ahead of target, standing at 3,361.
• The Centre has offered a varied range of exhibitions and events, one of which had generated commission income for the Town Council
• Community and educational engagement has continued through school and Scout visits, children’s Story Time sessions and practical activities exploring Stone.
• Work is progressing on the permanent Story of Stone exhibition. This includes developing display cabinet designs, preparing interpretation and selecting objects, supported by artefact loans and contributions from local organisations.
• Work is progressing on the permanent Story of Stone exhibition. This includes developing display cabinet designs, preparing interpretation and selecting objects, supported by artefact loans and contributions from local organisations.
• Looking ahead, further talks are planned, alongside a photographic exhibition being developed with Christ Church First School. The Centre continues to promote its activities through social media, local press and community networks.
• Overall, the report demonstrates the Centre’s growing contribution to Stone’s cultural life, through its visitor numbers, educational activities and partnerships.

GP27/066 To receive reports from Town Councillors on attendance at meetings as a representative of the Town Council

Stone Area Parish Liaison Group
Councillor J. Davies was not in attendance at the meeting.

Stone ATC
Councillor Best advised the Committee that a meeting had not taken place.

Age Concern Stone & District
Councillor Thornicroft advised the Committee that a meeting had not taken place.

Stafford District Access Group
Councillor Kelt advised the Committee that a meeting had not taken place.

Stone Common Plot Trustees
Councillor Hood advised the Committee that the next meeting was scheduled to take place on 8 October 2026.

Councillor Townsend advised the Committee that the Fundraising Sub Committee has met and forthcoming proposals are to follow.

Stone Community Hub Liaison Group
Councillor Townsend advised the Committee that the Community Hub Liaison Group had met and further information on the meeting will be circulated to the Councillors in due course.

SPCA Executive Committee
Councillor Kelt advised the Committee that no meeting had taken place.

West Midlands Railway and other Rail Matters
Councillor Kelt advised the Committee that a meeting had taken place but was not able to attend.

Councillor Kelt said that information had been received from North West Trains on the extension of the network to the North and South and that he was aware that the Birmingham extension was due to take place in December 2026 and the extension to Manchester Airport is due in May 2027.

Councillor Kelt reported to the Committee that the Parking in the Stations approach had been confirmed and that parking charges will commence in November 2026.

CHAIRMAN