General Purposes Minutes Tuesday 07 July 2026
Stone Town Council – General Purposes Committee
Minutes of the meeting held in the Council Chamber at
15 Station Road, Stone, on Tuesday 7 July 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
GP27/020 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.
GP27/021 Declarations of Interest and Declarations
• Councillor Leason declared an interest in item 9d
(Minute Number: GP27/028)
• Councillor J. Davies declared an interest in item 9e
(Minute Number: GP27/028)
• Councillor Dawson declared an interest in item 9e
(Minute Number: GP27/028)
• Councillor Kelt declared an interest in item 9g
(Minute Number: GP27/028)
GP27/022 Requests for Dispensations
None received.
GP27/023 The Reports of the County Councillors Representing Stone Town
The Chairman invited County Councillors to address the Committee:
County Councillor J Hood
Councillor Hood advised the Committee that the resurfacing works on Radford Street and Newcastle Street were commencing on 13 July, one week earlier than originally planned.
It was also reported that the pot holes on Whitebridge roundabout had been addressed.
Councillor Hood gave an overview on her attendance to the Year 9 Achievement Awards at Alleyne’s Academy where she praised the students on their exceptional talents.
County Councillor A. Mynors
Councillor Mynors was not in attendance at the meeting.
GP27/024 The Reports of Borough Councillors representing Stone Town
The Chairman advised the Committee that the process of the New Local Plan had begun for this year and that the New Local Plan 2025-2045* document had been circulated to the Committee in advance of the meeting.
Councillor Hood advised the Committee that a consultation had commenced in relation to the Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs). She encouraged Members to review the consultation documents and requested that the Council consider and submit its views on the proposals.
GP27/025
Representations from Members of the Public
None.
GP27/026 Minutes
RESOLVED:
a) That the minutes of the General Purposes Committee meeting held on 19 May 2026 (Minute Numbers GP27/001 – GP27/019), be approved as a correct record.
GP27/027 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.
GP27/028
Grants to Local Organisations
The Town Clerk apologised to the Committee in advance of the discussion for an error on the agenda. The Stone Choral Society application had been recorded as not meeting the grant criteria; however, this was incorrect, and the Society’s application does meet the criteria.
The Town Clerk reminded the Chairman that the budget available for Local Organisation Grants for the year was £4,000 and advised that, should all grant applications under consideration be approved the budget would be over spent and no funds would remain available for the February grant application round.
The Committee considered a request for Grant Aid from the following organisations, which met the criteria within the Council’s Grants Policy:
a) Organisation: 1st Oulton BP Scouts
Amount Requested: £500
Reason: To purchase tents and equipment for camping trips.
RESOLVED: To award a grant of £250 to 1st Oulton BP Scout Group, with a suggestion that they seek further grant support from their local parish.
b) Organisation: Man Time
Amount Requested: £500
Reason: To expand Man Time’s Outreach and Early Support Activity in Stone.
RESOLVED: To award a grant of £500 to Man Time Group.
c) Organisation: Stone Traders Group
Amount Requested: £500
Reason: To support a Halloween Family Day which will provide free activities for children and families.
RESOLVED: To award a grant of £250 to Stone Traders Group
d) Organisation: Stone Choral Society
Amount Requested: £500
Reason: To support the costs of hall hire for rehearsals, music score sheets, booklets and use of professionals (director and accompanist, musicians and singers)
RESOLVED: To award a grant of £500 to Stone Choral Society.
The following organisations did not meet the eligibility criteria within the Council’s Grants Policy for the reasons stated, but a motion was proposed and seconded to instigate a discussion about making an award of a grant:
e) Organisation: Stafford & District Bereavement & Loss Support
Amount Requested: £500
Reason: To purchase essential equipment and resources for the effective operation and development of the charity. This will include a new printer and consumables for the printing of information packs – counselling resources, referral forms and other documentation the supports the service to clients.
RESOLVED: To decline the award of a grant to Stafford & District
Bereavement & Loss Support.
f) Organisation: Stone Scout & Guide Band
Amount Requested: £500
Reason: Refurbishment of drum line and purchase of new light weight smaller cymbals.
RESOLVED: To award a grant of £350 to Stone Scout & Guide Band.
g) Organisation: 1st Yarnfield Scout Group
Amount Requested: £500
Reason: To purchase outdoor equipment for camping trips.
RESOLVED: To decline the award of a grant to 1st Yarnfield Scout Group.
h) Organisation: Stone Common Plot
Amount Requested: £500
Reason: To purchase tools to undertake project work on a pond.
RESOLVED: To decline the award of a grant to Stone Common Plot
i) Organisation: U3A Stone & District
Amount Requested: £500
Reason: To support the costs of venue hire which have soared since charges were introduced for use of the community room at Stone Fire Station.
RESOLVED: To decline the award of a grant to U3A Stone & District.
GP27/029
Payment of Mileage Allowances
The Committee considered the report* of the Town Clerk (which had been enclosed with the agenda for the meeting) with a proposal for the implementation of a Mileage Allowance Policy, following a revision to the HRMC mileage rates.
RESOLVED:
a. All valid mileage claims will be paid in accordance with the HRMC mileage rate applicable at the time of the journey.
b. Mileage will be calculated as the lower of the number of miles between the Council Offices and the destination or between the Councillor/Officer’s home and the destination. Where the journey takes place in the working day and a Councillor/Officer is already at the Council Offices or is ending the journey at the Council Offices, the actual number of miles will be used by subtracting any miles that would have been travelled anyway between home and office.
c. For longer journeys, where travel by public transport is both feasible and reasonable, the cost of public transport will be paid if lower than the mileage cost whether or not the Councillor/Officer actually used their private vehicle.
d. Vehicles must only be used for Council business where the vehicle is appropriately insured for that use.
GP27/030 Stafford Borough Council Local Plan 2025-2045
The Chairman proposed that a workshop be arranged for Members to meet at 7.00pm on Monday 20 July to consider the Plan in greater detail in advance of the initial consultation response to Stafford Borough Council. Members who were unable to attend were invited to submit their comments and recommendations to the Town Clerk for consideration at the workshop.
In view of the timescales associated with the consultation period, the Chairman recommended that the Committee delegate authority to the Town Clerk in consultation with himself to prepare and submit a formal response on behalf of the Council following the workshop.
RESOLVED:
That delegated authority be granted to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Committee Chairman to prepare and submit the Council’s response to the consultation.
GP27/031 Town Council Payments
RESOLVED:
To note the list of Town Council payments* made during the period 1 to 31 May 2026.
GP27/032 Update from Working Groups
Updates were received any updates 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.
b. Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group
The group had not met but a meeting is planned in the near future.
GP27/033 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 reported that the group had not met, pending the outcome of the Local Government reorganisation decision for Staffordshire.
Stone ATC
Town Mayor & One Councillor – Councillors: A. Best and J. Davies
Councillor Davies advised the Committee that the Annual General Meeting had been held on 13 June 2026. He reported that the organisation continued to operate successfully and expressed his hope that it would continue to go from strength to strength in the future.
Age Concern Stone & District
Councillors: J. Davies and C. Thornicroft
Councillor Thornicroft advised the Committee that no meeting had taken place.
Stafford & Stone Access Group
Councillor: T. Kelt
Councillor Kelt advised the Committee that a meeting and Annual General Meeting had taken place in June, and that a further meeting was yet to be confirmed. He reported that part of the discussion had centred on whether the Group should continue to operate. The Mayor of Stafford had suggested that a further meeting be held in October, by which time the future direction of the organisation might be clearer. In the meantime, the Group would continue to operate as normal.
Stone Common Plot Trustees
Councillors: A. Burgess, J. Hood, T. Kelt, C. Thornicroft and R. Townsend
Councillor Hood advised the Committee that a site walk around the Stone Common Plot had taken place and apologised for being unable to attend.
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 taken place and apologised for being unable to attend.
West Midlands Railway and other Rail Matters
Councillor: T. Kelt
Councillor Kelt advised the Committee that several meetings had taken place, which had been attended by both Councillor Hood and himself. He reported that pay machines on the station approach had been installed and highlighted the implications this would have for stakeholders, particularly local residents. Discussions were ongoing, and further information had been requested. Councillor Kelt also advised that the parking bays had now been marked out.
The meeting was temporarily suspended and then reconvened after the Planning Consultative Committee meeting and the Town & Tourism Sub-Committee had taken place.
GP27/036 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.
GP27/037 Confidential Minutes
RESOLVED: That the Confidential Minutes of the General Purposes Committee held on 19 May 2026, Minute Numbers GP27/001, GP27/018 and GP27/019 be approved as a correct record.