25 March 2022
At the February full Council meeting I proposed a motion calling on the Council to pressure the Government to phase out the use of all fossil fuels, undertake a review of the Council’s use of fossil fuels with a view to eliminating their use and to ask the County Council Pension Fund Investment Committee ( which deals with all local government pensions at District and County level) to divest from Investments in fossil fuels. Currently the County Council have one of the highest proportions of investments in these areas.
The motion was seconded by Ralph Cooke. No one spoke against it. The vote was taken and the Conservative group – and the Independents – all voted solidly against it.
This is the replacement for Stafford and Rural Homes and is an amalgamation of several other housing associations. We had a presentation on what a wonderful job they are doing before councillors – from all parties – said how different it was from the impression they had from the phone calls tenants make to them and from their experiences trying to sort things out with the Association. I raised the issue of the garden furniture removed from Doxey House and when I explained how it happened, was told that it shouldn’t have happened that way. The fact is, however, that it happened in all the homes that garden furniture was removed in this way.
The Council has now set up this group of volunteers – most of whom are known to us – and set out a draft work plan. The focus seems to be very much on doing work in the community – perhaps because the Council itself hasn’t allocated any funds for any work on climate change, something the Cabinet was meant to be considering as a result of an earlier motion in October, but which has never been discussed – too busy discussing the budget to discuss whether they should be allocating funds to address the climate emergency.
Though not in my ward, I contacted the Council when told that work on this project in Derrington has started. Hundreds of steel posts have been installed and I am told that the heating system has been created. This is a massive project which will permanently alter the landscape of the area, as well as the hydrology and biodiversity. It seems that the planning application has yet to come to Committee (it has been ‘called in’ by Cllr Mark Winnington) but the landowner has started the work anyway. The Council agreed to send an email telling them to stop but they continued and I understand they sent an officer out to talk to the landowner. Whether he will stop the work remains to be seen. I am told that the application will be considered by the Planning Committee in the near future.
I have been approached by a couple of residents in Gnosall about a proposed menage (artificial horse riding area) on the outskirts of the village. There are concerns about the width of the lane which gives access, removal of hedgrerow and, of greatest concern, the risk of pollution of a brook that runs nearby which feeds into Aqualate mere – a RAMSAR site owned by Natural England. They have put in an objection and asked for more information. I have lodged an objection and it might be good for our candidates to do so too.
This is the planning application: https://www12.staffordbc.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=QNJWN5PSKAH00&activeTab=summary
When we did our latest litter pick in this area, we noticed a sign on the Club door saying it was closed and an AGM would be held. I have since been contacted by some of the Club members who say that no one was consulted about the closure and, as yet, there is no date for an AGM. They are keen to see the Club running again.
This area is next to the Castle View Estate. It is part of the Stafford Gateway Project – a large tract of land adjacent to the railway – for which plans are being developed by the Borough Council through consultants they have appointed. I have been asking for some time to have a discussion about this particular area but this whole project seems to be shrouded in secrecy. It could be that it is to do with commercial sensitivities – then again, it could be because they want to keep it all under wraps until nearer the elections next year. I have asked the Cabinet Member for Planning for a meeting about this.
Something else not in my ward – but they contacted me as they are doing a sustainability project and asked for Green Party support. I explained that they needed to speak to their local councillors.
This is a large plot of land which apparently used to belong to the school but was transferred to the Borough Council. It has become a major fly tipping area and I am trying to establish what the Council’s plans are for the area.
One of our members, Jane Whitney – Cooper, who is involved with the Doxey Friends group, helped organise a tree planting session in Castle View Park. It was supported by the Doxey Friends and the Parish Council and I understand over 70 people turned up and planted 100 trees. Unfortunately I was still testing positive for Covid at the time.
Tony
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